Music Therapy with Jessica Risker

benjamin fawkes is the self-described "custodian" of Rozz-Tox, a space which defines itself as "a listening bar, cafe, performance venue, gallery, culture cell, guesthouse, cinema, club; a virus whose ultimate goal is to constantly mutate to avoid becoming part of mainstream culture." Located in Rock Island, IL, inspired by ben's time running a space in China, opened by he and his mom, named after Gary Panter's Rozz Tox Manifesto - we go into it all.    This is the story of one of the best spaces in the country - maybe the world? Featuring music from the album "Big Forever" ************************** Visit musictherapypodcast.com for session notes, past episodes, and upcoming events! Music Therapy Podcast Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.  Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz. Ep 121 ************************ Join us on the Music Therapy Discord! or Facebook Group!      

Jawson Dell is a Chicago musician by way of Colorado, influenced by RnB, jazz, funk, rock, and the blues. He's also a Certified Public Accountant.  These facts lead us down some interesting paths, including the tension between music and business, how American Idol influenced Jawson's music career.  We also listen to a couple of tracks from Jawson.   Songs included in episode: "Windows Apart" and "Flow" by Jawson Dell   ***************************** Visit musictherapypodcast.com for session notes, past episodes, and upcoming events! Music Therapy Podcast Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.  Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz. Ep 120 ************************ Join us on the Music Therapy Discord! or Facebook Group!  

Group Session!  Chicago's artsy post-punk Ovef Ow takes the couch as we dig into their minds, hearts, and souls about how they work together,  managing the band, success, being part of the indie scene, and more.  Ovef Ow gives a live performance.  My esteemed colleague Leslie Tanner co-hosts!  Many thanks to Joshua Wentz, Bret Koontz, Ralph Darski for capturing the sound, and of course Cafe Mustache for having us! This episode was taped live at Cafe Mustache on May 10, 2023   ***************************** Visit musictherapypodcast.com for session notes, past episodes, and upcoming events! Music Therapy Podcast Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.  Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz. Ep 119 ************************ Join us on the Music Therapy Discord! or Facebook Group!

Salami Rose Joe Louis has a killer new album out called "Akousmatikous" (via Flying Lotus' Brainfeeder Records) and I am a massive fan.  She is fantastically creative, thoughtful, and incredibly nice. We dig into the perils of obsessively working on music, how she approached the concept of the album, her creative and recording process, social media, AI, "authenticity", and a ton more.  We also listen to two tracks off her new album: "Akousmatikous" and "Dimcola Reprise".   ***************************** Visit musictherapypodcast.com for session notes, past episodes, and upcoming events! Music Therapy Podcast Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.  Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz. Taped April 2023 Ep 118 ************************ Join us on the Music Therapy Discord! or Facebook Group!        

Humans are group-ish beings!  Whether it's your family, your friends, your band, your artist community, your country, etc., we all belong to groups.  Whether we realize it or not, groups have a powerful impact on our own thoughts and behaviors. In this episode of Music Therapy, I talk with science writer and journalist Michael Bond, author of "The Power of Others: Peer Pressure, Groupthink, and How the People Around Us Shape Everything We Do" and his newest book "Fans: A Journey Into the Psychology of Belonging".  We explore the many ways we're impacted by groups, the forces that make a group healthy and communicative, and the insular, destructive echo chambers of groupthink. This is a fascinating conversation that had me thinking for days - and I'm sure you'll find it fascinating, too. ****************** Songs included in episode: "Flowers on the Water" and "Better Not Lose Her" by Pretty Horse Visit https://www.michaelbond.co.uk/ ***************************** Visit musictherapypodcast.com for session notes, past episodes, and upcoming events! Music Therapy Podcast Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.  Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz. Taped May 2023 Ep 117 ************************ Join us on the Music Therapy Discord! or Facebook Group!  

