KEXP’s Fall Fundraising Drive is happening right now. Our goal this week is to raise $1.1 million to help make up for the loss of funds from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. This podcast — as well as all our programming on the air, online, and in our communities — relies primarily on financial contributions from individuals. Our amplifiers give money to the station on a monthly basis, and we couldn’t do what we do without you. Between the loss of CPB funding and the questions raised by streaming platforms and artificial intelligence, we’re at a critical juncture to determine the future of the music industry. It’s in your hands. Please give now at kexp.org/deeper!Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The photographer Bootsy Holler is releasing a book next month called “Making It: an intimate documentary on the Seattle indie rock and punk scene, 1992 to 2008.” Those were the years when Bootsy was living in the city. She captures behind-the-scenes moments with artists who have defined Seattle’s reputation, from Nirvana to Fleet Foxes. In addition to revealing moments with lesser-known artists, Bootsy also shares pieces of own life as a photographer trying to “make it” in this creative business. “Part of what I love about Seattle is that everyone is making their own art,” Bootsy says in the interview. “There’s nobody telling you what to do. Once I realized that, I started to look at myself even differently — like, ‘yeah, you have lived on your own terms.’” Support the show: kexp.org/deeper photo by Bootsy Holler/Seth GordonSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Algernon Cadwallader is a midwest emo band originally from Pennsylvania. They took a hiatus back in 2012, and now they’re officially back with their first full-length album in more than a decade, Trying Not to Have a Thought. KEXP’s Meerah Powell spoke with some of the members about the band’s revival, their newfound connections to the Pacific Northwest, and how their lyrics leave little room for ambiguity. “I think we’re at a point where there needs to be a little more ‘get pissed’ in everything that people are making,” drummer Nick Tazza says in the interview. “Everyone feels it, and I think we need to stop shying away from it.” On this record, Algernon Cadwallader directly confronts complicated events in America’s political history, from the 1985 bombing of the Philadelphia organization MOVE to the more recent placement of boulders under freeway bridges in Portland to deter homeless people from camping there. “We used to spend so much time in between songs talking about [political issues],” vocalist Peter Helmis says. “Well, now, it just comes along with the music. Anytime someone plays it, they’re hearing the message.” Tazza adds: “We’ve all put a record together that stands for something and it means something. All the bands we loved growing up were super political, and that’s what we cut our teeth on, so to see it come full circle is kind of cool.” Support the show: kexp.org/deeper Photo credit: Scott TroyanSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Two composers walk into a room (actually, they walk into different rooms) and record an album focused on the serendipity of live performance. Fittingly, it’s titled Different Rooms. The composers in question are Jeremiah Chiu, who plays the synth, and Marta Sofia Honer, a violist. KEXP contributor Isabel Khalili spoke with them about how this latest album is an experimental dance between acoustic and electric, in some ways paying tribute to experimental composers from more than 50 years ago. “Something that we talk about a lot is leaving little to chance and letting it be a little chaotic because that’s the actual experience that we’re having as we’re navigating through this world,” Chiu says in the interview. “It’s not overly careful and considered — all things happen at the same time, and we’re walking through it. If things are overly perfect when we listen to music, everyone’s always like, ‘Where’s the human in this?’” Support the show: kexp.org/deeper Photo Credit: Charlie WeinmannSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Before this year, Ivy last released new music in 2011 with the album All Hours. Now, 14 years later, Ivy has reassembled to share Traces of You, which came out September 5 on Bar/None Records. What makes this album extra special is that it includes parts from one of the late members, Adam Schlessinger, who died from complications of COVID-19 in 2020. The other surviving members — Andy Chase, Dominique Durand, and Bruce Driscoll — wrote 10 brand-new songs that all incorporate parts from Schlesinger. KEXP’s Roddy Nikpour spoke with Ivy about their collaborative approach, how Chase and Durand’s marriage may or may not be affected by a love of Tetris and a self-described “flute fetish,” and ultimately how the band had fun putting this record together. “We couldn’t just leave [the demos] in a storage room,” Durand says in the interview. “We had to do something about it.” When it comes to writing around parts from their late bandmate, Chase adds, “You try every idea. That’s the wonderful thing about the digital era — there’s no limit. We pretty much exhaust all our creativity on every song, and then it’s a matter of subtraction.” This is why the band adopted a “less is more” approach. “There were songs where we would try to add a bunch of stuff and then realize we’d gone too far,” Driscoll says. “We’d realize that the first