Anna Holmquist is the leader of Chicago based indie folk group Ester. They have released a stand alone double single Red Rover / Change is Allowed in January 2023. Features Co-Director Mick R. caught up with Anna to talk about the origins of their band, the role of humor in their music, and some of their earliest concert going experiences. 

Red Rover / Change is Allowed was self released to Bandcamp


"[I used to think that it] wouldn't make sense for me to do things that are louder or wouldn't make sense for me to do things that were a little less serious or whatever. But I realized that the music I write is the music I write and whether that is something that is on the quieter range of things or something that is a little louder, or maybe sillier, it's all stuff that is Ester because I'm creating." - Anna Holmquist


Production by Mick R. 

Image Credit: Ash Dye

Ester Interview

Tommy Kessler is a busy local singer/songwriter who released a full LP and a double EP in 2022, in addition to producing an entire comp of local indie artists to benefit Brave Space Alliance. Features Co-Director Mick R. caught up with Tommy to talk about the origins and inspirations of his solo work, his distinctive color palette, and his string of recent releases. 

You can find the Weinder Tape comp as well as Tommy Kessler's full catalog at https://tommykessler.bandcamp.com/


 "The main feedback I get is that [my music] sounds like me. That's the nicest thing anyone could possibly say about anyone's art, is that it sounds like them." - Tommy Kessler 


Production by Mick R. 

Image Credit: Katlyn Sansone Wentzel

Tommy Kessler Interview

Singer and songwriter Walker is a recent transplant to Chicago, but already considers it home. He released his debut album, Phew in December 2022 and Features Co-Director Mick R. caught up with him to talk about the album, his process, and his experience teaching music to others as a self-taught musician. 

Walker will be releasing a series of singles in the sping of 2023; you can keep up with his upcoming releases by following him on Instagram @walkerwonder_


"[T]he main thing I try to do is just follow joy, because for me, joy is my muse." - Walker 


Production by Mick R. 

Image credit: James Werner

Walker Interview

Ryan Nolen is the creative engine behind the Chicago-based alternative rock project Footballhead. Features co-director Mick R. caught up with Ryan to talk about his most recent EP Kitchen Fly, the Chicago underground rock scene, whether or not his music is "emo," and his ranking of the best Nick-Toons characters of all time. 

Ryan will be playing at Sleeping Village with Dazy and Graham Hunt as part of Tomorrow Never Knows Fest on January 18, 2023. You can find more information at https://sleeping-village.com/.


"I was playing in my band Kirby Grip at the time and we were trying to do like an alternative based, [Smashing] Pumpkins, semi-shoegaze thing, and I had [writen] all these songs that were more like Gin Blossoms or Vertical Horizon almost... Songs that were too poppy... So I said to myself, 'I needed an outlet for these things...'" - Ryan Nolen on the origins of Footballhead


Production by Mick R.

Image courtesy of the artist. 

Footballhead Interview

This week, Features co-director Jessi D speaks with Chicago-based singer-songwriter, Aya Ito. They discuss her newly released EP, Just Might, and how each purchase on Bandcamp comes with Aya's favorite homecooked recipes, her Black and Japanese heritage, re-releasing some of her already J-Pop perfect songs in Japanese, and how a Japanese video rental store shaped her upbringing in Indianapolis.


On her nickname, the Blazian Sensation:

"I really, really love both sides of my culture. I love my Black side, I love my Japanese side. I really consider myself fully Black and fully Japanese. I'm proud of my heritage, and proud of being Black and Asian. And Blazian Sensation obviously rhymes, so I was like, it flows! Let me be Blazian Sensation." - Aya Ito


Produced by Jessi D.

Photo Credit: Abboye Lawrence

Aya Ito Interview

Music critics and journalists Greg Kot and Jim DeRogatis are the hosts of the long-running music podcast Sound Opinions. Formerly of WXRT and WBEZ, they are now fully independent and jammin' econo. Features co-director Mick R. caught up with Greg and Jim for this final Artists Interview of 2022 to talk about their podcast's origins, the importance of music journalism, integrity in reporting, and the challenges of telling stories that need to be told. 


