Cultural Manifesto

Listen to an interview with jazz saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin about her breakout year in 2024. She will be performing at this year’s Indy Jazz Fest.

Listen to an interview with rock and roll legend Felix Cavaliere of The Rascals, considered one of the defining American rock bands of the 1960s.

Listen to an interview with the New York-based musician John Roseboro. He describes his music as “post bossa,” a unique blend of American indie rock and Brazilian bossa nova.

Hear Carl Broemel discuss his roots in the Indianapolis music scene. He started his career as a choir boy at Indianapolis’ Christ Church Cathedral, today he travels the world as a guitarist with My Morning Jacket.

Listen to an interview with photographer Jacob Moran. He’ll discuss “Visual Aural,” a book and mixtape documenting the Indianapolis rap music scene.

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.

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.

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.

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”.

Listen to an interview with the composer and multi-instrumentalist Leon Todd Johnson. He creates classically inspired ambient music under the name Airport People.

Listen to the Vocalion Record Company’s historic Indianapolis recordings of early stars discovered here in 1928.

Listen to an interview with jazz bassist and educator Bethany Robinson. 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.

Listen to an interview with The HawtPlates, a musical ensemble co-founded by the Lafayette, Indiana siblings Justin and Jade Hicks. They have worked extensively with Meshell Ndegeocello and contributed to her Grammy-winning 2023 album "The Omnichord Real Book”.

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 a biography of the Indiana songwriter Bruz Fletcher.

Listen to interviews with the Indianapolis vocalist Bayem, and keyboardist Simon Marvin of the Austrailian jazz-funk band, Hiatus Kaiyote.

Listen to a conversation with Dave Samuelson, a record producer, writer, radio host, and country music historian based in Battle Ground, Indiana.

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.

Listen to an interview with the rock and roll legend Carlos Santana discussing the influence of the Indianapolis jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery on his work. We'll also hear the first edition of a new series on Cultural Manifesto exploring the music history of Lafayette, Indiana.

Explore rare and unreleased music of Bill Wilson, a legendary Central Indiana songwriter who died in 1993 at the age of 46.

Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with music from Asian musicians and composers connected to the Hoosier state.

Listen to an interview with the legendary jazz pianist Bob James and a rare lost recording of James’ 1962 performance at Notre Dame’s Collegiate Jazz Festival in South Bend.

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.