The Current
Kaleo - full session at The Current (2016)
updated
Support The Current: support.mpr.org/youtube
Toronto band The Beaches are becoming well known to The Current’s audience by virtue of their irresistibly catchy new single, “Blame Brett,” from their latest album "Blame My Ex."
The lead single, “Blame Brett,” was actually inspired by The Beaches' Jordan Miller’s breakup, but ended softly enough that she asked her former boyfriend, Brett Emmons of Canadian rock band The Glorious Sons, if she could use his name in the lyrics because the alliteration just worked so well. “He gave me his consent and his blessing,” Jordan Miller told the CBC in a September 2023 interview.
What’s more, the song isn’t really about Brett; rather, it’s about her own feelings of still processing after a breakup. “It was a really sad and devastating time for me," Jordan Miller said in the same interview with CBC host Tom Power. “There still is a little bit of humour in [Blame Brett] with the chorus, but it is really about me just not being over him.”
Chatting at The Current ahead of their recent session in The Current studio, Jordan Miller joked that she is now waiting for a reciprocal “Blame Jordan” single from Brett Emmons. The Beaches were in town to perform at show at the Fine Line in Minneapolis when they visited The Current studio to perform a three-song acoustic set of music from "Blame My Ex."
Watch the performance of "What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Paranoid" above.
Musicians:
Jordan Miller - Singer
Kylie Miller - Guitar
Leandra Earl - Guitar
Eliza Enman-McDaniel - Percussion
Credits:
Guests – @thebeachesband
Producer – Derrick Stevens
Video – Eric Xu Romani
Audio – Evan Clark
Graphics – Natalia Toledo
Digital Producer – Luke Taylor
Subscribe to our channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/893TheCurrent?sub_confirmation=1
Like/Follow:
facebook.com/TheCurrent
instagram.com/thecurrent
tiktok.com/@thecurrent.org
#thebeaches #music #studio
Listen to the full session with Bill DeVille on thecurrent.org/feature/2014/06/08/first-aid-kit-perform-in-the-current-studio
While in the Twin Cities for a show at First Avenue in Minneapolis, The Kills visited The Current studio to play stripped-down versions of songs from the latest album. Afterwords, Mosshart and Hince spoke with host Jill Riley about the making of the album — including the cross-country driving trips that inspired some of Mosshart’s song ideas.
Watch and listen to "New York" above.
Musicians
Alison Mosshart – vocals, guitar
Jaime Hince – guitar, vocals
Credits
Guests – @thekillsofficial
Host – Jill Riley
Producer – Derrick Stevens
Video – Evan Clark
Audio – Derek Ramirez
Camera Operators – Evan Clark, Megan Lundberg
Graphics – Natalia Toledo
Digital Producer – Luke Taylor
You rely on The Current to keep you connected to the music you love, and we rely on you to power this station. Everything you find here is only possible because of listener support. Give now at: support.mpr.org/youtube
Subscribe to our channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/893TheCurrent?sub_confirmation=1
Like/Follow:
facebook.com/TheCurrent
instagram.com/thecurrent
tiktok.com/@thecurrent.org
#music #studio #interview
Support The Current: support.mpr.org/youtube
From May 3 to 10, 2024, The Current is counting down the 893 Essential Bands as chosen by you. Getting into the spirit of things, The Current's midday host Zach McCormick talks about why Irish hard-rock band Thin Lizzy are one of his favorite bands. (Note: Thin Lizzy came in at No. 494 in our countdown, as voted by you!)
Subscribe to our channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/893TheCurrent?sub_confirmation=1
Like/Follow:
facebook.com/TheCurrent
instagram.com/thecurrent
tiktok.com/@thecurrent.org
#thecurrent #893essentials
Koskinen and his bandmates visited the Radio Heartland studio to play a selection of tracks from the forthcoming album. Watch and listen to "Keep My Baby With Me" above.
All songs from Erik Koskinen’s 2024 album, Down Street/Love Avenue, available on Real Phonic Records.
Musicians
Erik Koskinen – electric and acoustic guitars, vocals
Paul Bergen – electric guitar
Josh Gravelin – electric bass, vocals
Richard Medek – drums
Alex Proctor – Wurlitzer piano, Steinway grand, vocals
Credits
Guest – @ErikKoskinen
Host/Producer – Mike Pengra
Video – Derek Ramirez
Audio – Eric Xu Romani
Graphics – Natalia Toledo
Digital Producer – Luke Taylor
You rely on The Current to keep you connected to the music you love, and we rely on you to power this station. Everything you find here is only possible because of listener support. Give now at: support.mpr.org/youtube
Subscribe to our channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/893TheCur...
Like/Follow:
facebook.com/TheCurrent / thecurrent
instagram.com/thecurrent /thecurrent
tiktok.com/@thecurrent.org /thecurrent.org
This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment's Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.
#music #studio #americana
That said, Sriram is not inflexible. In fact, he tends to embrace serendipity in his life, and it has served him well. In was, in fact, his embrace of serendipity that led him from his home in California to a successful career in India — and it’s also what led him to visit Minneapolis to work with producer Ryan Olson. This led to the album Sidharth, a collection of songs that let Sriram explore his many influences without boundaries, it led him to explore the meaning of his very name.
During a recent visit to The Current studio, Sriram played songs from Sidharth, and then sat down with host Ayisha Jaffer to discuss his life and his career so far. Watch and listen to "Dear Sahana" above.
