Sounds of Berklee

Goose’s live act attracts a devoted following—and the band's studio work highlights the sharp songs that spark their legendary jams. So on this summer edition of the podcast, we're exploring both sides of the Goose experience, from the studio to the stage, and hearing from the band as well as their fans along the way. Episode credits: Produced, engineered, and edited by John Mirisola Coproduced by...

The Berklee student and Boston Calling–bound indie folk artist explores how discovering songwriting and a supportive queer community led to deeper self-discovery.

"Electro-symphonic” composer David Ibbett breaks down his process for turning scientific data into musical notes.

The alum and leader of Illuminati Hotties discusses the long road to her latest album and how her work as a producer gave her the confidence to finish the record. [Image by Courtney Cole]

Composer Ray Soul takes us behind the making of his track, "Seu Aprendiz," which is an honest, moving, and cathartic reckoning with his mother's suicide.

The author and trumpeter discusses his new book, which features intimate interviews with jazz greats from Bertha Hope to Robert Glasper. The book and its companion album shine a light on how personal history is cultural history. (Theme music is "You Made Me" by Sleeping Lion)

There are three hashtags at the bottom of the YouTube page for the song "Outliers," by the band Aviations. The first two are #aviationsband and #progressivemetal—pretty standard. But the last one is a bit surprising: #cozymetal. In this episode of Sounds of Berklee, the band's drummer, James Knoerl B.M. '15 talks about why you might want to curl up with cup of tea when listening to this 11-minute...

Michela McDonagh B.M. '19, who goes by the artist name MHIC (pronounced “Mick"), remembers sensing the uneasiness in the air just before lockdown began in Manhattan, where she worked while living at home with her parents on Long Island. The ambient tension made her think about how her generation, the last to have a memory of 9/11, was brought up in an anxious world and is graduating into a particu...

The Turkish guitarist and producer shares his musical arrangement of a poem by the great Chilean poet Pablo Neruda.

The long-time Berklee faculty member talks imagination, her opera 'Rumpelstiltskin,' composing without computers, and more. Note to listeners: this episode refers to a planned performance of 'Rumpelstiltskin' at the Kennedy Center that has now been canceled.

The Berklee alumna discusses her shift from instrumentalist to singer/songwriter, her love of sad music, and how translating lyrics can be a metaphor for making music in general.

The Berklee student, already a successful jazz pianist and composer at 18, talks to the BIRN about exploring new musical territory.

Amanda Addleman B.M. '09 always assumed she had stage fright, but after years of not being able to shake it she sought help and learned that she had something else: post-traumatic stress disorder. In this episode of Sounds of Berklee, she talks about how PTSD affected her career and how she used music, including writing a new album, to work through it.

In this episode, Kris Davis breaks down her song, "Corn Crake," and how it brought together jazz improvisation, turntables, and the voice of Olivier Messiaen.

The alumnus goes behind the scenes of some of 2019’s top releases, including Bon Iver's 'i, i' and Big Thief's 'U.F.O.F' and 'Two Hands.' We also asked Sarlo to curate a collection of some of the most memorable tracks he’s produced over the years. Listen and read see what Sarlo had to say about each track he selected on Berklee Now: https://www.berklee.edu/news/berklee-now/andrew-sarlos-big-year-p...

Award-winning Chilean saxophonist Melissa Aldana B.M. '09 talks about the inspiration for her latest album, struggles she has faced in her artistic journey, and how she stays at the top of her game.

In this episode, Pedro Osuna talks about deadlines, working in L.A., and finding his compositional voice.

Hawkins recruited a team of Berklee alumni, former students, and others to write and build the song "Champagne" using the online collaboration platform Splice. Here's how they put the song together.

Take a moment to clear your mind with the alumna synth composer's organic, meditative music, featured on this episode of Sounds of Berklee. This episode features music from "Abstractions," “Tides VII,” and “Tides I” by Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith. For more information, visit touchtheplants.com.

Leah Driscoll B.M. '03, director of Student Wellness Promotion and Services, and student Lyzz Zinn discuss mental health tips and resources for musicians.

Even if you've never heard of shoegaze, there's a good chance some of your favorite artists are fans. With a focus on heavily effected guitars and ethereal vocals, the underground rock genre came to prominence and was critically panned in the '90s. But the genre and its influence has made a comeback. In this episode, we look at the implications of that return and why the underground plays a vital...

The legendary 'In Utero' producer engineered the Cotones’ “The Final Cut” and dropped priceless studio wisdom in Berklee’s Studio 2. Listen to the track premiere on Sounds of Berklee.

Niu Raza, a Berklee alumna and Madagascar native, gets audiences to dance with her pop track "Moramora."

“Great Escape,” the new single by Jackie Foster B.M. '18, has all the trademarks of a classic pop summer anthem: life-affirming lyrics, high sing-along factor, and a killer hook. It’s hard to believe a track that feels so destined to be heard blasting from rolled-down car windows was written during a low point in the singer’s career. Recorded by Tony Brown Engineered by Darcy Davis Theme music by...

Recorded shortly after his soundcheck at the Paradise Rock Club in Boston, Kishi Bashi talks about the genesis of his new album (and an upcoming film) 'Omoiyari,' his approach to telling difficult stories as a songwriter, and much more. (Image by Max Ritter)