In this episode of Music Therapy I interview Chicago musician Brian Case of FACS and Disappears! Brian describes what music success means to him, making music during the pandemic, writing and recording collaboratively, how he balances fatherhood with music and touring, his son’s foray into music, FACS new album Present Tense, and lots more!! Brian Case bio: Singer and multi-instrumentalist Brian Case was a teenager when he got on board the music train with 90 Day Men, and he’s been on it ever si...
Jul 20, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 61
In this episode of Music Therapy, I interview Chicago artist Tasha! Tasha talks about self-care, believing no one should work, her new album coming out later this year, how the pandemic has impacted her creativity, struggling with social media obligations, upcoming live shows this year, and more. Tasha's Bio: Tasha is a songwriter and musician based in Chicago, where she was born and raised. Her debut album, Alone At Last, came out in 2018, and she has since released 2 singles. Tasha writes abou...
Jul 13, 2021•51 min•Ep. 60
In our very first "Group Session" episode, I talk with Chris Coleslaw and Lexi Goddard of Chicago's Tobacco city live from Cafe Mustache! We talk about how they came together as a band, trying to get ahead in the music scene, disliking social media obligation, and a lot more. Plus, they share a live performance of several gorgeous songs! Listen to Tobacco City: https://tobaccocity.bandcamp.com/ Visit https://musictherapypodcast.com...
Jul 06, 2021•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 59
In this episode of Music Therapy, I talk with Jess Robbins of Chicago dream-pop band Course! Jess and I talk about her starting a new band right before the pandemic hit, how the band stayed connected by watching horror movies and finished an album during quarantine, Course's upcoming album out May 21, how Jess stays creatively active while having 3 small boys, touring as a parent, and more!! Listen to Course: https://coursesounds.com/ Visit http://musictherapypodcast.com/...
Jun 22, 2021•55 min•Ep. 58
In this episode of Music Therapy, I talk with Ryan Suzuka of Blow Wind Blow! Ryan talks about sneaking out of his house growing up to teach himself harmonica, releasing an album right before quarantine hit, his experience on American Idol 10 years ago today, why it’s helpful to have a “push” from friends to make music, and more! Listen to Blow Wind Blow: https://blowwindblow.bandcamp.com/ Visit http://musictherapypodcast.com/...
Jun 15, 2021•1 hr•Ep. 57
In this episode of Music Therapy I talk with the incredible Bill MacKay! Bill shares the routines and practices that have gotten him through the pandemic, his dad’s struggle with bipolar disorder, his amazing new album “Keys” out now on Drag City Records, becoming more confident with his artistic output over time, and lots more!! Songs featured in episode: "Help Me, Help Me" by Jessica Risker "Truth" by Bill MacKay and Nathan Bowles Listen to Bill MacKay: https://billmackay.bandcamp.com/album/ke...
Jun 08, 2021•59 min•Ep. 56
In this episode of Music Therapy, I talk with Sam Cantor of Chicago band Minor Moon! Sam and I talk about his wonderful new album “Tethers”, working on and releasing an album during the pandemic, receiving affirmation for music via social media vs in-person, dealing with hopes, expectations and disappointments for an album release, what success as a musician looks like for Sam, and more!! Listen to Minor Moon: https://minormoon.bandcamp.com/album/tethers Visit http://musictherapypodcast.com/...
May 26, 2021•58 min•Ep. 55
In this episode of Music Therapy, I talk with musician Bret Rodysill of The Record Summer about the romanticization of mental illness. We started off with this topic in mind, and ended up exploring Bret’s own struggles with obsessive compulsive and bipolar disorder, and how mental illness has impacted his own creativity. Listen to The Record Summer: https://therecordsummer.com/ Visit http://musictherapypodcast.com/ and http://jessicarisker.com/...
May 11, 2021•34 min•Ep. 54
In this episode of Music Therapy, I talk with Chicago musician Rami Atassi! We talk about his relationship with music as a personal practice and profession, how he balances keeping music in his life with new parenthood, relationship with social media, input vs output, his creative process, and much more!! Rami Atassi is a musician, creator and teacher in Chicago. He cut his teeth in the music scene playing with groups like The Curls and Tatsu Aoki’s MIYUMI project. In 2020 he released his first ...
