Talkhouse Podcast

Hamilton Leithauser (The Walkmen) with Rostam (Vampire Weekend) Sep 17, 2026

On this week's Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got two guys who stepped away from their bigger bands and made an incredible record together 10 years ago. The occasion for this conversation isn’t just that album’s anniversary, but also the announcement of the duo’s first real tour behind it later this year. It’s Hamilton Leithauser and Rostam.

In 2016, when I Had A Dream That You Were Mine was released, Leithauser had already released one post-Walkmen solo album, and Rostam had just left Vampire Weekend. But the pair had known each other for quite a while before that: The Walkmen brought Vampire Weekend out as openers on one of their first tours, which you’ll hear about in this chat, back in 2008. Rostam, a guy well into production and songwriting in his own band, had even contributed to Leithauser’s first solo album, Black Hours.

So it seemed natural for the two to link up for a whole album, and between 2014 and 2016 they wrote and recorded I Had A Dream That You Were Mine, sometimes linking up in their shared hometown of Washington DC—parts of the record, as you’ll hear, we recorded in Rostam’s childhood home. Freed at least partially from the expectations associated with their other bands, the duo crafted a gorgeous pastiche that ended up sounding timeless: Sometimes it’s got early rock and roll vibes, sometimes it’s the Bob Dylan/Leonard Cohen energy Leithauser often hinted at, writ larger. It’s fantastic.

But because these guys had busy separate lives, they never really toured these songs together. That will change this November, with a band featuring, as you’ll hear in this chat, Rostam’s young guys. It’s a brief tour hitting mostly bigger U.S. cities, and I imagine it’ll be one of your only chances to see these songs performed live. You can find dates below, but in the meantime, check out the big single from I Had a Dream That You Were Mine. This is “A 1000 Times.”

In this delightful chat, Hamilton and Rostam talk about the few shows they played together—including an embarrassing flub that Rostam had forgotten. They also go through the writing process for most of the songs, which is fascinating, but not before a brief conversation about playing tennis. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Hamilton Leithauser and Rostam for chatting.

Tour Dates:

5 Washington DC - 9:30 Club

6 Philadelphia PA - World Cafe Live - Music Hall

7 Woodstock NY - Bearsville Theater

9 Brooklyn NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg

10 Brooklyn NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg

11 Somerville MA - Somerville Theatre

13 Toronto ON - The Concert Hall

14 Detroit MI - Saint Andrew’s Hall

15 Chicago IL - Thalia Hall

18 San Francisco CA - Castro Theatre

19 Los Angeles CA - Pacific Electric

If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme was composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

02:44 Start of conversation

3:03 On hotels, visiting each other, and memories of recording

04:13 On writing “The Morning Stars”, and songs that didn’t make the record

6:00 On when they became friends, “the worst studio mates of all time,” and smoking

8:37 On the first Vampire Weekend tours, opening for The Walkmen, and Pepperjack

11:19 On The Walkmen running out of gas on tour, dependable tour vans, and driving in Europe

13:33 Their tour announcement, recent shows, and Rostam’s embarrassing moment

15:48 On their Williamsburg Music Hall shows being released on streaming, and “In a Black Out”

17:19 On the BBC and Brits, upcoming European dates, and Hamilton’s plans for September and October

19:37 On playing tennis and restringing rackets

21:04 Reflecting on all of their collaborative songs in order, their processes and recording sessions, and their favorite instruments

28:47 On the journey of “The Morning Stars, the Bruce Springsteen song they wanted it to sound like, “Peaceful Morning,” and looking forward to the tour

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Sign up for our newsletter. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Facebook, and Letterboxd.

Jakob Nowell (Sublime) with Yelawolf Sep 10, 2026

On this week’s short but sweet Talkhouse episode—I might even call it a mini-sode—we’ve got a couple of guys at interesting points in their interesting careers. Both have been flirtatious with the mainstream, but not exactly in it. It’s Jakob Nowell and Yelawolf.

Jakob Nowell was still an infant when his dad, Bradley Nowell, died at just 28. Bradley was the frontman for the Southern California band Sublime, whose music would go on to reach a much wider audience not long after his death. The other two members of Sublime continued with a different singer, with varying degrees of success, while Jakob Nowell grew up and starting making music on his own. A couple of years back, Jakob got together with his dad’s old bandmates and reignited Sublime again—and the fact that his voice sounds remarkably like his dad’s made it a welcome transition for the band’s fans. This new Sublime recorded an album, which they say will be the band’s last, and they tour and play like crazy, including owning their own festival packed with reggae and punk-tinged fellow travelers.

Those fellow travelers include the other half of today’s conversation, Yelawolf, who will play a bunch of shows with Sublime this year, including the band’s cruise in November and a big amphitheater in Alabama next week. There aren’t many musicians who can claim collaborations with Ed Sheeran, Eminem, Travis Barker, A$AP Rocky and Tech 9, but the Nashville-based rapper can. He’s been around for a long time, and has always seemed like a musical seeker. His next album, 45, is coming out later this year, and it reportedly features no rapping at all. Check out the single “My Country” right here and see for yourself.

I caught these guys on a busy day and they didn’t chat very long, but I still felt like there was enough there to share: They chat about hanging out backstage with superstars at the Aftershock Festival, about potentially collaborating in the future—they even have a dream third member of their trio in mind—and about Jakob’s emotional trips to the last venue his father ever played. Check it out.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Jakob Nowell and Yelawolf for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff we’ve got going at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

0:00 Intro

02:40 Start of conversation

02:48 On Sublime’s cross-genre appeal, and on Jakob joining Sublime

05:21 On Jakob visiting the last theater his dad ever played at

06:49 On Yelawolf’s current tour and experiencing different music scenes and crowds on tours

08:34 On wanting to collaborate together and mixing genres

09:35 On touring together, how they met at Aftershock, and meeting music legends at the festival

11:37 On wanting to play with Les Claypool

12:05 On their plans for the rest of 2026 and 2027, and wanting to visit each other

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Sign up for our newsletter. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Facebook, and Letterboxd.

Ben Gibbard (Death Cab For Cutie) with Bob Mould Sep 03, 2026

On this week’s episode, we’ve got a pair of absolute legends and friends who’ve both been on the show before, but never together. It’s Ben Gibbard and Bob Mould. I’m not sure if either of these guys needs an introduction at this point, but here goes.

Ben Gibbard is the singer, guitarist, and primary songwriter for the band Death Cab For Cutie, with whom he’s been making thoughtful, gorgeous, heartfelt indie-rock for nearly 30 years now. Death Cab made its way out of the underground and into the mainstream with 2003’s epic Transatlanticism, and 2003 was also the year that birthed Gibbard’s unexpectedly massive side project The Postal Service. But while those two records might get a lot of the glory, Death Cab has a deep, rich catalog that continues to grow and thrive to this day. The band’s latest album, I Built You a Tower, came out earlier this year, and it sits comfortably with their best. As you’ll hear in this chat, he’s not ashamed to play the hits while still committing himself to writing great new songs as well. Check out “Riptides” from I Built You a Tower right here.

The other half of today’s conversation, Bob Mould, has clearly had an influence on Gibbard—among literally hundreds, maybe thousands, of other musicians and songwriters over the years. Mould came crashing out of the gate with his band Hüsker Dü in the late 1970s, pioneering the sort of furious yet melodic punk that would define its era and whose sound reverberates to this day. After Hüsker Dü split in the late ‘80s, Mould embarked on a more contemplative solo period—pioneering the punk-goes-acoustic thing—before, in 1992, forming a trio called Sugar with David Barbe and Malcolm Travis. Sugar was the biggest commercial success of Mould’s career, and for good reason: The band’s two albums distilled his greatest strengths. Sugar didn’t last long, but reformed just last year and have been playing triumphant gigs ever since. You can catch them on tour this year, including at Chicago’s Riot Fest. I have barely scratched the surface of Mould’s life and career, so forgive me for that.

In this great conversation, these two chat about revisiting old albums and the question of “fan service,” about how they discover new music as they get older, and about how they prepare their bodies and brains for being on the road. It’s a fun chat, and I hope you enjoy it.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast and thanks to Ben Gibbard and Bob Mould for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

0:00 Intro

02:37 Start of conversation

02:53 On touring and adjusting to life at home again

06:20 On coming home to family after touring

07:10 On Death Cab’s current tour, and bus tours vs. plane tours

09:01 On Bob’s longevity as a performer, and his other career paths

11:20 On staying in shape to tour, and feeling grateful

13:19 On Bob’s energetic performances and physicality

14:23 On doing “rock moves” onstage, and injuries

17:32 On the pros and cons of discovering music through streaming, file-sharing, or physical media

22:16 On living under “an avalanche of music” and why some music does or doesn’t connect

24:01 Why less new music connects with Ben and Bob as they get older

26:32 On how musical identities, genres, and rules have changed

29:12 On finding time to listen to new music, finding new influences from different genres, and “taking inspiration from myself”

33:52 On fitting influences, inspirations, and elements together into a new song and reinterpretation

36:22 On the cons of songwriting publishing disputes and the value of intellectual property

38:08 On David Eggers, protecting art from AI, and the “alchemy and magic” of creating

39:42 On feeling satisfied by making music for yourself, and handing off demos

41:48 On why they’re driven to write songs, and “selfish” reasons to create

44:07 On reflecting on their past work, the importance of “fan service” concerts, and the cultural impact of Transatlanticism

47:57 On connecting with your past self through “album play” shows

50:11 On being the “vessel” for work that deeply connects with people over time

51:43 On Hüsker Dü, solo work, and record label experiences

54:49 On Ben’s birthday, and upcoming shows

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Sign up for our newsletter. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Facebook, and Letterboxd.

Johanna Samuels with Madison Cunningham Aug 27, 2026

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got a pair of fantastic music makers who also happen to be… women in music. That’s their joke, not mine—you’ll hear. It’s Johanna Samuels and Madison Cunningham.

Though she’s from New York, Johanna Samuels’ music has always had West Coast vibes—it makes perfect sense that she now calls Los Angeles home. Her latest album, Sorry, Kid, just came out, and it’s got an interesting backstory: The songs were written years ago but never finished, and there were false starts making them work this time around. But she found a great collaborator in Jonathan Rado—you’ll hear her refer to “Rado” a bunch in this chat—and finally broke through to a stunning set of mellow, downcast songs. You’ll hear the influence of Aimee Mann, Tom Petty, Elliott Smith—if those are your thing, give it a close listen.

The other half of today’s conversation, Madison Cunningham, plays a little bit on Samuels’ record. The two are old friends, and you may have heard Cunningham in a variety of disparate places over the years: She played with Andrew Bird, and the two covered the lone Buckingham-Nicks album together. She’s toured with big names, including Harry Styles. Her 2022 album, Revealer, won the Grammy for Best Folk Album. Cunningham’s third album, Ace, was released late last year, and it’s a winning left turn—less guitar, more piano, a little weirder than ever before. Check out the Samuels’ track “Rare,” which features some playing and singing from Cunningham.

This episode was recorded with our guests in the same room, and you can hear the friendly energy these two have. They joke around about being “women in music” as well as the long road to Samuels’ album, Fiona Apple, Tom Petty, and much, much more. I hope you enjoy listening as much as they did recording.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Johanna Samuels and Madison Cunningham for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the other great shows in our network. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

0:00 Intro

2:18 Start of convo

2:20 On “women having a moment” in music, and Pitchfork’s mean reviews

3:51 On their newest albums, seeing how art comes out of each others’ lives, and artistic phases

7:01 On releasing songs after the inspiring emotion has passed, mental health, and using songs to process emotions

09:22 On the joy of creation, tarot cards, and the addictive qualities of the creative process

12:17 On the recording process, and finding the sound and lyrics

13:46 On Tom Petty, finding inspiration from great songs, simple lyrics, and cover songs

17:05 On learning to write songs by dissecting other songs, inspiring each other, and deceptively simple pop songs

20:45 On the timeline of making an album, the “Sha Sha Redemption,” and the importance of fun

25:06 On humor and self-awareness in sad songs

28:09 On their “women are having a moment” joke, dealing with anger, and not wanting to be known for one emotion

29:43 On how male songwriters approach expressing emotions differently, and if being hot makes for shallower art

33:58 On being grounded, loving life, discomfort, and feeling free to make new art

37:24 On other artists’ paths and growth, and being willing to try new things

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠, and visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Don't miss the latest from your favorite artists: subscribe to the Talkhouse newsletter to receive weekly highlights in your inbox.

Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

William Basinski (The Disintegration Loops) with Sondre Lerche Aug 20, 2026

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got two guys who might seem miles apart musically, but who are fans of each other’s work nonetheless. It’s Sondre Lerche and William Basinski.

Lerche is the Norwegian pop master who’s released a ton of amazing records over the past couple of decades. He’s flirted with jazzy sounds and more straightforward chamber pop, and he’s also spent time doing soundtrack work. His career took an interesting turn recently with a starring role in the stage musical Moulin Rouge!, which kept him away from his own music-making for a while. But he returns now with Acrobats, a gorgeously rendered album on which he tries to reconcile falling in love with life in what feels like a cruel world. (Don’t worry, you can still sing along.) Check out the song “Little Kids” from Acrobats right here.

You know what you probably won’t be singing along to? William Basinski’s breakthrough ambient masterpiece The Disintegration Loops. If you’re not familiar, The Disintegration Loops came about when Basinski began recording the sound of some of his older works, which were on magnetic tape, decaying. Looped over the course of about five hours, the sounds are mesmerizing and occasionally scary. They were finished on September 11, 2001, and became inextricably linked with the terror attacks of that day. They’ve since been reissued several times, and now the loops are even being performed live by symphony orchestras, a topic that’s touched on here. There’s a lot more to Basinski’s career than I can touch on in one paragraph, but check out The Disintegration Loops if you never have—it’s an experience.

So why are these two guys chatting, one a pop maker and the other making floating soundscapes? Well it turns out that Lerche is a fan of Basinski's, and he even referenced The Disintegration Loops in a 2022 song called “Avatars of Love.” The two have since met and become friends, as you’ll hear in this chat. They talk about Lerche’s time in the musical, about Basinski’s music being performed by actual humans, and of course about how the world is a fucked-up place. It is! Enjoy.

0:00 - Intro

02:39 - Start of conversation

02:53 - On visiting a NY film & music art exhibition at the Hudson Yards

04:04 - On William’s unreleased music archives, and the Williamsburg music scene

07:01 - On Sondre’s lead role in the Moulin Rouge musical, his new album, and how theater compares to creating music

11:04 - On Sondre’s tour schedule, performing his new record live, staying healthy, and connecting with fans

15:02 - On William’s shows in churches, and his new projects

18:31 - On finding new things through the Instagram algorithm, past life regressions, and how that inspired William

20:03 - On releasing Sondre’s new album, Acrobats, its themes, and embracing connection and being present

22:23 - On Sondre referencing William’s work in a new song, “Avatars of Love,” and other artists who have references William

24:55 - On Sondre’s process while writing “Avatars of Love”

27:33 - On The Disintegration Loops’ cultural impact

30:29 - On the movie “Ed Wood,” and thinking about how their work will be remembered artistically

32:19 - On feeling excited by their own work, and how The Disintegration Loop changed William’s career, and the most important performances of his career

34:54 - On the process of performing the loops live

36:28 - On how Sondre runs marathons to William’s work

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Sondre Lerche and William Basinski for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff over at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme was composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Melissa Etheridge with Maggie Rose Aug 13, 2026

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got a pair of powerful songwriters—one you surely know, one you may not yet—who recently toured together, and who both have great new albums out. It’s Melissa Etheridge and Maggie Rose.

I’ll try and fail to do justice to Melissa Etheridge’s incredible life and career in one short paragraph: She’s sold millions of records, written and performed massive hit songs, won Grammys and an Oscar, beat cancer, written books, done a one-woman show about her life, been a loud and strong advocate for gay rights since well before that was a mainstream thing to do, and now she’s started a foundation to investigate alternate therapies for drug addiction after losing a son to opioids in 2020. She also managed to write and release her seventeenth studio album over the past couple of years: Rise was co-produced with Shooter Jennings and it’s a bit more rock-leaning than usual. Etheridge is doing a big co-headline tour with Wynonna Judd, and the other half of today’s conversation, Maggie Rose, is opening those shows—and as you’ll hear in this chat, having a ball.

Though she started her career in Nashville, Rose has always pushed at the boundaries of what might be called country music, and her last few albums don’t fit the tag at all. Her brand new album, Half Moon, is out this week, and it’s a big, bright pop record—smart and sophisticated and thoughtful and fun. She’s been through the industry wringer and come out the other side with a stronger sense of self than ever. Half Moon and its accompanying EP Cocoon are influenced by motherhood, which you’ll hear about it in this lively chat. Check out “Red Shoes” from Half Moon right here.

In this sweet, mutually admiring conversation, Etheridge and Rose talk about the importance of following your own path, about being mothers in a crazy business, and about the Etheridge Foundation, among other things. You’ll also hear them talk about joining each other on stage on tour—you can catch them both on the road the rest of this summer, too. Enjoy.

0:00 Introduction

02:22 Start of conversation

02:32 On “The Four Agreements” and the importance of expression

04:24 On finding connection with yourself as an artist, and on touring together

06:56 On “Poison in My Well, Maggie’s latest releases, and Melissa’s influences on her music

12:47 On how Maggie writes with her husband, and the stories behind “The Other Woman” and “Davina”

15:50 On Melissa’s foundation researching and developing alternative treatments for addiction

19:10 On supporting each other, raising kids while touring, and teaching kids life lessons

23:13 On showing kids that doing what you love matters, and Melissa’s creative journey after her son’s passing

26:22 On recording Melissa’s album “Rise,” and engaging with fans in a new way during the pandemic

29:22 On Maggie’s new album “Half Moon,” why Melissa loves her as an artist, and working outside of genre confines

32:26 On being a live performer, feeling “undiscovered” by the wider music industry, and finding success on your own timeline

35:54 On longevity versus “flash in the pan” success, and learning from Bruce Springsteen about what matters as a musician

38:27 On the rest of their tour, and on Melissa’s 12-string guitar

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Melissa Etheridge and Maggie Rose for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Nobody's Ever Asked Me That: Avalon Fast Aug 11, 2026

On the latest episode of Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That, Nick Dawson sits down with writer-director and actor Avalon Fast, a queer auteur whose excellent second feature, the lulling, fairytale-like Camp, hit theaters earlier this summer. In a fun and often surprising conversation, Fast opened up about ego death, musical imposter syndrome, exploring and mapping the dream world version of their childhood home of Vancouver Island, growing up in the shadow of an impending fatal mega-earthquake tsunami, coolness, drinking to die, and much more.

Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That now has a Substack, so head there to check out all of our past episodes, plus subscribe to get access to exclusive audio and video content!

M.C. Taylor (Hiss Golden Messenger) with Josh Kaufman (Bonny Light Horseman) Aug 06, 2026

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got a Talkhouse favorite in conversation with a guy who’s spent a lot of time behind the scenes on some incredible records. It’s M.C. Taylor and Josh Kaufman.

Taylor has been making music under the curious name Hiss Golden Messenger for two decades now, and he’s amassed an incredible—and incredibly varied—catalog of music that’s never easy to pin down. There are elements of rock, folk, even elements of what was called alt-country for a while there. But what ties it all together is a true vision: Taylor has a singular voice and passion that runs through all of his records. The latest is called I’m Peopleand it’s concerned with nothing less than community, music-making, heartbreak, and the world at large. He does not aim low, in other words. It’s his most ambitious and maybe accessible in a while, and as usually features a motley crew of guests and regulars, including Sam Beam of Iron & Wine, Bruce Hornsby, and Sara Watkins, among others. Check out the song “Shaky Eyes” right here.

Now in addition to all of those day players on I’m People there was a guy there for most of the process, writing and playing along with Taylor: Josh Kaufman. Now Kaufman might be best known as part of the trio Bonny Light Horseman along with Anaïs Mitchell and Eric D. Johnson, but he’s done amazing work slightly behind the scenes, too. He was one of the driving forces behind the massive Day of the Dead Grateful Dead tribute a few years back; he was a key part of some records by the National; he played on a few Taylor Swift records—yes, that Taylor Swift—and he was integral to the solo albums by our old pal Craig Finn. He’s also, as you’ll hear in this chat, a guy who just loves to talk about and play music. One of us, in other words.

In this chat, Taylor and Kaufman talk about making I’m People as well as the other Hiss Golden Messenger records they worked on together. They talk about how they first met, which was sort of a magical moment, plus a Bruce Hornsby show with a few too many guest players, lots of bass players, and not enough inputs. Enjoy.

0:00 - Introduction

02:39 - Start of conversation

03:08 - On how they met, and how their friendship helped them collaborate on I’m People

06:26 - On learning to maintain adult friendships, and connecting as musicians

09:25 - On the different studios they’ve worked in together, playing with Bruce Hornsby, and recording experiences

13:30 - On chasing perfection in the studio, spontaneity, and whether taking too long on albums makes them worse

16:41 - On recording past collaborations together

18:17 - On recording I’m People at Dreamland, and the music scene upstate in the 90s

20:39 - On being inspired by the physical drama of upstate NY and North Carolina, and unique studios

23:10 - On drawing fresh inspiration and references from records from the past while maintaining their own sound

27:14 - On how the musicians they’ve worked with have evolved and changed, and meeting their favorite collaborators

33:04 - On how the vibe of Dreamland influences the music, and the pros of recording portions at home

35:09 - On the records and types of music that inspired them

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast and thanks to M.C. Taylor and Josh Kaufman for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Nobody's Ever Asked Me That: Nicolas Winding Refn Aug 04, 2026

On the latest episode of Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That, Nick Dawson sits down with writer-director Nicolas Winding Refn, the cinematic iconoclast behind such movies as Drive and The Neon Demon, whose latest release, Her Private Hell, is in theaters now. In a fascinating and unique conversation, he touches on turning his dyslexia, color-blindness and other “untreated diagnoses” into creative advantages, his addiction to Legos, his fantasy of living in a world of only women, meeting Andy Warhol as a teenager, the importance of telling your kids that they’re geniuses, and much more.

Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That now has a Substack, so head there to check out all of our past episodes, plus subscribe to get access to exclusive audio and video content!

Brian Fallon (The Gaslight Anthem) with Greg Barnett (The Menzingers) Jul 30, 2026

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got a great chat between two rockers whose bands tuck classic-sounding songs into punk-inspired packages: It’s Brian Fallon of the Gaslight Anthem and Greg Barnett of the Menzingers.

The Menzingers are one of those bands that are sort of easy to take for granted: They’ve released a steady string of punk anthems for 20 years, and their songs are as reliable as the sunrise. But when you step back and take a look at their catalog, it’s pretty massively impressive. The Scranton, Pennsylvania band just released their eighth album, Everything I Ever Saw, and it’s as big and catchy as you’d hope. They’ll head out on a US tour this fall with one of their big inspirations, Hot Water Music, in the opening slot. Check out "Chance Encounters” from Everything I Ever Saw right here.

The other half of today’s conversation, Brian Fallon, fronts a band of a similar age and sound as The Menzingers, though as you’ll hear in this conversation, his band took a chunky hiatus a while back. The Gaslight Anthem broke through back in 2008 with the instant classic album The ‘59 Sound, which won them acclaim from fans, music writers, other bands, and even their fellow New Jersey-ite Bruce Springsteen. The Gaslight Anthem seemed to split in 2015 but have since reformed; during that time, Fallon also amassed a catalog of solo records, and he’s got another great one on the horizon. Not Bad for New Jersey will be out in September, accompanied by a big tour. The album features his usual anthemic songs plus fun guest appearances from Brandon Flowers of the Killers, among others. Check out the song “Pearls” from Not Bad For New Jersey right here, and again, it’s out in September and available to pre-order now.

In this chat, Fallon and Barnett talk about their lengthy shared history, about stretching out sonically, about their mutual friend Wicca Phase Springs Eternal—including a story about a high school battle of the bands—and much more. Enjoy.

0:00 Introduction

2:47 Start of conversation, touring, and releasing new albums

4:10 On dogs, new babies, and raising kids

6:41 On tour openers, Tiger’s Jaw, and learning from Adam McIlwee

11:28 On learning guitar and songwriting by watching friends, and interesting chords

12:50 On the songwriting process and making iPhone demos

15:42 On the connection between vocals and drums

16:32 On having a recognizable sound, and dealing with reviews and public opinions about your work

20:02 On feeling like you’re creating “real” songs, and how the music industry affects your perceptions

21:43 On the Menzingers’ newest album, and the inspiration for the title track

23:49 On feeling inspired by other bands’ live gigs

25:51 On their bands turning 20, celebrating together, and early recordings

29:16 On their experiences with different record labels, and which ones support artists’ growth

34:58 On how solo work is different from working with their bands, and loving what they do

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Greg Barnett and Brian Fallon for chatting. If you like what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme was composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Nobody's Ever Asked Me That: Peter Dreimanis & Leah Fay Goldstein Jul 28, 2026

On the latest episode of Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That, Nick Dawson sits down with Peter Dreimanis and Leah Fay Goldstein, who are both the lead singers of the band July Talk and now the stars of the unconventional new romantic comedy Middle Life, which is in theaters from this Friday. In a thoughtful and very connected conversation, the two open up about generational trauma, loss, learning to trust one’s innate wisdom, their emotional visit to the Mauthausen concentration camp, Goldstein dreaming new Angel Olsen songs, Dreimanis’ rec hockey league for sensitive art guys, and much more.

Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That now has a Substack, so head there to check out all of our past episodes, plus subscribe to get access to exclusive audio and video content!

James Smith (Yard Act) with Pelle Almqvist (The Hives) Jul 23, 2026

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a couple of dynamic frontmen who’ve brought a ton of personality to rock and roll over the years: It’s Pelle Almqvist and James Smith.

