Month: October 2019

Hope Abounds on Emcee’s New Album Red Man

By Deuce

As a social construct, rap music’s evolution from the 1970’s to the end of the 21st century’s second decade is a particularly curious one. Its many phases have included its perception as a passing fad, a revolutionary tool, a forum for gangsta posturing, and its current status as a perpetual celebration of material excess.

Yet along the way, it’s still managed to remain a potentially commercially viable medium for perpetuating each of these agendas—and much more. In the hands of Hope, a British Columbia emcee who dropped the 12-track album Red Man (Rudegang Entertainment) over the summer, rap’s platform becomes something more altogether.

Red Man is partly based on social, historical, contemporary, economic, and global issues—many of which have defined our current existence as it manifests today. With songs entitled “Stand Up”, “Red Man”, “Fuck That”, and “Rage”, it’s quite apparent the album is thematically dealing with the cultural marginalization and displacement of Native Americans with one of the most ubiquitous mediums around the world—rap music.

Plus, Hope’s brought along a cast of characters to assist in this cohesive pastiche of songs that collectively function greater than an assortment of singles ever could. Mamarudegyal MTHC lights up the vocals on “Generosity”. Her voice is pristine, immediately notable, and well suited for the sonorous keyboards. She not only accentuates the hook but actually puts down a verse (singing) while all but threatening to steal the show. The song is also bolstered by an appearance by Doob, who manages to match the pace of Hope’s flows with just a little more street life in his voice, helping to counterpoint the precision of Hope’s own vocals.

The trio are joined by Alpha Omega on the subsequent track “Rage”. Mama’s voice again highlights the affair while the rappers weave in and out of her crooning with deliberate, double time flows. The majority of the album was produced by Onata and Mayo Beats; the tracks rarely exceed 85 beats per minute.

“Opening Ceremony”, the first number, is one of the few exceptions in this respect. It’s easily the hardest cut on the whole collection, with a booming bassline, snapping snare, and not much else besides intermittent talking from Hope to introduce the whole affair. The track truly sets the tone for the rest of the opus and demonstrates the potential Hope and his brethren have.    

VIDEO: Taiyamo Denku Featuring Rambunxious – “Expect Takeover”

Taiyamo Denku can’t leave the microphone alone, and there’s plenty of emcees to work with, including Madison’s Rambunxious on the new single, “Expect Takeover”. Produced by German beatsmith Bo Faat, the track features some slick organs and plenty of samples, and both artists make it sound effortless when they flow. The video from CTM Films adds in his signature style to the mix, making for a strong final product overall. Taiyamo Denku is on tour right now, but there’s assuredly much more where this comes from. Check out the video for “Expect Takeover” below:

VIDEO: Lil Chicken – “Fuck Yo Top 10”

If Milwaukee hip hop is notorious for anything, it seems to be top rapper lists on whatever social media is relevant at the time. That phenomenon caught on nationally at the tail end of summer, but Lil Chicken isn’t entertaining any of that with his new song, “Fuck Yo Top 10”. Instead, Chicken is more concerned with his hustle, and he puts that in his bars on the new track. The performance clip from TeeGlazedIt features Chicken by the lakefront, including somehow at the top of the Summerfest entrance. It’s a welcome return for Lil Chicken, who is currently teasing a new project titled “Billy” without a known release date. Check out the new video below:

VIDEO: Mr. Nice Guy with Grey Genius

One of our contributors, Ben Slowey, is more than on top of the local music scene. In addition to his work for Breaking And Entering, he also hosts the Mr. Nice Guy podcast, an interview-based show that reaches out to Milwaukeeans for conversations about what motivates them. Many of these shows fittingly involve the local music scene, and we’ll be sharing some of them here as well.

For this episode, Ben sits down with Grey Genius, whose most recent project “Late Nights Cool Drinks” came out last April. They discussed her beginnings as an artist, the season change, post-grad blues, the songs off her EP, and played feelings. You can check out more episodes of Mr. Nice Guy on YouTube, and check out this interview below:

Galapaghost Finds Rarified Turf on A Planet Without An Atmosphere EP

By Deuce

There’s much to be said about Galapaghost, a solo project from producer Casey Chandler. But all that really matters going on nearly a month after the October 11th release of his Extended Player A Planet Without An Atmosphere, is the man has hits. As in, on this very outing. At least half of the EP is worthy of credits in television shows, movies, or commercials, all of it sounds original and, best of all, more than one of these cuts is a bonafide hit record.

