In The Round

Thanksgiving time has us feeling extra grateful for our next guest, Ben Mulwana! Born & raised in Uganda and now residing in Wisconsin, Ben made a special trip to come talk to us about his journey to the U.S., how he turned music into a passion & career, and his thoughts on traditions from his former and current homelands. He played a new song for us called “Low On Luck” that’s a beautiful...

LET’S GET READY TO RUMMMMBBBLLLLEEE!!! It’s time for Greg Wheeler & The Poly Mall Cops – and people, I’m telling you, my jaw still hurts from laughing. We have a hilariously chaotic interview with this killer garage punk trio who just released a new album "Slimephone Surveillance" (my personal favorite so far) and we talk about everything from the genesis of the band to Jill’s narcolepsy to lo...

This week, we're thrilled to introduce our sweet friend Sarah, AKA Carrellee, your new favorite synth queen. We caught her on a two-and-a-half-month tour across the U.S. and she's currently on tour again playing keys with IAMX. We talk about how her synthpop project Carrellee came to be, things we love about synth gear, performing outside of her comfort zone, and the opportunities that have arisen...

We have a very special guest this week! Meet the new wave, post-punk icon Lene Lovich, who is currently on tour opening for Devo and The B-52s – and host D is with her on keyboards! We talk about Lene's brief stint in art school, how she first got into music and her love of performance, her songwriting process & collaborations, and her experiences with the music industry. It’s an honor to play...

We’re excited to introduce our guest this week, Raine Stern! You may recognize her from her stint on The Voice Season 20 (Team Nick!), but you’re about to get to know her a whole lot better. We dig DEEP into the philosophy of music, true self, and the challenges that can come with intense artistic vision. Stick around at the end to hear a snip of her song “Saccharine Sweet” and visit our YouTube c...

Our guests this week are the alt pop trio VEAUX hailing from Nashville. This crew writes solid bangers with flavors of electronic, rock, and R&B, and they're a delight to talk to! We chat about their move to Nashville, the music industry, their early influences, their biggest critic (who’s actually a 3yr old), and we unpack their creative process. Hang on at the end to hear a clip of their son...

Meet The Other Brothers, a powerhouse trio with a gritty rock ‘n’ roll sound and a shovel guitar named Dug. These guys are a crowd favorite for a reason with killer stage energy and songs you can’t not groove to. We talk about the journey of this longtime band, including the unexpected loss of their original bass player, exploding vans, favorite gear, lyric inspiration, the gravy hustle, and how t...

In The Round took a D Tour to Hinterland Music Festival in St. Charles, IA, Aug. 1-3, 2025! Brooke & D discuss the festival's new layout and recap the lineup that was off the charts! We're talking Lana Del Rey, Tyler the Creator, Kacey Musgraves, Clairo, Bleachers, The Marias, and a whole lot more.   In The Round is produced and recorded at Trilix Studio in Des Moines, Iowa. © 2025, Trilix Stu...

Meet J & Madison, AKA Wolfskill & The Wild, and just about the sweetest people you’ll ever meet. J sings and plays guitar, and Madison layers in beautiful melodies on the violin. We talk about how they came together, both musically and romantically (which could truly be a Hallmark movie!), the language of music, and what inspired their new song “Beyond” which you can catch a preview of at...

Meet Jesus Christ Taxi Driver! We flagged down this Denver-based crew while on tour and had a hilarious chat. We talk about how this project came together (including the band’s notable name), lead singer Ian’s highly energetic & memorable stage antics, and the balance of day jobs & gigging. Plus they debuted a super groovy new song in the studio called “Have It” that WILL get stuck in your...

Our next guest is Clayton Ryan & his band of merry travelers, Alek, Mitchell, Michael, & Paul. These Midwestern rockers artfully ride the line between country & emo, complete with top-tier vocal performances, catchy guitar riffs, and electrifying stage presence. We chat about Clayton’s extensive music education that led him to where he is now, the hustle of tour & gig life, some hi...

Meet Mr. Softheart, an Iowa-based 4-piece whose sound overdelivers on moody, synthy goodness – and they’re all a delight to chat with. We talk about how the project came together and the addition of their 4th member Halen, the inspiration behind their narrative songwriting style, the meaningful pursuit of art, favorite 80s & 90s thrillers, and all about their new EP dropping today, July 4th, c...