Pelle Almqvist, aka Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist, is the singer for the Swedish band the Hives, who make garage rock, punk rock, or simply rock and roll, depending on who you’re talking to—that question comes up in this conversation. The Hives broke through back in the early 2000s with the monumental album Veni Vidi Vicious and the song “Hate to Say I Told You So,” and they’ve since amassed an incredible catalog alongside an earned reputation as one of the most exciting live bands you’re ever going to see. The Hives went quiet for a while but came roaring back in 2023, and last year they released their seventh record called The Hives Forever Forever The Hives, a brilliant title if I’ve ever seen one. Check out the title track from that album right here.

The other half of today’s conversation, James Smith, is the singer/talker/kinda rapper at the helm of the British band Yard Act, whose first album—2022’s The Overload—immediately announced them as a serious musical force. Smith’s voice is the slick, confident center of their songs, and his unique way of sing-speaking feels like a gamble that paid off ridiculously well. The band has since released two more records, including the excellent new You’re Gonna Need A Little Music, which deals at times with the idea of getting everything you want but not knowing what to do with it. It was produced by Justin Meldal-Johnson—he’s the Justin mentioned in this chat—who seemed to help tame the beast in all the right ways. Check out “Empty Pledges” right here.

This lively chat took place via Zoom, and I have to note right off the bat that Almqvist was dialing in from his sauna while wearing a Hives-branded robe—totally on brand in the best way. They talk about religion, typical days on tour, and quite a bit about how they’ve both gotten into painting—and how they’re trying not to make it into work. Enjoy.

0:00 Intro

02:42 Start of conversation

02:43 On sharing an interest in painting and art

04:37 On recording new records in home studios, and how touring impacts recording

08:07 On if the “lightning in a bottle” approach to making music is real, trying new sounds, and why Ace of Base is similar to Bob Marley

10:41 On the music scenes in Sweden and Leeds

13:20 On folding bikes and land skis

15:08 On architecture, history, and visiting cathedrals and other landmarks on tour

16:09 On organized religion, capitalism, and if spirituality encourages unity

18:26 On growing up near Russia during the Cold War, nuclear war fears, punk music, and class awareness

20:21 On modern interpretations of punk music

23:04 On traveling on tour, seeing more cathedrals, why AI is like an Easter Island statue, and staying optimistic about the future

26:29 On upcoming tour dates, and future plans and priorities

29:35 On James’ experiences showing his paintings, the pros and cons of selling passion projects, and learning new art skills

32:43 On Pelle’s painting projects, and how painting is like songwriting

35:12 On being creative vs. slowing down during time off

36:53 On if slowing down musically is the same as getting complacent

38:19 On Pelle’s sauna and swimming in the Baltic Sea

39:20 On input vs. output for creativity and culture

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Pelle Almqvist and James Smith for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff at ⁠Talkhouse.com⁠. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Nobody's Ever Asked Me That: Abel Ferrara Jul 21, 2026

On the latest episode of Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That, Nick Dawson sits down with the legendary writer-director Abel Ferrara, the filmmaker behind such iconic movies as Driller Killer, King of New York and Bad Lieutenant. In a conversation that’s candid and often profound, Ferrara opens up about bad acid trips, his fascination with writing code, his addiction to social media (including following people like the late Charlie Kirk …), why he’s not a night person anymore, being traumatized as a young boy by a bloody, life-sized crucifix, and much more.

Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That now has a Substack, so head there to check out all of our past episodes, plus subscribe to get access to exclusive audio and video content!

Summer Album/Winter Album: Janes Addiction's "Ritual de lo Habitual" Jul 16, 2026

This episode originally aired on June 26, 2026. Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠Summer Album / Winter Album⁠⁠. Tonight on Summer Album / Winter Album: Ritual de lo Habitual. 1990.

Our special guest: Hamilton Leithauser of The Walkmen.

Craig Finn is arguing Summer, Jody Avirgan is arguing Winter.

Jody won the coin toss. He is presenting first.

Weigh in and find lots more on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and clips on our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ page.

Get in touch through ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Nobody's Ever Asked Me That: Stephin Merritt Jul 14, 2026

On the latest episode Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That, Nick Dawson talks with Magnetic Fields frontman, Stephin Merrit, who was recently (and rightly!) named by the New York Times as one of the 30 greatest living songwriters. In a sprightly, wide-ranging conversation, the two discuss such divergent topics as Brian Wilson’s warning about caffeine and creativity, falling asleep at the movies, the hilarious reason why Ang Lee has beef with his Westchester neighbors, Stephin’s hatred of biopics, his genius plan for a series of soporific audiobooks, dreaming Divine’s death years before it actually happened, and much more.

Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That now has a Substack, so head there to check out all of our past episodes, plus subscribe to get access to exclusive audio and video content!

Nobody's Ever Asked Me That: Desiree Akhavan Jul 07, 2026

On the latest episode of Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That, Nick Dawson sits down with writer, director, actor and memoirist Desiree Akhavan, the Sundance Grand Jury Prize-winning filmmaker behind such films as The Miseducation of Cameron Post and Appropriate Behavior. Over the course of a very connected and open conversation, Akhavan talks about her evocative first memory of learning to swim, writing her show Friday Night Live at age 9, her urge to return to Japan … or just learn how to take a vacation period, finding joy beyond validation, reckoning with her path forward during a current time of transition, and much more.

Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That now has a Substack, so head there to check out all of our past episodes, plus subscribe to get access to exclusive audio and video content!

Aja Monet with Mick Jenkins Jul 02, 2026

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a deep, enlightening conversation between two talented wordsmiths who also happen to be admirers of each other’s work: Mick Jenkins and Aja Monet.

Mick Jenkins first found some notice a little over a decade ago with a mixtape called The Waters, a sophisticated, politically minded group of songs that sounded wiser than his years and got him tons of attention from his homebase of Chicago and beyond. Early collaborators include Chance the Rapper and and Vic Mensa, which should tell you a little bit about what to expect from Jenkins’ sound, but not the whole story: He’s since released a bunch of records that take plenty of left turns, including last year’s jazzy A Murder of Crows, made with producer EMIL. Check out “Worker’s Comp” from that album right here.

Speaking of jazzy, the other half of today’s conversation is Aja Monet, who’s taken her poetry from the page and straight readings to a place bursting with music and rhythm on a pair of albums, including a brand new one called The Color of Rain. Jenkins and their mutual friend Vic Mensa join on one song, “Melting Clocks” but it’s most Monet’s show throughout, with her poetry set over zigzagging instruments and tempos. It never feels forced, but rather a natural extension of what she’s all about—complex, lyrical, and sometimes intense. Check out “Melting Clocks” right here.

This conversation starts a little slowly—Jenkins is just waking up and has been having a rough few months. But these two draw inspiration and life from chatting with each other: They cover Jenkins’ early years, when he wasn’t sure if his religion would allow him to pursue secular music; and they get deep into how to deal with the crazy world we’re living in at the moment—specifically how to manage anger. It’s a deep conversation with a lot of wisdom coming from both directions. Enjoy.

0:00 Intro

3:04 Start of Conversation

3:29 On new projects and working through grief with family

4:53 On things women weren’t told about, and learning about ourselves

6:27 On the broken healthcare system, and prioritizing wellness with age

9:23 On self-care, supporting friends, and community

11:25 On expanding your worldview while traveling, and healthcare abroad

18:21 On reacting to US politics and “righteous rage”

22:29 On power dynamics and understanding experiences with anger

26:40 On how Aja’s art expresses anger and love

27:24 On Mick’s career, and what he wanted to express with his early work

29:19 On seeing love in nature, and unique expressions of anger in art

29:56 On reaching people with deeply personal and honest art, and how Mick’s background influences his music

37:10 On feeling afraid of speaking up, and grappling with spirituality

39:45 On empathy, giving others grace, and Aja’s religious upbringing

42:37 On living your truth, growing as a person, and recognizing ignorance

45:07 On finding balance, being humbled by nature, and “warrior spirits”

47:32 On being peers, and learning from each other

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast and thanks to Aja Monet and Mick Jenkins for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme was composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Nobody's Ever Asked Me That: John Early Jun 30, 2026

On the latest episode of Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That, Nick Dawson sits down with comedian John Early, whose excellent debut feature as writer-director-star, Maddie’s Secret, is now in theaters.

In an engrossing and very funny conversation, the two talk about one of the most unlikely anagrams of all time (and its deep resonance in Early’s life), the pros and cons of death by anvil, why Early’s shoes are his superego, the specific confluence of things that put him in a “blissed-out golden retriever mood,” his tornado dreams around the premieres of Maddie’s Secret, and much more.

Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That now has a Substack, so head there to check out all of our past episodes, plus subscribe to get access to exclusive audio and video content!

Music Person: Kevin Morby Jun 25, 2026

This episode originally aired on May 20, 2026. Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠Music Person⁠.

Kevin Morby from Los Angeles, CA and Kansas City, MO. Kevin and Dylan discuss butterflies, his return to Los Angeles, the nuances between Kansas and Missouri culture, his life with partner and fellow songwriter Katie Crutchfield, a canon of indie musicians who play the long game, examining your own mythos, Elvis, and tennis.

+ Kevin gives a letter of recommendation.

++ Kevin asks the Magic 8 Ball on Dylan’s coffee table some questions.

Artists we mentioned:

David Berman/Silver Jews/Purple Mountains, Hand Habits, Woods, Lou Reed, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Joan Baez, The National, Taylor Swift, Waxahatchee, the Babies, Geese, Elvis Presely.

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Nobody's Ever Asked Me That: Goran Stolevski Jun 23, 2026

On the latest episode of Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That, Nick Dawson sits down with Goran Stolevski, the Macedonian-Australian writer-director whose films You Won’t Be Alone, Of An Age and Housekeeping for Beginners are arguably the best first three features by any filmmaker in recent memory.

Over the course of a strikingly frank conversation, Stolevski talks about why writing a shitty script is a quicker road to filmmaking success, why he won’t be making Monopoly: The Movie, his revisionist take on Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own, why the apocalypse will not feature anyone who looks like Pedro Pascal, why he wishes he didn’t want to make movies, and much more.

Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That now has a Substack, so head there to check out all of our past episodes, plus subscribe to get access to exclusive audio and video content!

Revisited: Maya Hawke with Blondshell Jun 18, 2026

Hey Talkhouse listeners, it's Josh Modell. Instead of a new episode this week, we're resurfacing a great one from a few years back between Blondshell and Maya Hawke. Blondshell, aka Sabrina Teitelbaum, released a new song recently and she's about to hit the road for a big tour. Maya Hawke is an actor who just signed on to star in the upcoming Netflix show The God of the Woods and she makes great records as well. Check it out!

—Josh Modell, Host of the Talkhouse Podcast

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got two performers who’ve got friends in common, and became fast friends themselves while recording this chat: Maya Hawke and Sabrina Teitelbaum.

Maya Hawke is best known for her day job as an actor, most visibly in a little show called Stranger Things, and she was also in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and the new Wes Anderson movie, Asteroid City. But as you’ll hear in this chat, she might be most excited by a side path as a singer and songwriter. Hawke has released two understated but fantastic albums so far, and she’s basically finished another. The vibe is sort of indie-folk, sort of floating and ambient but lyrically really engaging. She’s worked with some cool folks to realize her musical vision, including Christian Lee Hutson, who’s the “Christian” referenced in this conversation, just so you know. ⁠Check out⁠ a “Sweet Tooth” from Hawke’s 2022 album Moss right here.

Sabrina Teitelbaum just released her debut album under the name Blondshell, and it’s one of the best of 2023 so far. She describes it in this conversation as an emergency album—meaning a bunch of songs that she felt almost desperate to write, record, and unleash on the world. It’s direct and angry in spots, but also darkly funny and completely unafraid. She’s toured with the likes of Horsegirl and Porridge Radio, which might give some indication of what you’re in for. Or I could just play you Blondshell’s opus, “Salad,” right here. ⁠Check it out⁠.

These two have a fantastic conversation, and just in case it’s not clear from the context, they’re both good friends with the singer Samia, and each has contributed to a Samia covers series called Honey Reimagained. Blondshell did a song called “Charm You,” which is available now. Elsewhere in this chat, they talk about Hawke’s playing “body air guitar,” the weird emotional hit you get when a tour is finished, and the difficulties of stage banter. Enjoy.

0:00 Intro

3:20: Start of Conversation

3:21: On mutual friends and covering songs

4:58: On “perceived vulnerability” and perspectives in their songwriting

9:08: On sad songs, music you can play for friends, and “Olympus”

10:57: On the writing and jazz experiences that inspired Maya’s music

12:48: On the physicality of performing, feeling the music, and performance art

14:41: On playing live, post-tour loneliness, and active vs. passive time

20:06: On maintaining friendships

21:17: On Maya’s latest record

22:54: On onstage banter, scripting shows, and keeping shows fresh

25:53: On finishing a record and learning from the experience

27:43: On music serving as a snapshot of an artists’ life

28:26: On promoting music creatively and authentically, and social media

33:19: On the songwriting process, and tv show narratives’ influences on our experiences

38:40: On being inspired by friendships

42:13: On Maya titling her album “Moss”

43:40: On writing about past pain, and trying to balance it with joy

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Sabrina Teiltelbaum and Maya Hawke for chatting.

If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff at ⁠Talkhouse.com⁠. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Nobody's Ever Asked Me That: Kirsten Johnson Jun 16, 2026

On the latest episode of Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That, Nick Dawson sits down with one of the greatest living documentary filmmakers, Kirsten Johnson, the director of Cameraperson and Dick Johnson is Dead.

In a very personal conversation that draws on their shared history around death and their parents, the two talk about their mutual pursuit of connection, Johnson growing up in the shadow of an imminent apocalypse, the truly remarkable dream she had while shooting in Sudan, a great story about Stephen Colbert’s hands, the disappointing way in which she and a legendary artist have not been collaborating, and much more.

Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That now has a Substack, so head there to check out all of our past episodes, plus subscribe to get access to exclusive audio and video content!

Duff McKagan (Guns N' Roses) with Joe Keithley (D.O.A.) Jun 11, 2026

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got an absolute legend of the punk rock world in conversation with one of his band’s biggest fans—who also happens to play bass in one of the world’s most famous rock bands. It’s Joe Keithley and Duff McKagan.

Joe Keithley has been known for the vast majority of his life as Joey Shithead, singer and guitarist for the band D.O.A., which is coming up on its 50th year of existence. D.O.A. are absolute legends that have always existed on the margins—I don’t think they’d have it any other way—and who influenced and crossed paths with countless bands over the years. They’re credited with bringing the word “hardcore” into the punk lexicon with their album Hardcore ‘81, and guys like Billie Joe Armstrong and Kurt Cobain were vocal fans. Politics and activism have always been part of D.O.A.’s DNA, so it’s no surprise that Keithley decided to run for office in his native Burnaby, Canada. It was a surprise, even to him, that he actually won, and he’s been representing his area for nearly eight years. There’s a new documentary out now called Something Better Change that covers his life both as a musician and a politician, and it’s definitely worth your time. It even comes as a DVD extra in a new double-LP greatest hits collection called Take on the Tyrants: The Very Best of Punk Rock’s Most Enduring Band. Check out the trailer for the doc right here.

Duff McKagan is a lifelong D.O.A. fan; as you’ll hear in this chat, he was onto them super early, including attending a legendary hardcore festival in Canada. McKagan probably needs no introduction here: He’s the longtime bassist and founding member of Guns N' Roses, with whom he still tours—he Zooms into this chat having just landed in Poland for some gigs. But McKagan’s fascinating career and history goes well beyond GnR; he was part of the Seattle punk scene starting as a teen, and he’s been a member of more bands, big and small, than you can count. He’s also an accomplished writer whose autobiography is well worth a read and he’s got a string of solo albums and collaborations. He’s always busy, and he clearly loves music, as you’ll hear in this chat.

In addition to talking about his love for D.O.A., McKagan talks with Keithley here about the good old days of punk rock, diving deep on Black Flag in particular. They also chat about Keithley’s political career and his new venture as the face of a Canadian guitar company. It’s a fun, lively conversation—enjoy.

0:00 — Intro

2:40 — Start of Conversation

3:26 — On how D.O.A shaped Duff’s perspectives on music, and on receiving their album

4:47 — On traveling in Europe on tour, and cities with the best rock audiences

7:52 — On traveling through East and West Germany, and how fans got new music in East Germany

9:53 — On D.O.A’s documentary, Something Better Change, and the politics, music, and punk culture that inspired them both

14:05 — On the Vietnam War and its impacts on music

15:05 — On Joe’s political campaigns, door-knocking, and learning about diverse cultures

18:57 — On crossing borders on tour

22:12 — On local politics and aggressive campaign commercials

24:44 — On touring, and attending graduations

26:23 — On Joe’s new line of guitars

27:46 — On D.O.A’s influence on Duff, D.O.A’s early days, and meeting other punk musicians

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Joe Keithley and Duff McKagan for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Nobody's Ever Asked Me That: Charles Lane Jun 09, 2026

On the latest episode Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That, Nick Dawson sits down with Charles Lane, the writer-director-actor behind the landmark indie film classic Sidewalk Stories. In a lively and frequently surprising conversation, Lane talks about such disparate subjects as how to make high-school love work (with some creative scheduling), being chased by street gangs and dinosaurs, how he copes with regret, his time as a pre-teen pyromaniac, the places one’s brain goes during a 12-minute (!) standing ovation at Cannes, becoming a Jehovah’s Witness as an act of teenage rebellion, and much more.

Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That now has a Substack, so head there to check out all of our past episodes, plus subscribe to get access to exclusive audio and video content!

Sook-Yin Lee with John Cameron Mitchell Jun 04, 2026

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a couple of old friends who are both multi-hyphenates: film directors, actors, writers, musicians, and perhaps most importantly, opinionated rabble-rousers who’ve spent decades pushing at the edges of culture—especially sexual politics—and gleefully widening its scope. It’s John Cameron Mitchell and Sook-Yin Lee.

Mitchell is perhaps best known for co-writing and starring in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, the late-'90s stage musical that became a cult-classic movie. It was the beginning of a career that has championed queerness and otherness, pushing those things into a mainstream that has sometimes been welcoming, but most times not so much. He followed Hedwig with Shortbus, whose frank depictions of sexuality were probably a little too intense for wider audiences. Mitchell has also done really interesting work as an actor in other people’s projects, including playing Tiger King Joe Exotic in a miniseries not too long ago. As you’ll hear in this chat, he’s working on a project about Alan Ginsberg in 1968, a time that should be more distant than it feels like at the moment. Mitchell is heading out on a Hedwig anniversary tour that will include screenings of the film plus live performance and conversation; check out hedwig25.com for info.

The other half of today’s chat, Sook-Yin Lee, met Mitchell way back when, as you’ll hear, when she auditioned for him—sort of. She had roles in both Hedwig and Shortbus, but has also lived other lives as a TV presenter in Canada and a prolific film director. For the past couple of years she’s taken her latest film, Paying For It, straight to audiences along with her friend Chester Brown, whose graphic novel is the film’s basis. It’s a comedy about a couple that opens their relationship, and one of them decides to experiment by paying for sex. You can stream it most anywhere now, but that’s not all Lee has been up to: She just released a new album of catchy, skewed electro-pop called 72RHR. Check out the song “A Hollow” right here.

In this funny, fiery conversation, Mitchell and Lee talk about their early days together, about Alan Ginsberg and how the times he lived through don’t seem to be over, about Mitchell’s adopted New Orleans home, the power of art and lots more. Enjoy.

0:00 — Intro 2:39 — Start of Conversation 3:13 — On celebrating Pride, and Allen Ginsberg 5:34 — On their first collaborations, why their earlier projects couldn’t be made in today’s climate and industry, and branching out with new projects 10:43 — On promoting their latest film collaboration, "Paying For It" 13:11 — On their musical backgrounds and finding inspiration from different styles and genres of art 14:10 — On up-and-coming cities and scenes for artists, marginalized communities, and progressive and punk cultures 16:57 — Comparing and contrasting modern times and today’s art to 1968 18:42 — On making a living as an artist, funding for the arts, and affordability 20:23 — On art movements in small regions, and protecting DIY art spaces, and regional culture in New Orleans 22:03 — On promoting “Paying For It” in the US 23:36 — On the frustrations of a digital world, and building connection and attention spans 25:27 — On doing screenings and gigs for the 25th anniversary of “Hedvig,” and screening “Short Bus” 26:13 — On using art to bring people together again to re-connect to reality 28:58 — On fighting ICE and data centers, and uniting over shared issues 31:46 — On using technology to connect, and young peoples’ changing identities 34:23 — On how young people are creating DIY art, and the tools that make art more accessible for creators 38:13 — On the connections between punk culture, art distribution, and resistance 42:29 — On AIDS activism and “applied punk” within the queer community 44:03 — Where you can find their work

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast and thanks to Sook-Yin Lee and John Cameron Mitchell for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the other great shows in our network. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time! Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Nobody's Ever Asked Me That: Zia Anger Jun 02, 2026

On the latest episode Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That, Nick Dawson sits down with the brilliant and innovative filmmaker Zia Anger, the creative force behind the 2024 feature My First Film and the legendary live multimedia show of the same name.

Over the course of their conversation, Nick and Zia touch on such topics as the problems of being ahead of your time, how Justin Bieber’s recent Coachella show followed in Zia’s footsteps, the remarkable series of “Take It to the Limit” parties she attended as a college student, the dreams she has that Jung would have a field day with, what she would do during a nuclear holocaust, and much more.

Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That now has a Substack, so head there to check out all of our past episodes, plus subscribe to get access to exclusive audio and video content!

Barry Johnson (Joyce Manor) with Greg Mendez May 28, 2026

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got a couple of friends who swim in the same punk-inspired scenes but whose musics are pretty different: Barry Johnson and Greg Mendez.

Johnson is the singer and guitarist for Joyce Manor, the pop-punk/emo/indie-rock/something-something band that’s been blasting out short, to-the-point songs for nearly two decades. There’s something perfectly economical about everything the band does: Their records often clock in at under 20 minutes, so there’s no fat or filler to be found. The latest is being hailed as their best, which is saying something for a band whose chosen genre rarely seems to age well—something Johnson laughs about in this chat. The album is called I Used to Go to This Bar, and it was produced by Bad Religion’s Brett Gurewitz. Check out the song “I Know Where Mark Chen Lives” right here.

The other half of today’s conversation, Greg Mendez, takes a Spartan approach to songwriting as well, but his songs are much more quiet and reflective—you’ll definitely hear Elliott Smith vibes on his new album, Beauty Land. Mendez has actually been making music nearly as long as Joyce Manor, but their shyness didn’t really push through into wider view until a self-titled album in 2023. Now he’s ready to take the next leap—this new record is on the Dead Oceans label, which has released records by like-minded souls Phoebe Bridgers, Japanese Breakfast, and Bright Eyes. Check out the song “Gentle Love” from Beauty Land right here.

In this conversation, Mendez and Johnson talk about how they first met, about the ups and downs of sequencing an album, and about doing the stream-of-consciousness creative practice called “morning pages,” where you just write whatever pops into your head. Johnson doesn’t want you to see his pages, and you’ll find out why. Enjoy.

0:00 — Intro 2:47 — Start of Conversation 5:16 — On sequencing records 7:58 — On releasing new music and planning modern album rollouts 9:20 — On the benefits of slower rollouts and appreciating singles 10:58 — On how they became friends 13:52 — On living in New York, and midlife crises 15:42 — On surfing, skating, and Long Beach 19:50 — On discovering punk through skating culture 20:28 — On touring’s impact on creativity, and finding inspiration from other musicians 23:08 — On overcoming writer’s block, exercising your creativity with age, “morning pages,” and Kurt Cobain’s diary 32:21 — On upcoming tour plans and keeping audiences’ attention while playing solo 34:14 — On seeing musicians transfix an audience, getting emotional at concerts, and live versions of songs

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Barry Johnson and Greg Mendez for a great chat. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That: Tatiana Maslany May 26, 2026

On the first episode of the new season of Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That, host Nick Dawson sits down with Emmy-winning actor Tatiana Maslany, whose new thriller series Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed is now streaming on Apple TV. In wide-ranging conversation, the two talk about how she fell in love her husband over FaceTime, her very unconventional way of turning up for auditions, why she falls asleep thinking about coffee, the hardest time she’s ever had on a movie set, her love of taking COVID tests, and much more. Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That now has a Substack, so head there to check out all of our past episodes, plus subscribe to get access to exclusive audio and video content!

Revisited: Steve Albini with Jerry Casale (Devo) May 21, 2026

Hey Talkhouse listeners, this week, I'm throwing you a rerun from a while back, but whose wisdom hasn't dimmed since 2018 when it was recorded. It's a great conversation between Steve Albini and Devo's Jerry Casale that was captured backstage at the Desert Days Festival. I grabbed this one from the archive because we recently passed the 2nd anniversary of Albini's untimely death, and there was a great Rolling Stone piece about his legacy that got me thinking. He was a very smart, sometimes controversial guy, always opinionated, but always thoughtful. Check it out and we'll see you with a new episode next week.
—Josh Modell, Host of the Talkhouse Podcast

The Talkhouse Podcast recently headed out to the fantastic Desert Daze festival at Moreno Beach at Lake Perris in Southern California. When we weren't catching sets by Tame Impala, King Gizzard, and My Bloody Valentine, we recorded a trio of great talks; this week, we present the first.

When I saw that both Steve Albini and Devo's Jerry Casale were going to be at Desert Daze giving talks, I knew we had to pair these two icons of alternative music. They're big fans of each other's work, and halfway through their conversation, Steve said, “This is the sort of stuff no one ever talks about. These are the questions I’ve had for 30 years.”

Their fascinating talk takes in the beginning years of Devo’s existence; their complex relationship with Neil Young; Brian Eno’s proclivity for ménage à trois; the differences between poker and making records; and how the name Devo became a category alongside jocks, squares and nerds.

Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.
—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

0:00 — Intro 1:01 — Start of the chat 1:14 — Introductions, names, and local sports 3:50 — On Devo straddling genres, their connection to Neil Young, and punk rock 8:14 — On the orthodoxy of punk rock culture, and reactions to politics and power structures 15:17 — On Devo’s connection to the experimental and underground scene 17:58 — On lying to club owners to book shows in the '70s 19:13 — On promoting Devo’s first albums, and Stiff Records 22:44 — On working with Brian Eno, their first major record deal, and meeting David Bowie 27:41 — On Devo controlling and developing their own sound 29:04 — On making “non-functional” experimental music versus dance music, and the role of taste in producing and creating 31:58 — On studio musicians working across genres 35:56 — On being compelled to create original art, regrets, and the paradox of the mainstream record industry 39:17 — On playing poker, and the psychological relationship between poker and creative personas 45:55 — On being an outsider, and Devo becoming “a badge of courage”

This episode was recorded by Keenan Kush at Desert Daze. It was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Big thanks to Desert Daze for hosting the Talkhouse Podcast.

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Lido Pimienta with Ora Cogan May 14, 2026

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a pair of songwriters who currently call Canada home, but whose music and backgrounds come from intriguingly different places: Lido Pimienta and Ora Cogan.

Lido Pimienta is an incredibly thoughtful, thoroughly outspoken musician/artist who was born in Colombia and whose music takes inspiration from there and a dozen other places. She released her first record in 2010, but it was 2016’s experimental-leaning La Papessa that won her both the prestigious Polaris Music Prize and a bigger batch of listeners inspired by her activism and genre-jumping. The laziest comparison might be Björk, so take that for what it’s worth. Pimienta’s latest album is last year’s stirring, strange, and gorgeous La Belleza. Check out the minimal song “Mango” right here.

The music made by the other person in today’s conversation, Ora Cogan, comes from a different sonic place but I think a similar emotional one. Cogan’s new album Hard Hearted Woman takes old-school West Coast singer-songwriter vibes and adds a bit of modern indie-psych edge. I hear influences like Joni Mitchell and Sharon van Etten bubbling under, but there’s something a little darker happening in Cogan’s songs that’s hard to put a finger on but a pleasure to hear. She’s finishing up a West Coast US tour at the moment that will end back home in British Columbia, so check her out if you can, and in the meantime, check out the song “The Smoke” from Hard Hearted Woman right here.

In this lively conversation, Pimienta and Cogan talk about coffee, Canada, and Pimienta’s recent career reset. They also talk about the increasing difficulties of making art in the modern economy, something we’ve heard from other guests recently as well. But they don’t let it get them down—enjoy this chat and their positive energy.

0:00 — Intro 2:46 — Start of conversation 3:29 — On coffee, productivity, fast food, and sugar 6:40 — On “road snacks” and favorite foods while touring abroad 8:00 — On fiddling and Irish and Scottish folk music 10:04 — On safety while crossing borders and making tour travel plans 10:53 — On the importance of music, creativity, and connection today 14:18 — On the contrast between spirituality and the music business 17:23 — On fame and realistic expectations for musicians 21:36 — On Lida’s music and how her culture influenced her style 26:13 — On finding connection through art, beauty, and sharing culture 28:20 — On authenticity and gatekeeping in art 29:43 — On the connections between wealth, commercialization, and the importance of real art and experience 31:46 — On raising children in a consumerist world, and introducing them to art and culture

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Lido Pimienta and Ora Cogan for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great chats and writing and Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Mei Semones with John Roseboro May 07, 2026

This week’s Talkhouse Podcast features a conversation between two ridiculously talented young songwriter/guitarists in the early days of what will surely be interesting careers: Mei Semones and John Roseboro. Semones famously found her passion for guitar by watching the “Johnny B. Goode” scene in Back to the Future, which led her to music school and the kind of genre-spanning passion that feels refreshingly unfiltered. Sometimes she’ll play delicate, jazz-inflected acoustic songs while singing in Japanese; the next minute it’s more familiar indie-pop that adds a bit of bossa nova or some shredding. The fact that it doesn’t make sense is what makes it make sense, if you get what I mean. Semones was a big hit at this year’s experimental-leaning Big Ears Festival, and she’s also got a big social media following—that’s an odd crossover, or at least I think it is. Next week she’ll open a string of shows for American Football on the west coast before heading down to charm Australia. Her first full-length was last year’s Animaru, and she followed it recently with an EP called Kurage, which includes a song made with today’s other guest, John Roseboro. Roseboro has called his music “post-Bossa Nova” or sometimes just “post-Bossa,” but that only tells part of the story. He’s a thoughtful, observant lyricist who’s great at building a vibe and then taking it to unexpected places. Like Semones, he lives in Brooklyn, though he ended up there via a strange route that took him to mortuary school and some time among the Amish. His latest full-length is 2024’s Fools, but since then he’s released a charming cover of the classic “Close To You” that removes a lot of the cheese associated with various other versions over the years. He also collaborated with Semones on a track from her EP that recounts a story of his lost tooth and a meeting on a subway platform. Check out that song, “Tooth Fairy,” right here. In this charming, relentlessly laid-back conversation, Semones and Roseboro—who are good friends, as you’ll be able to tell—hit each other with questions that lead everywhere from what food they like on the road to the magic of music. Succumb to their rhythm and enjoy the conversation. 0:00 — Intro 2:28 — Start of conversation 2:50 — If you could be an animal, what would you be? 4:19 — On traveling and finding a home base 5:50 — What do you think about while performing? 8:15 — On noticing the audience at shows, and hecklers 10:10 — On favorite types of food, and go-to deli orders 12:46 — On what makes a good song & lyrics 16:29 — On underrated songs they’ve made 18:40 — On dreams and dream imagery 20:38 — On Nerd Clusters, snacks, and drinks on rider requests 22:03 — On favorite sports 22:40 — Have you ever been in a fight? 24:49 — On favorite seasons and months 25:13 — On the differences between touring and recording 27:56 — On sleeping 28:55 — On subtlety Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Mei Semones and John Roseboro for chatting. If you like what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan and the Talkhouse theme was composed and performed by the Range. See you next time! Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Bill Callahan with Michael Imperioli Apr 30, 2026

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got an interesting pairing—two guys that hadn’t met before, and who come from different parts of the arts world, and who are both pretty damn great at their jobs. It’s Bill Callahan and Michael Imperioli.

Bill Callahan made music under the name Smog for about 15 years, releasing an incredible catalog of gorgeous, mostly minimal, often wandering songs delivered in his unmistakable baritone. He’s one of the most profound lyricists of the past 30 years, crafting careful little worlds that are often funny and heartbreaking at the same time. In 2005, he dropped the Smog moniker and started releasing records under his own name, but there’s no obvious break in the continuity. It’s a fantastic body of work and you can start almost anywhere: I’d recommend 1999’s Knock Knock as an entry point, or maybe 2007’s A River Ain’t Too Much Too Love, which comes up in this chat. But you could just as easily jump in with Callahan’s fantastic new one, My Days of 58, which was finished after a scary cancer battle. In spite of that—or maybe because of it—it’s one of Callahan’s most relaxed and charming ever. Check out “Why Do Men Sing” right here.

Today’s other guest is instantly recognizable to fans of The Sopranos as Christopher Moltisanti, the tragic character that surely wouldn’t have been nearly as indelible without Michael Imperioli’s genius-level portrayal. You’ve seen him in a million other things, too, from Goodfellas to Summer of Sam—which he also co-wrote—to The White Lotus. What perhaps you didn’t know about Imperioli is that he’s also a musician. He’s the singer/guitarist in a band called ZOPA, which plays catchy, straight-ahead rock that sounds deeply rooted in New York City, which Imperioli still calls home. He also wrote a novel, which comes up in this chat with Callahan, and he’s a practicing Buddhist, another topic of conversation.

Even though Callahan and Imperioli didn’t know each other, they were clearly fans of each other’s work. In this chill chat, Michael tells Bill about the exact moment he first heard one of his songs. They also get into Bill’s health scare and how it inspired his new record, Michael’s kids and what they’re up to, and there’s a lot of talk about Lou Reed—a guy that inspired them both. Enjoy.

0:00 — Intro 2:35 — Living in Austin & New York 3:34 — On Bill’s new record and discovering Smog’s past work 5:03 — On birthdays and the Chinese Zodiac 6:34 — On cancer and writing the new album, My Days of 58 8:33 — On Michael’s novel, fiction, and inspiration 10:47 — On practicing Buddhism, reincarnation, and monks 16:03 — On raising kids and their musical talents 19:07 — On AI and why human emotion matters in art and work 25:10 — On playing instruments and recording musicians 29:08 — On knowing Lou Reed, and his inspirations 34:35 — On Bill’s upcoming tour, and favorite guitars

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast and thanks to Bill Callahan and Michael Imperioli for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform and check out all the great stuff we’ve got going at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Nobody's Ever Asked Me That: David Dastmalchian Apr 23, 2026

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast’s spin-off series, host Nick Dawson sits down with actor, writer and all-around fascinating human David Dastmalchian, whose beautiful debut graphic novel Through was just published. In an engrossing and often very profound conversation, the two discuss David’s fascinating (and impressively genre-tinged) recurring nightmares, his mother’s emotional supernatural encounter with her first love, his childhood fear of hell, how “doing the work” led him to write Through … and much more, including why David insisted this episode be titled “Pedal to the Metal”! For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast. 0:00 — Intro 3:06 — Do you remember your dreams and/or nightmares? 6:01 — Recurring horror dreams, stress dreams, and lucid dreaming 12:47 — Do you believe in ghosts and the supernatural? 16:50 — Living “in the gray” between ideas and spiritual interconnectivity 20:19 — Concepts of religious hell and fearing hell as a child 22:55 — Favorite films about religion, and exploring religion in creative communities 25:35 — Titling podcast episodes - “Put the pedal to the metal” 26:51 — “Can you think of a time when you nearly gave up?” and addiction 30:08 — Attempting to take his own life 31:46 — Sobriety, relapsing, and managing his anxiety and depression 34:37 — Mining your own experiences in writing, and David’s new book, Through 38:58 — “How comfortable are you with discomfort?," coping mechanisms, and consumerism 44:49 — “What kind of a life would you want to live?” Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

James Graham (The Twilight Sad) with Rachel Goswell (Slowdive) Apr 16, 2026

On this week's Talkhouse Podcast, we've got an intense conversation between two friends about loss, mental health, and more: It's James Graham and Rachel Goswell.

Graham is the singer and lyricist of the Scottish band the Twilight Sad, whose first full-length came out back in 2007, and who were part of a scene that included their friends in Frightened Rabbit and We Were Promised Jetpacks—the common thread being intense, emotional, heart-on-the-sleeve rock songs. They chugged along for a while there, making great records, and were eventually kind of taken under the wing of the Cure's Robert Smith, who loved their music so much that the Twilight Sad has become the Cure's default opening band. But life hit Graham pretty hard over the past decade, with a seven-year stretch that included losing his mother to dementia and a bout of his own with mental illness. Graham eventually began writing songs about it, and the result is the first Twilight Sad record in seven years, called It's The Long Goodbye. It's not necessarily an easy listen, but it's worth it. Check out "Chest Wound to the Chest" right here.

The other half of today's conversation is Rachel Goswell, best known as the singer of '90s shoegazers Slowdive. Slowdive had a pretty weird trajectory, coming up in the same scene that birthed My Bloody Valentine, Ride, and other big players, but never really getting their due back then. But history was justifiably kind to Slowdive, and they re-formed about 10 years ago, picking up a much younger fanbase in the process—theoretically thanks to TikTok and other social platforms. But Slowdive isn't just playing the nostalgia game: They've released vital new music in recent years, and their latest is 2023's Everything is Alive.

In this immediately intense conversation, Graham and Goswell talk at length about how they first got to know each other, about how they become different people on stage, and about their common bond, having both lost their mothers to dementia in recent years. Like I said, it can be intense, but I appreciate their sincerity and openness, and I hope you do too.

0:00 – Intro

2:19 – Start of the chat

3:40 – On how Rachel & James met

4:55 – Staying healthy & finding connection on tour

11:18 – On daily routines to cope with mental health challenges

14:06 – On musician personas & enjoying tour prep

19:54 – On supporting each other while both their mothers had dementia, and the types of dementia

26:42 – On processing difficult memories & mourning for the future

29:57 – On coping with their mothers' dementia during the pandemic

31:18 – On saying goodbye to their moms

33:17 – On living and working with grief

35:24 – On anxiety & working on mental health

36:25 – On "active grieving"

38:42 – On realizing what matters about art after tragedy

40:21 – On finding hope through connecting with new audiences

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to James Graham and Rachel Goswell for talking. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Jason Williamson (Sleaford Mods) with Andrea Arnold Apr 09, 2026

On this week’s excellent Talkhouse Podcast episode, we’ve got one of my favorite film directors in conversation with the vocalist of one of the last two decades most engaging bands—who also happened to appear in her latest movie. It’s Andrea Arnold and Jason Williamson.

Andrea Arnold is a visionary British filmmaker who doesn’t make movies very frequently, but she sure makes them count. Her first to really make a splash was 2009’s Fish Tank, a coming-of-age story—that’s a recurring theme—that was the first place I remember seeing Michael Fassbender. She’s since directed three more features: an adaptation of Wuthering Heights (though not the gaudy new one), the visceral American Honey, and last year’s magical Bird, which stars Barry Keoghan as the deadbeat working-class dad to newcomer Nykia Adams. It’s flown under the radar for sure, but please seek it out and let me know what you think. I loved it, and it’s got one of the greatest soundtracks you’ll hear all year, with Fontaines DC, Blur, and Sleaford Mods, which leads me to the other half of today’s conversation, Jason Williamson.

Williamson is the lyricist and vocalist—he doesn’t exactly sing—for Sleaford Mods, which has created an unforgettable, fully individual kind of post-punk for the past two decades, characterized by Williamson’s witty, confrontational words. Like Arnold, Williamson has roots in the working class, and his music offers an unvarnished reflection of those roots. When she got in touch with him about playing a small but important role in Bird, he admitted that he wasn’t familiar with her movies—but quickly became a fan. So he was in her movie, and she in return directed a video for the song “No Touch” from the latest Sleaford Mods album, The Demise of Planet X, which came out earlier this year. Check out that song right here.

In this open and generous chat, Arnold and Williamson talk about their shared backgrounds, about shooting Williamson's pivotal scene in Bird, and about Arnold’s career as a dancer and TV presenter for various BBC shows. I’m a fan of her work and I had no idea about this entirely different part of her career. Jason also reveals his unique post-show ritual, and laments—sort of—the fact that you can’t just simply get drunk anymore and hit people. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Jason Williamson and Andrea Arnold for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out Talkhouse.com for all kinds of great written pieces and other podcasts in our network. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme was composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Music Person: Dry Cleaning (Florence Shaw) Apr 02, 2026

This episode originally aired on March 25, 2026. Subscribe to ⁠⁠Music Person.

Florence Shaw of Dry Cleaning from South London, England.

Florence and Dylan discuss the difficulties of international touring, what your brain feels like on art school, black plastics, wanting to become a horse, reaching an associative songwriting state, and riding the bus as an idea-generating machine.

+ Florence gets something off her chest.

Artists we mentioned:

Cate Le Bon, Ryan Davis, Black Midi, bar italia, Jeff Tweedy, Elton John.

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

King Tuff with Morgan Nagler Mar 26, 2026

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got a songwriter with a long and varied history who’s somehow just now making her solo debut alongside the musician and producer who helped her make it: it’s Morgan Nagler and King Tuff.

You could be excused for not knowing Morgan Nagler’s name; she’s been on the fringes of the L.A. music scene for the past couple of decades, co-writing songs with Phoebe Bridgers (the remarkable “Kyoto”) and HAIM, among others—as well as fronting the band Whispertown. She’s also had another career on-screen, from Punky Brewster to American Pie 2, but that’s not relevant for today’s conversation. Just this month, Nagler released the first album under her own name, and it carries the all-time great title I’ve Got Nothing to Lose and I’m Losing It. If you love melodic, heartfelt pop with a bit of that Laurel Canyon twang, you will find something to love on this record. Check out the song “Hurt” right here, which features a cavalcade of talented backing singers, too.

Kyle Thomas has been making music under the name King Tuff for the past 20 years or so, cranking out rollicking, straightforward rockers that fit perfectly with his moniker. For his new record Moo, Thomas went back to basics after spending what he felt like was too much time cleaning things up. The result is a garage-y, thoroughly catchy set of songs that never try to overcomplicate the desire to rock. Think GBV or Ty Segall or Mikal Cronin. Check out the song “Invisible Ink” from his new album Moo right here. It’s out this week.

In this fun chat, Nagler and Thomas talk about the fun of writing lyrics together, Thomas’ move back to the snowy woods of Vermont, and what they plan to eat on their upcoming tour together. There’s also white weasels and Cadbury creme eggs, so pay close attention and enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Morgan Nagler and Kyle Thomas aka. King Tuff for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Jordan Klepper (The Daily Show) with Langhorne Slim Mar 19, 2026

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got a great conversation between two friends and tourmates, one a musician, and one whose job title is slightly harder to pin down: It’s Langhorne Slim and Jordan Klepper.

Langhorne Slim has been making music for the past two decades, and while it’s plenty varied, it also fits nicely into that wide bucket called Americana. For his new album, The Dreamin’ Kind, Slim hooked up with a couple of guys from Greta Van Fleet and ended up dedicating some time to rocking in a way he hadn’t really done before. Parts of the record offer a more polished sound than he’s made in the past—it’s the sound of a guy who’s always loved to go for it kind of going for it in a different way. Live, Langhorne Slim always brings it, connecting with audiences whether they’re already fans or not—often by joining them right out in the audience. If you recognize the voice or name, you may have heard Langhorne Slim on a movie soundtrack or opening for the likes of The Avett Brothers or The Lumineers over the years. Check out one of the more rocking tracks from The Dreamin’ Kind right here, “Haunted Man.”

The other half of today’s conversation is a little harder to categorize. Sure, Jordan Klepper sometimes stands on stage and says funny things, but he’s not exactly a comedian. He’s probably best known as the co-host of the current Daily Show iteration, and via that avenue and others—including his own show, The Opposition and a bunch of standalone specials—he’s actually done some of the most biting and important political-culture reporting of the horrifying era we’re currently living in. He was there on January 6, somehow managing to be funny amidst all the chaos. It’s a talent that’s extended to a podcast, other TV specials, and of course, the stand-up stage. On a recent tour, he asked Langhorne Slim to join him for some dates, and as you’ll hear, the two became fast friends.

In this conversation, they talk about touring together—and Slim’s frequent trips into the audience during shows—plus the tricky business of legacy, the meeting of capitalism and art, and running into an exposed penis on the streets of New York—and how one should react to that. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast and thanks to Jordan Klepper and Langhorne Slim for chatting. If you like what you heard, please follow us on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Andrew Bird with Jay Ryan Mar 12, 2026

On this week's Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got a look back at a fantastic record on its 20th anniversary by an interesting pair of collaborators: the guy who made the music and the guy who created its iconic visuals. It’s Andrew Bird and Jay Ryan chatting about The Mysterious Production of Eggs.

Andrew Bird has been on the podcast before, and he’s had such a rich and varied career we could have him on a dozen more times. He was a music-school kid and violin expert whose early career focused on more traditional sounds, but watching him break out of his shell—sorry—was fascinating. He made records with Andrew Bird’s Bowl of Fire for a few years, but it was when Bird officially went solo that he found his sound—a sort of gentle, intricate indie-folk made unmistakable by the triple threat of his gorgeous voice, his violin, and his uncanny whistling. You could reasonably argue that 2005’s The Mysterious Production of Eggs is where he really cracked the code—sorry again. It’s an essential record that didn’t come easy: He recorded and scrapped it a few times before getting it where he wanted it. Some of the early versions of the songs are included on the album’s new triple-LP reissue. Check out “Measuring Cups” from The Mysterious Production of Eggs right here.

In addition to revisiting the music of Eggs for this anniversary edition, Bird decided to revisit the iconic artwork, made by his longtime collaborator Jay Ryan. Ryan was just coming into his own as an artist—mostly of show posters at the time—as Bird was making his way as a musician, both in Chicago. As you’ll hear in this chat, their worlds collided and they eventually found a creative collaboration whose zenith was the artwork for Eggs, whose cover features an odd beast covered in a blanket. Ryan created an image for every song on the album, and he expanded on those images for the upcoming box set, revealing more about the songs and the drawings. Ryan has created art for a million bands and other projects—and he’s in some bands of his own, including the awesome Dianogah—but it’s his work with Bird that might be his best known.

As you’ll hear in this chat, these two are old friends who were excited to work together to revisit The Mysterious Production of Eggs. They talk about the individual songs and drawings, about their early days in Chicago, about how being creative shouldn’t necessarily be easy, and much more. At the end, you’ll hear them reference Bird’s 2026 tour dates, many of which will find him performing The Mysterious Production of Eggs backed by major symphonies around the world—sounds awesome to me. Check out andrewbird.net for tour dates and for some interactive artwork based on Jay Ryan’s art. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Jay Ryan and Andrew Bird for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

That's How I Remember It: Courtney Marie Andrews Mar 05, 2026

This episode originally aired on February 18, 2026. Subscribe to ⁠That's How I Remember It⁠.

Courtney Marie Andrews is my guest on the first That’s How I Remember It of 2026. Courtney is a great songwriter, poet, painter - a true artist who does a lot of things. We talked about love and grief on her great new record ⁠Valentine⁠ as well as light affecting memory, Marin County, the musical Annie, playing covers, Warren Zevon’s Preludes, and poetry vs. songs. Really enjoyed this and happy to be back with new episodes of THIRI. Listen and ⁠subscribe⁠!

Matt Berninger with Eric Bachmann Feb 26, 2026

This week’s Talkhouse episode is particularly exciting for me, since my two guests are also two of my favorite songwriters and singers ever—and they happen to be big fans of each other. It’s Matt Berninger and Eric Bachmann.

Eric Bachmann was a massive part of the ‘90s indie-rock explosion as the snarling voice behind Archers of Loaf, a band that released four incredible albums in its relatively short run. But Bachmann ditched most of that genre’s signifiers afterward and has spent the last quarter-century writing and recording incredible songs both under the name Crooked Fingers and under his own. His records are more in line with Tom Waits or Townes van Zandt than Pavement, and his deep catalog is worth a deep dive. You could start pretty much anywhere, so it might as well be with the brand new Crooked Fingers album Swet Deth. It’s the first time Bachmann has dusted off the Crooked Fingers name in more than a decade, I’m assuming because it sounds like a more fleshed-out affair. He also invited some friends to provide backing vocals on a few tracks, including Superchunk’s Mac McCaughan, Sharon Van Etten, and today’s other guest, Matt Berninger of the National. Check out the Crooked Fingers song “From All Ways,” which features Berninger’s distinctive voice.

Fun fact: When the first two Crooked Fingers albums were reissued about 10 years ago, Bachmann asked two of his biggest fans to write the liner notes. One, I’m proud to say, was me, and the other was Matt Berninger, the intense baritone frontman of the National. As you’ll hear in this chat, Matt has been a fan of Eric’s since back in the Archers days. Berninger of course has had an incredible career in roughly that same timeframe, leading the National from small clubs to huge venues with a thoroughly unimpeachable catalog of smart, dark songs. (These two have those adjectives very much in common.) In addition to fronting the National, Berninger has stepped away on occasion for side projects and solo records. His latest release under his own name is Get Sunk, which came out last year. He’s about to launch a Canadian tour followed by some dates in Europe—catch him if you can, the solo shows are a different vibe than the National, but no less worth your time.

This wide-ranging conversation starts with a discussion of Bachmann’s recent heart attack—a scary situation that’s going to keep him off the road for a bit. They also talk about working together on “From All Ways” and a semi-secretive new thing that they’ve been hatching for the past couple of years. It’s a great, deep chat between two guys who obviously admire each other’s music a lot. If you’re not familiar with both, I strongly suggest a deep dive. Enjoy the episode.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Eric Bachmann and Matt Berninger for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the other great shows in our network. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Florence Shaw (Dry Cleaning) with Sue Tompkins Feb 19, 2026

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got two women whose singing styles are similar in that they’re both absolutely singular, unmistakable, and wonderfully out of step—just don’t call it spoken-word. It’s Florence Shaw of Dry Cleaning and Sue Tompkins of Life Without Buildings.

As you’ll hear in this chat, Dry Cleaning sort of fell together in London around 2017, when the three instrumentalists approached their friend Florence Shaw to add some vocals to the music they had been writing. It turned out that Shaw’s approach—speaking dense, clearly crafted but never obvious words—slotted in perfectly with the sort of nervous-yet-precise songs they had been working on. By 2020, Dry Cleaning had signed with the venerated 4AD label and the next year released a debut album, New Long Leg, that earned comparisons to post-punk greats like Siouxsie and Sonic Youth. For their third studio album, Secret Love, Dry Cleaning worked with producer-slash-musician Cate Le Bon, and they stretched out a bit, mellowing the sharp corners a bit while Shaw experiments more with vocal melody than before. Check out “Cruise Ship Designer” from Secret Love right here.

Another person that eagle-eared listeners have compared Florence Shaw to is Sue Tompkins of the legendary, kinda-lost Scottish band Life Without Buildings. Life Without Buildings only released one album, Any Other City, in their brief three-year run, but it had a focused impact. Shaw remembers hearing the record as a teen. “It blew my mind that you could free yourself from the pressure of making traditional sense in lyrics,” she told the website Hearing Things, before mentioning that she’d love to meet Tompkins one day and thank her. Well, with some recent activity on the Life Without Buildings front—Tompkins contributed vocals to a new Sleaford Mods song, and the band just announced a couple of reunion shows—it seemed like the perfect time to get them together.

In this delightful chat, Tompkins and Shaw talk about the similar origins of their respective bands, how genuinely kind the dudes of Sleaford Mods are, and their understandable reticence about the term “spoken word.” They also chatted a bunch about the TV shows Dragons’ Den and Eastenders, but we had to trim that in the interest of time. Trust me, it was great. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Sue Tompkins and Florence Shaw for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

A Very Special Episode: Apologizing to the Fiery Furnaces Feb 12, 2026

For this week's episode, we're going to skip the typical Talkhouse format and give you something that I think you're going to love just as much, about a band called The Fiery Furnaces. I bet a lot of you remember, but if you don't, The Fiery Furnaces are siblings, Matthew and Eleanor Friedberger from Oak Park, Illinois, not far from Chicago. Together they put out seven of the scrambliest, catchiest rock albums of the 2000s, and then they kind of disappeared. We got contacted by a longtime radio journalist and producer of the show Snap Judgment, John Fecile, who wanted to talk to Matt and Eleanor. It turns out he had spoken to them over a decade ago, and as he'll explain, there was a very specific reason he wanted to talk to them again. Upcoming live shows for The Fiery Furnaces

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Maynard James Keenan (Tool) with Daniel Ash Feb 05, 2026

I might overuse this word a little bit, but on this week’s episode we do have a true pair of legends in conversation on the Talkhouse Podcast this week: Maynard James Keenan and Daniel Ash.

Keenan is of course best known as the frontman for Tool, the dark, complex, heavy band he formed way back in 1990—but whose records come few and far between. Keenan is also the frontman for A Perfect Circle, but the reason for today’s chat is yet another band, Puscifer. This one started out almost as a solo outlet for Keenan’s weirdest ideas: There are comedic elements, and—fun fact—Puscifer actually sprung to life as part of a Mr. Show sketch. (Google it, it’s a good story.) But the band has evolved over the years into a steady trio that features Keenan alongside Carina Round and Mat Mitchell, and that more recently has explored Keenan’s most theatrical and straightforward impulses. It’s funny, weird, and heavy, and the brand new Puscifer album, Normal Isn’t, even nods sonically to UK post-punk bands like Killing Joke. Check out “Self Evident” right here.

The other half of today’s conversation is Daniel Ash, whose resume also includes a remarkable number of incredible bands, starting with Bauhaus, moving directly into Tones on Tail, and then heading for a long stretch into Love and Rockets, which reunited a couple of years ago for some very welcome shows. Ash’s guitar playing over the years has been quietly influential on a ton of players; you can hear his tone in a remarkable swath of bands. Last year, he released the first album by his latest outfit, Ashes & Diamonds. Called Ashes & Diamonds Are Forever, it’s unmistakably Ash’s voice and tone, though in some flashier dressing on occasion. It’s a lot of fun. Check out “Teenage Robots” right here.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Ash and Keenan talk about Keenan’s wine business—he was nice enough to send Ash some bottles in advance of this chat—as well as touring, making videos, and the seemingly inevitable future of AI. Ash thinks it’s going to be good, so even if he’s wrong, it’s nice to hear some optimism. Ash is also obsessed with motorcycles, leading Keenan to suggest an intervention. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Maynard James Keenan and Daniel Ash for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform and check out all the other great shows in our network. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by The Range. See you next time!

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Westerman with Luke Temple Jan 29, 2026

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve paired up two songwriters who love to wander musically but whose recordings are tough to mistake for anyone else’s. It’s Luke Temple and Will Westerman.

Temple has been making incredible records at a pretty solid clip since around 2005, first making a real splash as part of a trio called Here We Go Magic, whose four-album catalog is legendary in certain circles. But Temple has also recorded fantastic records under his own name, under the alias Art Feynman, and, more recently, with Luke Temple and the Cascading Moms. That name is a little funny, kind of like his music—there’s humor but also a little bit of menace hiding underneath sounds that sometimes flirt with ‘70s soft-rock in the best ways. Check out “Echo Park Donut,” which is out this month on the new Cascading Moms record, Hungry Animal.

The other half of today’s chat, Will Westerman, invited Temple to play on his 2023 album An Inbuilt Fault, and as you’ll hear they sound eager to meet and perhaps work together again. Westerman has been releasing music under his last name since 2020, crafting subtly mellow records that reveal something more intense when you listen to his lyrics. The third and latest Westerman album, A Jackal’s Wedding, came out last fall, and it’s another evolution in his sound—it’s been compared to mellow greats like Talk Talk, Tindersticks, and Nick Drake, so if those names mean anything to you—and they should—give it a shot. Check out “Mosquito” from A Jackal’s Wedding right here.

This conversation between Temple and Westerman may have been the furthest geographically we’ve ever recorded: Temple was at home in Los Angeles and Westerman at home in Milan, where he recently moved after spending several years in Greece. These two talk about being recently married, about growing as artists and perhaps tricking yourself in the process, and about the very different places they now live. Enjoy.

0:00 – Intro 2:35 – Start of the chat 4:35 – On Los Angeles and gentrification in Echo Park 9:39 – Westerman on Milan, Greece, and learning new languages 13:20 – On Luke Temple's new album, Hungry Animal 19:50 – On tricking yourself to keep the creative process fresh 20:57 – On art and "the capitalist need to innovate" 24:50 – Comparing the musical heritage between the US and UK 28:25 – On the spirit of Jazz and Hip-Hop 30:38 – How technology caused the death of regionalism

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Will Westerman and Luke Temple for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please check out both of their great new records, and please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by The Range. See you next time!

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Podcast Preview: Jokermen (In Conversation: DANIEL ROSSEN) Jan 22, 2026

Subscribe to ⁠Jokermen. And support Jokermen on Patreon. Ian catches up with Daniel Rossen of Grizzly Bear about their just-concluded 2025 tour, revisiting Yellow House, Veckatimest, and Shields, returning to the past with no sense of pressure, community vs. quality of life, solo artists vs. rock bands, the lasting reputation of Grizzly Bear, the GOAT Michael McDonald, and much more.

FOLLOW DANIEL ON INSTAGRAM Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Nobody's Ever Asked Me That: Sarah Sherman Dec 18, 2025

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast’s spin-off series, host Nick Dawson sits down with Saturday Night Live star Sarah Sherman, who’s just debuted her first-ever comedy special on HBO, Sarah Squirm: Live + in the Flesh. In a lively, candid and very entertaining conversation, the two talk about recurring nightmares, hypochondria, masochism, shit-talking people as a healthy form of expression, their thoughts on death, funerals and 12 step, how Ted Kaczynski was onto something …, SNL boss Lorne Michaels’ unfortunate habit of forcing his employees to be constantly sleep-deprived, and much, much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

A 2025 Celebration from the Talkhouse Podcast Network Dec 17, 2025

Host Josh Modell hands the mic off to these Talkhouse Podcast Network shows and asks: "What was your standout episode from this year? And tell us one thing you loved from 2025?"

0:49 – Josh Modell (Talkhouse Podcast)

1:50 – Craig Finn (That's How I Remember It)

3:46 – Jason P. Woodbury (Aquarium Drunkard's Transmissions)

5:18 – Dan Nordheim (Life of the Record)

5:58 – Matt Whyte (Sing for Science)

9:43 – Dylan Tupper Rupert (Music Person)

Podcast Preview: Really?? The Doors? Dec 11, 2025

Episode 1: "The West is the Best? w/ Lili Anolik and John Doe" Subscribe to Really?? The Doors? What did The Doors mean for their time and what do they mean today? What’s the place of Los Angeles in The Doors’ oeuvre? What can the figure of Jim Morrison tell us about American masculinity? Are The Doors cool? And, has popular culture completely misunderstood The Doors? Naomi Fry welcomes you to the world of “Really??” and is then joined by writer Lili Anolik and musician John Doe of X to talk about the LA scene that gave birth to The Doors. Really?? The Doors? is produced by Noah Chernin, Jody Avirgan, and Ian Wheeler of Talkhouse. Production support from Jake Bowman and Keenan Kush. Special thanks to our sponsor, Bootleg. Be sure to check out Naomi’s work at The New Yorker and their podcast Critics At Large.

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Frankie Cosmos with Emily Yacina Dec 04, 2025

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a pair of incredible songwriters who’ve also been frequent Talkhouse guests and contributors over the years: Emily Yacina and Greta Kline.

Follow along here, as this could get confusing: Frankie Cosmos used to be Greta Kline’s stage name, but now it’s the name of the band that she fronts. Maybe that wasn’t too confusing. In any case, the sixth and latest Frankie Cosmos album, Different Talking, came out earlier this year, and it’s a stunner. Kline has been writing smart, wry, literate indie-pop for a decade, and this one feels both like a nod to her bedroom-pop past and a bold look forward. Check out “Vanity” from Different Talking right here.

Emily Yacina also came up in the DIY/Bandcamp era, and has been releasing music for the last decade or so as well—she collaborated with Alex G early on. Yacina’s latest album is the heady, expertly crafted Veilfall, which was at least partially inspired by a series of “death salons” she hosted while making it, where participants would share stories about grief and dying. The resulting album isn’t nearly the downer you might expect, considering that fact—it’s up there with the best she’s done. Check out “Holy for a Moment” from Veilfall right here.

In this lively conversation, recorded while Emily and Greta were in the middle of a tour together, they chat about being connected to your inner child, tearing up for Talkhouse, and how sometimes releasing music feels like “shitting into the void.” Enjoy.

0:00 – Intro 2:12 – Start of the chat 2:50 – On their adventures touring together 5:20 – On being connected to your inner child 6:20 – On balancing your setlist for new and old fans 10:30 – On making Frankie Cosmos' new album, Different Talking 14:18 – On the vulnerable moments making Emily Yacina's Veilfall 18:20 – "Sometimes releasing music is like shitting into the void." 22:10 – On capturing the spark of songwriting 26:01 – The first time Yacina saw a Frankie Cosmos show 30:35 – On choosing music as a career choice 33:52 – On tearing up for Talkhouse

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Emily Yacina and Greta Kline for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Ada Lea with No Joy Nov 20, 2025

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got two Canadian songwriter/performers with similar outlooks but pretty different results—both great. It’s Ada Lea and No Joy.

Though it used to be more of a band, No Joy has become the solo province of Jasamine White-Gluz in recent years. She just released the first No Joy record in five years, Bugland, and it’s a whiplash-inducing delight. There’s an undercurrent of classic shoegaze, but no limits on where else things can go. So one minute you’ve got nods to ‘90s bands like Curve or even Garbage, the next minute the guitars are grunting and crunching. Bugland, which recently got the Best New Music nod from Pitchfork, was created with help from Chicago producer/musician Fire-Toolz, and the collaboration was fruitful. It’s funny, because it doesn’t sound at all like music that would be made by somebody who recently moved to a positively rural area—they chat about that move in this episode. Check out the title track from Bugland right here.

The other half of today’s chat is Alexandra Levy, who records more spare songs than her friend under the name Ada Lea. Where No Joy takes a more kitchen-sink approach, Ada Lea leaves more breathing room, sometimes adding just touches of acoustic color to her voice. The third Ada Lea album, When I Paint My Masterpiece, also came out earlier this year, and its unfussy, live-in-a-room approach makes it feel engagingly up-close and personal, not to mention beautiful. Check out “Baby Blue Frigidaire Mini Fridge” right here.

In this engaging chat, Levy and White-Gluz talk about living largely off the grid, the various mini-scenes that populate their home country, and a little bit of astrology. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Jasamine White-Gluz of No Joy and Alexandra Levy of Ada Lea for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme was composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Evan Honer with Wyatt Flores Nov 13, 2025

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a pair of singer-songwriters who exist in a sort of post-genre world: Evan Honer and Wyatt Flores.

Honer first came to wider attention with a cover of Tyler Childers’ “Jersey Giant,” but kept people’s attention with a rapid succession of progressively more polished albums, all tied together by his own solid songwriting. For his latest, Everything I Wanted, Honer found himself a new home city, Nashville, where he built a studio in his garage and—as you’ll hear in this conversation—locked himself away to make something bolder than he had before. The result is shiny pop with a gritty heart, and just a touch of country influence. Think Jason Isbell or Pinegrove, two artists Honer cites as inspirations. Check out “Curtain” from Everything I Wanted right here, which I should mention was released by Honer’s own very active independent label, Cloverdale Records. He’s a busy dude, and he’ll be touring the US early next year, so keep an eye out for that.

The other half of today’s conversation is Honer’s friend Wyatt Flores, who travels a similar musical ground but you can hear a bit more country in his flavor profile—maybe that’s his roots growing up in Oklahoma. If you’re of the TikTok generation, you may have seen him there; if you’re a bit longer in the tooth, you may have seen Flores on Stephen Colbert, NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series, or even a recent Austin City Limits appearance. Part of the story behind his debut album, last year’s Welcome to the Plains, was Flores’ struggles with his newfound fame and a sense of imposter syndrome. While it’s brave of him to put that stuff out in the open, it’s pretty clear from the record that he’s the real deal.

In this lively conversation, these two young dudes talk about making music, about an impromptu road trip in a busted up trailer, about the strong coffee and rowdy crowds down under, and much more. Enjoy.

0:00 – Intro 2:15 – Start of the chat 5:44 – How to keep old songs feeling fresh 7:28 – "Do people listen more with their eyes than ears?" 12:20 – An impromptu road trip on a busted, old trailer 15:42 – On recording 'Everything I Wanted' 20:37 – On taking the time to listen to albums top to bottom 22:15 – Writing music on the road 27:56 – On experimenting with live vocals 32:20 – The surprising kindness of audiences at live shows 35:20 – On crowds in the U.K., Europe, and Australia

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Evan Honer and Wyatt Flores for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stories at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine) with Grandson Nov 06, 2025

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got two guys from different generations who’ve collided with big riffs in recent years: Tom Morello and Jordan Benjamin.

Tom Morello is best known as the guitarist for Rage Against the Machine, which smashed together heavy music and activism in the 1990s, inspiring countless bands—some good, some bad, as he’ll freely admit—to sprinkle some hip-hop into their rock. Morello went on to form Audioslave with Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell and find a whole other area of success, but he didn’t stop there: Morello goes wherever the muse takes him, from playing with Bruce Springsteen to doing acoustic sets as The Nightwatchman. He’s always working on new music—and always outspoken politically.

Morello tapped Jordan Benjamin to contribute to his 2021 single “Hold the Line,” which makes perfect sense, because the music that Benjamin records under the name Grandson is certainly inspired by Rage, among other artists of course. Grandson has been releasing records for the past decade or so, fusing hip-hop and alt-rock elements with unabashedly political lyrics. For his latest album under the Grandson name, Inertia, Benjamin leaned into a more organic rather than electronic sound—you’ll hear him talk about the transition in this chat. Check out the song “God is an Animal” from Inertia right here.

In this lively conversation, Morello and Benjamin talk about working together, about the magic of band chemistry, and about the “technological hellhole we find ourselves in.” It’s still fun, though, check it out.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Jordan Benjamin and Tom Morello for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great shows in the Talkhouse Podcast Network. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Podcast Preview: Fela Kuti: Fear No Man Oct 30, 2025

Episode 1: "To Hell and Back" Subscribe to ⁠Fela Kuti: Fear No Man. In a world that’s on fire, what is the role of art? What can music actually…do? Can a song save a life? Change a law? Topple a president? Get you killed? In Fela Kuti: Fear No Man, Jad Abumrad—creator of Radiolab, More Perfect, and Dolly Parton's America—tells the story of one of the great political awakenings in music: how a classically trained 'colonial boy' traveled to America, in search of Africa, only to return to Nigeria and transform his sound into a battering ram against the state—creating a new musical language of resistance called Afrobeat. For years, the world’s biggest stars made pilgrimages to Nigeria to experience Fela’s Shrine, the epicenter of his musical revolution. But when the mix of art and activism got too hot, the state pulled out its guns, and literally opened fire. Fela Kuti: Fear No Man is an uncategorizable mix of oral history, musicology, deep dive journalism, and cutting edge sound design that takes listeners deep inside Fela’s life, music, and legacy. Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Gus Unger-Hamilton (alt-J) with Tom Vek Oct 23, 2025

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got two British gentlemen who made big waves in the past couple of decades and who’ve collided just recently for a celebratory remix: It’s Tom Vek and Gus Unger-Hamilton.

Tom Vek released his instant-classic debut We Have Sound back in 2005, putting his own spin on post-punk and dance and riding the wave of so-called “indietronica” with catchy tracks like “Nothing But Green Lights.” He hasn’t exactly been prolific since then, releasing quality albums every few years while also working hard in other areas of the industry: Check out both supercollector.com and his upcoming music player, Sleevenote. But in celebration of We Have Sound’s 20th anniversary, Vek asked a bunch of friends and fellow musicians to remix each of the album’s tracks, including folks like Baths, Glass Animals, and the other half of today’s conversation, Gus Unger-Hamilton of the band alt-J. Check Unger-Hamilton’s remix of Vek’s song “Cover” right here.

It’s unsurprising that Unger-Hamilton put his own spin on Vek’s song: alt-J has been scribbling in the bombastic, weirder corners of indie-rock and art-rock for since 2007, though they didn’t release their big debut, An Awesome Wave, until 2012. They’ve since embraced their oddness on a string of records, with the latest being 2022’s The Dream, which was hailed at the time as a return to the power of their debut. New music is likely on the horizon, though as you’ll hear in this chat, alt-J is currently without a label home.

Label homes are one of many things these two chat about in this lively conversation: They’re both into the logos of their favorite record companies, they’re both really into fancy watches, and they’re both back into the lost art of reading a good book. Though Gus admits he hasn’t read a particular novel that his band famously borrowed a title from. Listen and find out which one.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Tom Vek and Gus Unger-Hamilton for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by The Range. See you next time!

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Andy Samberg with Asa Taccone (Electric Guest) Oct 16, 2025

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got two old friends who’ve worked together on such culture-crushing songs as “Dick in a Box”—one of whom is known more for the music, and the other for the funny. It’s Andy Samberg and Asa Taccone.

Samberg you surely know for his years on Saturday Night Live and Brooklyn Nine-Nine and tons of big movies. Before all that he was part of the trio The Lonely Island, which blew up on SNL with “Dick in a Box,” among other hilarious jams. The Lonely Island also features Jorma Taccone, and when Samberg and Taccone needed some musical help for their SNL shorts, they would often call Jorma’s brother Asa, who helped them shape “Dick in a Box,” “Motherlover” and plenty of other songs.

But Asa’s less inclined toward the funny stuff that his childhood friends are known for; he’s been making his own decidedly less silly music since 2011 in collaboration with Matthew “Cornbread” Compton under the name Electric Guest. The duo just released their first album since 2019, and it’s called 10K—you’ll hear the meaning behind the name in this chat. As you’ll hear, there’s no jokey rap to be found, just a compelling mix of soulful pop: You might not be surprised to learn that in recent years Taccone has also collaborated with the likes of The Weeknd and Carly Rae Jepsen. Check out “Play Your Guitar” from 10K right here.

As you’ll hear, Samberg and Taccone are pretty comfortable with each other, because their friendship goes way back. They talk about Samberg’s decision to take a swing at the big time, Lonely Island deep cuts, and the alternate name that Electric Guest briefly considered. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Andy Samberg and Asa Taccone for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by The Range.

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That: Crispin Hellion Glover Oct 09, 2025

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast’s spin-off series, host Nick Dawson sits down with actor turned writer-director Crispin Hellion Glover, who is currently starring in both the Kafka-esque drama Mr. K and his third directorial feature, No! YOU'RE WRONG. or: Spooky Action at a Distance, which also stars his father, Bruce Glover, who passed away earlier this year. In a wide-ranging conversation, Glover talks about the acting job he’s still mad he missed out on at 13, supernatural goings on at the chateau he bought in the Czech Republic, his very imaginative alternative to traveling by car, plus his hopes for the future of AI (which is not what you’d think) and his understandable reservations about self-cloning. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That: Tim Blake Nelson Oct 03, 2025

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast’sspin-off series, host Nick Dawson sits down with actor, writer-director, playwright and novelist Tim Blake Nelson, who can currently be seen in the boxing drama Bang Bang and whose new play And Then We Were No More is now at La MaMa in New York City. In a personal, profound and often surprising conversation, Nelson opens up about everything from his morning routine to his recurring dreams, from his earliest childhood memories – some of which are truly remarkable – to a pivot point in his life that was transformative. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Seth MacFarlane with Liz Gillies Oct 02, 2025

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a pair of singers who both look to classic sounds for inspiration—and one of whom happens to also be the creator of one of the biggest animated shows ever. It’s Liz Gillies and Seth MacFarlane.

Now even if you don’t know his name, you almost certainly know Seth MacFarlane’s work and voice. He’s the creator of the animated comedy Family Guy, which will enter its 24th season next year. He also co-created American Dad and The Cleveland Show, plus directed the movie Ted, among many other TV and film accomplishments. If that weren’t enough, MacFarlane has a second career as a musician, a pursuit born out of his love for big band music of days gone by: It’s not a lark or a joke, either. MacFarlane is a serious student of classic songwriters, which led to his ninth and latest album, Lush Life: The Lost Sinatra Arrangements. As that title suggests, MacFarlane was given access to a massive number of songs that had been arranged—often by big names—for Frank Sinatra to sing, but that had never actually been recorded. MacFarlane recruited an A-team to get them in shape, and he sang the hell out of them. Check out “I Never Felt This Way Before” right here.

The other half of today’s conversation is MacFarlane’s friend and sometime musical collaborator Liz Gillies, who’s also a multi-hyphenate. You may have seen her on TV—going all the way back to Nickelodeon—in movies or on Broadway. She even provided voices on a couple of MacFarlane’s shows. But the two really found their working spark during the pandemic with Songs From Home, and that collaboration continued in 2023 with a holiday album called We Wish You The Merriest. As you’ll see from this conversation, Gillies and MacFarlane have a friendly rapport.

In this lively conversation, Gillies grills MacFarlane on the origins of Lush Life, a fascinating story in which MacFarlane is deeply invested. They also talk about how Liz likes to go out when they’re on tour but Seth prefers the comfort of a hotel room, how to pronounce Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and more. Stick around for the end, when they get a little silly coming up with podcast names.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Seth MacFarlane and Liz Gillies for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme was composed and performed by The Range. See you next time!

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Girl in Red with Gigi Perez Sep 25, 2025

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a pair of singer-songwriters who came up in the social media age, and who, as you’ll hear, have leaned on each other for support as their careers have taken off. It’s Girl in Red and Gigi Perez.

Girl in Red is the name under which Norwegian singer Marie Ullven started making intimate, sometimes sad bedroom recordings back in 2016 or so. Some of those songs, like 2018’s “I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend” really connected with people, and she became something of an icon, especially to young gay women. Her sound has grown over the years and Ulven has embraced bigger opportunities, including opening shows for Taylor Swift—it doesn’t get a lot bigger than that. Her last album, the hilariously titled I’m Doing it Again, Baby! was released last year, and as you’ll hear in this conversation, Ulven is stepping into acting as well: She’ll star in a film called Low Expectations, which she filmed earlier this year. Check out Girl in Red’s “Hemingway” right here.

Gigi Perez is another fantastic songwriter and performer whose “Sailor Song” was everywhere last summer, and for good reason: It’s simple and gorgeous and undeniably catchy. Perez first started writing songs a few years ago in the wake of her sister’s passing, and she’s both created some incredible music and played big shows—including opening for Coldplay—in the past few years. Perez’s debut album At the Beach, in Every Life came out earlier this year, and it’s a thoughtful, sometimes uplifting, sometimes heartbreaking set of really personal songs. Check out “Sailor Song” right here.

In this conversation, these two resilient ladies get into some real talk, touching on Girl in Red’s recent stint in rehab and her upcoming movie role, the inevitable comedown after a big tour, songwriting camps, and Perez’s favorite movie of all time. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Girl in Red and Gigi Perez for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Mac McCaughan (Superchunk) with Eric D. Johnson (Fruit Bats) Sep 18, 2025

Today’s Talkhouse Podcast features a pair of guys who’ve been making records for a long time and still manage to keep things not just interesting, but awesome: Mac McCaughan and Eric Johnson.

Mac is the co-founder of legendary indie label Merge Records as well as the singer and guitarist for the band Superchunk, which has been making great, great records for about 35 years now, though they did take a bit of a break in the early aughts, which Mac mentions in this chat. Since reigniting around 2010, Superchunk has released five solid records that both reflect their maturity and bring the punk-rock energy. The latest just came out, and it’s called Songs in the Key of Yikes. It’s their first with new drummer Laura King, and you can catch Superchunk this weekend at Riot Fest in Chicago and then on a West Coast tour that starts October 9 at Pappy & Harriet’s in the California desert. Check out “Is It Making You Feel Something” from Songs in the Key of Yikes right here.

The other half of today’s chat is Eric D. Johnson, who’s both one-third of Bonny Light Horseman and the only constant member of Fruit Bats, the name under which he’s been recording his smart, often gentle songs since around 2001. The newest Fruit Bats record, Baby Man, just came out on Merge, and it’s an absolutely stripped-to-the-bone affair, with Johnson’s voice even more front and center than usual. He lays it all out there and it’s easy to get sucked in by his words and lovely melodies. He’ll be touring all over in October, doing it “an evening with Fruit Bats” style. Check out “Let You People Down,” a song that comes up in this conversation, right here.

In this easygoing chat, Eric and Mac talk about their long histories, from Eric’s time in the Shins and I, Rowboat to Superchunk’s not-that-fun stint opening for Teenage Fanclub. They also use some baseball analogies to talk about sequencing an album, and they commiserate about being dudes with unusually high singing voices. Enjoy.

0:00 – Intro

2:37 – Start of the chat

4:10 – They commiserate about their unusually high singing voices

6:30 – On influences

8:21 – "Indie rock changed my life"

11:27 – On vocals

13:45 – On "ringing your bell"

15:02 – On the Fruit Bats record: Baby Man

16:49 – Album sequencing is like a batting order

18:47 – On the indie rock scene in the '90s

21:37 – On “Let You People Down"

22:37 – Artist discovery pre vs post-streaming era

24:55 – On bad opening gigs

31:31 – On Baby Man

33:59 – On Songs in the Key of Yikes

39:00 – On the upcoming Superchunk tour

41:24 – Eno on owning your own mistakes

42:48 – On the piano and piano songs

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Mac McCaughan and Eric D. Johnson for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff in our podcast network. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Podcast Preview: States of Independence Sep 11, 2025

Episode: "Birth of the Banquet feat. Gary Numan" Subscribe to States of Independence. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither was Beggars Banquet. The story starts in 1974 with three mates, a little bit of cash, and the dream of opening a record shop. But when punk happens, it changes everything – and suddenly there’s a new fantasy to chase. Label founder Martin Mills drops us into the chaotic formative years of Beggars Banquet and introduces us to their very first signing, The Lurkers. Then, we meet their first star, Gary Numan, who details his meteoric rise from just another punk rock pretender to one of the definitive voices of the new wave. In the process, the legend of Beggars is born.

