Meet Our Makers

96. The Swell Season - Earth and Water

In this episode, we get to meet The Swell Season. Comprised of singers, songwriters, musicians Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, you may know them best as the leads of the John Carney film Once, back from 2007, which won an Oscar for its immortal "Falling Slowly". And while we do touch upon the film in this conversation - including its legacy, the shocks of that time, and why they don't get tired of speaking about it, even nearly 20 years on - we focus first and foremost on their brand new album, Forward, which is out now. We talk about the production, songwriting, and performance of the album, the dynamics of it, but also what led to them reconnecting after so many years away from being in the studio as a duo. It's a lovely chat, with a talented pair of people I've been watching since 2007, so I was happy to connect. Thank you for listening.

95. Patrick Wolf - Period of Harvest

In this episode, we get to meet singer, songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist Patrick Wolf. Patrick is back after a 14-year album absence with a brand new collection called Crying The Neck (an archaic phrase we get into the symbolism of), which is out now. In this chat, Patrick and I talk a lot about the new album - its themes of loss, mourning, celebration - and why this album means so much to him, not only because it was inspired largely by the loss of his mother, but because it exists. This album follows on the heels of that absence, and he feels so excited to be back, happy, and healthy. We touch on those years spent in between, what was going on, and how and why he found himself leaving that time and entering this new era. He's stoked to get onto the next project, and that fire is palpable. I was honored to chat with him. Thank you for listening.

94. U.S. Girls - A Line in the Sand is Not a Wall

In this episode we get to meet Meg Remy, the driving force behind the chameleonic indie rock project, U.S. Girls. Remy may be the driver, but the group around her is always changing - both in terms of style and personnel - depending on what track a given project is taking. This time, it's new album Scratch It, which was recorded live to tape in Nashville with a group of Nashville musicians. In this chat, we talk a lot about the album, which is being dubbed her "rock record" by many (though not really by Remy herself), including the production, themes, ideas, and history of it. We also talk about the band as a whole and what it really is, is not, and everything in between. We touch on the epic first single "Bookends" and what it says about human life, as well as her first stint at film scoring. Thank you for listening.

93. Amy Millan - It's Nice to Believe in Magic

In this chat, we get to meet Amy Millan. Amy is best known as co-bandleader of the Canadian band Stars, as well as her side gig as a member of Broken Social Scene. But now, she has a brand new solo record out - her third, in fact, and first since 2009 - called I Went to Find You. In this conversation, we talk a lot about this new record, from its thematic inspirations to its initiation, from the close collaboration she found with co-songwriter and co-producer Jay McCarrol to what it means for her to back in a solo capacity after all these years. We do, of course, talk about Stars, especially their 2004 album Set Yourself on Fire, whose 20th birthday the band is still celebrating. We touch on what that album means to her now, to us the listeners now, some band lore, and more. It's been many years in the making, this conversation, and I'm thrilled it finally happened. Thank you for listening.

92. Sally Shapiro - Italo Anonymous

In this chat we get to meet Swedish Italo-disco duo, Sally Shapiro. Made up of producer Johan Ageborn and singer Sally Shapiro (which is a pseudonym for the anonymous woman behind the mic, as well as the band name), the elusive duo just put out a new album, Ready to Live a Lie, and has been operating mostly in anonymity since their beginning back in the 2000s, with the release of the big first single "I'll Be By Your Side". While Johan is certainly the more public persona, Sally herself has retained her near-totally obsucred identity, a la Burial, since the start. In this chat, we talk about the brand new record - including the production, writing, and inspirations behind it - as well as some band history, including why they chose to go the anonymous route in the first place, and how they hold onto that in the ever-increasingly digital era. They barely do any interviews (especially Sally), so I was very grateful they came on. Thank you for listening.

91. Lido Pimienta - ...And Then Belong

In this chat, we get to meet Lido Pimienta. Lido is a singer, songwriter, producer, who just put out her newest record, La Belleza, via ANTI-. We talk a lot about the album, with special focus on the genre of it — which, for Lido, is something new: classical music. Where her previous work was sort of an avant-garde electronic pop kind of thing, La Belleza is steeped in classical music tradition, composition, and structure. We talk about what led Lido to try her hand at this style, which she had previously felt was sort of blocked off from her, and how she feels like she got in there and made a space for herself to belong. We talk about the writing of the record, genre pigeon holing, shirking societal expectations, working with coproducer Owen Pallett, and more. Thank you for listening.

90. Tune-Yards - Age of Interruption; or, Rhythmic Buttprint

In this chat, we get to meet Merrill Garbus of Tune-Yards. Garbus started Tune-Yards as a solo project, but quickly transformed into a duo with musical and life partner Nate Brenner, and they have now released their brand new LP, Better Dreaming, on 4AD. In this chat, Merrill and I go deep on the personal, global, emotional, and sociopolitical themes and inspirations behind the new record, as well as the production, writing, and composition process. We also touch a bit on Tune-Yards early years, and end up diving deep into the significance of art (both making it and having it in our lives), and of simply being alive, in this moment, now - and how radical that can be. Thank you for listening.

89. Uwade - Song-Gathering

In this episode, we get to meet Uwade. Uwade a Cailfornia-by-way-of-North Carolina singer-songwriter, who has just released her new debut album, Florilegium. You may have - like I did - first encountered her, though, as the first voice on the opening track of the last Fleet Foxes record Shore, called "Wading in the Waist-High Water". In this chat, she and I discuss the writing and process of creating this first solo LP, what it means for her to be going out on her own, the musical touchstones of her childhood that found their ways into these songs, and more. We do also touch on her work with Robin Pecknold & co. and the subsequent tours she shared with Fleet Foxes, and what she learned from that. Finally, we touch on her academic life, as she is currently working toward a PhD. Thank you for listening.

88. Tunde Adebimpe - Building Your Own Bicycle

In this episode we get to meet Tunde Adebimpe. Tunde is best known as one of the co-founders, singers, and songwriters of the influential indie rock band TV On the Radio. But now he has a debut solo LP called Thee Black Boltz, and this conversation, we talk a lot about how this record came to be, a process that included rescuing some archival recordings and crafting brand new work. We also touch on TV on the Radio's legacy and their "reunion" tour. Then we, of course, talk about Tunde's film work (as he is also an accomplished actor), including his recent role on Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, and his time making one of my all-time favorite films, Jonathan Demme's Rachel Getting Married. I was thrilled to chat with such a titan, and I think you'll enjoy. Thanks for listening.

87. Valerie June - We Are Oracles

In this episode, we get to meet singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer Valerie June. Here, Valerie and I go deep into her brand new record, Owls, Omens, and Oracles, including the themes, production, and writing of these genre-defying songs. We touch on music history, including Appalachian and Delta folk music, as well as the concept of being positive or optimistic in times like these. Valerie spoke with a candid warmth and was a real open book, and I think you'll enjoy this talk if you like any of her work, but also if you just want to listen to a really good talk about life, art, philosophy, history, and the like. Be transported with her like I was. Thank you for listening.