Live on KEXP

Chinese-born, Vancouver-based musician Yu Su makes propulsive and evocative electronic that intends to bridge the gap between her motherland and her new Pacific Northwest home.  On this episode of Live on KEXP, the composer, DJ, and sound artist speaks to Mike Ramos about the significance of the title of her latest album  Yellow River Blue , her tough journey towards feeling comfortable...

Activist, thinker, contemporary artist, and musician Nicholas Galanin entwines his experience as an Alaskan indigenous person and passion for social and environmental justice with falling in love and the birth of a child for his debut album as Ya Tseen. Titled Indian Yard, the record is a collaboration between himself and the many artists that see Galanin as a friend including Otis Calvin III (who...

Activist, thinker, contemporary artist, and musician Nicholas Galanin entwines his experience as an Alaskan indigenous person and passion for social and environmental justice with falling in love and the birth of a child for his debut album as Ya Tseen. Titled Indian Yard, the record is a collaboration between himself and the many artists that see Galanin as a friend including Otis Calvin III (who...

There are many negative ways one could sum up 2021 but one shining bright positive title we can give it is The Year of Michelle Zauner. The Oregon-born artist is probably best known as Japanese Breakfast and released the stellar album Jubilee this June but is also now an acclaimed author with the release of the New York Times bestseller Crying in H Mart in April.  For this episode of Live on...

There are many negative ways one could sum up 2021 but one shining bright positive title we can give it is The Year of Michelle Zauner. The Oregon-born artist is probably best known as Japanese Breakfast and released the stellar album Jubilee this June but is also now an acclaimed author with the release of the New York Times bestseller Crying in H Mart in April.  For this episode of Live on...

It’s important that we all feel like the star of our own movie, and if you’re still searching for a badass theme song for your personal film then look no further than Seattle’s own True Loves. The infectious funkmasters recorded a soulful set for KEXP behind the release of the band’s latest full-length 'Sunday Afternoon' and also spilled the tea to Troy Nelson on their guil...

It’s important that we all feel like the star of our own movie, and if you’re still searching for a badass theme song for your personal film then look no further than Seattle’s own True Loves. The infectious funkmasters recorded a soulful set for KEXP behind the release of the band’s latest full-length 'Sunday Afternoon' and also spilled the tea to Troy Nelson on their guil...

The quick evolution of London’s Working Men’s Club from guitar-based rock band to synth-driven dance outfit might seem odd but listening to their present-day New Orderian sound, you’d never guess they were ever making anything else. For Live on KEXP, frontman Syd Minskey-Sargeant speaks with Kevin Cole about how the pandemic affected their highly unorthodox remix releases before...

The quick evolution of London’s Working Men’s Club from guitar-based rock band to synth-driven dance outfit might seem odd but listening to their present-day New Orderian sound, you’d never guess they were ever making anything else. For Live on KEXP, frontman Syd Minskey-Sargeant speaks with Kevin Cole about how the pandemic affected their highly unorthodox remix releases before...

Montreal 7-piece psych-rock band TEKE::TEKE expand on the wide array of influences that led to the name of their band - urban legends, onomatopoeias, and a Japanese guitarist all have a hand - with Larry Mizell, Jr. before floating into a flute-filled, surfy set. Recorded April 26, 2021. Kala Kala Yoru Ni Barbara Jikaku Meikyu Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube Support the show: https:...

Montreal 7-piece psych-rock band TEKE::TEKE expand on the wide array of influences that led to the name of their band - urban legends, onomatopoeias, and a Japanese guitarist all have a hand - with Larry Mizell, Jr. before floating into a flute-filled, surfy set. Recorded April 26, 2021. Kala Kala Yoru Ni Barbara Jikaku Meikyu Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube Support the show: https:...

A pioneer of new age and ambient sounds, Laraaji recently added a trilogy of albums, 'Sun Piano,’ 'Moon Piano,' and 'Through Luminous Eyes' to his already deep discography. On this episode of Live on KEXP, the 78 year-old musician, mystic and laughter meditation practitioner recounts the story of acquiring the zither that would come to influence his music for the next 40+ years and then util...

