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 ..read more

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:  ..read more

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 ..read more

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 ..read more

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 tha ..read more

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 ..read more

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 year ..read more

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 ..read more

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 deep ..read more

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 ..read more