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.
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Episodes
Friday Apr 30, 2021
Friday Apr 30, 2021
Sven zooms with Justin Walden of Scarecrow Adams to talk about his song "Old Man In a Red Hat," reflect on his philosophy of writing music, his early days of playing in local CU venues, and his favorite non-Musical thing. Stay tuned to the end of the episode for the origins of the name "Scarecrow Adams"
SONG: Old Man in a Red Hat
ALBUM: Old Man in a Red Hat
BANDS: Scarecrow Adams, Lionzz, Super Space Fighters, Hurkles, and Whitty Whitesell & the Life Parade
Favorite Treat: Berry Bubly / Blueberry Eggo Waffles
Photo Credit: Eric Frahm @Cowboy Monkey
REFS
Laurel Canyon
Pro-Tools
Joni Mitchell
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
Self Realization Fellowship
Paramahansa Yogananda
A&R (Artists and Repertoire)
Piggy [Song]
Downward Spiral [Album]
Trent Reznor
"Playing in the pocket"
Sevendust [Band]
Too Much $, Not Enough Love [Song]
"How 'Bout Us" [Song]
Champaign [Band]
Justin's Version of "How 'Bout Us" [Song]
Jeff Hanneman
Ableton
"Vulgar Electricity" from Song: "Come In From The Cold"
Night Ride Home [Album]
Mabel's [Venue]
The Elvis Bothers
Combo Audio
Guido Sinclair
Nature's Table [Venue]
Bontuku
Trito's Uptown [Venue]
Farm Aid
The Police
Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
Crimson & Clover [song]
Stewart Copland
Sting
Roxanne
The City Center
Elsinore [Band]
Scarecrow Adams Elsinore Remix
Ryan Groff (EP35)
Planned Parenthood
The Accord [Venue]
The Charming Beggars [Band]
The Martyrs [Band]
Crestone, CO
Burning Man
Kuaui, HI
Friday Apr 16, 2021
Friday Apr 16, 2021
CW: mental health and dying
Even in the middle of a pandemic, music is still happening and being recorded. Sven zooms with former guest Kenna Mae from EP13 about their new Sweetmelk EP: "Living Room"
Check out now and buy yourself a copy and check out the Sweetmelk SWEATSHIRTS!
Or as I like to call them SWEETSHIRTS!
Friday Mar 26, 2021
Friday Mar 26, 2021
Sven zooms with Kyle Lang of Special Death about his song "Remember" off of his self-titled EP: "Special Death" We talk about the reissue on vinyl of Easter's "Demonstration" EP on Beloved Records, favorite house venues in CU, and Kyle's favorite non-muisical thing(s).
SONG: Remember
ALBUM: Special Death
BANDS: Pontow, Well Read Devils, Nunpuncher, Easter, Adult Books, The Tyrants, Need, Special Death
Favorite Treat: Chocolate chip cookies without the chocolate chips
Photo Credit: Josh Karlson
REFS:
NNAMDÏ
ThrashKitten
Ratboys
Sean Neumann (EP5)
Jupiter Styles
Terror House [Venue]
Error House [Venue]
Dan Aykroyd's House [Venue]
Dumb Records
Weekend Nachos [Band]
Wabeano Rock Farm [Band]
Sweettooth [Band]
Belleville, IL
Easter [Band]
Beloved Records
"Demonstration EP"
Oak Forest, IL
Garfield's Garden [Venue]
Rat King Records
Dude Ranch [Venue]
Friday Mar 12, 2021
Friday Mar 12, 2021
Sven zooms with Cara Maurizi of Linea Crux to talk about her song "Twist & Turn" off of the album "Stronghold." We talk about working in the studio to bring new life to her songs, where the name "Linea Crux came from, and maybe even what her favorite color is...