Musicians
Sid Sriram – vocals
Evan Slack – guitar
Credits
Guest – @sidsrirammusic
Host – Ayisha Jaffer
Producer – Derrick Stevens
Video and Audio – Eric Romani
Camera Operators – Megan Lundberg, Nikhil Kumaran
Graphics – Natalia Toledo
Digital Producer – Luke Taylor
You rely on The Current to keep you connected to the music you love, and we rely on you to power this station. Everything you find here is only possible because of listener support. Give now at: http://support.mpr.org/youtube
Subscribe to our channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/893TheCurrent?sub_confirmation=1
Like/Follow:
facebook.com/TheCurrent
instagram.com/thecurrent
tiktok.com/@thecurrent.org
#sidsriram #music #studio
Also in the set list were several songs from Folds’ back catalogue, including a group sing-along among the audience during “You Don’t Know Me,” conducted by Folds as he played and sang his own part. The audience consisted of lucky winners who had entered for a chance to attend this unique performance.
Musician
Ben Folds – vocals and piano
Credits
Guest – @benfoldsTV
Video Director – Eric Xu Romani
Video Editor – Evan Clark
Camera Operator – Guillermo Bonilla
Recording Engineer – Evan Clark
Mix Engineer – Eric Xu Romani
Graphics – Natalia Toledo
Digital Producer – Luke Taylor
Just after recording an in-studio performance and interview at MPR, his soul-Americana, racial-justice song “Say My Name” hit no. 2 on The Current’s Chart Show.
Laamar (born Geoffrey Lamar Wilson) chatted with The Current about being raised by a musician father in North Minneapolis, to now taking on a similar role as a dad of two. Laamar also talked about finding confidence in singing, connecting with the local music scene and more. Watch the performance of "My Kingdom" above.
Musicians
Geoffrey Lamar Wilson - voice/guitar
Jason Wells - bass
Steven Bosmans - guitar/voice
James Taylor - drums
Credits
Guest – Laamar
Host – Diane
Producer – Evan Clark
Camera Operators – Erik Stromstad, Megan Lundberg
Graphics – Natalia Toledo
You rely on The Current to keep you connected to the music you love, and we rely on you to power this station. Everything you find here is only possible because of listener support. Give now at: support.mpr.org/youtube
Subscribe to our channel:
youtube.com/@thecurrent
#laamar #thecurrent #minnesotamusic #thelocalshow #diane #geoffreylamarwilson #juspostbellum #music #studio #minneapolis #saintpaul #minnesota #mpr #minnesotapublicradio
The lead single, “Blame Brett,” was actually inspired by The Beaches' Jordan Miller’s breakup, but ended softly enough that she asked her former boyfriend, Brett Emmons of Canadian rock band The Glorious Sons, if she could use his name in the lyrics because the alliteration just worked so well. “He gave me his consent and his blessing,” Jordan Miller told the CBC in a September 2023 interview.
What’s more, the song isn’t really about Brett; rather, it’s about her own feelings of still processing after a breakup. “It was a really sad and devastating time for me," Jordan Miller said in the same interview with CBC host Tom Power. “There still is a little bit of humour in [Blame Brett] with the chorus, but it is really about me just not being over him.”
Chatting at The Current ahead of their recent session in The Current studio, Jordan Miller joked that she is now waiting for a reciprocal “Blame Jordan” single from Brett Emmons. The Beaches were in town to perform at show at the Fine Line in Minneapolis when they visited The Current studio to perform a three-song acoustic set of music from "Blame My Ex."
Watch the performance of "Shower Beer" above.
Musicians:
Jordan Miller - Singer
Kylie Miller - Guitar
Leandra Earl - Guitar
Eliza Enman-McDaniel - Percussion
Credits:
Guests – @thebeachesband
Producer – Derrick Stevens
Video – Eric Xu Romani
Audio – Evan Clark
Graphics – Natalia Toledo
Digital Producer – Luke Taylor
You rely on The Current to keep you connected to the music you love, and we rely on you to power this station. Everything you find here is only possible because of listener support. Give now at: http://support.mpr.org/youtube
Subscribe to our channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/893TheCurrent?sub_confirmation=1
Like/Follow:
facebook.com/TheCurrent
instagram.com/thecurrent
tiktok.com/@thecurrent.org
#thebeaches #music #studio
Find the complete session and interview here: https://www.thecurrent.org/feature/20...
Musicians
Amanda Shires - vocals, fiddle
Zach Setchfield - acoustic guitar
Credits
Guest - @amandashires
Host - Jill Riley
Producer - Rachel Frances
Video - Evan Clark
Camera Operators - Evan Clark, Peter Ecklund
Audio - Eric Xu Romani
Graphics - Natalia Toledo
Digital Producer - Luke Taylor
While in the Twin Cities for a show at First Avenue in Minneapolis, The Kills visited The Current studio to play stripped-down versions of songs from the latest album. Afterwords, Mosshart and Hince spoke with host Jill Riley about the making of the album — including the cross-country driving trips that inspired some of Mosshart’s song ideas.
Watch and listen to "Better Days" above.
Musicians
Alison Mosshart – vocals, guitar
Jaime Hince – guitar, vocals
Credits
Guests – @thekillsofficial
Host – Jill Riley
Producer – Derrick Stevens
Video – Evan Clark
Audio – Derek Ramirez
Camera Operators – Evan Clark, Megan Lundberg
Graphics – Natalia Toledo
Digital Producer – Luke Taylor
You rely on The Current to keep you connected to the music you love, and we rely on you to power this station. Everything you find here is only possible because of listener support. Give now at: http://support.mpr.org/youtube
Subscribe to our channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/893TheCurrent?sub_confirmation=1
Like/Follow:
facebook.com/TheCurrent
instagram.com/thecurrent
tiktok.com/@thecurrent.org
#music #studio #interview
Koskinen and his bandmates visited the Radio Heartland studio to play a selection of tracks from the forthcoming album. Watch and listen to "I Got You (To Get Me Through)" above.
