Cultural Manifesto

Listen to an interview with the Indianapolis-based poet and filmmaker Too Black. He’ll discuss his new book, “Laundering Black Rage: The Washing of Black Death, People, Property, and Profits”, co-written with Dr. Rasul Mowatt.  The book explores how the rage directed at the police murder of George Floyd was re-channeled away from the Black Lives Matter movement into corporate advertising and questionable leadership.

Listen to a preview of this year’s edition of Chreece, an all-day hip-hop festival happening in the Fountain Square neighborhood of Indianapolis.  Hear a conversation with Chreece organizers Oreo Jones, Jane Kim, and Jay Brookinz; along with interviews and music from Chreece performers 4200Kory, and Joosi Got Bars. Plus a conversation with Yung Rev, the organizer of Dystopia, a multimedia event series happening in Fountain Square.

Listen to a special podcast edition of Cultural Manifesto, featuring an unedited conversation with Oreo Jones, Jay Brookinz, and Jane Kim — the organizers of Chreece, an all-day hip-hop festival happening in the Fountain Square neighborhood of Indianapolis.

Listen to an interview with the Hobart, Indiana pop star Omar Apollo. He will discuss his new album “God Said No”, his memories of growing up in northwest Indiana, and his upcoming concert in Indianapolis.

Listen to an interview with the Bloomington-based jazz keyboardist, bandleader, and author Monika Herzig. She’ll discuss the latest album from her band Sheroes, titled “All In Good Time”. Monika Herzig’s Sheroes is an all-star group, featuring prominent women in jazz music. Sheroes is one of many projects Herzig has created to support women in jazz.

Listen to an interview with the composer and multi-instrumentalist Leon Todd Johnson. He creates classically inspired ambient music under the name Airport People.  Johnson will discuss the new Airport People release “Midwest Dispossessed”, a collaboration with photographer Michael Ginda. The album includes a 136-page book of photography by Ginda, along with Johnson’s score. “Midwest Dispossessed” has been described as a “blend of visual and auditory art, that explores the current state of rural communities in and around the Wabash Valley.”

In the summer of 1928, the Vocalion Record Company visited Indianapolis in search of the city’s best musical talent. The label’s trip to Indianapolis was a success, Vocalion discovered and recorded several early stars of Indianapolis country, blues, jazz, and pop music — including blues legends Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell, Black country music pioneers Lulu Jackson and James Cole, future Hollywood star Dick Powell, and more. This week on Cultural Manifesto we’ll listen to Vocalion’s historic Indianapolis recordings.

This week on Cultural Manifesto, listen to an interview with jazz bassist and educator Bethany Robinson. Robinson earned national recognition as a music teacher at Noblesville High School and was recently appointed as leader of the Purdue jazz program. Also hear a selection of notable new Hoosier music releases from artists including Airport People, Los Aptos, Hanna Benn, Jordan Munson, Jlin and more.

Hear an interview with the Indianapolis rock band The Last IV. The group features a quartet of local music luminaries who’ve made significant contributions to punk, hip-hop, and indie rock music in Indiana.

Last month, the legendary bassist and singer-songwriter Meshell Ndegeocello recorded a session for NPR’s Tiny Desk. The vocals for that performance were handled by The HawtPlates, a musical ensemble co-founded by the Lafayette, Indiana siblings Justin and Jade Hicks. The HawtPlates have worked extensively with Ndegeocello and contributed to her Grammy-winning 2023 album "The Omnichord Real Book”. This week on Cultural Manifesto, listen to an interview with Justin and Jade Hicks.

It’s been 50 years since The Beach Boys released their chart-topping compilation album Endless Summer in 1974. The band’s 2024 tour Endless Summer Gold celebrates the legendary Beach Boys hits featured on that album.  This week on Cultural Manifesto, Beach Boys vocalist and co-founder Mike Love will share his thoughts on the band’s legacy, and discuss The Four Freshmen, an Indianapolis vocal group that deeply influenced The Beach Boys’ sound.

Celebrate Pride month by exploring the work of historically significant Indiana LGBTQ+ musicians. Listen to interviews with Lē Weaver of Software, and writer Tyler Alpern, author of the 2010 book “Camped, Tramped and A Riotous Vamp” a biography of the Indiana songwriter Bruz Fletcher. Software was an Indianapolis synth-rock band that played a crucial role in the Lesbian music scene of Indiana during the 1980s.  Stoughton “Bruz” Fletcher, a pioneer of LGBTQ+ music during the 1930s. Bruz was born into one of the wealthiest and most powerful families in Indiana, and his life was filled with extraordinary luxury and tragedy.

