Local Music Shapes Culture

It’s here, all. I finally edited it. The last episode of Local Music Shapes Culture. I’m sure Nick was scared his interview was the reason I stopped cold turkey haha. Nick is a visual artist and teacher based out of Indianapolis, Indiana. After attending art grad school near Detroit and moving back to Indianapolis, Nick and his partner Danielle opened a DIY art gallery right out of their own home....

In a belated second to last episode of Local Music Shapes Culture, I sit down with my dear friend Jess to talk about her unique journey coming from a Brazilian family, growing up with Indy punk culture, and finding fulfillment in DJing. I kid you not that these last two episodes are my favorite and I have been putting off editing them. Jess offers a unique perspective on the Indy music scene as so...

Hello lovely local music fans! Local Music Shapes Culture is going on indefinite hiatus after the next two episodes ❤️ I will still be online but focusing on other projects I am likely starting a different podcast soon, and I have not decided if I am going to start a new Substack publication for it or publish it on this one. If the latter happens, feel free to stick around. My Substack URL is my n...

Welcome to Local Music Shapes Culture! A podcast based in Indianapolis exploring the local music scene and the culture surrounding it. This week, I invited my friend Max Denari onto the show to discuss his long-standing presence in the local scene. In this episode, Max shares how being involved in music has provided both community and catharsis. Our convo gets into the challenge of staying authent...

Hi y'all💞💞💞 This week on Local Music Shapes Culture, I have Jill "jilly$100billy" over to collage with me and talk about her music. Jill just released her first EP Carpet on April 26th – a five-song journey she compares to the five stages of grief through hybrid genres. We dive into Jill's inspiration behind the EP, discuss how her life experiences have shaped her as both a person and artist, a...

Hello! This week on Local Music Shapes Culture, I sit down with Tara Sue Stapleton. Tara has been heavily engaged in the music scene of Indianapolis for over a decade, about as long as her band Sonora has been around. She discussed her additional music projects throughout the years, including a grindcore project she is starting that has its first show booked this spring. Tara and I discuss her exp...

This week on Local Music Shapes Culture I chat with Maude Atlas - a multi-medium artist who's been a fixture in our local scene through her painting, photography, and as the vocalist of the band Frizbee. Though Frizbee recently ended, Maude shares exciting news about their upcoming record "Sour Kisses" releasing May 9th through Noise Merchant and Painters Tapes. We dig into her journey from docume...

This week on Local Music Shapes Culture I have a conversation with Ron Record, who recently moved from the Fort Wayne music scene to Indianapolis. Ron is involved in several musical projects: * Roman New Time - Solo Project * Lunch Club - Indianapolis band with friends Jacob, Chuck, Brad, and Gus * Home Phone - A duo project with his friend Olivia in Fort Wayne In this podcast, Ron shares his insi...

One of my favorite guests I’ve had so far on this podcast :) Z honestly gets my whole DIY band experience from joining the scene, starting bands, and performing more than anyone I have gotten to talk to on this pod. We dive into the experience of struggling to find girl bandmates, the anxiety of performing, the mental block of idolizing performers before you are a performer yourself, and the strug...

This week I catch up with my good friend and avid show-goer John Ramos, who grew up going to shows around Chicago for many years and moved to Indianapolis just before Covid hit our lives. John is one of the biggest music scene supporters I know and I am honored to have him take a seat in my DIY podcast set-up to discuss his experience within his decade-long commitment to local music. John and I go...

Hello!! I went on a multi day run with my band for the first time and had a blast. In this week’s podcast I discuss the things I have learned on the road, from bonding with my bandmates to the business side of being in a band. I go through some logistics of being on tour and booking out of town shows, and reflect on what the experience means to me. I want to do this more y’all. I did not think I w...

This week I sit down with The Only Person In Both Of My Bands, Mia Rivas. Mia is awesome and wanted to sit down with me this week to discuss a struggle we all come across: creative block. We get into our personal experiences with feeling stuck creatively, from the pressure of perfectionism to challenges of finalizing and recording songs. Along the way we explore how collaboration within our bands...

This week I dig into an accusation that is often thrown at the punk scene: y’all are gatekeepy. While I cannot dig into the psyche of others’, I know that I and many of my friends do not want well-meaning people who would benefit the culture to be deterred from the scene. Despite this, I have heard many of my non-scene friends tell me they do not feel comfortable attending shows because of a patte...

Hello Hello rockers. This week on Local Music Shapes Culture I sit down with Tony of Global Rock Underground to explore his journey growing an online underground music community. We dive into his story from picking up some bongos the age of 3, to how the pandemic sparked his online community efforts, to his newest endeavor of music licensing for underground artists. What resources would you find h...

Hello babes. This week on Local Music Shapes Culture I give you my own personal story - all about my journey into punk and DIY music. From my high school Lana Del Rey era to my disco obsession to my current place in my local punk scene, I share my story to finding the local music scene where I feel understood and belong. I once thought I was not good enough to be in a band (!). But goes to show, a...

Local icons Hannah Summers and Daisy whats-her-name join me this week on Local Music Shapes Culture , diving into a curated list of band-related AITA Reddit posts after after we spent 3 hours setting up with a few glasses of wine. (Daisy had more than a few glasses of wine) The girls, who live for their local punk and DIY scene, break down and share their takes on band-related drama pulled straigh...

You may have heard about DIY shows, but what actually are they? In this episode, I break down everything about your local DIY music scene - from finding your first show to understanding 'punk time'. This guide walks you through the whole DIY show experience, from your first time checking out a local band to getting involved as a musician yourself. I cover how to find shows through Instagram, local...

This week on Local Music Shapes Culture, I sit down with JS from Elle 2.0 Collective—a micro-label founder, show documenter, and organizer of Winterfest in Indianapolis. JS opens up about finding their place in the local punk scene and the journey from outsider to community builder. Starting with early experiences in the Indianapolis hardcore scene, JS shares how he went from feeling disconnected...

When do you stop letting your degree define your music? On this episode of Local Music Shapes Culture, drummer Giauna shares how breaking free from her jazz expectations led to an unexpectedly diverse musical life. After completing her Jazz Studies degree at the University of Iowa in 2021, Giauna faced a familiar creative crisis - the pressure to stick to what she'd trained in. But everything chan...

Beyond packed shows and killer lineups, what makes a music scene flourish? Explore how Indianapolis's DIY community is redefining success through genuine inclusion, emerging voices, and a fresh perspective on what underground music culture can achieve. From empowering new voices to addressing scene power dynamics, this episode dives into the practical and cultural elements that make scenes grow: *...

What makes a music scene thrive? Join us for an in-depth conversation with Brady Turner of 317 Shows, where he breaks down how strategic booking and community-first thinking are amplifying Indianapolis's DIY music culture. From booking 80+ shows in 2024 to cultivating one of the Midwest's most dynamic all-ages communities, Brady outlines the strategic thinking behind: * Building sustainable show i...

This week on Local Music Shapes Culture I sit down with Devin Kerr—drummer for the Indianapolis hardcore band Slur and creator of the hip-hop project Draggin’ Knuckles. Devin talks about his experiences finding his place in music, experimenting with different styles, and connecting with others through shared creativity. Starting with his roots drumming as a kid and forming his first bands in middl...

Watch all episodes of Local Music Shapes Culture here: alisonchristoff.substack.com There’s a lot of work that comes with Being In A Band. It ain’t all goofing off at practice and experiencing the thrill of playing shows. In this week’s episode of Local Music Shapes Culture , I explore the difficult aspects that come with being in a band. TOPICS DISCUSSED: [0:01:28 - 0:03:34] Challenges of finding...

Watch the first episode of Local Music Shapes Culture here: alisonchristoff.substack.com Welcome to the first episode of my new podcast, Local Music Shapes Culture , where I talk about what DIY music is—its culture, its spaces, and why it’s such a special and unique part of local music. What’s DIY? DIY music isn’t about big budgets, polished performances, or waiting for someone to give you a platf...