In Defense of Ska Ep 62: Eichlers

One of the best things about ska is that it's such a flexible genre. You can mix it with soul music, black metal, or anything in-between. There have even been different artists that have mixed electronic music with ska over the years, but now Eichlers is taking the weirdo, Avante-Garde-meets-pop sensibilities of Hyperpop and using that as a foundation for what he's calling "Hyperska."

What does hyperska (or even Hyperpop for that matter) sound like? You're going to have to listen to our interview with the subgenre's innovator to find out. We talk to Russ Wood (aka Eichlers) about his influences, which includes 100 gecs, Joan of Arc, El Ten Eleven, Johnny Foreigner, The Matches, Slapstick, Spraynard, Vantana Row, and much more.

We also learn about his time in the San Jose punk scene (The same scene that Adam and Aaron used to be part of with their band Gnarboots). Russ also apologizes to Mike Park for being a picky eater while he was interning at Asian Man Records, and Adam spits a killer Boboso verse about toast.

Be sure to check out Eichlers new record on Bad Time Records. It features guest appearances by Skatune Network, Tape Girl, Boboso, and even our own beloved co-host, Adam Davis.

If you’d like to support us and listen to early access, ad-free episodes with bonus content, check out our Patreon! 

If you like our theme song, go download the EP Lives by Slow Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.