Information Superhighway
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Music
Press
Today, we launch the third season of our UnderCover series.
It's a collaboration between Eight Forty-Eight, audio engineer Brian Schwab, and music director Colby Beserra.
As usual, we’ve asked a diverse range of area musicians to flex their creative muscle, and bring us their interpretation on a popular song, or song from a popular artist.
This time around, we’ve asked each of these Chicago bands to take on the challenge of reimagining the work of Stevie Wonder.
Kicking off this season is Information Superhighway. The band calls their music “post-jazz.”
It’s a mix of several genres—especially rock—where the final product has clear structural ties to jazz.
To find out more about the group, and their approach to Stevie Wonder, our UnderCover ambassador, Colby Beserra, spoke with band member Rob Clearfield.
Clearfield says Information Superhighway came together organically. The band offers their take on Stevie Wonder’s “Lookin’ for Another Pure Love.”
By the way, the band Information Superhighway performs later this month at Martyrs on North Lincoln in Chicago.
Rob Clearfield will perform this Sunday at the LaSalle Street Church in Chicago.
Information Superhighway is Leslie Beukelman (vocals), Rob Clearfield (keyboards, guitar), Patrick Mulcahy (bass) and John Smillie (drums).
Our UnderCover series is produced in conjunction with Great Life Music.
Colby Beserra is the music director; our audio engineer is Brian Schwab with assistance from Mary Gaffney.
- Chicago Public Radio
Discography
First Morning (full-length CD; 2006)
Lookin' For Another Pure Love (radio feature; 2008) http://www.chicagopublicradio.org/Content.aspx?audioID=32791
Soft and Not Knowing (music video; 2010) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYuO0cyRHUo
Photos
Bio
Since their debut in early 2005, Information Superhighway has been a fixture on the Chicago music scene. With singer Leslie Beukelman and composer/multi-instrumentalist Rob Clearfield at the helm, the Superhighway easily transcends the confines of genre and tradition. Alongside bassist Patrick Mulcahy and drummer John Smillie, Clearfield and Beukelman draw on such diverse influences as '70's prog rock, jazz, gospel, Icelandic ambient-pop, Americana and the best of today's underground rock, creating a sonic world that is uniquely their own. Catchy yet sophisticated, hard hitting but sensitive, Information Superhighway forges ahead into uncharted territory.
After many months in the studio, Information Superhighway released their debut record First Morning in 2006. The album brings together seven of Clearfield's compositions, ranging from catchy pop to jazz improvisation to mind-blowing modern rock. Both intimate and intense, First Morning has been met with rave reviews.
In early 2009, the band began working with producer/engineer Anthony Gravino, who helped bring the band to a new standard of orchestration and sonic clarity, resulting in the release of two brand new songs: "Soft and Not Knowing" and "Your Voice - Part II." Bolstering the release of these songs, the Superhighway filmed their first music video, directed by Jason Shah. Thanks to Jason’s vision, the video of “Soft and Not Knowing” has everyone talking. See for yourself and follow the link below labeled "You Tube - Official Music Video."
Information Superhighway was also a featured artist on Chicago Public Radio’s “848” in the spring of 2009. In the third edition of their “Undercover” series, which documents the creative process bands go through interpreting other people’s music, the Superhighway was approached about covering the music of Stevie Wonder. The band’s rock-driven rendering of Stevie’s “Lookin’ For Another Pure Love” was featured in the pilot episode of the series. You can listen to the full interview and performance by following the link below labeled "Chicago Public Radio."
The best is yet to come. Information Superhighway has just finished mixing their next full-length album. Continuing their collaboration with Anthony Gravino, the band’s sound has reached a new level of cohesion. Check it out. Maybe you’ll like it.
Links
