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Small Studio Signal Boost is a weekly exploration into contemporary music from Indiana artists and exclusive conversations with local creators. After one year of producing the show, co-hosts Sharlene Birdsong, Melissa Davis and Adam Gross reflect below on how the show has evolved, what artists you may have missed and what to look for in the next year.
Over the past year, how has the show grown and evolved?
Melissa Davis: It’s been wonderful to watch the show grow this year. We started a radio show in a pandemic, with the intention to share music to folks in central Indiana. It has truly been a joy. I think as time goes on, we’re feeling more confident in our work and the show’s sound.
Adam Gross: I think one of the biggest ways that the show has evolved is our dynamic on the air. When I listen back to the first few shows I think I sound a little stiff and there isn’t much back and forth dialogue between us. These days I think there’s a much more natural flow which leads to a more exciting and dynamic show.
Sharlene Birdson: In the past year, I think behind the scenes our production work has evolved the most. Us becoming more comfortable with creating the show has made the show more fun to listen to and create.
If you had to pick one artist featured on SSSB to tell a friend about, who would you choose?
Adam: Right now I would pick Public Universal Friend. They’re a new band, their music is catchy and impressive, they have a creative and engaging live show and they’re all around nice people with a compelling story. We also did a Small Studio Session with them already so I would tell my friends to check that out of course.
Sharlene: It depends on the friend but some of my favorites include Aaron Frazer, Rodeola and Baby Ebony.
Melissa: I’m a huge fan of Indianapolis-based artist, Ko. She’s played in notable Indianapolis bands like Slothpop and in Chicago with her project, “Ko”. She’s incredibly talented and innovative, and I can’t wait to listen to more of her work. We play her music quite a bit on Signal Boost, we’d love to play more!
What are you most excited about for the future of the show?
Adam: I’m excited to get more young artists on the air to give them a broader platform to share their music and hopefully empower them to continue pursuing it. I’m also hopeful that we’ll be able to get the show archived in the near future for listeners who aren’t able to tune in live.
Melissa: I’m really excited to see how the music scene evolves along with the show, and I hope that we can connect more potential fans with Indiana’s amazing music scene.
What should we keep an eye out for in upcoming editions of SSSB?
Adam: More deep dives into Indiana music from the archives and brand new Small Studio Sessions!
Sharlene: Chats with up-and-coming musicians and new songs added to our Spotify playlist.
You can connect to local artists through Small Studio Signal Boost in many ways. You can tune in to 90.1 FM Saturdays at 9 p.m. to hear the show live, listen to the Sessions at wfyi.org/smallstudio, or follow WFYI Music on Spotify to find playlists of the songs played on the show each week.
WFYI’s Small Studio Signal Boost is made possible by Sun King Brewery.
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