WMM Playlist from June 3, 2026

Wednesday MidDay Medley
TEN to NOON Wednesdays – Streaming at KKFI.org
90.1 FM KKFI – Kansas City Community Radio
Produced and Hosted by Mark Manning

Wednesday, June 3, 2026

WMM presents: David Brighton of David Brighton’s SPACE ODDITY + Jocelyn Olivia Nixon + Stephonne

“It’s Showtime Folks”
from: Motion Picture Soundtrack to All That Jazz / Universal / Dec. 20, 1979
[WMM’s theme]

The Forcefields – “The Symphony Of All Things”
from: Symphony Of All Things / Frickin’ Awesome Records / June 6, 2026
[Debut 9-track album from The Forcefields is a cosmosonic collaboration between Julia Othmer and James T Lundie AKA Aayama & Max Forcefield. The Forcefields made their first debut with the presentation TRANSMISSION for the Charlotte Street Foundation series, In(SITE), highlighting local, regional, and national acts at pivotal points in their practices. In a multidisciplinary collaboration with artists Simon Huntley, Sarah Hearn, and Mikal Shapiro, Transmission was an exploration of cosmic vibrations and soundscapes in a stunning one-night-only production. // Julia Othmer grew up in Kansas City and studied at Columbia University in New York City. The child of European refugees, she draws from a broad and richly cultured palette of experience to create her intensely human yet otherworldly songs. Her piano-driven performances are a mesmerizing and superconscious fusion of raw power, vocal artistry and joy. She played many local KC clubs including Jardine’s and Bar Natasha. Julia moved to Los Angeles in 2006 to record her 1st album, OASIS MOTEL. When Julia started planning to record her second album she traveled all the way to England to work with producer James Lundie. On a dark night in North London, singer-songwriter Julia Othmer landed on the front steps of producer-composer James T Lundie. She had been introduced to his music production and fell so deeply in love with his sonic architecture, she transported herself across the proverbial pond from LA to the UK, and refused to leave until he listened to her songs. This began a deeply creative and inspired partnership both in music and in life. Together they have released (under Julia’s name) studio recordings, live recordings, short films to accompany their work, a multi-media performance experience, and multiple social and environmental justice initiatives. James T. Lundie married Julia in January of 2016, during the completion of the record. The album “Sound,” was released on April 12, 2019. Leading up to the 2020 presidential election Julia & James released Seeds (Vol. 1) in 2020, and SEEDS (Vol. 2) in 2022. In the midst of these releases Julia and James relocated to Kansas City. Last year in April of 2024 Julia and James unveiled their newest creation, THE FORCEFIELDS featuring, reimagined vintage synthesizers, video projections, one of a kind instruments. // In 2021 Julia and James relocated to KC, and they recently unveiled their newest creation, a new expanding sonic & visual aesthetic called THE FORCEFIELDS. Their sound is evolving into what is described as Annie Lennox hosting a full moon party with The Beach Boys and Portishead gathered round the fire. Their studio recordings feature James’ unique sonic tools, reimagined vintage synthesizers, audireting and distilling the essence of two of Julia’s previous songs.]

[The Forcefields have been playing shows in France and UK and will be coming back to KC this summer.]

Boards of Canada – “Deep Time”
from: Inferno / Warp / May 29, 2026
[Laced with occult imagery and enigmatic samples, the Scottish duo’s immersive new album—their first in 13 years—offers some of the most captivating music of their career.- Pitchfork // Boards of Canada are a Scottish electronic music duo consisting of brothers Mike Sandison and Marcus Eoin, active since 1986. The duo’s work, largely influenced by 1970s media, incorporates vintage synthesiser tones, manipulated analog equipment, samples, and hip hop-inspired beats. Critics have described their music as exploring themes related to nostalgia, childhood memory, science, environmental concerns, and esoteric subjects. // After releasing several early EPs, the group signed to Warp Records in 1998 and released their debut album Music Has the Right to Children to widespread critical acclaim; it is now considered a landmark album in electronic music. This was followed by their second studio album Geogaddi (2002), which adopted a darker tone and references to religious cults and the occult. Their third studio album The Campfire Headphase (2005), emphasized more organic instrumentation and conventional song structures. After a seven-year hiatus, the duo returned with their fourth studio album Tomorrow’s Harvest (2013), which drew inspiration from film scores. A thirteen-year hiatus followed before the release of their fifth studio album Inferno (2026). // Boards of Canada have been regarded as “one of the best-known and best-loved electronic acts” of their era. They are credited as a pioneering group in the intelligent dance music (IDM) and hauntology movements. The duo have been described as cryptic and reclusive; they have made extensive use of subliminal messaging and unconventional promotional methods, and rarely grant interviews or appear publicly, having not performed live since 2001. // Inferno is the fifth studio album by Scottish electronic music duo Boards of Canada, released on 29 May 2026 by Warp. It is the duo’s first studio album in thirteen years, following Tomorrow’s Harvest (2013). An electronic and ambient album described as IDM and hauntology, the album was noted as the duo’s response to a darker zeitgeist, with allusion to biblical themes, spirituality, and the occult. Recorded at Hexagon Sun studio in Pentland Hills, Scotland, its instrumentation contains guitars, live drums, and synths, adopting a live sound and prominently including sampled vocals. Members Mike Sandison and Marcus Eoin are credited on the album as instrumentalists and sound designers, with all production and writing on a majority of the album’s tracks credited solely to Sandison. // The Skinny wrote that the first half contained prominent voice sampling, while the second half focused more on synths. The Wall Street Journal reports that around half of the album’s tracks are solely instrumentals. Much of the album alludes to biblical themes, spirituality, and the occult. The album was recorded at the duo’s Hexagon Sun studio in Pentland Hills, Scotland. // The instrumentation of Inferno features guitars, live drums, heavy synths, adopting a live sound. The music of the album has been compared to that of Brian Eno, the Avalanches, and Mogwai. “Prophecy at 1420 MHz” has live drums and guitar, “Hydrogen Helium Lithium Leviathan” is based on heavy synths, and “Somewhere Right Now in the Future” takes a dream pop style. “Naraka”, named for the Sanskrit term for “Hell”, has droning synths, “Memory Death” contains buzzing flies and what has been described as an inhaling chime or beeping, and “Into the Magic Land” has been described as post-rock. “Deep Time” features strings and tympani, “Arena Americanada” takes on an early IDM style with heavy synths, and “I Saw Through Platonia” is based on a recording of the human heartbeat. // Of the voice sampling prominent in the album: “Prophecy at 1420 MHz” features the voice of Islamic scholar Seyyed Hossein Nasr describing God as “the ultimate resonance”, “Age of Capricorn” begins with references to the Antichrist and Osama bin Laden, transitioning into a sample of a Christian sermon, and “Father and Son” contains a conversation from the 1971 film The Jesus Trip in which a man declares to his father that he loves the Lord “more than any physical being”. “Naraka” features Hare Krishna chanting, “The Word Becomes Flesh” features a woman describing embryo development, “All Reason Departs” features a sampled recording quoting Aleister Crowley, and “The Process” features words from a female synthesised voice transitioning from panic to babble.]

TheBabeGabe X The Human – “FUTURISTIC LOVERS”
from: HONEYPOP / Seven Rings Media / March 5, 2025
[One of two full length albums released in 2025 by TheBabeGabe, the other being HONEYPOP Reloaded on Seven Rings Media released August 8, 2025. March 5, 2025, both with production by The Human // After years of being the girl in the band, TheBabeGabe is stepping out, and standing ten toes down. As she dives into her solo career, Gabe brings the same sugary raps and addicting energy that she did as 1/3 of the alt-rap trio BLACKSTARKIDS. This time though, she’s telling her story, and forging a fresh start. The debut mixtape HONEY POP introduces the world to a young black girl from Kansas City that’s hungry for better things for herself and everyone who looks like her. Her energy is infectious, and you won’t want to be the one standing in her way, which becomes clear from the rowdy hook of the project’s lead single PSA. “It’s in my DNA, killing shit like every day, take this as a PSA, don’t give a fuck ‘bout what you say.” // With BLACKSTARKIDS, Gabe gained experience crushing a stage, opening on tour with The 1975, beabadoobee, Glass Animals, & more. That confidence shines through on braggadocios tracks like Only See Me, Pulse, and Pep Rally where she raps, “hoe shut the fuck up when I’m talking, got a pretty face but this mouth repulsive.” Pulling inspiration from future peers like Doja Cat & Tyler, The Creator, Gabe is quick to prove she isn’t restricted to one sound. There’s no shortage of variety with sticky hooks, soulful ballads, Janelle Monáe -esque pop hits, somber reflective cuts, and boomy west-coast kickbacks. // No song boasts this genre-bending ability better than the double track RIOT GRRL//DRAMA QUEEN. Starting with an inspirational pop-punk banger that could make any Olivia Rodrigo fan nod in approval, it soon turns to the emotional DRAMA QUEEN, seeing Gabe grapple with difficult changes and struggle to find the best way forward. Listening to Gabe can often feel like hanging with your bestie in that you’re getting both the yap sessions about the everyday as well as the venting about life’s drama and all its uncertainties. // These confessions, boasts, hooks, croons, screams, beats, and sounds all come together to create an extraordinary portrait of a young artist figuring it out. It’s an unfiltered showcase that sees Gabe pull back the curtain and step forward so you can meet her where she’s at. So when you listen, you’re seeing her for who she really is. And for many, that’s someone you can see yourself in. That’s TheBabeGabe. // TheBabeGabe was one-third of the Kansas City based BLACKSTARKIDZ Gen-Z upstarts BLACKSTARKIDS have released their sixth studio album Saturn Dayz on Sept. 20, 2024 through Dirty Hit Records and immediately followed with an 8-track 7th studio album HEAVEN ON URF, on Oct. 25, 2024 on Dirty Hit Records. Music writer Bill Brownlee talked with us about how the band created a double album, but the record company decided to release as two separate albums. The music from both albums relate to each other. Before the release of Saturn Dayz the band released their single and video “SOULMATEZ!” on August 30, 2024. “SOULMATEZ!,” is a magnetic, blissed-out bop that brings together pop, indie, and alt-rap, reminiscent of Dev Hynes-era Solange mixed with De La Soul. // The follow up to BLACKSTARKIDS’ acclaimed 2022 album CYBERKISS* which featured standout singles “CYBERKISS 2 U* ft. beabadoobee” and “SEX APPEAL,” SATURN DAYZ is an otherworldly, genre-crossing testament to their unrelenting artistry and is their most impressive work to date. PRESS HERE to pre-save SATURN DAYZ. // Putting out music at a prolific rate and making waves for their formidable songwriting and producing talents, as well as their endless energy and truly limitless sound, BLACKSTARKIDS have received critical acclaim from New York Times, MTV, UPROXX, Billboard, Alternative Press, SPIN, Ones To Watch, Rolling Stone France, The Line Of Best Fit, DIY, Coup De Main, and more. Blending garage rock with synth-punk and hip-hop to usher in a new surge of indie, such as on their beloved album Puppies Forever which features anthemic singles “ALL COPS ARE BASTARDS,” “JUNO,” and “FIGHT CLUB,” BLACKSTARKIDS are well on their way to indie stardom and have previously toured with the likes of The 1975, COIN, Glass Animals, beabadoobee, Christian Leave, GroupLove. // Incorporating each member’s wide-ranging influences into their blissful DIY sound, such as Toro Y Moi, NERD*, Smashing Pumpkins, Weezer, Outkast, Odd Future, and A Tribe Called Quest, BLACKSTARKIDS first captivated the internet with their “black coming of age trilogy” of projects Let’s Play Sports, Surf, and Whatever, Man that feature critically acclaimed singles including “BRITNEY BITCH” and “FRANKIE MUNIZ.” // Blackstarkids are phenomenon who came out of KC in 2020 became the soundtrack for the summer. Members include: TheBabeGabe, Deiondre, and TyFaizon (of the Drop Dead XX collective). The members have known each other since high school in Raytown, Missouri. Members met at Raytown South High School and formed the band in 2019. The group released its first album, Let’s Play Sports, on August 1, 2019. Blackstarkids then released their second album SURF through their own label Bedroom Records on February 28, 2020. Blackstarkids caught the attention of The 1975’s frontman Matty Healy and were then signed to The 1975’s management company and UK-based label Dirty Hit Records. They were featured in Clash Magazine. Blackstarkids then released, Surf Basement Demos on Dirty Hit Records on March 5, 2020. On Oct. 29, 2020, Blackstarkids released Whatever, Man on Dirty Hit Records, their third album release of 2020. Gabe, of Blackstarkids recently described the KC Music community to an interviewer, “The music scene here is really nice. There are a lot of bands who are super talented and do all types of genres. The jazz music here is really great as well. KC is honestly a hidden gem when it comes to music. I feel like you can meet an artist anywhere and anyplace in this city.”]

