Nevermind the Music

Without love, where would you be now? Join us as we inhale some of that 1973 classic “Long Train Runnin’” by The Doobie Brothers. Mark draws our attention to a chord that finds a powerful new meaning in this song, which reminds Nichole of how our strongest memories are very much dependent on the context. But seriously, everyone, Tom Johnston or Michael McDonald? Other music heard in this episode:...

Einstein on the what? Follow Mark and Nichole down the rabbit hole (or up to the loft apartment in Manhattan) as we talk about musical minimalism, a quirky and surprising style that still influences music today. Join us next week for another full episode! Music heard in this episode: Steve Reich - "Piano Phase", Steve Reich - "Electric Counterpoint", The Who - "Baba O'Reill...

What better excuse for a bonus episode than the great new SNL documentary? David from The Lorehounds joins Mark and Nichole for a deep dive on Questlove's documentary chronicling Saturday Night Live's extraordinary musical history. The hosts break down the documentary's remarkable opening medley, discuss how SNL transformed live television music performances, and explore the show's...

Are we shining just the way we are? Here we piece apart Dua Lipa’s 2020 dance-pop gem “Levitating” and see how much the writing process matters. Mark stacks up the idea that this song’s melody seems to be built of tiny lego bricks rearranged in an infectious pattern. Meanwhile, Nichole relates this way of looking at things to personality trait theory - can Mark accurately self-diagnose his persona...

Should we share our opinions with our students? Here we finally talk through those tricky and controversial conversations that sometimes come up in class - and our role in them. Join us 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

Why was anybody surprised that T-Pain was a great singer? We shouldn’t have been. In this episode we tune to T-Pain’s debut single, 2005’s “I’m Sprung.” We deep dive on auto-tune and how this song shows how much music culture underestimated T-Pain back when he first came on to the scene. Also: shawty! Other music heard in this episode: T-Pain - “Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin')”, Billie Holiday...

Is Taylor going to grab #5? In this sidetrack, we go deep on the eight records nominated for “Album of the Year” at the 2025 Grammys. Listen with us as Mark and Nichole choose their champions and guess which artists will come away with the top honors in this year’s music industry love-fest. Check us out next week for a normal episode! Music Heard in this episode: André 3000 - “BuyPoloDisorder'...

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...