The State of Sound podcast is a companion to 88Nine's monthly live showcase featuring Wisconsin-based musicians. Hosted by our music director, Erin Wolf, the podcast allows listeners to enjoy segments from the artists' live performances, explore the bands and participate in conversations dissecting their favorite tracks.
Our guest for this episode, Ellie Jackson, joined us for 88Nine’s State of Sound concert lineup in November. The Milwaukee artist's songs deliver a determined vulnerability and emotional exploration through guitars, stories, amplification, and a careful balance of harmony and dissonance.
88Nine music director Erin Wolf spoke with Jackson about “China Lights," her ode to a dissolved relationship in which she learns to read energy more deeply and slow down just a little, but doesn’t let the past freeze her from moving forward.
23 Jan 2025
Clark Rendall of Dark Psychic
Dark Psychic is a two-piece dance-rock band from Milwaukee founded by Clark Rendall and Nathan Greene. Rendall’s drum tracks and bass loops bring to mind synth-pop and disco, while Greene’s guitar tones and melodies evoke new wave and post-punk.
Recent influences include Kylie Minogue, Depeche Mode, Twin Peaks and, of course, ABBA. Their newest tracks shed the veil of pandemic pessimist grunge in favor of a lighter, brighter, more celebratory vibe.
In this episode, 88Nine music director Erin Wolf speaks with Rendall about Dark Psychic’s capitalist gripe / working class anthem – and one of their most danceable songs yet – “No One Wants to Work Anymore."
16 Jan 2025
Fred Kenyon of Rat Bath
Our guest, Milwaukee’s Rat Bath, joined us for 88Nine’s State of Sound concert showcase in November. This band of all transgender individuals reclaim queer-coded villains from their childhood as heroes in their storytelling. They describe their sound as "Post-Everything Rat Core" but have also been called Bubble Grunge, Alternative Emo, Dirt Americana and Melodic Hardcore.
Whichever way you slice it, they are fast and loud and have a unique ability to seamlessly blend influences. 88Nine music director Erin Wolf talks with Fred Kenyon about “I Eat My Enemies,” Rat Bath’s poem-inspired song delving into imposter syndrome.
Podcast Authority Score: 33 / 100
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