SONG: Twist & Turn
ALBUM: Stronghold
BANDS: Linea Crux, Backup singer with Slick Lisp, and Modern Drugs
Favorite Treat: All baked goods, Espresso, Coffee Tea, whiskey, wine, and really good beer
Photo Credit: Della Perrone
REFS:
Ryan Groff (EP35)
Perennial Sound Studio
Audio Compression
EQ (Equalization) [Video]
Brian Wilson
Wall of Sound
Linnea (Flower)
Moons of Neptune
Opera
Highdive [RIP]
Seven Saints
Mike n' Molly's
Pour Bros. Craft Taproom Champaign
Elsinore
Brandon T. Washington
Mike Ingram
Ci La Cole (EP46)
New Souls
Tera Terra [Band] (EP41)
Milford Men [Band] (EP35)
Modern Drugs [Band] (EP35)
Galesburg, IL
Prairie Players
The Station Theatre
Parkland Theater
CUTC
Pens to Lens
The Double Machine [video]
Taste of Champaign
West Side Park
Greycoats [Band]
Common Loon [Band]
Color Theory
"Use What You Have Decorating" [Book]
Friday Feb 26, 2021
Friday Feb 26, 2021
In this episode Sven zooms with Jarrel Young to talk about his song "Doin To Me," off the album "I'd Be Mad Too..." the CU music scene, and his two favorite non-musical things.
SONG: Doin To Me
ALBUM: I’d Be Mad Too…
BANDS: Live band: Misfit Music
Favorite Treat: Spring Water, Assorted Herbal Tea and chips, preferably plain ruffles.
Photo Credit: Boots Howard
REFS:
Doin To Me [Video]
H.Kal-El.
THEGR8THINKAZ
Hook
Cowboy Monkey [Venue] RIP
The Canopy Club [Venue]
Bone Thugs-n-Harmony
Eclipse Studios
Charlie Wilson
Boyz II Men
Montana of 300
Luyando Boxing & Fitness
Friday Feb 12, 2021
Friday Feb 12, 2021
SONG TEMPORARILY REMOVED (SAMPLES)
Sven zooms with Blair aka lovenloops to talk about her song "Black Girl Levitation (ft. Nikky Finney)" off the album Don't Ever Forget It. We talk about SOLHOT "We Levitate," the first Black Girl Genius Week in 2014, how it's grown and hopes for the future.
SONG: Black Girl Levitation
ALBUM: Don’t Ever Forget It
BANDS: SOLHOT We Levitate (Saving Our Lives Hear our Truths)
Favorite Treat: bourbon whiskey/sugar cookies
Photo by: Kamari Smalls
REFS:
SOLHOT
Nikky Finney
Black Girl Genius Week
Hip Hop [Genre]
Funk [Genre]
Jazz [Genre]
Lo-Fi [Genre]
Dr. Ruth Nichole Brown
The World Is Round [Book]
Syracuse University
College of William & Mary
Hassaan Mackey
J Dilla
Madlib
Roland SP-404 Beat Machine
Black Feminism
Mother Nature
Klevah
TRUTH
Hear Our Truths: The Creative Potential of Black Girlhood [Book]
Dissertation
Dr. Porshé Garner
Jessica L. Robinson
Imposter Syndrome
Pygmalion
June Jordan [Author]
Gwendolyn Brooks
"Spin a Soft Black Song"
Nikki Giovanni [Author]
Recipe for 7-UP Lemon Pound Cake (not Blair's recipe)
Friday Jan 29, 2021
Friday Jan 29, 2021
Sven zooms with Sandman Slimm (Formally "Truth aka Trouble") about his favorite song the one (prod. by BMTJ)Find out about how Trouble Chasin’ got started, creating the Beautiful Chaos EP, and how stillness & returning to nature is the key to everything.
SONG: the one (prod. by BMTJ)
ALBUM: Beautiful Chaos EP
BANDS: Trouble Chasin’, Dizzy Ape, 10 Flow.