"[The] number one rule of being a journalist is to be curious, always. Never lose that sense that there's a big world out there. You wake up every day and you're gonna learn something new." - Greg Kot


Produced by Mick R. 

Image Credit: Marty Perez

Sound Opinions Interview

This week, Marjorie Alford speaks with Chicago-based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist folk musician Elijah Berlow. They discuss his east coast roots, love songwriting process, how Chicago has helped his collaboration process, and choosing to perform under his own name to be as much of himself as possible.


"I think what draws me most to writing music is you're just kind of picking up signals throughout your existence, if that makes sense. Like these layers or sounds already exist in you or outside of you, and I have to think that writing about them for me over the years has been like an antennae, a manifesting output of these signals. So I think that's what really draws me in." - Elijah Berlow


Produced by Alyssa Edes.

Photo Credit: Lena Jackson

Elijah Berlow Interview

DIY punk mainstays Jeff Rosenstock & Laura Stevenson are good friends and great collaborators. They've released their second EP of Neil Young covers this year titled, Younger Still. Features Contributor Matty G was able to catch up with the dashing duo to talk about their work together, their favorite Neil Young songs, and what they love most about Chicago. 

Jeff & Laura will be playing Lincoln Hall in Chicago this Friday, December 9th, 2022. 

Younger Still is out on Polyvinyl Recordings. 


"We're friends and we encourage each other and that hasn't really changed... I think that makes for a good collaborative process. And yeah, I guess we have gotten better at music. But also maybe our ideas aren't as cool anymore because we're older." - Jeff Rosenstock


Produced by Adalyn Staats. 

Image Credit: Dan Ozzi.

Jeff Rosenstock & Laura Stevenson Interview

This week, Features Co-Director Mick R speaks with Chicago-based R&B and pop artist and producer, Chaepter. They discuss his midwestern roots, his new and first full-length album where he does it all, Kicking the Cat, his desire to create "Midwest Gothic" aesthetic in his work, how his Catholic childhood shapes him as an artist and person, and of course, what "kicking the cat" means.


"I think I've always really liked Gothic literature as a whole and then how it pertains to the region, like Southern Gothics. [...] I kind of wanted to create something that could be categorized as a "Midwest Gothic." Something that pulls from our geography and our region. What it feels like to live in, kind of like a wasteland. I think a lot of people can relate, especially growing up in central Illinois, there is nothing out there. A lot of it is just gone. It used to be this big beautiful prairie, which is such a cool ecosystem, just got turned into a monoculture. Corn and soybeans. And it just feels empty sometimes. And I wanted to create something that kinda reflected that feeling and how geography can reflect how we feel inside. [...] And some of those midwestern values; honesty, vulnerability, I wanted that to be in there..." - Chaepter


Produced by Mick R.

Photo Credit: Vanessa Valadez

Chaepter Interview

This week, Features contributor Lee Gomez speaks with Dan Kjær Nielsen, Elias Bender Rønnenfelt, Jakob Tvilling Pless, Johan Surrballe Wieth, and Casper Morilla of Danish post-punk band Iceage. They discuss their recent release, a compilation album of b-sides and outtakes, Shake the Feeling, touring in America, and their favorite things to eat and drink when visiting Chicago.


"I was really talking in broad strokes about humanity as a whole. I think that's just a reference to the headspace that I was in when I was writing lyrics for it." - Elias Bender Rønnenfelt, in repsonse to Iceage's headspace in creating their 2021 LP "Seek Shelter."


Produced by Adalyn Staats.

Photo Credit: Soren Lynggaard

Iceage Interview

Archy Jamjun is a storyteller and co-curator of Outspoken LGBTQ Stories at Sidetrack. He is a two-time winner of The Moth Grand Slam in Chicago and has been featured on Best of Risk! Podcast. He is a server, guncle, and cat dad.

CHIRP Radio’s Live Lit and Music series, ‘The First Time’, is unlike any storytelling show in Chicago. It pairs our readers' personal stories about a first-time experience with a song performance. This unique structure allows the story to resonate with audience members as they experience the accompanying song covered by our house band, live at Martyrs in Chicago's North Center neighborhood.