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Ruban Nielson (Unknown Mortal Orchestra) with Neil Krug Sep 04, 2025

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got a repeat customer along with his well-known photographer friend-slash-collaborator who’s done some record covers you’re definitely familiar with. It’s Ruban Nielson and Neil Krug.

Nielson is the frontman of Unknown Mortal Orchestra, the band he started in his native New Zealand before relocating to Portland, Oregon, where he still lives. UMO, as the band is affectionately known, has often been categorized as psych-rock, but I’m not sure that label is accurate or complete. There’s definitely some oil-lamp vibes going on, but there’s something more personal and direct happening underneath the swirling guitars and hooks. That’s maybe never been more true than on this year’s Curse EP, which was Nielson’s way of writing and creating through the grief of his younger sister’s untimely death from cancer. He channeled that energy into songs that were also inspired by ‘70s Italian horror movies and gloomy metal records, but somehow it’s not a bummer at all. Check out “DEATH COMES FROM THE SKY” right here.

As you know if you’re a regular listener of this podcast, we mostly feature musicians, occasionally actors, every once in a while a producer or writer. But I’m not sure if in all of these years we’ve ever welcomed someone chiefly known as a photographer. That changes today, with Neil Krug, whose photographs you’ve likely seen even if you don’t know his name. Krug is maybe best known for his shots of Lana Del Rey, and he also did the iconic cover of Tame Impala’s The Slow Rush. He and Ruban go way back, having worked on artwork and photos for Unknown Mortal Orchestra over the years—and maybe in the future?

In this great conversation, these two chat about the making of Curse, working together on UMO’s Sex and Food record as well as other UMO stuff, the ridiculously over-the-top reaction of Ruban’s fans to his dabbling in AI artwork, and the joys of David Lynch. Enjoy.

0:00 – Intro 2:20 – Start of the chat 3:02 – On making Curse and music as therapy 10:20 – Nielson on AI tools and the reaction from UMO fans 16:50 – UMO's "analog-only photography" policy at shows 21:42 – How Krug and Nielson first met 25:45 – Nielson's cape phase 26:42 – On UMO’s Sex and Food and the color blue 27:50 – Sex and Food's original title was... 31:51 – On SB mixes, Hanoi, Curse, and other non-traditional UMO records 34:45 – On David Lynch and the power of cinema 36:00 – The story behind The Slow Rush artwork 40:41 – Predictions on the next UMO record 44:02 – On "darky, spooky aesthetics"

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Ruban Nielson and Neil Krug for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Lilly Wachowski (The Matrix) with Alicia Gaines (Ganser) Aug 28, 2025

On this week’s episode of the Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got the leader of a killer Chicago band and the co-director of one of the biggest movie franchises in history in a fantastic conversation: It’s Alicia Gaines of Ganser and Lilly Wachowski, best known for The Matrix.

The Matrix you surely know, but Ganser perhaps you don’t. They’re a Chicago band that’s been around for the last decade or so, but really seemed to snap into focus about five years ago with a startling stew of post-punk and art-rock sounds that snarl like some of my favorite elder statesbands—Gang of Four, Siouxsie—but updated. Their third and latest album, Animal Hospital, was produced by Angus Andrew of Liars, which makes sense. Oh, and they’re fierce live: I saw them last year opening for Mclusky and was blown away. Check out “Stripe” from Animal Hospital right here.

Lilly Wachowski cut a winding path through Hollywood; along with her sister Lana, she made the 1996 thriller Bound—it comes up in this conversation—but took the film world by surprise with 1999’s The Matrix and of course its sequels. The Wachowskis, as they’re known professionally, took their films to weirder places after that rather than trying to go mainstream, with the unfairly maligned Speed Racer—an anti-capitalist blockbuster—and Cloud Atlas, a strange, moving epic. Both Wachowskis also came out as trans in the years after The Matrix, and Lilly, as you’ll hear, has a serious interest in getting that aspect of her life onto the silver screen.

In this deep and friendly chat, Lily and Alicia talk about their shared experience at Chicago’s School of the Art Institute—aka SAIC—as well as Animal Hospital, using original music versus well-known pop songs in movies, finding yourself through art, a painting of a suicidal duck, and Lilly’s next project, which is “wall to wall trans people and trans rage.” I hope she can get it made. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Alicia Gaines and Lilly Wachowski for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform and check out all the great stuff in our podcast network. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Revisited: Matty Matheson (The Bear) with Jennifer Castle Aug 14, 2025

One of the pleasures of putting the Talkhouse Podcast together is that the guests often leave their promotional hats at home and just dig into conversations about life, and that’s definitely what happened this week with Matty Matheson and Jennifer Castle.

Matty Matheson you’ll surely recognize either as a superstar chef and restaurateur who appeared on a bunch of VICE shows way back when—or if not that then as a star and consultant on the hit TV show The Bear, where he plays the sublimely ridiculous Neil Fak. Matheson has lived several lifetimes, building a reputation as a wild partier in his youth, which eventually led to a heart attack at just 29—that’s touched on briefly in this conversation. He’s also authored a bunch of super down-to-earth cookbooks, including the great new Soups, Salads, Sandwiches—you can guess what that one covers.

Matheson’s connection to singer-songwriter Jennifer Castle goes way, way back. They met working in Toronto restaurants and became good friends over the years: Castle sang at Matty’s wedding and she was a doula at the birth of his first child, a topic that comes up in this chat. Castle has been making music for the past 20 or so years, first under the name Castlemusic but more recently under her own name. Don’t let the gentleness of her indie-folk fool you; there’s a lot that cuts deep in her songs. Speaking of those songs, one of the songs from her latest album Camelot was featured in season three of The Bear—a great way for Matheson to help get the word out on the person he calls the greatest Canadian singer-songwriter ever. Check out “Blowing Kisses” ⁠right here⁠.

In this lovely conversation, Castle and Matheson talk about how music and food can both bring people together, but they get really excited talking about two other natural pursuits: childbirth and farming. (Matheson co-owns a farm called Blue Goose that you’ll hear a bit about.) Matheson talks a bit about his family and his current book tour, and Castle shows off a touching gift that Matheson gave her many years ago. Enjoy.

0:00 – Intro

2:35 – Conversation starts

3:25 – Matty’s airport adventures

6:38 – “Eat little shrimps!”

8:36 – Matty loves Jennifer’s music, as you’ll see

12:36 – Matty gets melancholy about their shared Toronto past

21:51 – The birth of children and the birth of Blue Goose

37:24 – Living the creative life

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Matty Matheson and Jennifer Castle for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Podcast Preview: Music Person Aug 07, 2025

Episode: "Wednesday (Karly Hartzman)" Subscribe to Music Person.

Karly Hartzman of Wednesday from Asheville, North Carolina. Wednesday’s new album, BLEEDS, is out September 19, 2025. Karly and Dylan discuss being an introverted observer writer girl type, the merits of staying in your local scene, complicated feelings about Los Angeles, and Karly’s breakup with partner and bandmate MJ Lenderman. + Karly answers a listener advice question.

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

James Austin Johnson (SNL) with Hamilton Leithauser Jul 31, 2025

On this week's Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got a guy from that band you like in conversation with Saturday Night Live's Donald Trump specialist. It's Hamilton Leithauser and James Austin Johnson.

Leithauser was-slash-is the voice behind the Walkmen, the indie-rock band that burned bright from 2000 until 2013, at which point they splintered and Leithauser embarked on a solo career and some excellent soundtrack work. Last time he was on this show he was in conversation with Ethan Hawke, with whom he worked on Hawke's Paul Newman documentary; this time around, he's got a long-in-the-works solo album to promote. This Side of the Island came out earlier this year, though it probably would have come out sooner if Leithauser didn't take a break to reunite with the Walkmen for some big shows. It’s typically excellent, and a bit more slinky than his past couple. It was produced by The National's Aaron Dessner and he’s just finishing up a tour with Father John Misty.

For Leithauser's latest video, he roped in comedian James Austin Johnson to play his sorta-stalker / impersonator at the legendary Carlyle Hotel in New York. Check out the video right here, it’s called "What do I Think?"

If you don't recognize James Austin Johnson's name, you'll recognize his incredible impression of Donald Trump, which he's been doing on Saturday Night Live for the past couple of seasons. Now there have been many Trump impressions over the years, but nobody has quite captured the manic free-association in the way that Johnson has. With SNL off for the summer, Johnson is out doing comedy on the road, where you can catch him over the next few weeks before he returns to his main gig.

In this fun chat, Johnson and Leithauser talk about SNL's schedule, about drinking wine on stage, about recording fake sounds versus real ones, and about a guy they're both a little obsessed with: Bob Dylan. Oh, and Trump, but just a little bit. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to James Austin Johnson and Hamilton Leithauser for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and make sure you check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan and the Talkhouse theme was composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

George Clarke (Deafheaven) with Jae Matthews (Boy Harsher) Jul 24, 2025

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, we’re giving a nod to the heavier end of things with a conversation between George Clarke of Deafheaven and Jae Matthews of Boy Harsher.

Deafheaven is the impossible to pin down metal band that has pushed genre boundaries since breaking out with 2013’s epic Sunbather. They’ve been the subject of much debate in the heavy music community over the years, since they’ve wiggled elements of shoegaze and even Brit rock into the world of black metal. It’s been a fascinating journey to watch, as the band navigates its own muse, seemingly without regard to any genre lines that might exist. 2021’s Infinite Granite took a pretty huge leap toward a more accessible sound, while this year’s Lonely People With Power heads back into the darkness—even as it’s produced by the pop-leaning Justin Meldal-Johnson, whose name comes up in this chat.

The other half of today’s conversation is Jae Matthews, who’s also half of the darkwave-slash-coldwave band Boy Harsher. Deeply influenced by film, the duo’s most recent album, The Runner, serves as a sort-of soundtrack to a world they continue to imagine—one full of synths, beats, and lots of mood. As you’ll hear in this chat, Boy Harsher has been busy writing new material in a way they haven’t before. But in the meantime, Matthews contributed some striking vocals to a truly striking song on the new Deafheaven record. Check out “Incidental II” right here—you’ll need to listen to the entire thing to really get where it’s coming from.

In this conversation, Clarke and Matthews talk about DJing versus performing, about finding inspiration in solitude, about whether being sober hurts or helps a performance, and of course, about Matthews’ contribution to Deafheaven’s Lonely People With Power. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Jae Matthews and George Clarke for chatting. If you like what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme was composed and performed by the Range. See you next time.

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Bob Mould with Will Anderson (Hotline TNT) Jul 17, 2025

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got an absolute legend of the punk and indie-rock worlds in conversation with a relatively newer voice who’s making some great music, too: Bob Mould and Will Anderson.

Bob Mould got his start in the late 1970s with the Minneapolis-born punk / post-punk band Husker Du, a trio that was at the tip of the spear of incredible new sounds. After that band ran out of jet fuel in the late 1980s, Mould embarked on a solo career and also created the band Sugar, itself a touchstone outfit. Mould has released a total of 15 solo albums over the years, and there’s not a dud in the bunch. His latest is a tuneful, melodic set of ragers called Here We Go Crazy, which he once again made with his ace rhythm section, Jon Wurster and Jason Narducy. He’s toured a bunch in support of the record with those guys, but his next set of dates—in August and September, check bobmould.com for details—will find him playing solo-electric, which is also a powerful way to experience these songs. Check out the title track of Here We Go Crazy right here.

The other half of today’s conversation is Will Anderson, who’s been making music for the past few years under the name Hotline TNT—sometimes by himself, sometimes with a rotating band of players. His first album under the name, Nineteen in Love, was recorded by himself during COVID, all in GarageBand. His third—and second for Jack White’s Third Man Records—feels much more like a full-band affair: It’s more fleshed out and expansive. Hotline TNT has frequently been called a shoegaze band, but it’s a tag that Anderson is quick to refute, at least a little bit: In this conversation, he says that his shoegaze knowledge pretty much begins and ends with My Bloody Valentine. Whatever you call it, its swirls and layers feel pretty damn good right now. Check out a little bit of “Julia’s War” from the latest Hotline TNT album, Raspberry Moon.

In this great chat, Bob and Will talk about Bob’s recent commencement speech at his alma mater and they also chat about the proper construction of an album, playing overseas for the first time, Bob’s Super Bowl appearance and much more. Enjoy!

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Will Anderson and Bob Mould for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Ben Gibbard (Death Cab For Cutie) with Natalie Lew (Sea Lemon) Jul 10, 2025

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got one of our favorite repeat Talkhouse guests alongside an artist who just released her debut album—on which they collaborated. It’s Ben Gibbard and Natalie Lew.
Gibbard is of course the frontman and primary songwriter behind both Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service, and he’s been writing heartfelt, incredible songs for the past, oh, 30 years or so. The latest Death Cab album, called Asphalt Meadows, came out back in 2022, but he’s kept busy with an anniversary Postal Service tour and, coming later this summer, some shows celebrating the 20th anniversary of Death Cab’s Plans album. I’m a fan—the guy has written some of my favorite songs of all time, and he hasn’t lost a step over the years. He’s also been super supportive of other musicians over the years, including today’s other guest.
Natalie Lew who, like Gibbard, calls Seattle home, records under the name Sea Lemon. Like a lot of younger artists, she started out by releasing singles and EPs, but in May she graduated to what some folks think it’s a lost artform: the full-length album. It’s called Diving for a Prize, and it’s full of shoegazy indie-pop goodness, hiding catchy melodies under swirling layers. Gibbard was already a fan of Sea Lemon’s music, so it seemed like a no-brainer that she’d ask him to duet on a song from the album. Check out “Crystals” right here.
In this lively chat, these two talk about their shared city and how they’ll never live anywhere else, the sanctity of the album as an artistic statement, and whether they’d like to venture into creative pursuits beyond music. One of them is a yes, the other not so much. Enjoy.
Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Natalie Lew and Ben Gibbard for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!
Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Podcast Preview: All One Song: A Neil Young Podcast with Steve Gunn Jul 03, 2025

Subscribe to All One Song: A Neil Young Podcast

Welcome to the very first episode of All One Song: A Neil Young podcast, presented by Aquarium Drunkard Transmissions. Join liner notes author, musician, and Shakey historian Tyler Wilcox and an array of great musicians and writers discussing their favorite Neil Young song, diving deep into Shakey lore and getting personal about this amazing body of work. It’s a series for Neil heads by Neil heads.

Our first guest on All One Song should need no introduction for long time Aquarium Drunkard readers. But let’s give him one anyway! For the past 15 years or so, ⁠Steve Gunn⁠ has built up one of the strongest, most wide-ranging catalogs in independent music. He’s released classic albums on such labels as Three Lobed, Paradise of Bachelors, Matador and more.

Steve is a singer-songwriter-guitarist triple threat with a powerful sense of adventure and imagination that’s always worth paying attention to, whether he’s collaborating with drummer John Truscinski in the ⁠Gunn-Truscinski Duo⁠, creating beautiful soundscapes ⁠with David Moore⁠, or ⁠playing all on his own⁠.

Steve’s latest album, ⁠Music For Writers⁠, falls into the latter category. Coming out on August 15 on Three Lobed, this is his first completely solo instrumental record — he played all the instruments, building luminous, hypnotic pieces that encourage the listener to slow down and really listen. The songs here aren’t just ambient background sounds. They’re sonic meditations that take you to some other place.

The solo aspect of Music For Writers dovetails nicely with the Neil Young song that Steve chose for us to discuss: “Will To Love.” This is a unique one in Neil’s catalog and a song that’s prized by die-hard Shakey fans. Accompanied only by a crackling fire, Neil recorded the basic track at his ranch in the spring of 1976, somewhere in between his European tour with Crazy Horse and the ill-fated Stills-Young Band trip that summer.

Then he put it aside, for a few months, only returning to it in December of 76, when he went into Indigo Studios in Malibu to overdub vocals, keyboards, guitars, drums, even vibes, aided and abetted by producer David Briggs. By the time it was released on American Stars n Bars in 1977, “Will To Love” was a ghostly, seven-minute piece of music that’s unlike almost anything else he’d done before or anything he’s done since. Let's dive in.

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That: Terence Nance Jun 26, 2025

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast’s spin-off series, host Nick Dawson sits down with writer, director, artist and musician Terence Nance, a longtime Talkhouse Film contributor best known for his debut feature, An Oversimplification of Her Beauty, and his boundary-pushing HBO series Random Acts of Flyness. In this very wide-ranging conversation, the two touch on numerous topics, including: communing with the dead, St. Peter as a Pauline Kael archetype, Tyrese Haliburton’s Game 7 injury in the context of stoic masculinity, the Abrahamic idea of God as surveillance system, why humans are seemingly hastening the end of the world, a discussion of the two AIs — Allen Iverson and artificial intelligence, plus Terence being fired by Warner Bros. as the writer-director of Space Jam 2, and how he handled the aftermath of that. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Kevin Drew (Broken Social Scene) with Amy Millan (Stars) Jun 19, 2025

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got a pair of old friends who dive right in on some light-hearted topics like death and aging: Amy Millan and Kevin Drew.

Both Amy and Kevin are deeply connected to the Canadian indie scene that took shape in the late 1990s around Broken Social Scene. That band was initially Kevin’s baby, but a whole constellation seemed to spring from it, including Metric, Feist, and the band that Amy is most closely associated with, Stars.

The impetus for today’s conversation, though, is Millan’s gorgeous new solo album, I Went to Find You. It’s her first in 15 years, and as you’ll hear in this conversation, was inspired by stirred-up feelings about the death of her father when she was just a little kid. Millan created the album with a musician she only met recently, Jay McCarrol, after a chance encounter with him that stirred up some dormant emotions about her childhood. It’s a really beautiful and quietly triumphant record that’s worth some time and attention in your headphones. Check out “Kiss That Summer” right here.

Kevin Drew directed that great video for that song, and he’s got bona fides when it comes to writing songs about difficult subjects, too: His latest solo album, Aging, came out in 2023, and you might be able to guess what it’s about from that title. It’s a topic that Kevin and Amy get into here as they get deep and sweet together—they were even a little worried they’d forget they were being recorded since they’re such close friends. They talk about Amy’s record but also, perhaps for the first time on Talkhouse, perimenopause. There’s also memories of Hal Willner, a great name for Amy’s tour that she didn’t end up using, and living in your “who gives a fuck” years. Enjoy.

0:00 – Intro 1:59 – Start of the chat

3:20 – On grief and the death of their parents

12:00 – Amy bringing her dad back on her new record

14:42 – The process of creating 'I Went to Find You'

20:28 – "I had panic attacks on stage when I played solo"

24:02 – On aging and perimenopause

38:01 – On fulfillment and bringing people together

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast and thanks to Amy Millan and Kevin Drew for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform and check out all the great stuff in the Talkhouse Podcast Network. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time! Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That: Mandy Patinkin and Kathryn Grody Jun 12, 2025

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast’s spin-off series, host Nick Dawson sits down with actors Mandy Patinkin and Kathryn Grody, who have been married for 45 years and in the past few years have become one of the internet’s favorite couples thanks to their delightful TikTok channel. To coincide with the premiere this week of the pilot of their episodic series Seasoned at the Tribeca Film Festival, they opened up in their typically ebullient and charming manner about subjects as diverse as their morning routines (and nocturnal movements!), whether or not to delete someone’s contact info if they’ve died, the role a Joni Mitchell lyric played in their most recent disagreement, their son being unfairly overshadowed by Prince William, and much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast. Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Adam Met (AJR) with Julian Shapiro-Barnum (Recess Therapy) Jun 05, 2025

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a couple of guys who found huge followings—on the internet and elsewhere—in different ways, but with similar outlooks: Adam Met and Julian Shapiro-Barnum.

Met is one-third of the brother band AJR, who’ve found massive pop hits over the past decade with cheeky but sometimes deceptively deep songs like “Bang” and “World’s Smallest Violin.” Perhaps those more into the indie-adjacent world have heard their collaborations with Weezer. But for purposes of this conversation, Met is wearing one of his many other hats, which include Columbia professor, non-profit founder, and as of this week, published author. He just released his first book, AMPLIFY: How to Use the Power of Connection to Engage, Take Action, and Build a Better World, As you may have guessed from the title, it’s about action and advocacy, including in the area of the climate crisis, for which Met is an ardent activist. He casually mentions hanging out with Al Gore here, which may be a Talkhouse first. The book aims to provide strategies for folks who want to do their part, which is a noble cause if you ask me. It features pop-culture names like Ben Folds and Jim Gaffigan, in addition to folks more known in the activism world. It’s out now.

The other half of today’s conversation is Met’s pal, comedian and internet personality Julian Shapiro-Barnum. An inquisitive guy by nature, Shapiro-Barnum recorded a series of internet videos over the years that were largely conversations with regular people, and during the pandemic he hit on the idea of chatting with children about how they manage to stay positive when everything seems so crazy. That idea became the very popular series Recess Therapy, which is as charming as it sounds—and, it should be noted, launched the “corn kid” into internet fame.

These two jump right into a lively conversation about how music and advocacy can go hand in hand, about Julian’s various shows, including Recess Therapy and Celebrity Substitute, and lots more. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Julian Shapiro-Barnum and Adam Met for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and visit Talkhouse.com for lots of good stuff. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme was composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠.

Matt Berninger (The National) with Alan Sparhawk (Low) May 29, 2025

This week's Talkhouse Podcast is kind of a dream episode for me, because I managed to wrangle two of my favorite songwriter/performer/lyricists ever into a conversation, Matt Berninger and Alan Sparhawk.

Sparhawk first came to my attention way back in the early ‘90s with his band Low. Over the course of 30-ish years, he and his wife, Mimi Parker, created an almost indescribably stunning body of work. The early days were characterized by slow, spare, minimalist songs, but over the decades, Low blossomed in a hundred beautiful ways, from stark, almost confrontational music made with Steve Albini to some of the sweetest pop songs you’ll ever hear to their final incarnation, in which they organically integrated some harsh electronics. It’s hard to believe they went so long and stayed so true, but they did. It’s a pretty perfect catalog. Then, in 2022, Parker died of cancer. Sparhawk worked through some of his grief by pushing right back into music, first with 2024’s White Roses, My God, a dense, electronics-heavy album that sounds like confusion itself. Now, just months later, he’s set to release another album, this one called With Trampled By Turtles. The title references the Duluth band that backed him on it, and the songs themselves offer a much more clear-eyed, straightforward look at where his head is at. They’re very different but both really powerful. Check out the song “Not Broken,” which features Sparhawk and Parker’s daughter Hollis on vocals.

I think Matt Berninger, the other half of today’s conversation, feels as strongly about Low and Alan’s music as I do: He’s been listening since before his band, The National, had even come together. Perhaps you’re aware of their history, but just in case: The National has been making incredible records since 2001, finding pretty huge success with cathartic, arena-sized songs that are still always grounded by Berninger’s intentional, literate words. But Berninger, like Sparhawk, has had plenty of side projects over the years, and his second proper solo album is coming out this week as well. It’s called Get Sunk, and it feels like a sort of deliberate step away from any semblance of gloom, with Berninger writing about childhood summers and more innocent times. Don’t get me wrong, these songs aren’t without their emotional perils, but they do feel different enough from his main gig that you’ll notice. Oh, and in case I didn’t mention it, it’s really great. Check out “Bonnet of Pins” from Get Sunk right here.

Sparhawk and Berninger don’t waste much time with idle chit-chat in this episode. They’ve both been through the mental-health wringer over the years, and they explore those low-lows with the benefit, thankfully, of some hindsight. Matt has some really insightful things to say about Alan’s recent solo records, and they dive into their religious backgrounds with perhaps the funniest, potentially deadliest interview question ever asked on Talkhouse: “What are your thoughts on God and religion? Go.” Enjoy.

0:00 – Intro

3:29 – Start of the chat

3:50 – The first time they met

6:58 – The tough times each have faced

12:24 – On finding light on the other side

16:08 – On depression and art

22:17 – On playing music with your kids

29:50 – “What are your thoughts on God and religion? Go.”

38:50 – Music as religion

44:20 – Music as a spiritual experience

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Alan Sparhawk and Matt Berninger for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠. Visit ⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠.

Podcast Preview: SubwayTakes Uncut with Michael Shannon May 22, 2025

"People are real down on the subway lately but I still like taking it!!" Kareem and Michael continue on the train and talk about Michael's directorial debut, Eric Larue, directing as a way of developing every character in a movie, Kareem and Michael's future buddy comedy where they open an indie Target (and also their buddy drama where they're roommates), male best friend breakup stories as a new genre, Michael's love of R.E.M., doing a cover band, being a loafer, having a fake Chicago accent, Windsor Terrace, how being from the midwest makes you endearing, GoFundMe to pay for a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame, not being invited to the Oscars, there are too many screens on the subway, Michael's colonoscopy and other stuff.

Host: Kareem Rahma Creators: Kareem Rahma and Andrew Kuo Camera: Maksim Axelrod and Tian Sippel Editor: Tyler Christie Mixer: Dale Eisinger Associate Producer: Ramy Shafi Artwork: Andrew Lawandus Theme Music: Tyler McCauley

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Watch this episode on YouTube or Spotify.

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Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That: Lili Taylor May 15, 2025

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast’sspin-off series, host Nick Dawson sits down with iconic actress Lili Taylor, who just published her first book, Turning to Birds, a series of thoughtful, beautifully written and deeply human essays about her consuming passion for birdwatching. In an engrossing conversation, the two discuss how recovery and birding intersect, her love of naps, how nature has shifted her relationship to death, Nick getting barked at by a coyote in the Bronx, braving the acting version of the bends after finishing a role, her amazing way of releasing resentment, facing the unknown, how she’s finding resilience and playing the long game as this country plunges into crisis, and much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Chris Carrabba (Dashboard Confessional) with Evan Weiss (Pet Symmetry, Into It. Over It.) May 08, 2025

On this week's Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got two old friends who’ve contributed more than their fair share to the emo world and beyond and lived to tell the tale: Evan Weiss and Chris Carrabba.