How do you honor your idols without being derivative?  How do you start over in a new (york) city?  This week on Music Therapy I sit down with Dan Rico, a Chicago DIY scene fixture who moved to New York City right before the pandemic hit.   We get into creativity, live band recordings vs virtual instruments, SXSW takeaways, quitting drinking, finding a new music community in NYC, impostor syndrome, and lots more. We also listen to a couple of new fantastic tracks from Dan: "Conceited" and " Hit and Run" plus a special bonus track "Better Company" that Dan and I collaborated on.  ***************** Dan Rico is a songwriter, guitar player, and multi-instrumentalist from Chicago, IL living In Brooklyn, NY. Rico is a writes music and performs in the Surf rock group High Waisted and plays guitar in the grunge band Dropper, who just got back from South by South West. Rico also releases music under his own name, collating inspirations as disparate as Prince, T Rex, Os Mutantes, and Taylor Swift. ************** Visit musictherapypodcast.com for session notes, past episodes, and upcoming events! Music Therapy Podcast Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.  Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz. Taped April 2023 Ep 116 ************************ Join us on the Music Therapy Discord! or Facebook Group!

Chicago's Joka No Joke is a self-proclaimed "rap therapist" with a brand-new mixtape called "Recess".  In this episode of Music Therapy, we dig into the new-found freedom and playfulness Joka experienced while creating the album.   We touch on his creative process, tapping into his inner child, his "New Cool" philosophy, reflections and changes in his life through the pandemic,  how fatherhood has impacted Joka, and the importance of order. We go deep but keep it moving!  It's refreshing and inspiring to hear how Joka's relationship with music has evolved over the years.  Tracks featured in episode: "Reloaded" and "Order" by Joka No Joke.  ****************************** Visit musictherapypodcast.com for session notes, past episodes, and upcoming events! Music Therapy Podcast Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.  Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz. Ep 115 ************************ Join us on the Music Therapy Discord! or Facebook Group!  

The van's full of gas, the drums fit, and there's hope in your eyes! Until Arby's is getting old, you want a shower, and too much beer is taking a toll. Touring can be amazing! But it's rarely the healthiest time of your life.  So we got four experienced touring musicians to share how to make touring healthier.  We cover: Sleep Diet  Drugs/alcohol Keeping up with relationships back home How to keep band communication open Finances Essential things to bring on tour And more!  Featuring musicians Eric Novak, John Garrison, Eli Winter, and Lizzie No ****************************** Visit musictherapypodcast.com for session notes, past episodes, and upcoming events! Music Therapy Podcast Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.  Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz. Ep 114 ************************ Join us on the Music Therapy Discord! or Facebook Group!

Does social media make you feel like crap?  Are you wondering why other artists are getting the press / shows / labels that you're not getting? Today we dig into some of the more negative feelings that can arise for artists - especially when we compare ourselves to other musicians.  Jealousy / comparison / envy / resentment can feel bad, but it's telling you something!  And, we can listen to those feelings, and actually make them useful! On today's episode of Music Therapy, Jessica talks with therapist Rachael Jones all about how to listen to those feelings, understand them deeply, and then make an action plan that gets you what you want - in a way that aligns with your personal values.  ****************** Rachael Jones is a licensed marriage and family therapist practicing in the Chicagoland area who works with individuals, couples, and families. Rachael's work often centers on helping clients to deepen their understanding of themselves, their relationships, and their families, identifying what is and isn't working well for them, and using this new found understanding to create meaningful change. ******************** Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events! Music Therapy Podcast Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.  Interstitial music by David Yontz. Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz. Ep 113 ************************ Join us on the Music Therapy Discord! or Facebook Group!

Today, for a special Valentine's Day episode, we answer a question that has plagued musicians for thousands of years: Should you date your bandmate? We talk to three musicians about their experience dating bandmates.  Leslie Tanner also drops by with a few words of wisdom.   If you have dated a bandmate or are considering dating a bandmate, this episode's for you! Featuring Steve Malden (Sofas), Danielle Sines (Impulsive Hearts), and Emily Jane Powers + Alec Harryhausen (Dream Version). *************************** Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events! Music Therapy Podcast Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.  Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz. Ep 112 ************************ Join us on the Music Therapy Discord! or Facebook Group!    

