#musicgaragechicago

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The unique sound of Rahel Be (Rachel Bekele) is a ray of light during these uncertain times. Her debut EP Manifest is inspired by her personal struggles and journey to self-acceptance over the past two years. This period of deep reflection and growth led to the creation this sonically meditative EP.  

The Ethiopian American singer and Milwaukee native grew her interest at an early age. Rahel played the Ukulele and violin while continuing to discover artists like Amy Winehouse, Erykah Badu, and Lady Ray. These artists are her main influences. Her writing and storytelling are centered around themes of perseverance, growth, and personal liberation.  

Namaste was the first track created. Rahel eventually joined forces with native Chicago producer Benjamin Karabank for the completion of the song. From there. Other features on the EP include her co-writing by her sister Eden Bekele and Craig Huff, Voice mixing and mastering from rapper Rich Robbins (Music Garage’s February Featured Artist) and guest verses from rappers Sudo Black, tr3e and Since ’93. Together, this dynamic team helped Rahel manifest this flawless EP.  

This is Rahel’s first music project but certainty not her last. She wants to take her time creating new music and eventually incorporate playing the violin into future projects and live performances. For now, self-care and growth will continue to be the priority in her journey.  

The Manifest EP is a project that allows the listener to explore the feeling of being spiritual grounded and liberated at the same time. If you’re ready to take this exploration backed by soulful vocals, honest lyricism and outstanding instrumentation, then head over to Music Garage’s featured artist playlist on Spotify or search for Rahel Be on Spotify and Instagram.  

Instagram: @rahelbemusic

Spotify: Rahel Be

Apple Music: Rahel Be

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All the feels Chicago. 🤵🥁 Putting in some quality time here preparing for LA shows! @musicgarage #drumsdrumsdrums #instablackandwhite #musicgaragechicago #musicgarage @spiritintheroom @dirtycakesband @philieano @highriskpunk (at Music Garage Chicago) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn6QBtbn84A/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1a5pcwr427agf

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This week, Lights Up! had the pleasure to sit down with The Sweeps. The four-piece group creates a sound that combines melodic post-punk, soul and art-rock, to create a thrilling, captivating and incredibly unique sound. The band’s music is mainly driven by true stories and events that occurred in their lives. When you listen to their music, you ultimately join them on a beautiful journey of personal growth.

The band consists of four members, Santiago Torres (guitar, bass, vocals), Chris Dye (drums), Sam Bakken (synth, vocals), and Sean Foxely (bass). The group was originally formed in 2008 when late front man Bob Dain and Santiago Torres met. In 2009, the band went on to release their first EP entitled Midnight at the Box. A few years later, they released two other albums; in 2011 the group released The Terrible Children and in 2013 they released Swift Armour. Chris joined the band between Terrible Children and Swift Armour. Sam joined after Swift Armour.

In September of this year, the band released their self-entitled album The Sweeps. This album pays homage to the band’s front man, Bob Dain, who passed away in 2016. Santiago Torres beautifully stated that “Bob touched the hearts of a lot people and finishing this record took weight off of my shoulders because finally, my friend has something that will forever be a part of him.”

When recording their new album, The Sweeps found themselves using a different approach due to the sudden passing of their beloved bandmate. They were left with over forty rough demos that featured Bobs vocals and guitar leads. During the past three years, the band worked hard to piece those demos together into the beautiful and incredibly telling album that is out today. The album honors the last remnants of Bob’s music.

The COVID-19 pandemic drastically affected the band’s plans for this year. The Sweeps were set to plan a tour to promote their newly released album. The band is known for hosting a release show or listening party when they release an album, but they were forced to postpone these events as a safety precaution. Another hardship that the band is facing due to the pandemic is practicing as a group. Meeting in person is a safety hazard for their family and friends, so the guys are considering virtual sessions until further notice.