Show hosted by Jenn Sodini; produced by Julie Mueller & Bobby Evers. Podcast recorded by Tony Baker, Andy Vasoyan, and Alex Stone; produced by Jenn Rourke.

First Time: First Comeback - Archy Jamjun

Discussing the Sun is an emo pop group that combines the talents of Chicago-based singer/songwriter Mars and Cleveland hip-hop producer (Leave) Nelson B. Features Co-Director Mick R catches up with them to talk about their new album Feel It All, as well as how the band came together, how they pushed each other to break new ground through their collaboration, and the personal nature of the project's lyrics. 

Feel It All is out on Lonely Ghosty Records. 


"[Discussing the Sun] lead me into being able to see all of [my emotions] as valid and necessary and crucial for my survival. And at the end, I got to this point where [I was] like, 'Okay, I'm just gonna feel this because I need to...'" - Mars


Produced by Mick R. 

Image courtesy of the artist. 

Discussing the Sun Interview

Shannon Cason has shared his stories all over the country. Shannon is a host, MainStage storyteller and GrandSlam champion with The Moth. He is a regular on Snap Judgment; awarded their Best Performance Award. Shannon has appeared on countless podcasts and storytelling stages, including TEDx, RISK!, Third Coast Festival, Podcast Movement, and upcoming film projects.

He hosts his own long-running storytelling podcast, Shannon Cason’s Homemade Stories. Shannon also hosted two other podcasts -The Trouble with Shannon Cason (WBEZ) & In Good Company Detroit. His storytelling has been featured in the anthology, The Moth Presents: All These Wonders.

CHIRP Radio’s Live Lit and Music series, ‘The First Time’, is unlike any storytelling show in Chicago. It pairs our readers' personal stories about a first-time experience with a song performance. This unique structure allows the story to resonate with audience members as they experience the accompanying song covered by our house band, live at Martyrs in Chicago's North Center neighborhood.

Show hosted by Jenn Sodini; produced by Julie Mueller & Bobby Evers. Podcast recorded by Tony Baker, Andy Vasoyan, and Alex Stone; produced by Jenn Rourke.

First Time: First Comeback - Shannon Cason

This week, Features Co-Director Mick R speaks with Chicago-based artist Jordan Reyes. They discus his new album, Everything Is Always and how an antipsychotic drug led to an overwhelming obsession with death, how zen, zaza meditation and drone metal helped, and his collaborators.  

Jordan Reyes will be celebrating Everything is Always at a release show held at the International Museum of Surgical Science on November 4, 2022.


"I talked to my general practitioner about everything that I was doing and we did a bunch of tests. He said, well, you're physically fine but there's something going on there. It's advice you wouldn't expect from a doctor, but he just told me to make music every day. So I was like, this guy's pretty smart and I know that music has helped me in the past, and I'm trying to wrangle all of these ideas, so I started working on Everything Is Always and what would be Everything Is Always." - Jordan Reyes


Produced by Mick R.

Photo Credit: Katherine Squier

Jordan Reyes Interview

Sean Bair-Flannery is a comedian who has appeared on Comedy Central, Sirius Radio, NPR and more. He is the creator and producer of the popular story-telling show “The Blackout Diaries” and his debut book, "Places I Can't Return To", will be available in June 2022.

Sean can often be found behind the bar at the Galway Bay Pub on Chicago’s north side. He does NOT work there.

CHIRP Radio’s Live Lit and Music series, ‘The First Time’, is unlike any storytelling show in Chicago. It pairs our readers' personal stories about a first-time experience with a song performance. This unique structure allows the story to resonate with audience members as they experience the accompanying song covered by our house band, live at Martyrs in Chicago's North Center neighborhood.

Show hosted by Jenn Sodini; produced by Julie Mueller & Bobby Evers. Podcast recorded by Tony Baker, Andy Vasoyan, and Alex Stone; produced by Jenn Rourke.

