Tag: bearswiftly
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Sleepless Nights: Embrace ‘Insomnia’ on the Dance Floor
I’m no stranger to the condition of insomnia. I’m a bit of a night bear. Were you expecting owl? What a hoot. My mind constantly brims with thoughts and ideas, spectral and otherworldly, distracting me from sleep I dearly adore. It can be difficult to shut these processes down. Rest and recuperation are a lovely…
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Bend to the Light: Rinzen’s Sensational Storytelling
Musicians and producers imbue emotive messages into their harmonies. When their creations touch my ears, my mind conjures images of meanings. One of the beautiful byproducts of song is the myriad of ways it affects listeners of differing walks of life. It reminds me of a quote from legendary, multi-faceted composer and producer, Roy Ayers.…
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HR Shovenstuff and the Battle of the Bands//DJs Throwing Hands
A good old-fashioned battle of the bands provides an excellent opportunity to discover new music, personalities, and talent. What’s at stake, in this instance? The chance to secure a spot performing at this year’s Solshine Reverie, presented by Summer Camp. The arena for this showcase? The Point, a comfortably slick little music venue in Chicago’s…
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One Last Dance with Minnesota, @ the Chop Shop
When Frisky recommends music, I listen. He knows his stuff. This past Friday, March 22, as I put the finishing touches on an interview I’d been working on for the better part of the week, a text arrived from my guy, Ty. Minnesota at the Chop Shop, was I in? Heck yes, buddy. Apparently, it’s…
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Barclay Crenshaw’s Impending Voyage: Open Channels Tour
After twenty years performing under the alias Claude VonStroke, Barclay Crenshaw is set to blast off on a brand-new adventure. The legendary house producer is dedicating 2024 to his longstanding passion for the sounds of bass, dub, hip-hop, funk, and jungle that he’s always treasured. On behalf of HEAR Magazine, I caught up with him…
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A Night with Zeds Dead
When Zeds Dead tours through Chicago for a trifecta of dates, one picks a night to spend with the world renowned duo. For this story, that selection happened to be Friday, December 15th. Complete with supporting performances from BLXK MNTN, Boyarbeatz, Khiva, and Friction, the night slammed with energy all the way through until the…
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Lunar Tide Music and Arts Festival (Day 1)
I imagined Lunar Tide as a dojo where three orders of sound, Elements, Funktion, and Hennessy, would square off in a display of technique. I was not far wrong. However, this isn’t combat. It’s a celebration. Any sparring is metaphorical, and for the benefit of entertainment. There is a friendliness between crews, as the personnel…