[TheBabeGabe plays KC Pride Sat, June 6, 5:15pm Main Stage, Theis Park, KCMO ]
[Jamogi plays KC Pride Fest Sat, June 6, 1:30pm Main Stage, Theis Park , KCMO]
[Malek Azreal plays KC Pride Fest Sat, June 6, 6:50pm Main Stage, Theis Park, KCMO ]

ALQ3MY – “3 Amigos”
from: 3 Amigo- Single / Dark Matter Syndicate / August 24, 2025
[ALQ3MY is a genre-blurring R&B trio born out of Kansas City, Missouri, made up of three dynamic vocalists: Ayron Alexander, DeMazjé, and Tah’Lure. Each member brings a unique element-Ayron’s soul-drenched storytelling, DeMazjé’s emotional rawness and range, and Tah’Lure’s polished performance and creative direction. Together, they fuse vulnerability with power, blending nostalgic harmonies, modern production, and spiritual undertones into a sound that feels both ancient and futuristic. // Inspired by the mystique of alchemy and the chemistry of brotherhood, ALQ3MY crafts music that’s cinematic, sensual, and deeply personal. Their songs reflect the journey of transformation-of self, love, and artistry-with lyrics rooted in truth and melodies built to move both heart and body. Whether they re performing live, stacking harmonies in the studio, or pushing boundaries visually, ALQMY isn’t just a group-they’re a movement reshaping what R&B from the Midwest sounds like. // Ayron Alexander is a Virginia-bred, by way of the Midwest, R&B singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose voice is rooted in neo-soul and theatrical passion. After singing in church cheir and performing with a Christian rock band, he discevered his true sound and has since built a dedicated social media following. 119K+ TikTok fans have loved his original tracks including “COLLISIONS,” solidifying his reputation as a powerful and emotionally honest artist. // Now as one-third of ALO3MY, Ayron brings songwriting finesse, vocal depth, and a flair for storytelling that rounds out the group’s sonic identity. His digital presence-filled with inspiring quotes, uplifting messages, and snippets from musical theater-speaks to his mission of using music as a gateway to connection and healing. With his heartfelt artistry and stage-ready energy. Ayron is poised to channel that creative spark into ALQMY’s next wave of fresh, soulful music. // DeMazjé is a rising R&B vocalist and performer from Kansas City, known for his soul-stirring voice and captivating stage presence. With a natural gift for melody and emotion, he brings a raw, heartfelt energy to every performance, blending classic soul with modern-day storytelling. Though new to releasing music, his reputation in the city speaks volumes-he’s a well-respected singer and creative force who’s made waves at major local events like KC PrideFest. // Now one-third of the emerging R&B group ALQMY, DeMazjé steps into a new chapter, joining forces with fellow vocalists Ayron Alexander and Tah’ Lure to create a sound that’s magical, bold, and deeply emotional. With a growing online presence and a strong foundation in live performance, he’s poised to become one of the Midwest’s most magnetic new voices in R&B. // Tah’Lure is a California-born, Kansas City-raised R&B singer. songwriter, and creative powerhouse who’s lived and performed across Atlanta. Omaha, and Tampa. Known for his rich vocals. captivating stage presence, and bold choreography, he’s a multi- hyphenate artist with deep roots in performance and personal style. Whether he’s commanding a stage, directing a creative shoot, or slaying as a master loctician, Tah Lure brings undeniable passion and polish to everything he touches.// Now stepping forward as one-third of the rising R&B trio ALQMY, Tah’ Lure fuels the group with his signature mix of soul, movement, and vision. His vocal tone glides between smooth and raw, weaving real-life emotion into every harmony and verse. With a growing online presence and local aeclaim-including a nomination for Best Male Vocalist-Tah Lure is poised to lead this new era of Midwest R&B with undeniable star power. More info at http://www.alq3my.com ]

[ALQ3MY play VCMN’s Lawrence Pride Kick Off Party, Friday, June 5, at 9:00pm, at Lucia, 1016 Massachustts St., Lawrence, KC w/ Lava dreams, Nova, Romeo, Big Body Caprice, and Kansas Campbell.]

Cheery – “Concept Of Love”
from: Bliss / Spirit House Records / March 20, 2024
[Leading up to the Bliss album release on March 20 , 2024, Cheery released three singles in 2023, from her new home in Liverpool, England, United Kingdom. “True Lover” on July 19, 2023 // “90210 Poster” on August 16, 2023 // “Bliss” on September 20, 2023. All three singles came with fabulous new music videos . Cheery is the “Dream Pop” music project of musician and singer and songwriter Katlyn Conroy, who was formerly based in Lawrence, Kansas. moved 4000 miles away to get married and relocate in Liverpool, England. When she was still based in Lawrence, Kansas, As Cheery, Katlyn released the single “Concept of Love” and b-side, “Vulture” on August 3, 2021, written and performed by Katlyn Conroy, and engineered and mixed by Eric Davis. Katlyn Conroy released SAPPHIRES funder her previous moniker and band, La Guerre through The Record Machine on January 20, 2015. It was #10 on WMM’s 115 Best Recordings of 2015. Katlyn Conroy was also part of the critically acclaimed band, Cowboy Indian Bear. She was the recipient of the 2013 Pitch Music Award for Best Singer-Songwriter. With over 20 years of live performance experiences she has performed alongside Daniel Johnston, Florence and The Machine, Grizzly Bear, Sara Barielles, Why? and more. Katlyn Conroy joined us on WMM on March 4, 2015 and August 26, 2015. More info at: http://www.cheery.bandcamp.com or https://linktr.ee/HearCheery ]

[Cheery plays Birdies, 202 West 18th, KCMO, for First Fridays, June 5, at 7:00pm]

Shakey Graves – “Time Flies”
from: Fondness, Etc. / Dualtone Music Group / May 15, 2026
[Shakey Graves, one of America’s most inventive DIY musicians and singer-songwriters, released his new, highly anticipated home-recorded album, Fondness, Etc. For his fifth record, a woozy work of avant-garde folk and trippy time travel, Graves returns to making music first for himself, now rebalanced through family and fatherhood. Fully embracing change, whether graceful or not, for us all it is an inevitability. Out now, on Secret Identity / Dualtone Record. // On his fifthness, Etc., Graves reflects on the quiet grief and gratitude that come with growing up. Featuring nine lived-in songs with a folk-leaning intimacy, the album wrestles with the tension between holding onto who you’ve been and making room for who you’re becoming, as time and the people in our lives inevitably reshape us. Produced by Graves and captured on a pair of tascam tape machines in a focused one-month stretch in his home studio, the enchantingly lo-fi LP was shaped with the help of assorted musical artifacts, including a possibly haunted 1932 Gibson guitar that survived a bunker fire in World War II. Speaking on the recording process, Graves says, “The endless options of digital recording can be deadly for my creativity. The urge to add, tinker, and perfect is nearly impossible for me to resist, and I easily get lost in the sauce. Catching the foundation of a song on tape means that you have to commit to a sound and accept what might initially be seen as mistakes.” // “When the Love Is New” with its driving tulsa sound beat and brooding alt rock vocal delivery reflects on the nature of the heart. “Time Flies,” is a standout timeless track and a moving cover of Frankie Sunswept’s wistful love song featuring a sonically decadent string quartet. “On My Own” an intimate portrait written about the looming threat of separation with hooky riffs and restrained vocal refrain, partially recorded on Graves’ porch at home, with acclaimed makeshift couch drums and guest performers birds and wind. Closing with “No Place To Be,” Graves imparts timeless folk wisdom over restrained guitar and vocals, making us feel at home even when we feel ruddless in the turbulent waters of life. // Emerging from Austin’s DIY scene as a one-man band armed with a guitar and suitcase kick drum, Graves (who’s also a former actor) built a devoted following through breakthrough releases like Roll the Bones, relentless touring, and imaginative fan-first experiences, a spirit that continues here with a song-first, folk-rooted record grounded in intimacy, imperfection, and quiet emotional clarity.]

[Shakey Graves plays The Truman, 601 East Truman Rd., KCMO, on Friday, June 5, 2026]

The Soul Activators – “Sunset”
from: Sunset – Single / The Soul Activators / March 28, 2025
[The Soul Activators are a 7-piece Kansas City Funk band with Latin rhythms, punchy guitars and beautiful vocal harmonies, specializing in all original funk music. The heart and soul of the band is their explosive percussion. This multi-racial, multi-gender, intergenerational collective reflects the true heart of America’s diversity. Their music is more than entertainment—it’s a message of hope, freedom, and transformation. Known for their high-energy shows, The Soul Activators deliver lyrics that inspire justice, unity, and love. They don’t just play music… they ignite change. Instagram – @thesoulactivators]

[The Soul Activators play the Charlotte Street Block Party – Saturday, June 6, 1:00 to 4:00pm, at 3333 Wyoming, KCMO with Barter Boat sailing in from Minneapolis, Dub Vendors, plus artists collective, games food, and popsicles.]

