Cultural Manifesto

Listen to interviews with Indianapolis jazz guitarist Charlie Ballantine and the children’s music duo 123 Andrés.

Listen to a 2020 interview with Indianapolis guitarist and bandleader Mike Woods along with rare and unreleased music from Soul Relation and Style. Woods passed away recently at the age of 67.

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

Listen to an interview with John Williamson and Eric Deines, founders of Indiana-based record label Ulyssa. Ulyssa is dedicated to discovering and celebrating the vast trove of unheard music on Spotify.

Listen to an interview with the classical music pianist Joshua Thompson, creative partner-in-residence with the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, about his upcoming concert with the ICO titled "Black Keys: The Evolution of the Black Classical Arts”.

Listen to an interview with the Indianapolis jazz saxophonist Rob Dixon. He’ll discuss Salon Noir, a public conversation focused on the jazz history of Indiana Avenue as it relates to the present and future state of Black creative production in Indiana.

Celebrate Women’s History Month by learning about the women pioneers of Hoosier music, including: Vivian Carter, Dena El Saffar, Mary Byrne, Priscilla Mclean, Margaret Hills and Anna Mae Winburn.

Listen to an interview with Indianapolis jazz musicians Rob Dixon and Richard “Sleepy” Floyd about their new project, From the 317, which seeks to document and export the Indianapolis sound. Guest musicians include Rusty Redenbacher, Josh Kaufman, Charlie Ballantine, Steve Weakley, Maxie, Foxd’legend and more.

The Texas politician and author Beto O’Rourke joins Karla López Owens to discuss his book “We’ve Got to Try: How the Fight for Voting Rights Makes Everything Else Possible”. Beto also shared how punk rock music influenced his work in politics.

Listen to an interview with Breezey Fox and Krista Hoose of the Indianapolis-based country music band The Indy Annies. Then on Rebel Music with Karla López Owens, Texas politician and author Beto O’Rourke shares how punk music informs his politics.

Explore Gary, Indiana music legend Donald Kinsey’s connection to Bob Marley. Listen to an interview with indy jazz trombonist, Andrew Danforth. Catch up with Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds who was back in town recently to support music education at Indianapolis Public Schools.

Listen to an interview with the Indianapolis composer, performer, and multimedia artist Jordan Munson about his new album, Heartless Fools. The music was recorded at Greenhouse Studios in Reykjavík, Iceland, and features contributions from Indianapolis musicians including Hanna Benn, and Charlie Ballantine. Also, music journalist Katherine Yeske Taylor will discuss her new book, She’s a Badass: Wo...

Join the legendary Indianapolis jazz trombonist Phil Ranelin at the Chatterbox for his first gig after suffering from a debilitating stroke in 2021. Plus, an interview with Indiana reggae music pioneers from Reggaenomix, reunited for the first time in over 25 years.

Listen to an interview with NPR’s Ari Shapiro about his cabaret act Och & Oy!, a collaboration with the Scottish actor Alan Cumming. We’ll also discuss the life and music of the Indiana songwriter Bruz Fletcher, a pioneer of LGBTQ+ music during the 1930s.

An interview with jazz saxophonist, bandleader, and composer Branford Marsalis. And playwright Cheryl L. West and actor Maiesha McQueen discuss the Indiana Repertory Theatre’s production of “Fannie: The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer.”

Branford Marsalis grew up immersed in music in Louisiana. Along with his brother Wynton, Branford has played a large role in shaping the style and sound of contemporary jazz. Branford has achieved a level of public notoriety that is rare for jazz musicians. From 1992 to 1995, he worked as bandleader for Jay Leno’s Tonight Show, and throughout the 1980s and ’90s, Branford participated in high profi...

This week on Cultural Manifesto, host Kyle Long speaks with Alan Bacon, co-founder and president of the Indianapolis-based arts and culture organization GangGang. We’ll discuss GangGang’s I Made Rock ’N’ Roll Festival. It’s happening May 18th at the American Legion Mall in Indianapolis, honoring the Black roots of rock music and will feature performances by Janelle Monáe, Gary Clark Jr., Robert Ra...

Listen back to some of our favorite interviews of 2023. Join us for words and music from Skypp, Aye Marcay, Zakir Hussain, 123 Andrés, La March Nueva, Dwani Phiri, and Kronos Quartet.

NPR has released their best of 2023 music lists. We'll explore the Indiana musicians featured among the year’s best, including Hanna Benn, Omar Apollo, Durand Jones, and The HawtPlates.  We’ll also have another edition of Rebel Music with Karla López Owens. Karla's guest is the Indianapolis-based visual artist Alejandra Carrillo who creates work under the name El Rallonadero.

Rebel Music with Karla López Owens is an ongoing series on Cultural Manifesto exploring the relationship between music and activism. On this episode, Karla’s guest is Alejandra Carrillo, a chicana activist, artist and art educator. She creates art under the name “El Rallonadero,” which translates to “the scribbler.” Her work has been featured in many prominent spaces - including the Eiteljorg and...

Listen to an interview with the Indianapolis-based jazz pianist Christopher Pitts. Pitts will share tracks from “Be Free,” his debut album as a leader.

This week on Cultural Manifesto listen to an interview with the Chicago-based musician and storyteller Shanta Nurullah. During a college trip to India in 1969 she discovered the sitar. Nurullah has spent the last 50 years exploring the instrument in her jazz and blues compositions. The Indiana jazz pianist and civil rights activist Rev. Dr. Marvin Chandler passed away earlier this year. Listen bac...

Vibraphonist Mitchell Shiner discusses his album "Latkes con Salsa: A Latin Jazz Hanukkah." And the Indianapolis rapper and producer Jaye B shares music from his recent albums “X” and “The Bachelor.”

This week on Cultural Manifesto explore holiday-themed releases from Wife Patrol and Isaiah J. Thompson. The Indianapolis-based rock band Wife Patrol gained national attention for their 2020 LP “Too Prickly For This World.” Afropunk praised Wife Patrol for their "indelible hooks and defiant verses,” and Bandcamp described the group’s sound as “catchy alt rock with streaks of punk, new wave, and me...

This week on Cultural Manifesto listen to an interview with the Indianapolis R&B artist Brandon Lott. He’ll share music from his latest release, “Aquadream.” We’ll also have a live session from La Marca Nueva, a young Indianapolis band that specializes in regional Mexican music styles, including sierreno and corridos tumbados.