Moving from New England to Boulder, Nic Lussier is vocalist/guitarist for local indie rock band The Brazen Youth. Downey Chase is his solo folk project, releasing his first single in May 2024. Lussier was surrounded by music growing up, as his dad and brother are both musicians. The Brazen Youth was originally a Red Hot Chili Peppers' cover band, but transitioned to original songs and even had the opportunity to perform on Live & Local back in 2019. Lussier has written folk songs throughout his time with TBY, but kept them in his back pocket in hopes he'd use them later; Downey Chase was just the thing. He gets inspiration from Bob Dylan and Adrianne Lenker, and tries to write songs every single day. He's made connections with people like Anna Frick, a local sound engineer and mixer, and Carson McHaney, a fiddler who played on his debut album. Downey Chase's solo album "Downey Chase" was released back in October 2024, and he has new music coming this summer.

Wunderbus is a project by Jalen Thompson, otherwise known as KCSU's 2023-2024 Music Director. Growing up in Missouri, Thompson was surrounded by music while in school, and they began playing in their middle school band. They were hooked and quickly began scouring their community for opportunities to keep playing music; they were in a jazz band and a rock band, playing keyboard and singing for the first time. Once they moved to Colorado and started attending CSU, Thompson began to explore contemporary classical and connect with the local scene. Joining Thompson is Raemi Morin, Thompson's partner and CSU music therapy alum. Morin grew up being classically trained, wanting to play violin but ended up with piano, clarinet (band kids all around!), and finally guitar in college; she names Thompson as one of her inspirations to break out of the rigidity of the classical genre. Now a CSU graduate, Thompson is always trying to find new music and do things when they feel called to do them. Wunderbus is their "playground", helping them remember how much music means to them and what they can achieve with their passion.
Wunderbus is planning on releasing new music around May, 2025!

A.M. Pleasure Assassins has been good friends with KCSU for many years. Originating in 2010 after Jared Meyer's band Rad Vibes came to a conclusion, A.M. Pleasure Assassins began as a 90s rock band, pulling inspiration from bands like Modest Mouse and The Smashing Pumpkins. Jared, also a visual artist, made a collage with old vintage magazines that just happened to have the phrase "A.M. Pleasure Assassins" within it, and he snagged it as the band began to come into fruition. Developing over the decade into something more indie bedroom experimental, their new album "Cloudy, Black, Red, and All Over" was recorded in a home studio. Jared chats about some influences for their songs, including "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" by Robert M. Pirsig and "Ishmael" by Daniel Quinn. He shows off his extensive list of possible band names, and shows appreciation for his involvement with the Fort Collins Music Association.