On A Deeper Listen, host Emily Fox and other storytellers from KEXP talk with artists about the stories behind their songs and the experiences that inform their work. Through each conversation, we uncover the humanity behind the music, allowing us to hear it in a whole new way.
Radiohead guitarist, Ed O’Brien talks about his first solo album, EARTH. It was inspired by global travel, music festivals, spirituality, and the words of Walt Whitman and Carl Sagan. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ishmael Butler of the Seattle hip hop duo, Shabazz Palaces takes us on a cosmic journey through his new record, 'The Don of Diamond Dreams.' Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Katie Crutchfield of Waxahatchee discusses how her struggle with addiction and codependency influenced her latest record, 'Saint Cloud.' Crutchfield has been sober for two years now, and although sobriety presented new challenges to her songwriting process, the result is her truest and most hopeful record to date. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Thundercat’s latest album, 'It Is What It Is,' touches on the loss of rapper and producer Mac Miller who died from a drug overdose in 2018. The album also showcases Thundercat’s profound sense of humor, an underrated feature throughout much of his music. Thundercat discusses the new record and how music and humor can be healing in times of adversity. Read the full interview on KEXP.org Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
As part of our Northwest Classics series, KEXP DJ Marco Collins talks with music journalist Charles R. Cross about the legacy of The Postal Service and how the group’s method of producing music remotely is relevant during COVID-19. We also hear Ben Gibbard’s new track, "Life in Quarantine." Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Many Seattle-area venues say they can only muster 8-9 weeks of being closed amid coronavirus until they have to shut down permanently. Washington State’s governor has extended shelter in place orders until at least May 4, which will put local venues at about the eight week mark. Even if venues can open on May 4, they won’t have performances ready. Venues often have to book performances months in advance and many musicians have cancelled their tours completely for 2020. Members of the...
M. Ward has just released a new album called 'Migration Stories.' He talks about his family's personal story of migration and the other migration stories he's been told or read about along the way that inspired the new record. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Since the coronavirus pandemic hit, musicians have cancelled their tours and venues have closed indefinitely. This episode explores how musicians and artists are taking their craft online to reach their audience. We report on how Twitch, a platform most known for streaming video games, has become a place for musicians to monetize their livestream performances. Musician Hollis Wong-Wear talks about how her performances and presentations at SXSW were cancelled due to COVID-19 and how she’s n...
We explore the stories of three musicians who work day jobs to supplement their work as artists. First is Lesli Wood, who fronts the band Skates! As a lawyer by day, she used to have to hide her tattoos and neon hair in court in order to be taken seriously. Then, we meet Mark Arm of the iconic Seattle grunge band, Mudhoney. His day job is stuffing records and managing the warehouse for the record label his band is on, Sub Pop. Lastly, we talk to Geo. He’s best known for his Seattle hip-hop...
Bikini Kill talks about their role in the feminist punk rock, Riot Grrrl movement in the 90s and how some of their songs are still relevant today. Yuuki Matthews of The Shins talks about the side project he’s released called Teardrops. He created the project with the late Richard Swift. Richard Swift was a solo artist, producer and played with The Shins and Black Keys. He died in 2018 from complications from alcoholism. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/ See omnystudio.com/liste...
On March 11, Washington State Governor Jay Inslee announced a prohibition on events of more than 250 people and added criteria for events smaller than 250. The owners of Seattle music venues The Royal Room and The Crocodile discuss how this will impact their business and the music scene. Local writer Ijeoma Oluo talks about starting a Go Fund Me campaign to support artists struggling with cancellations due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Two musicians in Italy talk about how COVID-19 has impacted thei...
In celebration of International Women’s Day, this episode is dedicated to some badass women making music. Rachel Stevens reports on how Washington State’s new paid family leave law is impacting musicians in the gig economy. Soccer Mommy takes us through how she organized her latest album by different colors and moods. Bethany Cosentino of Best Coast talks about how her journey to sobriety has made her happier and helped her connect more to music. Phantogram will talk about their new ...
The southeast region of the US is home to the highest percentage of LGBTQ people in the country. KEXP's Bee Egan spoke with three LGBTQ musicians from the south to find out how southern culture and their sexuality impacted their upbringing and ultimately their music. Musician and poet Jamila Woods talks about how all of the tracks off her latest album were named after black and brown artists, musicians and writers and how Woods sees herself in each of those artists’ stories. Mike Dixon and...
Sound & Vision’s series, “Northwest Classics,” dives into the stories behind iconic records from the Pacific Northwest. In today’s edition, KEXP DJ Marco Collins and music journalist and author, Charles R Cross discuss Heart’s album, ‘Dreamboat Annie’ and Soundgarden’s record, ‘Superunknown.’ Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Phil Elverum (Mount Eerie, the Microphones) wrote two albums following the death of his wife, Geneviève Castrée. Castrée was a musician, illustrator and cartoonist who was diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer four months after giving birth to her first child. She passed away the following year. This week, Elverum discusses the odd enhanced recognition he got from his albums that were written about death. KEXP DJ Kevin Cole talks with an old friend, former radio statio...
On February 7th, KEXP celebrated “Clash for Climate” as part of International Clash Day , a holiday KEXP invented in 2013. The Clash stood for many important issues, including environmental justice, which is why KEXP chose to focus on climate change for this year's theme. In this episode, Morning Show host John Richards explains the origin story of the holiday and highlights his favorite songs and messages from The Clash. Weyes Blood explains the themes behind her song, “...
