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Aeon Grey is one third of the Des Moines-based hip-hop group Maxilla Blue. Along with news of a forthcoming performance at the 80/35 music festival in Des Moines, earlier this year the trio announced plans of releasing an album of new material, which would be its first since 2012's Maxilla Blue Vol. 3. This interview with Aeon Grey was recorded mid-June in advance of the show, touching on the reformed Maxilla Blue, fatherhood, and his changing relationship with music, among many other topics. In preparation for their new album to drop, you can listen to their past releases via Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube, and follow the group via Instagram and Facebook. For a full transcript and additional links, visit: https://www.villin.net/aeon-grey

Geneviève Salamone bills herself as "The One Woman Symphony," but even that could be a limiting description when compared to the true reach of her artistic vision. Releasing her debut solo album, Catharsis, a few years ago, she has taken that work and transformed it into a sprawling multimedia experience, with its story being expanded by way of video on her YouTube page and live performances, which she continues to take with her around the world. In our discussion she provides a deep explanation of her music and its personal meaning, which speaks also to the importance behind her advocacy work. To follow along as her story continues, visit Geneviève's Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok. For a full transcript and additional links, visit: https://www.villin.net/genevieve-salamone

Husoul is a Des Moines-based drum and bass musician. In this edition of the villin podcast he discusses how he has transitioned from a rapper/producer to a gamer to where he's currently at, music's influence on and relationship to mental health, and the ability to find identity and individuality within sound. Husoul's recently released his full-length album, Project Dilemma, in March of 2023, following that up with a single titled "Dystopia." For a full transcript, visit: https://www.villin.net/husoul

Imma is a Des Moines-based MC and he just released a new EP titled GOOD. In this discussion we spoke about the release and the influences that contributed to its sound. One such genre that swayed its direction is R&B from the '90s and 2000s and as we continued, Imma explained how the genre not only influenced his approach to making music and music videos, but also how it's also influenced his relationship with sexist language within his own music. A son of Sudanese parents, Imma also discussed feeling like an outsider throughout his childhood and what it means to have now found a sense of belonging within a community of likeminded friends. For a full transcript, visit: https://www.villin.net/imma

Annie Kemble is a Des Moines-based singer, songwriter and musician who just released her seven track debut titled Dive Bar. In our discussion we talked about a sort of dual nature inherent in the release, as it’s simultaneously autobiographical while bearing aspects of a performative persona. Annie also discussed her collaborations with members of the Des Moines hip-hop scene and how she’s already focused on her next project: A full-length album which she says will be a much more personal affair. For a full transcript, visit: https://www.villin.net/annie-kemble

Zachary Lint is a multi-medium creator from Fairfield, Iowa, widely known for his music recorded and released as Coolzey. In our conversation we talked about his musical history, including the two albums he’s released this year, but also his new short film called Burlington Paranormal. The horror comedy is still making its rounds on the festival scene, but if you want to be one of the first to know when it’s available to stream or purchase I recommend kicking in on its GoFundMe page. The process of getting to this point with the film didn’t happen overnight though. Instead, the path to its release involved several years of working in L.A., an abandoned feature-length film, a return to Iowa, and the sale of his house, which funded its production. For a full transcript, visit: https://www.villin.net/zachary-lint