This week’s edition of Local Spins on WYCE: in-studio performance by Kyle Rasche and Dana Jackson of Chain of Lakes, plus the premiere of tracks by Bigfoot Buffalo, Deerfield Run, Organissimo, Cameron Blake.
Channeling Music from a ‘More Peaceful Place’: Kyle Rasche of Chain of Lakes. (Photo/Local Spins)
Channeling Music from a ‘More Peaceful Place’: Kyle Rasche of Chain of Lakes. (Photo/Local Spins)
For Kyle Rasche, Chain of Lakes really isn’t a solo thing anymore.
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That’s because the Grand Rapids indie-folk singer-songwriter has collaborated closely on his most recent recordings with bassist Mat Churchill, singer Dana Jackson and drummer Eric Ellis.
“We’re four records in, and three of them have been with Dana and Mat and now Eric, and it wouldn’t be the same without them,” said Rasche, who hopes to release the next Chain of Lakes album this winter. “I provide the songs, but it’s definitely a communal effort. … We’ll keep doing it like that until there’s a reason not to.”
Rasche brought his tender songs and Jackson’s gorgeous harmonies to the studios of WYCE-FM for this week’s edition of Local Spins on WYCE. Watch a video of their performance of “The Ride” here, with the full podcast of the show below.
VIDEO: Chain of Lakes, “The Ride” (Local Spins on WYCE)
Rasche, who also performs regularly with singer-songwriter Josh Rose & The Founding Fathers, will lead Chain of Lakes through a set at 5 p.m. Saturday as part of the inaugural Willowsong Music Festival in Sidney, north of Grand Rapids.
Other regional acts on the bill include Michael Riley, Nicholas James Thomasma, Eric Engblade, Stovepipe Stover, Red Legs, Mat Churchill, Pink Sky, The Sadie Hawkins, Deerfield Run, Patty PerShayla and Adam Geoffry Schmidt.
On the Air: Chain of Lakes’ Kyle Rasche and Dana Jackson at WYCE. (Photo/Local Spins)
Rasche is quick to concede that he tries “to channel things from a more peaceful place” with his music, drawing on relationships “to express something that I’m not expressing with conversation – using songs as a medium … to say something a little better or more pointed.”
Jackson, who calls Chain of Lakes “everything I always wanted to be a part of,” said Rasche’s songs reflect “the sweetest evolution” of his life, from being married to building a home to raising his children.
“It’s been like watching him build a story and getting to be part of that,” she said. “It’s been very sweet.
To that end, Rasche isn’t focused on touring or building a national audience for his music.
“You only get so much time to sit down and make things and emote and enjoy the process of music, and getting into marketing and the business end of it has not been in the drive for me,” he said. “I really like making music and I really like making songs. … I’d rather be a good dad right now.”
This week’s Local Spins on WYCE show also boasted the on-air premiere of brand new tracks by Bigfoot Buffalo, Cameron Blake, Deerfield Run and Organissimo, along with music from Michigander (whose frontman Jason Singer also chatted with host John Sinkevics in-studio), Yolonda Lavender, Mat Churchill and Bermudas.
PODCAST: Local Spins on WYCE (Sept. 29, 2017)
Copyright 2017, Spins on Music
