Nevermind the Music

Why does Mama always gotta back-track? We nose our way into Neon Trees’ 2011 banger “Everybody Talks.” While Nichole ponders the subconscious id, Mark breaks down how this song has a tremendously tense build up to its explosive hook.  Other music heard in this episode: Temple of the Dog - "Hunger Strike," Temple of the Dog - "Say Hello 2 Heaven," The Left Banke - "Walk Away Ren...

What makes us hate a particular song? What’s the best possible beginning to a mixtape? In this episode, we finally dive in and answer listener questions! Come back next week for a full episode! Music heard in this episode: Gracie Abrams - “That’s So True”, Linkin Park - “Casualty” Send us your thoughts at NeverMusicPod@gmail.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out...

Don’t you love that “misunderstood villain” song sung by Idina Menzel? Wait… which one? In this episode, we follow the yellow brick road to the iconic “Defying Gravity” from the 2003 musical and 2024 film “Wicked.” While Nichole wants to talk about important things like empowerment and social movements, Mark has his ears fixed on one of the most iconic sounds of the musicals of the 90s and 2000s....

Ever moved from Nashville to L.A.? Mark and Nichole reminisce about their big moves and the big changes they brought. Nichole somehow finds a way to bring the conversation to a big California-bashing session. Cheap shot, Nichole, cheap shot. Be sure to join us next week for a full episode! Send us your thoughts at NeverMusicPod@gmail.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy...

Are you nodding your head like, yeah? In this episode, we sing along to Miley Cyrus’ 2009 anthem “Party in the U.S.A.” While Nichole breaks down the cultural relativism of a big life change, Mark talks through how the song packs so much punch through the pairing of two different scales: the major and the pentatonic. And a Britney song was on! Other music heard in this episode: ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic...

How hot are keyboard players? In this absolutely serious and academic discussion, we dream up two musical supergroups. Rigorous standards of consistency were certainly upheld! Listen next week for a full episode! Music heard in this episode: Nickel Creek - "Somebody More Like You", Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Breaking the Girl", Taylor Swift - "Out of the Woods", Carole King -...

Can you hear music that no one’s playing? This week we listen to Outkast’s 2003 eargasm “The Way You Move”. This song has a really cool chord progression, but… no instrument is playing it. What’s up with that? We talk about mental schemas and how good our brains are at filling in the blanks in all sorts of ways. Well, not Mark’s - he’s proven wrong in this one. Other music heard in this episode: R...

Can you still feel the butterflies? In this episode, Mark gives five reasons why Jimmy Eat World’s 1999 hidden gem “For Me This is Heaven” could possibly be the greatest song of all time. Nichole starts off very, very skeptical. Will Mark be convincing? Come back next week for a full episode! Music heard in this episode: Jimmy Eat World - “The Middle”, Jimmy Eat World - “For Me This is Heaven”, Ji...

Who needs silence when you can have music? We break down Depeche Mode’s melancholy 1990 gem “Enjoy the Silence.” While Nichole can appreciate that silence, and shares how introversion and extroversion shape our personalities, Mark would rather blab about how the song’s chords and guitar riff are interconnected in a really cool and surprising way.  Other music heard in this episode: Adele - "So...

What’s wrong with a little celebration, now and then? In this sidetrack, Mark gets nostalgic for his old band, Dream Hydra, who released their debut (and only) album, Radiant , exactly ten years ago. He takes Nichole on a tour of the band’s music and we discuss songwriting, being in a band in LA, and more. Check us out next week for a full episode! Music heard in this episode: Dream Hydra - “Letha...

Ladies, did you leave your man at home? Leap into Destiny’s Child’s 1999 hit “Jumpin’ Jumpin’.” Mark talks about how a big part of what makes this song’s melody so cool is that it is so….um… jumpin’!, and Nichole explains what makes certain moments like this song catch the attention of our brain and memory. So, let’s make it hot, hot! Other music heard in this episode: TLC - "No Scrubs", W...

Is an 80%-quality pop song good enough for you? What about 80%-quality therapy? Here we sidetrack on the growing role of artificial intelligence in songwriting and mental health services. Oh, and we hang our heads at what it’s doing to college classes… Be sure to join us next week for a full episode! Send us your thoughts at NeverMusicPod@gmail.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/bran...

Don’t you just love a good clean <BLEEP> in the middle of a pop song? Cover the kids’ ears as we curse about Third Eye Blind’s iconic 1997 hit “Semi-Charmed Life.” We deep dive into the strange edits made to the radio and video versions of this song, and also chatter about radio edits in general. Hot take: one of us may prefer the clean versions of our some recent hits. I’m not listening whe...

Should Mark be practicing the guitar while he sleeps? The hosts talk about how much sleep they each need to function, and Nichole shares the crazy “world” of lucid dreaming and sleep paralysis. Wake up next week for another full episode! Send us your thoughts at NeverMusicPod@gmail.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Why worry? In this episode, we fret over Stevie Wonder’s 1973 hit “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing. As Nichole ponders the good and bad sides of why we worry, Mark talks descending chromatic scales and how they give this song its playful intensity. Also, staying completely on topic, the hosts rank Illumination animated movies and talk great stage names. Other music heard in this episode: Frankie Val...

How can something bad be good? In this outtake from our conversation about “Tha Crossroads,” Nichole explains why she thinks grief is a beautiful, uniting emotion, and shares a poignant metaphor. See you next week for a full episode! Send us your thoughts at NeverMusicPod@gmail.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Do you remember the nervous energy that filled the room at your first school dance? Mark wasn’t there, but Nichole remembers. Slow dance with us to Spandau Ballet’s 1983 classic “True”? Mark does have some theories about how certain chords and melody notes give the song its emotional punch, and Nichole talks us through the brain chemistry of love, and how it changes as we grow. The hosts also answ...

Can a cover ever be better than the original? In this episode, we ask that unthinkable question as we each bring in three of our personal favorite cover versions. See you next week for a full episode! Music heard in this episode: David Bowie - “The Man Who Sold the World”, Nirvana - “The Man Who Sold the World”, The Moody Blues - “Your Wildest Dreams”, Harley Allen - “Your Wildest Dreams”, Sublime...

Do you have a go-to song when all a thug can do is cry, cry? Maybe you should consider Bone Thugs-N-Harmony’s 1996 outpouring “Tha Crossroads.” Mark describes how the song hits so hard in part because of the unique rhythmic identity from each of the members of the group, while Nichole takes us through the stages of grief. Other music heard in this episode: Steven Sondheim - "Being Alive",...

But where do you belong? In this episode, we break down Ace of Base’s 1993 not-quite reggae dance-pop megahit “The Sign.” Mark thinks he’s cracked the code on how the band used weird key changes to top the chart several times over. Meanwhile Nichole muses about whether this song’s lyrics relate to some fun ideas about the collective unconscious. Can the hosts get to the bottom of why Swedish pop m...

Wait, what exactly do you get when you let your heart win?! Here we tease apart Paramore’s 2007 power pop anthem of youthful mistakes, “That’s What You Get.” Mark thinks this song is such a banger because of a very old songwriting technique, and Nichole takes us on a journey of how our brain chemistry can lead us to make bad decisions - and then regret them. Other music heard in this episode: Para...

In this sneak peak, hosts Nichole (psychology professor) and Mark (music professor) banter about their new music podcast, Nevermind the Music. Join us each week as we light-heartedly pick apart a classic pop song from the perspectives of a songwriter and a psychologist. Nevermind the Music launches in September 2024! Send us your thoughts at NeverMusicPod@gmail.com Advertising Inquiries: https://r...