Interviews

Blues and Birthdays with Bats: A Conversation with Jess Awh

Nashville indie rock group Bats delighted the crowd for their afternoon set at last week’s Culture Shock. Bats’ lineup includes frontperson and songwriter Jess Awh, drummer James, steel player Nick, and bassist Ben. We got to sit down for an interview with Jess following their set, chatting a bit about Culture Shock and the band’s trip to Indiana. 

From Bob Dylan to Sea Horses, Tobacco City Rocks

“Poser country.” That’s how the alt-country band Tobacco City described their sound during our conversation after their set at Culture Shock 2025. Hailing from Chicago and consisting of Chris Coleslaw on vocals and guitar, Steve Plock on the drums, Scott Quider with the pedal steel, Lexi Goddard on vocals and guitar, and Eliza Webber on bass and vocals, Tobacco City put on a remarkable show at Saturday's festival.

A Quick Talk with Maggie Baugh

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Maggie Baugh, a rising country artist from Nashville, Tennessee after her Bloomington show on March 14th. Baugh released her debut album, Dear Me, in October 2023. 

Jeff Greenspan On "Deviant Acts"

Jeff Greenspan is a guy who wears a lot of hats – comedian, artist, activist, and even former ad agency creative. But at the core of everything he does is a deep curiosity about people and the systems that shape our lives. In an interview with WIUX, Greenspan talked about his comedy show “Deviant Acts" that blends humor and activism, while using satire to challenge authority, and why he thinks public spaces are the best places for creative expression.

We are Not Powerless: Learning with Grace Leckey

I’ve been working on my interviewing skills for a while now. I’m a student of interviewing, if you will, studying technique through practice. So when musician Grace Leckey reached out to me about covering her return to Bloomington and her newest releases, I jumped on the opportunity.

Exploring Innovation with Early Grey

A few weeks ago, I heard about a local Bloomington band named Early Grey. Early Grey as a band is innovative and experimental, rising in the local music scene and attempting to spread their influence across the midwest and beyond. Our conversation centered around their beginnings, what they’re doing with their style and personality, and the future plans for the band.

Keep the Music Alive: A Conversation with Mourning Star

Just yesterday, I had the wonderful opportunity to sit down with the up-and-coming Bloomington band Mourning Star. The group, consisting of members Thom Kitchel, Anna Prager, Nova Hardie, and Cam Parker, has existed for about a year and recently released their first EP just a few weeks ago called flowers for your friends after months of hard work and dedication. 

Pledge Drive 2024: Battle of the Bands

Thursday night was the 2024 Pledge Drive Battle of the Bands, a donation-based competition to see who will get to open next spring's Culture Shock. Karl and I snagged each of the bands who performed at this year's Battle of the Bands for a quick little interview. 

CDs by the people, for the people: Pledge-a-Thon’s Kickoff Event!!

--When I heard that the first event in WIUX’s yearly Pledge-a-Thon was a CD burn, I rushed to check it out! I didn’t know exactly how it would work, but as I walked into the Collins Commons, it quickly became clear. $5 later (donated to help keep our beloved station up and running), I was standing in line.

Callejera talks GUTTING EP, Origins, and Growing in the Scene.

Indianapolis-based alternative punk band Callejera made their 2024 Culture Shock debut, playing an intense, blistering set with songs off their latest EP, GUTTING. I got a chance to sit down with them after their set to talk about their origins as a band, their latest EP, and growing in the Indy scene. 

Prairie Scout Interview

Recently I got to sit down and host an exclusive interview with Culture Shock opener and WIUX Battle of the Bands winners, Prairie Scout! The interview was held live on WIUX B-Side internet radio and delves into the formation of the band, how they cultivated their sound, and some of their favorite music picks.

Interview with Doug Dulgarian of “They are Gutting A Body of Water”

The Philadelphia shoegaze band They are Gutting A Body of Water, known as TAGABOW, was a part of the lineup for WIUX’s annual festival, Culture Shock this year.  

Getting Silly with Merce Lemon

Pittsburgh-local band Merce Lemon had a great crowd, and an even better performance at the festival. After they killed it on stage, I snagged them for a bit to talk about their experiences as a band, personal opinions on music, and most importantly, fruit preferences.

What is the HumDrum Press?

I had the pleasure of interviewing Max DiFrisco and Braeden Janes, two founders of the HumDrum Press, an independent record label started a few months ago in town. I was able to talk to them about their inspirations, recent releases, and how this project is different from any other student project.

My Time With The Skaaholics

For last year's annual Culture Shock music festival, I had the pleasure of talking to the members of The Skaaholics. They are a fusion band that combines elements of Ska, Rock, Reggae, Punk, Dub, Hip-Hop, and Latin rhythms. 

Culture Shock: Superlunar Interview

An interview with Tyler Volkmar from Superlunar. Superlunar consists of 3 members, with Tyler Volkmar singing and playing guitar, Kyle Impini playing bass, and Ty Maguiness on drums. Based in Bloomington, the members have been creating music since November 2020.  

Westhead - Music Market Interview

Shane Pi Interview

ForeDaze - Music Market Interview

Namen Namen - Music Market Interview

WIUX's Music Market: A Day of Community, Art, and Music