Interviews – 88.7 The Pulse: Recent Episodes

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Last March, we got the chance to sit down and talk with electronic music artist San Holo who played at M3F in Phoenix, right before the world shut down. We playfully exchanged hellos by tapping ankles, oblivious to the global health crisis we would endure in 2020. At the time, he had just put out an emotional single with Broods known as “Honest” and was eager to experiment with his band featuring his debut album1 set. San Holo went on to spend quarantine doing just what he had said was all he wanted to do: make music. The producer put out tracks as part of his new stay vibrant collection, played immersive live streams (including Porter Robinson’s Secret Sky virtual festival), and released singles off his sophomore album to come.

Now, we anticipate exciting announcements regarding M3F and its multi-genre festival return in 2022, new tours and shows are selling out, and nature is healing, as they say. We are so grateful for artists like San Holo, who are committed to their listeners, and remain involved even while grappling with the pandemic. He communicated with fans through social media often and gifted us so many new, thoughtful tunes. We wanted to reflect on some moments in our chat surrounding positivity, being honest about emotions, and the joy that comes when you are authentically yourself. We can see the light at the end of a very long tunnel. Check out excerpts of our interview with him down below!

What inspired you to produce and hone in on your specific sound? I think the most important thing for me is to do something that I can call my own. I always like just sounding like me, and with music, I’m able to create my own bubble for myself. My favorite compliment to get on a music video or something is when someone asks, “What kind of genre is this?” and I can say “Exactly!”

We’ve heard you described as a future bass artist. How would you describe yourself? I used to love that term (future bass) because it was all about innovating something. It was a mindset. But now it has become a specific sound. For me, it’s about doing something of the future. I just keep that going. I’m currently adding a lot of guitar and live instrumentation within the edm atmosphere. Just always evolving.

In your track “Honest”, featuring Broods’ vocals and your guitar work and production, what message were you trying to convey to your listeners? Funnily, it’s an old song. I wrote it three years ago but it’s still relevant today so we decided to release it. It’s about being honest even if nothing comes from it. Lately, I’ve just been living as being completely honest about what I feel or what I want. What is there to lose if you’re honest. I’d rather have two people love me for who I am than have 1000 people love me for who I’m not.

You managed to set yourself apart with your unique sound and dedication to your craft with major success and reception. We wanted to ask what you are most proud of in your career? I’m most proud of album1 because we released it independently, on our own label. We were going to work with a major label, and I could either go their way and produce more commercial music or I could follow my own path. But it worked and people are connecting to it. I couldn’t have done it any other way.

You incidentally started a movement where you and fans alike display how blessed or good we might be feeling by displaying a percentage on social media. It has exploded into open conversations about mental health and day-by-day emotions. Can we talk more about that? I think I would be described as realistic [when it comes to emotions]. I don’t necessarily believe in “positive energy only” because it doesn’t exist; it’s not possible. It’s about showing how you truly feel. If someone asks how you’re feeling, you can say, “Oh, I’m like 60%,” and it gives them a good idea of where you are. We all go through ups and downs; ignoring the downs can be dangerous. I think it’s very important to talk about, you know, the low percentage days. Some days I wake up sad, and there might not be a reason for it, but it’s a feeling. And we’ve lived in this social media world for so long where everything is happy and bright, that it became normal. That’s why I think it’s important to keep the conversation going about the imperfection of life. There’s even beauty in that.

You have been one to step up and encourage many others and boost positivity. How do you go about boosting your percentage? I think I’m gonna go back to being honest [with yourself] and being aware of the constant fluctuation of the percentage. I used to think, “Oh I feel terrible,” and my entire mindset would just get absorbed with negative thoughts thinking it’d be like that forever. But brighter days will always come, even if you’re going through the lowest lows; there’s gonna be days that it’s gonna be higher. And that’s something to look forward to. Don’t get too sucked into the negative thoughts in your head, because we all have them.

After the whirlwind of the year 2020, these words are some that have stuck with us. We look forward to the revival of creativity, hope, honesty, and remembering we have an amazing community we can count on.

Find more of what San Holo has worked on since then, including his second album bb u ok? released June 4th. The coinciding North American tour will make a stop at The Van Buren in Phoenix later this fall!

Follow San Holo Facebook: facebook.com/sanholobeats

Instagram: instagram.com/sanholobeats

Twitter: twitter.com/sanholobeats

Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/sanholobeats

Check out details on M3F Official Website: m3f.com

The post Reflecting on our sit down with San Holo at M3F 2020 appeared first on 88.7 The Pulse.