Carrabba is of course the main creative force behind Dashboard Confessional, whose early albums—specifically The Swiss Army Romance and The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most—basically invented the genre’s confessional acoustic-based era. He could’ve made those records a dozen times over the past 20 years, but instead Carrabba filled out Dashboard’s sound over the years, stretching out where the muse took him. Now an elder statesman, Carrabba returned to that simpler sound but brought years of wisdom with him for 2022’s All the Truth That I Can Tell, which he talks about in this great chat. Dashboard will head out on a long summer tour with Goo Goo Dolls starting July 13, but not before playing a show with Weiss’s band in Vegas the day before.

Weiss’s band would be Pet Symmetry, a trio he’s been part of for the past decade or so, and which just released an excellent new album: Big Symmetry is a big, loveable, tuneful set of songs that all start with the word “big.” It’s a joyful blast of pop-punk that feels like a deliberate antidote to tough times. It may also be a bit of a reaction to what fans would consider Weiss’s main band, Into It. Over It., which flies that emo flag a bit higher. But whatever, those tags are pretty silly when we ought to be talking about songs. Speaking of, check out the song “Big Wish” from the album Big Symmetry right here.

In this wide-ranging chat, Carrabba and Weiss talk about the holiness of punk community, the accidental origins of Dashboard Confessional plus that band’s long hiatus and rebirth, and how the financial collapse of 2008 had opposite effects on their careers. It’s true! Enjoy.

0:00 – Intro

2:21 – Start of the chat

4:45 – On psychedelics

6:34 – Best venue to play a gig (and watch a gig)

13:27 – Were you ever over your head with Dashboard Confessional?

19:00 – Three pieces of advice for younger bands

25:50 – How has Dashboard Confessional evolved?

34:30 – The '08-'09 music era

39:59 – Does increased music access lower fan excitement?

41:25 – One more piece of advice: Take control

46:33 – One more (last) piece of advice: Honor the people who helped you

50:20 – Carrabba on his superpower

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Chris Carrabba and Evan Weiss for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the other great podcasts in our network. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme was composed and performed by the Range. See you next time! Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠. Visit ⁠talkhouse.com⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠Bluesky⁠, ⁠Twitter (X)⁠, ⁠Threads⁠, and ⁠Facebook⁠.

Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That: Michel Gondry May 01, 2025

On the latest episode of this new Talkhouse Podcast spin-off series, host Nick Dawson sits down with visionary writer-director Michel Gondry, whose delightful new film, Maya, Give Me a Title – a hand-drawn 60-minute feature he originally made just for his young daughter –iscurrently on the festival circuit. In a wide-ranging conversation, the two talk about childhood, him learning a sense of play from cats, the pivotal moment when he decided to work only on his own terms, taking David Lynch’s advice for his 2015 movie Microbe and Gasoline, watching that same movie alone a plane, why people’s fixation on the Bermuda Triangle is nonsense, and much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.
Find more illuminating podcasts on the Talkhouse Podcast Network. Visit talkhouse.com to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on Instagram, Bluesky, Twitter (X), Threads, and Facebook.

Kurt Vile with Francie Medosch (Florry) Apr 24, 2025

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a lively chat between Philly friends Kurt Vile and Francie Medosch.
Medosch is the singer and main creative force behind the band Florry, which exists in the same sonic universe as Courtney Barnett and the currently exploding MJ Lenderman—loose, rocking, a little bit jammy, a little bit indie, and frequently catchy as hell. The Lenderman connection makes even more sense when you realize that the upcoming Florry album was recorded with help from Colin Miller, who plays in Lenderman’s band and has recorded music from the band Wednesday. That upcoming Florry album is called Sounds Like… and it’s due out May 23 on Dear Life Records. It’s a corker, kinda rambly and rockin’ in all the right ways. You can pre-save and pre-order at all the usual spots. Check out the song “Hey Baby” right here.
The other half of today’s chat is a longtime supporter of Florry’s, fellow Philadelphian Kurt Vile. Vile first came out swinging as part of the War on Drugs way back when, but pretty quickly established himself as a genius of hazy, dazed guitar songs pitched somewhere between the ‘70s squall of Neil Young and more contemporary indie-rock. As you’ll hear in this chat, Vile is working—at his own pace, of course—on the follow-up to 2022’s Watch My Moves. Whenever it’s finished, it’s sure to be intriguing, like all of his work.
In this chat, Vile and Medosch talk about their shared hometown as well as the fact that Medosch recently moved to Vermont and is working in both a dispensary and a record store—kind of a perfect combo to describe her music, come to think of it. They also chat about a lot of stuff that they love, including John Prine, the recently departed Michael Hurley, and the deeply lovable Bob Odenkirk, who Vile was very excited to meet recently. Enjoy.
Chapters: 0:00 – Intro 2:07 – Start of the chat 3:00 – On Jobs 5:30 – Writing songs in your head while you're working 6:58 – On Florry's new album, Sounds Like… 13:04 – "I hate headphones" 15:59 – On Kurt Vile's brother, Jelloman, stealing Kurt's van 18:02 – The six degrees of MJ Lenderman 23:25 – On Michael Hurley 28:38 – On John Fahey 30:10 – On Philly 33:50 – On Bob Odenkirk 40:05 – What's new with Kurt Vile
Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast and thanks to Kurt Vile and Francie Medosch for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and while you’re at it check out all the great podcasts in our ever-growing network, including Subway Takes, Life of the Record, and many more. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!
Find more illuminating podcasts on the Talkhouse Podcast Network. Visit talkhouse.com to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on Instagram, Bluesky, Twitter (X), Threads, and Facebook.

Podcast Preview: How Long Gone x Bon Iver Apr 22, 2025

A bonus interview by How Long Gone's Chris Black and Jason Stewart with Justin Vernon (Bon Iver).

Watch the companion video version on YouTube.

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Clairo with Hannah Cohen Apr 17, 2025

On this week’s episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got a pair of fantastic songwriters and friends who travel in the same musical circles, and who’ve both released disarmingly charming records recently: Clairo and Hannah Cohen.
Clairo has been making music since she was a teen, and her songs and sounds have a remarkable depth and breadth of influence, from ‘70s soft-rock to more worldly sounds. Her early viral success pointed to a pop-star trajectory, but Clairo always seems to choose a more interesting sonic path over the more obvious one. Her third album, Charm, came out last year, and it leans into a bit of slinky groove more than she had in the past. Check out the song "Juna" right here.
The other half of today’s conversation is Hannah Cohen, who tapped a bunch of cool guests—including Clairo—to help out on her new album. Earthstar Mountain is Cohen’s first in more than five years, and you can hear the care she put into it: It’s an understated but deeply considered ode to her surroundings, the Catskills—and it sounds like that area feels. She made the record with her partner Sam Evian—a Talkhouse alum himself—at their upstate New York studio, Flying Cloud. It doesn’t sound rushed, which is a topic you’ll hear in this chat. In addition to Clairo, it features a guest appearance from Sufjan Stevens. Check out the song “Rag” right here.
These two friends get right into a delightful chat that covers Cohen’s record, including the mushroom that inspired its title. They also chat about how working on music with your romantic partner can be its own form of therapy, and they get deep into soundtracks toward the end, tossing around the idea of making one, even without a movie to hang it on. Enjoy.
Chapters: 0:00 – Intro 2:02 – Start of the chat 2:30 – On mushrooms and 'Earthstar Mountain' 8:55 – Cohen on making music with her romantic partner, Sam Evian 12:30 – "Artists are so in tune with things on a whole different level" 19:20 – On the song "Rag" 24:45 – "Take what you need from [my] songs; find your own meaning" 30:05 – On soundtracks
Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Hannah Cohen and Clairo for chatting. If you liked what you heard, check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com, and be sure to follow and rate us wherever you listen to podcasts. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by The Range. See you next time!
Find more illuminating podcasts on the Talkhouse Podcast Network. Visit talkhouse.com to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on Instagram, Bluesky, Twitter (X), Threads, and Facebook.

That's How I Remember It: Adam Granduciel (The War on Drugs) Apr 10, 2025

This episode originally aired on April 8, 2025. Subscribe to That's How I Remember It.

Adam Granduciel is my guest on this episode That’s How I Remember It. Adam is the principal behind the amazing band The War on Drugs and also produced my new record Always Been. We’ve been friends since a 2009 THS/TWOD tour which we spoke about here. We also got into rock and roll ephemera, his Live Drugs records, being flattered by bootleg merch, our 2008 joint European tour that never happened, and making my record Always Been together. Grateful to Adam in so many ways including being a guest on this podcast. Great talk. Listen and subscribe.

Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes) with Benmont Tench (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers) Apr 03, 2025

I hope you’ve been enjoying the last few weeks of the Talkhouse feed as we’ve been throwing some new shows your way. If you haven’t checked out Summer Album/Winter Album yet, please do, and look out for new episodes of Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That, featuring my esteemed colleague Nick Dawson, in the coming months, too.
Today’s episode of the Talkhouse Podcast features a pair of incredible songwriters in a lovely chat about the thing they love to do the most: make music. We’ve got Benmont Tench and Taylor Goldsmith.
Tench, in case you don’t recognize the name, is a founding member of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, and a guy who helped shape rock music for decades with the distinctive sound and feel of his piano, organ, and much more. Tench made music with Petty from the time they were 11 years old until Petty’s death in 2017, but he’s also contributed to songs and albums by a dizzying array of other artists, too, from Roy Orbison to Fiona Apple to U2. As you’ll hear in this conversation, Tench is always playing music because he loves it so damn much. He recently released his second-ever solo album, The Melancholy Season, and it includes some playing from his friend Taylor Goldsmith. Check out the title track from The Melancholy Season right here.
Goldsmith is best known as the singer of the band Dawes, whose Laurel Canyon-inspired folk-rock has been caressing our ears for the past 15 years or so. Dawes has gone through some personnel changes in the past couple of years, paring back to Goldsmith and his brother Griffin and releasing a new album, the fittingly titled Oh Brother just last year. Both Goldsmith brothers were hit hard by the Los Angeles fires, losing their homes and the majority of their beloved instruments. But Goldsmith, as you’ll hear, is taking it in stride.
In this conversation, Tench and Goldsmith talk about, again, their love of music: Tench even recalls telling his daughter that he loves her more than he loves music—the highest compliment he can pay. Both of these guys are pretty recent fathers, too, which comes up. And of course they can’t get around talking about the genius of Tom Petty—and the accidental genius of Heartbreakers’ guitarist Mike Campbell’s shirt. Listen and you’ll understand. Enjoy.
Chapters: 0:00 – Intro 2:24 – Start of the chat
Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast and thanks to Benmont Tench and Taylor Goldsmith for chatting. If you liked what you heard, check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com and in the Talkhouse Podcast Network. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by The Range. See you next time!
Find more illuminating podcasts on the Talkhouse Podcast Network. Visit talkhouse.com to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on Instagram, Bluesky, Twitter (X), Threads, and Facebook.

Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That: Griffin Dunne Mar 27, 2025

On the latest episode of this new Talkhouse Podcast spin-off series, host Nick Dawson sits down with veteran actor, director, producer and writer Griffin Dunne, who is currently starring in the family drama Ex-Husbands. Deviating from the usual, well-trodden interview path, the two talk about uncertainty, mortality, the complex nature of grief, driving cross country at times of great change, that time Griffin scared the living daylights out of Neil Simon, Nick’s idea for a secret eighth day of the week, how Chekhov changed the course of Dunne’s life and career, and much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

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2025 SXSW Scene Report by Dylan Tupper Rupert Mar 21, 2025

Dylan Tupper Rupert is a music writer, podcast host, and producer in Los Angeles. You might know her as the host of KCRW's Lost Notes: Groupies, or as the producer fka Producer Dylan of Bandsplain.
This spring, her new show Music Person is coming to the Talkhouse Podcast Network—where she'll have in-depth conversations with musicians and brilliant people in the greater music ecosystem, and will sometimes maybe even go on an adventure.
So here's a sneak peek—Dylan's diary of her week in Austin for South By Southwest.

Podcast Preview: Summer Album/Winter Album - "Modern Vampires Of The City" with Amanda Petrusich (Live from On Air Fest) Mar 20, 2025

Tonight on Summer Album/Winter Album: Modern Vampires Of The City. Vampire Weekend. 2013.

Our special guest: Amanda Petrusich of The New Yorker.

Jody Avirgan is arguing Winter, Craig Finn is arguing Summer.

Craig won the coin toss. He is presenting first.

This episode was recorded live at the On Air Fest in Brooklyn.

Weigh in and find lots more on Instagram, and clips on our YouTube page.

Get in touch through our website.

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An Introduction to 'Summer Album/Winter Album' Mar 20, 2025

In this bonus chat, Talkhouse host Josh Modell speaks with the guys behind the great new Summer Album/Winter Album podcast, Craig Finn and Jody Avirgan. After our conversation, stick around for an episode in which they vociferously debate whether Vampire Weekend’s classic Modern Vampires of the City belongs to warm or chilly weather.
Subscribe to Summer Album/Winter Album
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Kit Sebastian with Pearl & The Oysters Mar 13, 2025

This week's episode of the Talkhouse Podcast came together by way of my colleague and friend Keenan Kush, who jokingly referred to the music of today’s guests as "Keenan-core." We’ve got a conversation between the duos Kit Sebastian and Pearl & The Oysters.

Kit Sebastian came together in London, but their musical (and even geographical) pedigrees are spread much wider. Kit Martin and Merve Erdem, now based in Turkey and France, play music that reflects their locations. Tropicalia and psychedelic pop flirt with an array of other influences to create something that sounds almost out of time. Their latest album New Internationale came out last year on Flying Lotus’ Brainfeeder label, and it adds Azerbaijani and some funk to the mix. Check out the track “Faust” right here.
Pearl & The Oysters is also a duo with international roots, having moved from France over a decade ago to Florida, but ending up in Los Angeles. Jazz and Tropicalia also inform their indie pop, and they also ended up on a hip label run by another musician: In this case, Peanut Butter Wolf's Stones Throw. Juliette Pearl Davis and Joachim Polack—sometimes known as Juju and Jojo—put out a great album last year called Planet Pearl. Check out “Side Quest” from that album right here.
In this wide-ranging conversation, these two duos talk about their geographic moves and sounds, analog vs. digital recording, favorite filmmakers, and how one cold email kickstarted Kit Sebastian. Enjoy.
Chapters:

0:00 – Intro

4:34 – Start of the chat

6:43 – On Influences

13:02 – On Creative Processes

19:27 – On Recording styles

29:09 – Why did Pearl & The Oysters leave France?

31:56 – The DIY scene in Gainesville, FL

36:51 – On Musical Communities

44:22 – The London scene

51:38 – How one cold email kickstarted Kit Sebastian

54:32 – On musical educators

59:21 – Finding your voice

1:03:34 – On cinema and their favorite filmmakers

1:12:28 – How to interact with your audience
Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Pearl & The Oysters and Kit Sebastian for chatting. If you like what you heard, check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan and arranged by Keenan Kush, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!
Find more illuminating podcasts on the Talkhouse Podcast Network. Visit talkhouse.com to read essays, reviews, and more. Follow @talkhouse on Instagram, Bluesky, Twitter (X), Threads, and Facebook.

Sharon Van Etten with Nadia Reid Mar 06, 2025

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a pair of songwriters with plenty in common, but who came up on opposite sides of the world: Sharon Van Etten and Nadia Reid.

Sharon Van Etten will be very familiar to Talkhouse listeners; we’ve been huge fans of her music from the very beginning, and have followed her—as many of you have—through her early days of more spare guitar songs to the fully fleshed-out music she’s been making in the past few years. Her latest album was Van Etten’s first to be written and recorded with a band, and that band has a name that it shares with her latest album: Sharon Van Etten and the Attachment Theory. Working out songs with her band has resulted in a looser, somewhat more experimental Sharon Van Etten, but it’s still unmistakably her voice and vision, which is to say it’s fantastic. Check out "Idiot Box" from Sharon and the Attachment Theory's new record.

Today’s other guest, as you’ll hear, is a friend of Sharon’s from New Zealand, Nadia Reid. Reid has been making music for about a decade, and her latest album, called Enter Now Brightness, came out about a month ago—on the same date as Van Etten’s new record, as a matter of fact. Though Reid is from New Zealand, you might hear bits of what could be described as Americana on her records, which are overarchingly gentle, subdued, and deep. Enter Now Brightness was recorded while Reid was pregnant with her second child, and these two talk a fair bit about motherhood in today’s episode. Check out Nadia Reid’s “Changed/Unchained” from Enter Now Brightness right here.

In this chat, Van Etten and Reid talk about parenthood, including bringing your kids on tour—and Van Etten’s son makes a brief appearance as well. They also get into how your band is truly like family and who’s given them great advice over the years. Enjoy.

Chapters:

0:00 – Intro

1:59 – Start of the chat

4:07 – "I feel like the cards are stacked against [musicians]"

5:40 – On bonding with your touring band

8:37 – The making of Nadia Reid's 'Enter Now Brightness'

11:00 – Sharon Van Etten on good and bad days in the studio

12:47 – On writing "Seventeen"

14:49 – On parenthood

19:05 – Balancing kids and careers

22:25 – Bringing your kids on tour

25:09 – A special guest

26:28 – Who did you look up to (bands who brought their kids on tour)?

29:10 – "You're one of my heroes"

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Sharon Van Etten and Nadia Reid for chatting. If you liked what you heard, check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com and in the Talkhouse Podcast Network. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

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Shirley Manson with Constant Follower Feb 27, 2025

On today's Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got one of those episodes pairing an artist you’ve surely heard of, pun intended, with one you likely haven’t, but will. It’s Shirley Manson and Stephen McAll.

Manson is of course the singer for the long-running, Grammy-nominated, chart-topping, Bond-theme-performing band Garbage, which hit it big right out of the gate in the mid-1990s. Manson and her bandmates have assembled a varied catalog since, including the biting 2021 album No Gods, No Masters. As you’ll hear in this chat, Garbage is still going strong, working on a new record that goes in kind of a different direction than the last one. Manson has always been a great talker; she even hosted her own podcast for a few years called The Jump, on which she talked with other musicians about the song that provided their breakthrough. She’s a huge fan of music, so it’s no surprise that she was excited to chat with today’s other guest, Stephen McAll.

McAll, like Manson, is Scottish—that’s hard to miss—though he hasn’t been making music nearly as long. His debut album under the name Constant Follower came out in 2021 and was met with loads of critical acclaim in Scotland for his quiet, heartfelt, frequently intense songs—think Bon Iver or Low or even McCall’s favorite, Talk Talk. This week sees the release of the second proper Constant Follower album, called The Smile You Send Out Returns To You, another intense set that covers some of McAll’s intense personal journey, including addiction, fatherhood, and the violent attack he suffered that still affects his memory. Check out the song “Almost Time to Go” from The Smile You Send Out right here.

In this lively but deep conversation, Manson and McAll talk about that awful attack and how it led, eventually, to Constant Follower. They also talk about longevity in the music business, the creative process—including The Artist’s Way that’s become a frequent topic in Talkhouse chats—and lots more, including the time that Rivers Cuomo laughed in Manson’s face—in a helpful way. Enjoy.

Chapters:

0:00 – Intro

2:25 – Start of the chat

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Shirley Manson and Stephen McAll for chatting. If you liked what you heard, check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com and on the Talkhouse Podcast Network. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme was composed and performed by The Range. See you next time!

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Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That: Vera Drew Feb 20, 2025

In this new spin-off series of the Talkhouse Podcast, host Nick Dawson introduces a new conversation format by setting out to ask questions that his guests have never been asked before in an interview. On the inaugural episode, he talks with Vera Drew, the writer-director-editor-star of The People’s Joker, one of the most acclaimed and talked-about films of 2024. In this wide-ranging chat, Vera and Nick talk about dreams, shoplifting, addiction, recovery, first love, self-love, self-care, polyamory, anxiety … as well as horny audiences, toxic yoga instructors and idyllic meetings with Elijah Wood and Lilly Wachowski. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

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A 2025 Preview of Aquarium Drunkard's Transmissions Feb 18, 2025

Josh Modell sits down with Transmissions host Jason P. Woodbury to preview the new season of Aquarium Drunkard's podcast, Transmissions.

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Haley Joel Osment with Matt Walsh Feb 13, 2025

If you’re a regular Talkhouse Podcast listener you know that we most often feature musicians on the show, but we’re always happy when creative people in other fields share a chat, too—especially when they’ve had the kind of interesting careers that today’s two guests have.

Haley Joel Osment made a permanent mark on pop culture when he uttered the words “I see dead people” in 1999’s The Sixth Sense, made when he was just 10 years old. The line still reverberates today: Just listen to Kendrick Lamar’s "Not Like Us." Osment was nominated for an Oscar for his role as a psychic kid, and he has had a fruitful, relatively low-key acting career since—no scandals, no blockbusters, just a bunch of really interesting work. As you’ll hear in this podcast, he’s fully down to earth about his unusual journey—even ready to find a tiny bit of positivity in the recent L.A. fires, which completely destroyed both his and his parents’ house.

He’s chatting here with his actor-comedian friend Matt Walsh, who’s probably best known for playing Mike McLintock opposite Julia Louis-Dreyfuss on Veep. It was the perfect vehicle for Walsh, who made his name as an improv comedian in Chicago before his troupe, Upright Citizens Brigade, which also features Amy Poehler, took their show to New York. Walsh is one of those guys who brings the funny to every movie and TV part he’s in: If you don’t recognize his name, you’ll certainly recognize his face.

The reason these two came together today is that a movie they co-starred in is just coming out: It’s called Not An Artist, and it’s an ensemble comedy about a group of artists who gather at a mysterious retreat—organized by no less than The RZA—to decide whether they’re actually cut out to be artists. It’s available on demand now.

These two chat not only about that funny film, but also about Osment's experience with the L.A. fires, about Walsh’s Chicago background, weird Airbnbs, the magic of David Mamet’s dialogue and lots more. It’s a good one, enjoy.

Chapters:

0:00 – Intro

2:04 – Start of the chat

2:18 – Osment on evacuating during the 2025 LA Fires

13:00 – Walsh and Osment on making 'Not An Artist'

20:32 – Osment on early career and David Mamet

28:19 – Walsh on UCB and early career

37:17 – Walsh on challenging himself as an actor

43:08 – Osment on working with Steven Spielberg

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Haley Joel Osment and Matt Walsh for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and be sure to check out all the great stuff on the Talkhouse Podcast Network. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

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Podcast Preview: Jokermen - In Conversation: JOSH TILLMAN Feb 06, 2025

This episode originally ran on January 6, 2025 on the Jokermen Podcast. Subscribe to Jokermen.

The Jokermen and Josh Tillman discuss creative process, theories of schmaltz, The Beatles, mental health, fatherhood and breakfast, among other things

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Margo Price with Lilly Hiatt Jan 30, 2025

We’re going a little bit country again this week on the Talkhouse Podcast—gotta keep you on your toes—with a pair of Nashville singer-songwriters who share a sensibility, some history, and sobriety, as you’ll hear. One of them, Margo Price, you’ve hopefully heard on the podcast before; the other, Lilly Hiatt, is a first-timer, but you’d never know it.

Price was a critical darling right out of the gate, and for good reason: Her debut album, released by Jack White’s Third Man Records, kicked some new life into country by looking both backward and forward. Since then, Price has released a series of great records as well as a phenomenal memoir called Maybe We’ll Make It. Last time she was on this podcast, Price was talking to former Tom Petty sideman Mike Campbell about a collaboration they did. That’s just the tip of the iceberg, and as you’ll hear in this chat, she’s got new music cooking, though nothing has been officially announced yet.

Lilly Hiatt has a famous last name in the music world—her dad is John Hiatt—but she’s cut her own path through Nashville, too. She rides a more adventurous side of the musical line, getting almost alt-rocky at some points. She’s opened for everyone from Drive-By Truckers to Hiss Golden Messenger to the Mountain Goats, which should tell you something right there. This week Hiatt is releasing a new album called Forever, which is the result of some serious self-reflection and a different, entirely scrapped set of songs. The album was mixed by Paul Kolderie, known for working on early Radiohead and Pixies records. Maybe that’ll also tell you something. Check out “Kwik-E-Mart” right here.

In this lively conversation, Price and Hiatt talk about getting back into the game, about working with their musician husbands—Jeremy Ivey and Coley Hinson, respectively—and they talk at length about getting and staying sober in a town where that’s not always so easy. I had never heard Nashville described as a “drinking town with a music problem” before. Enjoy.

Chapters:

0:00 – Intro

2:13 – Start of the chat

3:34 – Trying to stay in good health

9:36 – Finding balance in your work life

11:20 – Being married to a musician

16:06 – A day in the life

21:26 – On Lilly Hiatt's new album, 'Forever'

23:36 – On Nashville

26:36 – Favorite songs on 'Forever'

30:40 – On Price's upcoming record

33:05 – On sobriety

43:50 – Everything else on the horizon

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Lilly Hiatt and Margo Price for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the good stuff in the Talkhouse Podcast Network. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

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Bayker Blankenship with Waylon Wyatt Jan 23, 2025

I’m stating the extremely obvious here, but the music business has changed a bit since I started listening to and even writing about music—in some bad ways for sure, but also in some that are pretty fascinating and welcome. You can complain all you want about lowered attention spans, but social media has allowed a lot of talented voices to essentially skip past all the gatekeepers and get right to people’s ears.

Take today’s Talkhouse Podcast guests, Bayker Blankenship and Waylon Wyatt. They’re aspiring country stars from very small towns—Livingston, Tennessee and Hackett, Arkansas, respectively—who found fans—and each other—via TikTok. Both started out playing covers of big hits, but quickly pivoted to writing their own stuff, too. Blankenship has had viral hits with sweet, simple songs like “Tennessee Sunset” and “Maxed Out.” The two of them eventually met up in Nashville, convenient to both, and to the music world, and wrote a song called “Jailbreak,” which lit up social media. Check out that song right here.

