Local Music Shapes Culture

It’s here, all. I finally edited it. The last episode of Local Music Shapes Culture. I’m sure Nick was scared his interview was the reason I stopped cold turkey haha.Nick is a visual artist and teacher based out of Indianapolis, Indiana. After attending art grad school near Detroit and moving back to Indianapolis, Nick and his partner Danielle opened a DIY art gallery right out of their own home. Every month, the home was completely barren aside from art on the walls and gallery food offerings. This art space they ran, Sugar Space, lasted about a year. But their friend who started a gallery around the same time - Storage Space - is still up and running and hosts art shows every month. Nick and I talk about the importance of having spaces for new and up-and-coming artists to showcase their work in a world where artists face many barriers to entry. We also request a Hamms sponsorship. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit alisonchristoff.substack.com

In a belated second to last episode of Local Music Shapes Culture, I sit down with my dear friend Jess to talk about her unique journey coming from a Brazilian family, growing up with Indy punk culture, and finding fulfillment in DJing. I kid you not that these last two episodes are my favorite and I have been putting off editing them. Jess offers a unique perspective on the Indy music scene as someone who grew up in a Brazilian family and stumbled into the punk scene while learning the ropes of DJing. She's been in the bands Shame Thugs, Dove, Sonia, and Cocors before transitioning to full-time DJing. Jess is a real one and is not afraid to speak her mind. She knows her talent and hopes for others to embrace learning DJing on their own terms. She's a strong believer that guiding yourself cultivates a unique perspective. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit alisonchristoff.substack.com

Hello lovely local music fans! Local Music Shapes Culture is going on indefinite hiatus after the next two episodes ❤️ I will still be online but focusing on other projectsI am likely starting a different podcast soon, and I have not decided if I am going to start a new Substack publication for it or publish it on this one. If the latter happens, feel free to stick around. My Substack URL is my name, alisonchristoff.substack.com, so I am inclined to keep whatever’s next on the same Substack publication,but different RSS feed (this is not relevant to you if you do not watch/listen on Substack).Would love to stay in touch with whatever comes Xoxo Alison Christoff This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit alisonchristoff.substack.com

Welcome to Local Music Shapes Culture! A podcast based in Indianapolis exploring the local music scene and the culture surrounding it. This week, I invited my friend Max Denari onto the show to discuss his long-standing presence in the local scene. In this episode, Max shares how being involved in music has provided both community and catharsis. Our convo gets into the challenge of staying authentic in an era where social media and algorithmic playlists have transformed how we discover and consume music.Max offers candid thoughts on everything from the authenticity of digital music to the shrinking DIY venue landscape in Indianapolis. He also teases here his new DRLN music coming this year (hopefully) after a two-year release hiatus !!Join us for our conversation exploring what it means to make art for art’s sake when everything around us demands constant engagement and instant gratification. Most importantly, take Max’s advice: get outside, support your community, and remember to listen to albums all the way through.Connect with Max: InstagramFollow DRLN: InstagramListen to DRLN: Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple MusicWatch more Local Music Shapes Culture: YouTube | SubstackListen now on Spotify | Apple MusicFollow me on Instagram | TikTok | Bluesky⧉ Local Music Shapes Culture ⧉ is a reader-supported publication celebrates life in local music scenes, insights and resources on building community, and rock. Consider becoming a free or paid subscriber to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit alisonchristoff.substack.com

Hi y'all💞💞💞This week on Local Music Shapes Culture, I have Jill "jilly$100billy" over to collage with me and talk about her music.Jill just released her first EP Carpet on April 26th – a five-song journey she compares to the five stages of grief through hybrid genres. We dive into Jill's inspiration behind the EP, discuss how her life experiences have shaped her as both a person and artist, and explore her desire to continue pursuing music-making and performing as a cathartic release.Throughout our conversation, we create collages, chat about everything from astrology to her plans for transforming a space with negative memories into something new, and reflect on how she's learning to trust that everything falls into place.Excuse the audio quality, I did not set up the room the best for mic placement :)Topics discussed:00:00 - Intro to jilly$100billy and the sitch today04:25 - The story behind Jill's EP "Carpet"09:30 - How music creation helps process emotional pain13:20 - Music influences and dynamic song structures16:15 - Raccoons and transforming negative spaces20:45 - What is your ideal day?27:30 - Favorite live performances & future plansConnect with Jill: InstagramListen to jilly$100billy: SpotifyWatch more Local Music Shapes Culture: YouTube | SubstackListen now on Spotify | Apple MusicFollow me on Instagram | TikTok | Bluesky⧉ Local Music Shapes Culture ⧉ is a reader-supported publication celebrates life in local music scenes, insights and resources on building community, and rock. Consider becoming a free or paid subscriber to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit alisonchristoff.substack.com

