Experienced music journalist covering Chicago’s evolving music scene through in-depth artist interviews and feature stories. Skilled at developing compelling narratives, building connections with artists, and spotlighting emerging and established talent across digital publications.
DJ Iggy: Global Now, Chicago Forever
Best described as a down-to-earth Chicago native whose skill exceeds his modest nature, Ignacio Ceja, more commonly known as DJ IGGY, has a reputation for transcending party-goers to the pulsating realm of music. With an innate ability to read the crowd's energy and an unwavering passion for leaving his audience with effervescent memories, he reigns supreme as an innovator in Chicago’s nightlife scene.
Making It Out of Retrograde with Ebony Loren
The expression “walk before you run,” or in this case, “speak before you sing,” never applied to acoustic-pop artist Ebony Loren, who discovered her singer-songwriter capabilities at the early age of five. Originally from Milwaukee, the Chicago-based musician is using the city’s diverse music scene as her playground to expand on the jazz and R&B elements she flawlessly blends into each of her projects.
In Hunter Amazing’s Room and Mind
Solitude can be followed by a range of emotions: comfort, boredom, and perhaps even the inevitable, loneliness. For Chicago artist Hunter Amazing, the pandemic allotted her much-needed reflection during the state of isolation we all fell victim to these past few years. Through savoring the time spent with herself and her innate knack for creating, Hunter delivered a body of work that would later set her up for her producer debut with her sophomore album in my room 2.
MP3DotCom Goes Live
Look alive: Mp3dotcom is delivering a sound you’ve never heard. Years of friendship and collaboration have resulted in the assembly of Chicago-based creatives, including Hunter Borowick, Lateef Bridgewater (Cldwaterr), Aubry Dupiton (WhoIsAubry), Christian Graves (Graves!), Devenere Johnson, Dontay Lockett (Don0rphan), Simon Lundquist, Micah Miller, Armand Rome (Mugen! The Human), Mohit Sengupta, Seye Soyebo, Ally Thomas, and Bennett Watson. An entirely in-house operation, the collective features rappers, vocalists, producers, designers, and more.
Sacred Rose Fest 2022
For its inaugural debut, Sacred Rose is bringing Americana, Psych-rock, Jam, Indie, Soul, Funk, and Bluegrass performances to Chicagoland’s SeatGeek Stadium Campus with performances from Phil Lesh & Friends, The War On Drugs, Yves Tumor, Liz Cooper, Danielle Ponder, and more next weekend. Decades of involvement in booking and hosting events across Chicago and founding festivals such as North Coast, Hulaween, and Summer Camp, have led SACRED ROSE organizers to design a weekend catered to music-lovers.
Happy Hollyy-Days
Hollyy, the Chicago-based alternative group notable for their infusion of blues and jazz, will take Sleeping Village’s stage next Friday, December 17. Crediting Sharon Jones, Lee Fields & The Expressions, and Otis Redding as a few of their favored artists, they’re bringing an evening of retro-rock intermixed with soul at the first-ever Hollyy-Days.