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Steven Spoerl

Tone Madison’s Music Editor from 2020-2025. Writer. Photographer. Musician. Steven created the blog Heartbreaking Bravery in 2013 and his work as a multimedia journalist has appeared in Rolling Stone, Consequence, NPR, Etsy, Maximumrocknroll, and countless other publications.

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Steven's Latest Articles

Les Thimmig is shown in profile during a performance at UW-Madison's George L. Mosse Humanities building. He is centered in the frame, positioned in front of a black piano. His hair is a white-gray and he's wearing a maroon dress shirt. He's looking down at sheet music on a stand to the left of the image.
Celebrating the invaluable legacy of the late Les Thimmig, a mainstay of Madison’s jazz community
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Music
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May 20, 2024

The UW-Madison professor, multi-instrumentalist, and composer died on April 28.

Illustration: Cube-like abstract shapes against an orange background. Illustration by Maggie Denman.
Tone Madison’s 2023 Annual Report
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Misc
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May 6, 2024

Breaking down the finances, challenges, and triumphs of our ninth full year in operation.

A 2x3 banner collage of the album art from the releases featured in this roundup.
Music from Madison-connected artists blooms anew
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Music
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May 1, 2024

A small celebration of notable new music releases from March and April.

John Harmon is shown playing piano. His expression conveys a sense of deep focus. He's wearing a white button-up dress shirt and a wedding ring is visible on his ring finger as he plays. The image seems to be shot from below, making Harmon look larger than life. His mustache and hair are gray. The top of his head is obscured by shadow. The photo is grainy and there is a light blue-green hue to the image as a result of the overhead stage lights.
John Harmon’s multimedia matrix goes on full display
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Music
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April 23, 2024

The Wisconsin-based multi-hyphenate will read, perform music, and premiere a video at Arts + Literature Laboratory on Saturday, April 27.

An impressionistic image of a woman kneeling in prayer on her prayer mat is shown in the upper half of a still frame from Def Sonic's music video for "Zephyr." An extensive black border outlines the majority of the image, while the central figure is shown in pale greens and blues, in full dress, and accentuated by artificial lens flaring.
Def Sonic’s evocative music video for “Zephyr” unsettles with grace
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Music
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April 17, 2024

The ambient-folk project addresses ethnic cleansing with a heavy heart and an abundance of empathy.

A painting of a skeleton is shown, it appears to be mid-dance. The left shoulder is dipped and the right hand is reaching upwards. The backdrop is black for much of the image, though sickly greens, pinks, and blues swirl around the lower and upper frame. It is roughly a quarter of the image of Vincent Presley's "Music For Low" album cover and it is repeated four times.
Vincent Presley’s “Music For Low” is a beautiful tribute to deceptive progression
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Music
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April 11, 2024

The multi-instrumentalist's latest limited-edition vinyl release is rife with meaning.

Allison Crutchfield of the band Swearin' playing guitar and singing at UW's Memorial Union Terrace in May 2014. She's wearing dark pants and a white shirt with a low neckline. A sparkly necklace that says "Swearin" is visible. Her hair is dark and in a pixie cut. She's smiling.
Wisconsin in song: an updated view
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Microtones
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April 5, 2024

The evolving history of songs that mention our state, or just feel like it.

Emmet Cohen is shown in profile on a piano bench, hunched over and clutching his hands together. A piano is visible just behind him. The image is dark but a spot of light illuminates his face, creating a contemplative mood. He's wearing light blue jeans and a black button-up long-sleeve shirt with a pattern of small white markings.
Emmet Cohen continues to stride forward
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Music
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April 2, 2024

The New York-based jazz pianist and composer performs at Café Coda on April 6 and 7.

Aadam Jacobs, the subject of the film "Melomaniac," smiles excitedly in a still from the film. He is to the left of the image in a gray hoodie with white drawstrings. Visible behind him are two fully stocked record shelves, running along two walls. Jacobs' long black hair is pulled back, and he sports a full beard.
“Melomaniac” is a blurry but striking snapshot of an obsessive documentarian
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Film
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April 2, 2024

Katlin Schneider's roughshod ode to Chicago indie-rock show taper Aadam Jacobs screens at the Wisconsin Film Festival on April 6.

The album art for Lukie P's "Some Golden Dream" is shown. Luke Peters (Lukie P) is shown with their back to the camera to the left of the image, staring down a woodland path. The image is darker and ambient. The path is a dusty brown and the trees are green. There is a sliver of cream sky peeking out between the treelines.
Lukie P’s latest album is a gentle dream
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Music
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March 20, 2024

"Some Golden Dream" is a testament to focus and perseverance.