A Deeper Listen

Latest Episodes:

Destroyer’s Evolution of Sound Apr 21, 2022

Show notes

Vancouver, B.C.-based band Destroyer released their 13th album, “Labyrinthitis,” on March 25. Since their first album nearly 30 years ago, the band’s sound has evolved from experimental folk to pulsing disco. Sound & Vision’s assistant producer Roddy Nikpour spoke with frontman Dan Bejar about Destroyer’s new album, their upcoming tour, and what keeps him inspired.

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/

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Lucius Dances Through The Darkness Apr 19, 2022

Show notes

Lucius released their latest studio album, 'Second Nature,' on April 8. Vocalist and songwriter Jess Wolfe talks about how this album was written while she processed her divorce and how the music is meant to make light through the darkness and dance through it. She also discusses the collaborations on the album with Brandi Carlile and Sheryl Crow.

“It’s such a fine line to want to honor sadness and darkness . . . but also to want to somehow move it towards joy or bend it in a way that makes you want to move and want to celebrate something because life is short,” Wolfe says.

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Kae Tempest on the Power of Lyricism Apr 14, 2022

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Kae Tempest has published six poetry collections, written two books, staged three plays and is now out with their fourth studio album, 'The Line Is A Curve.' Tempest talks about the power of lyricism and the process of creating this album, which is the first album they’ve released since coming out as trans nonbinary.

“Music gave me an escape and it also gave me a pass. It enabled me to exist in a room without having to be interrogated for what I was or why I was there. And I didn’t have to feel like a total failure as either girl or a boy because I was neither and both. I could just be a lyricist and be respected on those grounds and that was addictive and exhilarating and refreshing and powerful,” Tempest says.

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Orville Peck Releases 'Bronco' After Almost Quitting Music Apr 12, 2022

Show notes

Our favorite fringe masked gay cowboy Orville Peck released the final chapter in his three-part record, 'Bronco,' on Friday. Orville Peck talks about musical inspiration from growing up in South Africa, telling biographical tales in his music that seem fictional, and creating 'Bronco' after struggling with depression and almost giving up on music during the pandemic.

“I was deeply, deeply depressed and almost quit music when COVID hit because I stopped working and stopped touring and like so many of us I realized that I had been escaping into my routine and my busy lifestyle and I looked at my personal life and it was a nightmare, and I looked at the fact that I was feeling so lost, and when I came out of that and started writing 'Bronco' it was like this big catharsis,” Peck says.

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Apparently: Lowland Hum “Quiet Music” to Colicky Baby Apr 07, 2022

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Sound & Vision’s mini-series, Apparently, explores the stories of musicians, performers and arts workers who are juggling parenthood with their art.

Today we hear the epic story of parenthood from Lowland Hum, who make “quiet music,” but their experience as new parents were anything but quiet. (Cue a tornado, colic and a miscarriage.)

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Apparently: Middle Kids on What It Takes to Tour With Toddler Apr 05, 2022

Show notes

Sound & Vision’s mini-series, Apparently, explores the stories of musicians, performers and arts workers who are juggling parenthood with their art.

On this episode, contributor Celine Teo-Blockey profiles the Australian band Middle Kids and how they lost money in order to do a US tour during a pandemic with a toddler in tow.

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/

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Fresh off the Spaceship: The Story of the Black Constellation Apr 01, 2022

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What is the Black Constellation? If you know, you'll want to listen to this podcast. If you don't, you'll want to listen, too.

"Fresh off the Spaceship" is the newest podcast from KEXP, telling the story of the highly influential yet scarcely documented artist collective. The Black Constellation has included such varied musical acts as Shabazz Palaces, THEESatisfaction, Ya Tseen and Porter Ray.

Hosted by KEXP's Larry Mizell Jr. and Martin Douglas, each episode in this 10-part series takes listeners on an audio journey connecting the stars of the Constellation, shedding light on their art and their ethos along the way.

New episodes come out every Friday from March 18 - May 27, 2022. Find out more at KEXP.org/fresh-off-the-spaceship .

Watch a video version of the trailer and explore more work from the artists of the Constellation on KEXP's Fresh off the Spaceship YouTube playlist.

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/

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Apparently: Parenting Advice from Inuk Throat Singer Tanya Tagaq Mar 31, 2022

Show notes

Sound & Vision’s mini-series, Apparently, explores the stories of musicians, performers and arts workers who are juggling parenthood with their art.

On this episode, we get parenting advice from Inuk throat singer Tanya Tagaq. She talks about the importance of staying calm for your children and allowing them to be bored. She also talks about intergenerational wisdom, being a single mom, and her song about motherhood called “Earth Monster” from her latest album, 'Tongues.'

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Apparently: Swimming Upstream Mar 29, 2022

Show notes

In honor of Women’s History Month, Sound & Vision is bringing you another installment of Apparently, where we talk with musicians and those involved in the field about their art and parenthood.

Today, KEXP's "Drive Time" Producer Rachel Stevens shares her journey through pregnancy loss and job loss, to now giving her all to her daughter while also being a working mom. She reads her New York Times essay, "Swimming Upstream in Heels and Skinny Pants." Plus, Emily Fox has a special announcement.

Read Rachel's piece, "How 'Nothing Arrived' by Villagers Got Me Through My Miscarriage".

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Brittany Davis Addresses Blindness on Debut EP Mar 24, 2022

Show notes

Seattle’s Brittany Davis has released a debut EP on Pearl Jam Guitarist Stone Gossard’s label, Loosegroove Records. Davis was born blind and started recording music around the age of 13 when they were homeless. They talk about their musical journey, reflecting on the past two years through music, collaborating with Gossard and addressing blindness in a song.

“As much as blindness as disability is romanticized, nah dude, that stuff ain’t romantic. That stuff impacts you in ways that a lot of people don’t think about,” Davis says.

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.