A pioneer of new age and ambient sounds, Laraaji recently added a trilogy of albums, 'Sun Piano,’ 'Moon Piano,' and 'Through Luminous Eyes' to his already deep discography. On this episode of Live on KEXP, the 78 year-old musician, mystic and laughter meditation practitioner recounts the story of acquiring the zither that would come to influence his music for the next 40+ years and then util...

For Julian Saporiti, music is not just an opportunity for creative expression but also an avenue to share his rich knowledge of Asian American history. Armed with a PhD in American Studies from Brown, Saporiti recounts these tales, both personal and historical, through No-No Boy. On this episode of Live on KEXP, find out more about Saporiti’s journey from professor to rock star before diving...

For Julian Saporiti, music is not just an opportunity for creative expression but also an avenue to share his rich knowledge of Asian American history. Armed with a PhD in American Studies from Brown, Saporiti recounts these tales, both personal and historical, through No-No Boy. On this episode of Live on KEXP, find out more about Saporiti’s journey from professor to rock star before diving...

Much has been said about the pros and cons of being a parent during the pandemic. For musicians like Shovels & Rope’s Cary Anne Hearst and Michael Trent, not being able to be on the road has allowed them an amount of time with their children that they haven’t previously been afforded, but also left them without an income to support them. Perhaps that’s why their latest volume...

Much has been said about the pros and cons of being a parent during the pandemic. For musicians like Shovels & Rope’s Cary Anne Hearst and Michael Trent, not being able to be on the road has allowed them an amount of time with their children that they haven’t previously been afforded, but also left them without an income to support them. Perhaps that’s why their latest volume...

In April, Jenn Wasner released her second album under the name Flock of Dimes. Titled 'Head of Roses,' the album explores the depths of heartbreak but also, according to Cheryl Waters, “Elicits so much happiness and emotion.”  For Live on KEXP, Wasner speaks to the admiring Waters about how the few short weeks of making 'Head of Roses' were some of the happiest moments of her life...

In April, Jenn Wasner released her second album under the name Flock of Dimes. Titled 'Head of Roses,' the album explores the depths of heartbreak but also, according to Cheryl Waters, “Elicits so much happiness and emotion.”  For Live on KEXP, Wasner speaks to the admiring Waters about how the few short weeks of making 'Head of Roses' were some of the happiest moments of her life...

London four-piece TV Priest make blazing, brash post-punk that sees frontman Charlie Drinkwater deliver fired-up musings in a spoken-word style. For Live on KEXP, Troy Nelson delves into the history of this unique and yet very of-the-moment way of conveying lyrics. The band also explains why, despite being childhood friends, they only finally united as a band in their ‘30s and the benefits t...

London four-piece TV Priest make blazing, brash post-punk that sees frontman Charlie Drinkwater deliver fired-up musings in a spoken-word style.  In the interview, the band explains why, despite being childhood friends, they only finally united as a band in their ‘30s and the benefits that sort of time and exposure to "real life" has on making music. Recorded 03/29/2021 Press Gang Slide...

Besides playing a scathing set of punchy psych-rock, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets answer some of the tough questions on this week’s episode of Live on KEXP. Speaking with KEXP’s Troy Nelson, the Australian band, who released their fourth studio album ‘Shyga! The Sunlight Mound’ in February, sets the record straight on the question we’ve all been pondering: what is a kook...

Besides playing a scathing set of punchy psych-rock, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets answer some of the tough questions on this week’s episode of Live on KEXP. Speaking with KEXP’s Troy Nelson, the Australian band, who released their fourth studio album ‘Shyga! The Sunlight Mound’ in February, sets the record straight on the question we’ve all been pondering: what is a kook...

For over a decade, Tamara Lindeman has been expanding the depth and breadth of the music she makes as The Weather Station. For her latest record, 'Ignorance,' Lindeman not only pushes the limits of the folk genre tag she’s often categorized under but also gets thematically spacious with a major focus on not just the physical but psychological impacts of climate change. The album couldn&rsquo...

For over a decade, Tamara Lindeman has been expanding the depth and breadth of the music she makes as The Weather Station. For her latest record, 'Ignorance,' Lindeman not only pushes the limits of the folk genre tag she’s often categorized under but also gets thematically spacious with a major focus on not just the physical but psychological impacts of climate change. The album couldn&rsquo...