A Deeper Listen

Karla Chubb of the Irish garage-punk band SPRINTS talks with Emily Fox about the band's debut album, 'Letter To Self.' They discuss the inspiration behind some of the songs, including campaigning to end the abortion ban in Ireland, Catholic guilt and being queer, and the unfair standards women are held to in music. Karla also talks about her recent ADHD diagnosis and why girls and women are under-...

Palestine Amplified is a four-part series exploring the Palestinian struggle through music. In this final episode of the series, we dig into a vital aspect of resistance and liberation: Joy. We discuss why it’s important to center joy in the movement, and how that joy is often articulated through music and art. Voices featured in this episode: Selma Al-Aswad Sonny Singh Ijeoma Oluo Alsarah Wendy E...

Palestine Amplified is a four-part series exploring the Palestinian struggle through music. In this episode, we discuss the key role that artists have in liberation movements. We also hear directly from artists about why they’ve spoken up about Palestine. Voices featured in this episode: Alsarah Ijeoma Oluo Samir Eskanda Sonny Singh Bryan John Appleby Blake Madden (Hotels, Adra Boo) Huda Asfour Ra...

Palestine Amplified is a four-part series exploring the Palestinian struggle through music. In this episode, we share some of the ways music is used as a tool of liberation, whether as code to pass messages, in documenting people's stories, or as a vessel for collective memory and healing. Voices featured in this episode: Selma Al-Aswad Tory J Kevin Sur Sabrene Odeh Huda Asfour Gabriel Teodros Wen...

Palestine Amplified is a four-part series exploring the Palestinian struggle through music. In this episode, we’re looking at how different struggles are related, from apartheid South Africa to police brutality in the U.S., and how making these connections can help us better understand the Palestinian cause. In particular, we explore the way music was used in the movement against apartheid in Sout...

As part of the Cascadia Music Summit in Boise, Idaho, Emily Fox speaks with the rapper, singer, and writer, Dessa, the Denver-based duo N3ptune, and Rusty Steve and Eric Gilbert who run Boise’s Treefort Music Festival and Duck Club. They talk about how to make things work on a shoestring budget, how to work smarter together, and how to create opportunities that didn’t exist before.  Support the sh...

Rapper, singer, and writer, Dessa, shares a poem about how to live a life in music called “How To Stage Dive.” Also on this episode, jazz musician and Executive Director for the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, Aaron Myers, shares his personal story about getting access to health care and mental health services as a musician. He also talks about why coming home after touring can be so dif...

Hozoji Roseanne Mathison-Margolis is a shellfish diver for the Puyallup Tribe by day and by night she plays drums in the nautical inspired rock band, Helms Alee. We revisit this story Sound & Vision first aired in 2019 as part of our series, Day Job, which explores the work musicians do outside of music in order to make a living. The story was written by Rachel Stevens with reporting by Brie R...

Gender equity in the music industry still has a long way to go. The University of Southern California has been studying inclusion in the recording studio for years. In 2018, it found that out of the songs that made it on Billboard’s year end Hot 100 chart, along with the nominees in top Grammy categories, only 2% of those songs were produced by women. That number only increased to 3.4% in 2022. On...

Chicago-based artist NNAMDÏ is known for his genre-clashing albums. His songs will often bring together elements of punk, hip-hop, electronic music, and more – all fused together with NNAMDI’s infectious and enthusiastic spirit. He talks with KEXP’s Dusty Henry about his all-time favorite albums so we get a deeper understanding of his musical DNA.  Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/ See...

There’s a vibrating dance floor in Colorado that translates instruments and notes in songs in real time. It works for both recorded and live music. Stephanie Wolf reports on how the floor is increasing accessibility to music and dance.  Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emily Fox and KEXP DJs Evie Stokes, Troy Nelson and Kevin Cole break down the top played albums of 2023 on KEXP and share their personal favorite records of the year.   KEXP’s top played albums:  Jungle - Volcano  Arlo Parks - My Soft Machine  Polyrhythmics - Filter System  Little Dragon - Slugs of Love   Yves Tumor - Praise a Lord Who Chews But Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worl...