These guys are much younger than your average Talkhouse guest—much younger, really, than most musicians who’ve gotten as far as they have, and it’s fun to hear them chat about their inspirations and their goals, which seem pretty modest at the moment: good tours, being able to meet fans, eventually getting a tour bus. I imagine they’ll have all that and more soon enough. They also cover a funny topic that I think more seasoned musicians have already dealt with—what to do when you’re on stage and nature calls. And they both talk about an abiding love for their mommas, which I’m sure their mommas will appreciate. Enjoy.

Chapters:

0:00 – Intro

2:05 – Start of the chat

4:38 – Upcoming 2025 gigs

8:40 – What to do when nature calls on stage

11:14 – Timing your sets

12:14 – Tour logistics

15:36 – Reflecting on finding success on TikTok

19:45 – Takeaways from 2024

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Bayker Blankenship and Waylon Wyatt for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the other great shows in our ever-growing network. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

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Paul Banks (Interpol) with Frank Black (Pixies) Jan 16, 2025

So picture this: It's 1994. The Pixies had been music-world darlings for half a decade or so, releasing some incredible records before fizzling to a stop. Their enigmatic singer, Black Francis, changes his name (again—his parents named him Charles Thompson) to Frank Black and embarks on a solo career that feels a little vexing at the time. His self-titled debut felt deeply connected to his old band, but for the next one, he struck an even richer songwriting vein: The songs kept coming and they turned into the double album Teenager of the Year, recorded with a crack studio band that included Eric Drew Feldman of Pere Ubu both as a player and producer.

Teenager of the Year wasn't particularly well received upon its release 30 years ago, but it has slowly been recognized as a high point in Black's career, celebrated as his masterpiece by those paying the closest attention. It may not get the widespread attention that Pixies' Doolittle does, but the love it gets might even run a little deeper, both from its creator and his biggest fans. It's meaningful enough that Black and the original band that created it have just embarked on an anniversary tour during which they'll play the whole record, and it's being re-released on gold vinyl, a gold record that should have been. You can find dates online, they'll be hitting major US cities throughout January, ending in New York February 1 before heading to Paris and London.

As a high school student, Paul Banks came to the Pixies via a love of Nirvana, and eventually found his way to Teenager of the Year, an album that—as you'll hear in this conversation—was massively important to him. Banks would of course go on to form the band Interpol, for which he has been the singer and guitarist since 1997. Their latest is 2022's The Other Side of Make-Believe, but Interpol has also been revisiting a beloved album recently, touring on the anniversary of their classic second record, Antics.

These two have a great chat about Teenager of the Year here, plus they talk about Black's kids and their musical ambitions, lyric writing in general, and the time Black was asked to audition for the part of a serial killer in a David Fincher movie. They also get into some specifics about Teenager of the Year songs, including a great story about album opener "Whatever Happened to Pong?" Enjoy.

Chapters:

0:00 – Intro

2:28 – Start of the chat

8:30 – Paul Banks on 'Teenager of the Year'

13:52 – The making of 'Teenager of the Year'

15:51 – How Frank almost became the Zodiac Killer (on the big screen)

18:10 – On characters in music

21:10 – On writing lyrics

24:15 – Film and book recommendations

28:22 – The formation of Frank Black's solo band

33:00 – On "Pong" and Pong

38:30 – Paul Banks on when he decided to become a musician

44:15 - The freedom of releasing music

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Frank Black and Paul Banks for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform and check out all the great shows on the Talkhouse Podcast Network. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range.

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Revisited: Ethel Cain with Wicca Phase Springs Eternal (2023) Jan 09, 2025

This episode originally aired on September 7, 2023.

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a pair of musicians who create with an air of mystery, but who have a fantastically straightforward chat here: Ethel Cain and Adam McIlwee.

Ethel Cain is a character created by Hayden Anhedonia, though one that’s been sort of all-consuming. Anhedonia began releasing music under the name in 2019, finding her sound and her vibe over the next couple of years before releasing the absolutely epic Preacher’s Daughter in May of 2022. The album, a concept collection about the life and ultimate demise of Ethel Cain, skillfully moves through sounds from a sort of Gothic Americana to slowcore to ambient sounds to who knows what, exactly, other than it’s thoroughly engaging. The album was pretty quickly hailed as a masterful debut, and Cain found herself not only the darling of the music world, but with some prominent modeling gigs as well. As you’ll hear in this chat, though, the spotlight has gotten a little bit bright for her taste lately. She’s currently on the European festival circuit, though she’ll head back to the States in October for sold-out shows at really interesting venues. Check out “Crush” right here.

Cain and today’s other guest, Adam McIlwee, go way back. He was an early supporter of her music, and appears on her Inbred EP under his most prominent alias, Wicca Phase Springs Eternal. Though he started his musical journey as part of the pop-punkish band Tigers Jaw, he’s moved in a dozen other directions since. He founded the emo-rap collective GothBoiClique back in 2012, which briefly counted Lil Peep among its members. As Wicca Phase, though, McIlwee combines synth-pop with more acoustic sounds and more hammering beats, depending on the track. His latest release under the name is self-titled, and it just came out in June. It’s well worth checking out. In fact, check out “Moving Without Movement” right here.

Now for two people who’ve created such interesting mystiques, this is a refreshingly down-to-earth conversation in which they talk about trying to carve out space as middle-class musicians who don’t expect to conquer the charts with their music—but who’d love to be able to make a decent living at it. They talk about what to do when you hit a touring wall—this chat took place not long after Cain fainted onstage in Australia—and how great Vicks Steam Inhalers are for singers. Hey Vicks, you might have a couple of spokespeople here if you play your cards right. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Hayden Anhedonia aka. Ethel Cain and Adam McIlwee aka. Wicca Phase Springs Eternal for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the other podcasts in our ever-expanding network. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

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Matty Matheson (The Bear) with Jennifer Castle Dec 19, 2024

One of the pleasures of putting the Talkhouse Podcast together is that the guests often leave their promotional hats at home and just dig into conversations about life, and that’s definitely what happened this week with Matty Matheson and Jennifer Castle.

Matty Matheson you’ll surely recognize either as a superstar chef and restaurateur who appeared on a bunch of VICE shows way back when—or if not that then as a star and consultant on the hit TV show The Bear, where he plays the sublimely ridiculous Neil Fak. Matheson has lived several lifetimes, building a reputation as a wild partier in his youth, which eventually led to a heart attack at just 29—that’s touched on briefly in this conversation. He’s also authored a bunch of super down-to-earth cookbooks, including the great new Soups, Salads, Sandwiches—you can guess what that one covers.

Matheson’s connection to singer-songwriter Jennifer Castle goes way, way back. They met working in Toronto restaurants and became good friends over the years: Castle sang at Matty’s wedding and she was a doula at the birth of his first child, a topic that comes up in this chat. Castle has been making music for the past 20 or so years, first under the name Castlemusic but more recently under her own name. Don’t let the gentleness of her indie-folk fool you; there’s a lot that cuts deep in her songs. Speaking of those songs, one of the songs from her latest album Camelot was featured in season three of The Bear—a great way for Matheson to help get the word out on the person he calls the greatest Canadian singer-songwriter ever. Check out “Blowing Kisses” right here.

In this lovely conversation, Castle and Matheson talk about how music and food can both bring people together, but they get really excited talking about two other natural pursuits: childbirth and farming. (Matheson co-owns a farm called Blue Goose that you’ll hear a bit about.) Matheson talks a bit about his family and his current book tour, and Castle shows off a touching gift that Matheson gave her many years ago. Enjoy.

0:00 – Intro

2:09 – Conversation starts

2:59 – Matty’s airport adventures

6:12 – “Eat little shrimps!”

8:10 – Matty loves Jennifer’s music, as you’ll see

12:10 – Matty gets melancholy about their shared Toronto past

21:25 – The birth of children and the birth of Blue Goose

36:58 – Living the creative life

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Matty Matheson and Jennifer Castle for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

This episode is brought to you by DistroKid. DistroKid makes music distribution fun and easy with unlimited uploads and artists keep 100% of their royalties and earnings. To learn more and get 30% off your first year's membership, visit: distrokid.com/vip/talkhouse

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Suki Waterhouse with Ashe Dec 12, 2024

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a pair of performers—and also friends—who recently collaborated on a great single: Suki Waterhouse and Ashe.

Waterhouse came into the public eye as a model and later an actress, but she’s always had a passion for music: As you’ll hear in this chat, she started recording songs before she had any notion that they might end up out in the world. Her slightly subdued Sub Pop debut came out in 2022, after which she had a sort of unexpected viral hit with an older song called “Good Looking.” A second album, the more upbeat Memoir of a Sparklemuffin, came out just a few months ago, and she’s been on tour behind it while also juggling new motherhood. In fact, she Zoomed into this conversation while visiting her movie-star dude in Boston before heading out to play more shows. (You can Google the boyfriend if you must know.)

The other half of today’s conversation is Ashe, a Nashville-based songwriter who had a pretty big hit with her 2019 song “Moral of the Story” and another a couple of years later with Finneas, “Till Forever Falls Apart.” But the grind of success forced Ashe to hit the brakes on her career for a bit in order to regroup and hang on to her sanity. But a collaboration with Waterhouse lit the spark for Ashe once again, and she came back this year with a great record called Willson—and retook the stage to perform their song, “Pushing Daisies” at the Greek Theater. Check out that song right here.

In this lively chat, Waterhouse and Ashe talk about the intensity of performing live in front of thousands of people, about how Suki is having fun playing the more lively songs from her new record, and about the need to not overschedule yourself, even when the pressure is on. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Suki Waterhouse and Ashe for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

This episode is brought to you by DistroKid. DistroKid makes music distribution fun and easy with unlimited uploads and artists keep 100% of their royalties and earnings. To learn more and get 30% off your first year's membership, visit: distrokid.com/vip/talkhouse

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Sound Influence - Episode 4: Andrea Cruz + Miguel Arteta Dec 10, 2024

Rising singer-songwriter Andrea Cruz shares how she fell in love with folk music as a young girl in Aibonito. We hear about how the plants, birds and animals of Puerto Rico have shaped the fabric of her work, and the profound ways in which her art connects her to the island she calls home. Hollywood film director Miguel Arteta recalls his colorful childhood in Río Piedras, shares the Puerto Rican role model who inspired him to pursue a creative career, and teases his upcoming project, which is set on the island of birth.

Sound Influence - Episode 3: José Rivera Dec 10, 2024

Oscar-nominated screenwriter and playwright José Rivera shares with us his rich memories, both old and new, of his time in Puerto Rico: of spiders, thunderstorms and a deep sense of community in his childhood town of Espino. We hear about the joy of watching one of his plays performed in Santurce alongside the family members who inspired it, and how the island has been a constant source of inspiration that has enriched so much of his work.

Sound Influence - Episode 2: Los Rivera Destino + Jaquira Díaz Dec 10, 2024

The Río Piedras-based comedy band Los Rivera Destino talk about their musical childhoods, how making a music video in Bayamón changed their lives and careers forever, and the extremely unlikely place that has become their source of inspiration. Award-winning author Jaquira Díaz shares how salsa, bacalaítos and coquís defined her time growing up in the east coast towns of Humacoa and Fajardo. We also hear the wild story her grandmother told about aliens in El Yunque, and Jaquira describes the incredible sense of adventure she feels every time she explores the island.

Sound Influence - Episode 1: Rita Moreno + Pachyman Dec 10, 2024

Legendary actress, singer, dancer and EGOT winner Rita Moreno shares memories of sugar cane, coquís and parrandas during her idyllic childhood in Humacao and Juncos. We hear about her recent trips back with Lin-Manuel Miranda, and how she almost turned down West Side Story because of her loyalty to the island. Dub star innovator Pachy García (aka Pachyman) opens up about growing up in Guaynabo’s vibrant reggae scene, the integral role Puerto Rico plays in his music now that he lives in Los Angeles, and the “unmistakable breeze” that greets him every time he comes back home to the island.

Tucker Zimmerman with Tony Visconti Dec 05, 2024

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got two guys with more than a hundred years of music-making experience between them and the endless stories to match: Tucker Zimmerman and Tony Visconti.

You’ll be forgiven if you don’t recognize Tucker Zimmerman’s name: The songwriter existed on the fringes of the folk scene in the late 1960s but in spite of acclaim from fellow musicians—including David Bowie, as you’ll hear—he never broke out. That may be because Zimmerman left America for Belgium, where he’s continued to quietly create music and write for the past 40 years. But you can only keep a secret like Zimmerman for so long, and Big Thief’s Adrianne Lenker happened to hear one of his records a couple of year ago and was inspired enough that one thing led to another and Big Thief ended up creating an entire record with Zimmerman called Dance of Love, which came out earlier this year. It’s an odd, beautiful collaboration that’s well worth checking out. In fact, check out “Burial At Sea” from Dance of Love right here; it features Lenker and Zimmerman’s voices together.

The other half of today’s conversation is a legendary musician and producer who also had a lot to do with bringing Tucker Zimmerman into the public consciousness. Tony Visconti is best known for his many, many collaborations with David Bowie, with whom he worked closely over Bowie’s entire career. Visconti has also produced records for T. Rex, Morrissey, Sparks, and way more others than I have time to list here. But for purposes of this conversation, we need to note that he helped created Zimmerman’s Ten Songs album back in 1968, which they get into in this chat. They’ve stayed in touch over the years, and you’ll hear the affection in their voices. Speaking of voices, the third person who pops up briefly in this chat is Tucker’s wife Marie Claire, who also appears on the cover of Dance of Love and contributes some vocals.

Elsewhere in this conversation, Tucker and Tony talk about their early adventures together, include an acid trip facilitated by a guy named Dr. Sam. They chat about Bowie, of course, and Tucker gets a chance to thank Tony for helping him out over the years—and how he’s glad Tony didn’t agree to produce an ABBA record when he had the chance. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Tucker Zimmerman and Tony Visconti for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and be sure to check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

This episode is brought to you by DistroKid. DistroKid makes music distribution fun and easy with unlimited uploads and artists keep 100% of their royalties and earnings. To learn more and get 30% off your first year's membership, visit: distrokid.com/vip/talkhouse

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Podcast Preview: Sound Influence: The Art and Soul of Puerto Rico Dec 04, 2024

Narrated by Luis Guzmán, Sound Influence: The Art and Soul of Puerto Rico pairs stories from some of the Island’s most exciting musicians, including Los Rivera Destino, Pachyman, and Andrea Cruz, with major artists outside of music, such as Hollywood film director Miguel Arteta, Oscar-nominated screenwriter Jose Rivera, author Jaquira Diaz, and legendary EGOT Rita Moreno. Listeners will get to know Puerto Rico’s incredible towns, cities, beaches, rainforests, mountains, bars, and dance clubs that not only shaped their work but ultimately influenced global culture. Sound Influence: The Art and Soul of Puerto Rico is a production of Talkhouse and Atlas Obscura, presented by Discover Puerto Rico.

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Matthew Caws (Nada Surf) with John Flansburgh (They Might Be Giants) Nov 21, 2024

On this week's Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got two of what I’m going to call alt-rock lifers, guys with vast catalogs and the stories to match, who’ve ridden the highs and lows over the years and continue to make fantastic music for dedicated fanbases: John Flansburgh and Matthew Caws.

Flansburgh is half the core of They Might Be Giants, one of the two Johns—along with Linnell—who started making quirky pop records about 40 years ago. They’ve released nearly two dozen albums, wriggling their way into the mainstream on occasion, from “Birdhouse in Your Soul” to the Malcolm in the Middle theme to popular albums aimed at kids. It’s been a remarkable ride that shows no signs of stopping; They MIght Be Giants is still on tour, still making new music, and still seeming to have as much fun as they ever did. Their latest record is called Book—it’s available in many formats including, you guessed it, a giant book—and there are some sparklers on it, including one in particular that the guys talk about in today’s episode. Check out “Brontosaurus.”

The other half of today’s conversation is Matthew Caws, singer and guitarist of the fellow New York band Nada Surf. Nada Surf had a really odd start to what’s turned into a long and fruitful existence. Their first album featured the song “Popular,” which turned into something of a novelty hit / summer anthem back in 1996. It wasn’t particularly representative of the band’s smart, layered pop—which is no knock on “Popular” itself—which confused their record label, Elektra. But after a bit of a slow period, Nada Surf found their way into indie-rock hearts with 2002’s Let Go, and they’ve earned a place in those hearts ever since. The tenth Nada Surf album came out earlier this year, and it’s among their best. It also features a surprisingly high number of more uptempo songs, as Flansburgh mentions in this chat. Check out “Second Skin” from Nada Surf’s newest album Moon Mirror.

In this chat Flansburgh and Caws take a deep dive into the genesis of “Popular,” which Caws had no idea would be a hit but is happy to still play. They also chat about Flansburgh’s love of the new Nada Surf record, both of their time on the same major label in the 1990s, and whether it’s appropriate for a band to take a group bow at the end of a good show. Enjoy.

0:00 – Intro

2:42 – Start of the chat

2:58 – Welcome to Fresh Air

9:45 – The unusual origins of "Popular'

17:45 – Nada Surf's ignoble split with Elektra Records

22:40 – John's theory on Matthew's doubled vocals

32:21 – The ups and downs of sharing your political point of view as a musician

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast and thanks to John Flansburgh and Matthew Caws for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

This episode is brought to you by DistroKid. DistroKid makes music distribution fun and easy with unlimited uploads and artists keep 100% of their royalties and earnings. To learn more and get 30% off your first year's membership, visit: distrokid.com/vip/talkhouse

Julien Baker with Medium Build Nov 14, 2024

On this week's Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a timely conversation recorded just hours after the presidential election was called, and yes, it was on their minds. It’s frequent Talkhouse alum Julien Baker and her old friend Nick Carpenter, aka. Medium Build.

Baker is a powerhouse singer and songwriter who’s best known these days as one third of the supergroup Boygenius—you’ll hear her refer in this chat to Lucy and Phoebe, her bandmates Lucy Dacus and Phoebe Bridgers. But we’ve been fans here since way before that; her amazing debut Sprained Ankle will be 10 years old next year, and she’s built herself an incredible catalog—and fanbase—since. Baker’s last solo album was 2021’s Little Oblivions, and I imagine there’s some new music coming in the not-terribly-distant future. She has loaned her powerful voice to other artists since, though, including her old friend Nick Carpenter’s project Medium Build—his new EP Marietta, out tomorrow, features a duet with Baker called “Yoke,” check out that song right here.

Carpenter, who’s based in Alaska, has made five full-lengths as Medium Build, and his deeply personal songs strike a chord in the same way that Baker’s do: They have similar backgrounds, having grown up queer in religious households in the South. As you’ll hear in this chat, Carpenter explores his background in his music, and his honesty tends to melt audiences that let him in.

I’ll be truthful: I thought these two were going to bail on chatting the morning after the election, and I wouldn’t have blamed them one bit. It doesn’t seem like the cheeriest time in America to be a proud member of a marginalized population. But I was so cheered up by listening to them talk: They’re not psyched, naturally, but they remain undeterred and committed to spreading honesty and love. Sure, there’s some earned cynicism about commercialism and the less pleasant parts of their jobs, but mostly it’s the joy of homies, sincerity, and consensual hugs with your local barista. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast and thanks to Julien Baker and Nick Carpenter for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

This episode is brought to you by DistroKid. DistroKid makes music distribution fun and easy with unlimited uploads and artists keep 100% of their royalties and earnings. To learn more and get 30% off your first year's membership, visit: distrokid.com/vip/talkhouse

MIZU and Asher White Talk About the New TRANSA Compilation Album Nov 07, 2024

On this week's Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a special episode recorded live just last weekend in New York featuring two artists that appear on an amazingly ambitious new conceptual compilation album called TRANSA, Asher White and MIZU. The album comes from our friends at the Red Hot organization, was conceptualized largely by Dust Reid and Massima Bell, and features more than 100 artists honoring trans and non-binary artists. There are huge names like Sade, Sam Smith, Andre 3000, indie heroes like Julien Baker and Laura Jane Grace, and incredible up-and-comers like today’s two guests, who worked on separate tracks. The whole thing comes out November 22, and you can pre-order it now. I won’t say much more because former Talkhouse producer Mark Yoshizumi was on hand to introduce Asher and MIZU at the event. Enjoy.

0:00 – Intro

1:39 – Producer Mark Yoshizumi Intro

5:01 – Start of the chat

12:20 – MIZU and Asher's differing musical backgrounds

20:00 – Ad break

22:20 – "The music that I made is aesthetically different than the music I consume"

25:15 – Musical processes

31:37 – The origins of MIZU and Asher's songs on the TRANSA comp

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to MIZU, Asher White, Mark Yoshizumi, and Honey Moon Coffee in Ridgewood. Also thanks to Urosh Jovanovich, who recorded the event, and Myron Kaplan, who produced this episode. The Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

This episode is brought to you by DistroKid. DistroKid makes music distribution fun and easy with unlimited uploads and artists keep 100% of their royalties and earnings. To learn more and get 30% off your first year's membership, visit: distrokid.com/vip/talkhouse

Preview: Afrofuturism: How Human Imagination Shapes Our Future Nov 04, 2024

A preview of the new season of Santigold's podcast, Noble Champions. Subscribe now.

Episode 1 with John Jennings and Terence Nance dives into Afrofuturism and the power of human imagination in shaping our future. In a time of global uncertainty, art that envisions a better world is essential. Santi sits down with acclaimed graphic novelist, comic book author, illustrator, and professor John Jennings, alongside artist, filmmaker, and musician Terence Nance (creator of HBO’s Random Acts of Flyness) for a rich discussion. Together, they explore the tools of imagination, the role of rituals, the concept of deindustrializing oneself, nonlinear time, and much more.

Revisited: Lake Bell with Santigold Oct 31, 2024

Note: This episode originally aired on June 20, 2019.

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, two good friends, actor-writer-director Lake Bell and singer Santigold, sit down for a long-awaited chat together. The pair are both very busy performers – Bell is hard at work on the second season of her new show Bless This Mess and can be heard in the new animated feature The Secret Life of Pets 2, and Santi recently dropped I Don't Want: The Gold Fire Sessions and just came back from a U.S. tour – but are also highly involved mothers, and a large focus of their talk is on the challenges of balancing family life with creative work. They discuss how you can’t in fact do it all or have it all, how the making art changes after you have kids, how filmmaking and parenting are (kind of) the same thing, plus Santi’s social media struggles, where the roots of Lake’s comedy lie, what Lake is doing to address the current political situation, Santi’s move into directing, and much, much more. For more filmmakers musicians in conversation, visit Talkhouse at talkhouse.com and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Episode recorded by Gideon Brower, and recorded and co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi at Hook & Fade Studios in Brooklyn.

The Talkhouse Podcast's theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

This episode is brought to you by DistroKid. DistroKid makes music distribution fun and easy with unlimited uploads and artists keep 100% of their royalties and earnings. To learn more and get 30% off your first year's membership, visit: distrokid.com/vip/talkhouse

Jay Som with Fashion Club Oct 24, 2024

On this week's Talkhouse episode we’ve got a pair of talented musicians in a chummy chat about making songs and making a life while making songs. It’s Melina Duterte, aka. Jay Som, and Pascal Stevenson, aka. Fashion Club.

Stevenson just released the second Fashion Club album, A Love You Cannot Shake, but it’s different enough than the first that it almost feels like a debut. That surely has something to do with the fact that it’s the first Fashion Club music since Stevenson’s gender transition; there’s a genre freedom that wasn’t as evident on the first one, which felt a bit closer to Stevenson’s indie-leaning band Moaning. A Love You Cannot Shake clearly honors big pop music but it frequently swerves before giving into any obvious trappings. She found some fantastic guests to add to the sideways fun, too, including Talkhouse Podcast alumni Perfume Genius and Julie Byrne as well as the other half of today’s conversation, Jay Som.

Now Jay Som made a splash with her first couple of bedroom-pop albums in 2015 and 2016, and though she hasn’t released a new album since 2019’s fantastic Anak Ko, she’s been busy nonetheless, both starting some new projects, producing for other musicians, and playing bass for the indie-rock supergroup Boygenius. She’s been working on new material of her own as well, and she had a song on the soundtrack to the critically acclaimed movie I Saw the TV Glow alongside like-minded artists like Caroline Polachek and The Weather Station. And of course there’s her contribution to the Fashion Club record, “Ghost.” Check out that song right here.

In this lively conversation, Stevenson and Duterte chat about songwriting, including Stevenson’s tendency to start with the biggest parts and Duterte’s opinion on what constitutes a “treat” while you’re producing. They tell each other toward the end of the conversation which pop star they’d most like to write for, and we learn that Stevenson’s specialty is what she calls “fucked-up ballads.” Enjoy.

0:00 – Intro

2:20 – Start of the chat

4:45 – On Fashion Club's album, A Love You Cannot Shake

9:20 – Melina loves Pascal's record

13:30 – Contrasting approaches to songwriting

16:36 – "Everyone's a little different when it comes to what I call 'treats'"

31:36 – "Do you think it's easier now to become a producer?"

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Pascal Stevenson and Melina Duterte for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

This episode is brought to you by DistroKid. DistroKid makes music distribution fun and easy with unlimited uploads and artists keep 100% of their royalties and earnings. To learn more and get 30% off your first year's membership, visit: distrokid.com/vip/talkhouse

Sylvan Esso with Libby Rodenbough Oct 17, 2024

I’m gonna call this week’s Talkhouse Podcast a very special episode, since it’s focused on a specific topic and also offers a call to action and hopefully some inspiration for you, the listener. It certainly did that for me, the host guy.

Our guests today are frequent Talkhousers Nick Sanborn and Amelia Meath, better known as Sylvan Esso, along with fellow North Carolina musician Libby Rodenbough, who’s played with a bunch of bands, most notably Mipso. These three share a home state, North Carolina, which as you know was hit hard by Hurricane Helene just a couple of weeks ago. The devastation that hit the western part of the state didn’t seem to get a ton of national media attention, perhaps because Helene was followed so quickly by Hurricane Milton. But as you’ll hear at the beginning of this conversation, parts of North Carolina have been affected in ways that will take years to bounce back from.