In December of 2022, Pitchfork published an article, written by Jenn Pelly, called "Confronting Music's Mental Health Crisis".  This article was passed around widely on the internet; obviously, it resonated with many musicians.    Jenn and I dig deeper into her article, discussing her research and takeaways, bits that she left out of the article, and consider what role Pitchfork can serve regarding artists' mental health.     We also identify resources for artists and offer concrete ways you can support mental health services.    Song featured in episode: "Help Me, Help Me" by Jessica Risker   ******************************* Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events! Music Therapy Podcast Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.  Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz. Ep 111 ************************ Join us on the Music Therapy Discord! or Facebook Group!  

Jealousy is tough emotion, but can it be useful?? In this episode of Music Therapy, I chat with therapist/musician Ben Stover - who also co-hosts the Popcorn Psychology podcast -  all about Artistic Jealousy.  We look a the ways it can manifest, how social media leads us to comparison and jealousy, and what you can do about it.  If you've ever felt envious of someone else's success or talent, sit back and face the feeling with us - and see how you can turn your jealousy into productivity in this episode of Music Therapy.  Join us on the Music Therapy Discord!  https://discord.gg/htZM5QpBC3 Song featured in episode: "Hangin with the Boys in the Enchanted Forest" by eternal goofball David Yontz  ******************************* Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events! Music Therapy Podcast Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.  Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz. Ep 110  

Así Así is a Mexican/American band from Chicago, IL.  In August 2022, the band released their debut album, “Mal de Otros”, where Así Así blends rock, dance, and Latin themes together to form oftentimes haunting, yet upbeat and catchy songs.  On this episode of Music Therapy, taped live at Cafe Mustache, Jessica sits down with the full band to talk about work/art balance, how they create music together, mental health, and lots more! Featuring a live performance by the band and a special guest appearance by Leslie Tanner!  

In this episode of Music Therapy I talk with Chicago artist Alana Schactel of Lipsticsm. Lipsticism's sound is frequently described as cosmic, dreamy, and psychedelic, and there is something immediate and sensual in her punchy drums and emotional honesty.  We cover a lot of ground in this episode!  Alana is currently studying to become a therapist, so we discuss our shared experience in the worlds of music and therapy.  We look at how music impacts mental health, the anxiety of performing solo vs with a group, and Alana's new album “Two Mirrors Facing Each Other”, released December 2nd via Earth Libraries. My favorite part of the conversation was learning Alana's creative process.  We discuss flow and those nights when it just isn't happening.  We also look at what it means to be a “successful” musician. Songs featured in episode: "Transform" and "Sentimental" by Lipsticism ******************************* Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events! Music Therapy Podcast Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.  Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!  In the spirit of holiday traveling, we have an episode all about touring. In October 2022, Isabel Olive (Half Gringa) posted the following on Instagram: "Hey folks. A photo of me smiling because this is a tough one - I've decided to cancel the last four dates of the HG October tour in Boston, NYC, Philadelphia, and Cincinnati. This was hard to make because I'm both the artist and the manager, but the manager in me looked at the writing on the wall and knew it was time to call it. Touring is extra expensive and extra hard right now. Whether you're a band on a support tour playing to sold out rooms trying to make enough on merch to cover expenses or (in my case) trying to win over a few groups of people at a time in 150 cap rooms while paying a band with your job money and hoping to break even, it is harder than it was before and what has happened in the last few years has caught up to a lot of us. I'm 31, I work full time in a different industry in addition to being a musician to pay the band and make things work as best I can. But I am so sick of people devaluing art to the point that we're relying on no income to make it. It's untenable. And it's why people are canceling tours and in some cases getting out of the industry all together. I have so much more anger and feelings about this, but for now I'll say: thanks to my incredible band, to everyone who came and saw us and bought merch, to the fellow musicians I met who commiserated with me and gave me some much needed words of encouragement. You're the best part of this. To the folks in Boston, NYC, Philly - you can get refunds at your point of purchase and I promise I'll see you out there again soon." Josh first noticed Izzy's post and pointed me to it.  We thought this would make a great episode.  So many musicians are struggling with feeling valued in our culture.  Izzy and I talk about why she canceled her shows, and how this is impacting her music and career.  She also shares how she's adapting her approach to touring from now on.   For anyone else struggling with making touring work, this is a great episode that acknowledges the challenges facing musicians right now. We also listen to Half Gringa's brilliant new single “Miranda” off her upcoming EP, out January 27, 2023. ******************************* Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events! Music Therapy Podcast Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.  Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.    

