Bending Brains

#38 - Chloe Chanel

Chloé Chanel is a Chicago native and creative artist specializing in visuals and music.

Chloe’s creative journey began in childhood as she participated in theater, band and dance from the age of eight all the way into adulthood. She was first introduced to photography as a college sophomore when she joined a campus fashion/ modeling troupe and fell in love with capturing images. A few years after earning her masters degree in education and working as a teacher for four years, Chloé made the decision to leave the education field and pursue her more creative passions.

Today, you can find her creating album art, shooting at shows and live events, capturing portraits, mixing beats, and creating amazing visuals with her unique style. She is currently servicing clients in her hometown of Chicago, as well as the Phoenix Metro area. Chloe’s art studio, Art Lab Chicago, is a space where she invites others to come collaborate, explore and experiment with their creativity. Her lifelong passion for the arts is what inspired her to share that passion with others and create a safe space for upcoming artists.

#37 - DrxQuinnx and Lil Kydd

DrxQuinnx is a multi-talented artist, producer, emcee, and DJ based out if Chicago. He is also one third of the Midwest trio "Bullies" (with Denmark Vessey and Azarias) and one half of the Chicago duo "The Citizen (with Lil Kydd). Growing up, Quinn was heavily influences were Madlib, Kanye West, J Dilla, Lupe Fiasco, and Mos Def to name a few. All of whom inspired his heavily samples production and rap style. DrxQuinnx is known for his unorthodox rap and production style which melds 90s boombap/breakbeat, jazz, 8 bit, edm, and contemporary sounds.

Lil Kydd is a rapper, beat producer, visual artist and graphic designer from out of Hazel Crest, IL. His approach to music and art takes the four tenets of hip hop and uses them to portray his evolving view of his surroundings. Taking elements of Chicago Juke, Jazz, Trap, Trip Hop, Deconstructed Boom Bap, and a few nods to anime, gaming, and internet culture sprinkled in and it’s the formula for the Lil Kydd!? sound. Having been born in the South Side of Chicago and relocated to its Southern Suburbs as a youth, Lil Kydd!? likes to think he has a faraway seat to the epicenter of what he maintains is the second renaissance of Hip Hop.

#36 - Joshua Powell

Joshua Powell is an artist from Indianapolis with a literate brand of psychedelic indie rock that is simultaneously socially conscious and spiritually turbulent. With over 900 shows under his belt, Powell blends the narrative richness of folk with a dose of hallucinatory swirl and notes of ‘00s-vintage bedroom indie, all highlighted in ethereal falsetto by his purposeful, kaleidoscopic poetry.

#35 - Kyle Lang

Kyle Lang is an Illinois musician who has fronted bands Easter and Special Death.

#34 - Damon Hankoff

Damon Hankoff is a multifarious musician, making music in a wide variety of settings: improvisational ensembles, early music consorts, string bands, church choirs, straightahead singer-songwriter groups, and his own Out of Sight of Land, an ever-evolving songs project that draws on all of these. He was born and raised in New York City and has trained hard on jazz piano and choral singing, but looks forward towards the mystery.

#33 - Bobby Wooten

Bobby Wooten III is a Grammy & Emmy-nominated, Tony Award-winning composer/producer/instrumentalist raised in Chicago, IL. He  credits his family’s gospel Wooten Choral Ensemble as his main influence & inspiration. Bobby has performed and/or recorded with David Byrne, Jennifer Lopez, Mac Miller, Jennifer Hudson, Rick Ross, among others. Composition and Production credits include Empire TV series, Google, Adidas, Lebron James, Machine Gun Kelly, Jake Troth, ESPN, among others. Broadway credits include, Moulin Rouge! & David Byrne's American Utopia. Bobby is an instructor at NYU's Clive Davis Institute

In 2020, Bobby launched the internet series "America, Learn Your History". In 2 minute episodes, he retells history as seen through a minorites lens. Revisiting stories that have been misunderstood, misled, or lied upon in American education. @americalearnyourhistory @bobbywooten3

#32 - Lola Ullfig

Lola Ullfig is an Argentinian woman who has spent her life seeing the world and enjoying the little things that big us joy as humans. She is a beautiful mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her life story is very unique and a reminder to be thankful for the little things all around you. To focus on what makes you happy and to be honest with all of your intentions. Most importantly, Lola is a shining example of staying youthful, healthy, and to never stop moving.

#31 - Chris Lee

Chris Lee is a musician, sound tech, and gardener. He runs the DIY venue/recording studio The VCR, heads a small label called Dark Circles Records, and plays in the bands Beastii & Bloodhype. He also releases solo material as Alchemeleon, helps mod the DIY Chicago Facebook page, and runs live sound for music performances around the Chicagoland area.

#30 - Ness Heads

Ness Heads is the name of the genre-blending project of Vanessa Ortiz whose mix of Electronic, Pop and Hip Hop has been catching attention in Chicago and beyond. Ness grew up on the West Side and attributes the noise, the backyard parties and the overall chaos of the area to shaping her into an artist she is today.

#29 - Bora Bora

How’s this for the cast: “Bora Bora is the musical project of Paul Boeder. Originating in Chicago in 2014, bora bora’s music blends languages, styles and cultures from all eras to create a “tropical space-folk” repertoire of songs and sounds. He joins the pod to discuss multilingualism, experiential learning, societal paradigms, art through experimentation, evolutionary biology, inspiration and of course, love.