thing we’d done was the best thing.” Related: Janice Headley talked with the band in 2023 about one of their iconic reissued albums, Apartment Life, which originally came out in 1997. Support the show: kexp.org/deeper photo by Michelle ShiersSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jesse Beaman, an ambient composer based in Mexico City, joins a growing number of artists who are no longer making their music available on Spotify. He cites the platform’s requirement for musicians to have 1,000 yearly streams to receive royalties, as well as CEO Daniel Ek’s investments in Helsing, a company that makes AI-powered defense weaponry. While his platform may not be as big as other Spotify protestors like Deerhoof, Beaman’s career is marked with tours across four continents, video production, and collaborations with members of Interpol and M83. These connections have proven vital for his success. KEXP’s Roddy Nikpour talks with Beaman about his complicated Latinx identity, his prolific network, and his stance against Spotify. “Spotify is killing people’s attention span,” Beaman says in the interview. “Before you can even get connected to a certain artist, they’re trying to sell you on another artist.” When it comes to distributing his music, Beaman is turning to Bandcamp and physical media like vinyl. No matter how you listen, he hopes fans will practice intentional listening: “If you can give music the focus it deserves, I’ll be happy.” Support the show: kexp.org/deeper photo by Kate MeyerSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Will Toledo, vocalist for Seattle-based Car Seat Headrest, wanted the band’s latest release to be a concept album in the tradition of a rock opera. The Scholars delivers just that: strong storytelling within each of its nine tracks, inventing characters in a “fictional America,” attesting to the human search for meaning inside and outside of ourselves. Toledo stopped by KEXP earlier this year to speak with Midday Host Cheryl Waters. He opens up about going back on tour after suffering from the effects of long COVID and the album's collaborative songwriting process. “There’s only so much you can say about yourself before it stops getting interesting,” Toledo says in the interview. “Having this concept of characters helped a lot. It’s me giving a sincere portrait of someone I can relate to rather than it being me.” Car Seat Headrest is one of the headlining bands at Bumbershoot 2025, taking place August 30 and 31 at Seattle Center. Photo credit: Carlos Cruz Support the show: kexp.org/deeperSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Seiji Oda pays respect to his Oakland roots in his 2025 album HUMAN + NATURE. He not only samples Bay Area titans like Mac Dre and Trunk Boiz — the record also features numerous collaborations with local artists making waves in the scene today, like the producer ClayDough. KEXP’s Dusty Henry spoke with Oda about his signature “lofi hyphy” sound, blending raw nature sounds with party-ready beats. “Starting with the natural environment first, I’m like, ‘Okay, what fits there?’” Oda says of his creative process in the interview. “What chords do I hear in this environment? What drums do I hear in this environment? Whose vocal sound could sound good in this environment? It doesn’t have to be perfect. As long as it feels right and people are moving, that’s what matters.” Support the show: kexp.org/deeper Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Open Mike Eagle’s tenth studio album, Neighborhood Gods Unlimited, continues the rap legacy that he started in the late 2000s when he cofounded the trio Thirsty Fish. From there, he made a bigger name for himself as a solo artist, starting with his 2010 debut, Unapologetic Art Rap. Along the way, he even appeared in the cartoon Adventure Time as a rapping gingerbread cookie. On top of his music career, Open Mike Eagle has also started multiple multimedia endeavors, like the artist collective Hellfyre Club and an alt-comedy TV series called The New Negroes (both of which have since ended). These days, he’s running his own podcast network, Stony Island Audio. KEXP’s Martin Douglas spoke with Open Mike Eagle about the years leading up to his newest album, which included a divorce and various collaborations with other rappers. Neighborhood Gods Unlimited draws heavily on Black surrealism, similar to movies like Sorry to Bother You and Get Out.“ I felt challenged and inspired by these pieces of media,” Open Mike Eagle says in the interview. “I want to tell an absurd story in a rap album. I want people to feel the depths where it might be trying to go emotionally and the questions it might be trying to ask — but I don't want to say all the answers.” He continues, “At every step of that process, I have to deal with self-doubt. I want to make art that is able to contend with that.” Photo credit: Robert Adam Mayer Support the show: kexp.org/deeper Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