What's it like to walk away from the music industry? Steff Reed is a New York-based  musician, educator, and activist. As a musician and producer, he has produced many tracks that have made it to Billboard Charts.  As an educator, he has taught thousands of youth over the past 15 years, and was nominated for the Grammy Music Educator Award.  As an activist, he is currently building a non-profit in Brooklyn called Power of Love. We explore how Steff went from grinding in the NYC music industry to teaching to starting non-profits.  Steff's throughline is a total devotion of his life to social change, forward movement, hope and inspiration. Like the title of the episode, there are some amazing nuggets of wisdom in here.  I walked away from my conversation with Steff Reed totally inspired, which makes sense, because he's an educator and a social justice worker and has been working in the music industry for years, and these are all things I believe in.   He shares why he pivoted away from the music industry, which he feels was a traumatic experience in some ways, to pursuing an independent music career more aligned with his own beliefs and values. He also told me off-tape an important thing he learned producing music for the industry all these years: even if your track has heart, it's gotta *slap* to hit the listener - a piece of advice I'm taking to heart as I work on my new album.   Steff says he's hopeful about the future - so I am, too.  Give it a listen.   Songs featured in episode: "Get Free" and "Power of Love" by Steff Reed   Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events! Music Therapy Podcast Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.  Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.    

There comes a time in every musician's career when you ask yourself:  should you get a publicist? In this episode of Music Therapy I talk with a real-life publicist, Colin Smith of Fresh Paint PR.  Colin breaks down exactly what a publicist does, how a publicist chooses to work with someone (or not), and what you can do to make a PR campaign successful. We also discuss  the biggest question of all: what exactly does publicity accomplish for a musician?  The answer may surprise you! Song featured: "The Waves" by Jessica Risker.  Interstitial music by David Yontz.  Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events! Music Therapy Podcast Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.  Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.    

Group Session!  Chicago art-punkers Spread Joy define once and for all the grand purpose of art, ponder "derivative" music, explain the methods behind their songwriting and give a killer live performance on this episode of Music Therapy.  With special Exploration by the one and only Leslie Tanner! This episode was taped live at Cafe Mustache on August 10, 2022.   Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events! Music Therapy Podcast Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.  Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.

In this episode of Music Therapy we talk with Duncan Sheik!   You might remember Duncan Sheik's 1996 chart topping hit “Barely Breathing.” That song racked up 55 consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned him a Grammy Award® nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. In the years since, Sheik has been celebrated for his work in musical theater, including the groundbreaking success of Spring Awakening, which won eight Tony Awards and a Grammy and is also the subject of the just released HBO Documentary - ‘Spring Awakening: Those You've Known.'  Duncan talks about his newest album "Claptrap",  Buddhism, going through a mid-life crisis, his experience working as a musical artist in New York City, and his personal definition of success, all on this week's episode of Music Therapy! Songs featured in episode: "Barely Breathing", "There's No Telling", "Requiescat", and "Maybe" by Duncan Sheik.    Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events! Music Therapy Podcast Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.     

Annie Fish is a musician, cartoonist, and author based in Chicago, IL. In this episode of Music Therapy, I talk with Chicago musician Annie Fish about their new album “Weird Like Me”.  “Weird Like Me” is a full length 90's inspired rock album accompanied by an oral illustrated history, found at anniefish.net/weird.html.  Through the album's concept, Annie explores her rock n roll dreams, considers what it would have been like to be a trans star in the MTV era, takes down the record industry, and comes to terms (mostly) with where she's at.  Songs featured in episode: "Weird Like Me" and "Cranium" by Annie Fish Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events! Music Therapy Podcast Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.   

In this episode of Music Therapy, Lizzie No and I dig into touring, protecting her mental health while on tour, how Lizzie knows she's spending too much time on social media, her definition of success, and lots more!   Songs featured in episode:  "Sweeter Than Strychnine" and "Stop Bothering Me" by Lizzie No   Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events! Music Therapy Podcast Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.  Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.  Instrumental interstitial music by David Yontz.   