All songs from Erik Koskinen’s 2024 album, Down Street/Love Avenue, available on Real Phonic Records.
Musicians
Erik Koskinen – electric and acoustic guitars, vocals
Paul Bergen – electric guitar
Josh Gravelin – electric bass, vocals
Richard Medek – drums
Alex Proctor – Wurlitzer piano, Steinway grand, vocals
Credits
Guest – @ErikKoskinen
Host/Producer – Mike Pengra
Video – Derek Ramirez
Audio – Eric Xu Romani
Graphics – Natalia Toledo
Digital Producer – Luke Taylor
You rely on The Current to keep you connected to the music you love, and we rely on you to power this station. Everything you find here is only possible because of listener support. Give now at: support.mpr.org/youtube
Subscribe to our channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/893TheCur...
Like/Follow:
facebook.com/TheCurrent / thecurrent
instagram.com/thecurrent /thecurrent
tiktok.com/@thecurrent.org /thecurrent.org
This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment's Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.
#music #studio #americana
Credits
Guest – @ArloParks
Host – Ayisha Jaffer
Producer – Derrick Stevens
Video – Aaron Ankrum
Audio – Derrick Ramirez
Graphics – Natalia Toledo
Digital Producer – Luke Taylor
You rely on The Current to keep you connected to the music you love, and we rely on you to power this station. Everything you find here is only possible because of listener support. Give now at: support.mpr.org/youtube
Subscribe to our channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/893TheCurrent?sub_confirmation=1
Like/Follow:
facebook.com/TheCurrent
instagram.com/thecurrent
tiktok.com/@thecurrent.org
#interview #studio #glastonbury
That said, Sriram is not inflexible. In fact, he tends to embrace serendipity in his life, and it has served him well. In was, in fact, his embrace of serendipity that led him from his home in California to a successful career in India — and it’s also what led him to visit Minneapolis to work with producer Ryan Olson. This led to the album Sidharth, a collection of songs that let Sriram explore his many influences without boundaries, it led him to explore the meaning of his very name.
During a recent visit to The Current studio, Sriram played songs from Sidharth, and then sat down with host Ayisha Jaffer to discuss his life and his career so far. Watch and listen to "Came Along" above.
Musicians
Sid Sriram – vocals
Evan Slack – guitar
Credits
Guest – @sidsrirammusic
Host – Ayisha Jaffer
Producer – Derrick Stevens
Video and Audio – Eric Romani
Camera Operators – Megan Lundberg, Nikhil Kumaran
Graphics – Natalia Toledo
Digital Producer – Luke Taylor
You rely on The Current to keep you connected to the music you love, and we rely on you to power this station. Everything you find here is only possible because of listener support. Give now at: support.mpr.org/youtube
Subscribe to our channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/893TheCurrent?sub_confirmation=1
Like/Follow:
facebook.com/TheCurrent
instagram.com/thecurrent
tiktok.com/@thecurrent.org
#sidsriram #music #studio
Closing out the evening was a performance by indie rock band Porcupine. Veterans of multiple music scenes the band consists of guitarist and lead vocalist Casey Virock, drummer Keith Larson, guitarist and vocalist Nick Roesler and bassist Chad Haugejorden.
Despite the warm wood accents, carpeted ground and bottom-lit Current banners backing the band, something about their set was transportive to somewhere a little darker and a little grittier. In-your-face and enjoyably abrasive, the music invited the listeners to move. Virock switching between microphones creating an immediate echoed effect. A call and response team of one backed by a powerful band.
Songs Performed
00:00:00 Character Flaws
00:03:21 The Way Down
00:06:16 Comatose
Musicians
Casey Virock – vocals, guitar
Nick Roesler – guitar, backing vocals
Chad Haugejorden – bass
Keith Larsen – drums
Credits
Guests – @porcupineband
Host – Diane Miller
Producer – Derrick Stevens
Engineer – Josh Sauvageau
House Recording – Eric Romani
Video – Evan Clark, Megan Lundberg
Graphics – Natalia Toledo
Digital Producer – Luke Taylor
You rely on The Current to keep you connected to the music you love, and we rely on you to power this station. Everything you find here is only possible because of listener support. Give now at: support.mpr.org/youtube
Subscribe to our channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/893TheCurrent?sub_confirmation=1
Like/Follow:
facebook.com/TheCurrent
instagram.com/thecurrent
tiktok.com/@thecurrent.org
This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment's Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.
#music #minnesotamusic #performance
Just after recording an in-studio performance and interview at MPR, his soul-Americana, racial-justice song “Say My Name” hit no. 2 on The Current’s Chart Show.
Laamar (born Geoffrey Lamar Wilson) chatted with The Current about being raised by a musician father in North Minneapolis, to now taking on a similar role as a dad of two. Laamar also talked about finding confidence in singing, connecting with the local music scene and more. Watch the performance of "Home To My Baby" above.
Musicians
Geoffrey Lamar Wilson - voice/guitar
Jason Wells - bass
Steven Bosmans - guitar/voice
James Taylor - drums
Credits
Guest – Laamar
Host – Diane
Producer – Evan Clark
Camera Operators – Erik Stromstad, Megan Lundberg
Graphics – Natalia Toledo
You rely on The Current to keep you connected to the music you love, and we rely on you to power this station. Everything you find here is only possible because of listener support. Give now at: support.mpr.org/youtube
Subscribe to our channel:
youtube.com/@thecurrent
#laamar #thecurrent #minnesotamusic #thelocalshow #diane #geoffreylamarwilson #juspostbellum #music #studio #minneapolis #saintpaul #minnesota #mpr #minnesotapublicradio
The lead single, “Blame Brett,” was actually inspired by The Beaches' Jordan Miller’s breakup, but ended softly enough that she asked her former boyfriend, Brett Emmons of Canadian rock band The Glorious Sons, if she could use his name in the lyrics because the alliteration just worked so well. “He gave me his consent and his blessing,” Jordan Miller told the CBC in a September 2023 interview.
