Music Therapy with Jessica Risker

The Obsession of Salami Rose Joe Louis

Salami Rose Joe Louis has a killer new album out called "Akousmatikous" (via Flying Lotus' Brainfeeder Records) and I am a massive fan.  She is fantastically creative, thoughtful, and incredibly nice.
We dig into the perils of obsessively working on music, how she approached the concept of the album, her creative and recording process, social media, AI, "authenticity", and a ton more. 
We also listen to two tracks off her new album: "Akousmatikous" and "Dimcola Reprise".
 
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Visit musictherapypodcast.com for session notes, past episodes, and upcoming events!
Music Therapy Podcast Credits: 
Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago. 
Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.
Taped April 2023
Ep 118
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Join us on the Music Therapy Discord! or Facebook Group!
 
 
 
 

The Power of Others: Group Psychology, Groupthink, and Fandom with author Michael Bond

Humans are group-ish beings!  Whether it's your family, your friends, your band, your artist community, your country, etc., we all belong to groups.  Whether we realize it or not, groups have a powerful impact on our own thoughts and behaviors.
In this episode of Music Therapy, I talk with science writer and journalist Michael Bond, author of "The Power of Others: Peer Pressure, Groupthink, and How the People Around Us Shape Everything We Do" and his newest book "Fans: A Journey Into the Psychology of Belonging". 
We explore the many ways we're impacted by groups, the forces that make a group healthy and communicative, and the insular, destructive echo chambers of groupthink.
This is a fascinating conversation that had me thinking for days - and I'm sure you'll find it fascinating, too.
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Songs included in episode: "Flowers on the Water" and "Better Not Lose Her" by Pretty Horse
Visit https://www.michaelbond.co.uk/
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Visit musictherapypodcast.com for session notes, past episodes, and upcoming events!
Music Therapy Podcast Credits: 
Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago. 
Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.
Taped May 2023
Ep 117
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Join us on the Music Therapy Discord! or Facebook Group!
 

Dan Rico and The Seductiveness of Pastiche

How do you honor your idols without being derivative?  How do you start over in a new (york) city? 
This week on Music Therapy I sit down with Dan Rico, a Chicago DIY scene fixture who moved to New York City right before the pandemic hit.  
We get into creativity, live band recordings vs virtual instruments, SXSW takeaways, quitting drinking, finding a new music community in NYC, impostor syndrome, and lots more.
We also listen to a couple of new fantastic tracks from Dan: "Conceited" and " Hit and Run" plus a special bonus track "Better Company" that Dan and I collaborated on. 
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Dan Rico is a songwriter, guitar player, and multi-instrumentalist from Chicago, IL living In Brooklyn, NY. Rico is a writes music and performs in the Surf rock group High Waisted and plays guitar in the grunge band Dropper, who just got back from South by South West. Rico also releases music under his own name, collating inspirations as disparate as Prince, T Rex, Os Mutantes, and Taylor Swift.
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Visit musictherapypodcast.com for session notes, past episodes, and upcoming events!
Music Therapy Podcast Credits: 
Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago. 
Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.
Taped April 2023
Ep 116
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Join us on the Music Therapy Discord! or Facebook Group!

Love Is The New Cool with Joka No Joke

Chicago's Joka No Joke is a self-proclaimed "rap therapist" with a brand-new mixtape called "Recess". 
In this episode of Music Therapy, we dig into the new-found freedom and playfulness Joka experienced while creating the album.   We touch on his creative process, tapping into his inner child, his "New Cool" philosophy, reflections and changes in his life through the pandemic,  how fatherhood has impacted Joka, and the importance of order.
We go deep but keep it moving!  It's refreshing and inspiring to hear how Joka's relationship with music has evolved over the years. 
Tracks featured in episode: "Reloaded" and "Order" by Joka No Joke. 
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Visit musictherapypodcast.com for session notes, past episodes, and upcoming events!
Music Therapy Podcast Credits: 
Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago. 
Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.
Ep 115
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Join us on the Music Therapy Discord! or Facebook Group!
 

Healthy Touring Tips (mmmm Arby’s)

The van's full of gas, the drums fit, and there's hope in your eyes!
Until
Arby's is getting old, you want a shower, and too much beer is taking a toll.
Touring can be amazing! But it's rarely the healthiest time of your life. 
So we got four experienced touring musicians to share how to make touring healthier. 
We cover:
Sleep
Diet 
Drugs/alcohol
Keeping up with relationships back home
How to keep band communication open
Finances
Essential things to bring on tour
And more!  Featuring musicians Eric Novak, John Garrison, Eli Winter, and Lizzie No
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Visit musictherapypodcast.com for session notes, past episodes, and upcoming events!
Music Therapy Podcast Credits: 
Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago. 
Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.
Ep 114
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Join us on the Music Therapy Discord! or Facebook Group!

If I Could Just ____ My Life Would Be Great!

Does social media make you feel like crap?  Are you wondering why other artists are getting the press / shows / labels that you're not getting?
Today we dig into some of the more negative feelings that can arise for artists - especially when we compare ourselves to other musicians. 
Jealousy / comparison / envy / resentment can feel bad, but it's telling you something!  And, we can listen to those feelings, and actually make them useful!
On today's episode of Music Therapy, Jessica talks with therapist Rachael Jones all about how to listen to those feelings, understand them deeply, and then make an action plan that gets you what you want - in a way that aligns with your personal values. 
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Rachael Jones is a licensed marriage and family therapist practicing in the Chicagoland area who works with individuals, couples, and families. Rachael’s work often centers on helping clients to deepen their understanding of themselves, their relationships, and their families, identifying what is and isn’t working well for them, and using this new found understanding to create meaningful change.
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Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events!
Music Therapy Podcast Credits: 
Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago. 
Interstitial music by David Yontz. Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.
Ep 113
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Join us on the Music Therapy Discord! or Facebook Group!

Should You Date Ur Bandmate??

Today, for a special Valentine's Day episode, we answer a question that has plagued musicians for thousands of years: Should you date your bandmate?
We talk to three musicians about their experience dating bandmates. 
Leslie Tanner also drops by with a few words of wisdom.  
If you have dated a bandmate or are considering dating a bandmate, this episode's for you!
Featuring Steve Malden (Sofas), Danielle Sines (Impulsive Hearts), and Emily Jane Powers + Alec Harryhausen (Dream Version).
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Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events!
Music Therapy Podcast Credits: 
Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago. 
Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.
Ep 112
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Join us on the Music Therapy Discord! or Facebook Group!
 
 

Music’s Mental Health Crisis with Jenn Pelly of Pitchfork

In December of 2022, Pitchfork published an article, written by Jenn Pelly, called "Confronting Music's Mental Health Crisis".  This article was passed around widely on the internet; obviously, it resonated with many musicians. 
 
Jenn and I dig deeper into her article, discussing her research and takeaways, bits that she left out of the article, and consider what role Pitchfork can serve regarding artists' mental health.  
 
We also identify resources for artists and offer concrete ways you can support mental health services. 
 
Song featured in episode: "Help Me, Help Me" by Jessica Risker
 
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Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events!
Music Therapy Podcast Credits: 
Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago. 
Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.
Ep 111
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Join us on the Music Therapy Discord! or Facebook Group!
 

Artistic Jealousy (with Ben Stover of Popcorn Psychology)

Jealousy is tough emotion, but can it be useful??
In this episode of Music Therapy, I chat with therapist/musician Ben Stover - who also co-hosts the Popcorn Psychology podcast -  all about Artistic Jealousy. 
We look a the ways it can manifest, how social media leads us to comparison and jealousy, and what you can do about it. 
If you've ever felt envious of someone else's success or talent, sit back and face the feeling with us - and see how you can turn your jealousy into productivity in this episode of Music Therapy. 
Join us on the Music Therapy Discord!  https://discord.gg/htZM5QpBC3
Song featured in episode: "Hangin with the Boys in the Enchanted Forest" by eternal goofball David Yontz 
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Visit musictherapypodcast.com for show notes, past episodes, and upcoming events!
Music Therapy Podcast Credits: 
Music Therapy is hosted by Jessica Risker, produced by Sullivan Davis of Local Universe, and engineered by Joshua Wentz in Chicago. 
Opening and closing music composed by Joshua Wentz.
Ep 110
 

Episode 109: Asi Asi (Group Session!)

Así Así is a Mexican/American band from Chicago, IL.  In August 2022, the band released their debut album, “Mal de Otros”, where Así Así blends rock, dance, and Latin themes together to form oftentimes haunting, yet upbeat and catchy songs. 
On this episode of Music Therapy, taped live at Cafe Mustache, Jessica sits down with the full band to talk about work/art balance, how they create music together, mental health, and lots more!
Featuring a live performance by the band and a special guest appearance by Leslie Tanner!
 
Join the Music Therapy Discord!  https://discord.gg/htZM5QpBC3