In Our Headphones

Host Evie Stokes sits down with KEXP DJ Dirk Whitebreast, one of the new hosts of KEXP’s Indigenous music show Sounds of Survivance . The two talk about Dirk’s background in music, his work with Daybreak Star Radio, and KEXP’s Indigenous Peoples Day programming. As a special treat, Dirk also brings in two songs for this episode, one each from Amisut and Hun Lynch. Produced by Dus...

Host Evie Stokes sits down again with Travis Holcombe, the former KCRW DJ behind his own independent radio station, Freaks Only . This time around, Holcombe shares his love for the artist SHEE and their song “Woman” featuring deadream. The two gush over the song’s blend of house, funk, and exceptional grooves. Produced by Dusty Henry Mastered by William Myers Production support:...

Host Evie Stokes sits down with Travis Holcombe, the former KCRW DJ behind his own independent radio station, Freaks Only . The duo bond over their shared history in Los Angeles, the genesis of Freaks Only, and what it’s like for Holcombe to curate 24 hours’ worth of music by himself. Holcombe also shares a new song from Paris-based artist Ezechiel Pailhes, the track’s Brazilian...

Host Evie Stokes sits down again with DJ John Richards, host of The Morning Show on KEXP and The Runcast. This time, they dig deeper into The Runcast and one of John’s recent mixes focusing on dark wave and industrial music. The two bond over their love of the genres and why they’re so good for running. John shares one of his favorite recent dark wave tracks, “Energy is Power&rdq...

Host Evie Stokes sits down with DJ John Richards, host of The Morning Show on KEXP and The Runcast. Evie and John dig into the genesis of The Runcast, why running means so much to John and his listeners, and what to expect from the series. They also discuss John’s on-the-nose song pick, “Running” by Michelle David and the True-Tones. “Running” comes from the album&nbs...

In this special bonus episode, host Evie Stokes sits down with Perfume Genius to talk about a song that he’s obsessed with right now. The two gush over their love of L’Rain, her fearless arrangements, and her sludgy cycle class she used to promote her new album. “soulless cycle” comes from L’Rain’s latest album, fata morgana , out now via Mexican Summer. Perfume...

Host Evie Stokes sits down again with Yasi Salek, the host of the podcast Bandsplain. The two dig into Salek’s love of IDM and experimental music and the mystery surrounding her latest favorite discovery, the band ear. “They’re really collage artists…it gives me a mystical feeling when I listen to it,” Salek says, describing the group’s music. “Ne Plus Ul...

Host Evie Stokes sits down with Yasi Salek, host of the Bandsplain podcast, to talk about what's been playing in her headphones lately. The two chat about their shared love of Madonna and Warpaint, how it feels to be the music-recommending friend in the group, and a new song from San Francisco band Badvril. Salek shares the band's song "Golden" from their new album Lethal, out now via Share It Mus...

Host Evie Stokes sits down again with Carl Newman of The New Pornographers to talk about the music that’s moving him. The two talk about coming across bands late, what it’s like when people “prefer your old albums,” and why Newman loves the Australian sextet EXEK. Newman shares the band’s song “You Have Been Blessed” from their latest album, Prove The Moun...

Photo by Jamie Wdziekonski  Host Evie Stokes sits down with Carl Newman of The New Pornographers to talk about the music that’s moving him. The two chat about life on the road and having Michael Beach’s music recommended to him by a collaborator. Newman shares Beach’s connections to the Melbourne psych music scene and why his song “Poison Dart” grabbed him so muc...

Host Evie Stokes sits down again with KEXP DJ and host of the El Sonido: Cancioneros podcast, Albina Cabrera, to talk about the music that’s moving her. Albina also shares more about KEXP’s upcoming Aqui y Ahora programming, a month dedicated to amplifying the contributions, resilience, and music of Latinx, Hispanic, and Latino-identified communities worldwide. This time they talk abou...

Host Evie Stokes sits down with KEXP DJ and host of the El Sonido: Cancioneros podcast, Albina Cabrera, to talk about the music that’s moving her. Albina also shares more about KEXP’s upcoming Aqui y Ahora programming, a month dedicated to amplifying the contributions, resilience, and music of Latinx, Hispanic, and Latino-identified communities worldwide. Albina’s first selection...