What’s more, the song isn’t really about Brett; rather, it’s about her own feelings of still processing after a breakup. “It was a really sad and devastating time for me," Jordan Miller said in the same interview with CBC host Tom Power. “There still is a little bit of humour in [Blame Brett] with the chorus, but it is really about me just not being over him.”
Chatting at The Current ahead of their recent session in The Current studio, Jordan Miller joked that she is now waiting for a reciprocal “Blame Jordan” single from Brett Emmons. The Beaches were in town to perform at show at the Fine Line in Minneapolis when they visited The Current studio to perform a three-song acoustic set of music from "Blame My Ex." Watch a performance of "Blame Brett" above.
Musicians:
Jordan Miller - Singer
Kylie Miller - Guitar
Leandra Earl - Guitar
Eliza Enman-McDaniel - Percussion
Credits:
Guests – @thebeachesband
Producer – Derrick Stevens
Video – Eric Xu Romani
Audio – Evan Clark
Graphics – Natalia Toledo
Digital Producer – Luke Taylor
You rely on The Current to keep you connected to the music you love, and we rely on you to power this station. Everything you find here is only possible because of listener support. Give now at: support.mpr.org/youtube
Subscribe to our channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/893TheCurrent?sub_confirmation=1
Like/Follow:
facebook.com/TheCurrent
instagram.com/thecurrent
tiktok.com/@thecurrent.org
#thebeaches #music #studio
While in the Twin Cities for a show at First Avenue in Minneapolis, The Kills visited The Current studio to play stripped-down versions of songs from the latest album. Afterwords, Mosshart and Hince spoke with host Jill Riley about the making of the album — including the cross-country driving trips that inspired some of Mosshart’s song ideas.
Watch and listen to their track "103" above.
Musicians
Alison Mosshart – vocals, guitar
Jaime Hince – guitar, vocals
Credits
Guests – @thekillsofficial
Host – Jill Riley
Producer – Derrick Stevens
Video – Evan Clark
Audio – Derek Ramirez
Camera Operators – Evan Clark, Megan Lundberg
Graphics – Natalia Toledo
Digital Producer – Luke Taylor
You rely on The Current to keep you connected to the music you love, and we rely on you to power this station. Everything you find here is only possible because of listener support. Give now at: support.mpr.org/youtube
Subscribe to our channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/893TheCurrent?sub_confirmation=1
Like/Follow:
facebook.com/TheCurrent
instagram.com/thecurrent
tiktok.com/@thecurrent.org
#music #studio #interview
Musician
Angie McMahon – vocals, guitar
Credits
Guest – @angiemcmahon
Host – Zach McCormick
Producer – Derrick Stevens
Video – Evan Clark
Audio – Eric Xu Romani
Camera Operators – Evan Clark, Megan Lundberg
Graphics – Natalia Toledo
Digital Producer – Luke Taylor
You rely on The Current to keep you connected to the music you love, and we rely on you to power this station. Everything you find here is only possible because of listener support. Give now at: http://www.support.mpr.org/youtube
Subscribe to our channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/893TheCurrent?sub_confirmation=1
Like/Follow:
facebook.com/TheCurrent
instagram.com/thecurrent
tiktok.com/@thecurrent.org
#angiemcmahon #shorts @AWAL
McMahon’s latest album, "Light, Dark, Light Again," was released in October 2023 on @AWAL. On tour in support of the album, McMahon stopped at The Current to talk with host Zach McCormick about her record, including what it was like to work with producer Brad Cook. (Based for several years now in North Carolina, Cook’s origins are in the creative Eau Claire, Wisconsin, nucleus that produced so many fine musicians.) “I'd never, you know, traveled across the ocean to record,” McMahon says. “I left my band back home, and Brad pulled some really great musicians together for us to do the songs, and he was really helpful with me.”
Watch and listen to McMahon’s full interview with Zach, above.
Credits
Guest – @angiemcmahon
Host – Zach McCormick
Producer – Derrick Stevens
Video – Evan Clark
Audio – Eric Xu Romani
Camera Operators – Evan Clark, Megan Lundberg
Graphics – Natalia Toledo
Digital Producer – Luke Taylor
You rely on The Current to keep you connected to the music you love, and we rely on you to power this station. Everything you find here is only possible because of listener support. Give now at: support.mpr.org/youtube
Subscribe to our channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/893TheCurrent?sub_confirmation=1
Like/Follow:
facebook.com/TheCurrent
instagram.com/thecurrent
tiktok.com/@thecurrent.org
#angiemcmahon #musician #interview
Watch and listen to McMahon’s studio performance above.
Songs Performed
00:00:00 Fireball Whiskey
00:03:29 Black Eye
00:06:56 Letting Go
All songs from Angie McMahon’s 2023 album, Light, Dark, Light Again, available on @AWAL.
Musician
Angie McMahon – vocals, guitar
Credits
Guest – @angiemcmahon
Host – Zach McCormick
Producer – Derrick Stevens
Video – Evan Clark
Audio – Eric Xu Romani
Camera Operators – Evan Clark, Megan Lundberg
Graphics – Natalia Toledo
Digital Producer – Luke Taylor
You rely on The Current to keep you connected to the music you love, and we rely on you to power this station. Everything you find here is only possible because of listener support. Give now at: support.mpr.org/youtube
Subscribe to our channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/893TheCurrent?sub_confirmation=1
Like/Follow:
facebook.com/TheCurrent
instagram.com/thecurrent
tiktok.com/@thecurrent.org
#angiemcmahon #music #studio
Koskinen and his bandmates visited the Radio Heartland studio to play a selection of tracks from the forthcoming album. Watch and listen to "Hard Times For Everyone" above.
