Afleveringen
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Two-time Grammy-winning producer Ian Fitchuk has had a hand in music you've probably heard, from Beyoncé's 'Cowboy Carter' to Kacey Musgraves' 'Golden Hour.' This Sunday he's up for two more Grammys (one for Producer of the Year), but first he hopped on a call with Vocalo's Nudia Hernandez to break down his Chicago roots and the importance of using real instruments in his production process.
This segment originally aired on Vocalo Radio 91.1 FM on Tuesday, Jan. 28. It hosted and produced by Nudia Hernandez, and edited by Morgan Ciocca. -
When Alyssa's (SZA) boyfriend blows their rent money, she and her best friend-slash-roommate Dreux (KeKe Palmer) race against the clock to pay their rent, avoid an eviction and keep their friendship intact. The female buddy comedy debuted this week with a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and the New York Times said the duo of Palmer and SZA "lights up the screen with starry zeal." Reggie "The Reel Critic" Ponder shares his thoughts on the new film.
"The Reel Critic" is hosted and produced by Reggie Ponder. Follow Reggie on Twitter and Instagram @TheReelCritic, and on Facebook @ReggieTheReelCritic. -
Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Chicago hip-hop artist Cassius Tae will take the stage at Schubas Tavern on Sunday, Jan. 19, to close out locally-run, multi-venue festival Tomorrow Never Knows. The artist plans to perform his November 2024 album ‘Moments in Desire,’ which was the culmination of four years’ work — and set back by a crashed hard drive. Known for his freestyling skills, Tae noted many of the raps on Moments were improvised in-studio. He met with Vocalo host Nudia Hernandez to talk about the performance, his passion for freestyle rap and the meaning behind ‘Moments in Desire.’
This segment originally aired on Vocalo Radio 91.1 FM during Nudia In the Afternoons on Jan. 15. It was hosted and produced by Nudia Hernandez, and edited by Morgan Ciocca. Find tickets to see Cassius Tae at lh-st.com. -
Chicago vocalist and songwriter Senite will take the stage tonight, Jan. 16, at Space in Evanston, supported by fellow local talent: alt-R&B singer Gayun Cannon and whoisaubry of rap duo Stranded Civilians. Senite has had a busy 2024; she made appearances on projects from SONNY and Kaicrewsade, opened for Saba’s ‘Comfortzone’ 10th anniversary show and says new music is on the way. She sat down with Vocalo host Nudia Hernandez to discuss the show, new music in the works and balancing artistic versatility.This segment originally aired on Vocalo Radio 91.1 FM during Nudia In the Afternoons on Jan. 14. It was hosted and produced by Nudia Hernandez, and edited by Morgan Ciocca. Find tickets to see Senite at evanstonspacemusic.com.
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Based on a true story, 2024 film 'Unstoppable' is a story of strength, perseverance and defying the odds. It follows Anthony Robles (Jharrel Jerome), a determined wrestler born with one leg, on his journey to become a champion athlete. Reggie "The Reel Critic" Ponder raves about the film’s wrestling sequences and the depth of several performances — including that of Jennifer Lopez, who stars as Robles' mother. The film also stars Don Cheadle, Bobby Cannavale and Michael Peña. 'Unstoppable' is available for streaming on Prime Video.
"The Reel Critic" is hosted and produced by Reggie Ponder. Follow Reggie on Twitter and Instagram @TheReelCritic, and on Facebook @ReggieTheReelCritic. -
Looking ahead to his New Year’s Eve dance party, Chicago musician and activist Ric Wilson hopes that disco ideals will reign supreme. Wilson is wrapping a busy 2024 that brought domestic and international tours with DRAMA, Black Pumas, Yellow Days and Chromeo. But Chicago’s “Disco Ric” will have one grand finale: “America Runs On Disco,” a year-end celebration, at Lincoln Hall. Wilson’s new single also is called “America Runs on Disco,” and it’s out Dec. 17 (an EP of the same name is due out in 2025). The song reflects Wilson’s thoughts over the past two years on escapism and paying homage to disco’s inclusive ethos.
Stopping by the Vocalo studio last week, Wilson spoke with host Nudia Hernandez about his love of Chicago house music, his secret for thriving on 7-hour flights to London and his penchant for civic engagement.