10:30 – Underwriting

The Creepy Jingles – “Vow Down”
from: Washed Up / Enigmatic Brunch Records / June 6, 2026
[Earlier this year Jocelyn Olivia Nixon shared with us the unreleased single “fight for your say” for our March 4, 2026 radio show. // Last year Jocelyn Olivia Nixon released the single, “YOU AIN’T RIGHT! YOU MUST BE WRONG!” on May 2, 2025. Jocelyn Olivia Nixon is lead singer of the band The Creepy Jungles. The Creepy Jingles are getting ready to release a new alum called WASHED UP coming this spring. Jocelyn told Nick Spacek of The Pitch, “that the songs she presents to her bandmates in The Jingles’ songs are poppier stuff, typically, while solo songs are more folky, mellow, weird, and lyrical. Solo work also gives her the opportunity to work with others outside the group. As Nixon explains, “It’s basically a tongue-in-cheek song making fun of hard right conservatives and social cliques who think only their way is ‘right.’” She said, “I felt like I needed something where I can be a bit more vulnerable and naked, I suppose,” the musician says. “I think because Jingles do rock n roll pop songs well, I think I’m kinda boxed in as an artist and singer. This is my way of saying I have many sides to myself as an individual and as an artist, and I can forge my own path and defy expectations.” // The Creepy Jingles released a series of 4 new singles in 2024 including “When Things Go Wrong” on February 23, 2024. // The Creepy Jingles are a Kansas City based, rock and roll band that both honors and defies convention. Led by singer / song-writer Jocelyn Olivia Nixon, a transgender wordsmith who charms with razor wit and dazzles with her lyrical acrobatics. The Creepy Jingles released their album, TAKE ME AT MY WORDPLAY on March 25, 2022 through High Dive Records. Paired up with lyrics centering on themes of identity, strained relationships, social media madness, meme magic, pandemic paranoia, paid off political pundits, backyard bullies and barking up the wrong tree. Everything and the kitchen sink or swim. No stoner left unturned. The Creepy Jingles released their Debut EP on High Dive Records on May 3, 2019. The release was in the top ten of WMM’s 119 Best Recordings of 2019. ]

[The Creepy Jingles play a WASHED UP Album Release Show, Saturday, June 6, 2026, at 7:00pm at The Greenwood Social Hall, 1750 Belleview Ave, KCMO with Heidi Gluck, and Lauren Lovelle & The Midnight Spliffs.]

10:33 Interview with Jocelyn Olivia Nixon

Jocelyn Olivia Nixon of The Creepy Jingles joins us to talk about her band’s new 11-track album WASHED UP, released May 22, 2026, through Enigmatic Brunch Records. The Creepy Jingles are a Kansas City based, rock and roll band led by Jocelyn Olivia Nixon, a transgender wordsmith who charms with razor wit and dazzles with her lyrical acrobatics. The Creepy Jingles released their album, TAKE ME AT MY WORDPLAY on March 25, 2022 and their self-titled debut EP on May 3, 2019, both through High Dive Records. Blending Brit-pop hooks, garage rock grit, surf shimmer, psychedelia, and sharp-witted storytelling, The Creepy Jingles deliver energetic, genre-defying performances packed with humor, heart, and lyrical acrobatics. The band’s colorful songwriting and beautifully chaotic rock and roll have made them one of KC’s most inventive live acts.

The Creepy Jingles play a WASHED UP Album Release Show, Saturday, June 6, 2026, at 7:00pm at The Greenwood Social Hall, 1750 Belleview Ave, KCMO with Heidi Gluck, and Lauren Lovelle & The Midnight Spliffs.

Jocelyn Olivia Nixon thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

WASHED UP was written by Jocelyn Nixon, and recorded, engineered, and mixed by Paul Malinowski at Massive Sounds Studios in Shawnee, Kansas, with Jocelyn Olivia Nixon on lead vocals, piano, rhythm guitar; Andrew Woody on bass; Nick Robertson on drums; and Wills Van Doorn on lead guitars.

The Creepy Jingles line up originally included “Drummer Nick Robertson charges the group forward with a fiery fueled obsidian backbeat. Andrew Woody on bass guitar; Rounding out the band is Guitarist Travis McKenzie who generously spins a holographic spectrum of color that lift the catchy Brit pop melodies that effortlessly dance about the rapidly changing landscapes of New York Garage Rock and 60s/70s folk music. “

The Band line-up for the Washed Up album includes:

Jocelyn Olivia Nixon on vocals, piano, and guitar
Wills Van Doorn on guitar
Andrew Woody on bass
Nick Robertson on drums

The new tracks were recorded and mixed by Paul Malinowski.
Mastered by Zack Hames

The Creepy Jingles social Media Links
Facebook @CreepyJingles
Instagram @thecreepyjingles
http://www.highdivekc.com/bands/the-creepy-jingles

Jocelyn Olivia Nixon wrote this on Facebook on February 27, 2026

Right before I started my band, I had taken 2 years off from the stage to put my life in order after transitioning. I felt it was important to honor such a huge experience. I was nervous to be my true self on stage and talk and sing loud for the first time in my life and it was because I feared judgement and acceptance. It took me a long time just to accept myself then I had to do it under a spotlight on stage and awkwardly transition in public working retail.
I faced challenge after challenge
I sang don’t let me go
because I knew I was gonna lose people.
I knew it would be hard.
But I also knew I was strong.
I got over that fear because I knew I deserved a better me.
That the people that loved me deserved a better me.
I’ve faced discrimination at work.
I’ve had to defend myself in spaces where I have had no allies. I advocated for myself when no one would, but that taught me so much.
I learned to trust my own inner voice above all else.
I learned to get comfortable trying to find my way in the dark. To speak up when I knew it would win me no favors. I had to be real and get real because for too long in my life I ignored that voice that told me to fit in and just get along. Make everybody happy. Get in line and shut up but I couldn’t keep up the charade.
I transitioned because I was unhappy. I was so depressed. I was losing hope to live because I was living an illusion. I
hated pretending or feigning that I was ok just to make others feel more comfortable. I resented being told I should make do and accept things as they were and be who they wanted me to be. I didn’t want to be a fraud to myself so I did the scary thing and decided to take care of me and be honest. To truly be brutally honest with myself and with others. To be the one to
Say the thing that no one was saying. Not to cause waves but because it had to be said. To me my truth was always more important than me being liked or being accepted. Even before transitioning
being me has always made me enemies
And It has lost me support
But I can look proudly at myself when I see my reflection in the mirror. I can say I truly know myself and I won’t compromise my authenticity because someone feels threatened by my truth.
In embracing myself, imagine my surprise
that It has also attracted many amazing friends, allies, and colleagues that I dearly treasure.
I’m so thankful to the local music community kc/ Lawrence for supporting me as a person and a musician/ artist. You’ve given me a space where I not only feel accepted but celebrated and I’m fortunate that we have real leaders in this community who give everyone a fair shake especially when you don’t fit the mold. You have always vouched for me and championed us as a band. I’m grateful for every opportunity and every stage I’ve stepped on. Thank you for letting me be me and allowing me to share my soul with you.
transitioning saved my life
The Creepy Jingles, my songs they are my refuge. Making music / writing words is my outlet to deal with all the complex feelings and experiences I’ve gone through. It helps me to make sense of a crazy world that is determined to misunderstand me.I’m just trying to alchemize all my pain into something beautiful.
This is my therapy. This is my joy.
Operating in authenticity isn’t easy.
Sometimes you make the right choice for you and that draws opposition from people who are scared and don’t understand.
Sometimes confusion breeds hatred.
Today I woke up thinking it was just another day.
It was not.
I had no idea my whole foundation was gonna immediately be ripped out from under me.
I have challenges ahead
I have obstacles
But we all have hills to climb
and roads to hoe.
We persist despite the horrors
Roughly about 1800 transgender Kansans were affected by this cruel decision of the Kansas state legislature, to invalidate such a small and vulnerable minority of their own constituents. The message is clear. We are not welcome.
I might not have a big platform
but I got – a platform
and while I do
While I have air in my lungs and blood in my heart, I WILL FIGHT
No one tells me who I am
I ask that you speak up and stand up with us if you value your own autonomy and you see injustice in the world today.
To do the right thing especially when it’s the hard and scary thing.
My name is Jocelyn Olivia Nixon.
I am a singer
I am a songwriter
I am a transwoman.
I am a human being
I am an indomitable spirit
I am not settling to survive
I am aiming to thrive
If you have a transgender family member and they are scared right now please let them know they are not alone. I’m here for them if they need to talk or need an ear and I have a song or two for them if they need some small comfort or distraction.
It’s the least I could do.
It’s who I was born to be

The Creepy Jingles played an Album Release Show at Replay Lounge in Lawrence, KS on Friday, May 29, with Thimstr, Teri Quinn and The Coyotes

The Creepy Jingles opened for Hello Biplane for their KC Album Release show at The Brick, 1727 McGee St., KCMO, on Friday, April 10 with The Kansas City Bear Fighters

The Creepy Jingles played miniBar, 3810 Broadway, KCMO on Friday, February 6, 2026 with Joel vs Joel, Eradicats, and Juliette Frost.

Artists on Enigmatic Brunch Records:
Joel vs Joel
Eggs On Mars
Wills Van Doorn

Enigmatic Brunch Records is a Midwestern small-batch record label. We’re a baby label junior!
enigmaticbrunch@gmail.com

10:42

The Creepy Jingles – “Go Tell Others”
from: Washed Up / Enigmatic Brunch Records / June 6, 2026
[New 11-track album was written by Jocelyn Nixon, and recorded, engineered, and mixed by Paul Malinowski at Massive Sounds Studios in Shawnee, Kansas, with Jocelyn Olivia Nixon on lead vocals, piano, rhythm guitar; Andrew Woody on bass; Nick Robertson on drums; and Wills Van Doorn on lead guitars. // Jocelyn Olivia Nixon is lead singer of the band The Creepy Jungles. Jocelyn told Nick Spacek of The Pitch, “that the songs she presents to her bandmates in The Jingles’ songs are poppier stuff, typically, while solo songs are more folky, mellow, weird, and lyrical. Solo work also gives her the opportunity to work with others outside the group. As Nixon explains, “It’s basically a tongue-in-cheek song making fun of hard right conservatives and social cliques who think only their way is ‘right.’” She said, “I felt like I needed something where I can be a bit more vulnerable and naked, I suppose,” the musician says. “I think because Jingles do rock n roll pop songs well, I think I’m kinda boxed in as an artist and singer. This is my way of saying I have many sides to myself as an individual and as an artist, and I can forge my own path and defy expectations.” Jocelyn Nixon’s next single, “Real Deal,” is due later this summer . // The Creepy Jingles released a series of 4 new singles in 2024 including “When Things Go Wrong” on February 23, 2024. // The Creepy Jingles are a Kansas City based, rock and roll band that both honors and defies convention. Led by singer / song-writer Jocelyn Olivia Nixon, a transgender wordsmith who charms with razor wit and dazzles with her lyrical acrobatics. The Creepy Jingles released their album, TAKE ME AT MY WORDPLAY on March 25, 2022 through High Dive Records. Paired up with lyrics centering on themes of identity, strained relationships, social media madness, meme magic, pandemic paranoia, paid off political pundits, backyard bullies and barking up the wrong tree. Everything and the kitchen sink or swim. No stoner left unturned. The Creepy Jingles released their Debut EP on High Dive Records on May 3, 2019. The release was in the top ten of WMM’s 119 Best Recordings of 2019. ]

10:44 – More Interview with Jocelyn Olivia Nixon

Jocelyn Olivia Nixon of The Creepy Jingles joins us to talk about her band’s new 11-track album WASHED UP, released May 22, 2026, through Enigmatic Brunch Records. WASHED UP was written by Jocelyn Nixon, and recorded, engineered, and mixed by Paul Malinowski at Massive Sounds Studios in Shawnee, Kansas, with Jocelyn Olivia Nixon on lead vocals, piano, rhythm guitar; Andrew Woody on bass; Nick Robertson on drums; and Wills Van Doorn on lead guitars. The Creepy Jingles are a Kansas City based, rock and roll band led by Jocelyn Olivia Nixon, a transgender wordsmith who charms with razor wit and dazzles with her lyrical acrobatics. The Creepy Jingles released their album, TAKE ME AT MY WORDPLAY on March 25, 2022 and their self-titled debut EP on May 3, 2019, both through High Dive Records. Blending Brit-pop hooks, garage rock grit, surf shimmer, psychedelia, and sharp-witted storytelling, The Creepy Jingles deliver energetic, genre-defying performances packed with humor, heart, and lyrical acrobatics. The band’s colorful songwriting and beautifully chaotic rock and roll have made them one of KC’s most inventive live acts.

