Chris Neiner (b. 1994) is a Cleveland-based composer of contemporary classical music with colorful harmony, diverse influences, and engaging energy. Neiner’s style derives from his passion to foster collaborative works with instrumentalists. His recent collaborations include Playtime, a new work for horn, violin, and piano, commissioned by a consortium of collegiate horn professors across the United States; and Serenade for the Ghosts, a phantasmic fantasy for clarinet and string quartet, commissioned by Musical Upcoming Stars in the Classics. His work has been praised by Cleveland Classical for "incorporating the zazzy colors of the current new music dialect," and "pleasant shocks and melting cadences." Currently, Neiner serves as a composition faculty and composer-in-residence at the Aurora School of Music in Aurora, Ohio.
       
The music of Chris Neiner has appeared on programs by the Grammy award-winning Cleveland Chamber Symphony, Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra, Minnesota Sinfonia, American Modern Ensemble, Boston New Music Initiative, Cochran Chamber Commissioning Project, Copper Street Brass Quintet, Red Hedgehog Trio, loadbang, Minnesota Symphonic Winds, Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies, Rocky Ridge Music Center, Sewanee Summer Music Festival, faculty of the MacPhail Center for Music, and more.
       
Beyond his collaborative work as a composer, Neiner is a producer and coordinator for several music events. In 2019, he served as the associate director, composer-in-residence, and conductor for Music in the Circle, a summer concert series facilitating collaboration between international artists and students, faculty, and alumni of the Cleveland Institute of Music. Other projects include Leora’s Reverie, a concert to benefit the One Voice Foundation by American-Israeli songwriter Katia Bolotin, and New Music for Horn, a multidisciplinary project that facilitated music making between hornists, composers, conductors, and recording artists studying at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.
       
Neiner has also gained a reputation as a highly sought-out arranger and copyist, working with organizations such as Reimagining Opera for Kids, the Vietnamese American Society for Creative Arts and Music (VASCAM), the Cleveland Institute of Music, and internationally recognized composer and trumpeter Anthony Plog.
       
Neiner completed a master's degree at the Cleveland Institute of Music, studying with Keith Fitch. Previously, he studied composition and horn performance at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music with composers Claude Baker, Aaron Travers, P. Q. Phan, Don Freund, and hornist Richard Seraphinoff. He is an alumnus of the Mostly Modern Festival, New Music on the Point Festival, RED NOTE New Music Festival, and the Oregon Bach Festival Composers Symposium.

Listening environment housed in the back room of Sisters bar & restaurant.

curated by @latenitesbookclub

sistersbklynmusic@gmail.com

Vancouver, Canada has always had a split musical personality, being home to both electronic/industrial bands such as Skinny Puppy and Front Line Assembly and bloody-knuckled DIY punks like DOA and SNFU. In Left Spine Down (also known simply as LSD), the two are fused into what LSD calls cyberpunk.

Formed by frontman Kaine Delay and guitarist Matt Girvan and later adding keyboardist Jeremy Inkel of Front Line Assembly, the band has no shortage of sonic firepower. Their sound is catchy yet abrasive, melodic yet fist-pumping, with detailed electronica-style programming and an "eff you" punk attitude.

The band's first EP, 2007's Smartbomb, met with a frenzied reception from fans and critics worldwide. Following on its heels in 2008 was their first full-length release, Fighting For Voltage, both produced by Chris Peterson.

2009 saw the band releasing two remix albums. The first, Voltage 2.3 Remixed & Revisited, featured remixes from legends and big hitters of the industrial scene including KMFDM, Tim Skold, Combichrist, Download, and The Birthday Massacre. The second, Smartbomb 2.3: The Underground Mixes, featured artists such as mind.in.a.box, Dismantled, Cyanotic, Decree, and Helalyn Flowers, just to name a few.

LSD has toured extensively: across Canada with SNFU; and North America with Al Jourgensen's Revolting Cocks in 2009 and again in 2010 with 16volt and Chemlab. 2010 also found a new heavy-hitting drummer joining Left Spine Down, Galen Waling.

As 2010 wound down, Left Spine Down hunkered down to spend the winter in the studio with industrial and alternative mastermind producer Dave "Rave" Ogilvie (Skinny Puppy, Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson) on a new album, Caution. Caution marks LSD’s debut on electronic powerhouse label Metropolis Records and it will be released in August 2011.