This is our 100th episode!  Jessica and Josh reflect on what we've learned so far through our 100 interviews with artists.  Thank you guys for listening to the podcast - here's to 100 more! Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events! Songs included: "Disco Smile" and "Stay" by Jessica Risker/DEADBEAT Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events! Music Therapy Podcast Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.  Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.  Instrumental interstitial music "Hangin' With the Boys in the Enchanted Forest" and "The Summer Mort Became Interested" by David Yontz.      

Uma Bloo is a pool. Uma Bloo is the persona of Molly Madden, a musician from Chicago who is maybe thinking about possibly moving to LA.  Molly worked on an album for years and released it and then left her band and is currently in total flux with music, where it lives in her life, her goals, and what it all means.  This is a very vulnerable place for a musician to be and totally relatable, and Molly explores it all in this episode of Music Therapy.  Songs featured in episode:  "To Be Vast" and "Don't Drive Into the Smoke" by Uma Bloo   Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events! Music Therapy Podcast Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.  Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.  Instrumental interstitial music by David Yontz.   

How do you start over in a new city?  Bridey Hicks (BRIDEY) is moving from Chicago to LA.  We discuss the reasons behind her move, her approach for joining the LA music community, why Chicagoans are the best people,  transitioning from comedy to music, her songwriting process, working solo vs with a band, and recordings vs live performance.  She also debuts a brand-new single called "The Light" from her upcoming EP. Songs featured in episode: "The Light" and "Decisions Make Me Sick In The Head" by BRIDEY Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events! Music Therapy Podcast Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.  Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.  Instrumental music by David Yontz.   

On this episode of Music Therapy I talk with one of my favorite artists Mike Meegan of RXM Reality!  We discuss getting sober, dig deep into Mike's music-making process, complain about social media and learn about Mike's favorite gear and DAWs. Songs featured on episode:  "Big Forever" by Jessica Risker & RXM Reality "Thank You" and "Life is Shit" by RXM Reality Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events! Music Therapy Podcast Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.  Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.

We are a culture obsessed with the pursuit of fame - but what happens when fame fades away?  Nick Duerden, author of "Exit Stage Left: The Curious Afterlife of Pop Stars" explores this question through candid interviews with pop stars who were once on top of the world.  Nick joins us on this episode of Music Therapy to discuss the book, his insights and takeaways about the ups and downs of fame and life beyond.    Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events! Music Therapy Podcast Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.  Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.    

Hilarity and shenanigans ensue when Chicago 4-piece Boo Baby takes the couch at Cafe Mustache! The band shares their performance philosophy and tells us who are better humans: musicians or comedians? Special guest Leslie Tanner takes us on yet another spirit-expanding Exploration, Julia Louis-Dreyfus may or may not have been in the audience, and Boo Baby gives a special live performance in this week's episode!   Features an in-depth interview with the band, comedy, and a special live performance by Boo Baby.   This episode was taped live at Cafe Mustache on May 11, 2022. Boo Baby is a Chicago rock act looking, above all, to put on a show. One review described their shows "a meditation joy” and it's true! Discovering their live show feels like stumbling on a mom and pop gas station; friendly, local faces happy to keep your motor runnin'. Founders Kevin Tellie and Robert Salazar share a back-of-the-bus wit and musical interplay that comes from playing together for 10+ years, starting in the basements and backyards of Scranton, Pennsylvania. After a Spinal Tap-like rotation of drummers, the band has found their Ringo in experimental artist Thomas Huston, who adds a drum dimension both heady for the college crowd and groovy for the stoned. And now there's lead guitarist Sam Kelarakis-Taylor. The man shreds like he just got out of jail. And he DID (he got caught stealing bowling balls). Their latest album, The Opening Band, is o.u.t. via Summersteps Records. Loose-knit yet classy, it celebrates the idea of the band as a vessel of art and heart. Hold your applause, please “boo.”   Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events! Music Therapy Podcast Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.  Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.  

Have you ever felt like people are going to find out you're a fraud, or that you don't really deserve the success you've had? Dr Lincoln Hill is a Chicago therapist who specializes in Imposter Syndrome.  In this episode of Music Therapy, Dr. Hill and Jessica discuss Imposter Syndrome.  We give you an understanding of Imposter Syndrome,  how it can impact you, and helpful ways to overcome it.    Song featured on the podcast: "Zero Summer Mind" by Jessica Risker Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events! Music Therapy Podcast Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.  Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.      

