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 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
Friday Dec 18, 2020
Friday Dec 18, 2020
Every great episode needs a sequel, EP51 is no exception. Consider this bonus material from part 1.
We talk about Sven finding joy in hip hop, recording an upcoming album, supporting artists, AMS' family history in CU, all the CU hip hop connections he's made, and finally what makes a good scene!
BONUS SONG: "Half (a Life)" from the upcoming album: Strange Days, Stranger Tomorrows
Photo by: Yevgeniya Mazur
Friday Dec 11, 2020
Friday Dec 11, 2020
Sven zooms with AMS. the Nerd King to talk about Grecian Myth, the "keys" to happiness, why you can't say the word "bear," and a very special teacher from Hyde Park who was a powerful influence on AMS' voice.
SONG: SisyphusALBUM: The Over/Under EPLyrics by AMS. Produced by SAMIYAM. Turntablism by DJ RTST. Recorded at Soapbox Music in Chicago, IL.
BANDS: Boombap Savant and FUTURE CULT LEADERS OF AMERICA, aka FCLA.
Favorite Treat: OJ - plain and simple
Photo: Sarah Larson
REFS:
SAMIYAM.
Sev Seveer
Sisyphus
Hades
Tantalus (the pear guy)
Ad infinitum
Helping Verb
Breath Control
Metronome
Metalhead
Post-Punk [Genre]
Post-Hardcore [Genre]
HipHop [Genre]
Jazz [Genre]
Motown [Genre]
Funk [Genre]
Soul [Genre]
Classic Rock [Genre]
Psychedelic Rock [Genre]
Universal Zulu Nation [Group]
Metallica [Band]
4 Elements of HipHop
Graff Artist
Breakdancing
Rawkus Records - Soundbombing II
Company Flow [Group]
"Patriotism" [Song]
National Honor Society
Scholastic Bowl
Footwork battles
Breaking Battles
Martin Luther
"Sin Boldly"
Water into wine miracle.
Windmills - Don Quixote
Roman Catholic Church
Latin Mass
Boy Scouts of America
Cursive [Band]
"Art is Hard" [song]
Blunderbuss
Mad Libs
Igneous
Eagle Scout
Capcom
Mega Man
Yellow Devil
Saying the word "Bear"
Making a custom keyboard
Through hole soldering
Chase Baby (EP38 and BEP09)
"Lifelines" Feat. AMS the Nerd King
The Dissociation EP - Chase Baby
Friday Nov 27, 2020
Friday Nov 27, 2020
In this episode Sven zooms with Em Baker of Plike. Find out what recording in a car, a washing machine, and the opening scene in "The Fifth Element" all have to do with her music and collaboration with Yellow Belly.
SONG: Sanity Meter (feat. Yellow Belly)
ALBUM: Soteria
BANDS: Alison Layne (Alice in Chains cover band), Bishop Buzzkill, Plike, Wire & Wasteland, Acting for Cameras
FAVORITE TREAT: toss-up between a pint of Ben & Jerry's Phish Food and a chocolate martini!
Photo Credit: Andres Morales-Torres | AMT Photoworks
REFS
Hellblade [Game] (Senua's Sacrifice)
Yellow Belly [Band]
WitchHouse [Genre]
ChipTune [Genre]
Synth-Pop [Genre]
Pink Floyd [Band]
Dub Step [Genre]
Portishead [Band]
The Fifth Element [Movie]
PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder)
Aphex Twin [Band]
The Crystal Method [Band]
Spotify
Myspace
Decatur, IL
DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles)
90s Daughter
Jupiter's
The Canopy Club
EDM
VNV Nation [Band]
Paul Oakenfold
NES (Nintendo Entertainment System)
Mass Effect [Game Series]
Star Wars [Movie Series]
Commander Shepard [Character]
Sony
VO (Voice-over)
Mark Hamill
Silent Hill
Oculus Rift
Aliens [Movie]
Ripley [Character]
Alien Isolation [Game]
Play Station
Untitled Goose Game
The Three Stooges
Asheville, NC
Friday Nov 06, 2020
Friday Nov 06, 2020
Even in the middle of a pandemic, music is still happening and being released. Sven zooms with former guest Kelsey Sharp (EP6) to talk about releasing an EP in the middle of a pandemic and what goes into each of the four songs on her EP.
You can find "W.W.L.D." available now!
EP cover art and episode cover by: Big E
Friday Oct 30, 2020
Friday Oct 30, 2020
Sven zooms with Jemma and Alaina from Familiar Ghosts to talk about their song "Bury Me Alive." Tune in to find out what Starbucks, Google Docs, and Edgar Allan Poe have in common, where the name Familiar Ghosts comes from, and what paint is better: acrylic or oil.
SONG: Bury Me Alive
ALBUM: Daydreams & Nightmares (releases 12/21/20
BANDS: Familiar Ghosts (Formally the Killer Coven)
Favorite Treats:
Jemma: Chai latte & bear claws
Alaina: Moscow Mule & banana bread
Photo Credit: Tim Allen
Refs:
Starbucks
Emoting
Rebranding
Indie folk
Indie rock
Queen(esque) [band]
Chord Structure
Key
Killer Coven [band]
Hands of Fate
Elton John
The Star [Song]
Google Docs
Pop Music
Ballad
Sipyard
NOLA's Rock Bar (Formally Blackbird Urbana)
90's Daughter [Band]
Overworry [Band]
Ingrid Michaelson [Musician]
AJR [Band]
Acrylic Paint
Oil Paint
Watercolors
Tarot
Astrology
Midnight Sun [book]
Midnight Sun [Definition]
Stephanie Myer [author]
Edgar Allan Poe
Pompous
The High Priestess [Tarot Card]
The Star [Tarot Card]