On the show this time, it’s the Mercury Prize winning indie-rock of English band, English Teacher. English Teacher is an English Band from Leeds and Lancashire - both in the north of England and about 2 hours apart. They sort of re-formed from an earlier version of the band in 2020, and released the single “R&B” featuring a shout out to a certain radio station in Seattle. The buzz from that got them some radio play, and they eventually released their first EP Polyawkw...
Mar 11, 2025•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast On the show this time, it’s the Mercury Prize winning indie-rock of English band, English Teacher. English Teacher is an English Band from Leeds and Lancashire - both in the north of England and about 2 hours apart. They sort of re-formed from an earlier version of the band in 2020, and released the single “R&B” featuring a shout out to a certain radio station in Seattle. The buzz from that got them some radio play, and they eventually released their first EP Polyawkw...
Mar 11, 2025•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast On the show this time, it’s the propulsive poise and complexity of Nilüfer Yanya. Nilüfer Yanya is a British singer-songwriter, from an artistic family with Turkish and Barbadian heritage. She writes pensive songs, centered around her breathy contralto and her original guitar style. You could sit and think about the equivocal lyrics, or you could get off your ass and dance. Her latest is “My Method Actor” - as in she is her own, meth...
Mar 04, 2025•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast On the show this time, it’s the propulsive poise and complexity of Nilüfer Yanya. Nilüfer Yanya is a British singer-songwriter, from an artistic family with Turkish and Barbadian heritage. She writes pensive songs, centered around her breathy contralto and her original guitar style. You could sit and think about the equivocal lyrics, or you could get off your ass and dance. Her latest is “My Method Actor” - as in she is her own, meth...
Mar 04, 2025•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast On the show this time, it’s the emo-math, jangle-pop of Wuhan band Chinese Football. Chinese Football is a 4 piece indie-rock band formed in 2011. The name was indeed inspired by Midwest legends American Football, and the 2 bands have even played together. Their music has elements of emo, math-rock, indie-rock and punk. Their latest release is “Win or Lose”, the 3rd in a trilogy of albums based on a fictitious video game. The first was “Here C...
Feb 25, 2025•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast On the show this time, it’s the emo-math, jangle-pop of Wuhan band Chinese Football. Chinese Football is a 4 piece indie-rock band formed in 2011. The name was indeed inspired by Midwest legends American Football, and the 2 bands have even played together. Their music has elements of emo, math-rock, indie-rock and punk. Their latest release is “Win or Lose”, the 3rd in a trilogy of albums based on a fictitious video game. The first was “Here C...
Feb 25, 2025•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast On the show this time, it’s jazz, it's Afrobeat, it’s KOKOROKO. KOKOROKO is a big band - 7 musicians - brought together by trumpeter and vocalist Sheila Maurice-Grey and percussionist and co-musical director Onome Edgeworth. They started the band partly because they both believe in the importance of Afrobeat. It encompasses a cultural legacy of politics, activism, community, and also serves as collective memory. It’s extra important to the children of dua...
Feb 18, 2025•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast On the show this time, it’s jazz, it's Afrobeat, it’s KOKOROKO. KOKOROKO is a big band - 7 musicians - brought together by trumpeter and vocalist Sheila Maurice-Grey and percussionist and co-musical director Onome Edgeworth. They started the band partly because they both believe in the importance of Afrobeat. It encompasses a cultural legacy of politics, activism, community, and also serves as collective memory. It’s extra important to the children of dua...
Feb 18, 2025•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast On the show this time, it’s a throwback to the 1990s, with the absolute smash hits of Minnesota rockers Soul Asylum. Soul Asylum formed in the 80s, and put out five albums on two different record labels, before they captured a moment perfectly on the album Grave Dancers Union , released in 1992 on Columbia Records. Now with the only original member Dave Pirner still at the helm on vocals and songwriting duties, they have released a brand new full-length, Slowly But Shirley , availabl...
Feb 11, 2025•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast On the show this time, it’s a throwback to the 1990s, with the absolute smash hits of Minnesota rockers Soul Asylum. Soul Asylum formed in the 80s, and put out five albums on two different record labels, before they captured a moment perfectly on the album Grave Dancers Union , released in 1992 on Columbia Records. Now with the only original member Dave Pirner still at the helm on vocals and songwriting duties, they have released a brand new full-length, Slowly But Shirley , availabl...