This segment was hosted and produced by Nudia Hernandez. It was edited by Morgan Ciocca. Dig deeper into the story at Vocalo.org, and follow us @Vocalo on Instagram, X and Facebook, or @Vocalo.radio on TikTok. -
Contributing film critic Reggie “The Reel Critic” Ponder says new film ‘Albany Road’ is a fun and interesting look at love. Celeste Simmons (Reneé Elise Goldsberry) is a New York business executive preparing for one of the most important meetings of her career when bad weather grounds her flight. Forced to share a rental car with an unlikely companion – her ex-fiance’s mother (Lynn Whitfield) — Celeste discovers her almost-in-law is hiding a secret about her ex-fiance (J. Alphonse Nicholson) … Hear film critic The Reel Critic’s thoughts on the film, written and directed by Christine Swanson.
“The Reel Critic” is hosted and produced by Reggie Ponder. Follow Reggie on Instagram and Twitter @TheReelCritic and Facebook @ReggeTheReelCritic. -
Chicago-based Latin artist Aksel is turning up the heat for the new year — and his last drop of 2024, single “Unica,” gives listeners a taste of what is to come. Looking toward 2025, Aksel teases he’s curating new vocals and visual elements for a project with “tropical vibes.” Aksel sat down with Vocalo’s Nudia Hernandez to discuss all things “Unica” and his plans for the new years.
This segment was hosted and produced by Nudia Hernandez. It was edited by Morgan Ciocca. Keep up with Vocalo on Instagram, Facebook and X @vocalo, and on TikTok @vocalo.radio. Dig deeper into the story at Vocalo.org. -
Reggie “The Reel Critic” Ponder reviews the new film adaptation of August Wilson’s 1987 play ‘The Piano Lesson.’ The story follows the Charles family of Pittsburgh during the Great Depression’s aftermath in 1936. The household is engulfed with disagreement over what to do with their prized family heirloom: a piano carved with designs by an enslaved ancestor. Malcolm Washington directed the adaptation, which stars his brother John David Washington, Erykah Badu, Danielle Deadwyler, Samuel L. Jackson and more.
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When family man Justin Kemp winds up as a jury member of a high profile murder trial, he struggles with a moral dilemma that may influence whether the accused killer is convicted or set free in 'Juror #2.' The latest film from director Clint Eastwood, it stars Nicholas Hoult, Zooey Deutch, Chris Messina and more. Reggie “The Reel Critic” Ponder says though the film has interesting twists, it feels very familiar to another high-profile courtroom drama.
“The Reel Critic” is hosted and produced by Reggie Ponder. Follow Reggie on Twitter and Instagram at @TheReelCritic, and on Facebook @ReggieTheReelCritic. -
On Dec. 7, WBEZ and Investigative Project on Race and Equity — in collaboration with several other community groups — will host “Green Light For Change,” a community forum on traffic stop reform. The event aims to educate Chicagoans on their legal rights during traffic stops, with an emphasis on Black and brown community members. Since September 2023, WBEZ’s collaborative series “Profiled: The State of Traffic Stops in Illinois” has aimed to bring light to the drastic increases in traffic stops and racial disparities in drivers stopped through investigative data reporting. This weekend’s event serves as an opportunity to present the findings to the public and engage in community discussion.
WBEZ data team editor Alden Loury stopped by Vocalo to discuss the event, and his reporting on traffic stop data and incidents.
This segment was hosted and produced by Nudia Hernandez. It was edited by Morgan Ciocca. Dig deeper into the story at Vocalo.org. -
The new project from Chicago duo The O’My’s — ‘Trust The Stars’ — reminds listeners to have faith in the future. On Wednesday, Nov. 27, they’ll perform the project live for the first time at the Metro, with support from fellow Chicago artists Shawnee Dez, Frsh Waters and Sparklmami.
The pair — Nick Henessey and Maceo Vidal-Haymes — sat down with Vocalo’s Nudia Hernandez to discuss the project and how they built their own studio (with a little help from friends and family).
This segment originally aired on Wednesday, Nov. 20 during Nudia In the Afternoons on Vocalo Radio 91.1 FM. It was hosted and produced by Nudia Hernandez, and edited by Morgan Ciocca. -
Whether she’s baring her heart behind a microphone or stepping onstage in fearless outfits and sculptural hairdos, Chicago singer m.e.h. makes a strong impression — and it’s intentional. Describing her style as eclectic, colorful and energetic, the musician takes notes from icons like Erykah Badu and André 3000 to blend bold patterns and pay close attention to silhouettes.
For Getting Dressed with Vocalo, m.e.h. gave listeners a glimpse of her intricate wardrobe and styling processes.