The pandemic did not stop the group from working on new exciting projects and engaging with fans through their social media accounts. The group recently released an exhilarating music video for the song I Couldn’t Be Him, which is found on their newly released self-entitled album. Is it a must-see! This video, and others, can be found on their YouTube channel.

The Sweeps have been staying active on social media. They are pushing fans to check out their new album on Bandcamp and Soundcloud. Chris Dye stated that it is hard to get new fans when the band is not playing live. The band is considering performing live stream shows for their fan base, but they are hopeful that once the vaccine is available to the public, they will be on stage again serenading large crowds of people. Currently, the band posts short videos on Instagram and comments on other bands social media accounts to promote their new album. The Album is available on all streaming platforms. Go check it out!

Follow The Sweeps on social media to stay tuned on their upcoming releases and future events. You can hear their music featured on Music Garage's "Featured Artist 2020" playlist on Spotify and Soundcloud!

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4cdDjFKKIZUGGLohv3HHSI

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSweeps/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesweepsmusic/

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/TheSweeps

Bandcamp: https://thesweepsmusic.bandcamp.com/

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Independent Venue Week 

The COVID-19 pandemic has put a significant hold on the worldwide live event and concert industry, causing the smaller independent venues worldwide to shut down. The National Independent Venue Association, also known as NIVA, was formed to help raise awareness and money for the struggling venues around the US and UK. As part of an effort to raise this awareness, Independent Venue Week, an annual nationwide initiative supporting indie music venues, used its platform to raise funds to benefit the NIVA Emergency Relief Fund. On their website, Independent Venue Week states that “by championing independent venues, we are able to highlight why they are so much more than just places for live music – they are cultural hubs for learning, creativity, arts and culture more widely connecting people in their local community of all ages, backgrounds, abilities, genders, skills and walks of life.”

The digital Independent Venue Week took place between Oct. 24-30. In the US, over 120 independently owned venues in 70 cities across 32 states have participated in this year’s event. One of those participating venues included Chicago’s very own Hideout. As mentioned on their website, the Hideout is a Prohibition-era bar in a small space that hosts all kinds of live music events. This special venue hosted a roster of notable artists that includes Jack White, Phantom Planet, Jimmy Martin and many more iconic names. 

On October 29th, the Hideout hosted a very special Halloween themed digital livestream entitled “Cosmic Country Showcase”. Fifteen talented acts performed thrilling musical performances and comedy sketches. It featured many fantastic headliners, starting with a yodeling and barking country singer-songwriter known as Nick Shoulders. He performed two original songs entitled “Turn on the Dark” and “Snakes and Waterfalls”. Other headliners include “Los Espookys” writer and actress Ana Fabrega, the “No Respect” comedian Sarah Squirm, fancy drag artist Nico, and banjo playing singer-songwriter Evil.

Other notable acts include the father-son duo, Sammy Tweedy and Jeff Tweedy. Their performance of Black Sabbath’s “Changes” will undoubtedly give you chills. Cosmic Country regular cast members Tenci, Andrew Sa, Hawk Colman, Sima Cunningham, and Ben LaMar Gay presented their talents throughout the show with their outstanding spooky musical performances and comedy sketches. To learn more about the performers, click on the attached link below!

The public can still view the “Cosmic Country Showcase” on the Hideout’s website. Anyone can have access to it for only $15! A full list of the venue’s upcoming events can also be found on their website. It is important to note that all the raised funds from these shows will benefit the NIVA Emergency Relief Fund, which ultimately helps your favorite independent venues around the US. 

Independent Venue Week Artist Ambassador, Alison Mosshard, stated that “Independent venues are incredibly important to our musical history as a country, and they are incredibly important to our future.” What makes a city like Chicago so special is the iconic places where memories and history are made. So please, support your local venues by donating to NIVA Relief Fund. You can save our stages.