All songs from Erik Koskinen’s 2024 album, Down Street/Love Avenue, available on Real Phonic Records.
Musicians
Erik Koskinen – electric and acoustic guitars, vocals
Paul Bergen – electric guitar
Josh Gravelin – electric bass, vocals
Richard Medek – drums
Alex Proctor – Wurlitzer piano, Steinway grand, vocals
Credits
Guest – @ErikKoskinen
Host/Producer – Mike Pengra
Video – Derek Ramirez
Audio – Eric Xu Romani
Graphics – Natalia Toledo
Digital Producer – Luke Taylor
You rely on The Current to keep you connected to the music you love, and we rely on you to power this station. Everything you find here is only possible because of listener support. Give now at: support.mpr.org/youtube
Subscribe to our channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/893TheCur...
Like/Follow:
facebook.com/TheCurrent / thecurrent
instagram.com/thecurrent /thecurrent
tiktok.com/@thecurrent.org /thecurrent.org
This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment's Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.
#music #studio #americana
While Nickel Creek were in town to play a show at the Palace Theatre, they visited The Current studio to play songs and to chat with host Mac Wilson. Watch and listen to the complete session above.
Musicians
Chris Thile – mandolin, vocals
Sara Watkins – vocals, fiddle, guitar
Sean Watkins – vocals, guitar
Jeff Picker – bass, vocals
Credits
Guests – @NickelCreek
Host – Mac Wilson
Producer – Derrick Stevens
Video Director – Evan Clark
Camera Operators – Evan Clark, Peter Ecklund
Audio – Derek Ramirez
Graphics – Natalia Toledo
Digital Producer – Luke Taylor
Anna Graves was the first live in-studio artist of the afternoon. Graves grew up in rural Webster, Minnesota, about 45 minutes out of the Twin Cities, on a small horse farm. When Graves and her sibling were left to their own devices for entertainment growing up, she turned to music and hasn’t looked back ever since.
Taking to the stage with nothing but an acoustic guitar, Graves eased into the set after a kind hello to the gathered audience. Her melodic voice was accompanied by a slight twang and drifted through the room, perhaps indicative of the time spent wandering from her childhood home to Nashville, to Los Angeles, back to Nashville, and back home again. Singing of the heartbreak of losing oneself and the hard learning curves of love, Graves tossed her voice around with ease. Watch the full performance above.
Songs Performed
00:00:00 Fly
00:03:59 Made To Love Someone
00:07:54 When The Love Is Gone
Musician
@AnnaGravesMusic – vocals, guitar
Credits
Guests – Anna Graves
Host – Diane Miller
Producer – Derrick Stevens
Engineer – Josh Sauvageau
House Recording – Eric Romani
Video – Evan Clark, Megan Lundberg
Graphics – Natalia Toledo
Digital Producer – Luke Taylor
You rely on The Current to keep you connected to the music you love, and we rely on you to power this station. Everything you find here is only possible because of listener support. Give now at: support.mpr.org/youtube
Subscribe to our channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/893TheCurrent?sub_confirmation=1
Like/Follow:
facebook.com/TheCurrent
instagram.com/thecurrent
tiktok.com/@thecurrent.org
This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment's Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.
#music #minnesotamusic #performance
Musicians
Aby Wolf – vocals
Eric Mayson – pipe organ
Credits
Guests – @AbyWolfMusic and @ericmayson5269
Video – Evan Clark
Audio – Derek Ramirez
Camera operators – Evan Clark
Graphic – Natalia Toledo
Digital Producer – Luke Taylor
The Current’s Emerging Artists Showcase is funded in part by the Jane S. Smith Memorial Fund of the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation and the Minnesota Clean Water Land & Legacy Amendment.
You rely on The Current to keep you connected to the music you love, and we rely on you to power this station. Everything you find here is only possible because of listener support. Give now at: support.mpr.org/youtube
Subscribe to our channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/893TheCurrent?sub_confirmation=1
Like/Follow:
facebook.com/TheCurrent
instagram.com/thecurrent
tiktok.com/@thecurrent.org
This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment's Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.
#music #vocals #pipeorgan
Find the complete session and interview here: https://www.thecurrent.org/feature/20...
Musicians
Amanda Shires - vocals, fiddle
Zach Setchfield - acoustic guitar
Credits
Guest - @amandashires
Host - Jill Riley
Producer - Rachel Frances
Video - Evan Clark
Camera Operators - Evan Clark, Peter Ecklund
Audio - Eric Xu Romani
Graphics - Natalia Toledo
Digital Producer - Luke Taylor
Musicians
Arlo Parks – vocals
Daniele Diodato – guitar
Credits
Guest – @ArloParks
Host – Ayisha Jaffer
Producer – Derrick Stevens
Video – Aaron Ankrum
Audio – Derrick Ramirez
Graphics – Natalia Toledo
Digital Producer – Luke Taylor
You rely on The Current to keep you connected to the music you love, and we rely on you to power this station. Everything you find here is only possible because of listener support. Give now at: http://www.support.mpr.org/youtube
Subscribe to our channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/893TheCurrent?sub_confirmation=1
Like/Follow:
facebook.com/TheCurrent
instagram.com/thecurrent
tiktok.com/@thecurrent.org
#ambient #studio
Parks’ latest album is My Soft Machine, and the London-based artist visited The Current to play songs from the new album.
Songs Performed
00:00:00 Weightless
00:03:24 Eugene
00:07:06 Pegasus
All songs from Arlo Parks’ 2023 album, "My Soft Machine," available on @Transgressive Records.