This segment was hosted and edited by Vocalo producer Morgan Ciocca. It was produced and engineered by WBEZ’s Dave Miska. Special thanks to WBEZ’s Mendy Kong. Dig deeper into the story at Vocalo.org. -
A24’s new psychological thriller ‘Heretic’ follows two young religious missionaries, Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East), as they spend the day knocking on doors to spread the word of God. When the women arrive at the home of Mr. Reed, played by Hugh Grant, the two find themselves trapped in an intricate and deadly game designed to test their fath. Hear film critic Reggie “The Reel Critic” Ponder’s review, and catch ‘Heretic’ in theaters now.
"The Reel Critic" is hosted and produced by Reggie Ponder. Follow Reggie on Twitter and Instagram @TheReelCritic, and on Facebook @ReggieTheReelCritic. -
On Monday, Nov. 11, Pitchfork Music Festival announced via social media channels that it will not return to Chicago in 2025. After 19 years, the annual fest has earned a reputation for supporting locally-based talent. Vocalo host Nudia Hernandez is joined by digital producer Morgan Ciocca on Tuesday to discuss, and heard from Chicago artists Jeff Parker, Sen Morimoto and Kara Jackson — all of whom have taken stage at the festival.
This segment originally aired on Tuesday, Nov. 12, during Nudia In the Afternoons on Vocalo 91.1 FM. It was hosted and produced by Nudia Hernandez, and edited by Morgan Ciocca. Dig deeper into the story at Vocalo.org. -
Malcolm Washington directs a new adaptation of August Wilson’s 1987 play ‘The Piano Lesson,’ which was featured at the Chicago International Film Festival. On the red carpet at the festival before its premiere, Reggie “The Reel Critic” Ponder met with writer Virgil Williams and the film’s star John David Washington to discuss writing alongside director Malcolm Washington, being mentored by Denzel Washington, and advice for youth in the arts.
"The Reel Critic" is hosted and produced by Reggie Ponder. Follow Reggie on Twitter and Instagram @TheReelCritic, and on Facebook @ReggieTheReelCritic. -
Robert Zemeckis’ new film ‘Here,’ adapted from Richard McGuire's graphic novel, depicts a family across a century of generations in the same home. Reggie “The Reel Critic” Ponder says the film’s nonlinear timeline can be confusing at times, and it often looks to the past with nostalgia.
On the red carpet at the 60th Chicago International Film Festival, Ponder spoke with Zemeckis, along with his wife Leslie Zemeckis and daughter Zsa Zsa Zemeckis. They discussed the film’s themes, his growth as a director and what Zsa Zsa believes to be his “secret sauce.”
This segment was hosted and produced by Reggie Ponder. Follow him on Instagram and X @TheReelCritic. -
Roy Kinsey is the Rapbrarian, a Chicago rapper and librarian who celebrates hip-hop as a literary art form through his new special library: The Rapbrary. After recently setting up the Rapbrary’s shelves in its first space, Kinsey emphasizes the power of storytelling as legacy — especially at a time when book bans are surging.
He sat down with Vocalo host Nudia Hernandez to discuss the Rapbrary’s goals and being mindful about the things we leave behind for future generations.
This segment originally aired on Nudia in the Afternoons on Tuesday, Oct. 29. It was produced by Nudia Hernandez and edited by Morgan Ciocca. Dig deeper into the story at Vocalo.org, @Vocalo on most platforms and @Vocalo.Radio on TikTok. -
Ten years in the making, Australian adult stop-motion film ‘Memoir of a Snail’ (2024) follows Grace Pudel, an oddball outcast and snail collector who must learn to persevere through loneliness and misfortune.
Reggie “The Reel Critic” Ponder spoke to writer and director Adam Elliot about the claymation, which was featured at the Chicago International Film Festival. Elliot broke down the film's title, the intentionality behind creating a relatable character and the film’s deeper themes.
"The Reel Critic" is hosted and produced by Reggie Ponder. Follow Reggie on Twitter and Instagram @TheReelCritic, and on Facebook @ReggieTheReelCritic. -
Chicago-based multidisciplinary artist Sparklmami already knows what her world looks like. Now, she’s figuring out its sound. Her musical influences include ‘70s Brazilian jazz and funk, Mexican bolero and the music she listened to growing up in Texas.
The artist sat down with Vocalo’s Nudia Hernandez before her Oct. 24 performance at the Chicago Cultural Center to talk about curating visual and sonic identities, musical inspirations and June single “fajas.”
This segment was hosted and produced by Nudia Hernandez, and edited by Morgan Ciocca. It originally aired on Vocalo Radio 91.1 FM during Nudia In the Afternoons on Thursday, Oct. 3. Dig deeper into the story at Vocalo.org, and follow us @Vocalo on Instagram, X and Facebook, or @Vocalo.radio on TikTok. - Laat meer zien
