Themes and Variation

Follow us on Twitter for news about the show and more! Vocals are often the component of a song listeners most naturally seek out, sometimes without even realizing we're doing it. It's as though our instinctive connection with the sound of another human helps it cut through all the other noise — so much so that we expect the voice to be a focal point. How is it then, that some tracks manage to sur...

Follow us on Twitter for news about the show and more! Cleverness can be demonstrated through the use of acrobatic word play, or through the specific ways someone might pair music and lyrics. We see it at work in the profound musings of writers who are introspective and empathetic. In the newest episode of Themes and Variation, the panelists discuss songs they feel exemplify the word "clever." In...

Follow us on Twitter for news about the show and more! Whether you're familiar with the term "found sound" or not, it refers to a concept you've almost definitely had some experience with during your music listening lifetime, possibly in one of these tracks! In the latest episode of Themes and Variation, Carter and Mahea are joined by Soundfly Mentor and incredible producer, Sam Friedman . The pan...

Follow us on Twitter for news about the show and more! Music can fill so many important and unique roles in society. It can provide entertainment or emotional catharsis. It can help us preserve history or keep up with the times. It can be a means of self-expression or a way to unite strangers around the issues that matter most. In the newest episode of Themes and Variation, the panel contemplates...

Follow us on Twitter for news about the show and more! It's time to hit the woodshed! On the latest episode of Themes and Variation, Carter and Mahea are joined by their good friend Ian Barnett to break down some tracks that made them want to get better. Ian is the touring drummer for both Betty Who and Marlon Craft and he makes his own music under the name Mallow. Themes and Variation is presente...

Follow us on Twitter for news about the show and more! New year, new themes! We've got a special one for our first episode of 2021. On this episode of T&V, Carter and Mahea tackle Songs Defined By Their Solos. And they have the perfect guest for this deep dive into some incredible solos and the songs they defined in Kirk Hamilton. Kirk is a writer, musician, and the host of one of our all time...

Follow us on Twitter for news about the show and more! It's here again — that time of year when the charm and nostalgia of our favorite holiday songs have just about worn off even though the lights are still twinkling brightly and at least a few gifts have yet to be wrapped. It's hard to appreciate the comfortable familiarity of a wintry carol when it’s been worming its way into your ears for week...

Follow us on Twitter for news about the show and more! What kind of music did your parents listen to when you were growing up? Did they listen to yacht rock classics? What about something a little more uplifting? Or maybe they listened to... the most popular band of all time. In this episode, our panel dusts off some heirloom LPs and takes a deep dive into their parent’s record collections to unco...

Follow us on Twitter for news about the show and more! Is it necessary for elements of its composition to defy musical convention? Should it incorporate ideas and technologies in ways listeners are unlikely to expect? Could it instead be largely a musical symbol of artistic independence and creative empowerment?  In the latest episode of our podcast, "Themes and Variation," our three-person p...

Follow us on Twitter for news about the show and more! In the latest episode of Themes and Variation, our three-person panel discusses a trio of songs that feature vocal performances deemed "memorable" for a variety of reasons. For this conversation, Carter sits down with the astoundingly talented and highly accomplished artist, Sırma Munyar (vocalist and songwriter) and his frequent podcast compa...

Follow us on Twitter for news about the show and more! We decided this year somehow wasn't quite scary enough. This spooktacular episode is sure to be spine-tingling and chill-inducing, just in time for Halloween! Joining Carter for this deep dive into some spooky tracks are his frequent co-host Mahea Lee and their friend, Actor/Producer/Musician, Ari Stidham. You may know Ari from his work as Syl...

Follow us on Twitter for show news and more! What makes a great cover song? Is it playing every note as close to the original as possible? Or does a great cover require a reimagining of the source material? Whatever your feeling is, this episode will dig deep into some of our favorite covers and unearth what makes a great cover so special. In this episode, Carter sits down with frequent co-host an...

Follow us on Twitter for show news and more! What songs come to mind when you think of iconic or memorable synth sounds? Do you think of massive dance hits? What about reverb-drenched dream pop? Maybe something edgier? In this episode, Carter sits down with Neara Russell and John Hull, two incredible musicians and experts in the world of synths and music synthesis.  Themes and Variation is pr...

Follow us on Twitter for show news and more! What comes to mind when you think of an epic song? Is it virtuosic guitar shredding? Ear-piercing vocal performances? Maybe it's simply the sheer length of the track that invokes a certain epic quality. Whatever your criteria, we've got you covered with this episode. For this episode, Soundfly team member Carter Lee is joined by Soundfly's CEO and Found...

Follow us on Twitter for show news and more! Whether you think sampling is the highest form of creativity or something more akin to audio theft, you have to admit it's had a big impact on how music is made today. It has been a tool for producers in many genres, but is particularly woven into the legacy of hip-hop. No matter where you stand when it comes to sampling, we'd like to open your minds an...

Follow us on Twitter for show news and more! Do you remember trying to peel away the cellophane wrapper of a CD, or dropping the needle on your first vinyl album? If you're younger than that, perhaps the only music you've bought didn't come in a tangible form. Whatever the shape of your first record, this episode will help you rediscover the joy you had purchasing music for the first time. For our...

Follow us on Twitter for show news and more! Have you ever wondered what the best song for a cross country drive is? Or, how Thom Yorke knows exactly how you feel? Enter Themes and Variation, a podcast about music and perspectives presented by Soundfly!