A Deeper Listen

The indie-pop trio MUNA talks about being an openly queer band since they started in 2014, and why they believe the conversation should go beyond “Representation.” They also discuss the transition from a major record label, RCA, to Phoebe Bridgers’ indie label, Saddest Factory Records.  Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bartees Strange talks about how his latest album, Farm to Table reflects on resilience, family and the death of George Floyd.  “I think a lot of people see climate change, racism, gender struggles, women’s rights, all these issues are so humongous, huge. Multigenerational struggles. And we all want to fix it, but the way to fix it is to start with yourself. And that’s kind of the message of a lot...

To celebrate Juneteenth, we are going to go on a journey through the sonics of Black spirituality. Seattle native and writer Mia Imani highlights some of the musicians and songs that have helped elevate the conversation about Black spirituality, from Sun Ra and Alice Coltrane, to Solange and Flying Lotus.   https://www.kexp.org/read/2022/6/17/conscious-creations-examining-the-sonics-of-black-spiri...

Nabil Ayers released a memoir this month called “My Life in the Sunshine.” Ayers is the son of jazz great Roy Ayers who’s known for the song, “Everybody Loves The Sunshine.” Nabil Ayers went on to co-found Seattle’s Sonic Boom records. He played in a few bands including The Long Winters. He was the General Manager of the storied record label 4AD, and this y...

Nataly Dawn and Jack Conte of Pomplamoose talk about starting their career more than a decade ago by posting viral music videos to YouTube, going on to co-found Patreon and its importance to creators in the music industry, and Nataly talks about recording her new solo record after getting a skin cancer diagnosis.   “Pomplamoose gets 5-6 million views a month on YouTube and when we...

Poliça’s previous album was written after frontwoman Channy Leaneagh almost gave up her career in music. That’s until she fell off her roof trying to remove ice. Her doctor suggested she rewrite the story of her fall to make it seem less traumatic. The result was the album ‘When We Stay Alive.' It was released just weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic swept America. During t...

Fantastic Negrito talks about his new album, 'White Jesus Black Problems,' which was inspired by his discovery that his 7th generation grandparents were an interracial couple, a white indentured servant and an enslaved Black man, who put their lives in danger and challenged white supremacy in the name of love. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in...

We believe that everyone who runs should have a great soundtrack. Not one curated by an algorithm, but one that’s hand-picked by a DJ who runs too. The Runcast with John Richards brings you a dynamic mix of music and inspiration to keep you company and motivate you on your run, no matter what your level. Subscribe to KEXP's The Runcast with John Richards, wherever you podcast, and enjoy new...

Sound & Vision’s mini-series, Apparently, explores the stories of musicians, performers and arts workers who are juggling parenthood with their art. On this episode, singer-songwriter Michaela Anne talks about singing Carole King's “Child of Mine” at her mother’s hospital bedside for months after her mother had a stroke. At the time, Michaela was pregnant, and her child...

Emmy the Great talks about splitting her childhood between China and the UK and how she felt conflicted with her biracial identity. She was seen as white when living in China and "threw away" her Cantonese language when she was living in England.   “I just sort of grew up code switching, as a natural way of being,” She says. “And as I get older I don’t want to alw...

Sound & Vision’s mini-series, Apparently, explores the stories of musicians, performers and arts workers who are juggling parenthood with their art. On this episode, our guest is Shana Cleveland of the Seattle-born and California-based band, La Luz. KEXP’s Evie Stokes talks with Cleveland about her journey of becoming a mother shortly before the pandemic, receiving a cancer diagnos...

Washington’s Allen Stone talks about what it was like being a finalist in NBC’s "American Song Contest" and how he was able to make it happen in the final days of his mother’s life. He also discusses the realities of trying to make a living off music even after you have a national following. Listen back to a previous Sound & Vision episode featuring Allen Stone here .  S...

Chris Bathgate talks about his new record, ‘The Significance of Peaches,’ which was released after living in a national forest in Michigan, farming in California, working at a tech startup in San Francisco, having a child and moving back home to Michigan. He talks about his journey and the album’s themes of nature, ‘baby fever,’ and the social inequities he saw in San...

In 1973, the Seattle-area band Lavender Country released what’s considered to be the first openly gay country album. The self-titled album went relatively unnoticed outside of Stonewall activists at the time. Shortly after the album’s release, the band broke up and frontman Patrick Haggerty went on to run for office in the city of Seattle and Washington State, advocating for racial jus...

Tennyson talks about his new album, 'Rot,' written after he developed a hearing condition brought on by mold exposure that caused intense sensitivity to sound.   “It started suddenly. I was upstairs and someone was doing dishes and I noticed that it was extremely loud. I went outside to try and relax and the sound of the birds were piercing and the sound of the wind in the leaves of the...

Hollis Wong-Wear sits down with Larry Mizell Jr. to talk about her new album, moving to LA from Seattle, and going from producing music videos for Macklemore and Ryan Lewis to having Ryan Lewis produce her own song, “Let Me Not.” She calls the music video for that track her “love letter to Seattle.”  Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/ See omnystudio.com/list...

The Belgium-based electronic duo, Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul talk about the themes of wokeness, racism, and the #Metoo movement that end up on their latest album, 'Topical Dancer.' Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Head and The Heart talk about their new record and starting therapy together as a band, 12 years since they formed in Seattle.  “If we are going to make this work long term and it’s the hardest to stay together when you’re in relationships and in a polygamous band relationship, it’s like, let’s f___ing do it. . . we gotta make it healthy, otherwise it’s...

Hatchie talks about the themes of shame and self-acceptance on her latest record, 'Giving The World Away,' and how she worked a day job during COVID to save up to tour so she could pay her band and crew. “I really wanted this record to be as big as possible on tour so I wanted to add extra members to the lineup and I wanted to have our own soundperson and have a lighting show so that meant t...

Maren Morris talks about themes of motherhood and the death of her longtime friend and producer, Michael Busbee on her new record, 'Humble Quest.' She also discusses her crossover sound and the need for more diversity in country music. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vancouver, B.C.-based band Destroyer released their 13th album, “Labyrinthitis,” on March 25. Since their first album nearly 30 years ago, the band’s sound has evolved from experimental folk to pulsing disco. Sound & Vision’s assistant producer Roddy Nikpour spoke with frontman Dan Bejar about Destroyer’s new album, their upcoming tour, and what keeps him inspired...

Lucius released their latest studio album, 'Second Nature,' on April 8. Vocalist and songwriter Jess Wolfe talks about how this album was written while she processed her divorce and how the music is meant to make light through the darkness and dance through it. She also discusses the collaborations on the album with Brandi Carlile and Sheryl Crow. “It’s such a fine line to want to hono...

Kae Tempest has published six poetry collections, written two books, staged three plays and is now out with their fourth studio album, 'The Line Is A Curve.' Tempest talks about the power of lyricism and the process of creating this album, which is the first album they’ve released since coming out as trans nonbinary. “Music gave me an escape and it also gave me a pass. It enabled me to...

Our favorite fringe masked gay cowboy Orville Peck released the final chapter in his three-part record, 'Bronco,' on Friday. Orville Peck talks about musical inspiration from growing up in South Africa, telling biographical tales in his music that seem fictional, and creating 'Bronco' after struggling with depression and almost giving up on music during the pandemic.   “I was deeply, de...

Sound & Vision’s mini-series, Apparently, explores the stories of musicians, performers and arts workers who are juggling parenthood with their art.    Today we hear the epic story of parenthood from Lowland Hum, who make “quiet music,” but their experience as new parents were anything but quiet. (Cue a tornado, colic and a miscarriage.)  Support the show:...