DONATE
Back to: Cultural Manifesto
Listen
Neko Case discusses her new album, Spotify, and the influence of Umm Kulthum
January 21, 2026
Neko Case is a critically acclaimed singer-songwriter known for her distinctive voice and genre-defying albums. She discussed her new album, “Neon Grey Midnight Green,” and her upcoming performance in Indiana with WFYI’s Kyle Long.
Jazz bassist and beatmaker Brandon Meeks reflects on his roots in Indiana
January 14, 2026
Listen to an interview with Brandon Meeks, an Indianapolis–based jazz bassist, bandleader and hip-hop producer, widely recognized as a key figure in the city’s contemporary jazz scene. He is best known for his work with acclaimed saxophonist Rob Dixon and as a member of the hip-hop jazz trio Native Sun.
Beatmaker Scott Matelic on the evolution of his soulful, psychedelic hip-hop sound
January 7, 2026
Scott Matelic is an Indianapolis-born hip-hop producer and DJ whose sound emerges from the crate-digging traditions of DJ culture, blending sample-based production with soulful textures and psychedelic atmospheres. He discusses his new album Dead Weightt with Kyle Long at WFYI studios.
Remembering Indiana musicians who died in 2025
December 31, 2025
Join us as we honor some of the notable Indiana musicians and music figures who passed away in 2025. These are artists who shaped funk, rock, music education, and global psychedelia — including Gray Babson, DeMorris Smith, Ron Hedrick, Toby Myers, Gladys Stone Wright, and Stan Denski.
Standout moments and releases by Indiana musicians in 2025
December 17, 2025
Listen back to the moments and releases that shaped Indiana music in 2025, from long-overdue archival discoveries to new Hoosier artists breaking out on the national stage.
Justin Bland looks back on the history of Made Man Improv
December 17, 2025
Justin Bland is the creator and host of Made Man Improv, a popular improv comedy showcase based in Indianapolis. Under his direction, Made Man Improv has built a loyal audience and a recognizable brand within the local arts scene. But after years of sold-out performances, Bland is ending the Made Man Improv series this month.
Ricky Skaggs discusses Christmas music, The Grand Ole Opry and the legacy of Bill Monroe
December 10, 2025
Listen to a conversation with the virtuoso multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and bandleader, Ricky Skaggs. Born in Kentucky in 1954, Skaggs has played a central role in shaping modern bluegrass and country music. A child prodigy, he first performed on stage with Bill Monroe at age six, and at age seven, he appeared on national television with Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs.
40 Indiana guitarists every Hoosier should know: Evansville, Indiana’s Jackie Clark
December 10, 2025
This is the first edition of a new Cultural Manifesto segment titled “40 Indiana Guitar Pioneers That Every Hoosier Should Know,” featuring the Evansville, Indiana guitarist Jackie Clark. He played and recorded with some of the greatest legends in rock and R&B music, including Ike and Tina Turner, Iggy Pop, Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones, and Bobby Womack.
ARCHIVES: A Tribute to Vivian Carter
December 4, 2025
This archived episode from 2021 pays tribute to one of the co-founders of the legendary Vee-Jay Records, Vivian Carter. Vee-Jay Records is considered to be the most successful Black-owned record label of the pre-Motown era.
Indiana composer Landon Caldwell on his explorations in experimental sound
December 3, 2025
Landon Caldwell is a multidisciplinary artist and composer based in Indianapolis. His music blends experimental composition, improvisation, and ambient textures to create spaces that invite reflection and deep listening.
Celebrating National Native American Heritage Month
November 26, 2025
Listen to a special episode celebrating National Native American Heritage Month. Learn how Native American musicians are reinventing traditional culture in the 21st Century, featuring interviews with the experimental pow wow group Medicine Singers, and the hip-hop artist Supaman.
ARCHIVE: Felix Contreras, host of NPR's Alt Latino
November 19, 2025
Host of NPR's Alt Latino Felix Contreras talks with Kyle Long about Latino identity and what inspires his show on this archived segment from 2016.
View More Articles
Support WFYI. We can't do it without you.