May 04, 2021•57 min•Ep. 53
In this episode of Music Therapy, I talk with Chicago musician Mia Joy. We talk about growing up in her musical family, being a music teacher, her new single and upcoming album, using music as a way to cope with emotions, Mia’s experience with depression and therapy, connecting with her label Fire Talk Records, and more!! Listen to Mia Joy: https://miajoy.bandcamp.com/album/spirit-tamer Visit: https://jessicarisker.com/...
Feb 24, 2021•55 min•Ep. 52
In this episode, I talk with Claudia Ferme of Claude! We talk about her new EP "Enactor", the covidwinter blues, her songwriting process, comparing to others on social media, a new album she is working on, and more! Listen to Claude: https://girlclaude.bandcamp.com/album/enactor Visit https://jessicarisker.com/
Feb 09, 2021•44 min•Ep. 51
In this episode of Music Therapy I talk with Dave Vettraino of @publichouserecs ! Dave talks about his new solo album “Exercise” coming out this Friday via @firetalkrecs , how he’s developed his recording studio over the years, advice for bands coming in to a studio to record, how it’s been sort of nice to get a little break this year, and more! Something messed up with the audio at the end of the interview so it cuts off abruptly, but all the good stuff is there. To answer Dave's question - I a...
Dec 02, 2020•54 min•Ep. 50
In this episode of Music Therapy I interview therapist Malory Dahl of Chicago Counseling Center about Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Malory does an incredible job of sharing the symptoms of SAD, why some people experience SAD, ways to treat SAD at home, when to see a therapist for SAD, and how to differentiate SAD from generalized depression or COVID related mood changes. Learn more about Malory: https://www.instagram.com/malorydahlwellness/ Visit my website: jessicarisker.com...
Nov 24, 2020•50 min•Ep. 49
In this episode of Music Therapy, I talk with Chicago musician Adele Nicholas of Axons. Adele talks about her work as a lawyer, her active community involvement, her creative process, feeling anxious about releasing albums, her soon-to-be-released album about two creative bank robbers (based on true events!) and more! https://axons.bandcamp.com/ https://jessicarisker.com/
Nov 14, 2020•46 min•Ep. 48
In this interview, I talk with Angel Marcloid aka Fire-Toolz! Angel talks about making her music into a career, getting salty on Twitter, her experiences in therapy, Eckhart Tolle and other spiritual teachings, how she’s coping during the pandemic, and more! Fire-Toolz: https://fire-toolz.bandcamp.com/
Nov 10, 2020•56 min•Ep. 46
In this episode of Music Therapy, Brianna Tong of Chicago band Cordoba talks about Cordoba’s new album "Specter", music and activism, dealing with the uncertainty of the pandemic, feeling pressure to be creative during quarantine, how she’s been coping through all this, and more! Listen to Cordoba: https://cordoba.bandcamp.com/...
Oct 24, 2020•50 min•Ep. 47
In this episode of Music Therapy, I talk with Isabel Cristina of Half Gringa! Izzy talks about her new album, touring, not thinking too far in the future about her career, how her artistic practice is changing this year, the ways she approaches songwriting, what she finds helpful about therapy, how she uses CBT techniques and mindfulness to challenge negative thoughts, and more! Listen to Half Gringa: https://www.halfgringa.com/ Visit jessicarisker.com...
Oct 03, 2020•53 min•Ep. 45
In this episode of Music Therapy, Roy Kinsey talks about his work as a librarian in Humboldt Park, finishing a new album earlier this year and how the pandemic affected the release, how his identity and productivity are intertwined, his creativity the past few months, his thoughts on substance use and addiction during quarantine, and much more!
Sep 19, 2020•57 min•Ep. 43
In this episode of Music Therapy, I talk with Mick Fansler of The Curls. Mick talks about his current daily life during quarantine, social media and anxiety, how the quarantine has shifted his relationship with his music career, ambition, what it’s like to be in a band with his wife, what keeps him moving forward during the quarantine, and more! Listen to The Curls: https://thecurls.bandcamp.com/
Sep 12, 2020•54 min•Ep. 42
In this episode, Jake Acosta of Lake Paradise Records takes us on a ride of thoughts and feelings and plays a Silver Jews song and gives us a tour of his setup. I play a new song "I Miss You My Friends". And more! We had fun!! Lake Paradise Records: https://lakeparadiserecords.bandcamp.com/ Listen to my music on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1qyxydosK6a3Z52stGG32K Visit my website: http://jessicarisker.com Jessica Risker is a musician based in Chicago, IL and a licensed clinical profe...