Musicians
Arlo Parks – vocals
Daniele Diodato – guitar
Credits
Guest – @ArloParks
Host – Ayisha Jaffer
Producer – Derrick Stevens
Video – Aaron Ankrum
Audio – Derrick Ramirez
Graphics – Natalia Toledo
Digital Producer – Luke Taylor
You rely on The Current to keep you connected to the music you love, and we rely on you to power this station. Everything you find here is only possible because of listener support. Give now at: support.mpr.org/youtube
Subscribe to our channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/893TheCurrent?sub_confirmation=1
Like/Follow:
facebook.com/TheCurrent
instagram.com/thecurrent
tiktok.com/@thecurrent.org
#arloparks #music #studio
Parks’ latest album is My Soft Machine, and the London-based artist visited The Current to play songs from the new album and to talk with host Ayisha Jaffer.
Credits
Guest – @ArloParks
Host – Ayisha Jaffer
Producer – Derrick Stevens
Video – Aaron Ankrum
Audio – Derrick Ramirez
Graphics – Natalia Toledo
Digital Producer – Luke Taylor
You rely on The Current to keep you connected to the music you love, and we rely on you to power this station. Everything you find here is only possible because of listener support. Give now at: support.mpr.org/youtube
Subscribe to our channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/893TheCurrent?sub_confirmation=1
Like/Follow:
facebook.com/TheCurrent
instagram.com/thecurrent
tiktok.com/@thecurrent.org
#arloparks #interview #studio
Given there's a whole new generation of vinyl enthusiasts, Wilson shares advice for taking care of records.
Credits
Video and Photo – Eric Xu Romani
Graphics – Natalia Toledo
Digital Producer – Luke Taylor
You rely on The Current to keep you connected to the music you love, and we rely on you to power this station. Everything you find here is only possible because of listener support. Give now at: http://www.support.mpr.org/youtube
Subscribe to our channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/893TheCurrent?sub_confirmation=1
Like/Follow:
facebook.com/TheCurrent
instagram.com/thecurrent
tiktok.com/@thecurrent.org
This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment's Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.
#records #recordstoreday #shorts
Wilson would know. He’s the owner and operator of City Lights Music, a record store on University Avenue in St. Paul that has been a mainstay in the community for 30 years. “We’ve seen the rise and fall of vinyl and the rise and fall of CDs and cassettes,” Wilson says. “And now we’re back to vinyl again, so that’s an awesome experience, and we’re excited.”
Given there's a whole new generation of vinyl enthusiasts, Wilson shares his advice for taking care of records.
Credits
Video and Photo – Eric Xu Romani
Graphics – Natalia Toledo
Digital Producer – Luke Taylor
You rely on The Current to keep you connected to the music you love, and we rely on you to power this station. Everything you find here is only possible because of listener support. Give now at: support.mpr.org/youtube
Subscribe to our channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/893TheCurrent?sub_confirmation=1
Like/Follow:
facebook.com/TheCurrent
instagram.com/thecurrent
tiktok.com/@thecurrent.org
This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment's Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.
#vinyl #records #recordstoreday
Guest – @sidsrirammusic
Host – Ayisha Jaffer
Producer – Derrick Stevens
Video and Audio – Eric Romani
Camera Operators – Megan Lundberg, Nikhil Kumaran
Graphics – Natalia Toledo
Digital Producer – Luke Taylor
Find the full session hosted by Ayisha Jaffer posted here: youtube.com/watch?v=h9AQiN47U-o
Credits
Guest – @sidsrirammusic
Host – Ayisha Jaffer
Producer – Derrick Stevens
Video and Audio – Eric Romani
Camera Operators – Megan Lundberg, Nikhil Kumaran
Graphics – Natalia Toledo
Digital Producer – Luke Taylor
You rely on The Current to keep you connected to the music you love, and we rely on you to power this station. Everything you find here is only possible because of listener support. Give now at: http://www.support.mpr.org/youtube
Subscribe to our channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/893TheCurrent?sub_confirmation=1
Like/Follow:
facebook.com/TheCurrent
instagram.com/thecurrent
tiktok.com/@thecurrent.org
#minneapolis #studio #thecurrent
That said, Sriram is not inflexible. In fact, he tends to embrace serendipity in his life, and it has served him well. In was, in fact, his embrace of serendipity that led him from his home in California to a successful career in India — and it’s also what led him to visit Minneapolis to work with producer Ryan Olson. This led to the album Sidharth, a collection of songs that let Sriram explore his many influences without boundaries, it led him to explore the meaning of his very name.
During a recent visit to The Current studio, Sriram played songs from Sidharth, and then sat down with host Ayisha Jaffer to discuss his life and his career so far. Watch and listen to the complete session above.
Video Segments
00:00:00 Do The Dance
00:04:06 Dear Sahana
00:10:44 Came Along
00:15:02 Interview with host Ayisha Jaffer
Musicians
Sid Sriram – vocals
Evan Slack – guitar
Credits
Guest – @sidsrirammusic
Host – Ayisha Jaffer
Producer – Derrick Stevens
Video and Audio – Eric Romani
Camera Operators – Megan Lundberg, Nikhil Kumaran
Graphics – Natalia Toledo
Digital Producer – Luke Taylor
You rely on The Current to keep you connected to the music you love, and we rely on you to power this station. Everything you find here is only possible because of listener support. Give now at: support.mpr.org/youtube
Subscribe to our channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/893TheCurrent?sub_confirmation=1
Like/Follow:
facebook.com/TheCurrent
instagram.com/thecurrent
tiktok.com/@thecurrent.org
#sidsriram #music #studio
Credits
Host/Producer – Diane
Guests – Joe Rainey and Andrew Broder
Video – Eric Xu Romani
Audio – Evan Clark
Graphics – Natalia Toledo
You rely on The Current to keep you connected to the music you love, and we rely on you to power this station. Everything you find here is only possible because of listener support. Give now at: http://www.support.mpr.org/youtube
Subscribe to our channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/893TheCurrent?sub_confirmation=1
Like/Follow:
facebook.com/TheCurrent
twitter.com/TheCurrent
instagram.com/thecurrent
Concert attendees consisted of lucky winners who entered for a chance to win passes to the show. This Microshow event was supported by Fat Tire Classic Ale and by Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union.
