Indie rockers and former Tacoma locals Widowspeak released their sixth studio album The Jacket in Spring 2022 as a semi-concept album loosely telling the story a chain stitcher turned New York rocker. Vocalist Molly Hamilton relayed to Cheryl Waters in this episode of Live on KEXP the story behind the album before launching into four dreamy tracks off the record as well as professing their love for radio (which we don’t mind one bit). Recorded 07/28/2022. While You Wait The Drive True Blue Every...
Dec 06, 2022•31 min
Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul bring politics to the dancefloor but it’s not as depressing as you might think. Instead the heavy topics of racism and xenophobia are handled with humor and wit on the Belgian duo’s debut Topical Dancer and their KEXP in-studio session is a hip-swinging celebration full of wry laughs and groovy basslines. For an extra dose of international electronic grooves, we also share an excerpt from our 2016 session with Mexico City-based duo Sotomayor. Recorded 05/20/20...
Nov 29, 2022•23 min
Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul bring politics to the dancefloor but it’s not as depressing as you might think. Instead the heavy topics of racism and xenophobia are handled with humor and wit on the Belgian duo’s debut Topical Dancer and their KEXP in-studio session is a hip-swinging celebration full of wry laughs and groovy basslines. For an extra dose of international electronic grooves, we also share an excerpt from our 2016 session with Mexico City-based duo Sotomayor. Recorded 05/20/20...
Nov 29, 2022•24 min
This summer, Minneapolis-based synth-pop band Poliça released their sixth studio album Madness via Memphis Industries Records. When they stopped by KEXP in July to play songs off the record, frontwoman Channy Leaneagh spoke with Cheryl Waters about the incorporation of a new band member of sorts, an anthropomorphic production tool designed by producer Ryan Olson and the sound-artist Seth Rosetter called “AllOvers(c)” which added an eerie element to the band’s icey sound. For an extra gift, we’re...
Nov 22, 2022•23 min
This summer, Minneapolis-based synth-pop band Poliça released their sixth studio album Madness via Memphis Industries Records. When they stopped by KEXP in July to play songs off the record, frontwoman Channy Leaneagh spoke with Cheryl Waters about the incorporation of a new band member of sorts, an anthropomorphic production tool designed by producer Ryan Olson and the sound-artist Seth Rosetter called “AllOvers(c)” which added an eerie element to the band’s icey sound. For an extra gift, we’re...
Nov 22, 2022•29 min
Chicago’s KAINA makes dreamy indie R&B songs that serve as affirmations of joy for the Guatamalen-Venezuelan artist. She released her impressive sophomore record It Was a Home back in March, featuring collaborations with Helado Negro, Sleater-Kinney, and Sen Morimoto. She stopped by KEXP over the summer to play a gorgeous set of songs off the record and spoke with Gabriel Teodros about coming up in Chicago’s youth music programs, the role family plays in her new record, and building a home. ...
Nov 15, 2022•26 min
Chicago’s KAINA makes dreamy indie R&B songs that serve as affirmations of joy for the Guatamalen-Venezuelan artist. She released her impressive sophomore record It Was a Home back in March, featuring collaborations with Helado Negro, Sleater-Kinney, and Sen Morimoto. She stopped by KEXP over the summer to play a gorgeous set of songs off the record and spoke with Gabriel Teodros about coming up in Chicago’s youth music programs, the role family plays in her new record, and building a home. ...
Nov 15, 2022•24 min
In the nearly 30-year lifespan of Arizona-bred band Calexico, they’ve incorporated a bevy of Latin sounds into their personal brand of rock and roll. As frontman Joey Burns told DJ Miss Ashley in this episode of Live on KEXP, “I felt like North America needs to get over itself and embrace diversity. Felt good to raise the middle finger to people who are uptight.” Their new record, El Mirador , continues that path of world-inspiration despite being confined to a home studio made out of shipping c...
Nov 08, 2022•22 min
In the nearly 30-year lifespan of Arizona-bred band Calexico, they’ve incorporated a bevy of Latin sounds into their personal brand of rock and roll. As frontman Joey Burns told DJ Miss Ashley in this episode of Live on KEXP, “I felt like North America needs to get over itself and embrace diversity. Felt good to raise the middle finger to people who are uptight.” Their new record, El Mirador , continues that path of world-inspiration despite being confined to a home studio made out of shipping c...
Nov 08, 2022•25 min
Since the release of his debut album Eulogy for Evolution fifteen years ago, Ólafur Arnalds has become something of a mainstream success, earning placements in films like The Hunger Games and Looper and receiving a Grammy nomination for his 2020 song with Bonobo “Loom.” All of this may be surprising considering he makes instrumental, piano-based soundscapes that don’t exactly scream “mainstream.” But the emotion he’s able to convey through his music reaches a wide range of people who maybe woul...