Take “A Planet Without An Atmosphere”, for example. Very few would deny the infectious nature of the Super Mario Bros., video game feel of the most saccharine of synthesized melodies populating this piece. However, Galapaghost inverts this feel good appeal with hard, texturized drums that threaten to nod the head off anyone within earshot. The simplicity of the vocals, the basic nature of the melody (which sounds more like talking than singing), and the unequivocal nature of the lyrics (“I just want to be happy”) make this one a winner—particularly when Galapaghost busts out the falsetto near the crescendo of the track.

The vast majority of the numbers on this collection are two minutes and some seconds, letting you know the producer can get in and out without wasting time, tracks, or vocals. One of the few exceptions is “Test Stick Uhaul Her Can, Sir?” Although this tune deals with some certified real-life, unfortunate experiences, what stands out prominently is the guitar. Acoustic, busy, bouncy even, at times, it provides an ideal sonic setting for Galapaghost’s delightfully slow harmonizing (with himself, that is). Singing in a lower register on one track and an upper register on another, his vocal progression erupts into spontaneous whistling and the sweet purity of a falsetto that hasn’t failed him yet. The combination is artful, the guitar driving, and the result unmistakable: a hit record.

On some of the other tracks, the very production itself is remarkable. The trippiness of the drums on “Lonely Ocean” are responsible for its underwater feel. Again, the producer hits the high notes on this one with the best of them, indicating that not only does he know his way behind the boards, but behind a mic—or in front of an audience—as well. Few producers, artists, or singers are able to combine the diverse elements of song into cohesive, cogent offerings, yet Galapghost demonstrates this knack time and again on his latest effort.  

https://soundcloud.com/galapaghostatx/sets/a-planet-without-an-atmosphere-full-album

RuudAwakening Wakes Up Listeners on Forthcoming Album CATHARSIS

By Deuce

You’ve got to respect the ambition evinced on RuudAwakening’s forthcoming Long Player, CATHARSIS (Ruffchild Records). The title, after all, is spawned from the feeling of affective cleansing originally experienced at the conclusion of Greek and Roman tragedies. More importantly, although the album consists of 10 tracks, that’s actually 10 tracks to the neck. What artist (let alone rapper) do you know that’s trying to do that?

Dude sings his own hooks, is responsible for most every verse heard in the collection, and very likely writes all his own material. The songs are curiously devoid of any features, duets, or collaborations other than the wordsmith’s cooperative efforts with producers Penacho, Ill Instrumentals, MadReal, Skurt Nilsen, and Amphouse Productions.

Plus, he’s coming out of South Florida’s Broward County. For those familiar with SoFlo’s Iceberg (Dade County), there’s a discernible similarity in the sheer effort each emcee puts into their recordings. RuudAwakening leaves little to the imagination on his album, mostly because his delivery is rooted in a heartfelt conviction in which it’s readily apparent his rhymes are of paramount importance to him, and those swift enough to catch up to his dexterous flows.

Although his style remains mostly the same throughout the album, his vocal performance and subject matter are rife with variations. He flips a couple of different sounding voices throughout the set, which is appropriate since his is just about the only one heard. He’s also got a few numbers for the babes, one of which, “Paradise” definitely avoids any machismo posturing in favor of valuing feminine wisdom bodies for their full worth. RuudAwakening does the freaky beat justice on this one, especially on the hook in which his off-kilter singing is drenched in just the right amount of vocal effects to give his notes the power they need to come off cool.

The staid stylings of “Magic” are steeped in a heavy dose of pianos, punctuated by double-time high hats and a fat 808 snare. As on several of the other tracks, the rude man punches in quickly to preserve the crispiness of his flows. The promise of the album’s title is perhaps best realized on “Freedom”, which is as refreshing for its uptempo track as it is the socially conscious, introspective rhymes which demonstrate that RuudAwakening takes his claim as an artist seriously—and is not afraid to defy conviction or popular appeal to do so.   