Hideout

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hideoutchicago/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hideoutchicago/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/hideoutchicago

Website: https://www.hideoutchicago.com

Cosmic Country Showcase Performers List: https://www.hideoutchicago.com/e/cosmic-country-showcase-tickets-123549918131/

NIVA

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nivassoc

Instagram: https://www.saveourstages.com/support-niva

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nivassoc

Website: https://www.nivassoc.org

Independent Venue Week

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IVWUS

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivw_us/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ivw_us

Website: https://www.independentvenueweek.com

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This week, Lights Up! had the opportunity to talk to Kid Cut, A Chicago based rapper and producer who has been making music since he was kid. Music runs in his family and he was actually named after the famous jazz musician Miles Davis. A self-taught musician, Kid Cut taught himself how to produce and engineer music at a young age. Now, he not only makes his own music, he also produces and engineer’s music for others. 

Inspired by the work ethic of Lil Wayne, Kid Cut has been consistently putting in the work to grow as a musician. He explained that his love for music and friends keep him motivated. The style of Kid Cut’s music draws inspiration and style from many different places, but he said his goal is to project his life into music.

“Music is my life”, said Kid Cut.

In our conversation, Kid Cut mentioned that he resonates with Lil Wayne’s analogy of music being like a sport where you have to put in the work and practice. 

The pandemic hasn’t stopped Kid Cut from creating engaging content for his listeners. While the pandemic caused the cancellation of some Kid Cut performances due to the closure of music venues, he has adapted to the circumstances. Kid Cut described this time as an opportunity for him to refocus and spend time making music.

Since August, Kid Cut has been releasing music weekly. His music encompasses a variety of different styles, so Kid Cut releases music frequently in an effort to draw in listeners from different audiences. Most recently, he released an EP, “Cut from a Different Cloth”,on his birthday and it features nine songs. The EP features older and newer songs made by Kid Cut, and features a single, “City Girl”.

Recently, Kid Cut has also been focusing on showing his followers how he makes music as a way to engage with his fans. He wants to show his fans how he can work independently to create his music. Kid Cut has been doing this by posting about the process of making music on social media. He will also occasionally send unreleased music to his fans for input. 

Kid Cut encourages any of his fans or soon-to-be fans to check out all of his music, including music he has released years ago. Be sure to follow Kid Cut on social media to keep up with what he is up to. All of his social media handles are listed below, and you can hear his music featured on Music Garage’s “Featured Artist 2020” playlist on Spotify and Soundcloud. 

Social Media: 

Instagram: @kidcuttheartist

Facebook: Kid Cut  

Spotify: Kid Cut

Twitter: @OfficialKidCut  

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With an emphasis on thrash metal tradition, Bloodrunner brings a different take on ‘Kill em’ all’ era Metallica with an appreciation for old school metal and aesthetics. If you enjoy the classics, ‘Bloodrunners’ album “Total Annihilation” will be a great experience for you!

Bloodrunner is a band that developed in 2004 consisting of Kyle Hickey on Guitar, Neal Rodriguez on Vocals and guitar, Mike Lerman on Drums and Matt Wensel on the Bass.The album begins with the song ‘Bloodrunner’. This song is reminiscent of bands such as ‘Anthrax’, ‘Metallica’ and ‘Overkill’ with similar style of performance including Neal Rodriguez delivering snarling half sung vocals on this track. Another personal favorite on the album is the track “Fears/ Sentence of Death”; in this track, you really get a feel for the virtuosic performances as the band transitions from a classical guitar passage with sweeping lead guitar, into a classic metal chorus and verse with amazing drum fills and energy. In the song “Total Annihilation” you will get all the elements that could be expected from a contemporary band, like Metallica.This song revives many of the shouted vocals, technical guitar solos and drumming that you will appreciate as fans of the genre. 

