Meet Our Makers

In this chat, we get to meet claire rousay. claire is best known as an ambient composer, crafting soundscapes with keys, found sounds, drone, and other experimental elements. But in this chat, she and I talk quite a bit about her brand new album sentiment, which is out now on Thrill Jockey, which includes much more singer-songwriter style material. Now, it's still a claire rousay record, and we discuss how she tried to keep a hold on her experimental spirit despite having more lyric- and guitar-focused songs than ever before, including her choice to produce all the vocals on the album with a sort of robotic autotune effect. We also talk about inspirations, how emo and folk music impacted her as a music listener and creator, live performance, and more. It's a very candid, down to earth, and occasionally lovably self-deprecating chat with one of our most intriguing voices in current-day experiment pop music, and I think you'll enjoy. Thanks for listening.

In this chat, we get to meet Julia Holter. Julia is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and composer extraordinaire, who just put out a wondrous new record, Something in the Room She Moves. In this chat, Julia talk a lot about this new album, including the production, the songwriting, the stories, and the risks of these songs. We talk titles, the Beatles, performance, as well as her work in film scoring (such as her score for Never Rarely Sometimes Always), and more. It's a lovely chat with one of our best artists. Thanks for listening.

In this episode, we get to meet El Perro Del Mar, AKA: Swedish singer, songwriter, musician, producer Sarah Assbring. In this chat, Sarah and I talk at length about her newest full-length EPDM record, Big Anonymous, out now on City Slang. It's been a while since the last one, and we had a lot to talk about. We talk about the dark and emotional (and very personal) themes on Big Anonymous, the ways in which her sound has (and hasn't) shifted over the years, her lyrical technique, and the ways in which this album was more therapeutic than she ever thought it'd be. We also touch on the peculiar but fitting choice to include a Burt Bacharach cover on this album, as well as how she wrestles with being a contrarian in a world of immediacy and people pleasers. Thank you for listening.

In this episode, we get to meet Bonnie "Prince" Billy - aka Will Oldham. Will has had a great year in music, putting out one of his best records yet with Keeping Secrets Will Destroy You (by some counts his 21st record!) back in August. In this chat, Will and I discuss that album at length, including some of what went into and inspired it. We talk about his long history of selecting perfect singing partners and musical collaborators, and how important singing and voices are to him, and how much we have left to learn from older musicians. We also touch on his old material with Palace Brothers, his intermittent acting career (which was his original career aspiration), and the longlasting magic and legacy of his most famous song "I See a Darkness". It was a warm and rambling talk, like hanging with an old pal, and I think you'll enjoy it. Thank you for listening.

In this chat, we get to meet singer-songwriter Jess Williamson. Jess put out her most recent album, Time Ain't Accidental, back in June. (It also happens to be her most acclaimed record yet.) And in this chat, we get to be a bit reflective as opposed to anticipatory. We talk about what the songs mean to her now in the wake vs. the lead-up, and how proud she is of this album. We talk about how her year has gone since then, including touring and the general reaction to these personal songs. We discuss vulnerability and specificity in songwriting, rediscovering her love of her native Texas, and embracing imperfections (and her natural voice) in the studio. She also had a dream about Adrianne Lenker, so, there's that! It was a super fun talk, circuitous in the best way, and I think you'll enjoy it. Thank you for listening.

In this episode, we get to meet Jolie Laide, the new band fronted by acclaimed singer-songwriter Nina Nastasia and guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Jeff MacLeod. In this chat, Nina and Jeff and I discuss the makings of this debut record, which just came out this past November. We talk about how they met over 20 years ago, and how now felt like the time to join forces for a new creative project. We discuss the themes and moods of the album, including the desert-style landscapes they conjured for its nine songs, as well as what each of them brought to the record. We talk the ups and downs of band-dom, Nina's magnificent last solo album Riderless Horse, magical guitars, and so much more. I hope you enjoy. (And please forgive my sick voice in the intro for this episode - my cold was not going to stop me!) Thank you for listening.

