Music
Essays, blog posts, playlists, and more focused broadly on music. For more playlists visit my Spotify profile.
- Halen “CLEAN SLATE” (Singled Out) ()
“CLEAN SLATE” is the opening track from BACK BURNER, the debut solo release from singer and multi-instrumentalist Halen. While the EP is ripe with songs about relationship struggles, its sum presents as a reclamation of power in the face of repetitive emotional neglect. Connecting over Instagram, Halen added, “People pleasers and hopeless romantics are victim […]
- Electronic Iowa Playlist ()
The Electronic Iowa playlist features electronic and dance music from Iowa including drum & bass, EDM, glitch, house, progressive, trance and more. (Pictured: Husoul) Listen and subscribe to the Electronic Iowa playlist via: Playlist Updates: Ketamonster “Galactic Groove”Husoul “equilibrium.”London Future & Djemba Djemba “Fire to the Room”Alienate “Infinite Ascent”Flex Bormarr “Recovery Operation”Neon Dawn “The Cycle […]
- Iowa Beats & Bars Playlist ()
The Iowa Beats & Bars playlist features rap & hip-hop from Iowa including alternative, beats, boom bap, instrumentals, old school, trap & more. (Pictured: Teller Bank$) Listen and subscribe to the Iowa Beats & Bars playlist via: Playlist Updates: Chino Vivid & DRXCULV “W.W.H.D. 2”Juliano Dock feat. Sqvce “Off White Chicks”Vitamjn x ONI INC. “KAWAII […]
- Iowa Pop Vibes Playlist ()
The Iowa Pop Vibes playlist features pop music from Iowa including dance, electropop, lounge, R&B, soul, and more. Infrequent updates to the playlist were added from December 2022 through December 2023, with a large number of addition tracks being added in February 2024. This playlist is no longer being updated regularly. (Pictured: Annie Kemble) Listen […]
- Iowa Rock Playlist ()
The Iowa Rock playlist features rock from Iowa including indie, pop, folk, roots, blues, and more. (Pictured: Coolzey) Listen and subscribe to the Iowa Rock playlist via: Playlist Updates: New Standards Men “Dunedin”Land of Blood and Sunshine “Wormwood”William Elliott Whitmore “Dance With Me”The Deeves “Make You”Surf Zombies “Badass”The Rush Cleveland Trio “Hard Times”Luke Hawley “Murder […]
- Loud & Heavy Iowa Playlist ()
The Loud & Heavy Iowa playlist features metal from Iowa including thrash, groove, doom, stoner rock, post-hardcore, death metal, grindcore and more. (Pictured: Glass Ox) Listen and subscribe to the Loud & Heavy Iowa playlist via: Playlist Updates: Idolist “Gravity’s Weight”Marcato “Dance Party”Glass Ox “Rogue Sons”Orphic Illusion “Out For Blood”Dredge “Pulling Shadows”In Loving Memory “This […]
- Iowa Alt/Punk Playlist ()
The Iowa Alt/Punk playlist features noise from the Iowa underground including punk, garage, psych, hardcore, post-punk, pop punk, emo, alt. rock, and more. (Pictured: Basketball Divorce Court) Listen and subscribe to the Iowa Alt/Punk playlist via: Playlist Updates: Instant DeTh “Game”Haploid “Solitaire”The Deeves “Outta Sight (Single Version)”Karen Meat “Hot Dod”TV Cop “Getting By”On Your Left […]
- Ethereal Iowa Playlist ()
The Ethereal Iowa playlist features ambient, classical, experimental, instrumentals and other chill vibes from Iowa. Infrequent updates to the playlist were added from July 2022 through January 2024, with a large number of addition tracks being added in February 2024. This playlist is no longer being updated regularly. (Pictured: Pikes Peak State Park in McGregor, […]
- Jim Swim Interview ()
Jim Swim is a multifaceted artist living in Iowa City. Born in Davenport, the sound behind the rapper/singer/producer’s work isn’t easily definable, nor is it entirely linear as he moves from project to project. Speaking of his 2018 In It With You EP, for example, Little Village’s Luke Benson called out the project’s “deceptively well-crafted […]
- Husoul Interview ()
Listen to the villin podcast via… Husoul is a Des Moines-based drum and bass musician. In this edition of the villin podcast he discusses how he has transitioned from a rapper/producer to a gamer to where he’s currently at, music’s influence on and relationship to mental health, and the ability to find identity and individuality […]
- villin on The Nasty Collective Podcast ()
March 2023 interview with Miguel of The Nasty Collective, discussing Iowa music and the value of celebrating local talent.