In this album, Bloodrunner succeeds in producing an amazing modern rendition of many of the elements revered in classic metal. If you are looking for new sounds and an evolution of the metal genre, this album may not be for you, due to it’s appreciation of the roots rather than it’s offshoots. But if you are looking for a band that fully appreciates the classics with dynamic song structure and well executed playing, this album will definitely be up your alley. Check out ‘Bloodrunner’’s album in the link below and all of our other amazing local musicians, right here, on “Lights Up!”.

https://open.spotify.com/artist/3VJblKGHMRsz327bdZTOui?si=WOzBZwQOTv62BvLxAvpEMQ&nd=1

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7 THINGS TO DO FOR HALLOWEEN IN CHICAGO

During “normal” times, Chicago is packed to the brim with things to do Halloween weekend. This year, Chicago is getting creative with ways to celebrate Halloween while staying safe and distanced. Music Garage has made a list of local events happening on Halloween weekend:

1. Drive in Films

Since the start of the month, The Music Box Theater has been holding a month long series of horror/slasher flicks called “Music Box of Horrors” at Chi-Town Movies Drive In. Sunday-Thursday nights will have late night features, and Friday-Saturday will have double features. 

2. Riot Fest Drive-in

Chicago's famous music and arts festival “Riot Fest” decided to hop on the drive in trend and provide a spectacular event October 30th through 31st. At Chicago Drive-In in Bridgeview IL, musical acts, New Found Glory, Knuckle Puck, and Hot Mulligan will perform live in a drive-in setting. Following the acts on both days will be a screening of the films “Beetlejuice” and “The Exorcist”. Check HERE for more details.

3. Drive-Thru Haunted House at Replay Lincoln Park

The Lincoln Park arcade bar “Replay” is putting on a drive through haunted house called “Replay’s Alley of Darkness”. This event is running until October 31st and you must make a reservation beforehand. Don’t have a car? No worries! Replay Arcade bar is offering rental cars so everyone can still enjoy the experience. Check HERE for more details on ticketing and reservations.

4. Lincoln Park Zoo After Dark Events

Every Saturday during the month of October, the Lincoln Park Zoo is staying open late offering their Zoo Nights as an opportunity to explore the zoo after dark. On October 29th, they are having their “Adults Night Out: Great Pumpkin Glow” where adults only can explore the zoo after dark with a special haunted trail along with seasonal cocktails! The adults night is currently on waitlist but the ‘Zoo After Dark’ is still open! Check HERE for details on the after dark visits and HERE for more details on the adults night.

5. Morgan MFG Room: 237 Pop up experience

For those of you who are fans of the classic psychological horror The Shining, this will be a dream experience you won't want to miss! Morgan Manufacturing, in Chicago’s West Loop, is hosting a pop up exhibition decking out this 32,000 square ft. warehouse like the Overlook Hotel from The Shining, detailed with props, artwork, actors, and themed cocktails. This is a must event for any fans of the classic film looking for a great way to spend Halloween! Make your reservation on Opentable HERE!

6. Day of the Deadmau5 - At the Drive-In

On October 30-31st at Seatgeek Stadium in Bridgeview IL, Deadmau5 will be performing! Deadmau5 is well known for his stunning live production warranting a good time and an experience you won't want to miss, nonetheless on Halloween! You can purchase tickets at this event HERE!

7. Blommer Chocolate Company's ARTS IN THE DARK Upside Down Halloween Parade

On October 31st, the famous State Street Arts in the Dark parade will be held in a Covid-19 safe fashion as a stationary drive by parade in Washington Park! This way you'll still be able to enjoy the parade in a new fashion while still taking safe covid measures. This event is free but requires a reservation, so click HERE to book your slot! 

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‘Save Our Stages’ Fest Review

Living in the current economic crisis that has been presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, I feel that our music venues are often forgotten victims of this crisis. There is not nearly enough discourse in the mainstream media around the negative impact this crisis has had on music venues, which are spaces that so many of us enjoy. Because of this, I was excited to learn about the “Save Our Stages Fest”, a virtual festival to fundraise for the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA).  