Former Head and the Heart member, Josiah Johnson talks about his new single, "World's Not Gonna End" and his struggle with addiction that led him to leave the band, get on a path to sobriety and start a solo career. Channy Leaneagh of Poliça talks about how she almost gave up on music until she fell off her roof shoveling snow, and how the accident and her recovery process inspired many of the songs off the new Poliça album, ‘When We Stay Alive.’ Guayaba discusses their...
Michael Kiwanuka talks about race and music, and how having his song selected as the intro music for HBO’s Big Little Lies pushed his career forward. Musician, activist and new GRAMMY voter, Madame Gandhi talks about the latest controversies surrounding the GRAMMYs and issues around gender and racial parity in the music industry. Leslie Fram of Country Music Television talks about why CMT pledged a 50/50 gender split on the videos played on their channel and why so few female artists are p...
Nissim Black (formerly D. Black) talks about growing up in Seattle amidst crime and drugs. He describes how his music and his life have changed since converting to Judaism and moving to Jerusalem. This week’s edition of "Northwest Classics" profiles the debut album of Tacoma-based band, The Sonics. Music writer Charles R. Cross explains how the band influenced the sound of punk and grunge decades before the genres had names. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/ See omnystudio...
FKA twigs talks about dance, feminism and the impact of her recent health complications. We launch our “Northwest Classics” series, where we’ll discuss iconic albums that came out of the Pacific Northwest. We start off by talking about the life and legacy of Jimi Hendrix through his album, ‘Are You Experienced,’ with KEXP’s Marco Collins and Hendrix biographer, Charles R. Cross. KEXP’s Darek Mazzone, host of Wo’ Pop, shares a variety of music from ...
KEXP DJs share their favorite songs of 2019. We also hear interviews with some of the station’s favorite bands of the year, including a conversation with Fontaines DC about using music and poetry to document gentrification in Dublin and a discussion with Combo Chimbita about how music is allowing their all-immigrant band to find a new identity in the US. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
We hear how Jewish composers wrote many of the most popular Christmas songs, including "White Christmas," "Let It Snow," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and more. KEXP’s Brian Foss shares his favorite non-traditional Christmas songs and KEXP’s Owen Murphy and Troy Nelson share their favorite covers of Christmas songs. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Angel Olsen discusses her latest album, ‘All Mirrors,’ how her rising fame has tested her closest relationships and the strength of learning to be on her own. Producer John Congleton breaks down the production of Angel Olsen’s song, “All Mirrors.” The hosts of the ‘Switched on Pop’ podcast break down the musical elements of some of the decade’s top pop hits as discussed in their new book, ‘Switched on Pop: How Popular Music Works, and Why it ...
The coauthor of Bloomberg’s story, “K-Pop’s Dark Side: Assault, Prostitution, Suicide and Spycams” talks about how the K-Pop music industry functions and how it’s been riddled with controversies this year. We learn how a suburban dad became an indie pop star overnight under the name SYML, and what that name means to him. Madame Gandhi talks about misogyny in pop culture and why it’s important to value feminine energy in leadership. We exp...
John Richards talks about his favorite performances at Iceland Airwaves and the financial struggles musicians are facing in that country. Icelandic musicians discuss how the harsh weather impacts their creativity, why there seems to be such a high concentration of musicians in the small country and how so many musicians collaborate across bands and projects. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Brittany Howard says her song “Goat Head” is about society’s reaction to her parents’ interracial marriage in Alabama. She also talks about the “gay R&B song” she wrote about musician Georgia Anne Muldrow. Thunderpussy talks about female empowerment and diversifying their sound on their new EP, ‘Milk It.’ Mary Lambert says her experiences of mental health and sexual assault weave through her latest album, ‘Grief Creature.’ Hollis Wo...
We share stories of loss and how music can help us heal and process our grief. We’ll hear stories from listeners, musicians and John and Amy Richards. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
KEXP’s Dusty Henry talks about Iceland’s DIY music scene and how it’s more about doing it together than doing it yourself. A panel discusses Iceland’s music culture, music's impact on Iceland’s economy, and how Iceland helps financially support musicians. Panelists are: Sólveig Matthildur, from the band Kælan Mikla; Hlynur Guðjónsson, the Icelandic Trade Commissioner for North America; and Sigtryggur Baldursson, managing director for Iceland ...
Sudan Archives shares why she fuses violin with electronic beats on her latest album. Minnesota rapper Dessa describes spending two years working with neuroscientists to train her brain to get over her ex. We’ll explore why only 2% of music producers are women and how some indie artists are working to buck that trend. Macklemore protégé Travis Thompson will talk about collaborating with three generations of Seattle hip hop artists on his latest album. Seattle musicians past a...
Jim Sullivan was a struggling LA singer/songwriter in the 60s and 70s. In 1975 he left for Nashville to see if he could catch a break there. But on the way, he disappeared in the New Mexico desert and was never seen again. Matt Sullivan of Light in the Attic records talks about the mysterious disappearance and how he discovered Jim Sullivan’s music and rereleased it decades later. Seattle’s Rudy Willingham talks about how he uses collage in both art and music, and discusses how he fi...