Sep 09, 2020•1 hr•Ep. 41
In this episode of Music Therapy, I talk with Sarah Jane Quillin of Desert Liminal. Sarah talks about playing her biggest show ever at the beginning of this year, sitting on a completed album, her dual paths of research biologist and musician, talks about how gut bacteria can impact our behavior and moods, what she misses about the Chicago DIY scene, her comedy show Casual Agony at Cafe Mustache, and more!! Listen to Desert Liminal: https://desertliminal.bandcamp.com/ Listen to my music on Spoti...
Sep 05, 2020•51 min•Ep. 40
In this episode of Music Therapy, I talk with Natalie Chami of TALsounds. She shares what it’s like to be a music teacher for CPS during the pandemic, her feelings on making money as a independent musician and performer, her personal experience with therapy and anxiety, why she feels it’s best to work on music every day, and more!! This conversation originally aired via Instagram Live on August 22, 2020. Please excuse the poor sound quality during my song, due to Instagram's compression. Learn m...
Aug 22, 2020•55 min•Ep. 39
In this episode of Music Therapy, I talk with Sullivan Davis of The Hideout Chicago, a well-respected music venue located between the Lincoln Park and Bucktown neighborhoods of Chicago. Sullivan shares what steps The Hideout is taking to survive the pandemic, the impact quarantine has on agents and booking agencies, what makes the Chicago music scene unique, how to support The Hideout, and more! Listen to my music on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1qyxydosK6a3Z52stGG32K Visit my websit...
Aug 16, 2020•49 min•Ep. 38
In this episode of Music Therapy, Britt Julious talks about her career as a writer and music journalist, her take on the fragmentation of Chicago music scene and how that contributes to the different sounds coming out of Chicago, what makes Chicago music special, and how the pandemic has impacted Chicago music, and more! Listen to my music on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1qyxydosK6a3Z52stGG32K Visit my website: http://jessicarisker.com Jessica Risker is a musician based in Chicago, I...
Aug 02, 2020•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 36
In this episode of Music Therapy, I interview Coleman Brice, owner of Cole's Bar in Logan Square. Cole talks about how he started the business, the changing clientele of Logan Square through the years, how the business is weathering the pandemic, advice for opening your own business, and more! Listen to my music on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1qyxydosK6a3Z52stGG32K Visit my website: http://jessicarisker.com Jessica Risker is a musician based in Chicago, IL and a licensed clinical pr...
Jul 26, 2020•44 min•Ep. 35
In this episode, I talk with Anna Holmquist of Chicago band Ester, as well as the creator and host of Bad Songwriter Podcast (highly recommended!). This episode was recorded on May 31, 2020 - Anna and I are both shaken up by the death of George Floyd and the ensuing protests. Anna talks about their experience protesting, as well as how their life and music have been impacted by the pandemic, what Anna is doing to take care of their mental health during the pandemic, and more. Listen to Ester: ht...
May 31, 2020•44 min•Ep. 34
In this episode of Music Therapy, I share places and resources to look for a therapist, what kinds of things to look for in a therapist, and ways to cover the costs of therapy. Listen to my music on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1qyxydosK6a3Z52stGG32K Visit my website: http://jessicarisker.com Jessica Risker is a musician based in Chicago, IL and a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC). This episode was streamed live on Instagram on May 26, 2020....
May 27, 2020•29 min•Ep. 33
In this episode of Music Therapy, I interview Erik Hall of In Tall Buildings. Erik talks about the patchwork way he's made music endeavors his only source of income, his newest album, his changing feelings about touring, considering the audience while composing, and more! Listen to Erik Hall here: http://westernvinyl.com/artists/erik-hall.php Listen to my music on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1qyxydosK6a3Z52stGG32K Visit my website: http://jessicarisker.com Jessica Risker is a musici...
May 24, 2020•41 min•Ep. 31
In this episode of Music Therapy, I talk with Blake Norris of Audiotree. Blake talks about his journey with depression, suicidal ideation, learning the signs he's becoming depressed, fatherhood, how Audiotree is adapting to quarantine, Audiotree's relationship with Chicago venues Lincoln Hall and Schubas, and more!
May 22, 2020•59 min•Ep. 30
In this episode, I interview Chicago vocalist and music teacher Sacha Mullin.
May 19, 2020•43 min•Ep. 30