VIDEO: Cullah – “I Don’t Mind It”

While he consistently puts out one album a year on his birthday, Cullah finds a way to make everything that he releases top notch when it comes to quality. In between albums, he recently released the new video for “I Don’t Mind It”, from this past April’s “Spectacullah” project. The track is hypnotic in its own right, with Cullah seducing a woman in the lyrics, bending around a funky bass line. The video puts a visual representation of that narrative out, complete with background singers and a trip from the first date to a hotel to family life. If you haven’t heard “Spectacullah” yet, be sure to do so, and check out the video for “I Don’t Mind It” below:

AUDIO: Vincent Van Great – “Eric Andre”

It’s been a little bit since we’ve heard from Vincent Van Great, and that silence is broken today, as we get a new single from the Uni-Fi Records emcee, “Eric Andre”. The hook boldly states “Eric Andre said I’m a motherfuckin’ legend”, which is backed up by actual audio of that moment from Andre’s show at a Michigan venue in 2016. The single features plenty of bars over hard hitting percussion and guitar stabs, at a tempo that feels like Van Great is steadily moving upward from start to finish. “Eric Andre” is likely the first of many tracks sitting in the vault from Van Great for now, but no concrete plans for the follow up to 2018’s “A Tape Called Fresh” are out to the public yet. Check out the new track below:

AUDIO: Hoppers’ Luck – “Coconut Road”

Psych/indie hybrid Hoppers’ Luck have been steadily playing out for some time, building a buzz that has led to the release of their debut album, “Coconut Road”. The eight track release features songs that have become staples of their live set, complete with some bending, intricate guitar and sounds that touch everything from reggae to shoegaze. You can check out Hoppers’ Luck live at the next installment of our “An Evening With” series at Pabst Brewery and Taproom along with Chicago band Canyyn on Thursday, November 14th, and listen to “Coconut Road” below:

VIDEO: Mr. Nice Guy with Hermann Hammermeister

One of our contributors, Ben Slowey, is more than on top of the local music scene. In addition to his work for Breaking And Entering, he also hosts the Mr. Nice Guy podcast, an interview-based show that reaches out to Milwaukeeans for conversations about what motivates them. Many of these shows fittingly involve the local music scene, and we’ll be sharing some of them here as well.

For this episode, Ben sits down with bassist of punk band Stalones, Hermann Hammermeister. Their EP “3 White Trashes and a German” is out on Bandcamp – he’s the German. They discussed the Starbucks life, mosh pits, German live music vs American live music, the story of Stalones, and listening to music to chill out vs. getting hyped. You can check out more episodes of Mr. Nice Guy on YouTube, and check out this interview below:

AUDIO: Jay Khan – “Hochexplosiv”

Jay Khan is an accomplished singer and a well – known name in Germany. With over a decade in the public eye, Jay has managed to stay on top of the German charts in different genres. It is also worth mentioning, that Jay is also a brilliant songwriter and writes his own music. This is one of the few artists, who has managed to make a smooth and successful transition between languages and musical directions.

His latest single ” Hochexplosiv” (Highly Explosive) is an upbeat romantic song that will have you dancing on the first verse. You can find the single on iTunes and YouTube.

VIDEO: Meccah Maloh – “Protest!”

Fresh off of his win at the second edition of the Cream City Beat Battle, producer/emcee Meccah Maloh is back in action with a new video, “Protest!”. As you would expect, the song is politically motivated, featuring samples of news pieces with Father Groppi in lieu of a hook. As you might also expect, Meccah kills the samples on this beat, flipping some funky horns into a track that feels right to spit about injustice over. The video from CTM Films combines that sampled footage into a performance clip as well, bringing the whole package together. It’s a strong release with a message, and you can check out “Protest!” here below:

VIDEO: Hypesoul – “Horror Show”

It’s the time of year to get spooky, and a young Milwaukee collective, Hypesoul, get in the spirit with their new video, “Horror Show”. The track kicks in about three minutes into the short film, and the duo of Kevin Knoble and LOKIINFERNOX play off of one another on the microphone well. The video is an ode to horror movies, most notably The Blair Witch Project in the beginning, and adds some extra theatrics to the single. Hypesoul definitely grabbed our attention with this release, and we can’t wait to hear more from them. Check out the video here

VIDEO: Mr. Nice Guy with Lily Shea

One of our contributors, Ben Slowey, is more than on top of the local music scene. In addition to his work for Breaking And Entering, he also hosts the Mr. Nice Guy podcast, an interview-based show that reaches out to Milwaukeeans for conversations about what motivates them. Many of these shows fittingly involve the local music scene, and we’ll be sharing some of them here as well.