Favorite Treat: Gin & Tonics & Red Vines
Photo Credit: Boots Howard
Refs
BMTJ
Zack Fox
"Jesus Is the One (I Got Depression)" [Article]
"Six Feet" [Song]
GOAT - Greatest Of All Time
Wolf of Wall Street
"I AM NOT OK" [Song]
Stickup [Song]
Vent [Song]
Systemic Racism In Education: [Articles]
1. Fighting Systemic Racism in K-12 Education: Helping Allies Move From the Keyboard to the School Board
2. Systemic racism has led to education disparities
3. Resources for Exploring Systemic Racism
Toto Riina
Bravado
The Canopy Club
Bone Thugs-n-Harmony
10 Flow
SIUC
Freestyle
Dre Bill
Kodak Black
H.a.t.e. Tape Mixtape (High Above The Enemy)
Chase Scott aka Chase Baby (EP 38)
Trouble Chasin'
Illini Union
Go Crazy (Feat.Truth aka Trouble, Prod. by TheGr8Thinkaz [Song]
Champaign & A Movie [Mixtape]
Trouble Chasin' [Spotify]
Richard Kadrey (Sandman Slim Series)
Stov Da CEO
Kickapoo State Park
Wednesday Jan 20, 2021
Wednesday Jan 20, 2021
**Inauguration Day Special!!!*
In this episode Sven zooms with Oliver Groff: vocalist, lyricist, and artist behind the band Cactuss. We talk about his song "The Reason Donald Trump Should Be in the Trash," we talk about the inspiration behind the song, their creative process, working with producer Ryan Groff (EP35), and running a world class CU local recording studio.
SONG: The Reason Donald Trump Should Be in the Trash
ALBUM: Single
BANDS: CACTUSS
Favorite Treat: Bubly and chocolate
Photo Credit: Ryan Groff (EP35)
*Please note: a Ghee-Tar is like a Key-Tar, but with clarified butter. ;-)
Friday Jan 15, 2021
Friday Jan 15, 2021
In this episode Sven zooms with Mike Skibski, Vice President of Music for the Masses UIUC. We talk about his song "I'll Stay With You," Music for the Masses, and planning for the future.
SONG: I’ll Stay With You [Spotify Link]
ALBUM: I’ll Stay With You
BANDS: Solo
Favorite Treat: Blueberry Acai Green Tea and Dark Chocolate Hershey's Kisses
Photo Credit: Jackson Skibski
Refs
Music For the Masses UIUC
Ukelele
Tremolo
Metaphor
Shotgun Microphones [Video]
Vance Joy
RSO [Registered Student Organization]
UIUC Union
The Canopy Club
Introversion
Singer-songwriter
Midwest Emo [Genre]
Math Rock [Genre]
String Harmonics
Tapping
Bottom Bracket [Band]
Rat King Records [Label]
Information Systems
Entrepreneurship
Wednesday Dec 23, 2020
Wednesday Dec 23, 2020
In this episode Sven zooms with Elena and Travis of Soft and Dumb to talk about their song "Tony, Please." Find out if there IS a Tony, being self-conscious about making music, and how to be a band that has only had one live show before COVID-19 locked everything down.
SONG: Tony, Please
ALBUM: Out of Bed
BANDS: Soft and Dumb
Favorite Treat:
Elena: hot apple cider
Travis: cold apple cider
REFS
Star Wars Order
Ghostwriter
Natural Harmonics
DAW [Digital Audio Workstation]
Looper Pedal
2021danceparty [Song]
Inception
Chronologically
Cult Leader
Anthem
Barre Chords
Drop D Tuning
Power Chords
Dissonance / Consonance
Spat [Song]
Birdhouse [Venue]
Hazy Seas [Band]
Dog Mom [Band]
Waluigi's Mansion [Venue]
The Forest [Venue]
King Kruel [Band]
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Campy
Call of Duty - Zombies
Freddy Krueger
Sarah Michelle Gellar
Breaking Bad
Joss Whedon
Sitcom
Musical Episode of Buffy -"Once More, with Feeling" [Ssn 6, Ep 7]
"No One Can Speak" Episode of Buffy - "Hush" [Ssn 4, Ep 10]
Light Pollution