In this episode, we get to meet Kevin Drew. Best known as the sort of de facto captain of indie rock superstars Broken Social Scene, Kevin has just put out his brand new solo album, Aging. In this chat, he and I discuss the album, and its myriad dark, deep, personal themes, as well as what led to its conception and its status as a very piano-led record (which isn't something we've previously associated much with his music). We touch upon Broken Social Scene, and their recent celebration of the 20th anniversary of their landmark record You Forgot it in People. We talk what those songs mean to him now, the music industry at large, and also the staggering glory of Emily Haines and "Anthems for a 17-Year-Old Girl". It's a lovely, very candid conversation, and I appreciate the warmth and kindness Kevin brought to our talk. Thank you for listening.

In this episode, we get to meet Joseph D'Agostino, the frontman and lead songwriter of indie rock outfit Empty Country. Previously known for his now-defunct band Cymbal Eat Guitars, D'Agostino's newest record as Empty Country - aptly titled Empty Country II - is out now, and it's a real treat of high-emotion, high-impact, literary songwriting. In this chat, Joe and I discuss his specific lens through which he shoots his songs and subjects, tracing a litany of fictional characters and their various throughlines across his work and across the hour-plus of material on this new album. Joe has a knack for fictionalizing the real life heart ache and tragedies of the world around him, transposing them into appropriately emotional but never depressing or dreary mini-epics. We talk about his new life in Connecticut, his songwriting inspirations, and more. Thank you for listening.

In this chat, we get to meet actor and writer Illeana Douglas. Illeana is best known for her film work, costarring in films as wide-ranging as Scorsese's Cape Fear, Gus Van Sant's To Die For, or (one of my personal favorites) Terry Zwigoff's Ghost World. In addition to her film and television, Illeana is also an accomplished writer and film historian, and she has just published her second book, entitled Connecticut in the Movies. In this chat, Illeana and I discuss a LOT about her new book, which was especially exciting given that I grew up in Connecticut just like she did. We talk about the many different versions of CT that have been seen in the movies, the cliches and stereotypes, and the varied styles of films made or set here - from dark suburban dramas to sex comedies. We talk about how surprisingly integral CT has been to filmmaking, and how the state's perception has shifted and ping-ponged from accurate to, well, less-so. We touch on Mystic Pizza's place as our emblematic film, the idea that characters from CT have something odious to hide, and much more. Now, we recorded this while the SAG strike was still ongoing, so we couldn't talk much of her acting work. But fear not - there was plenty to talk about. Thank you for listening.

In this chat, we get to meet Marnie Stern. Marnie is a singer, songwriter, and electric guitar wizard, who's back after more than a decade-long absence with her fifth record, The Comeback Kid. In this chat, she and I talk a lot about this new album - the songwriting, the production - and what it felt like to get back into her specific style and groove after so long out of the studio. We also discuss what she was up to in the interim, which included having two children and also playing in the house band on Seth Meyers. So needless to say - she's been busy in between albums. But now she's back! And she's ready to melt you. We also talk drumming's importance to her work, the fading glory of blogging, and that one time she ripped the sleeve of a record I bought from her at a show (it's cool). Thank you for listening.

In this chat, we get to meet Lizzie Powell, the lead singer, guitarist/multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, general jack-of-all-trades of indie rock band Land of Talk. Lizzie and I get deep into the newest Land of Talk record, Performances, which is just out on Saddle Creek. We talk aboutart and creativity, their goals for this record (and beyond), weirdness in music, the almost-defiant attitude that drive a lot of their recent work, Twins Peaks, doggos, and more. We even get a little meta on your butts and talk about the very show that Lizzie is on, which gave me a nice chance to express my profound gratitude for everyone who's agreed to come on and everyone who's listened. (That's you, by the way.) It was such a fun time, and I think you'll really enjoy it. Thanks for listening.

