Trending

Pleased To Meet You: People in General

Since our friends at Bohemian Foundation, Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, and 105.5 The Colorado Sound have put together Sonic Spotlight, a virtual music showcase aimed at highlighting emerging talent in the area, we decided to resurrect a classic feature called Pleased To Meet You, The (once print only) interview series where we find fresh talent in the area and give them a shout out.


Read More below about how to get involved in our virtual events and panels like Sonic Spotlight and stay up-to-date with People In General and other local artists by signing up for our newsletter on our about page.


Who are you, where are you from, and what’s your band/artist name?

We’re People in General, a 4 piece jazz-pop band from Fort Collins Colorado. Fans also like to abbreviate our name to PiG. The members are Abe Dashnaw (They/Them) on Guitar and Lead vocals, Ethan Christi (He/Him) on Drums, Matan Birnbaum (He/Him) on Keys, and Ben Eberle (He/Him) on Bass.

Are you excited to be part of Sonic Spotlight?

Absolutely! It’s an honor that we were chosen to be apart of the first-ever Sonic Spotlight! There were so many amazing bands that applied, to be honest, we were kind of surprised that we got in. This program has provided us with the resources to make our dreams of becoming full-time musicians into an obtainable reality. It really feels like our opportunities for growth are endless at this point. We’re extremely grateful to Sonic Spotlight, The Music District, Bohemian Foundation, and 105.5 The Colorado Sound for believing in us.

What venue was/is your favorite place to perform as a band?

Pinball Jones Campus West will always have a special place in our hearts. It was where we played our “Piglet” album release with Janet Earth and Satellite Pilot (two amazing bands that you should totally check out). PBJ always had such a friendly DIY atmosphere, and they were always eager to give opportunities to newer artists that didn’t have a large following yet. 

Who are the local bands that you look up to?

There’s been a ton of great local artists and bands that inspired us to become better musicians and people. Some of our personal favorites are Slow Caves, The Red Scare, Lady Denim, Wire Faces, I Am The Owl, Chess at Breakfast, The Beeves, The Velveteers, Plasma Canvas, Endless Monster, Nub, Spliff Tank, Native Station, and Sinister Pig.

What record (from any artist) is one that your band loves the most?

The first album we bonded over as a band was Downhill by Cheem. They’re a funky pop-ish band from Connecticut. They have been a huge influence on our sound as a band. Recently we started working with their Guitarist/Producer, Gabe Weitzman. He’s gonna be mixing and mastering a new single of ours called “icicic”. We don’t have a release date set at the moment, but you can expect the Cheem/P.i.G. collaboration of the century to hit your ear holes sometime around February or March of 2021!



Who do you want to play a show with someday?

The top of our Band Bucket List has always been Cheem, but some other bands we dream about sharing a bill with are Boy Pablo, TTNG, AJJ, Homeless Gospel Choir, Crumb, Remember Sports, Crying, Jeff Rosenstock, and Vulfpeck.

Who are the other artists you are excited to see/hear from that are participating in Sonic Spotlight?

Everyone in Sonic Spotlight is so talented, but I think we’re most excited to hear what Miranda Fling comes out with. Her new single “Mulberry Street” is so good! Her style and harmonies remind us of SHEL (another great local band). We can’t wait to see what direction she goes with for her Sonic Single.

What are your plans for the future? (recording, playing shows, releasing music, etc.)

Since quarantine, we’ve been working non-stop in Matan’s basement recording as much music as we can. Fans of ours can expect a music video for our newest single “Take It or Leave It”, a very People in General Holiday Special, 2 new singles, and our new EP “Pigless” in the next few months. We plan to go on tour the moment it becomes safe to, but until then we’re gonna remain hard at work to write and record the most quality bops Colorado has ever seen!


Sonic Spotlight is a brand-new virtual music showcase and competition brought to you by Fort Collins Museum of Discovery105.5 The Colorado Sound, and Bohemian Foundation.  

Selected artists and bands will get a chance to work with industry experts, connect with creative peers, receive radio airplay, create a professional music video, win prizes, and level up their music. 

This fall, Sonic Spotlight presents two virtual showcases featuring some of the region’s most talented emerging musicians. The Sonic Round kicks things off with never-before-heard radio-ready tracks from all 8 artists taking over the airwaves on 105.5 The Colorado Sound and 90.5 KCSU. The program then culminates in the Spotlight Round, which will debut music videos from each finalist created during the program with professional support in an exciting, interactive online broadcast. 

A panel of music industry veterans will be present throughout the program and will determine which artists advance, and ultimately which finalist is named winner of Sonic Spotlight 2020. 

All Sonic Spotlight showcases, mentorship sessions, and artist opportunities will be held virtually. 

Find out more here


Ezra Lloyd