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After 24 years building the broadcast and production program at EVIT, teaching, launching and managing 88.7 The Pulse and hosting the morning show, Steve Grosz is moving on. Steve recently announced that his last day will be June 30.

Learn about Steve’s broadcast and education legacy as Time Rewind Reporter’s Journal podcast host David Mendel interviews him about his impressive career. Steve discusses diving into radio as a teenager, attending the East Valley Institute of Technology, EVIT (known then as Mesa Vo-Tech) as a student, and then returning in 1997 to teach. David asks him about his remarkable comeback after suffering a stroke, and Steve shares how his late mother inspired and encouraged him. Steve has taught more than 2,200 EVIT students over the years, with many launching successful careers in various entertainment venues.

Don’t miss the interview in the latest Time Rewind Reporter’s Journal podcast. Listen and subscribe today on Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Spotify, SoundCloud and other major podcast platforms. Also available on Libsyn (http://bit.ly/3fEDpEV).

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Jeff Kode from Drive Time Live (M-Th 3-5pm) had an opportunity to interview Isaiah Grass.

They talked about his audition on the latest season of American Idol and his newest single, “More Than Friends.”

The Chicago-based singer/songwriter had plenty to discuss. What was the story behind his latest track? We also dove into what his journey has been like since being on one of the biggest reality competition shows.

“More Than Friends” has already gained press coverage from Chicago inspired talk show, ‘The Jam TV Show’ (WCIU-TV), and is now on rotation at 88.7 FM The Pulse. It’s a melodic earworm that you won’t soon forget about using social media and browsing the internet.

Having been a victim of cyber hacking, and identify theft, Isaiah created this song in hopes to raise awareness to stop hackers and online predators from being “More Than Friends” on social media. You never know who is following you, so we encourage people to be more cautious when using the internet.

You can listen to the insightful interview and learn about this talented artist below.

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Pop artist Blake English is ready to release his latest single. It’s a catchy, pop-driven tune you’re sure to relate to.

Afternoon drive host, Jeff Kode will interview English on his show, Drive Time Live on Tuesday, October 6th at 3:15 p.m on 88.7 The Pulse.

English will discuss his experiences and inspirations, as well as what prompted his latest single, “Cool.”

Using sleek pop production and clever lyrics, English remembers what it was like keeping up with his glamorous, Hollywood friends on his rise to fame. Written after a party in the glamorous Hollywood Hills, “Cool” tells the story of many up-and-coming artists and those trying to fake it until they make it. Blake English was inspired by the fact that he was surrounded by successful figures in the entertainment industry while still trying to catch his big break. “It basically goes through my journey of maintaining my authenticity while also doing things to pander to the fame life,” explains English.

“Cool” has a sleek, fresh pop sound while still maintaining English’s punk-influenced edge. While “Cool” is, on the surface, an incredibly catchy pop song, English is also singing a vital reminder to hold on to your authenticity in a modern, flashy world.

To stay up to date with English’s journey, visit BlakeEnglishWorld.com.

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Steve Grosz sits down with legendary rock star Alice Cooper to talk about how he’s joining forces with local dairy company Danzeisen Dairy to bring awareness and raise funds for the Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Centers and the vital role it plays in benefiting underprivileged and underserved teens who are struggling.

Get your Alice Cooper chocolate milk bottle from Danzeisen Dairy today at Arizona grocery stores.

The post Got Milk? Alice Cooper and Danzeisen Dairy raising money for his music foundation appeared first on 88.7 The Pulse.

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Back in 2014, Shane Travis had a dream to make music. It all began his senior year of high school. When he felt he was ready, he ventured into a recording studio and made his first single. It later became available on itunes.

Nowadays, Shane can be found in his home studio in Avondale working on more music for the masses. You can experience his velvety voice on the newest single, “If You’re Not In My Life.” The official lyric video is now available on YouTube. The official release to download will be Friday, May 22, 2020.

Taking inspiration from artists like John Mayer, Jason Mraz, and Jack Johnson, Shane has created a sound that spans multiple genres. Shane’s music is self-produced and his Dad co-writes songs with him. When it comes to his latest single, Shane says, “[it’s] groovier than previous songs.” His goal is painting vivid pictures in people’s minds.

If you’re craving more, follow him on social media. Links are below.

Website: shanetravis.com

IG: @shanetravis_

FB: Shane Guy Travis

The post Local artist Shane Travis debuts groovy new single “If You’re Not In My Life” this Friday, May 22 appeared first on 88.7 The Pulse.

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Lady Gaga has announced a global concert to raise funds to buy equipment for healthcare professionals caring for coronavirus patients.