Feb 11, 2025•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast On the show this time, it's the sample-friendly indie-pop of Spirit of the Beehive. Spirit of the Beehive has been making music together since 2014. They got their name from the legendary 1973 Spanish film directed by Victor Erice. Their sound is highly original, using samples, noisy punk guitars, grooves from a wide variety of influences and thought provoking lyrics. They describe their recent music thus - “our last release, 2023’s 'i’m so lucky,' explored the breakup between ...
Feb 04, 2025•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast On the show this time, it's the sample-friendly indie-pop of Spirit of the Beehive. Spirit of the Beehive has been making music together since 2014. They got their name from the legendary 1973 Spanish film directed by Victor Erice. Their sound is highly original, using samples, noisy punk guitars, grooves from a wide variety of influences and thought provoking lyrics. They describe their recent music thus - “our last release, 2023’s 'i’m so lucky,' explored the breakup between ...
Feb 04, 2025•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast On the show this time, it's the Rock n' Roll Cumbia of Chuck Prophet. Chuck Prophet is the quintessential independent artist. The San Francisco native has been working since the 80’s with rock band Green on Red. He went solo in the late 90’s, and had a bit of a hit with the song “Summertime Thing” in 2002. He’s consistent too, putting out a record every 2 or 3 years. His latest is a collaboration with the cumbia band Quiensave, and it's called 'Wake the Dead.' It is...
Feb 04, 2025•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast On the show this time, it's the Rock n' Roll Cumbia of Chuck Prophet. Chuck Prophet is the quintessential independent artist. The San Francisco native has been working since the 80’s with rock band Green on Red. He went solo in the late 90’s, and had a bit of a hit with the song “Summertime Thing” in 2002. He’s consistent too, putting out a record every 2 or 3 years. His latest is a collaboration with the cumbia band Quiensave, and it's called 'Wake the Dead.' It is...
Feb 04, 2025•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast On the show this time, it’s the multi-genre dance music of London’s Ibibio Sound Machine. Ibibio Sound Machine is one of our favorite bands. We met them when they first played on our live broadcast for International Clash Day from London. They are high energy, multi-cultural, groove focused and danceable. They bring the fashion; they bring the fun. Their latest records are the 'Black Notes' EP and their full-length 'Pull the Rope,' both available on Merge Records. Recorded October 10...
Jan 21, 2025•53 min•Transcript available on Metacast On the show this time, it’s the multi-genre dance music of London’s Ibibio Sound Machine. Ibibio Sound Machine is one of our favorite bands. We met them when they first played on our live broadcast for International Clash Day from London. They are high energy, multi-cultural, groove focused and danceable. They bring the fashion; they bring the fun. Their latest records are the 'Black Notes' EP and their full-length 'Pull the Rope,' both available on Merge Records. Recorded October 10...
Jan 21, 2025•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast On the show this time, it’s New York indie rockers Been Stellar. Been Stellar formed when Michigan high school buddies Sam Slocum and Skyler Knapp decided to be in a band together. In the tradition of bands like the Dandy Warhols, Trashcan Sinatras, and Gnarls Barkley they named themselves after a celebrity, here it's (duh) actor Ben Stiller. As Skyler put it in an interview with NYU's student paper the Washington Square News - “How’ve you been? Well, I’ve been stellar th...
Jan 14, 2025•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast On the show this time, it’s New York indie rockers Been Stellar. Been Stellar formed when Michigan high school buddies Sam Slocum and Skyler Knapp decided to be in a band together. In the tradition of bands like the Dandy Warhols, Trashcan Sinatras, and Gnarls Barkley they named themselves after a celebrity, here it's (duh) actor Ben Stiller. As Skyler put it in an interview with NYU's student paper the Washington Square News - “How’ve you been? Well, I’ve been stellar th...
Jan 14, 2025•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast On the show this time, it's the Japanese art-punk rock trio TsuShiMaMiRe. TsuShiMaMiRe is a triple-punch-kick of a rock band, celebrating their 25th anniversary together. Their latest album is called “Mizumono” translated as “the band is like water”. The trio made up the phrase to describe themselves - they say “It roughly means that being a band is a gamble; a matter of chance, unpredictable and out of anyone's control. No one knows what the futur...