In this episode of Music Therapy, I talk with Dustin Currier of Lightleak!  Dustin talks about quitting his job to work on music, how his studio space setup helps him be more creative, the limits and strengths of binary thinking, making an album remotely, and his most recent album "Tender Fits"  Songs featured on the podcast: "No Icon" and "Sympathetic Vibration" by Dustin Currier Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events! Music Therapy Podcast Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.  Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.      

On this episode of Music Therapy I talk with Daniel Wyche of American Dreams Records!   Daniel talks about: His newest album “Earthwork” via American Dreams Records! Curating the wildly successful Quarantine Concerts via Experimental Sound Studio balancing teaching and making music mental health the Chicago music scene getting older and lots more! Songs featured: "Earthwork" (excerpt) and "The Elephant -Whale II" by Daniel Wyche from the album Earthwork   Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events! Music Therapy Podcast Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.  Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.    

Group Session featuring FRIKO!  Chicago indie-pop trio Friko takes the couch at Cafe Mustache for a live taping of Music Therapy.  Features an in-depth interview with the band, comedy, and a special live performance by Friko.   Friko shares what it's like to live together, how they approach songwriting, answer audience questions and lots more on this special Group Session episode of Music Therapy! Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events! Songs featured:  Music Therapy Podcast Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.  Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.  

In this episode of Music Therapy I talk with Jason Balla of Dehd and Accessory. We talk about Dehd's new album "Blue Skies" out now on Fat Possum, embracing mistakes in songwriting and recording, how to work past your inner critic, giving up control in collaborating, advice for touring and recording, and lots more! Songs featured: Chop Shop High School by Jessica Risker Eyes for Berlin by Accessory Bad Love by Dehd

Charles Joseph Smith is an absolute fixture of the Chicago DIY scene.  He is also a musical genius, a prolific pianist with over 600 compositions and arrangements under his belt.  In this episode of Music Therapy, Charles shares his story of growing up with autism, how he discovered and nurtured his talent for music, the differences between the classical and DIY music scenes, his top 5 favorite DIY spaces ever, and lots more.  Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events! Songs featured:  Music Therapy Podcast Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.  Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.  

Angela James is a Chicago singer-songwriter who just released a beautiful new album, co-produced with David Vandervelde (Father John Misty) called "Now That I Have You". ​ "I'm making what I feel like is the best work in my career. I had a lot of opportunities early in my career, and that was great, but I was so new and I had just started writing songs and just started playing music, and I didn't have the confidence, and now it's like, I'm making better work. I have more confidence." - Angela James I loved talking with Angela.  As a musician who is also a mom, I'm always excited to speak with other musician moms to see how they balance their lives and art.   Angela speaks in a calm, thoughtful way about a range of pretty wild topics, including using psychedelics, postpartum depression and psychosis, death, grief, and working in hospice.  We also talk about her creative process, her new album, and how her relationship to her music career has changed over time.  Finally, we share our love for the Chicago music scene, and how unbelievably talented, accessible, and supportive it is.   We cover: How do you make music when you become a parent? How does your relationship to art change when you hit middle age? What does music success look like? Can psychedelics help spiritual growth? Should you wait to have kids if you're trying to be a musician? Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events! Songs featured: "Portrait of the Artist by a Middle-Aged Mother" and "The Caregiver" by Angela James Music Therapy Podcast Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.  Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.

In this episode of Music Therapy I talk with musician, friend, and bandmate @joshua_w_wentz !! Josh and I discuss his rich and varied music career (not financially lol), how he stays so active in music, his perspective on success/failure in music, growth as a musician and how that changes output, authenticity in music, his annual 12 Days of Mike Oldfield album, his newest album Live at Tone Deaf Records out this Friday on 1473 Records,  and so much more! Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events! Song Credits: "Incantations Excerpt" by Mike Oldfield, performed by Kristin Johnston, Scott Simon, and Joshua Wentz "Rave Dove" by Joshua Wentz Music Therapy Podcast Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.  Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.

I did an interview on NPR today about Music Therapy!  Here's a recording in case you missed it.   Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events!