Nov 01, 2022•27 min
Since the release of his debut album Eulogy for Evolution fifteen years ago, Ólafur Arnalds has become something of a mainstream success, earning placements in films like The Hunger Games and Looper and receiving a Grammy nomination for his 2020 song with Bonobo “Loom.” All of this may be surprising considering he makes instrumental, piano-based soundscapes that don’t exactly scream “mainstream.” But the emotion he’s able to convey through his music reaches a wide range of people who maybe woul...
Nov 01, 2022•24 min
Canadian artist Rochelle Jordan has been making downtempo R&B for over a decade now, blending 90s pop, vintage UK house and garage, electronic and progressive hip-hop for a unique and sensual sound. During her in-studio session for KEXP earlier this summer, she spoke with Larry Mizell Jr. about the inspirations behind her new record, 'Play with the Changes,' and played a dazzling set of four songs off the album. As a bonus, we share a snippet from our 2019 sessions with acclaimed R&B art...
Oct 25, 2022•25 min
Canadian artist Rochelle Jordan has been making downtempo R&B for over a decade now, blending 90s pop, vintage UK house and garage, electronic and progressive hip-hop for a unique and sensual sound. During her in-studio session for KEXP earlier this summer, she spoke with Larry Mizell Jr. about the inspirations behind her new record, 'Play with the Changes,' and played a dazzling set of four songs off the album. As a bonus, we share a snippet from our 2019 sessions with acclaimed R&B art...
Oct 25, 2022•28 min
Chinese-born, Vancouver-based musician Yu Su makes propulsive and evocative electronic that intends to bridge the gap between her motherland and her new Pacific Northwest home. On this episode of Live on KEXP, the composer, DJ, and sound artist speaks to Mike Ramos about the significance of the title of her latest album, Yellow River Blue , her tough journey towards feeling comfortable in her new home, and how accessibility to electronic programs helped her on her journey towards the pop dance s...
Oct 18, 2022•28 min
Chinese-born, Vancouver-based musician Yu Su makes propulsive and evocative electronic that intends to bridge the gap between her motherland and her new Pacific Northwest home. On this episode of Live on KEXP, the composer, DJ, and sound artist speaks to Mike Ramos about the significance of the title of her latest album, Yellow River Blue , her tough journey towards feeling comfortable in her new home, and how accessibility to electronic programs helped her on her journey towards the pop dance s...
Oct 18, 2022•31 min
Formerly known as A Tribe Called Red, The Halluci Nation's Tim "2oolman" Hill and Ehren "Bear Witness" Thomas make what is often labelled as “powwow-step,” blending hip hop, reggae, moombahton, and dubstep with elements of First Nations music. The result is a type of dance music that’s powerful in its ability to be both fun and carry an important message. The duo chat with Gabriel Teodros about amplifying activist voices then play a whirlwind set of nine songs for this week’s Live on KEXP episod...
Oct 11, 2022•25 min
Formerly known as A Tribe Called Red, The Halluci Nation's Tim "2oolman" Hill and Ehren "Bear Witness" Thomas make what is often labelled as “powwow-step,” blending hip hop, reggae, moombahton, and dubstep with elements of First Nations music. The result is a type of dance music that’s powerful in its ability to be both fun and carry an important message. The duo chat with Gabriel Teodros about amplifying activist voices then play a whirlwind set of nine songs for this week’s Live on KEXP episod...
Oct 11, 2022•36 min
Brooklyn-based band Lucius blew into the KEXP Live Room back in June with a barrage of bedazzled instruments and beguiling harmonies. Speaking with Cheryl Waters, vocalists Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig spoke about how divorce, the pandemic, and their friendship with each other influenced their latest album Second Nature in the midst of a set of songs from the 2022 record. As an added bonus, we connect the dots between Lucius and their recent collaborators The War on Drugs and Brandi Carlile to s...
Oct 04, 2022•28 min
Brooklyn-based band Lucius blew into the KEXP Live Room back in June with a barrage of bedazzled instruments and beguiling harmonies. Speaking with Cheryl Waters, vocalists Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig spoke about how divorce, the pandemic, and their friendship with each other influenced their latest album Second Nature in the midst of a set of songs from the 2022 record. As an added bonus, we connect the dots between Lucius and their recent collaborators The War on Drugs and Brandi Carlile to s...
Oct 04, 2022•28 min
Back in May, Barbi Recanati made the massive journey from Buenos Aires to Seattle to not only play an incredible in-studio session but also to announce, alongside KEXP’s Albina Cabrera, that KEXP would be making a similar journey for a four-day music festival highlighting the diverse sounds of Argentina. That festival just wrapped on September 23rd but Recanati’s in-studio is getting some extra love on this week’s Live on KEXP. Before playing three songs off her Grammy-nominated, Gardel Award-wi...
Sep 27, 2022•30 min
Back in May, Barbi Recanati made the massive journey from Buenos Aires to Seattle to not only play an incredible in-studio session but also to announce, alongside KEXP’s Albina Cabrera, that KEXP would be making a similar journey for a four-day music festival highlighting the diverse sounds of Argentina. That festival just wrapped on September 23rd but Recanati’s in-studio is getting some extra love on this week’s Live on KEXP. Before playing three songs off her Grammy-nominated, Gardel Award-wi...
Sep 27, 2022•24 min
London-based singer-songwriter Nilüfer Yanya quickly became an artist to watch with her 2019 debut, Miss Universe . The album was a thrilling exploration of her widely varied influences, diverse upbringing, and raw talent. This year’s sophomore album, Painless , finds her settling into a more focused sound without sacrificing any of the fervent power and emotional range that made her stand out in the first place. In this KEXP session, Yanya talks to host Cheryl Waters about how the collaborative...
Sep 20, 2022•24 min
London-based singer-songwriter Nilüfer Yanya quickly became an artist to watch with her 2019 debut, Miss Universe . The album was a thrilling exploration of her widely varied influences, diverse upbringing, and raw talent. This year’s sophomore album, Painless , finds her settling into a more focused sound without sacrificing any of the fervent power and emotional range that made her stand out in the first place. In this KEXP session, Yanya talks to host Cheryl Waters about how the collaborative...
Sep 20, 2022•26 min
Since the late ‘90s, Chk Chk Chk have been making dancey disco-punk that, as KEXP’s Cheryl Waters puts it, has been “rewriting the rules of dance music for more than 20 years.” The band, currently made up of Nic Offer, Meah Pace, Mario Andreoni, Dan Gorman, Rafael Cohen, and Chris Egan, stopped by KEXP early this summer to play songs off their latest record Let It Be Blue . There, they spoke about leaning into circumstances and the intimate relationships between friends. Alongside that performan...
Sep 13, 2022•25 min
Since the late ‘90s, Chk Chk Chk have been making dancey disco-punk that, as KEXP’s Cheryl Waters puts it, has been “rewriting the rules of dance music for more than 20 years.” The band, currently made up of Nic Offer, Meah Pace, Mario Andreoni, Dan Gorman, Rafael Cohen, and Chris Egan, stopped by KEXP early this summer to play songs off their latest record Let It Be Blue . There, they spoke about leaning into circumstances and the intimate relationships between friends. Alongside that performan...
Sep 13, 2022•25 min
Since 2015, Dehd have been making reverb-drenched rollicking indie rock tunes that touch on love, heartbreak, and the ever-evolving nature of relationships. Their fourth album Blue Skies dropped earlier this year on Fat Possum Records and continues their streak of tightly wound, lo-fi, partially shout-sung tunes. Dehd stopped by KEXP shortly after to play a few tracks off the record as well as chat with Larry Mizell Jr. about the tight-night music scene in Chicago and the way that members Emily ...
Sep 06, 2022•17 min
Since 2015, Dehd have been making reverb-drenched rollicking indie rock tunes that touch on love, heartbreak, and the ever-evolving nature of relationships. Their fourth album Blue Skies dropped earlier this year on Fat Possum Records and continues their streak of tightly wound, lo-fi, partially shout-sung tunes. Dehd stopped by KEXP shortly after to play a few tracks off the record as well as chat with Larry Mizell Jr. about the tight-night music scene in Chicago and the way that members Emily ...
Sep 06, 2022•21 min
Mia Berrin makes powerfully cathartic indie rock that’s just as biting as it is heartwrenching as Pom Pom Squad. The Brooklyn-based band recently stopped by KEXP to play songs off their 2021 debut Death of a Cheerleader , and Troy Nelson chatted with the frontwoman about learning to engineer music, Nada Surf’s influence on the band, as well as a very niche indie videogame called Cuphead. Recorded 05/04/2022. Head Cheerleader Cake Second That Forever Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube...
Aug 30, 2022•20 min
Mia Berrin makes powerfully cathartic indie rock that’s just as biting as it is heartwrenching as Pom Pom Squad. The Brooklyn-based band recently stopped by KEXP to play songs off their 2021 debut Death of a Cheerleader , and Troy Nelson chatted with the frontwoman about learning to engineer music, Nada Surf’s influence on the band, as well as a very niche indie videogame called Cuphead. Tying in the Nada Surf influence, listeners get a two-for-one in today’s episode, featuring songs from Nada S...
Aug 30, 2022•25 min
If the names and faces of Aeon Station seem familiar despite only releasing their debut record last year, it’s because they’re far from new to the scene. Nearly 20 years after the Wrens released their last record The Meadowlands , Aeon Station was formed by Kevin Whelan in the hopes of finally releasing the songs he’d been writing for the New Jersey indie rock band but would never see the light of day after years of creative clashes and business disputes with his former bandmate and co-songwrite...
Aug 23, 2022•25 min
