We’re revisiting one of our favorite eTown episodes this week. From the Bay Area comes Chuck Prophet and His Cumbia Shoes with songs that fuse rock with the infectious rhythms of Cumbia, while Canada’s Alysha Brilla shares original music inspired by her Indo-Tanzanian heritage. eTown host Nick Forster also sits down with Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty for a conversation about the complexities of immigration law. 

Renaissance rocker Chuck Prophet has spent decades honing his craft as a troubadour, building a career that stretches from the pioneering neo-psych band Green on Red to more than a dozen acclaimed solo albums. After a stage four lymphoma diagnosis forced him off the road, Chuck found himself drawn to the rhythms of Cumbia music, an experience that shaped his latest album, Wake the Dead, from which he shares songs on this episode. 

Alysha Brilla is a three-time JUNO Award-nominated songwriter, composer and producer. She joins us with songs from across her catalog, combining vibrant storytelling with folk, world, soul and pop influences and unmistakable joy. 

In our interview, Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty joins Nick for a conversation about immigration law, the challenges facing communities and the human impact of an increasingly complex legal system.