Musician
Matthew Houck @phosphorescentmusic6739 – guitar, vocals
Credits
Video – Evan Clark
Audio – Derek Ramirez
Camera Operators – Evan Clark, Eric Xu Romani, Erik Stromstad
Graphics – Natalia Toledo
Digital Producer – Luke Taylor
You rely on The Current to keep you connected to the music you love, and we rely on you to power this station. Everything you find here is only possible because of listener support. Give now at: http://www.support.mpr.org/youtube
Subscribe to our channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/893TheCurrent?sub_confirmation=1
Like/Follow:
facebook.com/TheCurrent
instagram.com/thecurrent
tiktok.com/@thecurrent.org
#matthewhouck #phosphorescent #verve
Concert attendees consisted of lucky winners who entered for a chance to win passes to the show. This Microshow event was supported by Fat Tire Classic Ale and by Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union.
Songs Performed
00:00:00 Revelator
00:04:25 The World Is Ending
00:08:09 Wide as Heaven
00:12:35 C’est la vie No. 2
00:15:36 Song For Zula
00:21:14 A New Anhedonia
00:26:04 Wolves
Musician
Matthew Houck @phosphorescentmusic6739 – guitar, vocals
Credits
Video – Evan Clark
Audio – Derek Ramirez
Camera Operators – Evan Clark, Eric Xu Romani, Erik Stromstad
Graphics – Natalia Toledo
Digital Producer – Luke Taylor
You rely on The Current to keep you connected to the music you love, and we rely on you to power this station. Everything you find here is only possible because of listener support. Give now at: support.mpr.org/youtube
Subscribe to our channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/893TheCurrent?sub_confirmation=1
Like/Follow:
facebook.com/TheCurrent
instagram.com/thecurrent
tiktok.com/@thecurrent.org
On the bill was folk musician Nolen Sellwood. Currently a student at the University of Minnesota, Duluth, Sellwood is a young artist with an old soul. His beautifully crafted singing and songwriting skills are captured on his debut album, Otherwise, with a second studio album, Cadence to the Flame, coming soon. Playing alongside him as a trio are his middle school and now college friends, Sam Hovda and Owen Reinert Nash. With a deep inspiration to earlier British artists such as Nick Drake and John Martyn, Sellwood has strong musical aspirations. “I just want to make more of a bigger impact into making folk more widely accepted, especially for the younger generation,” he says. “It’s so sensitive, it’s so raw, and it exposes you a lot … It’s supposed to give you solace if you’re having rough time. It’s supposed to let you know that other people are experiencing similar things and that you’re not alone.”
Watch Nolen Sellwood’s complete performance above.
Songs Performed
00:00:05 To Be Saved
00:03:18 Sands Of Mine
00:06:35 This Is For Someone
00:09:59 State Of Being
00:13:08 Like A Sailor
00:15:57 Lavender
Musicians
Nolen Sellwood – vocals, guitar
Sam Hovda – piano, trumpet
Owen Reinert Nash – percussion, bass
John Reinert Nash – saxophone
Credits
Guest – @nolensellwood9500
Video – Josh Sauvageau
Audio – Derek Ramirez
Camera operators – Evan Clark, Josh Sauvageau
Graphics – Natalia Toledo
Digital Producer – Luke Taylor
The Current’s Emerging Artists Showcase is funded in part by the Jane S. Smith Memorial Fund of the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation and the Minnesota Clean Water Land & Legacy Amendment.
You rely on The Current to keep you connected to the music you love, and we rely on you to power this station. Everything you find here is only possible because of listener support. Give now at: support.mpr.org/youtube
Subscribe to our channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/893TheCurrent?sub_confirmation=1
Like/Follow:
facebook.com/TheCurrent
instagram.com/thecurrent
tiktok.com/@thecurrent.org
This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment's Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.
Video by Bump Opera
Watch the full session here: youtube.com/watch?v=di0qFhdxnao
Credits
Host/Producer – Diane
Guests – Joe Rainey and Andrew Broder
Video – Eric Xu Romani
Audio – Evan Clark
Graphics – Natalia Toledo
You rely on The Current to keep you connected to the music you love, and we rely on you to power this station. Everything you find here is only possible because of listener support. Give now at: http://www.support.mpr.org/youtube
Subscribe to our channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/893TheCurrent?sub_confirmation=1
Like/Follow:
facebook.com/TheCurrent
twitter.com/TheCurrent
instagram.com/thecurrent
This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment's Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.