Host Evie Stokes sits down again with Seattle duo Lucha Luna to talk about the music that’s moving them. This time, the group shares their mutual love for Tamara Flores’ empowering anthem, “CHINGONA,” and what it means to be a “badass woman.” “To have, like, a chingona energy comes from your ancestors, comes from the people behind you,” Lucha Luna si...

Host Evie Stokes sits down with Seattle duo Lucha Luna to talk about the music that’s moving them. First up, the duo talks about their love for Helado Tropical, the collaborative project from Helado Negro’s Roberto Carlos Lange and Reyna Tropical’s Fabi Reyna. The duo talk about opening recently for Helado Tropical and why they love their song “Déjate Caer.” &l...

Host Evie Stokes sits down again with Arlo Parks to talk about the music that’s moving her. This time she’s embracing her underground dance influences with a song from London-based artist Oscar Farrell and how dance influence influenced her own recent album, Ambiguous Desire. “There’s something so beautiful about these textures,” Parks says of Farrell’s song &ld...

Host Evie Stokes sits down with Arlo Parks to talk about the music that’s moving her. First up, she talks about her admiration for Chanel Beads’ Shane Lavers and how she first fell in love with his music after seeing him live. She shares how much she particularly adores his song, “The Coward Forgets His Nightmare.” “There’s something magical about the way he com...

Host Evie Stokes sits down again with Seattle and Colorado-based band Packaging to talk about the music that’s moving them. This time they’re paying tribute to their peers in the Denver project Cindygod. The two bandmates discuss working with Cindygod on their own music, but also the inspiration they take from their friend and their songwriting/production wizardry.  Produced by Du...

Host Evie Stokes sits down with Seattle and Colorado-based band Packaging to talk about the music that’s moving them. First up, they talk about Nation of Language offshoot band Cutouts and how they completely reimagine Goldfrapp’s 2003 hit and how the song speaks so well to the world as it is today.  Produced by Dusty Henry Mastered by: William Myers Production support: Serafima H...

Host Evie Stokes sits down again with Ghanaian-Australian rapper Genesis Owusu to talk about the music that’s moving him. Owusu talks about discovering Mandy, Indiana, using their music to practice learning French, and what excites him about the band’s furious sound. “Cursive” comes from Mandy, Indiana’s latest album, URGH , out now on Sacred Bones Records.  Prod...

Host Evie Stokes sits down with Australian rapper Genesis Owusu to talk about the music that’s moving him. Owusu shares his love for Swedish band Boko Yout and the band is able to turn the mundane aspects of life into something sonically chaotic. “9-2-5” comes from the band’s latest album, GUSTO , out now on Hoopdiggas Recordings.  Produced by Dusty Henry Mastered by:...

Host Evie Stokes sits down again with Song Exploder host and musician Hrishikesh Hirway on the music that’s moving him right now. This time Hirway brings a track from singer-songwriter Ken Pomeroy. He describes Pomeroy’s “Wolf in Sheep’s Clothes” as a perfect song and talks about his own collaborations with her. Pomeroy’s Cruel Joke is out now on Rounder Records...

Host Evie Stokes sits down with Song Exploder  host and musician Hrishikesh Hirway on the music that’s moving him right now. Hirway shares a story about the kinship he feels with his Keeled Scales labelmate – and later collaborator – Emily Hines and his love for her song “My Own Way.” The song comes from Hines’ latest album, These Days , out now on Keeled S...

Host Evie Stokes sits down again with Lindsey Jordan of Snail Mail to talk about her love of Peel Dream Magazine. The two discuss how Jordan found the band via recommendation from her friend Soccer Mommy, how their latest album Rose Main Reading Room evokes the feeling of New York, and why the band’s song “Four Leaf Clover” resonates with Jordan so much. Rose Main Reading Room is...

Host Evie Stokes sits down with Lindsey Jordan of Snail Mail to talk about life on the road touring behind her latest album, Ricochet , and the music that’s moving her right now. The two geek out over Jordan’s tour mates, Armlock, and what it’s like getting to share the stage every night. “Strobe” is the band’s latest single, out now on Run For Cover Records. Pr...

Host Evie Stokes sits down again with indie pop sensation Gelli Haha to share music from a fellow Angeleno. The two get into Gelli’s friendship with Tia Rabinovitz, aka Nymphlord, and the band’s off-kilter optimism. “Garden” comes from Nymphlord’s latest album, Shedding Velvet , out now on Lauren Records. Produced by: William Myers and Dusty Henry Mastered by: William...