Before The Chorus

On their 5th LP, Joseph are learning to let go of many fears: the fear of disappointing others, the fear of failure, the fear of not being who you thought you were supposed to be. I sat down with sisters Natalie & Meegan to discuss it all. Find Joseph on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5Wfvw7rDz7HA6gE2z6QhqO?si=2nmMiU89SXOd4x7JdhtXKQ On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/josep...

On Dreamer Dreamer, Julianna Zachariou wades through dreams of never reaching a destination, deep feelings, and the kind of love that sustains us. Find Julianna on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3MKLoCXEXufW2ldiQtUokO?si=hlMZ2ATKRvOJEsNq5-ij5g On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/madison-cunningham/461080475 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madicunningham/?hl=en Subscrib...

On Ace, Madison Cunningham processes the cycles of heartbreak and falling in love again. For this episode, Madison's second time on the podcast, we sat down at her LA home and discussed the record at length. Find Madison on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3h9TfIgwhovQELlP2jj4xL?si=poBMbSTbT9u4QcNWMO4vvw On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/madison-cunningham/461080475 Instagr...

Ouri's latest album, Daisy Cutter, is a release of control, an excavation of inner truths, & an indulgence of sensuality. As always, we dive into the record's themes in depth, & we make sure to nerd out about Imogen Heap & FKA twigs along the way. Find Ouri on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/41gxyJbzbAaChEyrZ9j3rv?si=RCBJvcV6TeKATOOYCHIB1g On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist...

Flock of Dimes, aka Jenn Wasner, created an album that is as warm as it is raw. Amidst its perfectly crafted & pared back instrumentation, 'The Life You Save' explores themes of codependency, people pleasing, & letting go. In this episode, we discuss the themes of the album, & what helped her tell these stories on her own terms. Find Flock of Dimes on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1TTfu...

Jack Garratt's latest full-length album, Pillars, wrestles with longing: longing for reciprocity, longing for love, & longing for fulfillment. We discuss everything from the relationship between artists & their audiences, situationships, & navigating an increasingly difficult music industry. Find Jack Garratt on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1Zp054Jc86WVKCxKEqZGOA?si=JKCs6VMDSgeWGHpRbty...

On Kilo Kish's 'Negotiations', robotic soundscapes mirror the transactional, 'churned-out' side of the music industry. She asks "what am I worth?" - not to an unforgiving business model, but to herself. In this interview, we discuss this tension, & the importance of art on one's own terms. Find Kilo Kish on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7lsnwlX6puQ7lcpSEpJbZE?si=LkhaVZsZTs-7Xaky7StGSA O...

On June 25th 2025, in collaboration with Open Folk, we presented our first ever live interview event in Los Angeles. As Open Folk put it: "In These Lines is a live event where three artists each bring one song — not just to perform, but to explore. They sit down with Sofia Loporcaro, host of Before The Chorus, to talk about where the song came from, what it meant to write it, and what it still hol...

Benét writes songs while in the eye of life's storms. Because of this, his lyrics are raw & visceral, bringing us right to the core of what he's been feeling. 'Make 'Em Laugh' is no exception - through songs of heartbreak & self-examination, we're taken on a journey of healing, & just plain trying to figure life out. Find Benét on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/05YfgfbZtY7XRjc7So1DGB?si=...

Daisy The Great's 'The Rubber Teeth Talk' takes us on a winding road through dream states. Amongst these dreams, real questions occur: "Have I accomplished enough?" "Am I behind?" "Will everything be okay in the end?" Dreams, as they often do, become a vessel for processing reality. In this interview, we talk about the band's weirdest recurring dreams, & trusting the path they take you down. Find...

MRCY's ' VOLUME 2' is a celebration of life that never gets preachy. Rooted in soul music, it sanctifies the human experience in all of its good & bad. In this interview, we speak about the power of soul, life's unanswered questions, & so much more. Find MRCY on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4fHvJqxNjCIVcJekRTHoVh?si=G2OdpBw0R5SzqHZfIXNlEw On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/pl/arti...

Adam Melchor's latest album, 'The Diary of Living', balances honesty with levity. He talks about friends who passed away too young, missed connections, & trying to find meaning among all of it. In the end, the record encourages us to forgive ourselves & live life to the fullest Find Adam on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/54tv11ndFfiqXiR03PwdlB?si=a27HBHw2TEKL4JMcd50GGA On Apple Music: ht...

On 'There Is No Ship', Rose Betts uses her Irish heritage as a vehicle for storytelling. It documents the life of an artist in her thirties: what it means to choose a different path than your peers, moving countries, the vices we use to escape our troubles, even modern dating. Find Rose on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3DYAP9CXyfNiM2nlu09w4i?si=tcNDgED0Rb-5mO4uS27dUg On Apple Music: htt...

On 'Slow Crush', her debut LP, Alisa Xayalith takes us through a scrapbook of love stories. Some are about infatuation, toxic relationships & heartbreak. Others are about the kind of love that makes you feel seen & wholeheartedly loved. And after yers of being in a band, Alisa finally gets to tell these stories herself. Find Alisa on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6yI9BJNdoOE6vjbZGoGyGz?...

Despite being an often-overlooked topic in music, motherhood has come up in several of my interviews, & has served as inspiration for several albums. Though I’m not a mother myself, these women’s diverse stories have been so inspiring to me - they challenge tropes of motherhood, & get honest about its high & lows. Artists featured: Yukimi, Wet, Niambi, The Big Moon, Lady Wray Subscribe: ⁠https://b...

It’s been a busy spring for Julien Baker: she just released a collaborative album with Torres, ‘Send A Prayer My Way’ & announced her relationship with boygenius bandmate Lucy Dacus. Given all that, it seemed like a great time to re-issue my conversation with her from back in 2021. We talked about her last solo record, ‘Little Oblivions’, OCD, addiction & relapse, spirituality, & tons more. Her ho...

The writing process of ‘Two Lives’ began right as Kelly Zutrau, aka Wet, discovered that she was pregnant. As she processed the news, she let her subconscious to the talking, not filtering or polishing the words she found herself singing. Because of this, ‘Two Lives’ is an incredibly cerebral, raw record that demands to be felt, not just heard. Find Wet on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/...

On 'Nobody Lives Here', SYML sings about the transience of life with solemn acceptance. Things end, and we have to pick up and begin again. But the album also reminds us: even through endings, we can learn to love ourselves again. Be sure to listen to 'Nobody Lives Here' wherever you stream or buy your music! Find SYML on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6AyATGg7mDgBlZ4N5uNog0?si=5cWG2ERLQ...

Yukimi Nagano, long known as the frontperson of Little Dragon, came on the podcast to discuss her debut solo album 'For You'. The album is a beacon of both hope and acceptance, reminding us to hold onto our inner light, but that needing a good cry is okay too. Be sure to listen to 'For You' wherever you stream or buy your music! Find Yukimi on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/5J4McIA9reqqfM...

About You's 'The Lighthouse, The Storm' is an album of stories. Some were sent to him by friends, fans & strangers. Others are his own. In all of them, we get a vivid glimpse into deep human emotions, & the universal experience of longing for connection. Be sure to listen to 'The Lighthouse, The Storm' when it comes out this summer! Find About You on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7sOJEM...

'Eternal Reverie''s is the fruit of TOKiMONSTA changing her creative process & healing from burnout. Its 14 tracks are both a journal of joy & of grief; they serve as a tribute to her best friend, who passed away from cancer last year, & who, in many ways, is woven into them. Be sure to listen to 'Eternal Reverie' wherever you stream or buy your music! Find TOKiMONSTA on Spotify: https://open.spot...

Divorce blend the earnestness of country & folk with off-kilter headiness of indie rock. On their debut record 'Drive to Goldenhammer', they reflect on life on the road, long-distance relationships, queer identity, & the ways we care for others. Be sure to listen to 'Drive to Goldenhammer' wherever you stream or buy your music! Find Divorce on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0YMVzWF9HWGbV...

With her third album, 'A Complicated Woman', coming out next month, I wanted to revisit my first interview with Self Esteem from 2020. It was pretty clear from the get-go that she was going to bulldoze the rules of pop, & she has - her unfiltered lyrics about female pleasure, queerness, heartbreak & more have garnered her a large & loyal fanbase, both in the UK & internationally. She has also been...

Sofia takes you through her month in the Los Angeles music scene, concert highlights, emerging artists & more. Events & Artists mentioned: Fine Folk: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6rVpawKdyzxZh9ZAPJbamg?si=7kna4es1S6u6R0fiCM_j7A Rocko Wheeler: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2XOBzOx1k7DYB42TzHWT9Z?si=7lgx9dxPSJ-FQrBVmHPEog Andrew Bird: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4uSftVc3FPWe6RJuMZNEe9?si=5S...

Michi's debut LP 'Dirty Talk' is all about healing from past relationships, giving both yourself & former partners grace, & getting agency back. Most importantly, it reminds that this process is imperfect. Be sure to listen to 'Dirty Talk', out February 28th 2025, wherever you stream or buy your music! Find Michi on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3Wpco0QNxrTY1Gnqo06J6P?si=0A9mRdUUTnyYM_H...