While working on Caution, Left Spine Down released a video for their cover of Joy Division’s "She's Lost Control" to Canada’s MuchMusic in January of 2011, directed by Troy Sobotka. The video’s debut on VampireFreaks.com racked up over 400,000 views in the first two weeks. LSD and Sobotka will pair up again for Caution’s lead video, “X-Ray.”

In late 2011, Skinny Puppy lead singer Nivek Ogre's side project ohGr announced a December 2011 West Coast USA and Canada tour consisting of nine performances supported by Left Spine Down.

In 2012, My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult announced their 25-year anniversary tour covering over 30 dates in the USA tour featuring direct support by Left Spine Down.

After the Back From Beyond Tour with My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult in 2012, the band took a hiatus to focus on other projects; Kaine Delay kept Left Spine Down active, with appearances both on stage and on record, by supporting major acts such as The Soft Moon and 3TEETH at local gigs, as well as efforts for cancer benefits, namely the Electronic Saviors compilation series and the annual Bowie Ball, a yearly tribute festival in Vancouver for charity in honour of fallen rock legend David Bowie, who died of Liver Cancer in 2016. Galen Waling went to join industrial legends the likes of PIG, Lords of Acid and En Esch (ex-KMFDM) across the world as a live drummer, Matt Girvan went on to work at a local venue while working on his own music, and Jeremy Inkel left the band in 2016, continuing to work with Front Line Assembly until his sudden death in January 2018. 

The band had announced a new lineup in 2021 and are hard at work on a "brutal" EP with Kurt Maas (Deny Your Maker). A new single is also currently in the works.

Kin Harris started his musical career at age 4, He played the bass clarinet and alto saxophone later Downer Junior high school. Kin, a child prodigy began learning, listening and writing music at an early age exceled quickly and with depth and maturity. His acumen for academics was revealed at the same time as his innate gift of music. Kin learned quickly and it became difficult for teachers to provide curriculum at the same pace. Kin’s fascination grew as he simultaneously played in the Symphonic, Concert, Jazz Band I, and Jazz Band II as well as the Marching Band all while attending high school. By this time Kin had mastered the wood winds and earned the moniker, ‘Killa.’  Killa, in that he knew music so well that he “killed” scores, notes and performances. His love of music led him to play in several other bands in Richmond, Oakland and San Francisco California (Bay Area).

Kin mastered wind instruments and entered the arena of professional singing at an early age. He was a backup singer and horn player for several (top) diverse groups in the Bay Area. Immediately after graduation he attended the University of California, Riverside. As soon as Kin moved into the dorms at U.C. Riverside, his horns were stolen. Kin felt discouraged and his desire to play any instrument quickly dissipated. He then turned to his other love, singing. He immediately joined the campus Gospel choir, “Kawasa.” He became one of the starring actors of the, “Shades of Black,” a theatre group directed by Dr. David L.Horne (Ph.D.). Kin excelled and helped the Shades of Black win national acclaim as second place winners in the National Association of Dramatic and Speech Arts (NASDA) in the “One Act Play,” competition. Kin later found himself acting and directing for the group. Kin was an integral part of the theatre group and took on many responsibilities humbly and without reservation. When asked to play a lead role in the acclaimed show, “Zooman and the Sign,” directed by Leonard Simon, he opted to play a supporting cast role to give others a chance to shine.