Hosted on the “Save Our Stages” website as well as YouTube, the livestream concert featured a wide variety of artists. From Phoebe Bridgers to G-Eazy to Miley Cyrus, there was an act for everyone. The variety of artists featured was impressive, and made the festival exciting. 

I caught a few of the acts, and was thoroughly impressed with the performances. Several of the artists I saw invited other musical guests to join them, and it created a sense of community. It was so exciting when a musician I loved would bring on stage another phenomenal musician that I wasn’t expecting. All of the performances I saw were all so beautiful, I found myself clapping in my living room to fill the empty space where there should’ve been an audience applause. But the lack of audience applause, while a bit unsettling, reminded me of the importance of protecting the venues so that we can come back one day when the pandemic is over and fill that space.

One of my favorite aspects of the whole festival was hearing from artists about why people should donate to NIVA. Hearing about how important music venues are to the artists reminded me of how venues are a vessel for connecting musicians to the people who care about the art they make. 

The online set-up of the livestream was great as well. There was a live chat function to talk to other viewers which almost provided that sense of community you would get from talking to the people next to you at concerts. It was really easy to donate, you could contribute through the website or on YouTube. 

The ‘Save Our Stages’ Festival created a sense of community during a time where it’s hard to connect with people like we would at concerts. The performances were spectacular and there was a wide variety of acts. I am really glad I got to attend and hope NIVA will do more events like this in the future. 

-Gisselle, MG Featured Artist/Venue Intern

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This week, Lights Up! had the opportunity to sit down with Wolf Rd and we think this band that will soon be your latest obsession. The four-piece group creates a sound that combines pop-punk with metal and hardcore influences to create a powerful, thrilling, and unique sound. Wolf Rd’s introspective lyrics tackle themes ranging from heartbreaks and toxic friendships, to mortality and regret, in a way that is both relatable and profound.  

The band consists of four Chicago northwest suburb natives: Chris Hoffmann (vocals), Nick Hoffmann (drums/vocals), Devin Stone (bass), and Geoffrey Duckmann (guitar/vocals). The four bandmates played together for about three years in a cover band prior to making their official debut as Wolf Rd in September of 2019, when they released their first single, Oakton. Since that time, these guys have been taking their music career to the next level.  

The COVID-19 pandemic drastically affected the band’s plans for this year. Wolf Rd was set to go on tour, but they were forced to cancel all of their shows as a safety precaution. However, the pandemic did not stop the group from engaging with fans and working on new exciting music.  

During these past grueling months, Wolf Rd has been recording an acoustic rendition of their first original pop-punk/metal EP entitled Nowhere Around You. They stated that if it were not for the pandemic, the idea of recording an acoustic album would have never crossed their minds. They are very psyched about releasing this project to the public.

The pandemic also allowed the band to spend more time writing new music and they plan on releasing a few new singles in the upcoming months. Devin is predicting that there will be a “big bang in the local music scene” once this pandemic is over. Since bands are not occupied with touring, they are most likely using this precious time to write new music without facing any significant barriers.  

Wolf Rd has also been filming music videos for their previous releases. They recently dropped an exhilarating video for their single Dogwood it is a must-see! This video, and others, can be found on their website and on their YouTube channel.

Throughout this pandemic, Wolf Rd has been live-streaming sessions and posting content regularly on social media to stay active with their fans. Although live streaming is a viable option to interact with fans, the band believes that music admirers are now, more than ever, craving to physically see shows performed live. They are hopeful that there will be some change and rise in the local music scene after the pandemic fades. Chris stated that “one major advantage to live streaming for the band is having the ability to talk and engage with fans in real time.” Nevertheless, Wolf Rd is eager to return to the stage.  

Follow Wolf Rd on social media to stay tuned on their upcoming releases. You can hear their music featured on Music Garage’s “Featured Artist 2020” playlist on Spotify and Soundcloud.

