An Interview with 2026 WTJU Rock Marathon Logo Designers, Chime Studio
By WTJU Rock
Erin Bishop and Jeff Morgan of Chime Studio generously designed the 2026 Rock Marathon logo. We asked them some questions about their process and their connection to WTJU and Charlottesville.
Is there a personal connection to the design? Inspiration that led to it?
While at a concert at The Southern with DJ Fontana Mercury a few months ago, we were introduced to WTJU Rock Director DJ B-Note. After talking with us for a while, and learning about our business, she asked if we would be interested in designing the next Rock Marathon t-shirt. We said yes immediately! DJ B-Note wanted something a bit edgy, with a protest vibe, that nodded to our current political climate. On the walk home after the show, Erin thought of the infamous Sex Pistols artwork featuring Queen Elizabeth II in front of the Union Jack as a symbol of protest. Our version would feature Charlottesville’s own Thomas Jefferson as the authority figure, with a tattered American flag behind him to convey a sense of our messy era. We called the concept “Anarchy in the VA.” While we presented four design ideas to the WTJU Rock team, this was the one that earned Erin a spontaneous hug from DJ B-Note.
What was your process for creating a design for WTJU Rock? What sort of media was used?
It was a team effort! Erin came up with the idea, art direction, and typography, and Jeff created the digital artwork. We used a collage approach, with a scanned image of a $2 bill for Mr. Jefferson’s portrait, a distressed American flag that we further edited and recolored, and ripped paper textures for the eyes and mouth. To keep with the punk aesthetic, Erin used type that felt handmade and true to the era. We collaborated with DJ B-Note and DJ Ciclamino throughout the process as we refined the final artwork.
When did you discover WTJU? Why is WTJU Rock important to you?
We discovered WTJU by chance browsing through local radio stations. We first listened out of curiosity but quickly found ourselves not only attached to the great variety of programs and music, but the wonderful DJs who volunteer their time and work so hard to put it all together for us. WTJU Rock, along with the other great departments, provide us with a never-ending feeling of community, and music that we absolutely would not have discovered anywhere else. We always say that WTJU is the soundtrack of our studio since we turn it on as soon as we start work in the morning and only turn it off shortly before bed. While we’ve only met a handful of the folks behind the scenes, we feel like they’re all old friends by now.
What media do you use to listen to music?
We listen to 91.1 FM daily on a hand-me-down Marantz 2270 stereo receiver that Jeff got from his dad. We also have a turntable and a vinyl record collection that we like to listen to, and we will stream music if we don’t have the album.
Who are some of your favorite musicians/bands?
Erin: The Smiths, Madchester bands, They Might Be Giants, Interpol, old R.E.M.
Jeff: Boards of Canada, Pinback, The National, Natalie Merchant, Sufjan Stevens, Depeche Mode
Tell us more about your backgrounds and how you got to where you are now!
Erin moved around but mostly grew up in Northern Virginia. Jeff is from coastal Maine. We met in school in Atlanta, Erin studying design and Jeff photography, before moving to New York City together for work. We then relocated to Charlottesville almost 8 years ago.
What are your favorite things to do in Charlottesville?
We love visiting the amazing farmer’s markets we have in town. It’s important to us to support local farmers and small businesses, and we enjoy getting to know other folks in our community. Charlottesville is a beautiful place, so we also enjoy getting out and walking at places like Ivy Creek Natural Area.
A 2026 Rock Marathon t-shirt with the Chime Studio design can be yours for a donation of $80 or monthly recurring donation of $7. Please visit wtju.net/donate to make your gift today.