In The Round took a D Tour to Blue Ox Music Festival in Eau Claire, Wisconsin! The lineup was stacked with names you know like Greensky Bluegrass, St. Paul & the Broken Bones, Margo Price, and Molly Tuttle, who all absolutely crushed it of course, but we wanted to touch on a few others you may not know. We run through a few highlights from this fantastic festival and share exclusive interview...

Grab a perch and meet Maygen & The Birdwatcher, a delightfully folky, Americana-bluegrass band from Minneapolis, MN. This talented crew tours regularly and often finds lyrical inspiration from their travels. We discuss their upcoming new album, Noah & Maygen’s differing songwriting processes and various influences, the ups and downs of being an indie band, favorite road snacks, and of cour...

In The Round took a D Tour to Greenbelt Music Festival at the Horizon Event Center in Clive, IA, May 16 & 17th 2025! Brooke & D recap the weekend - the good vibes & stellar music - and we have some exclusive interview content with Lissie, Them Coulee Boys, and Johnny Mullenax.  In The Round is produced and recorded at Trilix Studio in Des Moines, Iowa. © 2025, Trilix Studio intheroundp...

Adam & April are the sweetest high school sweethearts you’ll ever meet, and they perform together under the name Adam Bruce. We learn how church hymns and the classic bands from the 60s & 70s like The Everly Brothers influenced Adam’s trajectory in music and reinforced his & April’s love for harmony. We also talk about how their songs come together and the recording process, April’s lo...

Meet Jordan Sellergren – musician, mother, guitarist, bike riding, piano playing publisher. We talk about her new album featuring beautifully crafted songs and Victorian-meets-home improvement cover art, her career with Little Village Magazine, the evolution of her music and songwriting process, the freedoms and stresses of aging, and we tackle the age-old question “what is art”? All with laughs a...

Simon Cropp is a nomadic musician, frequently hopping from gig to gig in river towns along the Mississippi River or recharging at Lake Superior. We talk about his upcoming new album, a solo offshoot from his other band Slapdash Bluegrass, and how he first got into guitar and the world of country & bluegrass. We chat about his travels, things he learned along the way, and even briefly discuss r...

This week it’s all about that bass with Blake Shaw! We take a deep dive into Blake’s stunning musical mind, discussing his creative processes from many angles of his busy life as a performer, educator, and composer in the world of jazz and beyond. He shares how he first got into music, then fell in love with jazz, and how he’s helping spread that joy to others. We also discuss the language of musi...

Jordan Beem learned to play guitar after his dad teased him about only “playing” Guitar Hero. That ignited the spark for him to hone this new craft, relying on YouTube and a few choir classes to grow his skills, eventually propelling him into the award-winning artist he is today. While he spends much of his time rocking out country covers at venues across Iowa and the Midwest, he’s also released m...

Meet River, AKA River Glen, a multi-instrumentalist, multi-faceted human who hails from Iowa but prefers life on the road. River grew up traveling with the family band, starting on violin at age 3 and later picking up guitar and mandolin, eventually evolving into his sound as a solo artist which he describes as “truth-to-power folk” and “poetic pop”. He takes his vocation as a musician seriously,...

This week on In The Round meet Lani, a Colombian-American artist who is all sonrisas y canciones – smiles and songs! Her pop-forward bops are catchy yet heartfelt, led by her glassy smooth vocals with a range that takes us from whispered hopes to powerful heights. We talk about how she got her start, the emotions and heartbreak of her youth that still linger in her songwriting, how music keeps her...

Meet Unique Vibrationz, an up-and-coming band from Iowa that blends elements of hip hop, soul, jazz, rock, and R&B into a raw, authentic, and groove-filled sound. True to their name, this group is all about good vibes, which you’ll hear in our conversation as we discuss how they fortuitously met at open mics, their creative process and the depths of De’An’s lyricism, and most adorably, the lov...

Casandra Carson is a dynamic guitarist and vocalist in the rock scene, known for her energetic performances and earworm melodies that keep audiences hooked. Casandra started playing guitar from a young age, launching a band with her father Paul (Paralandra), and touring the country. Her notable talent gained the attention of other big names in the industry which led to her fronting The L.I.F.E. Pr...

Lily DeTaeye has been performing since she was 13, cutting her teeth at the local farmer’s market, busking, and later honing her craft further by touring extensively across the U.S. Her songwriting taps into her own life experiences in a relatable and beautifully poetic way, and she’s also found inspiration from novels through her love of reading. We talk about the music-life balance, her “New Son...