In this chat, we get to meet acclaimed composer Matana Roberts. Best known for their work as a saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer in the world of avant garde and improvisational jazz, Matana Roberts has been making a name for themselves for quite a while. We met on the cusp of the release of the fifth chapter in their ongoing Coin Coin series -- Chapter 5: In the Garden. In this chat, Matana and I go long on this new album, and how it fits into the overall arc of Coin Coin, which sees Matana exploring their own personal and familial history alongside some bitter truths and explorations of American cultural and social history. The new record tells the story of a relative of theirs from the 1920s who died following an illegal abortion, and it's just as beguiling and beautiful as the chapters that preceded it. It's a bit of a circuitous talk, but in the best way - it felt like an alive conversation, and I had such fun diving head first into these complex and nuanced waters with Matana, who met me with warmth and wisdom. Thanks for listening and please enjoy. 

MEET OUR MAKER IS ON PATREON! Go to patreon.com/meetourmakers to pledge and become a patron today. You'll get access to fun stuff, including exclusive moments from interviews and the chance to submit questions for future guests. Woo! In this chat, we get to meet the fantastic, storied filmmaker Sally Potter. The writer-director of such acclaimed and varied films such as Orlando and Ginger & Rosa, Sally is actually just now releasing her debut full-length album (!) which is called Pink Bikini. In this conversation, Sally and I talk a lot about the new record - its themes, its songs, its lyrics, its music, some of her influences and inspirations - as well as what drove her to recording and releasing such a personal singer-songwriter album now, after such a robust career in cinema. We talk about her film work (especially the Tilda Swinton-starring, Virginia Woolf adaptation Orlando), how her filmmaking overlaps with her music making, and so much more. It was a humbling honor to talk to a cinema great, and her new album is such a delightfully wondrous surprise. I think you'll enjoy this as much as I did. Thank you for listening.

MEET OUR MAKER IS NOW ON PATREON! Go to patreon.com/meetourmakers to pledge and become a patron today. You'll get access to fun stuff, including exclusive moments from interviews and the chance to submit questions for future guests. Woo! In this chat, we get to meet singer-songwriter Regina Spektor. In this chat, Regina and I talk a lot about her last album, Home Before and After, which incidentally had come out almost exactly a year prior to our conversation. In light of this, we discuss the songwriting, producing, release, and extensive touring surrounding the record, as well as what it means to her now, a year on. We talk about the joys and gifts of live performance, her particular songwriting methods and styles, and her deep love for her fans (as well as how those very fans are almost single-handedly responsible for keeping some of her older songs alive -- like "Loveology", which finally got a proper studio recording on Home). We also talk about an old song I had never heard of that's been almost lost to the years, but may make a comeback yet. We talk about more, too, and it was a beautiful and fluid conversation I was very humbled to get to have. Thank you for listening.

MEET OUR MAKER IS NOW ON PATREON! Go to patreon.com/meetourmakers to pledge and become a patron today. You'll get access to fun stuff, including exclusive moments from interviews and the chance to submit questions for future guests. Woo! In this chat, we get to meet Oscar-nominated composer Emile Mosseri. Though best known for his film work, Emile is also a singer-songwriter, and has been for much of his life. He was in a band called The Dig for years prior to his career as a composer, and now he's just put out his debut full-length studio record, Heaven Hunters. Here, Emile and I talk quite a bit about this record - what it means to him, how he got here, and what led him to feeling comfortable and ready to release such bluntly personal songs. We do also touch on his film work, some of his specific scores for films like Kajillionaire and his Academy Award-nominated work on Minari, his love of film music, and more. Thank you for listening and I hope you enjoy.

