Today, we announce the sixth act on the bill for May 20’s Local Spins Fest at Studio Park — and Earth Radio responds by answering our seven-question countdown to the one-day festival.
Hannah Laine and Earth Radio: Ready to rev up Local Spins Fest. (Photo/Chelsea Whitaker)
EDITOR’S NOTE: The secret’s out: Grand Rapids ‘future soul’ band Earth Radio is the ‘mystery guest’ playing Local Spins Fest 2023 on May 20 at Studio Park in downtown Grand Rapids. Six female-led or female-centric Michigan acts will perform at the day-long festival. View the schedule below and get tickets, $20, themidtowngr.com.
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We’ve asked all six acts to answer the same seven questions in a Q&A format to give readers insights into what makes them tick. Today, Hannah Laine from Earth Radio (which also features Justin Avdek, Dutcher Snedeker and David Ward) answers those questions, providing insights into this singularly talented band. And scroll down for a recent music video.
Local Spins Question 1: What’s one thing about your band that most folks might not know?
Hannah Laine: On our way back from our Vermont trip last fall, we found out that Justin had never watched “SpongeBob SquarePants”! So David and Dutcher and I decided we needed to have a Spongebob marathon pajama party, and we did just that this past December. So now that Justin is on board, we can officially say that Earth Radio is a group of Spongebob fanatics.
LS Question 2: In your wildest dream, which famous, internationally renowned artist or band would you most like to tour with or open for?
HL: I’ve dreamed of opening for/touring with Hiatus Kaiyote. Their boundary-pushing approach to songwriting has been an inspiration in my own writing, and I think the energy that Earth Radio brings in our live performances would mesh really well with their live shows.
LS Question 3: What’s the best record you’ve listened to in the past year?
HL: Moses Sumney’s ‘Blackalachia’ live album and film. He and his crew filmed & recorded this in the Appalachian mountains and it is a gorgeous and empowering piece of art that I can’t stop listening to.
LS Question 4: What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made in your music career and what advice would you have to artists making their way in the business?
HL: Thinking I have to look or act a certain way on stage. As a woman, seeing a large proportion of female pop stars that “make it,” wearing minimal clothing, tons of makeup, and dancing sexy onstage, at one point made me think I have to be & act that way if I’m going to perform. I never really saw myself as that kind of artist, but in the earlier stages of my career, I think something in my mind would compare myself to those pop stars, which made me feel some internal pressure to be more like that. And maybe that is the bigger lesson in this – to not compare yourself to other artists and just follow what feels right to you every step of the way. I don’t really see this as a mistake, but more of an unnecessary mindset that I eventually became aware of that was actually holding me back from stepping fully into my authentic artistry.
LS Question 5: What’s the best concert you’ve ever seen (and when and where did it take place)?
HL: There are so many, I can’t decide! One of my favorites was Stevie Wonder at Joe Louis Arena in November 2015. His voice and his presence is pure love. I cried a few times. I saw many other great concerts at Big Ears Music Festival in Knoxville last year, including John Zorn, Bill Frisell, Julian Lage, Moses Sumney, Arooj Aftab, amongst many other incredible artists, that blew my mind.
LS Question 6: Complete this sentence: In the next year, Earth Radio will …
HL: … acquire a van and tour the country!
LS Question 7: What can fans expect from your set at Local Spins Fest?
HL: An integrative experience, journeying into our “Mosaic Dreams.”
VIDEO: Earth Radio, “STOP Calling Me!”
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