Shut Up & Listen

CHRVNS sits down with Actress and discuss their recent show at West Fest, boobgate, origin stories, what it means to have stage presence, pre show rituals, Summer's Daughter, recoding music that feels like playing live, making a safe space, and unmasking. https://linktr.ee/actressbandhttps://www.instagram.com/actressbandhttps://open.spotify.com/album/123oDHGMTymzE36N4rV80a?si=LNb1UZJtRdWoLl1V0...

In this episode Chrvns and the SUAL crew head to Splish Splash Music Festival for their second annual outing at the Lookout Arts Quarry. With a little help from Tiaga Productions, the Whalien crew is at it again with another legendary weekend of music, fun, and space cowboy vibes. We sat down and talked with just about everyone we could get a mic in front of, and had an absolute blast attending th...

CHRVNS sits down with Simon Llewelyn Evans and discuss a seed that sprouts a beautiful friendship, playing music to slow down time, drawing a straight line to inspiration, and more! Simon Llewelyn Evans is a singer-songwriter originally from Australia, now based in the Pacific Northwest. His work blends a folk-soul sound with lyrics that open the door to the heart – gentle, searching, and honest....

Shut Up & Listen headed to NW Tune-Up Festival this year and talked to the sponsors and the cofounder about bringing a local community together to celebrate what they love most, we also talked to touring bands like Harbour and The 4411 about what it means to them to get to play events like Tune-Up, we also talked to locals about what they love about the festival, and a few local bands about ge...

CHRVNS and Tim Mechling sit down with City of Pines and discuss turning a catastrophe into a core memory, winning over a hostile crowd, recording in Sweden, how much running is involved in making a music video, Backflips > Frontflips, and Tim tries to start a true crime podcast. City of Pines was founded by Nick Clack in 2017, built on a foundation of honest songwriting inspired by the human ex...

CHRVNS and Tim Mechling sit down with Whalien and discuss the down and dirty side of being a jam band, how to be a multi-genre band while also having a clear identity, does being a drummer who writes lyrics make you a piece of shit?, getting punched by my middle schoolers, from Singapore with love, literally how every band from Bellingham was started, and are you team Splish, or team Splash?! Whal...

In this episode Chrvns and OVRTHNKR sit down and reminisce over the last 99 episode of Shut Up and Listen. Discuss what it means to promote a community, they also talk about the future of the podcast, and the future for themselves.

CHRVNS and OvrThnkr. sit down with Nico Carrera of Killmer and discusses who in the band gives the better interview, moving to a new city to make new music, making music to challenge yourself and your listeners, understanding everyone's creativity, Netflix, dealing with wack crowds, and making a long distance bandlationship work. Killmer is a PNW-based psychedelic rock band that combines the i...

This week, CHRVNS and OVRTHNKR sit down with Bellingham artist Kam Lynn to dive into the craft behind the music. They unpack the difference between lyrics-first vs. vibe-first listeners, why imperfection might be the key to great production, and whether gear really matters for a great songwriter. Kam shares what it's like navigating the local scene under 21, favorite actors, and the artists sh...

CHRVNS sits down with Now Defunkt and discusses humble beginnings in Huntington Beach, having an open invitation to jam, making music during lockdown, creating a Jamcation, community, finally getting to play live, and making a documentary about the whole thang. Now Defunkt is a genre-blurring sonic collective that grooves like a vinyl record spinning in a raucous room—raw, electric, and impossible...

CHRVNS and OVRTHNKR sit down with Bellingham’s own Silk Jammies to talk origin stories—from elementary school band days to Robo’s chaotic early mix-tapes that sparked his DJ journey. They get into the eternal Logic vs. Reason debate, pour one out for the dearly departed Sasquatch Festival, unpack a wild LSD trip, and break down the ritual of getting hyped before a set. This one’s equal parts nosta...

Chrvns and Tim Mechling sit down with Josh Jensen and discuss being a father first and foremost, recording his first album on his phone to recording his latest project with a drum and bass DJ to spice things up. The power of collaboration and embracing the darkside to take creative leaps, and recording in the grungiest studio in Seattle. Josh Jensen is a singer songwriter hailing from Seattle, WA....

Kyle Alan Hobbs is a Bellingham-based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist blending cosmic country with a psychedelic twist. Born in Memphis and raised across Florida and California, Hobbs’s music reflects a restless, exploratory spirit grounded in American roots. A self-taught musician, Hobbs grew from a ska- and punk-loving teen into a genre-blending artist—pulling influence from J Dilla’s beats...

