Champaign Is Also A Band
One songwriter, one song. Podcast about stories & songs of Champaign-Urbana music. In each episode Sven sits down with a person from the C-U music scene to hear the story & the background of a favorite song they’ve written.
Episodes
Sven chats with Matt and Claire of Meadowhawk about their piece "There and Back Again" off of their album "Keep It Up," writing music for Contra Dance, and their favorite non-musical things.
Recipe for Balsamic Pie
In this bonus episode Sven chats with Austin Parker (He/Him) of Mid Nite Leg about their new album "Losing the Luster" - Available now on all the streaming services and on Bandcamp at: https://midniteleg.bandcamp.com/album/losing-the-luster
Sven meets up with Shannon Swords (He/Him) at HarshPro's (EP88) studio space "The Labrary" to talk about his song "Hell and High Water" off of the album "Depth," working with collaborators, and what's next in the future.
DEPTH is now out on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/2jygEPyD0QNgdJUcrJ2o2w?si=graIdHjQQbePKNjFRSK3og
In this bonus episode Sven chats with Mike Carpenter (He/Him) (EP37) of Decadents about their new album "Lost in Translation" - Available now on all the streaming services and on Bandcamp at: https://decadents.bandcamp.com/album/lost-in-translation
Sven chats with Robbie (He/HIm) and Chris (They/Them) about their song "Breathless" off of the album "Unfriendly Reminder"
SONG: Breathless
ALBUM: Unfriendly Reminder
BAND: Rude Echoes
Favorite treat: Mandarin Jarritos/Hi-Chews
Photo credit: Marciel Shepard
Sven sits down with Clayton Burke Deering (He/HIm) to chat about his song "Wild Thing," collaborating with Kenna Mae (EP13), playing pedal steel in his solo project Neon Gravel, what makes a good music scene, and his favorite non-musical things.
SONG: Wild Thing ALBUM: No Immediate Plans
BANDS: The Fights, The Rebekah Songer Band, Tractor Kings, Cole Bridges & the Overpass, Emily Anne Band, The Landovers, Neon Gravel, and The ...
Sven chats with Red (They/Them) and Grey (They/She) of Red's Head about their song "Glitch," creating a DIY venue, and their favorite non-musical things.
Sven chats with Carrie (She/Her) & Liz (She/Her) about their song "Cheers to This," the CU music scene, and their favorite non-musical things.
SONG: Cheers to This
ALBUM: Merryann’s at Midnight
BANDS: Carrie: none Liz: First Gig, Girls Rock, Poisoned Rationality
Favorite treat: Carrie: unsweetened iced tea, caramel corn Liz: sprite or hot tea
Photo credit: Carrie
Sven chats with Clint (He/Him) and Chris (He/Him) of MOONSYDE about their song "IKKE!," the race they feel like finishing, playing house shows, and their favorite non-musical things.
SONG: IKKE! ALBUM: Single BANDS: Clint: Illini Contraband (cover band), performed locally on campus(Joe’s, Canopy Club, Wesley Church), Noontime Performer at the Illini Union Bandside UIUC (met other band members) HIDEOUT formerly called Hip-...
Sven chats with IamLostTwo (He/Him) about his song "Grounded," creating a musical soundscape, being true to his sound, and his favorite non-musical thing.
SONG: Grounded
ALBUM: Released as a Single
BANDS: Half House Studios, Hip-Hop Collective UIUC/HIDEOUT, IamLostTwo independent artist
Favorite treat: Earl Grey, Honey as sweetener
Photo credit: Lost and Grey Photography
Sven meets up with José Guzmán (He/Him) in the lobby at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts to talk about his composition "Holande Pa Uste" as performed by the UIUC Latin Jazz Ensemble, finding a musical connection with blending different Puerto Rican musical traditions as well as West African styles, and his favorite non-musical things. José is running the 2023 Chicago Marathon for his favorite charity: Mercy Home, y...
Sven chats with Jules Rose (She/Her/They/Them) about her song "Run" off of her album "One Year," working with Half House Studios (BEP25), we talk about her first performances, the CU music scene, and her favorite non-musical thing.
SONG: Run
ALBUM: One Year
Favorite treat: Black Coffee/Uncrusables
Photo credit: MacKenzie Archibald
Sven chats with Carissa Yau (She/Her/They/Them) about her song "I-57," some local shoutouts, acting, and her favorite non-musical thing
See Carissa Yau at The Station Theatre "The Good Person of Setzuan" on opening April 27th at runs through May 7th 2023 (see website for details)
SONG: I-57 ALBUM: Unreleased Favorite treat: Salami Photo credit: Kati Yau
Sven zooms with Jon Ginoli (He/Him) of The Outnumbered and Pansy Division to talk about his song "Tell Me What's Wrong" from their 1987 album "Work... Buy... Die," the CU music scene back in the 80's, following your ambition, and other memories from back in the day. SONG: Tell Me What’s Wrong ALBUM: Work… Buy… Die BANDS: The Outnumbered, Pansy Division
Photo credit: selfie
Sven chats with James Karavites (He/Him) BKA Apollo K about his song "When September Comes"
SONG: When September Comes ALBUM: Single BANDS: Vinylsides, Blues Lawyer Junior Favorite treat: Orange Crush Photo credit: Gregory Karavites
Sven chats with Genaro Jr. (He/Him) (EP96), JRjoos (He/Him) and Matthew (He/They) from HIDEOUT (FKA: Hip-Hop Collective) as they talk about the creation of HIDEOUT, their recording and album creation, and future plans for HIDEOUT.
If you're interested in joining HIDEOUT check them out on Insta and send them a DM: https://www.instagram.com/hideout.hhc/
Check out their most recent release "FOUND FOOTAGE" on Spotify
Sven chats with Mousepad (Josh, He/Him) and WhipTRip6 (Dave, He/Him) about the creation of Half House Studios and it's goals going into the future. HHS Linktree: https://linktr.ee/Halfhousestudios
Sven sits down with Max Szymczak (He/Him) and Erik Paulius (He/Him) of Stańczyk to talk about their song "Aeroplane," great DIY venues, and their favorite non-musical thing(s).
SONG: Aeroplane
ALBUM: Single
BANDS: Blues Lawyer Junior, Stańczyk
Favorite treat: Pita Chips and Hummus, Mtn Dew, Genmaicha Tea
Photo: Jess Miyata
In this 100th Episode of the pod sven chats with Rick Valentin (He/Him) of Poster Children about his song "*He's My Star" off of the 1995 album "Junior Citizen," writing songs with Poster Children, his relationship to creativity, and trying to meet David Hasselhoff at a mall.
*Song truncated due to usage rights-- To listen to the full song listen on Spotify CLICK HERE
SONG: He's My Star
ALBUM: Junior Citizen
BANDS: Poster Children...
Sven sits down to chat with Tessa Turner (She/Her) about her song "Narcissist," unusual venues, and her favorite non-musical things.
SONG: Narcissist
ALBUM: Unreleased
Favorite Treats: Tea and Dark Chocolate
Photo Credit: DJ BJ Clark
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