“One World: Together at Home,” starts this Saturday, April 18 at 7pm local time and runs through 9pm.

At least two dozen celebrities and performers, including Alanis Morissette, Billie Eilish, Chris Martin of Coldplay, Elton John, Keith Urban, Lizzo, Paul McCartney, Shawn Mendes, Stevie Wonder, and Taylor Swift will join the eight-hour live broadcast. “Sesame Street” characters will also make special appearances.

The World Health Organization is organizing the show. It will be broadcast live on ABC, NBC, and CBS. Leading social media and video platforms including Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube will also carry it.

The hosts of “One World: Together at Home” include Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, and Stephen Colbert.

Producers hope to encourage people to stay at home to help save lives. It will also highlight regional organizations providing coronavirus relief efforts.

The post “One World: Together At Home” hopes to entertain and inspire you Saturday, April 18 appeared first on 88.7 The Pulse.

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Millions of viewers have seen Isaiah Grass‘ audition singing in front of the celebrity judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryant on American Idol. Contestants were asked to be prepared to sing three songs. In turn, one of the songs Isaiah prepared was ‘Take On Me.’ Additionally, he dedicated it to his vocal teacher who recently passed away. The song showcased everything his voice teacher trained him to do. Furthermore, the producers insisted Isaiah sing it for his audition on American Idol once they heard it.

Drive Time Live host Jeff Kode will interview recording artist Isaiah Grass. Listen Monday, March 16th at 4:15 p.m Arizona time. It can be heard live online worldwide at pulseradio.fm and through our app in the Google play store, 88.7 The Pulse.

Besides being a model and social media influencer, Isaiah has collaborated with The Salvation Army and children’s hospitals, among other charities, to help raise money for their organizations. His experiences of being bullied as a child, and his desire to make music that can help others is a motivating factor for him.

Isaiah Grass is ranked No. 1 on the Chicago Reverbnation Pop Charts, and has over 300k followers on social media which continues to grow locally, nationally, and overseas.

Isaiah has performed at well-known venues and festivals across the United States. Among a few of those are House of Blues, Hard Rock Cafe, and Taste of Chicago. Isaiah has performed as a musical guest on several morning talk shows: Windy City Live, WGN, Fox, etc. His music can be heard on iHeartRadio, Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, Alexa, etc. Throughout the U.S and overseas, he has been featured in commercials, billboards, and magazines. His website has over 1.2 million hits, and continues to attract new viewers and listeners.

Isaiah’s music is a mix of pop, rock, and dance guaranteed to entertain a crowd. He is currently in the studio working on his second album.

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Hamburgers are delicious… truly America’s dish. How many can YOU eat in 10 minutes? Probably not as much as Molly Schuyler.

39-year-old Molly Schuyler is taking the competitive eating world by storm for her ability to scarf down massive amounts of food in a little time period.

She’s coming off her 5th straight win in the Annual Z Burger Eating Championship, where she took home a whopping $1,500 for eating 32 hamburgers in 10 minutes, a record she crushed from last year’s competition.

Not to mention, she held the previous record which was 27.

Hamburgers aren’t her only specialty, she also has the 2nd place title in both a national taco and pizza eating competition as well.

Joey Chestnut is somewhere shaking…

She joined Mateo and Jared in the Morning Beat to talk about how she got there, and she shares some insight on what else the future has planned for her.

Hint: It’s about food.

Listen Below!

http://pulseradio.fm/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/burger-girl-lol.wav You can check out some of the stunts she’s been doing on her YouTube channel by clicking here

The post EXCLUSIVE: Competitive Eater Molly Schuyler Takes The Morning Beat with Mateo and Jared appeared first on 88.7 The Pulse.

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The name Bethany Hamilton should sound familiar if you’ve been following sports for a while.

She is a 29-year-old professional surfer who survived a shark attack at just 13-years-old. In the incident, she lost her left arm, but despite challenges, she continued to shred the waves as early as 2 weeks after that tragic day.

The achievement list goes on and on, with awards like ‘Best Comeback Athlete’ at the 2004 ESPY’s, numerous surfing titles, and a countless amount of TV appearances. One of which was ‘The Amazing Race’, where she placed 25th in one of the hardest races in the country, back in 2014.

In 2011, a movie titled ‘Soul Surfer’ hit theaters across the nation, where Anna Sophia Robb played Bethany. This time around, she is playing herself in a goosebump-inducing documentary titled ‘Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable’, and it hits theaters TODAY, July 12th.

She speaks on her challenges overcoming her amputation, and what she hopes people will get out of her documentary. It will be played at many Harkins Theaters locations across the valley.

Listen below!

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