It was a big year for Latin music and Mexican music in particular. KEXP’s Albina Cabrera is joined by Julyssa Lopez, Senior Music Editor at Rolling Stone and author of “ The Grammys Still Don’t Know What to Do With Latin Music, ” and Isabela Raygoza, Associate Editor at Billboard Español and co-author of " Mexican Music Isn't Having a Moment, It's a Movement ” for this episode. They break down the...

KEXP’s Martin Douglas reflects on travel, mortality, and life through his favorite rap album of the year, 'Maps' by billy woods.   Listen to billy woods talk about fatherhood and making a children’s book: https://www.kexp.org/podcasts/sound-vision/2023/6/18/apparently-billy-woods-on-his-a-is-for-anarchist-childrens-book/   Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/ See omnystudio.com/listener f...

The Portland-based experimental band Grails is back with their latest album, ' Anches en Maat .' It's the first record that the group wrote together in the studio since 2008, featuring some of their most avant garde Western psych-rock instrumentals to date. KEXP's Roddy Nikpour has this review.   Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malummí  is the project of singer songwriter Larissa Rapold and guitarist and producer Giovanni Vicari based out of Basel Switzerland. They just released an album called The Universe Is Black. Rapold reflects on racial issues and her personal experiences and thoughts behind the album’s title track.    “The feeling I have when I sing it is raising my fist above my head and walking through a crowd o...

Black rockers in Seattle speak with contributor Mia Imani about navigating a music scene that has historically excluded them and about reclaiming a genre that many notable Black musicians helped create.  Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Magic AL is the alias of Alex Bingham– a producer and bass player who has played with a lot of indie/folk bands from North Carolina including Hiss Golden Messenger. He’s out with his first solo album called 'Good Grief.' Bingham talks with Emily Fox about how the death of four loved ones in the same year led him to make an album and how music brought joy back into his life.  Support the show: http...

Since iconic rap duo Outkast went on hiatus in 2006, fans have been clamoring for a solo album from Andre 3000. Now, 17 years later, he’s finally delivered with a new record called New Blue Sun … only, instead of rapping he’s playing the flute. KEXP’s Dusty Henry shares his reflections on why the album is one of his favorites of 2023 and how Andre 3000’s direction into ambient/New Age music might...

Many venues in Seattle and beyond aren’t equipped to get wheelchair users inside or on stage, pointing to a broader issue of accessibility in live music. Emily Fox speaks with venues, performers, and concertgoers about this issue, including:  Seattle musician Mindie Lind who wrote the article, “I Stopped Performing Music Because Venues Are Ableist.”   Eric Howk, guitarist in the Grammy award-winni...

Sudan Tapes Archive is a DIY project started by Haneen Sidhamed where she digitizes and makes Sudanese music cassette tapes available to stream online. This project is important amid ongoing war in Sudan, the closure of recording and publishing companies, and the physical burning and destruction of cassette tapes. KEXP’s Julianna Covarrubias speaks with Sidhamed about the project.  https://www.sud...

The First Nations electronic duo The Halluci Nation is out with the first part of a two-part EP inspired by wrestling. It's called 'Path of The Heel' and it features Damian Abraham of the Canadian hardcore band, Fucked Up. Bear Witness and 2oolman of The Halluci Nation talk with Emily Fox about the wrestling storyline of the EP and how they go about incorporating powwow music into their electronic...

Seattle's Duff McKagan is best known for being the bassist of Guns N' Roses. He’s now out with his third solo album, 'Lighthouse.' Emily Fox speaks with McKagan about the new record and how his sensei and martial arts practice inspired one of his new songs. He also shares his story of addiction, recovery, and his struggles with panic attacks. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/ See omnys...

The Beatles released their so-called “last new song,” titled “Now and Then” on November 2nd. The song involves all four members of The Beatles — thanks to the help of artificial intelligence. For a quick breakdown of the song and how it happened, KEXP’s Roddy Nikpour speaks with KEXP’s Music Director, Chris Sanley, and our Associate Director of Editorial, Dusty Henry. Support the show: https://www...

For the first time in more than 30 years, KEXP got a new Music Director. They listen to all the music coming into the station each week and suggest which songs and albums should be played more often on-air. Emily Fox caught up with KEXP’s new Music Director, Chris Sanley, to learn about her through music.   Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor...