By Jenny Bootle

Sufjan Stevens

In 2008, I moved from England to Wisconsin, to a town an hour away from the Illinois border. I packed my belongings into two suitcases and went to join the one other person I knew there. On the plane I listened to the song “Chicago” on repeat and over the next couple of years “Illinois” was my driving soundtrack as I watched the highway pass beneath me. One day I drove over a bridge named after Casimir Pulaski (see track list for significance) and it felt like stepping into somebody else’s footprints. It means that now the album "Illinois" will always feel like a part of myself.

by Lisa Adamowicz Kless

© 2011 Hyperdrive Motivator Productions

“I was born an MC/ Check the initials”, challenges the tag line for Melissa’s Czarnik’s Twitter account, and far be it for me to argue that point. If there’s any one word that I’d use to describe the Milwaukee, WI based artist, it's 'genuine'. It comes across in the self-described emcee and poet’s work, and carries through when you meet Czarnik in person. 

Czarnik turned up the heat on claiming her MC birthright when she was a teenager, writing poetry during her high school years, though not taking it very seriously at first. Then, she got a mic in her hand.  At parties, people would freestyle and pass the mic, and Czarnik took her talent for rhyme and flow and jumped right in. The rest, like they say, is history. Except in this case; that was just one of the first sparks igniting Czarnik’s future, and now it’s blazing brighter with each passing year.

Moving in the circles of Milwaukee’s underground hip hop scene, providence seemed to step in when Czarnik met her current producer, frequent collaborator and partner, Eric Mire.  A classically trained pianist with a degree in music composition, he was producing a hip hop group at that time.  Even after meeting, Mire wasn’t able to collaborate with Czarnik on any music at that point though, because he was still working with the other group. She was, however, able to use some of his equipment to play around and create her own beats. Their collaboration took root when circumstances changed and he was able to produce beats and music for Czarnik himself.

                           

While it’s one thing for artists to preach social change and a positive message, it’s a whole different situation to go out and actually live it once the spotlight is off and the crowd has gone home. So back we go to my earlier statement that Czarnik is the real deal all the way. It was during her work in AmeriCorps that she released her first album, Strawberry Cadillac. AmeriCorps is a youth program in the United States that operates on a principle similar to the Peace Corps. Czarnik’s work was concentrated in education and environmentalism, focusing on alleviating poverty through education, and using music to address more serious issues.  That first album took social issues head on, with rapid fire lyrics talking about the portrayal of women in rap, hip hop and the media, political commentary, and back down the spectrum to more personal topics.   The beats and instrumental aspects of Strawberry Cadillac (and its follow-up) remind me of the pure joy of dipping into watercolors and mixing the shades just to see what will happen.  There's a hint of Latin influence, streaks of jazz, bold rhymes, and softer touches where Czarnik's voice mingles with the delicate sound of a piano's keys.

                           
                  
After the release of Strawberry Cadillac, Czarnik played local shows, with the Eric Mire Band sometimes backing her and lending their soulful jazz influence to her sets and some recorded songs.  When the opportunity to do shows in places like New York and even venues in Europe came up, she hopped on a plane and used some of the experiences as inspiration for material for her next album, Raspberry Jesus, the title of which actually comes from a conversation she and Mire had during one of those trips to Europe.  Czarnik's desire to speak up and inspire positive change shone through again on that album, with more glimpses into the artist's life, thoughts, struggles and perseverance.  In April, she'll be heading back to Europe once more, this time with the unique opportunity to live as an artist in residence in France for two months, where she'll work on her third album, Non Merci.


If you scroll down the song list on my iPod, you'll find a few hip hop and rap songs (besides Czarnik's), but I'll admit that they're not my top favorite genres.  Czarnik's music has resonated with me since I first heard it though.  Genuine.  Yes--that word again.  If I had to limit my reasons for being a Melissa Czarnik fan, I'd choose that one over any others.  She doesn't shy away from talking about pain in her past (a frequent topic in her songs is the loss of her brother, Aaron, who passed away when she was eighteen years old), self doubt and the fleeting desire to give up when it all feels like a little too much to deal with.  But with Czarnik, hardship becomes a catalyst to reach out and inspire others to use the challenges in their lives to create positive change.  When she sets foot in Europe again next month, I can't imagine a better artistic ambassador from the U.S. than Czarnik.  Embodying some of the best qualities that we as a whole can possess---kindness, strength and compassion, among others---I'm glad that her music and its messages have expanded  beyond the local area to stretch out across the ocean.  In her song "Been This Way" from Raspberry Jesus, Czarnik says "...how do you know if you've been to the top if you ain't never touched the bottom? Doin' my best to never be forgotten...".  If the progression of her career so far is any indication, Czarnik doesn't have to worry.  All she needs to do is hold tight to the goals and dreams she's already been turning into reality and keep on enjoying the ascent.

To see more photos, watch additional videos, read her blog, get information on upcoming shows and more, go to www.melissaczarnik.com.  You can also find her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/melissaczarnik and on Twitter.

by Tony Ramos

Sometimes a tune hits your ears and triggers something in you that cannot be described.  Maybe it's the singer's voice, maybe it's the melody of a chorus, maybe it's the combination of chords and notes; something about music can reach a listener that makes them absolutely connected to the artist.  Several years ago I was connected to a tune entitled "The Pills Stopped Working" by the band Hem.  And for me it was everything: the voice, the melody, the notes.  This was a band whose music and voice were completely seamless, a group of musicians that, without a doubt, belonged together.

Steve Curtis, Gary Maurer, Sally Ellyson, Dan Messé

Hem is an indie folk-rock band from New York City whose core members include Sally Ellyson (vocals), Dan Messé (piano, accordion, glockenspiel), Gary Maurer (guitar, mandolin), and Steve Curtis (guitar, mandolin, banjo, back-up vocals).  The extended members include George Rush (bass guitar), Mark Brotter (drums), Bob Hoffnar (pedal steel guitar), and Heather Zimmerman (violin).

The distinct voice comes from the magical vocal cords of Sally Ellyson.  There's no mistaking her voice. Her range alone is amazing, and what she contributes to a song is pure magic.  A simple line becomes extraordinary through her heartfelt voice.

Sally Ellyson

And, fortunately, Ellyson is backed up by one of the most flawless bands.  Together they create music both humble and elegant.  Categorized as a folk-rock band, Hem eases into progressive country music.  They're able to perform country standards and make them their own, as well as produce original tunes that would dumbfound any country super star.

They also have an incredible ear for choosing music to cover.  Listening to their version of "South Central Rain" (originally written by REM) is something to awe.  Ellyson's voice accompanied by the band is heartbreakingly beautiful; they bring an authenticity to this track that makes you wonder if they were the actual authors.  This natural authenticity is evident in all of their music, helping make them universal enough to play in any relaxed setting but innovative enough to study.

studio album covers

To date, they've released four studio albums, three EPs, and several compilations including Twelfth Night, an album written for a stage production during the annual Shakespeare in the Park (in New York's Central Park).  Because of their consistently strong releases, there really is no one album that should be a starting point for new fans.  Pick any of their albums at random and you'll be amazed.