A Synthpop Souvenir: POP ETC

Pop-Etc-2“‘Cause the future’s getting better all the time,” sings Christopher Chu, lead singer and guitarist of POP ETC, on the band’s new album Souvenir. With sold out shows across the country and singles earning over one million streams on Spotify, these words could not ring truer for the rising indie rock trio.

Originally known as The Morning Benders, the band experienced a shift in location, lineup, and sound when they officially changed their name to POP ETC in 2012. Inspired by music of the 1980s, POP ETC excels at reviving the characteristic synthpop and new wave of the decade while still maintaining a modern and fresh 21st century sound.

Liz Webb with Chris Chu of POP ETC.

Liz Webb with Chris Chu of POP ETC.

On January 29, Souvenir‘s worldwide release date, Liz Webb spoke at length with Chris before the band’s sold out show at The Bowery Ballroom in New York City.

Chris discusses his admiration for the late, great David Bowie, the powerful, “opposite of Oasis” dynamic between him and his keyboardist brother, and the three year process of recording and producing their new album straight from their Brooklyn apartment.

Check out the interview below to hear selections from Souvenir and to discover more about the unique style of POP ETC.

 

 

The Interview

POP ETC, Host: Liz Webb, recorded Jan. 29, 2016, originally aired Feb. 23, 2016.
30:00
28.8MB

The Music

Artist Song Album Year
POP ETC What Am I Becoming? Souvenir 2016
POP ETC Keep It for Your Own POP ETC 2012
POP ETC Vice Souvenir 2016
POP ETC I’m Only Dreaming Souvenir 2016

 

Let’s Run Away: Hanna Paige Live

Hanna Paige at WVUD

Newark’s own Hanna Page performed live for The Music Room on July 14, 2015

Grounded in gentle song spinning and a keenness for acoustic guitar, Hanna Paige treated us to some of her original music on the Music Room. The sixteen year old Newark native is sweet and locally grown, a young talent that has frequented local cafes and festivals for the past three years. Hanna showcased her soft melodies live in studio, playing both guitar and ukelele and offering up thoughts on her lyrical choices, her love for Ed Sheeran, and the Delaware music scene in general.  She led us through her debut EP, Let’s Run Awaywhich is the published product of much tinkering and performing.

We were happy to be part of Hanna Paige’s first radio appearance and look forward to cheering her along as she continues to mature and produce songs for guitar… and maybe she’ll even tackle loop pedal soon.

The Interview

Hanna Paige
32:00
30.7 MB
(Note: Due to copyright considerations, the podcast contains an excerpt of the Ed Sheeran song Hanna performed.)

The Music 

The following music is heard in this episode of The Music Room:

Artist / Song / Album (or source) / Date / Notes

Hanna Paige / Without You/ Let’s Run Away EP / 2015

Hanna Paige / Alone / Live WVUD performance / 2015

Hanna Paige/ Even My Dad Does Sometimes / Live WVUD performance / 2015 / Ed Sheeran cover (Excerpt in podcast)

Hanna Paige / You and Me / Live WVUD performance / 2015

Hanna Paige / Your Eyes / Live WVUD performance / 2015

More about Hanna Paige:

https://soundcloud.com/hanna-paige-music

http://hannapaigemusic.com

Herb Alpert: A Visual Road Trip

H&L sitting by Gerry WershHerb Alpert and his wife Lani Hall are certainly living life to the fullest. He has a collection in the ACA Galleries in NYC (2/19-4/14); she’s written her own book, Emotional Memoirs and Short Stories. She’s participated in the latest James Bond film; he’s worked as the producer for Angels in America.

But they definitely met in music; as the co-founder of A&M Records, he signed her group Brasil ’66, where she was the lead singer. And to say they’re still in music would be a massive understatement.

They have both won multiple Grammy Awards, and Herb Alpert, with whom we spoke tonight, has more recently been awarded the National Medal of Arts (2013).

As early as 1962 with The Lonely Bull, his jazz music has been described as visual, taking his listeners on a journey to exotic places. And in his most recent album, In the Mood, his version of “America the Beautiful” incorporates percussion music from all the continents.

We also talked about his brief acting stint with Leonard Nimoy, his new version of the classic “Chatanooga Choo Choo,” the grants offered by the Herb Alpert Foundation, his approach to music throughout his life, and the many roles he’s had in the music business (Did you know he was one of the  co-writers of  Sam Cooke’s “Wonderful World”?).

He and Lani are currently on tour, in a small group with whom they’ve been working for the past 9 years…and they are coming to Delaware.

This Friday, 3/27/15, they will be at the Grand Opera House, in Wilmington. Do. Not. Miss.

The Interview

Herb Alpert
(Recorded 03/23/15, broadcast 3/24/15; host: Mandorichard), 22:27, 21.6 MB.

The Music

The following music is heard in this episode of The Music Room:
The following playlist reflects the radio broadcast. For the podcast, for copyright reasons, all the following songs are excerpts.

  • Artist / Song / Album (or note) / Date / Notes
  • Herb Alpert / Chatanooga Choo Choo / In the Mood / 2014
  • Herb Alpert and Lani Hall / Under my Skin / Anything Goes / 2009
  • Sam Cooke / Wonderful World (Excerpt) / Single / 1959
  • Herb Alpert / When Sunny Gets Blue / In the Mood / 2014

Photo by Gerry Wersh, provided to WVUD by G4 Global Communications