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ARTIST SPOTLIGHT Mei Semones January 31st 2025 Describe the sound of your music for unfamiliar listeners jazz-influenced indie j-pop Kabutomushi is a project I continuously return to, what was the process of making each of those songs? Thank you! Most of the songs were written summer '22-winter '22, and we recorded winter '22-spring '23. My process for songwriting starts with chords first, then melody, then lyrics last. Once the guitar/vocals are set, I bring the song to my band and we arrange all the parts together :) How’d you first get into making music? I started playing piano when I was 4, guitar when I was 11, and started writing songs shortly after that. But I didn't write a song I really liked until the first single I put out in 2022, called "Hfoas." Where do you find the inspiration to create such captivating music? I'm inspired by the music I love, like John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, Charlie Parker, Jim Hall, Wes Montgomery, and João Gilberto. I'm also inspired a lot by my friends & bandmates, who are also all incredible musicians. I also find a lot of inspiration in my everyday life living in Brooklyn, NY. What song / project would you suggest for unfamiliar listeners I would suggest the Kabutomushi EP. I think it's a nice mix of genres and it showcases various aspects of our music well. What’s next for Mei Semones? What are some goals for 2025? We are putting out our debut album in May of 2025. I hope to do lots of touring this year, and hopefully do some international touring with my band :) What music have you been listening to recently? I have been listening to a lot of Michael Brecker & Wayne Shorter.

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT Leo Soloway June 13th 2025 Describe your music for unfamiliar listeners To sum it up, I’d say alternative rock/metal. I love ambient synthesizers and reverb-soaked guitars, but I’m also a sucker for huge distorted tones, epic orchestral elements, and wordy guitar solos. Describe your creative process For me, because I’m primarily a guitarist, it always starts with a riff or chord progression. From there, I add drums and bass as a guide to other places I can bring the song. If I continue to like the idea after a few days, I’ll begin to develop other sections that follow or precede the original idea. Vocals usually come last. Not everyone’s style, but it works for me. I’ve come up with riffs that were sat on for so long, and eventually just became the ending of a song. Your latest song, “Taboo” is super cool! What went into making it? That song is very special to me. It’s the only one of my songs that I recorded every part for. I always fully compose with lyrics and all, but this is the first time my own voice was on a track. The song features a groove that’s based around drums and bass, guitar playing a very little part in its initial phases. There’s a section where I (attempt to) rap. Rap is a stretch… How about… sing faster? As the song builds, a three part string ensemble takes the spotlight. Then, a melodic and soaring solo section, followed by a technical and uplifting “djent” style riff, which concludes the song. How’d you first get into making music? I was creating riffs and songs from a very young age. As soon as I acquired an electric guitar, I was playing stuff modeled after The White Stripes and The Black Keys. From there, I started to experiment with garageband. When my parents and music teachers saw my potential, I was given Logic Pro X, and an audio interface. It all escalated from there…(I have 7 guitars and no money) Where do you find the inspiration to create music? Being raised by my mom (a singer-songwriter) and my dad, (not a musician, but loves music) I was surrounded and immersed in music all the time. I think it was only natural that I had a desire to create it. What have you been working on lately? Any new music soon? I have quite a few unfinished songs in reserve at the moment. They’re all in different places. Will they be out soon? Maybe? Who knows? Other than music, what else have you been up to? Eh, the usual stuff… wine tasting, watch shopping, driving my Pagani. That reminds me actually, the McLaren F1 needs maintenance. What music have you been listening to lately? My favorite band at the moment is Thank You Scientist. They’re a seven-piece jazz/metal fusion band from New Jersey. Absolutely astonishing music. The guitarist, Tom Monda, cracked out of his mind. Aside from that, bands like Periphery, Haken, Protest The Hero, Dance Gavin Dance, and Knocked Loose have been in the rotation lately.

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT Zoo St. October 9th 2025 Describe your music’s sound for unfamiliar listeners. How did you come across that sound? Dez: Mmmmmmmm.. maybe modern day Wu-Tang with south/midwestern roots. Not the same but similar. We have a bit of an attack style of approach with less emphasis on catchy hooks and more focus on deep-cutting lyricism and witty execution. Also Kendrick. Always Kendrick. Dee: I’d say a blend of Wu-Tang and OutKast and just being exposed to all different kinds of music from Wu-Tang to India arie to Odd Future. Kwon: I think we all developed our own sound from different pieces and paths which you hear in our songs. We’re built similar but made from different circumstances so it gels well. Honestly, I just liked free-styling, but then i wanted to sound better, so i started writing. I began to experience more in life and had something to talk about so i jotted it. Odd future was the initial group inspiration but personally, lil herb, earl, & mac miller, had me thinking maybe i could try writing. Your latest album, “DR. dr.” Has such chill vibes. What was the creative process behind that album? Rick: It’s funny you ask that. I was discussing this the other day with a colleague of mine. A lot of the tracks i made on ‘DR. dr.’ are sample free and that honestly is a step in a different direction for me. I think the difference in my production process kinda motivated how melancholic the vibe of the music is. I decided to explore untouched sounds that I normally wouldn’t fool with and what you hear in ‘DR. dr.’ is ultimately what manifested. Dez: To add onto that a bit, ‘DR. dr.’ stands for Dee, Rick, Dez, Rae. A simple acronym, but it’s a title we’ve used for a project far before we started doing public releases, and this time around we just felt it was a fitting title for what we had put together. What made you decide the album cover for that album? Dez: “The Leak” mixtape by Lil Wayne which were songs originally intended to be on the iconic Carter III. We referenced the color-way for the album from that cover and then we added some flavor with a spin on our first project ‘Zoology’. Using a neutral, paper-like color for the base and overlaying scientific drawings of different breeds of animals that may have been referenced in previous projects and/or in lyrics of ours. Finally, the mountain theme coming from a 4 song stretch in the middle of the album (Track 4 (Horsemen) to 7 (SmarterMan/CotterMan)). Where do you find inspiration to create music? Dez: From daily life experiences, to the sounds from Rick’s beats, to eachothers verses.Alliterations get the best of me a lot of times too. Dee: Yeah, man. LIFE! Life is the ultimate inspiration. Maybe it’s something I randomly heard that day or a one liner Dez sent in the chat. Sometimes the names of Rick’s beat can get me lyrically inspired. Kwon: Same thing really. Just my life and sometimes listening to other artists inspires me. But it’s more just me writing my thoughts or feelings, im not a rapper. How’d you get into making music? Rick: Beatmaking & engineering were basically handed down. My dad always stayed in the studio & I think I got a beatmaking machine for my 12th birthday. By the time I was 16 the studio was given to me too. I’ve built my own now, but all of that was originally inherited, really. ALL: For us; we’ve been rapping together since we can remember lowkey. Our older brother, Julius Keith, had us rapping from a very young age (Dee & The Easywey). Big bro had us believing we could rival any pen. I think we do. Kwon picked up the pen once we established ourselves as serious artists, but has literally always been there rhyming with us and just in the studio. Any new music coming out or being worked on? Anything else you’d like to promote? ALL: Z44 is meant to be the next release coming out of the Zoo St. camp. We’ve flirted with the idea of a solo EP for Kwon too but… Dez: I intend to rollout a solo catalogue soon. Including an EP executive produced by myself, with beat production from a talented young Donesunk. I also have a single scheduled to release this coming spring featuring a guest verse from Detroit’s own; Junii & production from TAKN. Dee: Was in the lab with Rick the other day talking about a possible EP. If the Lord wills it I’m with it. Kwon: Kwonny world tour suppose to be something im working on but the motivation hasnt really been there since i stopped hooping. Other than music, what else have you been up to? Dez: I’m committed to investing my time into my young family. I spend most my time heading to, or at work. Otherwise i’m making time for my family. In any spare time, if I’m not getting out to try and engage with the Chicago music community, I’m trying new foods in the city or even cooking. Dee: “Really I’m provider yeah I put that on my soul.” Dez: So yeah dee on the same thing. Kwon: 2k26 3-level scoring dimer. Dee: Bro being modest though, he the same archetype in real life and been playing pro ball for like 3 years. Rick: Trying to make a house a home if you know what I mean. Plus, I been in the gym a lot, really. Traveling a bit more for work in the past few years too. What music have you been listening to lately? Dez: Whew.. always a lot of unreleased from the family. Uhh Lifeofthom, Kaicrewsade, DC2Trill, 454, Jay Elec and Oddie Strangelove. Dee: Obviously, Zoo St. Forrest Frank, Jx.Zero, and that Malice record was tuff. Kwon: I’ve been on Steve lacy, Domo genesis, LUCKI, khamari. Rick: For me; I rediscovered my love for Radiohead hits like Nude & Videotape on my most recent vacation trip.