When Kay Redden moved to Seattle from Garland, Texas, she made it her mission to connect with her newly adopted home through music. So, in searching for meaning after mother’s death in April 2015, she launched Den Tapes, spending countless hours hand-dubbing cassettes. It wasn’t long before local bands gravitated toward her down-to-earth, community-oriented approach to music distribution. This year, she’s marking the label’s tenth birthday with a compilation titled What Else is Sacred? A Compilation of Grief, as well as a curated two-day lineup at Den Fest on August 8 and 9 at Sunset Tavern. KEXP’s Dusty Henry spoke with Redden to explore the label’s ten-year history through five standout albums. “I am anti Seattle Freeze,” Redden says in the interview. “I don't believe in it. There are too many transplants here now for it to be real. I want to make a community that actually welcomes you with open arms.” On that note, when it comes to Den Fest, she advises showgoers: “Come and be prepared to dance a little bit. If you don't like dancing, stand at the back,” she laughs. Support the show: kexp.org/deeper Redden's picks for must-listen Den Tapes albums: New Album by Happy Times Sad Times Switch Hits by Various Artists Skin by Wild Powwers Passe by Oruã Pistons of the Ages by M.A. Sampson Photo Credit: Ashley DickersonSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Michael Imperioli, the actor known for his roles in The Sopranos and The White Lotus, is also the guitarist of a three-piece indie band called Zopa. Their latest album, Diamond Vehicle, came out in early 2025. KEXP’s Martin Douglas spoke with Imperioli about how he started playing music, the influence of Buddhism in his songwriting, and his fondness of The Beatles, Lou Reed, and The Smiths. “When you play with people for a long time, hopefully something gels,” Imperioli says of Zopa’s music. “It took a while to get there, but I’m happy with how it came out.” Support the show: kexp.org/deeper photo by Kayla RoccaSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 18, 2025 was the last day of Wu-Tang Clan’s farewell concert tour, The Final Chamber. One of their stops was at Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena, where KEXP’s Dusty Henry, Martin Douglas, and Larry Mizell, Jr. rapped alongside thousands of fans. We recap the concert and pay tribute to the group’s decades-long legacy. “Wu-Tang Clan is our generation’s equivalent of the Beatles — it’s not even close,” Martin asserts in the conversation. “They basically created an entirely new style out of an existing form of music. They wrapped up this whole mythology inside of it, from the use of samples to the aliases to, of course, the logo.” Photo Credit: Kyle Christy Support the show: kexp.org/deeper Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Marlon Williams, singer-songwriter from New Zealand, uses his deep vibrato on more than a dozen new original songs written entirely in the Indigenous language Te Reo Maori. It was a years-long endeavor, with songs featuring collaborators like KOMMI and Lorde. KEXP contributor Celine Teo-Blockey spoke with Williams in Sydney, Australia last month. He was attending the premiere of the album’s accompanying documentary, Marlon Williams: Ngā Ao E Rua – Two Worlds. “A big goal for the record was to see what Maori is capable of across different musical worlds,” Williams says in the interview. “Where can this language prove itself? Having now made this record, this makes me want to push it into other areas, too. It feels like a real starting point, not a finish.” Support the show: kexp.org/deeper Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Cincinnati-based trio Artificial Go released their sophomore album, Musical Chairs, in May 2025. Their blend of post-punk riffs, danceable rhythms, and faux British accents has made them one of the most exciting groups on the scene. During their live shows, singer Angie Willcut wears a marching band uniform and literally marches around the audience. Their patently unserious attitude is exactly what we need right now. KEXP’s Dusty Henry teams up with his 3-year-old daughter to drill down on the big themes in this music project. “My favorite color is red,” Willcut asserts in the interview. “If I did drive a convertible, I would want red because every day I like to wear the color red, so the convertible would match all my outfits.” When pressed, Willcut added: “Periwinkle wouldn’t match my red outfits as well.” Photo Credit: Paul L Carter Support the show: kexp.org/deeper Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Music journalist Jeff Weiss recently wrote a book titled Waiting for Britney Spears, documenting the pop stars rise and fall from the public eye. But the book isn’t a historical account, it’s an “allegedly true” story that blurs fact and fiction, putting Weiss himself in the middle of the action. His writing takes a playful tabloid-style tone — a commentary on the tabloid-style news that moved her story along and his own experience working in that industry. KEXP’s Martin Douglas talked with Weiss about how Britney Spears not only influenced modern music, but also symbolized a collective loss of innocence among millennials. “I wanted to tell the story of the death of the millennial American dream,” Weiss says in the interview. “Who more symbolic than Britney Spears? She was such a martyr for our cultural sins in so many respects. All the themes that Britney Spears embodies, we’re still grappling with in the eye of pop culture today." Photo Credit: Krista Schlueter Support the show: kexp.org/deeperSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Natalie Lew, also known as Sea Lemon, released her debut album Diving for a Prize in June 2025 on Luminelle Recordings. Across 12 songs, reverb-heavy guitars wash underneath vocals that allude to made-up stories and unhealthy obsessions. For example, “Stay” draws inspiration from the real-life antics of an elderly security guard at a thrift