The Atmospheric Music Alliance does great work promoting ambient music. Based in Chicago and in New York’s Hudson Valley, the nonprofit hosts a biweekly radio show on WHPK called Ambient Hour, organizes skill-sharing sessions and artist talks through the AMA Discord channel, and puts on shows—last month, for example, the AMA hosted a “Drone Rodeo” at Guild Row that included Chicago sound artist and clarinetist Jeff Kimmel. And this month, the organization will offer three ambient acts a total of $5,000 in grants ($3,000 to one artist and $1,000 apiece to two runners-up).
The AMA has given artist grants just once before. “Last year, when we built the grant—we mostly do concerts in the city, and it came from a place of hearing feedback from people needing resources beyond the concerts,” says executive director Gray Schiller. The AMA has since tweaked its grant-giving process. Crucially, the AMA doubled the grant amount, which the organization set with guidance from its members (who help fund the grant).
Schiller says the AMA has 180 members, all of whom pay a monthly fee. Anyone can become an AMA member for as little as $5 per month, and all applicants for the artist grant must be members. Members also get to decide on the three grant recipients, based on a five-act short list that includes representative works by each. To narrow down the applicant pool to the final five, the AMA recruited a guest reviewer: celebrated experimental artist and Thrill Jockey signee Claire Rousay.
“A lot of the ambient artists who are part of AMA are emerging artists,” Schiller says. “So our thought is, even if they don’t receive the funding, at least they’re getting their work in front of a more well-known person.” Schiller also makes ambient music, as do all their fellow AMA founders.
They launched the group in 2019 under the name StretchMetal. “It was scrappy,” Schiller says. “All of us were friends making ambient music and helping each other out. Our first shows were in each other’s apartments with our desktop monitors. Comfort Station was a really helpful supporter of us since day one.”
StretchMetal launched as an artist collective focused on presenting ambient shows. Since 2019, the group has linked up with several like-minded entities to bolster the presence of ambient music in Chicago’s concert scene—those entities include local label Lake Effect and curators Age of Reflections, who booked William Basinski’s imminent Disintegration Loops performance at Rockefeller Chapel.
Because the StretchMetal crew wanted to expand beyond concerts, they raised the idea of launching a nonprofit. “We didn’t become a nonprofit until 2023,” Schiller says. “It took us a little bit of trying stuff out.”
Two years ago, StretchMetal created its membership program, which it called “the Atmospheric Music Alliance.” The AMA name fit StretchMetal’s ambitions, and last month the nonprofit ditched the name “StretchMetal” and became the Atmospheric Music Alliance.
“We’ve seen how much is possible when artists and listeners have a place to gather, share resources, and support one another through creative exchange,” the organization said in a statement. “Our goal with this merger under the AMA name is to allow us more room to support artists through funding, workshops, and listening spaces around the country.”
Schiller wants the AMA to expand its physical footprint. The organization is well-rooted in the Logan Square area, but it hopes to find the resources to expand its programming, particularly on the south side.
“We just got this funding from [the] Driehaus [Foundation] to start offering free programming throughout the city, which we haven’t been able to do before,” Schiller says. “In the past we’ve had to play the game of using ticket sales to justify being able to put on programs. I think that [funding] will really help us be able to do programs in different spaces.”
The deadline to apply to the AMA’s artist grant is Tuesday, November 17.
International Anthem released Megiapa’s album Intentions in September.
Gossip Wolf has been a fan of Los Angeles–based beat-scene producer and vocalist Megiapa since the late 2010s. Back then, she was living in Chicago and self-releasing enchanting electronic alt-pop that threaded together jazz, R&B, and several eras of dance music—her 2019 cassette, ’92, still slays. She’s maintained ties to the scene here, thanks in part to Chicago label International Anthem, which issued her album Intentions in September. And she’s returning to town for a visit this week! Megiapa headlines the Land School on Thursday, November 5, accompanied by three Chicago-based musicians: drummer Naydja Bruton, bassist Carmani Edwards, and keyboardist Anaiet Soul. The show begins at 7 PM with an opening set by Ayakam, a new solo project of Makaya McCraven. Tickets are free with an RSVP via Eventbrite, though organizers suggest a $15 donation.
Got a tip? Email your Chicago music news to gossipwolf@chicagoreader.com.
Reader Recommends: CONCERTS
Upcoming shows to have on your radar.
Fri 11/27 at Hungry Brain
Wed 11/25 at Reggies Rock Club
Mon 11/23 at Riviera Theatre
Sat 11/21 at United Center
Sat 11/21 and Sun 11/22 at Metro
Sun 11/22 at Constellation