For this episode, Ben sits down with freelance music photographer Lily Shea, who recently had her first exhibition. She has dabbled in street photography as well. They discussed Milwaukee’s photography scene, strangers, Lily’s photography travels, storms, and capturing beautiful moments. You can check out more episodes of Mr. Nice Guy on YouTube, and check out this interview below:

#MKEMusicMonday Roundup: 10/29/19

Every week on Twitter, we share the Milwaukee music that gets sent to us. This is usually a good way to check out some of Milwaukee’s newest upcoming artists. We call it #MKEMusicMonday. Here are your #MKEMusicMonday submissions for October 29th, 2019:

https://twitter.com/reinsdaily/status/1188119237220548611

REVIEW: Thievery Corporation at the Pabst Theater

Describing Thievery Corporation’s sound in writing isn’t the easiest job. It’s extremely eclectic, original and masterful. I feel that is the best way to describe the band as a whole. Every bit of sound that TC created felt orchestrated with intelligent design. The show itself was simple, but each member of the band felt important in driving the music. Paired with a bevy of singers, each with their own genres, styles of singing and sometimes different languages. All of which made a highly original and well-performed show, albeit a bit monotonous at times.

The Band

Hailing from Washington DC, Thievery Corporation, has an interesting story. Forming based on their similar interest in Bossa Nova and Brazillian culture, band creators Rob Garza and Eric Hilton formed their band and a record label to produce their music. Creating music for nearly 25 years, the duo has created a varying level of downtempo and lounge music that fits in almost any setting. The two have added additional band members and touring singers, but remain to be the biggest constant throughout the band’s tenure.

The Experience

A fairly crowded Pabst theater riddled with fans in Halloween garb is what Thievery Corporation had to walk out to. And to be honest, it was the most fitting for the show had in store. The very unique sound group sauntered out and without much delay began playing. Although the stage was a bit bare-bones the lighting display made up for the lack of anything else on the stage. It was clear from the start these are career musicians and felt at home on stage. The barefooted Rob Garza strutted around the stage as he played his bass and kept the show flowing. 

Thankfully he was one of the few musicians who moved around on stage to an otherwise stagnant band. Outside of the singers, the entirety of the show felt rather slower paced. Much to my surprise, the crowd was on their feet through the majority of the show dancing to the varying genres from reggae, to French jazz, to the Bossa Nova sound they are formed on. Laced in between much of their music, Eric Hilton plays the sitar, creating some of Thievery Corporation’s most iconic sounds.

Throughout the show, we were graced by multiple singers as previously mentioned that helped break up any semblance of monotony. I mean that in the most respectful manner, but there were points of the show that felt like they were melding from one song into the next. It was a welcome surprise to hear each talented musician act almost as the frontman for the show as the concert went on.

The Verdict

While Thievery Corporation and their well-curated sound is a treat to listen to on vinyl, I feel that their live shows can seem to go on for too long. Sometimes a long show is a welcome surprise, and sometimes you just want to hear the next song. That’s not to say the overall show was a bust. There were plenty of surprises with the bilingual singers and the refined sound they crafted was fantastic. Personally, I’ll stick to hearing their music in a lounge while I sip my martini, the way that I feel Thievery Corporation is best enjoyed. 

VIDEO: Mr. Nice Guy With Mic Kellogg

One of our contributors, Ben Slowey, is more than on top of the local music scene. In addition to his work for Breaking And Entering, he also hosts the Mr. Nice Guy podcast, an interview-based show that reaches out to Milwaukeeans for conversations about what motivates them. Many of these shows fittingly involve the local music scene, and we’ll be sharing some of them here as well.

For this episode, Ben sits down with Mic Kellogg, whose most recent project “Make This Last” came out last year and he’s got a new single with Garrett Merk called “Ambition” out now. They discussed Kellogg’s move to Colorado and back, his growth since debut album “Breakfast”, his live band, Madison’s music scene compared to Milwaukee’s, and keeping notes in your phone. You can check out more episodes of Mr. Nice Guy on YouTube, and check out this interview below:

VIDEO: Mighty Morphin Verge Featuring Nile – “Arabian Nights”

The Phat Nerdz crew are back with another individual release, as Mighty Morphin Verge put out the video for “Arabian Nights” featuring Nile this past weekend. The track, produced by AEBeats, has been out for the past couple of months, and the new visual from Steven Robinson takes things to a new level. Both Milwaukee artists take to a beat with an addicting sample with ease, skating over the track with swagger-filled deliveries. Verge sometimes flies under the radar as a member of Phat Nerdz, but tracks like this should help him ascend with the rest of the crew. Check out “Arabian Nights” below:

B&E Weekly Jams Presented by Bublr Bikes: 10/27 – 11/2/19

Both the weather and the Milwaukee music releases have cooled down over the last couple of weeks, but we still have a healthy dose of new music in this week’s B&E Weekly Jams Presented by Bublr Bikes. This week, we have brand new music from Twan Mack, Zed Kenzo, $hunmillion$, Black Canvas and more. We also have a wide variety of sounds in this week’s playlist. For more, don’t forget to follow Breaking And Entering on Spotify, and check out this week’s playlist below:

REVIEW: Matt And Kim at Turner Hall Ballroom

Photo by Will Hughes

A suburban girl’s dream, poppy electronic music you can dance to. That’s what I thought Matt and Kim were to have in store for me with their 10 year anniversary tour. What I got in return was a surprisingly hard-hitting show that blended that poppy electronic music with some crushing percussion and a ton of fun. 

The Band

The electronic duo, Matt and Kim, started in the mid 00’s playing lofts and small venues in Brooklyn, New York. The two crafted their indie pop dance music to ensure that people were moving always moving while they listened. The insanely catchy style of mixing blends, vocals, synth and drums. That’s all Matt and Kim need to bring a house to their feet. The infectious two who are clearly madly in love with each other, bring fun and joy to their stages that reverberate with anyone who listens to their music.

The Experience

Going in with what I thought was going to be clinically clean music that reminds me of polos and plaid shorts, that couldn’t be further from the reality. Right off the bat, we are introduced to the two with pounding kick drum and clapping symbols. Greeted with the two coming out in cut off tees and tight pants my expectations were immediately subverted. For what the two lack in their studio sound of edge, they make up in their live show with grit and determination to make the crowd feel welcome.

That’s something that stood out to me right away. Since the two have minimal equipment changes, they make up for that time lost by chatting it up with the audience. Turns out not only are the two adorable but they are funny as hell. At one point we were introduced to a slideshow of their origins dating back to suburban Vermont where the two kindled their band and love. It was not only heartwarming but an interesting break from the show, which for some reason I didn’t mind. 

Matt and Kim splice a little bit of their life in with their music, not only playing their songs but doubling up as a DJ and playing popular songs from their childhood as well as club bangers such as “Hey Ma”. The ten year anniversary tour was clearly something they were proud of and pulled in a heaping amount of nostalgia and great-sounding music. It’s clear that throughout the years of crafting music together the two captured the magic and bottled it for their shows. 

They have fun, they wanted us to have fun, and the crowd reacted appropriately. Blowup dolls, mosh pits, and flashing are what kept the audience engaged and felt like Matt and Kim put a spell on us. I hope that this little powerhouse duo stick around and keep making music that never fails to put everyone in a great mood.

The Verdict

This show was an absolute blast. Between dancing, laughing, and participating in a Wall of Death, Matt and Kim throw a party. The sound is more intense than anything you’d experience with the studio sound and makes the band even more dynamic. If you have a chance to see these two, I highly recommend it. Sometimes that poppy electronic duo will surprise you. 

Photo by Will Hughes

Meccah Maloh Emerges Winner of Cream City Beat Battle Vol. 2

Cullen going up against Zachary.html.

The highly-anticipated Cream City Beat Battle Vol. 2 took place at Company Brewing Friday night and packed the place with friend and fans alike. The previous beat battle had been in March. Austin Mahnke came home from LA working with Atlantic Records to host while Mic Crawf emceed and DJay Mando played music.

Some of the most creative and innovative beat-smiths in our city competed. Vol. 1’s champion Godxilla as well as Spice God, Zachary.HTML, Scylla, Juan, Xan Beats, Meccah Maloh, Jsystematik, Duff Smith, Riicflairmadeit, Cullen, No B, Thatguyeli, Shogun Hua, Conwy, and Smitty all showcased what they do. CameOne, Mocha Cash, and Rowan (replaced by Twan Mack mid-competition) judged.

The competition brought fierce energy all night as rounds progressed, but eventually it squared down between Cullen and Meccah Maloh. Ultimately, Meccah Maloh prevailed.

“The energy was incredible,” Maloh said post-battle. “The crowd really enjoyed the performance and that’s what it’s really about. If you wow the crowd, you wow the judges.”

Maloh describes the intensity he felt as he went head-to-head against Godxilla in the first round.