Jocelyn Olivia Nixon thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

From The Pitch KC June 19, 2019 Nick Spacek: “Jocelyn Olivia Nixon was part of the band Abracadabras, that was active around Kansas City from 2006 to 2009 or so. Nixon fronted the band, which also included brothers Collin and Kyle Rausch, who now play in the pop act Shy Boys. “

Jocelyn Olivia Nixon told Nick Spacek in an article published in The Pitch KC on June 19, 2019, “That was, like, the first band,” Nixon says. “I’d been writing songs since I was probably about 22, and that was our first band together. So it was like we all grew up together … Once I went to Austin, I felt like it was time for me to stand on my own.”

“I’d left [Kansas City] to work on my marriage,” Nixon continues. “My wife at the time was offered a job and I figured, Yeah, Austin, great music city. I should see what happens. A music city like Austin was the silver lining in moving away from my band.”

The marriage hit the skids a few years in, but Nixon continued writing music. She released a solo project called English Major, a divorce record of sorts. Five years in, though, everything finally seemed to come to a head.

“The traffic, the cost of living — our rent went up $750,” Nixon says. “It was almost impossible to stay. I was like, Why am I killing myself to do this? I was also starting to come to terms with my own personal identity, and it blew into this existential crisis, where I was like, I can’t keep this bottled up anymore.”

Being “bottled up” was Nixon acknowledging her recent transition into life as a woman, a process she’d started early during her time in Austin.

“Tweezing my eyebrows, laser hair removal, therapy, going out more in femme,” she says — but largely abandoned after her marriage fell apart and she stepped into a new relationship. But the desire to transition hadn’t gone away; Nixon was just burying it.
“I was depressed to the point where I kind of — there’s that line in ‘Yer Blues,’ where John Lennon’s like, Feel so suicidal/ Even hate my rock & roll.’ I was like, ‘Oh, I get that line,’”

Nixon says. “I didn’t ever feel like I was going to commit suicide, but I had this fantasy of faking my death and becoming a new person, which was all sort of leading me to transition, but I was just miserable and I just didn’t want to be around it.”

She decided to leave Austin and return to KC, though moving back home as she transitioned wasn’t something Nixon was initially eager to do. “I thought it was scarier to move back,” she says. But then she realized that, as she says, “I needed to do this in front of the people I grew up with, and have those tough conversations, and tell them who I really am and how I really feel. It felt like the most honest way to do things, and it felt like the most authentic way to bridge my past to my present.”

Nixon started hormones and came out as a woman after she moved back home to KC. She says everyone’s been cool about it — tons of support.

“When I came out, I felt stupid, because I was like, ‘I should’ve done this sooner,’” she says. “An immediate weight lifted off of me, just from carrying the weight of that consuming all my mental faculties at all times. It just shot my nervous system.”

Nixon had quit playing music toward the end of her time in Austin, and she gave herself a few years during her transition to “get my head right and heal from a breakup, and also, approaching this new phase in my life,” as she puts it. But she kept writing songs.

She started jamming with Nick Robertson, a drummer. Then they brought in Travis McKenzie, a former Abracadabras guitarist, and the Creepy Jingles were born. They played around for a few years and then, last year, began recording what would become their debut self-titled EP.

“We took it slow, doing it like, once a week, and then once fall rolled around, we were like, ‘Let’s record some things,’” Nixon says. They took the music to Ross Brown, another Shy Boy, who recorded & mixed the EP in his basement. Collin Rausch ended up playing bass.

“It was kind of like a little family reunion,” Nixon says of reuniting with old bandmates.

Nick Spacek wrote: The EP was released on High Dive Records at the beginning of May. It’s confident and exuberant, a Kinksy mishmash of Britpop garage rock”.

She says. I felt like I had to adopt a mask or a character to protect myself a little bit onstage. Now it feels very me, and I’m very comfortable.”

The Creepy Jingles self titled debut EP was released on High Dive Records on May 3, 2019
Ross Brown of (Shy Boys and Full Bloods) recorded & mixed the EP at escape Pod Audio.
Mike Nolte Mastered the recordings at Eureka Mastering. EP credits give special thanks to: Collin Rausch and Kyle Rausch of Shy Boys

The Creepy Jingles released the stand alone single, “Throwing In The Femme Fatale” on Nov. 18, 2021. As lead singer Jocelyn Olivia Nixon, who is a transgender woman, told 90.9 The Bridge, “This is one of those songs we wanted to make space for and share because it was a favorite little oddball of ours, it’s a bit outside the box of what we normally do.” Nixon continued, “I wrote it to appear vague enough where it could be about a song, idea or a person that gets stuck inside your crawl space,” the song was about her own mindset before transitioning. “…This overwhelming thought about showing the world who I really was, because I couldn’t ignore it anymore.”

From FALLY AFANI, I Heart Local Music (June 22, 2019) “The Creepy Jingles are really throwing us for a loop. Like, we know garage rock is supposed to sound raw and a little loose. But The Creepy Jingles are so on point with their craft, we’re not entirely comfort-able with picturing them as some laid back group of rockers. Every. Single. Note. Is. Perfect. When The Creepy Jingles play, it sounds like they practice every single day. They don’t miss a single thing! Every note in every song is spot on, we haven’t heard a group of rockers this tight with their performance in ages. When they hit the Replay for their album release show Thursday night, it was hard to look away. Jocelyn Olivia Nixon runs a tight ship with this group. They began the set with her pounding away at the keys, leaving a throbbing urge for more of their exciting rock noise. Then, when they fully dove into their impeccable guitar work, the audience was also treated to her gnarly-as-hell vocals. The growls, the screams, the RAWNESS of it all brings out our most primal emotions.”

Jocelyn Olivia Nixon is Community Organizer at Bandwaggn Kansas City
Jocelyn Olivia Nixon is Singer/ Songwriter/ Guitar/ Keys at The Creepy Jingles
Jocelyn Olivia Nixon is Singer-songwriter at English Major
Jocelyn Nixon Studied Filming/Directing/Acting/writing at The Art Institute of Austin
Jocelyn Nixon Studied Studied Broadcasting & Film at University of Central Missouri
Jocelyn Nixon Studied Studied Creative Writing in English at Missouri State University
Jocelyn Nixon went to Blue Springs South High School

Jocelyn Olivia Nixon thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

10:54

The Creepy Jingles – “All Because of You”
from: Washed Up / Enigmatic Brunch Records / June 6, 2026
[New 11-track album was written by Jocelyn Nixon, and recorded, engineered, and mixed by Paul Malinowski at Massive Sounds Studios in Shawnee, Kansas, with Jocelyn Olivia Nixon on lead vocals, piano, rhythm guitar; Andrew Woody on bass; Nick Robertson on drums; and Wills Van Doorn on lead guitars. // Jocelyn Olivia Nixon is lead singer of the band The Creepy Jungles. Jocelyn told Nick Spacek of The Pitch, “that the songs she presents to her bandmates in The Jingles’ songs are poppier stuff, typically, while solo songs are more folky, mellow, weird, and lyrical. Solo work also gives her the opportunity to work with others outside the group. As Nixon explains, “It’s basically a tongue-in-cheek song making fun of hard right conservatives and social cliques who think only their way is ‘right.’” She said, “I felt like I needed something where I can be a bit more vulnerable and naked, I suppose,” the musician says. “I think because Jingles do rock n roll pop songs well, I think I’m kinda boxed in as an artist and singer. This is my way of saying I have many sides to myself as an individual and as an artist, and I can forge my own path and defy expectations.” Jocelyn Nixon’s next single, “Real Deal,” is due later this summer . // The Creepy Jingles released a series of 4 new singles in 2024 including “When Things Go Wrong” on February 23, 2024. // The Creepy Jingles are a Kansas City based, rock and roll band that both honors and defies convention. Led by singer / song-writer Jocelyn Olivia Nixon, a transgender wordsmith who charms with razor wit and dazzles with her lyrical acrobatics. The Creepy Jingles released their album, TAKE ME AT MY WORDPLAY on March 25, 2022 through High Dive Records. Paired up with lyrics centering on themes of identity, strained relationships, social media madness, meme magic, pandemic paranoia, paid off political pundits, backyard bullies and barking up the wrong tree. Everything and the kitchen sink or swim. No stoner left unturned. The Creepy Jingles released their Debut EP on High Dive Records on May 3, 2019. Was in the Top 10 of WMM’s 119 Best Recordings of 2019. ]

Octo Octa – “Eighth Intention (Turn The Wheel)”
from: Sigils For Survival / T4T LUV NRG/ April 30, 2026
[Written and Produced by Maya Bouldry-Morrison. Mastering by Carl at TruTone. Artwork by Hope Morrison. Layout by João Ervedosa // Acclaimed producer, DJ, and dancefloor healer Octo Octa (Maya Bouldry-Morrison) announces her fourth full-length album, Sigils For Survival. Following 2013’s Between Two Selves, 2017’s Where Are We Going?, and 2019’s Resonant Body, the new record marks a decade since Maya publicly came out as transgender in November 2015. // “As an autobiographical artist, I set out to write an album that would be a milestone for this past decade of joy and sorrow,” Maya explains. “Sigils For Survival is my attempt to encapsulate the intentions and techniques that I used to move through life into a spell.” // For each of the record’s eight tracks, Maya drew a sigil. Each is a personal symbol intended to “bind magic to the song and seal its intention.” These drawings appear throughout the physical edition’s design. Maya’s sister, New York artist Hope Morrison, incorporated each sigil into her original paintings, which comprise the album’s vivid artwork. Hope Morrison, whose imagery translates the sigils’ energy into vivid form; the layout was designed by João Ervedosa. // Created entirely on hardware instruments and later mixed in Logic, Sigils For Survival captures the tactile immediacy of live performance. Maya preserved the feel of MIDI-clock drift and off-grid recording, letting her machines interact in the rhythmic pocket, rather than confirming them to a click. Alongside her signature deep, ecstatic electronics, the album features hand-played dulcimer, hand-pan, and recorder. Her voice also returns, carrying spells of love, protection, and transformation. // Across Sigils For Survival, Octo Octa channels the ecstatic house lineage into an intimate ritual space. The music speaks of immediacy, play, and communion — of magic as method, love as survival, and sound as spellcraft. // The album closes with a poem Maya wrote while finishing the record:
I commit my voice to complete this spell
An artifact binding the seal
Pushing the incantation to turn again
In effort now to heal
Alchemical messages spun in song
Wheel open the door
Ten years of finally living life
I’ll fight to conjure more