Spotify: Wolf Rd

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WolfRdBand/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wolfrdband/  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/wolfrdband  

Website: https://www.wolfrdband.com/#home-section  

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‘JUST A MESS’ - ALL THOSE SUNKEN SHIPS AND DEFEATED ARMIES SINGLE REVIEW  Chicago based Alternative rock band Just a Mess is officially streaming their new single: “All Those Sunken Ships and Defeated Armies” with an upcoming album coming early 2021. Boy, does it pack a wallop of pop punk angst in a well executed package.

With Tony Sarlo on guitar vocals, Kyle Blais on bass, and Cory Grey on drums, The trio of Musicians say they formed to keep rock music alive, growing up in the Chicago music scene of the early 2000’s. Their emphasis on creating well executed performances through distorted guitars and hard hitting drums brings back fond memories of the pre-covid days of live music.

The song opens with a lush hum of chorus and reverb which quickly moves into a marching beat of quick snare hits and guitar strums. The bass comes in soon after, followed by the snare hitting out a marching pattern that carries out through the rest of the song. Tony Sarlos vocals compliment the drums and guitar well, with lyrics that bring about feelings of lost love and old friendships. This song balances traditional elements found in alternative rock and punk punk: Distorted chorus, youthful vocals, and a grand croshenndo of hard hitting drums, but I think where this single really shines is in its use of instruments to coat every part of the composition. To my ear, I think the subtlety of the strings really adds to the atmosphere and presence that the band has through their performance.

Although COVID has had to postpone live shows for ‘Just a Mess’, You should definitely see what there up to on there social media, With sneak peaks on there new album, and promotional photos It’s definitely worth taking a look. Until next time, Keep listening and we will keep writing!

Make sure to follow them on all platforms-

FB: @justamessrock

IG: @justamessmusic

Best, -Alex S at the Music Garage

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This week, Lights Up! had the honor of spending some time talking to Releaser, a four-member Chicago based rock band. The members, Andre, Stephen, Duane, and Jeremy, have been creatively seeking ways to engage with fans during the pandemic and continuing to grow as a group.  

Right before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Releaser was ready to hit the road and do some shows with their new touring vehicle. Unfortunately, on the second day of their tour, they had to turn around and come home because of the pandemic. The pandemic also caused them to cancel plans to go record out West. Members of Releaser described this as being a time of uncertainty.

While COVID-19 has presented challenges for the group, the members feel that they have used this time to find different ways to connect with fans, existing and new. For Releaser, this has meant growing their online presence and utilizing social media. Since growing their fanbase through shows isn’t possible right now, they have been leaning into engaging with people online and putting out content that showcases who they are.  

Releaser has been putting in a lot of work to ensure they are engaging with fans online, and actually released their latest single “Should’ve Known Better” in July. The song came about approximately a year ago when the band had the idea to post a short cover of the Richard Marx song “Should’ve Known Better” to honor the singer on his birthday. Their producer saw their performance on social media and suggested they record a cover.  

Fast forward a year later, the group found themselves wanting to release an uplifting song amidst the darkness of the pandemic and decided to record and release the cover of “Should’ve Known Better”. The cover was released on all streaming platforms for anyone to listen to the full version. Accompanying the song was a music video, available for viewing on their website or YouTube.  

Releaser has been using their online presence not only to grow as a group, but also to support the music industry as a whole. The group donated twenty-five percent of the proceeds made from their most recent live-stream to the National Independent Venue Association.  

Releaser’s advice for musicians and artists during this unique time is to utilize this time to write as much as possible, and don’t put too much pressure on yourself. They stressed the importance of having fun and remembering why you are making music in the first place.  

The group really wants to recommend that everyone votes, and not for Trump.  

Be sure to follow Releaser on social media to keep up with what they are up to. All of their social media handles are listed below, and you can hear their music featured on Music Garage’s “Featured Artist 2020” playlist on Spotify and Soundcloud.  