Hello! This week on Local Music Shapes Culture, I sit down with Tara Sue Stapleton. Tara has been heavily engaged in the music scene of Indianapolis for over a decade, about as long as her band Sonora has been around. She discussed her additional music projects throughout the years, including a grindcore project she is starting that has its first show booked this spring. Tara and I discuss her experience playing tours with her band Sonora, and her journey performing at out-of-town shows. We dive into her personal process for booking tours and explore her recent decision to hire a booking agent who helped reduce the labor-intensive aspects of organizing a multi-city tour. Tara shares both the challenges and successes she's encountered while building Sonora's presence beyond Indianapolis.We also discuss her experience being autistic and the challenges she faced growing up with autism. Tara shares how the music scene has played a crucial role in helping her accept herself and embrace being neurodivergent, providing a space where she feels accepted and has found community that makes it easy for her to accept her differences.Topics Discussed:00:00 - Intro to Tara and her bands Sonora and new grindcore project01:36 - Tara's new band and guitar tunings04:37 - Noise project "Bimbo Witch" during pandemic and virtual shows09:39 - Band dynamics and importance of organization12:39 - Evolution of Indianapolis music scene over a decade16:53 - Sonora's sound evolution from shoegaze to post-hardcore20:54 - Experience with hiring a booking agent23:36 - Tour stories across the Midwest28:15 - Autism diagnosis and finding acceptance in music34:08 - Autism, identity and the DIY music communityConnect with Tara on Instagram:Tara | SonoraWatch more Local Music Shapes Culture: YouTube | SubstackListen now on Spotify | Apple MusicFollow me on Instagram | TikTok | Bluesky💬 What would you like to see more of in future episodes? Let me know in the comments!Local Music Shapes Culture is a reader-supported publication celebrates life in local music scenes, insights and resources on building community, and rock. Consider becoming a free or paid subscriber to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit alisonchristoff.substack.com

This week on Local Music Shapes Culture I chat with Maude Atlas - a multi-medium artist who's been a fixture in our local scene through her painting, photography, and as the vocalist of the band Frizbee.Though Frizbee recently ended, Maude shares exciting news about their upcoming record "Sour Kisses" releasing May 9th through Noise Merchant and Painters Tapes. We dig into her journey from documenting shows as a photographer to taking the stage herself, the importance of all-women bands, and why she believes "a scene is only as good as the people who document it."Maude is leaving the Indy scene for Chicago soon – and we reflect on the evolution of Indy's music scene, the need for more DIY venues, and how Maude’s intuitive approach to art has helped her discover her identity. From house show memories at her house venue in Muncie, the Sauna, to spiritual connections in her paintings, we dive into the beautiful intersection of art, community, and personal growthConnect with Maude on InstagramWhat's your take on the importance of photographers and documentarians in your local scene?Watch more Local Music Shapes Culture: YouTube | SubstackListen now on Spotify | Apple MusicFollow me on Instagram | TikTok | BlueskyLocal Music Shapes Culture is a reader-supported publication celebrates life in local music scenes, insights and resources on building community, and rock. Consider becoming a free or paid subscriber to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit alisonchristoff.substack.com

This week on Local Music Shapes Culture I have a conversation with Ron Record, who recently moved from the Fort Wayne music scene to Indianapolis. Ron is involved in several musical projects:* Roman New Time - Solo Project* Lunch Club - Indianapolis band with friends Jacob, Chuck, Brad, and Gus* Home Phone - A duo project with his friend Olivia in Fort WayneIn this podcast, Ron shares his insights from his various musical projects and discusses his unique experiences touring with his bands. We also discuss his experiences moving to Indianapolis and integrating with its local scene.Ron has an upcoming release with his solo project Roman New Time that is called "Your Autograph Man" through a German label called “110100100.global”. Follow him and his music projects on social media on Instagram:* Roman New Time* Homephone* Lunch ClubThank you all for listening! Subscribe to support my podcast & get notifications on upcoming episodes.Watch more Local Music Shapes Culture: YouTube | SubstackListen now on Spotify | Apple MusicFollow me on Instagram | TikTok | BlueskyLocal Music Shapes Culture is a reader-supported publication celebrates life in local music scenes, insights and resources on building community, and rock. Consider becoming a free or paid subscriber to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit alisonchristoff.substack.com

One of my favorite guests I’ve had so far on this podcast :) Z honestly gets my whole DIY band experience from joining the scene, starting bands, and performing more than anyone I have gotten to talk to on this pod. We dive into the experience of struggling to find girl bandmates, the anxiety of performing, the mental block of idolizing performers before you are a performer yourself, and the struggle of booking your band when you have a weird band that does not fit into any clear-cut genre. Listen to this podcast to get real with me and Z.Thumbnail picture: Julia HersheyConnect with Gooseflesh on InstagramWhat was novel or unexpected to you when you joined your local music scene?What has been your struggle starting or joining a band?Watch more Local Music Shapes Culture: YouTube | SubstackListen now on Spotify | Apple MusicFollow me on Instagram | TikTok Local Music Shapes Culture is a reader-supported publication celebrates life in local music scenes, insights and resources on building community, and rock. Consider becoming a free or paid subscriber to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit alisonchristoff.substack.com

This week I catch up with my good friend and avid show-goer John Ramos, who grew up going to shows around Chicago for many years and moved to Indianapolis just before Covid hit our lives. John is one of the biggest music scene supporters I know and I am honored to have him take a seat in my DIY podcast set-up to discuss his experience within his decade-long commitment to local music. John and I go through the differences between his experiences in the Chicago music scene and the Indianapolis music scene, how Covid changed music scenes overall, and why house shows are the Bomb.com. We dive into how John experienced a higher house show frequency during his time in Chicago, and the semi-segmented but vast music scene in Indianapolis. Our love for music scenes is strong. Our desire to watch it grow is strongerWhat is the vibe of your scene? Do y’all still have a good number of house shows post-covid?Do you like shows to be very streamlined or p loosey-goosey?What makes an ideal show venue?Watch more Local Music Shapes Culture: YouTube | SubstackListen now on Spotify | Apple MusicFollow me on Instagram | TikTok Local Music Shapes Culture is a reader-supported publication celebrates life in local music scenes, insights and resources on building community, and rock. Consider becoming a free or paid subscriber to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit alisonchristoff.substack.com