WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
We had the pleasure of welcoming Advance Base into the Firehouse on July 31, 2025, just a few hours before his show that night at The Bishop — and what a gorgeous, intimate session it was.
Advance Base is the melancholic soft-rock recording project of Chicago singer/songwriter Owen Ashworth, formerly known for his influential work as Casiotone for the Painfully Alone. Ashworth also runs his own label, Orindal Records, a beloved home for thoughtfully crafted, deeply personal indie releases. With his warm baritone voice, understated keys, and unflinching storytelling, Ashworth has a way of making even the quietest moments feel enormous.
During our conversation, we talked about his appearance on the new Wednesday album — specifically the new version of “Phish Pepsi,” which hadn’t yet been released at the time of this session. Hearing him reflect on how that collaboration came together offered a fascinating look into the connective tissue of today’s indie community.
Host Abby Noroozi and Owen also dug into influences like Magnetic Fields and Kraftwerk, the craft of songwriting, why he wanted to change the name of his project, and the emotional architecture behind the Advance Base universe. Don’t Miss this Session!
Host: Abby Noroozi
Producer: Abby Noroozi
Session Engineers: Jared Coyle
Post Production: Chama Henry
Video: No Guru Media