CHRVNS sits down with Devin Champlin to discuss and tour his legendary guitar shop in the heart of Bellingham. They also talk about clowning around on T.V. in Chicago, gaining rainbow vision after an acid trip, the state of music in Bellingham, and creating a space for musicians. Northwest Washington's Devin Champlin writes songs for gettin' along, sometimes with his band Sons of Rainier,...

Chrvns and Tim Mechling sit down with Jay Irwin and the GP Sunsets to talk about their new EP Blessings and Close Calls , how the Georgia-Pacific paper mill’s pollution inspired the band’s name, and writing songs about struggling with life online. It's a conversation about place, persistence, and the poetry hidden in everyday chaos. Jay Irwin has been a staple of the Bellingham music scene sin...

Chrvns and Tim Mechling sit down with Surreal, a grunge/alt-rock band from Mount Vernon, WA, to talk band origins, musical influences, and why their name sounds like a fever dream. They swap stories—including Tim’s unforgettable encounter with a carnie named Hatchet—and wrap things up with a completely unserious, instrument-free “performance” that somehow captures the chaotic spirit of the band pe...

Tim Mechling and CHRVNS sit down with Mark 'The Freight Train' Wheeler and Walker VanWingerden of Preacher and The Freight Train for an unforgettable conversation. In this episode, they dive into Mark’s legendary birthday parties, Walker’s inspiring grandfather, and the concept of 'Grandpa Strength.' They also explore their unique songwriting philosophy and share the origin story o...

Chrvns and Tim Mechling sit down with The Enthusiasts for a deep and heartfelt conversation about sibling ESP connections, how Sommer and Andrew found their way back to making music together, and the journey behind their new LP, To Rest a Field. They discuss recording at the legendary Unknown Studio, the profound loss of their parents that shaped many of the songs, and their involvement with the A...

Chrvns and Tim Mechling sit down with singer-songwriter Tad Kroening for a deep dive into his musical journey. They discuss Tad and Tim’s shared experiences in Bellingham and Snohomish, Tad’s passion for open mics, and the art of hosting. Tad shares insights into his songwriting process, his Leonard Cohen influence, and his debut album Baby Birch. Plus, he treats us to a live performance of an unr...

Chrvns and Tim Mechling sit down with singer-songwriter Brittany Collins to dive into the quirks and chaos of being a musician. They explore why so many artists seem a little off, the art of writing “character songs,” and the need for more women in the music industry. Plus, Brittany opens up about her latest album, Things I Tell My Therapist—the stories behind the songs, the raw emotions, and the...

Pete Ruble joins hosts CHRVNS and Tim Mechling to discuss his early introduction to Bob Dylan and how it shaped his songwriting and musical journey. He shares insights on playing live shows in Bellingham and wraps up the episode with a special live in-studio performance. Pete Ruble was born in the Arizona desert and wound up in Lynden, WA as a child. Although the twangy, folksy leanings of his mus...

In this re-released episode of Shut Up & Listen, CHRVNS and Morgan Kramer sit down with Øyvind Blomstrøm of Norway's Orions Belte at Ono Cafe in Bellingham during the inaugural Bellingham Exit Festival. They dive into conversations about life on tour, the art of songwriting, and much more in this special episode that captures the spirit of both the festival and the band. Hailing from Norwa...

In this episode, Chrvns sits down with composer and sound designer Ryan Eston Paul to explore his deeply personal and inspiring journey. From a traumatic upbringing that left him nearly silent until the age of five, Ryan found his voice through music. He shares his path from discovering composition as an outlet to moving to Vancouver, BC, where he broke into the world of film scoring. Ryan walks u...

Chrvns and Tim Mechling join Speaking Feather for an inspiring conversation about their Lummi and Blackfeet heritage, the joys of fishing, the importance of preserving the wisdom of their elders, and the creative journey behind their upcoming music release. They dive into the beauty of tribal flutes, the rich brotherhood they share, and their collective mission to honor their roots. Plus, for the...

Chrvns and Tim Mechling sit down with Boris Budd for a wide-ranging conversation covering everything from Yanni and Zamfir the pan flute player to cannabis music culture and Seattle’s iconic Hemp Fest. Boris shares insights on unlocking creativity, the hypocrisy of politics, and what it truly means to be “punk.” They also discuss his doomed radio show on Make. Shift, his band Los Bongquistadors, a...