Jan 07, 2025•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast On the show this time, it's the Japanese art-punk rock trio TsuShiMaMiRe. TsuShiMaMiRe is a triple-punch-kick of a rock band, celebrating their 25th anniversary together. Their latest album is called “Mizumono” translated as “the band is like water”. The trio made up the phrase to describe themselves - they say “It roughly means that being a band is a gamble; a matter of chance, unpredictable and out of anyone's control. No one knows what the futur...
Jan 07, 2025•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast On the show this time, Charlotte Adigéry and Bolis Pupul slap some bass and get downright funky. Cultural appropriation and racism. Social media vanity. Post-colonialism and political correctness. These are not talking points that you’d ordinarily hear on the dancefloor but Charlotte and Bolis have ripped up the rulebook with their debut record. All four songs from this set come from the album, which came out earlier this year on Deewee Records. It’s called “Topical Danc...
Dec 31, 2024•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast On the show this time, Charlotte Adigéry and Bolis Pupul slap some bass and get downright funky. Cultural appropriation and racism. Social media vanity. Post-colonialism and political correctness. These are not talking points that you’d ordinarily hear on the dancefloor but Charlotte and Bolis have ripped up the rulebook with their debut record. All four songs from this set come from the album, which came out earlier this year on Deewee Records. It’s called “Topical Danc...
Dec 31, 2024•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast On the show this time, we replay our vaguely holiday-themed traditional episode - the dual-drum druid jazz of King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard. The Melbourne, Australia based psych-rockers released five albums in 2017, and played at the KEXP studios in support of the releases: “Polygondwanaland” and “Gumboot Soup." Crumbling Castle The Fourth Colour Deserted Dunes Welcome Weary Feet The Castle In the Air Muddy Water The Wheel Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube. ...
Dec 24, 2024•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast On the show this time, we replay our vaguely holiday-themed traditional episode - the dual-drum druid jazz of King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard. The Melbourne, Australia based psych-rockers released five albums in 2017, and played at the KEXP studios in support of the releases: “Polygondwanaland” and “Gumboot Soup." Crumbling Castle The Fourth Colour Deserted Dunes Welcome Weary Feet The Castle In the Air Muddy Water The Wheel Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube. ...
Dec 24, 2024•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast On the show this time, from Bogota, Columbia - the birthplace of Cumbia - it's the energetic joy of Frente Cumbiero. Frente Cumbiero has been making cumbia music since 2006, bringing their nuanced take on the music of the Latin-American people all over the world. They’ve worked with dub magician and producer Mad Professor. They’ve worked with avant-classical string players the Kronos Quartet. More recently they made a record with Japanese folk revivalists the ...
Dec 17, 2024•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast On the show this time, from Bogota, Columbia - the birthplace of Cumbia - it's the energetic joy of Frente Cumbiero. Frente Cumbiero has been making cumbia music since 2006, bringing their nuanced take on the music of the Latin-American people all over the world. They’ve worked with dub magician and producer Mad Professor. They’ve worked with avant-classical string players the Kronos Quartet. More recently they made a record with Japanese folk revivalists the ...
Dec 17, 2024•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast On the show this time, it's the warm dreamy grooves of New York band Cults. New York indie-pop band Cults return with their 6th full length, 'To The Ghosts.' It’s been 14 years since Madeline Follin and Brian Oblivian formed the band. A playlist of music from filmmaker John Waters that they popped in the deck on a road-trip revealed a shared love of 60s girl groups. Organically, that led to them making music together. They recorded with young producer Shane Stoneback, a relationship that continu...
Dec 10, 2024•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast On the show this time, it's the warm dreamy grooves of New York band Cults. New York indie-pop band Cults return with their 6th full length, 'To The Ghosts.' It’s been 14 years since Madeline Follin and Brian Oblivian formed the band. A playlist of music from filmmaker John Waters that they popped in the deck on a road-trip revealed a shared love of 60s girl groups. Organically, that led to them making music together. They recorded with young producer Shane Stoneback, a relationship that continu...
Dec 10, 2024•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 03, 2024•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 03, 2024•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