We see the phrase "toxic" all the time - toxic person, toxic workplace, toxic relationship - but what exactly does it mean?  And, how do you deal with a toxic person/coworker/family member/bandmate? Chicago therapist Lynn Zakeri, LCSW and I dive into the meaning of the word "toxic" and share how to deal with a toxic person! We explore: What exactly is a “toxic person”? How do you know if you're dealing with a toxic person? How does a toxic person make you feel? How does a toxic person behave? Why are some people “toxic”? How do you deal with a toxic person you can't escape (family member, etc)? Can you change a toxic person? How to deal with guilt when setting boundaries? How to approach a disagreement/conflict with a toxic person? How do I know someone is toxic?  How do I know I'm not the problem?  My bandmate is toxic, but they also are very creative and add a lot to the band.  What do I do? Song featured: "Empty Life" by Jessica Risker Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events! Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.  Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.

Ryan Hall of Whited Sepulchre Records discusses using music as an emotional processing tool, running through the graveyard, how he manages to work two jobs and run a busy record label, squaring business with creativity, what exactly EMDR is, plus lots more on this week's episode of Music Therapy! Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events! Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.  Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.

As a musician, how do you deal with the necessary evil of social media?  What does 2 years of quarantine do to your ability to perform?  If you had professional musicians for parents, would you want to follow their path? We get into all these questions and more with Chicago musician Devin Shaffer - including her most debut album "In My Dreams I'm There”, the breakdown she experienced after its release, making a living off music, and what it's like going back to college as an adult.   Tracks featured:  "In My Dreams I'm Here" and "Kissing In The Park" by Devin Shaffer. Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events! Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.  Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.

Kirk Rawlings is one-half of Chicago band Courtesy, and we go deep in this very candid, personal, and surprisingly uplifting episode of Music Therapy.  Kirk shares Courtesy's creative process,  his relationship with psychiatric and street drugs, dealing with anxiety and depression, his evolving definition of artistic success and how his two suicide attempts changed him.   We also talk about Courtesy's new album "Check the Milk" out now on Seasick Records, and listen to a couple tracks from the band. Tracks featured:  "King Clave" and "Buy Me A Soda" by Courtesy. Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events! Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.  Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.

Does performing make you nervous? In this week's episode of Music Therapy, I talk with psychologist Dr. Claire Kubiesa on overcoming performance anxiety! ​Whether you're just starting out or have been performing for years, this episode has tons of information on overcoming performance anxiety.   ​ In this episode we cover: What is performance anxiety? What does your identity have to do with performance anxiety? How do our thoughts affect anxiety? Why some anxiety is actually good for performing! How to set SMART goals How to manage performance expectations How to develop a pre-performance routine​ Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events! Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.  Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.  

Group Session!  In this episode I talk with Chicago's jazz-fusion sextet Cordoba.   Learn how 6 busy band members find time to practice, how they come up with their musical ideas, and how all their personalities work together.   Featuring an amazing live performance from the band!   Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events! Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.  Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz. This episode was taped live at Cafe Mustache in front of a studio audience on December 8, 2021.  

As a therapist, I often work with couples.  Couples generally come to therapy when they need some help, and as you might imagine, it can be tense.  That's why it was so nice to talk with Maya Bon and Ryan Albert of Babehoven.  They have a very sweet dynamic!  I've always wondered what it would be like to work on music while dating a bandmate, and it was really interesting to hear how they come up with ideas, give each other feedback, who's the boss, and work through disagreements while working on music together.  We also talked about their new EP "Sunk" out now on Double Double Whammy, their work ethic, using music to deal with past family trauma and loss, setting boundaries and fresh starts, communication skills, their adorable dog Woody, and lots more.   Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and events! Featured songs: "Fugazi"  and "Like Artists Making Offerings" by Babehoven Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.  Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz. This episode was taped on January 26, 2022.

Music Therapy is back with our first episode of 2022! In this episode of Music Therapy I talk with songwriter, composer, and producer Quinn Tsan!! Quinn and I talk about how she got into composing for films, her struggle with the vanity of music self-promotion, her mysterious upcoming project, the risks involved in pursuing an indie music career, new music she's working on, and plenty more! Quinn was so easy to talk to and although we still haven't grabbed that drink I'm totally down whenever, Quinn!  I loved hearing her journey to becoming a composer for film and there's some great takeaways from her story that could inspire any aspiring film composer.  It was also cool to hear how she's bounced around, from working in a corporation to pursuing the arts to starting a non-profit to working on her own LP, and all the excitement and uncertainty and insecurity pursuing an art career entails.  We also dig into her discomfort with the ego that accompanies promoting your own work.  All in all this was a great conversation from a talented and driven Chicago artist.   Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and events! Featured song: "Once I Had a Picture of Us" by Quinn Tsan Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.  Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz. This episode was taped live on Instagram on October 20, 2021.  

Hello everyone!  I'm taking a break from releasing episodes until 2022.  Here's a short episode with info about upcoming events.  I hope you have a wonderful holiday season, and thanks for listening to the podcast this year!  We have a lot of big plans for 2022, so stay tuned and visit musictherapypodcast.com

In this episode of Music Therapy I talk with Camilo Medina of Divino Niño!  Camilo shares his sacred bath routine, moving from an ad agency to freelance work, how the band creates together, how they're evolving their recording process as they work on their new album, spirituality, the spirit of collaboration, and much more!!  We also hear two new tracks from Divino Niño: Bleach and Drive. My thoughts:  Camilo is a super talented artist, both with his music and graphic design, and it would be easy to be sort of intimidated by him if he weren't so friendly and positive.  My favorite part of our conversation was when he talked about the goal of art and an artist's search for "truth" and I asked him what exactly he meant by that, because I never quite know what "truth" is, you know?  But he led me down a path that I totally vibed with.  He also had excellent thoughts on collaborating with others and you get the sense he's done some personal evolution on that.  I also liked hearing how they're working on their new album, his new bath routine, and exploring his spiritual side.  All in all, this was a very positive episode with real depth in how a talented artist approaches his creativity. Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and events! Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.  Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.  

In this episode of Music Therapy I talk with Darien Williams of Unmanned Ship, M!NES, Cat Mullins & themboys and faug!! We discuss  balancing work and creativity, being in four different bands, running a kombucha business, putting out 4 albums next year, utilizing space and dynamics in music, how the pandemic changed creativity, running the Cafe Mustache streaming channel, and tons more!!   Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and events! Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.  Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.          

On this episode of Music Therapy I talk with comedian and musician Steve Malden (formerly Steve Gerard).  Steve is one of my very favorite comedians and he moved to NYC one week ago from Chicago.  This is a snapshot of an artist the moment they move into the next level of their career. We discuss a variety of things:  Why did he move to New York?  What's the difference between the comedy scenes and music scenes?  What is Kratom?  What's the good parts about getting older as an artist?  We also talk social media obsession, refining art, antidepressants, sobriety, and his wonderful lo fi bedroom pop new album “a sled with no snow sometimes” by Sofas available at sofas.bandcamp.com.  Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and events! Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.  Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.    

What happens when a band comes to an end?  In this episode of Music Therapy, I talk with all four members of Chicago DIY darlings Richard Album as they play their very last show.  In a touching and surprisingly emotional episode, I talk with the band as they reflect on their time together, share some of their best and worst band memories, and play a killer live set.     This episode is a monthly installment of Music Therapy called "Group Session", in which I talk with a full band about how they write, fight, and work together.   This episode was taped live at Cafe Mustache on August 11, 2021.   Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and events! Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.  Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.  

This episode of Music Therapy features Savanna Dickhut of Burr Oak!  Savanna talks about intense anxiety before performing, dealing with writer's block, drinking as a coping mechanism before shows, her songwriting process, how the pandemic changed her music career goals,  her new album "Late Bloomer" out now, and more!! Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and events! Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.  Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.    

Pandemic stress impacts every aspect of our lives - our bodies, mental health, relationships, work, and our creativity.  You may be feeling burned out, depleted, irritable, malaise, or just generally not the best version of yourself.  In this episode of Music Therapy, we focus on understanding prolonged stress, and the tolls it takes on our lives and well-being.  You also learn actions you can take today to cope and feel more like yourself.  Dr. Caroline Adelman joins this episode for an in-depth discussion about prolonged stress, and offers ways to cope and recuperate.     Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and events! Credits:  Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago.  Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.