Guests- Matt Allen and Ryan Hayes
Host – Diane Miller
Producer – Eric Romani
Camera Operators – Evan Clark, Megan Lundberg
You rely on The Current to keep you connected to the music you love, and we rely on you to power this station. Everything you find here is only possible because of listener support. Give now at: http://www.support.mpr.org/youtube
Subscribe to our channel:
youtube.com/@thecurrent
Matt Allen - vocals
Ryan Hayes - turntable
Sam Bergman - viola
Hanna Landrum - violin
Sonia Mantell - cello
Emily Switzer - violin
Credits
Guest – Nur-D and members of Minnesota Orchestra
Host – Diane Miller
Producer – Eric Romani
Camera Operators – Evan Clark, Megan Lundberg
Graphics – Natalia Toledo
You rely on The Current to keep you connected to the music you love, and we rely on you to power this station. Everything you find here is only possible because of listener support. Give now at: support.mpr.org/youtube
Subscribe to our channel:
youtube.com/@thecurrent
Matt Allen - vocals
Ryan Hayes - turntable
Sam Bergman - viola
Hanna Landrum - violin
Sonia Mantell - cello
Emily Switzer - violin
Credits
Guest – Nur-D and members of Minnesota Orchestra
Host – Diane
Producer – Eric Romani
Camera Operators – Evan Clark, Megan Lundberg
Graphics – Natalia Toledo
You rely on The Current to keep you connected to the music you love, and we rely on you to power this station. Everything you find here is only possible because of listener support. Give now at: http://www.support.mpr.org/youtube
Subscribe to our channel:
youtube.com/@thecurrent
On the bill was singer-songwriter carisa (intentionally lowercase). Originally from New York, carisa is now based in Madison, Wis., where she is quickly becoming part of the local music scene. carisa's music is best categorized as bedroom cafe. It hints at some of her influences, primarily bossa nova, folk, and jazz. Her lyrics are often straight from the pages of her journal and are always autobiographical in some way. “If you really want to connect with people in a deeper way, there has to be something real that you're bringing to the table,” carisa told Marla Khan-Schwartz in an interview for The Current.
carisa’s first full-length album, the soul is deep water, released on Feb. 21, 2023. In her set at the Duluth Masonic Temple, carisa performed some songs from the album as well as some of her earlier compositions. Watch the complete performance above.
Video Segments
00:00:17 alone with you
00:05:38 sun and moon
00:11:02 to whom it may concern
00:15:36 saudade
00:19:53 cry
00:25:05 freshly baked bread
00:29:10 Remarks from the artist
00:29:42 repotting
Credits
Guest – @itscarisa
Video – Josh Sauvageau
Audio – Derek Ramirez
Camera operators – Evan Clark, Josh Sauvageau
Graphics – Natalia Toledo
Digital Producer – Luke Taylor
You rely on The Current to keep you connected to the music you love, and we rely on you to power this station. Everything you find here is only possible because of listener support. Give now at: http://www.support.mpr.org/youtube
Subscribe to our channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/893TheCurrent?sub_confirmation=1
Like/Follow:
facebook.com/TheCurrent
instagram.com/thecurrent
tiktok.com/@thecurrent.org
Matt Allen - vocals
Ryan Hayes - turntable
Sam Bergman - viola
Hanna Landrum - violin
Sonia Mantell - cello
Emily Switzer - violin
Credits
Guest – Nur-D and members of Minnesota Orchestra
Host – Diane Miller
Producer – Eric Romani
Camera Operators – Evan Clark, Megan Lundberg
Graphics – Natalia Toledo
You rely on The Current to keep you connected to the music you love, and we rely on you to power this station. Everything you find here is only possible because of listener support. Give now at: http://www.support.mpr.org/youtube
Subscribe to our channel:
youtube.com/@thecurrent
Aby Wolf is a Minneapolis-based vocalist, music maker, and passionate collaborator with an elastic skillset. Whether writing vocal arrangements, fulfilling commissions, or performing in clubs, theaters, and schools everywhere from Brainerd to Bratislava to Beijing, Aby brings a palpable element of joy to whatever endeavor she pursues. A lifelong learner with an ever-expanding curiosity, Wolf’s sound is distinguished not by typical markers of genre or instrumentation, but by her impressive range of expression and experimentation. In early 2023, she explored themes of climate anxiety, interconnectedness, and collective potential with her electro/pop EP “Dream Fruit.” In the fall, Wolf's 12-piece progressive chamber ensemble Champagne Confetti celebrated the long-awaited release of their self-titled LP, a kaleidoscopic love letter written in spacious neo-minimalism, chamber music, jazz, and theater-framed R&B and soul.
Wolf is joined onstage by longtime collaborator Eric Mayson. Watch their complete performance above.
Video Segments
00:00:00 Minutia
00:03:39 At Bat
00:06:50 Ninety One Out
00:09:55 Spacey (Aby Wolf & Eric Mayson song)
00:14:58 Sunrise feat. carisa and Nolen Sellwood
00:19:26 Homedog feat. carisa and Nolen Sellwood (Aby Wolf & Eric Mayson song)
00:23:55 Swing/Kick (Aby Wolf & Eric Mayson song)
00:27:50 Rich & Fancy (Eric Mayson song)
00:30:42 College Try (Aby Wolf & Eric Mayson song)
00:38:35 Eyes On Me
Musicians
Aby Wolf – vocals, beats
Eric Mayson – keyboards
carisa – backing vocals on “Sunrise” and “Homedog”
Nolen Sellwood – backing vocals on “Sunrise” and “Homedog”
Credits
Guests – Aby Wolf and Eric Mayson
Video – Josh Sauvageau
Audio – Derek Ramirez
Camera operators – Evan Clark, Josh Sauvageau
Graphic – Natalia Toledo
Digital Producer – Luke Taylor
The Current’s Emerging Artists Showcase is funded in part by the Jane S. Smith Memorial Fund of the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation and the Minnesota Clean Water Land & Legacy Amendment.
You rely on The Current to keep you connected to the music you love, and we rely on you to power this station. Everything you find here is only possible because of listener support. Give now at: http://www.support.mpr.org/youtube
Subscribe to our channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/893TheCurrent?sub_confirmation=1
Like/Follow:
facebook.com/TheCurrent
instagram.com/thecurrent
tiktok.com/@thecurrent.org
This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment's Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.