Listen to interviews with the Indianapolis vocalist Bayem, and keyboardist Simon Marvin of Hiatus Kaiyote.  Bayem’s music blends elements of R&B, with ’80s pop, and electronic music. His 2022 EP “Afterglow” accrued millions of streams online. Bayme’s most recent EP “OASIS” is inspired by the futurism of internet vaporwave music. Simon Marvin is keyboardist for Australia’s critically acclaimed jazz-funk band Hiatus Kaiyote, they’ll be performing in Indianapolis on June 21st. Hiatus Kaiyote’s unique sound has earned praise from music icons like Prince, Erykah Badu, and Questlove.

This week on Cultural Manifesto, listen to a conversation with Dave Samuelson, a record producer, writer, radio host, and country music historian based in Battle Ground, Indiana.  Samuelson has contributed to the Encyclopedia of Country Music, and written liner notes for albums by Merle Haggard and Hank Williams.  During the 1970s, Samuelson founded the Puritan Records label. Puritan issued rare archival music from country pioneers, and contemporary releases from Indiana-based artists.

This week on Cultural Manifesto, explore the history of Palestinian protest music with the Bloomington-based Palestinian music researcher David McDonald, an associate professor of Folklore and Ethnomusicology at Indiana University.  McDonald will discuss his book “My Voice is my Weapon: Music, Nationalism, and the Poetics of Palestinian Resistance”, and share examples of Palestinian protest music from artists including Sabreen, Dam, Kamal Khalil and Baladna, Firqat Aghani al-'Ashiqin, and more.

This week on Cultural Manifesto, listen to an interview with the rock and roll legend Carlos Santana. He’ll discuss the influence of the Indianapolis jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery on his work. Santana has called Montgomery one of his primary musical inspirations. Santana will be performing in Central Indiana in June.  Also, hear the first edition of a new series on Cultural Manifesto exploring the music history of Lafayette, Indiana. Host Kyle Long will talk with Zechariah Baumhover, an Indianapolis-based musician who grew up in Lafayette. Baumhover is best known for his work with the rock band Lusso, and the electronic music project Pariah Peels. Baumhover will share his memories of the D.I.Y. punk scene in Lafayette and discuss his latest album Zested Peels.

This week on Cultural Manifesto, explore the music of Bill Wilson, a legendary Central Indiana songwriter who died in 1993 at the age of 46.  Wilson’s debut album “Ever Changing Minstrel” was released by Columbia Records in 1973. “Ever Changing Minstrel” was produced by the esteemed Bob Johnston, known for his work with Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash and Leonard Cohen. Columbia promoted Wilson as the next Bob Dylan, but “Ever Changing Minstrel” was a flop at the time of its initial release. Over the years, a cult audience has grown around Wilson’s music. Today his songs have millions of streams online. Join us for rare and unreleased music from Bill Wilson.

This week on Cultural Manifesto, celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with music from Asian musicians and composers connected to the Hoosier state.  Enjoy pop, folk, classical, and electronic music featuring Indiana musicians representing Vietnam, Myanmar, China, India and more.

This week on Cultural Manifesto listen to an interview with the legendary jazz pianist Bob James, he’ll be performing at the Jazz Kitchen later this month.  Some music fans know James for writing the theme song to the hit television show Taxi. Others know James’ work through its extensive use in hip-hop sampling — he’s one of the most sampled artists in the history of rap music. But few know that James’ first career breakthrough happened in Indiana.  In 1962, the Bob James Trio competed at Notre Dame’s Collegiate Jazz Festival in South Bend. The judges at that year’s festival included Henry Mancini and Quincy Jones. James carried away the festival’s top prizes and formed a lasting relationship with Quincy Jones — who signed James to Mercury Records and produced his debut album the following year. James will share his memories of the festival, and Cultural Manifesto host Kyle Long will share a rare lost recording of James’ 1962 performance.  James will also discuss his collaboration with Indianapolis jaz

This week on Cultural Manifesto, listen to a discussion on the past, present, and future of Indianapolis R&B. Featured guests will include Damon Karl, 4Cast, and Sid Johnson of M.E.C.A.P. Music.  Damon Karl and 4Cast are rising stars in the Indianapolis R&B scene. Guitarist/vocalist Damon Karl has performed across the United States, including appearances with the Indianapolis R&B legend Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds. 4Cast are a three-piece R&B vocal group featuring Alvin “Big AL” Hester, Jr., Carl “Cjayy” Harris, Jr. and Shaquan “Shaq Diesel” Simms. Sid Johnson has a long career in songwriting and artist management. Along with Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Johnson co-authored the classic R&B ballad “Slow Jam”, the song has been recorded by artists including Midnight Star and Usher. Johnson also co-wrote the 1988 hit “Two Occasions” for The Deele. Johnson’s work in artist management goes back to the Indianapolis R&B scene of the 1960s. During the 1970s, Johnson worked extensively with Man