Many musicians have been using this break from “normal” life as a way to step back and create. Ryan Hoagie Wesley Ensley, the man behind Sonny Falls, hasn’t let the current situation stop his prolific output. Last week he released "Lives Unlived" b/w "Hidden Coyotes". A pair of tunes he wrote and recorded at home, that boil down the quarantine experience to a beautiful solitary grace. Not only has the local mainstay been producing his own music, his podcast Hoagie Showgie has been gaining steam as he finds himself with plenty of time to produce new episodes; interviewing a growing number of Chicago musicians. From new episodes featuring Macie Stewart and V.V. Lightbody, to Why? Record mavens Joshua Virtue and Ruby Watson, to Max Loebman of Rookie and Chris Coleslaw of Tobacco City and many more, he’s wrangling some of the cities most potent musicians to spill their innermost thoughts. We caught up with Hoagie over email about the new Sonny Falls record on the way, the podcast, and how the longtime scenester is unsure about how this will affect the future.

RE: Ryan Hoagie Wesley Ensley

You wrote and recorded "Lives Unlived" b/w "Hidden Coyotes" within the last month and put them out, even though you have a new record on the way, what made you want to share these songs while you have a bunch in the can?

RE: I've been consumed with a massive, singular project for so long it made it really appealing to just quickly record and release something without obsessing over it. I've always written a lot of songs and have never really been in a position where impulsively releasing them was something that I felt free to do, whether that was due to focusing on an album release or a band dynamic or touring or just my own perfectionism...but at this point I'm able to, so that feels really freeing and exciting. I'm going to release more A/B singles before the record comes out, too. 
I've been talking to friends a lot lately about the appeal of releasing a single. Because it is its own standalone thing it frees you up to experiment in ways that, while it might not work in the context of a full length record, it broadens the general sonic world of a project and can further inform a full length.

Hoagie Showgie, your podcast, has really picked up steam under quarantine. You've had quite a few great guests in the past month, releasing several episodes a week. Do you plan on keeping up this kind of clip once the world settles back a bit, and are you hoping to really hit the ground running with the show once you can be in the same room as your guest?

RE: Yeah! Doing the podcast in these circumstances has been really nice because it almost feels like just making plans to hang out with someone for a while. When I first started the podcast I didn't realize how time consuming it can be to schedule, record, edit and release an episode; and then I got swamped with making the record and touring and literally just had no time to do it. I also didn't realize that it actually sounds perfectly fine to point a microphone at a phone on speaker, and doing it remotely is much easier in terms of not having to plan to meet up in person. But, nonetheless I'm still planning on going back to doing episodes in person whenever possible and the fact that doing it remotely is also totally doable definitely makes it so that I plan on continuing to do them at this pace.

Do you think being a fellow musician, and in some cases a friend, helps your guests to open up to you in a way they may not with a journalist or other interviewer?

RE: Yeah, definitely in some cases, but it also depends on the person; both interviewee and interviewer. Having a conversation is an art of its own and I think that there are probably journalists who have no personal experience touring, recording, playing shows etc., but who are genuinely curious and I think that honest curiosity goes a long way in terms of people being willing to open up.

It's been a bit since we last spoke and your band has had a few members come and go. What should we expect from the new record?  

RE:  After getting home from touring on the first album I immediately began writing and tried to confront my limitations, aiming to fully establish my "voice" as a writer, both lyrically and melodically. I treated it like a job, forcing myself to write every day. After working nonstop, I ended up with a ton of songs and chose 16 of the best ones and that is what made it on the record. This record is the result of that work and is the first document of my abilities where my songwriting "voice" is fully established. 
My long time musical partner of 12 years, Alex Reindl, (who fronts Old Joy that I play guitar in and also has a great record in the works) played bass, piano, Rhodes and some guitar on the record and I also believe this is the first document of him and I working together at our highest potential.
Josh Snader (who has been in tons of bands and currently fronts Sorespot) absolutely shredded the drums and I think this is the first record of hopefully many that he and I make together. Nora Barton (PLANCHETTE / Mucca Pazza) contributed extensive cello to the record, Macie Stewart (Ohmme) contributed violin and Sen Morimoto played saxophone. Doug Malone who owns Jamdek engineered the record and ended up playing random aux percussion / synth / noise stuff and in my opinion kind of produced the record in a lot of ways. Working with him was basically the best experience I've ever had in a studio. His knowledge of that studio is profound and that leaves all energy to being creative, I cannot recommend Doug and Jamdek enough. Keifer Douglas also engineered the beginning of 3 songs. 
I think we made a really dynamic record. There's everything from quiet acoustic guitar to literal noise tracks. I'm really proud of it and I'm infinitely grateful that so many talented people were willing to play on it.

Any planned release date?

RE: Definitely this year. Sooner than later.

You've been involved in the Chicago music scene for a long time now, from the DIY scene, to the independent clubs, and so on. Do you see a future where we can ever go back to how things were? Or will the scene be forever changed by these events?

RE: I'm really not sure. Even without a global pandemic the music industry can be precarious. Things are constantly changing and this has obviously been such a major disruption. The “scene” will definitely be forever changed, but what kind of change exactly is totally left to be seen. My hope is that independent clubs are able to make it through this.

It's your first show playing after we are allowed to hold shows again. What is your dream gig?

RE: My dream gig...would be...a packed show at the Bottle probably. I really miss Cole’s too, I had a show booked there for April 25 with my friends Pope from New Orleans. I really hope they make it up here soon.