Cultural Manifesto

Hear interviews with members of the cast and creative team behind the Indianapolis Repertory Theatre’s production of Marie and Rosetta —including actors Cherish Love, Jaela Cheeks-Lomax, and music director Morgan E. Stevenson.

Recently, Terre Haute, Indiana welcomed two of the nation’s most prominent political figures — Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Sanders visited the city to receive the Eugene V. Debs Award. Hear Kyle Long's interview with Sanders, along with music from the Local Honeys, who opened the ceremony.

Listen to an interview with the keyboardist, composer, and computer music pioneer Brad Garton. He’s best known for his work with the legendary West Lafayette, Indiana punk band Dow Jones and The Industrials, but Garton’s work in music spans from progressive rock to experimental composition.

Listen to an interview with NPR’s Ailsa Chang; she recently spoke with WFYI’s Kyle Long to discuss the importance of supporting public media. You hear her every weekday as co-host of All Things Considered, NPR’s flagship evening news program.

In 1983, four Bloomington musicians — Chrissie Dickinson, Cynthia Hammond, Jenny Davis, and Emily Jackson — bonded over their shared love for the music of Patti Smith, X, and The Clash. Together they formed Sally’s Dream, a post-punk band that went on to perform across the Midwest and later in Boston.

Hear from Lee Fields, a legendary funk and soul singer whose powerful voice and remarkable career longevity have earned him comparisons to James Brown and Wilson Pickett. Known for his electrifying live performances and deeply emotional delivery, Lee Fields stands as one of the last great soul artists still touring and recording at the height of his powers.

Jude Noel is a music journalist and critic whose work has appeared in Pitchfork, The Fader, and Bandcamp Daily. In his recent Bandcamp feature, “Indy Is Next,” Jude shines a spotlight on Indianapolis’s growing independent music scene, tracing the city’s creative energy through its artists, venues, and DIY communities.

Aida Cuevas is an iconic Mexican singer celebrated as The Queen of Ranchera Music. She has released more than 40 albums and sold over 11 million records. Recognized as a cultural ambassador of Mexico, she continues to preserve the country’s rich musical heritage through recordings and performances that celebrate the artistry of ranchera music.

Listen to an interview with Brazilian musicians Magary Lord, Juliana Ribeiro, Márcio Pereira, and Indianapolis’ Lasana Kazembe. They recently performed at Indy Jazz Fest as part of “Jazz Meets Samba : An Afro Brazilian Journey.”

Listen to interviews with the cast, producers and musicians behind “Cabaret Latino - Songs of the Americas”, a bilingual revue of songs celebrating the music of Latin America, from boleros to reggaeton. Hear from Tom Alvarez, Eva Luna Espay, Eric Salazar, Pablo Gonzalez, Alexis Faviel and Dustin Klein.

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by listening to Kyle Long’s 2024 interview with Omar Apollo. Born in Hobart, Indiana in 1997, Apollo is a Grammy-nominated Mexican-American singer-songwriter whose music blends R&B, pop, funk, and Latin influences.

work is deeply informed by her trans identity and Jewish spirituality. Her pop vision marries disparate sounds—skittering noise with swooping strings, lively banjo with blasts of feedback—across genres including drone, folk, Tropicalia, noise rock, and chamber pop.

Pahua is the musical project of Mexico City–based producer, singer, and DJ Paulina Sotomayor, known for weaving electronic beats with Latin American folk traditions. Pahua has carved out a unique space in the international electronic music scene, earning festival appearances and collaborations across Latin America and beyond.

Gonzalo Rubalcaba is a Grammy-winning Cuban pianist and composer celebrated as one of the most innovative voices in modern jazz. WFYI’s Kyle Long and Rubalcaba discuss his connection to Dizzy Gillespie and his latest album “A Tribute to Benny Moré and Nat King Cole.”

Listen to an interview with the guitarist and vocalist, Roger McGuinn. He is among the most critically acclaimed and influential American musicians. McGuinn was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991, and in 2023, he was named one of the “250 Greatest Guitarists” by Rolling Stone Magazine.

Listen to an interview with Brandee Younger, a groundbreaking harpist who has redefined the instrument’s place in contemporary music.

Listen to a conversation with Durand Jones, Aaron Frazer and Blake Rhein of the soul band Durand Jones and The Indications. They joined WFYI’s Kyle Long for an in-depth discussion of their roots in Bloomington, Indiana, and how projects including the IU Soul Revue and Charlie Patton’s War brought the band together.

Listen to an interview with Oltanie, a Haitian-American vocalist based in Indianapolis. Also hear a conversation with the Indianapolis keyboardist and bandleader Rodney Stepp about the recent release of his 1970s funk band Rapture’s new compilation.

Over the last few years, rapper 4200Kory has emerged as one of the most compelling artistic voices in the Indianapolis hip-hop scene. Listen to an interview with 4200Kory, as he shares the inspiration behind his debut album, “Cobra Son,” and his upcoming performance at Chreece.

Comedian Lucas Waterfill is a rising star in the Indianapolis comedy scene, mixing autobiographical storytelling with sharp social commentary. He was born with cerebral palsy, and he uses his experiences navigating the world with a disability as a springboard for his comedy. Listen to an interview with Waterfill and co-writer Blake Mellencamp as they discuss the inspiration behind their new play,...

Rapper Jessica Garrett is better known to Indianapolis music fans as Joosi Got Bars. She was born and raised on the west side of Indianapolis and has been recording and releasing music for over a decade. Joosi will be performing at Chreece on August 23.

Everything, Now! emerged from Indiana’s underground rock music scene in the early 2000s and gained notoriety for their chaotic sound and unpredictable live shows. Listen to their interview with Kyle Long after a Small Studio Session at WFYI.

The Indianapolis band Wife Patrol has gained national attention for their punk, metal, and pop-influenced sound. WFYI’s Kyle Long recently spoke with the band about their latest album, titled NOPLACE.

Listen to historic recordings of several early stars of Indianapolis country, blues, jazz, and pop music from 1928, when the Vocalion Record Company visited Indianapolis in search of the city’s best musical talent.

Listen to the top 10 most valuable Indiana LPs and 45 RPM singles of all time. Also, hear interviews with the musicians and record labels behind the music.