Social media:

Spotify: Releaser

Instagram: @releaserofficial

Twitter: @WeAreReleaser

Facebook: Releaser Official

Website: https://www.releaserofficial.com/  

[musicgaragechicago]

(source - https://meaww.com/)

Will Butler’s solo album Generations - released September 25th, 2020 via Merge Records.

Butler delivers deep, haunting lyrics coupled with joyous "sing along" choruses reminiscent of Arcade Fire. Every now and then we get very cool epic synthesizer moments like in the opening song, Outta Here. Beginning with a swell of synthesizers slowly revealing the clear and crisp voice of Will Butler belting celebratory "ooohs" atop a soulful bed of voices leading into the next verse. It almost feels like Will is strutting into the “Mad Hatter Tea Party” with a microphone in hand and a message to be heard until the first song subsides, and we're brought into Track 2. Bethlehem ...

Certain lyrics in Bethlehem really make one stop and think a second ... "... Let me close my eyes in the ashes of love, And in the light I’ll join the dead, ‘Cause the best have no position, And the worst are full of Passionate belief ... ". These lyrics feel deep, to say the least. And at the same time it makes one wonder what Butler is actually referring to?

The album’s final song, Fine, highlights Will’s historical roots … “I was born rich, Three-quarters Protestant, Connections at Harvard”.  Throughout the album, it becomes more apparent that Will is lifting the veil on his personal identity as an American. However this album is not just about Butler’s personal American Identity, it also reveals the concept of identity during heightening political disparity.

Majority of the album was produced, written, recorded in his home in Brooklyn, NY along with the help of Sara Dobbs, Miles Francis, and Julie Shore.

Happy Birthday, Will!

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Out Of Context is a concert and artist promotional company based in Chicago. OOC was started a few years ago and Kaitlyn Johnson has been the front woman for quite some time. 

LIGHTS UP! had the pleasure to interview her and be able to learn new things about the company and how they plan on returning when it is safe to. 

When did you start the company and what gave you the inspiration to create Out Of Context?

OOC was actually created by Nina Swint a handful of years back and was just recently (about a year ago now) taken over by Michelle Balzer and I when Nina got a job in New York! Michelle and I are best friends and were working together with Nina before we took over OOC (Michelle way longer than I had been). One reason we took OOC into our hands was because we didn’t want to see anything change within our music scene and live shows have always been a safe place for both of us.

How has COVID-19 affected your company?

We’ve had to cancel more shows than I can actually count unfortunately, and obviously haven’t been able to currently pursue any new events on the calendar either due to COVID-19. It started with having to cancel 3 gigs during the week that the shut downs started and September is actually the last month we had officially booked through pre-covid. 

How have you been able to keep the music scene alive, during a time where we can not physically be at shows?

It’s definitely been hard feeling like we’re doing anything special to keep the scene alive right now but we’ve been helping push the local venues gofundme’s across our social media platforms. We have also been promoting bands for ‘Bandcamp Fridays’ where they’re waiving all fees!

What has been your biggest accomplishment so far?

I feel like everything we do feels like a huge accomplishment when you see it come together but the biggest accomplishment to me was our ‘Koala-ty Care Benefit’ show at Beat Kitchen in February 2020. We were able to raise $1,500 for various charities aiding in relief with the bushfires in Australia.

What can we expect from Out of Context in the future? 

Lots of gigs the second we can safely get back to that, that’s for sure. But besides that, a goal we had in 2020 was 1 benefit show per month all year & that’s definitely something we plan on bringing into 2021 and beyond.

COVID-19 has put a major setback in the music scene, and we are hopeful for the return. We wish nothing but the best for Out Of Context and are excited to be able to catch their first show back. Be sure to follow them on the links below to keep yourself updated! 

IG: @get2thegig

FB: https://www.facebook.com/oocshows

[musicgaragechicago]

MERCH MERCH MERCH!! 