MEET OUR MAKER IS NOW ON PATREON! Go to patreon.com/meetourmakers to pledge and become a patron today. You'll get access to fun stuff, including exclusive moments from interviews and the chance to submit questions for future guests. Woo! In this chat, we get to meet The Tallest Man On Earth, otherwise known as Kristian Matsson. In this chat, Kristian and I talk a lot about his brand new record, Henry St., including some of the themes behind its songs and music, the production with Nick Sanborn in North Carolina, the writing process, and how the album felt a little different from his past work, especially his prior record, I Love You. It's a Fever Dream. We touch upon his time seeing Joni Mitchell at Newport Folk Festival, the greatness of "Both Sides Now", and more. We also debut a little game I call Setlist Pop Quiz. Thank you for listening!

MEET OUR MAKER IS NOW ON PATREON! Go to patreon.com/meetourmakers to pledge and become a patron today. You'll get access to fun stuff, including exclusive moments from interviews and the chance to submit questions for future guests. Woo! In this chat, we get to meet AC Newman (aka Carl Newman), the lead singer and songwriter of Canadian indie rock supergroup The New Pornographers. In this chat, Carl and I discuss quite a lot about the band's lovely new album (their ninth overall), Continue as a Guest. We also talk a bit about music philosophy, aspirations within the business, and how his attitudes have shifted a bit (or not) over the years. If you are a fan of the record or of any NP record, I think you'll find a lot to enjoy - lots of little yummy morsels for us to chew on. Thank you for listening.

MEET OUR MAKER IS NOW ON PATREON! Go to patreon.com/meetourmakers to pledge and become a patron today. You'll get access to fun stuff, including exclusive moments from interviews and the chance to submit questions for future guests. Woo! In this chat, we get to meet Youth Lagoon (aka: Trevor Power). Trevor is now back with his fourth Youth Lagoon record (and first since resurrecting his original moniker) called Heaven is a Junkyard. In what was really his first extensive interview of this album cycle, we discuss so much about this gorgeous album, including the story behind its creation, the inspiration behind some of its songs, and why he decided to bring back the Youth Lagoon name in the first place. We also chat about the medical event that nearly derailed everything for him, and how that experience directly impacted his work. We touch upon the troubling but also the beautiful things about his beloved home state of Idaho, as well as how - especially in light of current and recent events - religion and legislation have been usurped by bigotry. It's a very far-ranging and at times quite serious talk, but Trevor spoke to me with such candor and warmth and a sense of humor, which I think you'll enjoy. I had such a good time. Thank you for listening, and please enjoy.

MEET OUR MAKER IS NOW ON PATREON! Go to patreon.com/meetourmakers to pledge and become a patron today. You'll get access to fun stuff, including exclusive moments from interviews and the chance to submit questions for future guests. Woo! In this chat, we get to meet Jeff Hiller. Jeff is an actor who, most recently, is best known for playing Joel on the HBO dramedy Somebody, Somewhere. It's a gorgeous, human, authentic show, and in this chat, Jeff and I talk about all of it. We talk about the show's themes, characters, its rarity in this current TV landscape, and what it means to Jeff to be able to play a character like Joel on a show like this, alongside the great Bridget Everett. We talk the winding road of his career that led him to this great part, and how he came to land this role. We also touch on some current events, pop culture, and Betty Gilpin. (Hi Betty Gilpin! My door is always open for you.) I think you'll like this one. It was an utter delight talking with Jeff, who has an infectious laugh and smile and was so warm, a little irreverent, a touch tangential, but always inviting and personable. Thank you for listening.

MEET OUR MAKER IS NOW ON PATREON! Go to patreon.com/meetourmakers to pledge and become a patron today. You'll get access to fun stuff, including exclusive moments from interviews and the chance to submit questions for future guests. Woo! In this chat, we get to meet Avey Tare, aka Dave Portner. Dave is one member of the experiment indie rock outfit Animal Collective, which has been active for over 20 years. Now, Dave is putting out a new solo record under his alias, 7s, and in this chat, he and I talk a lot about this record - what went into it, the production, the songwriting, the themes, and more. We also touch upon Animal Collective's past and present, pop music, the infamous Pullhair Rubeye project, and more. Please consider becoming a Patron today to gain access to a Patreon-exclusive interview clip from the chat. Thank you for listening!