“I was worried about him. The first beat I played the sound wasn’t really there and we had technical difficulties, but the second beat I played the crowd really showed me a lot of love. From there I kind of knew what everybody else was doing and felt like I had a shot. I’m very confident in my beat selection and what I’ve made. I was honestly really concerned because Godxilla got into it last minute – the person I was supposed to be going against in the first round backed out and got replaced with Godxilla. For me to go against a Milwaukee legend like that is crazy, and for me to advance to the second round is amazing. I got so much respect for Godxilla. He’s a champion – like he’s won many battles across the country, so for me to knock him out was shocking.”

In a heartfelt moment after winning, Meccah Maloh said he was given a beat pad by his friend Demaryl Howard after getting released from the county jail this past December.

“The plan was to make beats for my album, since I’ve been making beats. When I got out I was looking at videos and I’ve been hip to Trizzy Track, BeatsbyJblack, Lisa Vasquez…I was like “damn, let me try doing that too.” I tried my hand at pad drumming and it was easy for me to make that transition because I’ve been playing drums since I was five years old. My main thing with the beat battles is really to give you a performance, and I think that’s what adds to the whole thing. Every single battle I’ve been in, me and whoever has the machine make it to the final round.”

Now that he emerged victorious, Meccah Maloh talks about what’s next.

“Now it’s about placements – I’m trying to take a page out of CameOne’s book with production placements…possibly more battles too but for now I’m trying to relax. October was crazy – I’m gonna spend time with my family and my girl and take a breather. I think my next battle is in St. Louis with Fresh Produce. I’ve also got an album coming out – I got a single called “Protest” out soon too. I got some jewels and gems for the people over my own beats, so now I’m buckling down and focusing on my music.”

Thank you to everyone that competed, came out, and helped put everything together – we look forward to the next installment!

VIDEO: Twan Mack – “Main Concern” (Premiere)

This is one purely for the hip hop heads. Twan Mack is back with a new single and video, and “Main Concern” will get you nodding along with every bar. If you’ve been around Twan in a live setting, you likely know that he’s liable to beatbox when the moment presents itself, and that forms the beat for the new single. Mack also brings some street wisdom to the bars, with lines about apathy towards a flashy lifestyle, and only being concerned with himself and his money. The video from Abacus Haley is a play on the Brady Bunch intro, and the two get extra creative when they collaborate. Twan Mack has been making plenty of moves as late, and it doesn’t appear that he’s slowing down any time soon. Check out the premiere of the new single and video here:

AUDIO: Platinum Boys – “Raw Romance”

Surprise! Power pop band Platinum Boys announced a new album, “Raw Romance” on Thursday, and it’s out today. The new release is ten tracks of the no-frills rock and roll sound that elevated the band to their status in the city’s music scene. As opener and first single “Happens All The Time” indicates, the band doesn’t play around when it comes to the songs that make up this album, giving you tracks that are essentially pop singles with the tempo taken all the way up. There’s plenty to bop your head along with on “Raw Romance”, and you can check out the album below:

AUDIO: Zed Kenzo – “Not Froze Yet”

Zed Kenzo is back with a new single, and she’s getting more melodic with the new track, “Not Froze Yet”. As the title would suggest, the song is about not having her money in order, and the pressures that come with it. Zed takes to some spacey production to show off her more melodic side, though, with a hybrid flow that sounds like it’s partially sung, giving way to a full-voiced hook. The new single is the fourth track removed from her “Baby Swag” EP that came out earlier this year, and considering she was only sporadically putting out music leading up to the rollout for that project, 2019 has shown a lot of growth for Zed as an artist. Check out her latest with “Not Froze Yet” below:

VIDEO: Mr. Nice Guy With LUXI

One of our contributors, Ben Slowey, is more than on top of the local music scene. In addition to his work for Breaking And Entering, he also hosts the Mr. Nice Guy podcast, an interview-based show that reaches out to Milwaukeeans for conversations about what motivates them. Many of these shows fittingly involve the local music scene, and we’ll be sharing some of them here as well.

For this episode, Ben sat down with electropop artist and video game programmer LUXI, whose most recent album “Ode to the Lavender Moon” came out in August. Also earlier this year she dropped the EP “Songs to Let Go Of” and the soundtrack album “Stolen Hearts” which has an accompanying video game. They discussed not fitting in growing up, our favorite video games, LUXI’s evolution as a songwriter, her “virtual gallery” she has been developing, and her game programming. Applications for the virtual gallery are open now, and the video games LUXI has created are available on her website. You can check out more episodes of Mr. Nice Guy on YouTube, and check out this interview below: