In The Round

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...

Them Coulee Boys have been rockin’ the Midwest and beyond since 2011. Based out of Eau Claire, WI, the band has been fortunate to work with Grammy-winner Brian Joseph who produced their newest album, “No Fun In The Chrysalis”. They demonstrate their superb musicianship and talents through distinctive instruments and vocal harmonies, creating a lush and dynamic sound. We talk about their journey up...

Good Morning Midnight takes indie rock to a whole new level. They’re purveyors of vibe, simultaneously creating hushed tones and moments of explosive emotion. We talk about the various iterations of the band and their collective talents, Midwestern connections, Charlie’s creative process, therapy through music, and the endless search for tone. After the episode, hear a clip of “Lucky Penny” off th...

Troubadour. Writer. Dedicated dad. Plain talker. Baked bean expert. Jordan Messerole is a prolific Americana artist who took the leap into being a full-time musician in 2021 and has been traveling and sharing his songs ever since. His latest release and 7th studio album “St. Something or Other” leans into his country western side and features a lineup of highly talented collaborators. Hear our con...

Molly Brandt is a lifelong musician who only started writing her own songs in 2021. Her debut album “Surrender the Night” won her the 2023 Americana Artist of the Year award from the Midwest Country Music Awards and solidified her as a noteworthy addition to the Minneapolis music scene and Americana genre as a whole. Hear our conversation with Molly and her partner Eric Carranza, who co-produced t...

Joel Sires is proudly a man without a plan. Influenced by John Prine, The Beatles, and ‘60s one-hit wonders, he let the music guide him into a sound that’s uniquely Joel – a collection of achingly beautiful, folk-led songs, some laced with humor and others observational. Having played since he was young with his ragtag yet highly talented group of brothers and cousins, Joel cut his teeth by giggin...

Call it swamp metal, call it atmospheric doom, Glass Ox is a 3-piece band that packs a punchfull of riffs. Originally a solo project of singer & guitarist Bo Becker, bassist Mythias Keahna and drummer/lyricist Javi Rodriguez came on board in 2018 to form a supergroup of sorts, releasing their first album in February 2020 right before the world shut down. They talk about the music scene, the no...

If you love Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, and Willie Nelson, then you’ll love Royce Johns. A talented country artist living and creating from his own backyard here in central Iowa, Royce has a voice that will take you back in time, and a jovial sense of humor. He and his longtime friend turned drummer, Abraham Lopez, sit down to chat about the joys and stresses of parenthood, being full-time mus...

Not too long ago, two bands from two cities combined to create a supergroup named Social Cinema. Now, they are In The Round to talk about their influences, their streamlined songwriting process and taking advantage of bigger opportunities. They also dish on their favorite weird on-the-road snacks. After the chat, kick back and listen to Social Cinema play their song “Brown Paper Bags & Funny F...

Dick Prall only goes by Richard when he’s in trouble, though you can call him Dickie on stage, that is if he’s not blacking out for the first few songs. Chill out with Dick as he talks about learning guitar in his mid-20s, working with big acts and the value of having space to fill. He also shares details on his upcoming EP “Headful of Hiss.” After the interview, listen to Dickie’s song “Minus Thi...