What Is Music?: A Music Podcast About Music

Adam sits down with music producer Paul Q. Kolderie to discuss mixing techniques, the music industry, and his work producing Pablo Honey by Radiohead . They talk about how Paul became a music producer, how he got started with his producing partner, Sean Slade, and how they started working with Radiohead. Paul gives insight into how the band were in the studio, and touches on the respeonse to, and...

The Big Mates provide insightful commentary for Live at the Astoria , the officially released live VHS by Radiohead . Adam, Steve, and Lucas discuss the show as committed to tape in 1994, and dig in to the context surrounding the tour undertaken by Radiohead in support of Pablo Honey ? They also find the time to discuss the bands appearances at Glastonbury and Reading 1994, the sneak previews of s...

The Big Mates discuss The Sims, The Clangers, Friends, and Pablo Honey by Radiohead . Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of Radiohead by completing their track-by-track analysis of the band's debut album, released in 1993. They talk about the writing and recording process, the context surrounding the songs, and offer up analysis, opinions, and thou...

The Big Mates discuss music venues, university, Muse, and Pablo Honey by Radiohead . Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep dive into the career and discography of Radiohead by starting their track-by-track analysis on the band's debut album, released in 1993. They talk about the writing and recording process, the context surrounding the songs, and offer up analysis, opinions, and thought...

The Big Mates discuss band names, Brian May, crying at books, and the early days of Radiohead . Adam, Steve, and Lucas start at the beginning, talkign about the individual members of Radiohead, how they grew up, and then follow them through the early days of music making as On A Friday . They listen to early demos and chart the band's musical progression all the way up to their transformation...

The Big Mates discuss art vs. entertainment, the ecstatic truth, music as a time capsule, and introduce Season 4 of the What Is Music? podcast. It's called " Is It Rad In Yo' Head? : A Critical Analysis of the History, Cultural Impact, and Music of Radiohead ." Adam, Steve, and Lucas being their deep-dive exploration of Radiohead by talking about their own experiences with the...

The Big Mates discuss Instagram, Summer Heart, Batman Forever, and The Ultra Vivid Lament by Manic Street Preachers. Adam, Steve, and Lucas focus on their track-by-track deep-dive into the Manics' fourteenth album, giving musical analysis, discussing the lyrics, themes, their takes and opinions and everything inbetween! Do the Manics still surprise us, fourteen albums in? What doesn't th...

The Big Mates are joined by music producer Dave Eringa to discuss Hail to the Thief by Radiohead, Glastonbury Tor, online forums, and The Ultra Vivid Lament by Manic Street Preachers. Adam, Steve, Lucas, and Dave talk about what it was like to work with the Manics again on their 14th studio album, how the songs were written and recorded, the context surrounding the album, and its release in Septem...

The Big Mates discuss Steve's acting career, driver's license photos, David Copperfield, and offer their final thoughts on Billie Eilish . Adam, Steve, and Lucas look back on the last season of musical examination, place the career of Billie Eilish into context, and discuss their feelings and opinions on it. They also find time to discuss their album rankings, final scores, and their Top...

BONG. YOU ARE RECEIVING AN EMERGENCY NEWS BROADCAST. The Big Mates discuss the newly released single, Compliance by Muse. They also explore the announcement of Muse's ninth studio album, Will of the People . They look at the tracklist, artwork, and what the band themsevles have said about it. They then speak on their expectations for the album, and their thoughts on the new single. You can no...

The Big Mates discuss Spanish speaking countries in South America, eating vegetables, and they watch every music video by Billie Eilish. Adam, Steve, and Lucas embark on an epic journey and watch all of the Billie Eilish videos in one sitting and offer comments, opinion, and general musings on them. It is long, rambly, and hopefully a lot of fun! How do the music videos hold up? Will they even mak...

The Big Mates provide insightful commentary for Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles . Adam, Steve, and Lucas discuss the film as released on Disney+, featuring Billie and Finneas performing Happier Than Ever in full, joined by a live orchestra! They also find time to discuss fidget cubes, Monster Munch, and Lucas's tentative marriage to Finneas. Head to Disney+ to watch along with...

The Big Mates discuss visiting cats, OPM, Phoebe Bridgers, and Happier Than Ever by Billie Eilish. Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep-dive into Billie's second album, giving a track-by-track analysis, discussing the music, lyrics, themes, and everything inbetween! How does this album land with The Big Mates? How was it received by the public? Is Adam still going on about narrative?  F...

We interrupt your scheduled programming to bring you this Special Presentation of Cruise Views, a new podcast all about Tom Cruise from What Is Music? host Adam Scott Glasspool and his friend and fellow film fan Tom Ashford. We’re going to review every single film he’s done in chronological order, starting at Endless Love and going all the way up to Top Gun: Maverick and beyond!   If you like What...

The Big Mates discuss university accomodation, Halley Comet's Comet, the Metaverse, and Happier Than Ever by Billie Eilish. Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep-dive into Billie's second album, giving a track-by-track analysis, discussing the music, lyrics, themes, and everything inbetween! Can we doxx Steve? Would we welcome immortality? Have we settled on a sign-off?  Find out on...

The Big Mates discuss getting older, Lucas's line of signature guitars, Vin Diesel, and Happier Than Ever by Billie Eilish. Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep-dive into Billie's career, exploring the context behind her sophomore album, how it was recorded, and beginning their track-by-track analysis, discussing the music, lyrics, themes, and everything inbetween! They also find t...

The Big Mates discuss the end of the podcast, cinema verite, Spider-Man, and The World's a Little Blurry , a film about Billie Eilish. Adam, Steve, and Lucas talk about the film released in 2021 and directed by R.J. Cutler. They cover the themes and highlights of the movie, taking in topics such as fandom, pressure, dark lyrics, and the commerciality of art. How does the film portray Billie?...

The Big Mates provide insightful commentary for Billie Eilish Live at Reading Festival 2019 . Adam, Steve, and Lucas discuss the show as broadcast to TV and dig in to the context surrounding her world tours in support of WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? They also find the time to discuss festivals, Subpacs, and Rage Against the Machine! Head to YouTube to watch along here: https://www.yout...

The Big Mates discuss The US Office, Sean Connery, sleep paralysis, and WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? by Billie Eilish. Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep-dive into Billie's debut album with their track-by-track analysis, discussing the music, lyrics, themes, and everything inbetween! They also find time to take in Billie's single everything i wanted and her theme to t...

The Big Mates discuss sexuality in pop music, New Year's Eve, The Time Traveller's Wife, and WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? by Billie Eilish. Adam, Steve, and Lucas continue their deep-dive into Billie's career, exploring the context behind her debut album, how it was recorded, and beginning their track-by-track analysis, discussing the music, lyrics, themes, and everythin...

BONG. YOU ARE RECEIVING AN EMERGENCY NEWS BROADCAST. The Big Mates discuss the newly released single, Won't Stand Down by Muse. You can now wear your fandom on your (literal) sleeve! What Is Music? now has a RedBubble shop with lots of cool and stupid designs. You can get the designs on basically any product you like, from t-shirts and mugs, to bath mats and jigsaws, via clocks and phone case...

The Big Mates discuss fizzy drinks (soda), corner shops (bodegas), The Great British Bake Off (The Great British Baking Show), and dont smile at me by Billie Eilish. Adam, Steve, and Lucas begin their deep-dive in Billie's career, exploring the context behind her debut EP, how it was recorded, and going track-by-track, discussing the music, lyrics, themes, and everything inbetween! They also...

The Big Mates discuss Christmas, Daft Punk, listening habits, and introduce Season 3 of the podcast, which is called " Should Eilishen? : A critical analysis of the history, cultural impact, and music of Billie Eilish. " Adam, Steve, and Lucas talk about the function that music plays in someone's life, how they listen to music, and how much they already know about Billie Eilish. The...

The Big Mates celebrate their second Christmas together! Adam, Steve, and Lucas listen chat about Christmasses of the past, their plans for this year, Christmas movies, and then embark upon The 2nd Annual What Is Music Christmas Quiz. Have yourself a merry little big mates Christmas! Starlight (Christmas Remix) by Johann Christian available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OH8p_aJ4Zg What Is...

The Big Mates discuss kindergarten, Radiohead, U2, Recess, drum and bass, fanbases, Stan culture, art, Coldplay, Saturday Night Live, pantomime, dad rock, cultural impact, Stath Lets Flats, how the general public listen to music, Every Time I Die, aurora borealis, R.E.M., Beyonce, legacy, The Simpsons, The Big Bang Theory, The Who, Radiohead again, Manic Street Preachers and offer their final thou...