Kin knew music was an innate gift and he flourished in it. Finding himself yearning for his love to play,  at this time, he became a disc jockey for the U.C. Riverside campus radio station, The “Un Disco Kidd-Kin was skilled as a disc jockey and found himself becoming a household name in dorms, homes, U.C. Riverside campus’, as well as Southern California’s “Inland Empire”. Kin’s celebrity status rose as an original S.O.S. Crew member for the radio station. Kin met Herbert Partlow in the dorms at U. C. Riverside and the two embarked on a recording career that continues today. Kin has written several songs and had much collaboration with various artists such as Mac Dre and Coolio of the Country Club Crest (Vallejo, CA.). Kin had the pre-production duties of producing the song California Livin. Although you may not hear of him Kin was one of the originators of “Hyphy” music. Kin is known around the country and works with Dale Ramsey of Ram Trax Entertainment. He has worked with Felton Pilate and Michael Cooper of the band “Con Funk Shun.” Kin was quietly becoming a lyrical genius and lending his gifts to celebrities like Michael Copper and Benjamin Wright, on Cooper’s first solo album, the very popular, “Just Thinkin Bout You.” Kin has worked with many artists in every field of music. He’s worked with Easy E, Ice T, Rudy Ray Moore aka Dolomite, Jay King, Old Dirty Bastard, MC Luscious, Po Broke & Lonely, Dirty Red, Bigg Chaly, The Doobie aka Suga Wolf, Mac Mall, Young Lay, Sirvon the King, Mr. Foley, The Incredible Crew, E. Dominant, Tone Loc, Raven Pink, The Boss Town Boyz, Biscuit, 4 U and many more. 

Kin has steadily worked in the music field and has one song out every year. Currently teamed up with Herbert Partlow, “TheUnFunkySuperbalis,” has been both exciting and rewarding for Kin. They currently have songs like, “Dopamine, She Only Calls, Ur Happyness available on itunes today. Kin has been in the music business for over thirty years.  Today you can find Kin working on tracks, writing songs and lending his “gifted ear” to artist seeking direction, development and training on creating the best music they have to offer in their field. He is currently working with clients in the bay area as well as other parts of the world. Kin is known for being straight forward and exacting. He need only listen to your material and the process of making your song or music a potential hit is on its way! After assisting many artists throughout the years Kin has decided to start "an artist development business,” “UnAssIt Muzic Productions.” Kin’s gift of examining, analyzing and developing artists is a special art unlike no other. His skills exceed all expectations. Some of his clients are Allen Webb (Shreveport, Louisiana USA), Dead Zone Entertainment (Miami, Florida USA), D-Bone BeatsDze (Rotterdam, Netherlands), Sirvon the King (Las Vegas, Nevada USA), Kin is available for more artists looking to start their independent labels, have their songs examined and improved exponentially. It would behoove any artist to get in early and have Kin listen to their projects. 

You can contact Kin at kin_harris@yahoo.com, facebook.com/kin.harris3. 







Tamara Champlin began working as a singer in Houston, evolving into a sessions musician, before moving to LA. Shortly after that, she would meet and later marry musician, singer/songwriter Bill Champlin http://www.billchamplin.com/ Credits include working with Mickey Gilley's band in the 80's film Urban Cowboy, touring with Rita Coolidge, the Jim Carey Movie "Copper Mountain" in 1983 (with Rita Coolidge & Bill Champlin) and the video of "Heartbeat" with Don Johnson in 1986.

She also sang with a horn band called Pockets, was nominated for a Grammy in 1983 as a background singer, and eventually developed her own solo band doing original material. It was during this time she was a regular singer on the Alan Thicke show and performed during the unprecedented 13 hour concert with Paul Schaffer, Tom Scott and the entire Saturday Night Live Band, in 1988 celebrating the 40 years of Atlantic Records.

Tamara then released a solo album with BMG/RCA in 1991 in London with many of the tracks being used on her solo album released in 1995 entitled "You Won't Get to Heaven Alive." The title track of the album would chart in the Top 20 in Spain and "Tragic Black" written by Tamara and long time collaborator, Michael Caruso http://www.michaelcarusomusic.com/ would be Number 1 in Germany. "Tragic Black" and "Rock and Roll Tragedy" also featured the keyboard talents of unsung sessions hero Nicky Hopkins, known for his work with the Beatles, The Who and Rolling Stones. Paul Rodger (Queen) would later cover "Stone Cold", another album cut, with his band The Law on his CD "Laying Down The Law".

Tamara has written with or for such artists as Andreas Carlson, Tom Scott, Chicago, The Doobie Brothers, Brenda Russell, Paul Rogers and Douglas Carr. She has contributed background vocals for many others such as Richard Marx, Elton John, Phil Collins, James Brown and Mister,Mister and garnished gold records from Europe and Scandinavia. She also co-wrote, again with Caruso, the 1996 hit for the late Chris LeDoux, "Runaway Love." In between these solo accomplishments, Tamara sang with the Bill Champlin band that toured in Europe in the mid 90's, recently took the stage with the Sons of Champlin, first as a featured performer, then in 2010 as a full band member. Tamara also guested with Santa Fe and the Fat City Horns in Las Vegas.

