Indie 102.3 Sessions

Chris Senseney and Stefanie Drootin are the songwriting partners behind the trio Big Harp, which has released three albums on the Saddle Creek label that span a variety of genres. The married couple has recently stayed busy as a new band called Umm. Their debut album “Double Worshipper” is out this fall. Umm previewed some music from that forthcoming debut in the CPR Performance Studio. Senseney and Drootin also spoke with Alicia Bruce Mitchell about the origin of the new project, how it differs from Big Harp and their ideal way to release music.

A dé​Collage concert features a lot more than just music. The Denver band incorporates costumes, film projections and live painting into its shows, while tinkering with experimental electronic sounds in its music. The band also helps run the Denver music production space Moon Magnet Studios. ​dé​Collage stopped into the CPR Performance Studio to play some new music and decorate the space with balloons, quilts and lights. The band members also spoke with Jeremy Petersen about interactive live shows, their collaborations with Denver musicians and their new album coming out this fall.

Sera Cahoone this month returned to the CPR Performance Studio for the first time since 2012. The singer-songwriter and Colorado native recently released the album “From Where I Started.” It features contributions from members of Death Cab For Cutie, Iron & Wine and Son Volt, with whom she performs a few Colorado shows next month. Cahoone performed four songs from the new album in the studio and spoke with Alisha Sweeney about self-releasing “From Where I Started” and writing a song about a family tragedy.

The story of Bison Bone begins in Oklahoma, where singer and guitarist Courtney Whitehead launched his music career playing at barnyard parties. Eventually Whitehead made his way to Denver, where he recruited singer Brianna Straut after watching her perform a Gillian Welch song at 3 Kings Tavern. Bison Bone recently released its debut album, “History Of Falling.” The country-rock band stopped in for a studio session just before its release. The quintet performed four songs from the album and spoke with Jeremy Petersen about the band’s origin, recording the album mostly live and the influence of artists like Woody Guthrie and JJ Cale.

Shark Dreams first came to our attention when singer and guitarist Mike McGraw participated in our Fort Collins Super Session earlier this year at the Music District. McGraw fronts the Denver-based quartet, which last year released the EP “Deeep.” It features breezy indie rock songs that often veer into intense crescendos. Shark Dreams joined us in the CPR Performance Studio to play a few songs from the EP as well as some new music. McGraw also spoke with Jeremy Petersen about the band’s peculiar name, his time in Fort Collins band Mosey West and his recent move to Denver.

Flobots recently returned to the CPR Performance Studio to preview some new music from their forthcoming album “NOENEMIES.” The Denver hip-hop band explores the power of protest music on the new record. It features call-and-response choruses written to empower protesters and performed by members of the Denver community. The band performed three songs in the studio, backed by Denver gospel group Spirit Of Grace. The members also spoke with Alisha Sweeney about recruiting people to sing on the album, their upcoming live shows in Colorado and the themes behind songs like “Sleeping Giant.”

The Band Of Heathens celebrated its 10th anniversary last year and recently released its fifth studio album “Duende.” The Austin, Texas, quintet incorporates elements of Americana, jam band music and country into a groovy style that’s made them a live favorite in their hometown and beyond. The Band Of Heathens stopped by the CPR Performance Studio before a pair of Colorado concerts. They performed four songs from “Duende” and spoke with Jeremy Petersen about the new album’s title, the evolution of the band across its first 10 years and some of the band’s memorable Colorado shows.

The members of Denver band Get Along met as high school students in Monument, Colo. Nicholas and Cara Yañez — who are now married — have spent five years exploring genres from synth-pop to punk rock. Their live setup includes a collection of keyboards and synthesizers — and an electric ukulele. Get Along will release a new EP this year. The duo previewed some songs from that release in the CPR Performance Studio and spoke with Alicia Bruce Mitchell about balancing music and family, writing within multiple genres and their love for artists like Bon Iver and David Bowie.