Sigils For Survival is both a document of ten years lived fully and an invocation for the next chapter — a glowing testament to music’s power to protect, transform, and set the spirit free. ]

11:00 – Station ID

Stephonne – “Papa John”
from: “Papa John (radio edit)” – Single / Glory Blue Music / May 20, 2025
[“Stephonne is reimagining what it means to be a Black musician in Kansas City, disrupting outdated narratives with music that celebrates fluidity, theatricality, and freedom. Their art is multidimensional, relentless, and ambitious, drawing inspiration from other pockets of pop music.” – Lyrical Odyssey // May 20th, 2026 (New York, NY): Fearless alternative/genrequeer singersongwriter, producer and multi-disciplinary artist Stephonne has debuted their new single, “Papa John”. A funky pop art joyride of sexual liberation, they delivers us a sonic smorgasbord. Innuendo laden and cheeky, Parliament meets Doja Cat on a Studio 54 dance floor. Over a percolating beat and playful bass synth, grit, guts and go-go simmer. “Papa John” is inimitably Stephonne. Their artistic voice here is singular, however lushly layered, and the freest we’ve heard it yet.// “In the age of A.I. it’s more important than ever to show up as perfectly imperfect and as fully as possible. Listening to this song is like freebasing me. You’re experiencing me at my purest, loosest, most raw, and in full-on play mode. Every part of creating this song was fun. It felt like a celebration and still does. I’m excited to party with everybody. Right now, we need humor and joy. We need to dance and free ourselves. Revolution can be sexy. It may even be necessary. In the midst of so much pain, it’s easy to forget about pleasure. We aren’t just here to procreate. Please be safe and get tested, but don’t forget to spice up your life. Food is not the only thing that’s better with seasoning, sis. That goes for all of us, no matter the countless ways we separate ourselves. We have more in common than we don’t. God and sex are two of the biggest things we do. God used it to create my gay ass just like He used it to create you. Can we move on to something important? You know, like stopping WWIII and A.I. armageddon? Persecuting LGBTQ people won’t stop either of those or those in power from coming for you next. Unclench, folks. Life is so much more enjoyable. The gays can show you how, honey! We can also show you how to survive, thrive, and persevere because we continue to through it all.” – Stephonne // Stephonne takes the helm as songwriter, producer, and artist again. Recent collaborator, Joseph Price (Third Son) adds his assist to amplify the Kansas City native’s potent lyricism and musical instincts. We’ve stepped into an electronic era, but “Papa John” is still punk. Full of humor and audacity, it also recalls and reimagines funk and disco. “Papa John” will live rent free in your head, long after first listen and leave you hungry for Stephonne’s next delivery .// On February 13, 2026 Stephonne released “Bloody Mary” Written, Produced, and Engineered by Stephonne Singleton, Co-Produced, Mixed and Mastered by Joseph T Price. // On August 15, 2025 Stephonne released “Worship at the Chappell: Co-written with Shawn M. Stewart and produced with Patrick Meagher, the song is a declaration of power, pleasure, and pride—a sonic celebration of being fully and freely oneself. “Worship at the Chappell” is a bold, genre-bending anthem from Kansas City artist Stephonne—an electrifying fusion of disco, pop, and gospel spirit. Inspired by fellow Missouri native Chappell Roan, the track transforms the dance floor into a sanctuary for queer joy, spiritual liberation, and unapologetic self-love. With soaring vocals, provocative lyrics, and infectious grooves, Stephonne delivers a soulful sermon for the marginalized. // Stephonne describes himself as the lovechild of Prince & Billie Holiday. He grew up in KCK and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music from Benedictine College, and Masters in Entertainment Business from Full Sail University. Stephonne is a 2023 winner of the Charlotte Street Generative Performing Arts Fellows. // Stephonne is an Alternative/Genrequeer singer-songwriter, cultural producer, and generative performing artist from Kansas City, MO. They synthesize music, written/spoken word, performance and visual art/media into an inimitable art. They share their struggles, triumphs, and journey to self-love through multidisciplinary performance and have sent audiences on visceral and experiential journeys through a multitude of music and video releases since 2015. Bold new 2025 singles and videos continue to push boundaries! New experiences, both sonic and visual, await us from the upcoming sophomore LP, STEPHONNE. // Singer, songwriter, actor, model, artist, activist – Stephonne Singleton keeps very busy, serving as a board member of KC Folk Fest, organizing tribute shows, playing: music festivals, Charlotte Street Foundation, Lemonade Park, Lawrence Pride, Manor Records, Midwest Music Foundation, The AIDS Service Foundation of KC, InterUrban ArtHouse, Crossroads Music Fest, The Black Box, The Folly Theatre, and West 18th Street Fashion Show. Stephonne released his EP SIS: Side B on June 24, 2022. Stephonne released the single “I” on August 21, 2024. Stephonne released the single “I think its Gonna Be Alright” I April 2025. Stephonne released the single, Forgive Me, Father (Sinead O’Connor) on May 21, 2025. // More info at: http://www.stephonne.com]

11:03 – Interview with Stephonne

Stephonne returns to discuss his new single, “Papa John” released May 20, 2026. Stephonne released “Bloody Mary” on February 13, 2026 written, produced, & engineered by Stephonne Singleton, co-produced, mixed and mastered by Joseph T Price. Stephonne released “Worship at the Chappell” On August 15, 2025. Co-written with Shawn M. Stewart and produced with Patrick Meagher. Inspired by fellow Missouri native Chappell Roan, the track transforms the dance floor into a sanctuary for queer joy, spiritual liberation, and unapologetic self-love. Stephonne describes himself as the lovechild of Prince & Billie Holiday. He grew up in KCK and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music from Benedictine College, and Masters in Entertainment Business from Full Sail University. Stephonne is a 2023 recipient of the Charlotte Street Generative Performing Arts Fellows.

“Stephonne is reimagining what it means to be a Black musician in Kansas City, disrupting outdated narratives with music that celebrates fluidity, theatricality, and freedom. Their art is multidimensional, relentless, and ambitious, drawing inspiration from other pockets of pop music.” – Lyrical Odyssey

Stephonne thanks or being with us on WMM

May 20th, 2026 (New York, NY): Fearless alternative/genrequeer singersongwriter, producer and multi-disciplinary artist Stephonne has debuted their new single, “Papa John”. A funky pop art joyride of sexual liberation, they delivers us a sonic smorgasbord. Innuendo laden and cheeky, Parliament meets Doja Cat on a Studio 54 dance floor. Over a percolating beat and playful bass synth, grit, guts and go-go simmer. “Papa John” is inimitably Stephonne. Their artistic voice here is singular, however lushly layered, and the freest we’ve heard it yet.

“In the age of A.I. it’s more important than ever to show up as perfectly imperfect and as fully as possible. Listening to this song is like freebasing me. You’re experiencing me at my purest, loosest, most raw, and in full-on play mode. Every part of creating this song was fun. It felt like a celebration and still does. I’m excited to party with everybody. Right now, we need humor and joy. We need to dance and free ourselves. Revolution can be sexy. It may even be necessary. In the midst of so much pain, it’s easy to forget about pleasure. We aren’t just here to procreate. Please be safe and get tested, but don’t forget to spice up your life. Food is not the only thing that’s better with seasoning, sis. That goes for all of us, no matter the countless ways we separate ourselves. We have more in common than we don’t. God and sex are two of the biggest things we do. God used it to create my gay ass just like He used it to create you.

Can we move on to something important? You know, like stopping WWIII and A.I. armageddon? Persecuting LGBTQ people won’t stop either of those or those in power from coming for you next. Unclench, folks. Life is so much more enjoyable. The gays can show you how, honey! We can also show you how to survive, thrive, and persevere because we continue to through it all.” – Stephonne

On February 13, 2026 Stephonne released “Bloody Mary” Written, Produced, and Engineered by Stephonne Singleton, Co-Produced, Mixed and Mastered by Joseph T Price.

11:12

Stephonne – “Bloody Mary”
from: “Bloody Mary” – Single / Glory Blue Music / February 13, 2026
[Rebellious genre-queer singer-songwriter, producer and multi-disciplinary artist Stephonne has debuted their new single, “Bloody Mary”. The slinky alt-electronic/pop track drips with erotic esotericism. It’s influenced by bands like Portishead, Garbage, She Wants Revenge, and Erotica – Bedtime Stories era Madonna. Stephonne writes, “I was playing Angel in RENT and heard about D’Angelo’s passing right before Halloween. The cast finally had a break from back-to-back shows and my sadness drove me to create that night and remember the power of Voodoo. 25 years later and that album’s energy is still just as potent. I turned on the Devil’s Pie documentary and this track fell from the heavens. “Bloody Mary” was also birthed from my love of witches, New Orleans, Anne Rice’s vampires, and 90s alternative music and nostalgia. I’m telling a story in a new way where I don’t have to choose between being gothic, nerdy, or provocative. I get to be all of those things and more on this record. There’s some very inspiring art coming from artists like JMSN, Slayyyter, and Charli xcx that gives me hope we are finally ready to let our freak flags fly at full mast again. Thank God!” // “Bloody Mary” plays like a Tarantino directed erotic thriller that injects dance floor fever and grunge edge. The clever wordplay and melody we’ve come to expect from Stephonne don’t take a backseat to theatricality here. All three drive Stephonne’s purpose-driven production and vocal power to new heights. Slick, cinematic, dangerous and glossy, this track a must-listen. // Stephonne writes, “Electronic music has helped me take up more space as an artist. I’ll always pledge allegiance to rock music, but I’ve loved experimenting more, letting go, and trusting the music as I hear it first. Listeners are getting more of me in every aspect of my releases and that feels good. I’m understanding my assignment more clearly, sonically, and I’m excited to showcase that through new visuals and LIVE!” // Lyrical Odyssey writes: “Stephonne is reimagining what it means to be a Black musician in Kansas City, disrupting outdated narratives with music that celebrates fluidity, theatricality, and freedom. Their art is multidimensional, relentless, and ambitious, drawing inspiration from other pockets of pop music.” // Stephonne describes himself as the lovechild of Prince & Billie Holiday. He grew up in KCK and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music from Benedictine College, and Masters in Entertainment Business from Full Sail University. Stephonne is a 2023 winner of the Charlotte Street Generative Performing Arts Fellows. // Stephonne works to synthesize music, written/spoken word, performance and visual art/media into an inimitable art. They share their struggles, triumphs, and journey to self-love through multidisciplinary performance and have sent audiences on visceral and experiential journeys through a multitude of music and video releases. // Stephonne keeps very busy, serving as a board member of KC Folk Fest, organizing tribute shows, playing: music festivals, Charlotte Street Foundation, Lemonade Park, Lawrence Pride, Manor Records, Midwest Music Foundation, The AIDS Service Foundation of KC, InterUrban ArtHouse, Crossroads Music Fest, The Black Box, The Folly Theatre, and West 18th Street Fashion Show. Stephonne released his EP SIS: Side B on June 24, 2022. Stephonne released the single “I” on August 21, 2024. Stephonne released the single “I think it’s Gonna Be Alright” on April 2025. Stephonne released the single, Forgive Me, Father (Sinead O’Connor) on May 21, 2025. Stephonne released the single, “Worship at The Chappell” co-written with Shawn M. Stewart and produced with Patrick Meagher, the song is a declaration of power, pleasure, and pride—a sonic celebration of being fully and freely oneself. “Worship at the Chappell” is a bold, genre-bending anthem from Kansas City artist Stephonne—an electrifying fusion of disco, pop, and gospel spirit. Inspired by fellow Missouri native Chappell Roan, the track transforms the dance floor into a sanctuary for queer joy, spiritual liberation, and unapologetic self-love. With soaring vocals, provocative lyrics, and infectious grooves, Stephonne delivers a soulful sermon for the marginalized. // Stephonne was on WMM on Sept 10, 2025 before his run in RENT playing Angel for Music Theatre Heritage. http://www.stephonne.com]

11:16 – More Interview with Stephonne

Stephonne thanks for being with us on WMM

Stephonne Singleton keeps very busy, serving as a board member of KC Folk Fest, organizing tribute shows, playing: music festivals, Charlotte Street Foundation, Lemonade Park, Lawrence Pride, Manor Records, Midwest Music Foundation, The AIDS Service Foundation of KC, InterUrban ArtHouse, Crossroads Music Fest, The Black Box, The Folly Theatre, and West 18th Street Fashion Show. Stephonne released his EP SIS: Side B on June 24, 2022. He also released the single “I” on August 21, 2024. Stephonne is a 2023 winner of the Charlotte Street Generative Performing Arts Fellows. More info at: http://www.stephonne.com

Stephonne Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

Along with your work with KC Folk Fest, you have also worked with Charlotte Street Foundation, Lemonade Park, Lawrence Pride, Manor Records, Midwest Music Foundation, The AIDS Service Foundation of KC, InterUrban ArtHouse, Crossroads Music Fest, The Black Box, The Folly Theatre, and West 18th Street Fashion Show.

Stephonne is a 2023 winner of the Charlotte Street Generative Performing Arts Fellows.

Each Charlotte Street Generative Performing Artist Award receives an unrestricted cash grant of $10,000, recognition by Charlotte Street at the time of the award announcement and throughout 2023. The 2023 Charlotte Street Generative Performing Artist Awards recognize two exceptional artists in the fields of dance, theatre, music, opera, sound art, performance art, multimedia performance, spoken word, puppetry or hybrid performance-based forms. Along with Stephonne Singleton and Tiara Nicole was the other recipients of the 2023 Generative Performing Artist Awards. Since 1997, 29 performing artists and 106 visual artists in the Kansas City region have received this highly regarded award.

All of the 2023 Charlotte Street Award Fellows were selected through competitive processes beginning with open calls for applications from artists based in the five-county Kansas City Metro Area. Artist selections were made by a panel of jurors consisting of renowned and qualified arts professionals. Jurors participated in interviews, presentations, and studio visits, resulting in the selection of 10 finalists for the Generative Performing Artists Awards and 12 finalists for the Visual Artist Awards.

Stephonne’s Statement:

As a generative performance artist and musician, my music is a result of radical and unconditional love that I have for my life and human connection. That love persists, despite living in a world that relishes my artistic contributions but not the color of my skin nor my queerness. It is within this relentless predicament that I find myself, my melodies, and my lyrics. I share my struggles, triumphs, and journey to self-love through performance. I create music and live experiences that break through the boxes of race, gender, social status and genre so that others may see their reflection in my art. All of my musical influences come together to create something inimitable but familiar. Music has always understood me and It is through music that I continue to define and understand myself. I want my audience to feel accepted and understood by my art, to feel seen – and then to better understand themselves and those around them.

Stephonne Thanks for being with us on Wednesday MidDay Medley

More info at: http://www.stephonne.com

11:25

Stephonne – “Worship at the Chappell”
from: “Worship at the Chappell” – Single / Glory Blue Music / August 15, 2025
[Co-written with Shawn M. Stewart and produced with Patrick Meagher, the song is a declaration of power, pleasure, and pride—a sonic celebration of being fully and freely oneself. “Worship at the Chappell” is a bold, genre-bending anthem from Kansas City artist Stephonne—an electrifying fusion of disco, pop, and gospel spirit. Inspired by fellow Missouri native Chappell Roan, the track transforms the dance floor into a sanctuary for queer joy, spiritual liberation, and unapologetic self-love. With soaring vocals, provocative lyrics, and infectious grooves, Stephonne delivers a soulful sermon for the marginalized. // Stephonne describes himself as the lovechild of Prince & Billie Holiday. He grew up in KCK and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music from Benedictine College, and Masters in Entertainment Business from Full Sail University. Stephonne is a 2023 winner of the Charlotte Street Generative Performing Arts Fellows. // Stephonne is an Alternative/Genrequeer singer-songwriter, cultural producer, and generative performing artist from Kansas City, MO. They synthesize music, written/spoken word, performance and visual art/media into an inimitable art. They share their struggles, triumphs, and journey to self-love through multidisciplinary performance and have sent audiences on visceral and experiential journeys through a multitude of music and video releases since 2015. Bold new 2025 singles and videos continue to push boundaries! New experiences, both sonic and visual, await us from the upcoming sophomore LP, STEPHONNE. // Singer, songwriter, actor, model, artist, activist – Stephonne Singleton keeps very busy, serving as a board member of KC Folk Fest, organizing tribute shows, playing: music festivals, Charlotte Street Foundation, Lemonade Park, Lawrence Pride, Manor Records, Midwest Music Foundation, The AIDS Service Foundation of KC, InterUrban ArtHouse, Crossroads Music Fest, The Black Box, The Folly Theatre, and West 18th Street Fashion Show. Stephonne released his EP SIS: Side B on June 24, 2022. Stephonne released the single “I” on August 21, 2024. Stephonne released the single “I think its Gonna Be Alright” I April 2025. Stephonne released the single, Forgive Me, Father (Sinead O’Connor) on May 21, 2025. // Stephonne was on WMMon Sept 10, 2025 before his run in RENT playing Angel for Music Theatre Heritage. More info at: http://www.stephonne.com]

11:27 – Underwriting

David Bowie – “Young Americans – Single version”
from: Young Americans / RCA Records / March 7, 1975
[Young Americans is the ninth studio album by the English musician David Bowie, released on 7 March 1975 through RCA Records. A departure from the glam rock style of previous albums, the record showcased Bowie’s interest in soul and R&B. Music critics have described the sound as blue-eyed soul; Bowie himself labelled the album’s sound “plastic soul”. // Recording sessions began at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia in August 1974, after the first leg of Bowie’s Diamond Dogs Tour. The record was produced by Tony Visconti, and includes a variety of musicians, such as the guitarist Carlos Alomar, who became one of Bowie’s most frequent collaborators, and the backing vocalists Ava Cherry, Robin Clark and then-unknown singer Luther Vandross. As the tour continued the setlist and design began to incorporate the influence of the new material. The recording sessions continued at the Record Plant in New York City at the tour’s end. A collaboration between Bowie and John Lennon yielded a cover of Lennon’s Beatles song “Across the Universe” and an original, “Fame”, during a January 1975 session at Electric Lady Studios, produced by Harry Maslin. The album’s cover artwork is a back-lit photograph of Bowie taken by Eric Stephen Jacobs. // Young Americans was Bowie’s breakthrough in the US, reaching the top 10 on the Billboard chart; “Fame” became Bowie’s first number one hit single. Bowie continued developing its sound on Station to Station (1976). Young Americans has received mixed critical reviews on release and in later decades; Bowie himself had mixed feelings about the album. However, the album proved influential, as Bowie was one of the first white artists of the era to overtly engage with newly emerging black musical styles; other British artists followed suit. The album has been reissued multiple times with outtakes, and was remastered in 2016 as part of the Who Can I Be Now? (1974–1976) box set. // David Bowie released his eighth studio album Diamond Dogs in May 1974. His final album in the glam rock genre, it contained two songs, “Rock ‘n’ Roll with Me” and “1984”, that exhibit elements of funk and soul, which predicted the musical direction for Bowie’s next project. While his interest in soul music dated back to his mod days in the mid-1960s, he began listening to soul records extensively and incorporating soul material into his live sets. In July, towards the end of the first leg of his Diamond Dogs Tour, he performed covers of the soul songs “Knock on Wood” by Eddie Floyd and “Here Today and Gone Tomorrow” by the Ohio Players for shows in Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania; these shows were recorded and released on the live album David Live in October 1974. Bowie had grown tired of the tour’s lavish set-pieces and theatricality and was ready to fully embrace black soul music. // In early 1974, Bowie met the funk guitarist Carlos Alomar, an Apollo Theater session musician who had played with James Brown, Chuck Berry and Wilson Pickett. One of Bowie’s favourite records was Brown’s Live at the Apollo (1963), so meeting a musician who played at the Apollo meant a lot to him. Alomar had never heard of Bowie when they met, but they immediately connected and formed a working relationship that would last almost 15 years; Alomar became Bowie’s guide into American black music. // While in Pennsylvania, Bowie visited Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia to work on recordings with the American musician Ava Cherry.Sigma Sound was the home of Philadelphia soul and the favourite studio of the writer-producer duo Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff; the two had co-founded Philadelphia International Records, the home of many well-known black American musicians. At the end of the first leg of the tour, Bowie returned to New York City to mix David Live, listening to various black albums in preparation for his return to Sigma Sound. // Young Americans features backing vocals from Luther Vandross (pictured in 1985), a then-unknown singer from New York City. For the backing band, Bowie wanted to hire MFSB (“Mother Father Sister Brother”), Sigma Sound’s house band of over 30 session musicians. Due to conflicting schedules, all members were unavailable except the percussionist Larry Washington, so Bowie went to New York City for further recruitment. Mike Garson (piano), David Sanborn (saxophone) and Pablo Rosario (percussion) were retained from the Diamond Dogs Tour, while Earl Slick was replaced by Alomar on guitar. At Alomar’s suggestion, Bowie hired Andy Newmark, a former member of Sly and the Family Stone, and Willie Weeks of the Isley Brothers to replace Tony Newman and Herbie Flowers on drums and bass, respectively. The producer Tony Visconti joined the project immediately after Bowie informed him of Weeks’ involvement;[1][9] Visconti co-produced much of Bowie’s work for the rest of the decade. Cherry, Alomar’s wife Robin Clark, then-unknown singer Luther Vandross, Anthony Hinton and Diane Sumler performed backing vocals for the sessions.

[David Brighton’s SPACE ODDITY, The Quintessential David Bowie Tribute Experience, presented by The Folly Theater, Friday, June 5, at 7:30pm. For more information you can visit: http://www.follytheater.org]

11:32 – Interview with David Brighton

David Brighton brings SPACE ODDITY, The Quintessential David Bowie Tribute Experience, presented to The Folly Theater, this Friday, June 5, at 7:30pm.

Brighton, the leader & founder of SPACE ODDITY has been portraying David Bowie since 2001 and has garnered praise from some of Bowie’s closest companions over the years.

Harry Maslin, the producer of David Bowie’s YOUNG AMERICANS and STATION TO STATION albums has said that, “David Brighton has the voice, moves and look to actually step in for David Bowie if he were unavailable and few would ever know. Experiencing Space Oddity made for a truly remarkable evening”

Brighton’s credits include performing side by side with David Bowie himself in the TV commercials for Vittel Mineral Water and for Reality – Bowie’s CD. Brighton has performed as a resident cast member of the world famous Legends In Concert – the Las Vegas production show. He was also cast to portray David Bowie in the Warner Brothers feature film, The Watchmen. He also appeared as David Bowie on VH-1 television as well as in international pop star Shakira’s concert video.

David Brighton and his amazing band deliver a stunning note-for note theatrical concert event… transporting today’s audiences back in time through some of the most exciting moments in the history of Rock music. Space Oddity – The Quintessential David Bowie Tribute Experience is a live, multi-media spectacle that takes you on a musical journey through the constantly metamorphosing career of Rock and Roll’s most celebrated innovator. For more information you can visit: http://www.follytheater.org

David Brighton Thanks for being with us on WMM

Bowie is not the first celebrity David has portrayed, he also played George Harrison.

Bowie fans have such deep and personal feelings about their musical hero. Mark: “For me personally as a queer kid growing up in a small town in Nebraska, Bowie was the crack in the sky and the hand reaching down to me, allowing me to accept myself in a world that didn’t always feel accepting.” These are the shoes David steps into when he performs Bowie.

The first David Bowie song David Brighton ever heard was “Panic in Detroit” from Aladdin Sane

David Brighton talked about being a “Bowie kid”: “I heard him on the radio, and there was nothing like that. It was, like you said earlier, he’s just completely unique. He worked with also some of the greatest musicians on the planet, and he is a true collaborator with his musicians. If you listen to albums with Mick Ronson on them, Mick was an enormous part of the music. Mike Garson, Trevor Bolder, and the rest; they’re all completely contributing, and each different band does the same. So, it’s a really fascinating body of work. So yes, I was always [a ‘Bowie kid’]–once I heard it, I was in. I went back and bought all the records that were before I knew about them.”

Being a ‘Bowie kid’ is a feeling that really only fellow ‘Bowie kids’ understand.

David Brighton: “Where I live, [there are] so many musicians [for whom] Bowie is one of their favorites. And I suppose when I first discovered him, I might have been one of the few, you know, but I don’t know. I’ve analyzed it, you know; what is it about whoever we gravitate toward musically? It’s not just the music that we gravitate toward, it is something subconscious or primal or something going on under the surface that attracts us to certain things and characters. And what is it? And I think with Bowie, it’s the sense of alienation, perhaps, and overcoming that. You don’t think about that consciously when you’re just listening or watching, but it’s woven into the fabric of what he did. It’s like this space-age rock and roll alien, Ziggy Stardust. I mean, what does all that mean? And I think it, like I said, it ties in this whole sense of alienation and perhaps overcoming it and finding connection, human connection. But anyway, it’s an interesting community. I just know so but like I said, in LA I just know so many people love Bowie and always did.”

David Brighton worked with David Bowie himself on a 2003 Vittel bottled water commercial.

David Brighton makes several costume changes through the show as you take the audience through the many different identities of Bowie: Ziggy, The Thin White Duke, Let’s Dance, …

David Brighton wears almost exact replicas of some of Bowie’s various costumes from across many of his eras.

David Brighton has said that when he is on stage as Bowie he tried not to think, but concentrate more on the flow..

Mark Manning: “Doing Bowie is not easy. Kansas City has a Bowie Tribute band who gather to do huge concerts around the time of Bowie’s Birthday every year. Their 12 piece band has two lead vocalist to cover Bowie’s arc of music. The lyrics are challenging, the music is challenging.”

Brighton has performed worldwide on bills with some of the biggest acts the world has known, including: Morrissey, Elton John, Devo, Smash Mouth, Stevie Wonder, Kenny Loggins, Three Dog Night, Chicago, Little Richard and Barry Manilow. Brighton has performed at events for Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver… Brooke Shields, Dustin Hoffman, Sylvester Stallone, Jay Leno, David Foster, Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas, Barbara Streisand, Quincy Jones, Nicholas Cage… to name a few.

David and the Space Oddity band have been performing throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and Europe – having just returned from touring Finland, Germany, Estonia, Belgium, France, The Netherlands, Spain, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Portugal, Israel, New Zealand and China…

“David Brighton’s charisma keeps the audience mesmerized and his vocals are flawless… His likeness to Bowie is eerie… The crowd actually gasped in amazement as he took the stage… you wondered if it wasn’t really Bowie himself…What Brighton and band give is nothing short of the opportunity to go back in time…” – The LA Review

David began his musical career as a professional guitarist…playing lead guitar with a number of popular recording artists. His stint as a sideman began with a phone call from Kevin Dubrow from Quiet Riot. Dubrow tapped David to replace Randy Rhoads.

David also enjoyed portraying George Harrison around the world with a number of the world’s top Beatle groups, including: Rain, The Stars of Beatlemania, The Fab Four, 1964, Twist And Shout, Classical Mystery Tour, and When We Were Fab.

“David Bowie has worked with David Brighton…What does that tell you about the credibility of a tribute artist?” -Las Vegas Review Journal

SPACE ODDITY BAND MEMBERS

PAUL NELSON on Lead Guitar / Vocals
Paul’s original songs have been featured on television and in films, including the Academy Award winning – The Usual Suspects, HBO, Showtime, CBS and ABC. Paul also toured with surf legends Jan and Dean. With Space Oddity, Paul brilliantly reproduces some of rock music’s greatest guitar players’ feel and sounds (including Mick Ronson, Robert Fripp and Stevie Ray Vaughn) and the vocal stylings of vocalists as diverse as Freddie Mercury (Under Pressure) and Mick Jagger (Dancing In The Street).

SWITCH 0n Lead Guitar / Background Vocals
Switch is an award-winning guitarist and recording artist from Winnipeg Canada. He studied at the Royal Conservatory of Music before traveling to Hollywood to enroll at the Guitar Institute of Technology. He graduated first class honors where the school dubbed him a “Success Story.” A sought after session and touring musician, Switch has appeared with many major artists, including; Nancy Sinatra, Gene Loves Jezebel, The Bay City Rollers and Berlin.

TRENT STROH on Bass Guitar / Background Vocals
Trent Stroh is a highly respected multi instrumentalist/vocalist who toured and recorded with for six years with Eddie Money. He also toured with the classic acoustic/pop/rock super group America, Nancy Sinatra and pop hit makers, Air Supply. Trent has made numerous TV appearances on ABC, NBC, BBC and can be heard on many commercial jingles as well. Trent’s uncanny ability to reproduce the otherworldly bass lines in David Bowie’s music makes him the perfect choice for Space Oddity.

DANA DECKER on Bass Guitar / Background Vocals
Dana Decker is a highly regarded music professional who has toured with the Pussy Cat Dolls, Toni Basil and Vonda Shepard. In addition to his work as a touring musician, he has worked as an arranger, producer, musical director, recording artist and an instructor. Dana’s uncanny ability to reproduce the otherworldly bass lines in David Bowie’s music makes him the perfect choice for Space Oddity.

MONICA SCHNEIDER on Keyboards / Vocals / Percussion
Monica has been performing since the age of eight. She started out working in musical theater; touring the US with various theaters/companies, and is a long time member of the Troubadour Theatre Company. She was a principle vocalist in one of the longest running shows in Las Vegas – Ballys’ Jubilee, and performed as a singing and dancing member of the Satin Dollz with the Jive Aces. Monica has also regularly lent her background vocal skills to members of such legendary groups as The Sweet, Quiet Riot, Survivor, The Who, and many others.

JENNIFER BLACKWELL 0n Keyboards / Vocals / Percussion
Jennifer Blackwell has an extensive background in voice, music, dance and theater. She has had the fortune of combining her passions of performing and traveling the globe while working for some of the industry’s top companies…. Including: Tokyo Disneyland, Princess Cruise Lines, Disney Cruise Lines and the Hilton Hotel in Osaka, Japan. When she is not touring with this amazing troupe of musician/performers, she can be found performing at the Disneyland Resort in multiple roles, as well as being a facilitator and trainer for the Disney Youth Education Series.
‘
BROOKE LAMBKIN on Keyboards / Vocals / Percussion
Since her teens, award winning vocalist/keyboardist/songwriter, Brooke Lambkin has been working with some of the music industry’s top professionals. As a songwriter and a singer, she has performed with groups that opened for Cheap Trick, Pat Benatar, Fleetwood Mac and others. She performed for Disney and has sung on several records, including her own.

TY DENNIS on Drums
Ty was hand picked by rock legends Robby Krieger and Ray Manzarek, to replace drumming icon Stewart Copeland, in their reformed version of The Doors, known as The Doors of the 21st Century. Ty also spent time drumming for the The Motels (featuring Martha Davis), Firebug, Chuck Negron (Three Dog Night), and has shared the stage with Alice Cooper, Alex Lifeson, Richie Sambora, and Ian Astbury (The Cult) . Ty’s TV appearances include the Carson Daly Show, The Craig Kilborn Show, MTV Japan, PBS’s Front & Center, VH1 Classics, and VH1′s ‘Decades Live’.

RYAN BROWN on Drums
Ryan brings his signature versatility to Bowie’s wide ranging catalog. A seasoned, in-demand live and session player, Ryan has toured the world with Frank Zappa’s son Dweezil’s, Zappa Plays Zappa, and can be heard on recordings by David Bowie, Foreigner, Bo Bice, Clay Aiken, Hannah Montana, Circus Diablo, Nick Lachey, Jesse McCartney, Heather Graham, Suzie McNeil as well as many other recording artists. He also played on numerous Hans Zimmer’s movie soundtracks – including Kung Fu Panda and The Dark Knight. Ryan has made numerous television and movie appearances as well.

“David Brighton is brave. To put on a David Bowie act is dangerous. To emulate such a musical genius, a one-of-a-kind persona, is artistic suicide. You either nail it or die. There is no grey area. Brighton and his band arrived in Montreal on Thursday evening. Music is a big deal in this city. Concert-goers forking out their dough are pretty knowledgeable. Brighton is ripe for criticism. Miss a note, flub a lyric – the artist may as well head across the street and cry to a Transgender person at Club Cleopatra. Brighton and his band practically nailed it from the get-go. Brighton’s uncanny resemblance…along with his perfect Bowie moves and voice, filled with the right pitches and tones for all of Bowie’s catalogue….made the most vigilant Bowie fan sit up straight. It was a celebration of Bowie’s genius. There was something for every generation and Brighton (and his band) emulated Bowie to perfection in each one. Paul Nelson (guitar/ vocals), Switch (guitar/vocals), Trent Stroh (bass/vocals), Ryan Brown (drums/percussion) and Brooke Naughton (Vocals, Keyboards, Percussion) performed like aliens. Superhero efforts in duplicating the Bowie sound. The entire ‘night out’ was a history lesson in music. No matter the decade, Brighton made it obvious. Bowie was a flower. A performer ahead of his time as a musician, a songwriter and an actor both on stage and off. David Brighton is a seed from that flower. Firmly planted and displaying his beauty through voice, charisma and an obvious love for Bowie. David Brighton is proof. THERE IS LIFE ON MARS.” – Rick Keene Music Scene.

David Brighton Thanks for being with us on WMM

David Brighton’s SPACE ODDITY, The Quintessential David Bowie Tribute Experience, presented by The Folly Theater, is this Friday, June 5, at 7:30pm. For more information you can visit: http://www.follytheater.org

11:49

David Bowie – “Changes”
from: Hunky Dory / RCA – (Rykodisk – Virgin – Sony – EMI – Columbia ISO) / Dec. 17, 1971
[After Bowie’s third studio album, The Man Who Sold the World was released in the United States through Mercury Records in November 1970. The album sold poorly but fared better both critically and commercially in the US than in the UK. It was played on American radio stations frequently and its “heavy rock content” increased interest in Bowie. The critical success of the album prompted Mercury to send Bowie on a promotional radio tour of the US in February 1971. The trip inspired him to write tribute songs for three American icons: artist Andy Warhol, singer-songwriter Bob Dylan and the rock band the Velvet Underground, more specifically their singer Lou Reed. After the tour, Bowie returned to his apartment in Haddon Hall, Beckenham, where he recorded many of his early 1970s demos, and began writing. According to his then-wife Angela, Bowie had spent time composing songs on piano rather than acoustic guitar, which would “infuse the flavour of the new album”. In total, he composed over three-dozen songs there, many of which would appear on Hunky Dory and its follow-up album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. // Hunky Dory is the fourth studio album by the English musician David Bowie, released in the United Kingdom on 17 December 1971 through RCA Records. Following the release of his 1970 album, The Man Who Sold the World, Bowie took time off from recording and touring. He settled down to write new songs, composing on piano rather than guitar as on earlier tracks. Following a tour of the United States, Bowie assembled a new backing band consisting of guitarist Mick Ronson, bassist Trevor Bolder and drummer Mick Woodmansey, and began to record a new album in mid-1971 at Trident Studios in London. Future Yes member Rick Wakeman contributed on piano. Bowie co-produced the album with Ken Scott, who had engineered Bowie’s previous two records. // Compared to the guitar-driven hard rock sound of The Man Who Sold the World, Bowie opted for a warmer, more melodic piano-based pop rock and art pop style on Hunky Dory. His lyrical concerns on the record range from the compulsive nature of artistic reinvention on “Changes”, to occultism and Nietzschean philosophy on “Oh! You Pretty Things” and “Quicksand”; several songs make cultural and literary references. He was also inspired by his stateside tour to write songs dedicated to three American icons: Andy Warhol, Bob Dylan and Lou Reed. The song “Kooks” was dedicated to Bowie’s newborn son Duncan. The album’s cover artwork, photographed in monochrome and subsequently recoloured, features Bowie in a pose inspired by actresses of the Hollywood Golden Age. // Upon release, Hunky Dory and its lead single “Changes” received little promotion from RCA who were wary that Bowie would transform his image shortly. Thus, despite very positive reviews from the British and American music press, the album initially sold poorly and failed to chart. It was only after the commercial breakthrough of Bowie’s 1972 follow-up album Ziggy Stardust that Hunky Dory itself became a commercial success, peaking at number three on the UK Albums Chart. Retrospectively, Hunky Dory has been critically acclaimed as one of Bowie’s best works, and features on several lists of the greatest albums of all time. Within the context of his career, it is considered to be the album where “Bowie starts to become Bowie”, definitively discovering his voice and style.]

[David Brighton’s SPACE ODDITY, The Quintessential David Bowie Tribute Experience, presented by The Folly Theater, is this Friday, June 5, at 7:30pm. For more information you can visit: http://www.follytheater.org]

. Joe Jackson – “It’s Different For Girls”
from: I’m The Man / A&M / October 5, 1979
[“It’s Different for Girls” is a song by Joe Jackson appearing on his 1979 album, I’m the Man. The song has since become one of his most successful singles, being the highest charting Joe Jackson single in the UK. Covers have been recorded and released by several artists. // “It’s Different for Girls” contained lyrics that feature Jackson “deliberately turn[ing] clichés on their head” in that, while originally sounding as if the song would suggest that the male protagonist was looking for sex and his female partner was looking for love, the opposite is revealed to be the case. Jackson later said on the song’s lyrics: It was something that I heard somewhere that struck me as a cliché. The sort of thing that someone might say. And again, I thought, What could that be about? And that maybe the idea was to turn it on its head and have a conversation between a man and a woman and what you’d expect to be the typical roles are reversed. So that was the idea of that. — Joe Jackson, Songfacts, 2012 // Taken from the Gold-certified 1979 album I’m the Man, “It’s Different for Girls” was Joe Jackson’s biggest UK chart single, peaking at #5 in the UK Singles Chart and #101 in Billboard. The song was backed with another track from I’m the Man, “Friday,” in Britain, but in America, a live cover of the Chuck Berry song “Come On” was used instead. // I’m the Man is the second album by English musician Joe Jackson, released in October 1979. Released shortly after Jackson’s breakthrough debut, Look Sharp!, I’m the Man saw Jackson continue the style of his earlier album. Singles from the album included “I’m the Man” and “It’s Different for Girls”, the latter of which was his biggest UK chart single, peaking at number five on the UK Singles Chart. // I’m the Man was re-released in 2001 with one bonus track, a live version of “Come On”. “Come On” was originally released as the B-side to Jackson’s single “I’m the Man”, also issued in October 1979.]

[Joe Jackson and his band play their Hope and Fury Tour 2026 at The Uptown Theater, 3700 Broadway, KCMO on Tuesday, June 9, at 8:00pm.]

Noel Coward – “The Party’s Over Now”
from: Noel Coward in New York / drg / 2003 [orig. 1957]

Next week, on Wednesday, June 10 members of the band Say That Again join us to share their newest singles.

Also joining Mark as special co-hosts for the entire show are: Mará Rose Williams of The Kansas City Star. She has served as a member of the Star’s Editorial Board and is an award-winning columnist. She was a writer on The Star’s 2020 “Truth in Black amd White” project, and the recipient of the 2021 Eleanor McClatchy Award for exemplary leadership skills and transformative journalism. Mara Rose Williams was the creator host and producer of Voices of Kansas City and award winning special series creatred by the KC Star with KKFI.

Also joining us is D. Rashaan Gilmore host pf “Unbossed and Unbothered with D. Rashaan Gilmore,” on KKFI on Saturdays at 5:00pm. D. Rashaan Gilmore is a two-time Emmy Award winning host and producer of Flatland In Focus on KCPBS. D Rashaan is Founder and President/CEO at BlaqOut KC, which seeks to organize and mobilize the black, gay community in Kansas City and develop a leadership core. Gilmore has previously managed multiple significant HIV/ AIDS awareness and prevention grants for the KC CARE Clinic.

And Rev Dwight Frizzell is a Professor & Sound Head, at Kansas City Art Institute, – Photography & Filmmaking Dept. with a Terminal Degree in Sound Design. Dwight is an internationally recognized artist whose work combines video, performance, installation, music, audio art, and writing. Frizzell’s work about his boyhood neighbor, Harry S. Truman, was featured in the Peabody-awarded “Lost and Found Sound” series broadcast on National Public Radio. Frizzell has produced an opera based on the life of Charles Darwin. In addition to his B.F.A. degree from KCAI, he holds a terminal fine arts degree in Sound Design from the UMKC. Dwight Frizzell, is a founder of the “groovy polyphonic jazz/dance” band, Black Crack Revue, now in their 43rd year. Dwight Frizzell is also an Arif, with Moorish Orthodox Church, and served at First Editor, The Pitch, he is a founding member of the newEar contemporary chamber ensemble, and is host & producer of “From Arc To Microchip” heard on the fifth Thursday of each month on KKFI’s Thursday Night Special at 7:00pm on 90.1 FM.

Dwight’s new piece–Before the Big Bang– for 100 speakers opens at the Unicorn Theater on the evening of June 10 as part of the Sound Mandala.

Mará Williams, D. Rashaan Gilmore and Dwight Frizzell will help co-host for our Summer On-Air-Fund Drive. We will need to hear from YOU our listeners to support Community Radio. Please call 888-931-0901 during the show so we can say your name over the airwave

You can find our playlists at: http://www.wednesdaymiddaymedley.org & http://www.kkfi.org
http://www.facebook.com/WednesdayMidDayMedleyon90.1FM
http://www.instagram.wednesday_midday_medley

Thank you to KKFI Staff: Executive Director – Bess Wallerstein-Huff, Chief Operator – Chad Brothers, Director of Development & Communications – J Kelly Dougherty, Volunteer Coordinator – Darryl Oliver, and Office Manager Book Keeper – Shaina Littler.

THANK YOU to everyone who donated to KKFI’a Winter Fund Drive during WMM we had a total of 49 individuals donated $3924.00 going way over our show goal!

This radio station is more than the individual hosts of each individual radio show. It is a collective spirit of hundreds of people, setting aside ego, to work for the greater good of community building and the goal of keeping our airwaves, non-commercial, and open! Thank you to programmers who create content for over 85 locally produced radio shows & volunteers who made extra effort to keep our station alive.

Our Script/Playlist is a “cut and paste” of information.
Sources for notes: artist’s websites, bios, wikipedia.org

Wednesday MidDay Medley in on the web:
http://www.kkfi.org,
http://www.WednesdayMidDayMedley.org,
http://www.facebook.com/WednesdayMidDayMedleyon90.1FM

Show #1150

Wednesday MidDay Medley

Wednesdays, 10 – Noon, on 90.1 FM KKFI – Kansas City Community Radio

WMM Playlist from June 3, 2026

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