First Time: First Comeback - Sean Bair-Flannery

Liska is a Chicago-based singer and songwriter with a fun and bright DIY sound. She talks with Features Co-Director Mick R about her latest EP La Boom, her greatest influences, and what it was like growing up in a family of professional musicians. 

Liska will be playing a special Halloween show at Golden Dagger in Chicago with Modern Nun and TheUpDowns on October 30, 2022. Tickets can be found at goldendagger.com.

La Boom was self produced and released. 


"I like to think of myself as super badass, but I know that I do not come off that way. Because I'm always thinking like, 'Wow, I'm really giving like 'Scorpio Rising' death glares,' and then everyone's like, 'You're so cute!' ... So I've now leaned into that." - Liska


Produced by Mick R. 

Image Credit: Matt Allen

Liska Interview

Lily Be is a Chicago westside born and raised award-winning storyteller. Lily Be is the first Latinx winner of a Moth GrandSLAM championship. Creator and producer of Stoop Style Stories formerly The Stoop and Education Director at Story Collider.

Lily Be is a huge advocate for the marginalized and a lot of her storytelling work is centered around helping people discover their voices and be heard. Lily has taught at Second City and colleges and universities worldwide. Her calling to connect and serve has been a longstanding motivation for the work that she does and continues to do. Storytelling has the power to shape, transform, and save lives and Lily Be is living proof. Stoopstylestories.com for more info.

CHIRP Radio’s Live Lit and Music series, ‘The First Time’, is unlike any storytelling show in Chicago. It pairs our readers' personal stories about a first-time experience with a song performance. This unique structure allows the story to resonate with audience members as they experience the accompanying song covered by our house band, live at Martyrs in Chicago's North Center neighborhood.

Show hosted by Jenn Sodini; produced by Julie Mueller & Bobby Evers. Podcast recorded by Tony Baker, Andy Vasoyan, and Alex Stone; produced by Jenn Rourke.

First Time: First Comeback - Lily Be

This week, Features co-director Jessi D speaks with Venus Laurel and Konstantin Jace of Chicago art rock band Moritat. They discuss how cohabiting with drummer Corey McCafferty in a two-flat during the majority of their time as a band allowed them to experiment creatively, how their sound has become more refined in the decade-plus they've spent together, and the five year writing process for their most recent album, Vermilion. 


"It's just there's so much change at once in the world, through a pandemic and nervous politics that it's just - writing music and doing art in the middle of it, you absorb whatever's happening. I mean, you're dealing with the world, [...] it's a fight against death, really. [...] All the changes that you're dealing with it as an artist and a musician, it's all gonna bleed in because you're really synthesizing the world." - Konstantin Jace


Produced by Jessi D.

Photo Credit: Moritat

Moritat Interview

This week, Features contributor DJ Ninja speaks with Chicago artist Al Rose. They discuss his eighth album, Again the Beginner, his spontaneous and in-the-moment setlist planning, how he future-proofs his protest songs, and why he doesn't play the flute at shows anymore.


"The fun part is because of the release and catharsis. I still kinda drum up the rage that happens when I wrote the song, but the release is fun. Because playing music, anybody who's ever been in a band or is watching, it looks like the musicians are having a really good time playing, whether it's a quiet thing or a loud, raucous thing. I will say from experience that it is fun; it's great to be in a band and make noise like that." - Al Rose


Produced by DJ Ninja.

Photo Credit: Al Rose

Al Rose Interview

This week, Features contributor Matty G sits down with Christine Goodwyne and Nicolette Alvarez of emo/indie rockers Pool Kids to talk about their self-titled album, the hurdles they encountered in releasing it (including a studio flood!), how they made their way up from Florida to call Chicago home, and much more!  

Pool Kids self-titled album is out on Skeletal Lightning.


"Well, we definitely lucked out... [It's] like we showed up and we had this huge extended family of people that welcomed us in and were like, 'Hey, do you want to start a band with us? Hey, do y'all want to go to the show with us?' We were really able to just tap into this whole network of friends and artists and it's been really, wonderful since then." - Pool Kids, on arriving in Chicago from Tallahassee.


Produced by Brian Szpak.

Image Credit: Mimi Hong

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