She worked writing with son Will Champlin, a singer/songwriter in his own right (most recently a 2013 contestant/finalist on "The Voice"), on his early CD's including "Goldmine Sessions", a self titled CD "Will Champlin" and his "Killing Me With Twilight" EP with collaborators such as Bill Champlin, Michael Caruso and Robin Scoffield.  She and Will also composed the title track on Lori Michael's CD "Living My Life Out Loud".  In November of 2009, she completed a tour with Bill Champlin's Band to promote his CD "No Place Left to Fall". 

Tamara shared a co-writing spotlight again for Bekka Bramlett's "What's on My Mind" with Michael Caruso and Dennis Matkosky, which was a top 40 hit on the Country Music Chart. She performed with Bill Champlin in Norway & Sweden in the spring & summer of 2010 with the Norwegian Kringkastings Orchestra, Peter Friestedt and TOBB, then returned to the states for shows with the Sons of Champlin.

On October 21, 2010 she performed Live at Cafe 316 in Monterey, Ca to a capacity crowd the music of Tamara Champlin. She was accompanied by Bill and Will Champlin.

Tamara was part of the sold out tour in Scandanavia in 2011 that featured Leon Russell, Joe Williams and Bill Champlin. Tamara has now again formed her own band;  this time with husband Bill Champlin, Carmen Grillo, Johnny Griparic & Dave Raven and continues to write and perform music,  acoustically with Bill Champlin and a "new age" Sons of Champlin Band.

The Kitchen Sisters Present is part of the Radiotopia podcast network. Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes: http://apple.co/1FsFSsm or on your favorite podcast app.

The Kitchen Sisters, Peabody Award winning radio producers Davia Nelson & Nikki Silva, chronicle the hidden parts of history, the traditions and rituals people carry with them from one country to another, across one generation to the next. Stories of sonic pioneers, local kitchen visionaries, neighborhood heros, groundbreaking girls and path-finding women—people with a mission, a purpose, a story to tell. 

Our productions include the duPont-Columbia Award winning NPR series Hidden Kitchens, the Peabody Award winning NPR series Lost & Found Sound and The Sonic Memorial Project, The Hidden World of Girls, and The Making Of... {What people make in the Bay Area and why}, along with hundreds of other stories for public media.

Building Community through Story Telling


Brett Kroening is an active, international composer currently based in Georgetown, Texas.  As an undergraduate studying Music Theory and Composition under Cherise Leiter, Leanna Kirchoff and Hal Tamblyn at the Metropolitan State College of Denver, Brett participated in masterclasses with composers such as Bruce Adolphe, George Crumb, Claude Baker and Michael Colgrass.  After completing studies at The University of New Mexico, Brett then attended graduate school at The University of Texas at Austin and was Teaching Assistant under Professor Patrick Hughes and the UT Horn Studio.

     Brett has received commissions from Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music, Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra, Camarata Music Company (Seoul, Korea), The Copper Street Brass Quintet, Rocky Mountain Brassworks, The Four Hornsmen of the Apocalypse, Waterloo Sound Conspiracy, Mayfield High School Orchestra and Band, Bosque Preparatory School Wind Ensemble, various orchestras, bands, chamber ensembles and professional artists throughout New Mexico, Colorado, California, Kansas, Washington, Minnesota, Utah and Texas.  Brett's music has been performed in Cadogan Hall (London) and Walt Disney Concert Hall (Los Angeles) and has been presented on Minnesota Public Radio.  In 2011 the fanfare, Flurry was chosen as the opening piece by The Las Cruces High School Band at the 2011 New Mexico Music Educators Association Honor Band concert.  Though primarily publishing his own compositions, Brett has many works published with Lovebird Music Publishing (Plano, TX) and Corniworld Publications (London, UK).

   Often working as an instrumental composer, Brett has also composed electronic, electro-acoustic and choral works.  Brett is a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) and was also recently awarded winner of the University of Utah's New Music Ensemble Composition Competition.

Vivien Josias is following