Rep your fav rehearsal space :-)

[musicgaragechicago]

RhymSter’s most recent EP release is a collaboration with AzMattic entitled The Jazz Cigarette. RhymSter combines smooth jazz with a mesmerizingly steady backbeat that allows space for his polished flow to come to the forefront. His established lyrical structure speaks volumes which is complete with historical, contemporary and cinematic references. 

Although his lyrics may not state this directly, RhymSter’s aim is to “speak the truth” through philanthropy. He believes that everyone has a civil duty to give back to their community. And with that, people should embrace vulnerability because it inherently promotes growth, healing, and contagious, positive energy.

RhymSter is a Chicago-based rapper, artist, producer, etc. as he is a sort of “jack-of-all-trades'' within the music industry. He also co-founded the Ever Evolved Collective, which is full of a wide range of industry career opportunities to allow multiple outlets for creativity. RhymSter’s unique goal in this collective is to create an organic and interpersonal community that focuses on artistic growth above all else. He aims for his members to “shine as individuals'' through his collective by exchanging musical knowledge and experience. 

During the pandemic, RhymSter has been practicing and advocating others to continually develop professionally through seeking further knowledge within the music industry as well as within themselves. The pandemic has forced people to simply “be real with themselves” through seriously reconsidering their professional, mental, and emotional tract.

When asked about his own meager beginnings and what advice he’d give to the younger generations, he championed, “Don’t get lost in the power of the internet.” He argues that by maintaining personal relationships in person, it builds accountability, reliability, and companionship that grosses greater ideas and better art. Therefore, social media should definitely be a tool in promotion, but it should not be the main tool.

RhymSter’s and AzMattic’s The Jazz Cigarette is out now! Plus, RhymSter has many visual, audio, and other collaboration projects underway. Be on the lookout for The Dog and Pony Shows’ second episode of the “Friday Nite Lites” series. This creates a platform for artists to talk about their career, craft, life and even perform their latest releases found on the Ever Evolved website! 

Spotify: RhymSter

Instagram: @rhymster13

Facebook: @Rhymster13

Twitter: @rhymster13

Website: http://everevolved.com

[musicgaragechicago]

Featured Artist – WT3 (Walter Taylor III) 

The pandemic forced most of the world to press pause on their lifestyles, but for Walter Taylor III (WT3), quarantine allowed him to focus on his music.  

Growing up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, WT3 started his music journey in 5th grade by dabbling with the guitar, clarinet, and saxophone. He always had an underlying passion for rap from watching The Naked Brothers Band growing up. In Senior year of high school, he started rapping, but no beat felt right to him. His music slid into the background as he focused on his studies at Benedictine University.

By his junior year of college, WT3 began releasing music with his uncle’s beats. As a rising senior, the pandemic allowed him to focus on growing his music. He utilized this time to hone in on his thoughts to create raps that spoke to his generation. He produces hip-hop music specifically for those around him, those that crave hard-hitting beats with an underlying meaning.

A perfect song can be played at a party for everyone to dance to but when listened to closely the song holds a deeper message. WT3 finds influences such as SMINO, Travis Scott, and Kendrick Lamar use these tactics in their own music. He wants to incorporate these tactics to create his own sound and voice for himself.  

WT3 has been working with his uncle, Sdproduces, and Shamgodsupreme over quarantine to create two EP’s. The first EP called Iridescent comes out September 19th on Soundcloud whereas the second remains undetermined. The second EP takes a more personal route as he pins down a specific message he wants to send to listeners. A sample track from the EP called “Back on My Feel” is out now on Soundcloud.  

Check WT3 out on Soundcloud and other social media accounts below.  

Watch out for his upcoming EP on September 19th.

SoundCloud: WT3

Instagram: WalterTaylor28

Twitter: waltertaylor28

Facebook: Walter Taylor III