Artist Interviews Aya Ito 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

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Artist Interviews Sound Opinions 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

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Artist Interviews Elijah Berlow 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

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Artist Interviews Jeff Rosenstock & Laura Stevenson 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.

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Artist Interviews Chaepter 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

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