store while “Rear View” pulls from Lew’s original fiction about a naive baseball player’s failing career. She proudly likens her sound to shoegaze pioneers Cocteau Twins. KEXP’s Roddy Nikpour talks with Sea Lemon about launching her music career in New York and moving back to her hometown of Seattle. She has since opened for American Football in two sold-out shows and collaborated with Northwest music legend Ben Gibbard — all within five years of picking up a guitar for the first time. “I was an insanely big Death Cab fan as a kid,” Lew says in the interview. “Ben reached out to me over Instagram. Somehow, he had found my music outside of realizing the fact that I was in Seattle. Then we played a show together, and we did a song together, ‘Crystals,’ which was the first song that I recorded for my album. It all came together so funnily, and it felt like the smallest world.” Support the show: kexp.org/deeper Photo Credit: Rachel BennettSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Max Perla and Vincent John make up Eraserhood Sound, the duo that scores the animated PBS Kids series Carl the Collector. In the spirit of Vince Guaraldi’s signature sound in Peanuts cartoons, show creator Zach Ohora says that Eraserhood’s “synth and soul” formula provides the perfect soundscape for the everyday happenings of an autistic raccoon and his neurodiverse friend group in Fuzzytown. KEXP’s Roddy Nikpour spoke with Perla, John, and Ohora to learn more about the show, their shared interest in collecting vinyl, and how their pride as fellow Philadelphia-based artists led them to creating the show’s low-stimulus soundtrack. “You know that opening scene from Reservoir Dogs when they’re walking down the alleyway?” Ohora says in the interview, describing one of the music cues. “It’s like that for four-year-olds. It’s like, ‘This is my gang that I want to hang out with, and they’re the cutest, nicest, fuzziest animals.’” Support the show: kexp.org/deeperSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sharp Pins is the solo project of 20-year-old Kai Slater, who also runs a zine called Hallogallo. Based in Chicago, he started the zine during the height of the coronavirus pandemic as a teenager, overwhelmed and frustrated with a life dominated by screens. So, both his music and zine are analog, made with tape recorders, photo copiers, and type writers. KEXP’s Dusty Henry talks with Slater about his music and the thriving DIY scene in Chicago. “The way that you remain young is by staying in touch with your creative side,” Slater says in the interview. “If I were to stop that, I would surely die,” he adds with a chuckle. Sharp Pins’s album Radio DDR came out March, 21 2025 on Perennial Records. Support the show: kexp.org/deeper photo by Jolie M-ASupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Kronos Quartet — founded in Seattle, now based in San Francisco — has shaped modern classical music for more than 50 years. Their 2024 album Outer Spaceways Incorporated reimagines the work of the trailblazing American jazz pianist, Sun Ra, featuring covers and collaborations with artists like Jlin, Armand Hammer, and others. In addition to recorded testimonials from Laraaji, Georgia Anne Muldrow, and longtime Arkestra leader Marshall Allen, KEXP’s Larry Mizell, Jr. spoke with one of the Kronos Quartet’s founding members, David Harrington. “The more I’ve learned of Sun Ra, the more I’ve realized we’re like brothers or something,” Harrington laughs in the interview. “The question I have been asking all these years is: What’s next? What can music be that it hasn’t been so far? How might I become a better musician? How might I learn more about the world through music, with music, because of music?” Support the show: kexp.org/deeper photo via Impulse! Records and ABC/Dunhill Records Support the show: kexp.org/deeper Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Owain Davies received a message from a stranger in 2020 asking if he might have been the singer of a band called Panchiko more than two decades ago. As it turns out, he was — but they never put their music online. They just had seven demo tracks on CDs, but Panchiko never really broke out of their scene in central England at the time. Fast forward to 2025: Panchiko is back in action with their second album since the band’s revival, Ginkgo, out on Nettwerk Music Group. Now, thanks to a devoted fanbase, Panchiko is embarking on a tour to play in front of thousands of people. KEXP’s Roddy Nikpour spoke with Davies and his bandmate Andy Wright about being “rediscovered.” “Just say yes to opportunities — I almost didn’t,” Davies says in the interview. “Because we said yes to a simple thing of, ‘Yeah, we’ll start talking to you about this weird album you’ve discovered,’ it led to this. Try things out. You never know where it’ll go.” Support the show: kexp.org/deeper Photo Credit: Adam Alonzo Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aria Fazlollahi
thanks 🙏 this means a lot to Iranian people
noosha
OK, I'm about to cry, this was just ... I don't know what to say, just thank you...🫂🖤
noosha
Your work means a lot to us, We will never forget it. Thank you🫂🕊 #mahsa_amini
sina
Thanks for your sympathy and your team I hope you are always happy
hamid ghahremani
thank you for being our voice. every time l hear this song ("bareye" or "برای" = for or because of), my teardrops falling down my face spontaneously. (i am sorry if i have writing mistakes. i am beginner at english)