- Imma Interview ()
Listen to the villin podcast via… Imma is a Des Moines-based MC and he just released a new EP titled GOOD. In this discussion we spoke about the release and the influences that contributed to its sound. One such genre that swayed its direction is R&B from the ’90s and 2000s and as we continued, […]
- Annie Kemble Interview ()
Listen to the villin podcast via… Annie Kemble is a Des Moines-based singer, songwriter and musician who just released her seven track debut titled Dive Bar. In our discussion we talked about a sort of dual nature inherent in the release, as it’s simultaneously autobiographical while bearing aspects of a performative persona. Annie also discussed […]
- Zachary Lint (aka Coolzey) Interview ()
Listen to the villin podcast via… Zachary Lint is a multi-medium creator from Fairfield, Iowa, widely known for his music recorded and released as Coolzey. In our conversation we talked about his musical history, including the two albums he’s released this year, but also his new short film called Burlington Paranormal. The horror comedy is […]
- Iowa Record Stores ()
For the music industry, 2021 was definitely a memorable year. With concerts and live entertainment essentially on ice for much of the year, consumers pivoted, directing their expendable income to physical products instead, resulting in a landmark year for record stores. Variety reported in March that 2021 marked the first year since 1996 that both […]
- 2022 Photo Dump ()
Photos shot October 30, 2022 at the Olympic South Side Theater in Cedar Rapids, Iowa for the Iowa Music Awards. Photos shot October 22, 2022 at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Kansas City, Missouri. Photos shot October 8, 2022 at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa (for the Iowa State Cyclones vs. Kansas State […]
- That Honorroll KID Interview ()
Listen to the villin podcast via… That Honorroll KID is an MC based in Des Moines who just released a new album titled Peace God. In our conversation we discussed how the 18 track full-length differs from past work, including the Phase 2 EP which he dropped earlier this year with 1400slim. We also touched […]
- 20 Years Awesome ()
“Music was everything,” said Rick Noggle from behind the counter of his vintage store, 20 Years Awesome, located in downtown Cedar Rapids. “Work was not relevant. Money was not relevant.” Writing, recording and performing under the name imperfekt for roughly two decades, music was Noggle’s main focus—his baby, even—until he had an actual child. Then his world […]
- Iowa Rap & Hip-Hop Fall Music Preview ()
This fall will see a wide range of releases from Iowan artists spanning the diverse rap and hip-hop spectrum. While this is far from a comprehensive list of what’s on tap for the next several months, here’s a cross-section looking at five releases from young, up-and-coming artists who have new projects on the way. [Continue […]
- Big Grove Vinyl Market ()
“It’s a fun atmosphere to sell records in,” Brian Brandsgard told Little Village of the aesthetics and energy Big Grove Brewery in Iowa City. “It’s just a perfect place to have it.” Brandsgard is the organizer of the Big Grove Vinyl Market, which he has held periodically at the brewery since it opened five years ago. Now, […]
- Teller Bank$ “The I & I” Review and Interview ()
The album opener to The I & I by Teller Bank$ finds the Des Moines-based rapper reflecting on the practical value of processing his trauma through his art. In “Friends,” he comments on the market forces which encourage work that perpetuates negative stereotypes: “I had to swing my sword before I use my pen / I had […]
- Teller Bank$ Interview ()
Listen to the villin podcast via… Teller Bank$ is an MC and producer based in Des Moines and his new album, The I & I, is the third in a trilogy released with producer Ed Glorious. This discussion drifts heavily into the esoteric, looking at such influences as the 12th book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible […]
- Chris Jones Interview ()
Listen to the villin podcast via… Chris Jones is an MC and producer based in Des Moines, Iowa and he just released his debut album titled Unplugged. In our discussion we exchanged thoughts on social media, finding personal meaning in the creation of art, the branding of self, and a story of self-sabotage revolving around […]
- Gifo Interview ()
Listen to the villin podcast via… Gifo is a rapper based in Sioux City, Iowa and his new release, Hell Bound, is out now. In our discussion we connected on ideas around creative growth, the Hometown Heroes collective, Latino and Hispanic representation, and “Tears,” which is one of seven new tracks on the EP. villin: The […]
- Nashville Rap & Hip-Hop Library ()
In January 2022 I began using villin as a vehicle to release playlists featuring music from Nashville artists. I did this through a pair of playlists, featuring Nashville Rap & Hip-Hop and Nashville Electronic & Dance Music. Additionally, I created similar music video playlists on YouTube, again featuring Nashville Rap & Hip-Hop and Nashville Electronic […]
- Nashville Electronic & Dance Music Library ()
In January 2022 I began using villin as a vehicle to release playlists featuring music from Nashville artists. I did this through a pair of playlists, featuring Nashville Rap & Hip-Hop and Nashville Electronic & Dance Music. Additionally, I created similar music video playlists on YouTube, again featuring Nashville Rap & Hip-Hop and Nashville Electronic […]
- FlyLife “A Different View” Review ()
“Cause who the fuck gon’ save your family if it isn’t you?” raps FlyLife on the title track from his recently released album. “I know it’s usually guns and drugs but this a different view.” The song serves as the culmination of a broader idea, each prior track helping to redefine a concept of what […]
- villin: “yezzir” ()
The “yezzir” beat was made using GarageBand, Audacity and an Akai Professional MPK Mini MKII. The video was made using Premiere Pro with audio and video samples including Pharrell Williams from Snoop Dogg’s “Let’s Get Blown” music video, Home Alone, Home Alone 2, Kevin Durant’s interview on My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David […]
- villin on the Fringe Radio Show, Round 2 ()
On Monday, June 20 host AL-D invited me to select another hour of music for his radio show, which hit the radio airwaves on Radio Free Nashville, featuring 20 tracks from Nashville artists: 1) Kaby & Brian Brown “Showstopper” (produced by Ohdee)2) 2’Live Bre feat. Kyle Jefferson “Put The Work In”3) Jody Joe “Nonchalant” (produced […]
- villin: “v-sides” ()
The v-sides EP includes three tracks I made in January of 2022 using the BeatMaker 3 iPad app, released as a collection on May 1. “styles” samples the “Which Cup” loop from thricedotted’s 2021 Music Loop Variety Pack!, while “ching ching” samples the #11 loop from Hip Hop Makers‘ “Free Synth Sample Pack.” The track for “styles” was created January […]