Just days after the storm, Rodenbough—along with David Walker and Grayson Haver Currin and lots of others—conceived of a fundraising effort to feature musician friends, many of whom have deep ties to the area. The idea quickly ballooned into a 135-song compilation called Cardinals at the Window, available on Bandcamp and featuring previously unreleased music from huge names like R.E.M., Phish, Jason Isbell, and Sylvan Esso along with tons of other folks, both native to the area and from well beyond. In just over a week, the compilation has raised over $300,000 to provide direct relief to people whose lives have been turned upside-down by the storm. The area will need lots more than that, of course, to get back on its feet, but it’s a heartening reminder that when given the chance to help, people still do, even when folks seem hopelessly divided.

That’s part of the focus of this chat: Meath, Sanborn, and Rodenbough have been out there helping people over the past couple of weeks, and while they’re crushed by the indescribable devastation that towns like Marshall, North Carolina have seen, they’re also heartened by the notion that its people have been quick to lend a hand to their neighbors. I found their actions and this conversation inspiring, and I hope you do, too. You can buy the compilation on Bandcamp or check out cardinalsatthewindow.org and lend a hand that way if you can.

0:00 – Intro

2:17 – Start of the chat

4:21 – For all you listeners out there, here's a summary of what's up.

10:23 – How being a touring musician inspires empathy

20:38 – "I've got a generator, and I've got room."

26:24 – Anarchy, anthropology, and helping each other

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Libby Rodenbough, Amelia Meath, and Nick Sanborn for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and definitely search Cardinals at the Window to see how you can help the people of North Carolina. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

This episode is brought to you by DistroKid. DistroKid makes music distribution fun and easy with unlimited uploads and artists keep 100% of their royalties and earnings. To learn more and get 30% off your first year's membership, visit: distrokid.com/vip/talkhouse

Pete Townshend (The Who) with The Wild Things Oct 10, 2024

We’ve had legends on the Talkhouse Podcast before, but perhaps none quite as legendary as Pete Townshend, who’s in conversation on today’s episode with a younger band he recently worked with, The Wild Things.

It seems a bit silly to offer a short bio of Townshend—after all, you have chosen to listen to a podcast about music, so you’re probably familiar—but here goes: Pete Townshend is the guitarist and primary songwriter of The Who, a band that cracked open the world of rock and roll in the early 1960s and inarguably changed the direction of popular music forever. He’s often credited as the first guitarist to treat feedback as an essential part of his sound, influencing the likes of Jimmy Page and Jimi Hendrix, among many others. And that was all 50 years ago: Townshend has built on the legacy of The Who since, continuing to make music with the only other surviving member, Roger Daltrey, as well as writing books, musicals, and opera. He also keeps his eyes and ears out for new music, even at age 79, which is where the other half of today’s chat comes in.

Two members of the UK band The Wild Things, Sydney Rae White and Rob Kendrick, met Townshend when they were cast in the musical stage production of The Who’s rock opera Quadrophenia. Though she’s spent much of her career acting—you may have seen her in the Netflix series Uncle or the Michael Keaton movie American Assassin—White’s passion seems to be focused at the moment on the band, which also includes her brother Cameron White and drummer Pete Wheeler. When it came time to record new Wild Things music, Townshend offered his help both as a musical ear and a man with a studio, which resulted in the new album Afterglow. Fittingly for a man with Townshend’s history, Afterglow is something of a concept album, which is a big topic of discussion here. Check out “My Heart is in New York” from Afterglow, which features a guest vocal from Townshend.

Townshend and the Wild Things talk about telling stories through your music, about concept albums, about working together to make Afterglow, about trying to connect with people in an overwhelming media world, and much, much more. Enjoy.

0:00 – Intro

2:32 – Start of the chat/the concept behind Afterglow

6:55 – Why Pete wanted to work with The Wild Things

16:06 – "You know, this is a real fucking Rick Rubin conversation!"

21:58 – The advantages to being able to experiment in the studio

29:15 – "The thing about Sid is that she can do fucking anything."

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Pete Townshend and all of the Wild Things for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting service, and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

This episode is brought to you by DistroKid. DistroKid makes music distribution fun and easy with unlimited uploads and artists keep 100% of their royalties and earnings. To learn more and get 30% off your first year's membership, visit: distrokid.com/vip/talkhouse

Reggie Watts with Delicate Steve Oct 03, 2024

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a great chat between two guys who’d never met before: Steve Marion, aka Delicate Steve, and the one and only Reggie Watts.

Delicate Steve is one of those monikers that describes both a person and a band, though Steve Marion has been the only constant member over the past 15 years or so. His music is largely instrumental, but you don’t miss the singing since his intricate, emotional guitar lines tend to do the work that a vocalist might otherwise do. His latest album is cheekily titled Delicate Steve Sings, and it’s a nod to records like Willie Nelson’s Stardust, mixing original compositions with covers and putting Delicate Steve’s inimitable guitar tone atop them all. Check out “I’ll Be There” from Delicate Steve Sings.

The career of today’s other guest, Reggie Watts, can be tough to describe. He’s part musician, part comedian, I guess, but that doesn’t begin to describe what it’s like to see his performances, which can include jokes, beatboxing, a variety of sampled sounds, and lots of improvisation. You may have seen Watts in his most mainstream role over the past decade as the announcer/bandleader for The Late Late Show With James Corden, where he was able to inject some spontaneity and weirdness into the late-night talk-show genre. His latest special is called Never Mind, and it seeks to warp the comedic spacetime continuum. I won’t spoil it by saying any more than that.

This chat starts with Delicate Steve talking about a mindblowing Reggie Watts performance that he saw recently, and heads into conversation about busting out of genre constraints, finding the brilliance in even the most popular pop, the Kanye West/Delicate Steve collaboration that was then wasn’t, and how there’s no substitute for sincerity. Enjoy.

0:00 – Intro

2:22 – "You are like Jimi Hendrix to me."

12:09 – The dance-music festival that Reggie thinks is the ideal.

17:05 – The Kanye/Delicate Steve collab that wasn't.

29:20 – Art meeting capitalism keeps sincere stuff extra cool

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Steve Marion and Reggie Watts for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please give us a review on your favorite podcasting platform and make sure you check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

This episode is brought to you by DistroKid. DistroKid makes music distribution fun and easy with unlimited uploads and artists keep 100% of their royalties and earnings. To learn more and get 30% off your first year's membership, visit: distrokid.com/vip/talkhouse

Show Me The Body with High Vis Sep 26, 2024

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a couple of guys who are big parts of hardcore’s current wave: Julian Cashwan Pratt of Show Me The Body and Graham Sayle of High Vis.

Show Me The Body was conceived when Pratt was still in high school in New York City, enamored of the town’s history of aggressive punk—and that music’s propensity for political lyrics. But Show Me The Body, like other current hardcore bands making waves in the past few years, doesn’t stick with the genre’s typical signifiers. For one, Pratt’s primary instrument is banjo, and it’s attached to sounds that draw not only from hardcore’s past, but also electronic blasts of noise and even some hip-hop. Show Me The Body’s latest album is called Trouble The Water, and it’s both tense and intense. It’s a hell of a listen, though the band needs to be seen live to fully experience it.

The other half of today’s conversation is Graham Sayle, whose band High Vis formed in London around 2016, and whose version of hardcore dials in a healthy dose of British post-punk. They’ve been described as a mix of Factory Records and Cro-Mags—that’d be the legendary label that spawned Joy Division and New Order plus the legendary New York hardcore band—which is sort of perfect. There are elements of goth in there as well, but with a smart, sneering energy that’s tough to deny. Show Me The Body and High Vis just started a US tour together, and they collaborated on a song and accompanying video that was just released on an EP called Corpus II EP II. You can find tour dates at showmethebody.com, and check out a little bit of their collaborative track, called “Stomach,” right here.

As hardcore dudes often do, these guys chatted about what hardcore means to them, including that sense of community you can’t get anywhere else. They also talk about how having a child has changed Pratt’s outlook a bit, but how he’s still fired up politically and ready to put it all out there on the stage. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Julian Cashwan Pratt and Graham Sayle for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please give the Talkhouse Podcast a review on your favorite platform, and don’t forget to check out all the good stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

This episode is brought to you by DistroKid. DistroKid makes music distribution fun and easy with unlimited uploads and artists keep 100% of their royalties and earnings. To learn more and get 30% off your first year's membership, visit: distrokid.com/vip/talkhouse

Sima Cunningham (Finom) with Helado Negro Sep 19, 2024

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a pair of fantastic songwriters in a sweet conversation about craft and life in general: Sima Cunningham and Roberto Lange.

Lange has been making fascinating, lovely music under the name Helado Negro since 2009, mixing breezy indie-rock with electronic sounds, frequently with more than a passing nod to his Ecuadorian roots. His sonic world is always inviting, even as it’s sort of otherworldly, and he often matches those sounds with cool visuals—which is no wonder considering his background in computer art. Earlier this year, Lange released the eighth Helado Negro album; it’s called Phasor, and it’s among his best, mixing tranquil sounds with his searching spirit. You might be lulled and puzzled at the same time, which is a great feeling. Check out the song “Colores del Mar” right here.

The other half of today’s conversation, Sima Cunningham, is best known as half the core of Chicago band Finom, originally known as OHMME. Finom released its Not God earlier this year, and it’s full of unexpected pop turns tied together by the harmony between Cunningham and her longtime musical partner Macie Stewart. But the occasion for today’s conversation is actually Cunningham’s second solo album, just out on Ruination Records. It’s called High Roller, and it explores a more personal side to her songwriter. For example, there’s a great song written for Cunningham’s brother Liam Kazar, himself a musician and one-time Talkhouse Podcast guest as well. Check out “For Liam” right here.

In addition to that song, which Lange points out as a favorite on High Roller, these two chat about Cunningham’s adventures in Ireland, what it’s like to create an on-stage persona and interact with your audience, and how Cunningham’s new album was a 10-year journey that was worth the wait. Enjoy.

0:00 – Intro

2:40 – Start of the chat

5:56 – Sima’s mom is the most punk-rock person in their musical family

14:58 – Roberto on getting to a certain age in music

15:39 – Finding new ways to have a love affair with your audience

22:39 – Sima on figuring out how to be honest and vulnerable with her solo material

29:59 – Sima on playing new Finom songs and trying to figure out where to play solo

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Sima Cunningham and Roberto Lange for chatting. If you like what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and be sure to check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

This episode is brought to you by DistroKid. DistroKid makes music distribution fun and easy with unlimited uploads and artists keep 100% of their royalties and earnings. To learn more and get 30% off your first year's membership, visit: distrokid.com/vip/talkhouse

Lucinda Williams with M. Ward Sep 12, 2024

On this week's Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got an absolute legend of a singer-songwriter in conversation with a guy who’s no slouch himself: Lucinda Williams and M. Ward.

Williams has been writing and recording incredible songs since the late 1970s, though she didn’t really break through in a huge way until 1998’s stone classic Car Wheels on a Gravel Road, which garnered her the Best Contemporary Folk Album Grammy—her second Grammy—but also some of the most well-deserved critical accolades of that year. She certainly didn’t rest on those laurels, having released close to a dozen more revered albums since, many of which found themselves also at the Grammy and Americana awards ceremonies—as well as in the hearts of listeners and other songwriters. Last year, Williams released a fantastic memoir about her journey from small-town Louisiana to the music business and beyond. It’s a lovely look at a life well lived called Don’t Tell Anyone the Secrets I Told You.

The other half of today’s conversation is M. Ward, another literate singer-songwriter with a varied career whose music can’t be easily pinned down—he’s been called folk, Americana, and indie-rock, none of which quite do his songs justice. Ward has been making records for 25 years now, and his discography includes not only thoughtful, beautiful solo records, but an entire catalog of albums made with actress Zooey Deschanel under the name She & Him. Ward’s latest is last year’s Supernatural Thing, another set of songs that feel like they exist out of time. Check out “Too Young to Die” from that album right here.

In this conversation, Ward and Williams talk about the time they worked together, when Williams contributed vocals to an M. Ward record back in 2009. Then they get into Williams’ memoir and just scratch the surface on her incredible life and career before the conversation turns to their literary influences and more. Enjoy.

0:00 – Intro

2:33 – Start of the chat

4:30 – Williams on the hard part of writing a memoir

8:13 – Ward reads his favorite passage from Williams' book

12:58 – Williams recalls meeting famous writers as a child

23:50 – "I want to be James Joyce!"

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast and thanks to Lucinda Williams and M. Ward for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

This episode is brought to you by DistroKid. DistroKid makes music distribution fun and easy with unlimited uploads and artists keep 100% of their royalties and earnings. To learn more and get 30% off your first year's membership, visit: distrokid.com/vip/talkhouse

Los Bitchos with Gaye Su Akyol Sep 05, 2024

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got two women from different parts of the planet who share a common heritage and creative outlook: Serra Petale and Gaye Su Akyol.

Petale is the guitarist for the multinational band Los Bitchos, which has been creating tough-to-pigeonhole instrumental music for the past seven years. The band’s membership and sound are both truly worldly: Petale is from Western Australia, and her bandmates are from Uruguay, Sweden, and the UK. As you’ll hear, they came together in London after Petale chased her musical dreams there, and they’ve made some incredibly fun music since, mixing sounds from Argentina, Turkey, and a sort of psychedelic surf-rock. Their first album, produced by Alex Kapranos of Franz Ferdinand, came with the incredible title Let The Festivities Begin!, and they just followed it with another album, the fully delightful Talkie Talkie. Check out that album’s “La Bomba” right here.

The other half of today’s conversation joins us from her home base in Turkey. Gaye Su Akyol has been making music—not to mention painting—for the past decade, gaining a worldwide following for records that take the flavors of her country and expand them in a dozen directions. She’s been politically and artistically outspoken throughout her time in the spotlight, and you can tell that won’t be changing anytime soon. The title of her latest album translates to Anatolian Dragon, and here’s a song whose title I won’t butcher, but that translates roughly to, “I want to, but there’s no hurry.” Even if you don’t understand the words, it’s easy to catch its groove.

I mentioned that these two share a background: Gaye grew up in Turkey, as did Serra’s grandparents—as it turns out pretty close to each other. So they chat a bit about that, and occasionally drop in some Turkish words as well. They chat about how women need to go the extra mile to get their art into the world, and about manifesting your dreams rather than waiting around. If that sounds a little rah-rah, Gaye actually says, jokingly, that they sound like a Nike commercial at one point. I found it fun and inspiring, and I hope you do too. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Serra Petale and Gaye Su Akyol for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

This episode is brought to you by DistroKid. DistroKid makes music distribution fun and easy with unlimited uploads and artists keep 100% of their royalties and earnings. To learn more and get 30% off your first year's membership, visit: distrokid.com/vip/talkhouse

Kathleen Hanna (Bikini Kill) with Jim Andralis Aug 29, 2024

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a legend of ‘90s-era punk in deep conversation with a songwriter you might be hearing of for the first time: Kathleen Hanna and Jim Andralis.

Hanna, of course, was a founding member of Bikini Kill, the band credited with starting the riot grrrl movement and inspiring an incredible number of young women to pick up guitars and claim their place in the rock universe. After Bikini Kill’s initial split, Hanna went on to perform in both The Julie Ruin and Le Tigre, though recent years have found her spitting fire with Bikini Kill yet again—they’re actually on tour now through September. Hanna also released an excellent memoir this year called Rebel Girl: My Life as a Feminist Punk, which is absolutely worth a read or an audiobook listen—Hanna reads it herself, and it’s awesome.

Hanna’s people approached us about having her chat with songwriter Jim Andralis because, as you’ll hear in this chat, she might be his biggest fan. Andralis is a New Yorker whose day job is as a trauma-focused psychotherapist, but who’s been writing songs for the past 20 or so years. Considering Hanna’s fandom, it might surprise you to learn that Andralis doesn’t come out of the punk tradition at all: He’s a songwriter in the classic sense, meaning it’s tough to pin him into a genre box—Kathleen tries a little bit here, but doesn’t come to any conclusions. Andralis recently released his fifth album, Ghosts, check out a song they chat about toward the end of this episode, it’s called “Carnival.”

Hanna and Andralis jump right into their chat here, and you can tell they’re old friends. As you’ll hear at the top, Hanna and her band were recently honored by Olympia, Washington with Bikini Kill Day, celebrating a lifetime of achievements. After that, Hanna gets straight to picking Andralis’ brain about his lyrics and songwriting. She interprets one song in particular that turns out to be… not quite right, but also exactly right? You’ll see. Enjoy.

0:00 – Intro

2:48 – Happy Bikini Kill Day!

9:26 – Kathleen tries to figure out what genre Jim's songs belong in

21:07 – Jim's song about political depression

32:48 – An appreciation of Jamey Johnson

39:05 – "What a dick, if I had written the song that way!"

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast and thanks to Kathleen Hanna and Jim Andralis for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

This episode is brought to you by DistroKid. DistroKid makes music distribution fun and easy with unlimited uploads and artists keep 100% of their royalties and earnings. To learn more and get 30% off your first year's membership, visit: distrokid.com/vip/talkhouse

David Pajo (Slint) and Cassie Berman (Silver Jews) with Tim Furnish (Crain) Aug 22, 2024

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a reunion of sorts, in celebration of a new release of old music: It’s David Pajo, Cassie Berman, and Tim Furnish.

These three met in the fertile Louisville scene of the early 1990s. Pajo played guitar in the wildly influential band Slint and went on to play with Tortoise, Royal Trux, Stereolab, and Interpol at various times over the years—he’s currently a member of Gang Of Four. But the subject of this conversation is Pajo’s sorta-solo career, which went through various M-names, from just M to Papa M and Aerial M. As Aerial M, Pajo brought on some friends for a brief time to tour Europe, where they recorded a Peel Session—more on that in a minute.

The friends that Pajo recruited to play in the Aerial M live band were Tim Furnish, whose legendary Louisville band Crain had broken up recently—and who has since recorded experimental rock with the band Parlour—as well as Cassie Berman and Tony Bailey. Berman had been kicking around in Louisville bands, too, and she would go on to join Silver Jews, the band fronted by her husband, David Berman. Drummer Tony Bailey, as you’ll hear, played in about a million bands in the area—he died, sadly, in 2009.

The reason for today’s reunion of the lineup that burned bright but quick is the release of Aerial M’s new Peel Sessions album. In case you’re unfamiliar, BBC DJ John Peel used to invite the coolest bands of his day—from the ‘70s into the 2000s—to record a few songs specifically for his show, many of which were later released with the same striking artwork. In 1998, Aerial M stopped by and recorded three songs that would turn out quite different to the versions Pajo crafted in the studio, and would really be the only evidence that this lineup left of its existence. Pajo was recently reminded of this session, so he set about tracking down the tapes, sprucing them up, and handing them over to Drag City for a proper release—including an amazing replica of those original John Peel Sessions sleeves. Check out the song “Vivea” right here.

I don’t think these three had sat down for a chat in a while, so it’s like sitting in on a reunion with three people who have a lot of fond memories. They talk about their '98 tour, including the recording of this record, plus they get into fond remembrances of Tony Bailey, racing Stereolab to the record store, and even what they’re up to now: Just a few days before this recording, Cassie Berman participated in a tribute to David Berman on the anniversary of his untimely passing, and Furnish has been working on some cool-sounding visual art for other bands. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to David Pajo, Cassie Berman, and Tim Furnish for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and be sure to check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com and in our wider podcasting network. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

This episode is brought to you by DistroKid. DistroKid makes music distribution fun and easy with unlimited uploads and artists keep 100% of their royalties and earnings. To learn more and get 30% off your first year's membership, visit: distrokid.com/vip/talkhouse

Revisited: Laurie Anderson with Darren Aronofsky Aug 15, 2024

Hello Talkhouse listeners! Instead of new episode this week, we've revisiting a great chat from several years back between artist/musician/many other things Laurie Anderson and filmmaker Darren Aronofsky (Pi, Black Swan, The Whale, etc.). The reason? Anderson has a new album out in a couple of weeks called Amelia, and it's all about famed aviator Amelia Earhart. If that sounds odd, it probably is, and in the best ways: Anything Anderson touches is worth your time. We'll be back next week with a new episode. Enjoy!

Note: This episode originally aired on January 26, 2016.

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Film podcast, in a special conversation recorded after a screening of Laurie Anderson's documentary Heart of a Dog, the acclaimed musician, artist, and filmmaker talks onstage with fellow New York director Darren Aronofsky, best known for his films Pi, Requiem for a Dream and Black Swan. The pair discuss Anderson's new film, which ponders questions of love, death, and language, and touch on such other diverse subjects as Herman Melville's discussions with his editor about Moby Dick and the problems that can come from putting batteries in one's mouth.

Episode engineered and edited by Elia Einhorn. Additional editing by Myron Kaplan.

This episode is brought to you by DistroKid. DistroKid makes music distribution fun and easy with unlimited uploads and artists keep 100% of their royalties and earnings. To learn more and get 30% off your first year's membership, visit: distrokid.com/vip/talkhouse

Perry Farrell (Jane’s Addiction) with Daniel Ash (Love and Rockets) Aug 08, 2024

If you had told 15-year-old me I’d be doing a podcast with today’s two Talkhouse guests, I would have asked you what the hell a podcast was before getting truly excited: It’s Perry Farrell and Daniel Ash.

Perry Farrell almost certainly needs to introduction, but here goes: He first found fame as the singer for Jane’s Addiction, a band that bridged the gap between glammy metal and some burgeoning genre called alternative rock, and is pretty largely responsible the latter becoming a thing. The end of Jane’s Addiction in the early 1990s was the beginning of Farrell’s other big creation, the Lollapalooza festival, which continues to this day—the U.S. version was just this past weekend in Chicago, as a matter of fact. Farrell has played with other people over the years, and the legendary Jane’s Addiction has reformed in various incarnations over the years. But the big news for 2024 is that the band’s original lineup has reformed both to play shows and even to record some new music. Check out the band’s brand new song, “Imminent Redemption.”

This week, Jane’s Addiction will embark on a U.S. tour with the band of today’s other guest, Daniel Ash. Love and Rockets formed from the ashes of the legendary goth band Bauhaus, and features three of that band’s four members. The original Love and Rockets run, from 1985 until 1998, resulted in a legendary string of albums that was influential on an entire generation of tough-to-define bands, a list that definitely includes Jane’s Addiction. Love and Rockets has reformed a couple of times over the years, the latest being a successful run last year that marked their first shows in 15 years. It doesn’t seem like there’s any brand new music on the horizon for Love and Rockets, though last year’s My Dark Twin gathered some hard-to-find tracks. For now, why not refamiliarize yourself with their biggest hit, 1989’s “So Alive.”

In advance of their co-headlining tour, Farrell and Ash talked about how they keep fit enough to rock this hard all these years later, which includes taking a day off between each show and utilizing superfoods instead of hard drugs. Ash talks about how three of the biggest songs of his career were written and recorded in one day each, as well as how Ziggy Stardust changed his life forever. They also chat about the joy of collaboration and the potential up and downsides of AI. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Perry Farrell and Daniel Ash for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

This episode is brought to you by DistroKid. DistroKid makes music distribution fun and easy with unlimited uploads and artists keep 100% of their royalties and earnings. To learn more and get 30% off your first year's membership, visit: distrokid.com/vip/talkhouse

Joe Keery (Stranger Things) with Wayne Coyne (The Flaming Lips) Aug 01, 2024

We’ve got a bit of a strange one for you on this week's Talkhouse Podcast. Back during the darkest days of the pandemic, we hosted an Instagram live chat between Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips and actor/musician Joe Keery, who at the time was best known as part of the cast of Stranger Things.

Keery is also a musician, having released music with his band Post Animal, and he was just starting to release music under the name Djo. Keery had a pretty big viral hit with a Djo song this year: You may have heard “End Of Beginning.” If you haven’t, check it out right here.

Anyway, we figured that a lot of folks may have missed that conversation, so now would be the perfect time to resurface it in slightly edited podcast form. These two had never met, but they jump into a great chat about songwriting, Miley Cyrus’s house—which is where Coyne was dialing in from—and lots more, including how Coyne and his Flaming Lips bandmate Steven Drozd are like french fries and salt, about how listening is equally vital in music and acting, and much more. Enjoy.

0:00 – Intro

1:40 – "This is Wayne Flaming Lip" getting himself connected

6:25 – Joe's thoughts on the Flaming Lips' live show, which Wayne thinks isn't really about the band

10:57 – Wayne asks Joe how making music is different than being directed

22:52 – "You have to listen to your own music!"

29:41 – Making music and creating art shouldn’t be a sacrifice

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Wayne Coyne and Joe Keery for time traveling from 2020 for this episode. It was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

This episode is brought to you by DistroKid. DistroKid makes music distribution fun and easy with unlimited uploads and artists keep 100% of their royalties and earnings. To learn more and get 30% off your first year's membership, visit: distrokid.com/vip/talkhouse

Oneohtrix Point Never with Gastr del Sol Jul 25, 2024

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got a fantastic chat featuring three boundary-pushing musicians that turns into a lovefest: It’s Daniel Lopatin, better known as Oneohtrix Point Never, along with David Grubbs and Jim O’Rourke, who were known together as Gastr del Sol.

Lopatin has created an incredible body of experimental records over the past 20 or so years. His woozy, sample-heavy early material had him pegged as the inventor of vaporwave, but he never stays in the same musical place very long. He broke through to a different audience with soundtracks for the Safdie brothers’ movies Good Time and Uncut Gems, and Lopatin is also heavily responsible for the sound of The Weeknd’s records, where he’s credited as an executive producer. The tenth Oneohtrix Point Never album, called Again, came out late last year, and once again it found Lopatin utilizing a new set of inspirations, one of which was the post-rock movement of the 1990s, which figures heavily into today’s conversation. More on that in a minute, but first check out “Again,” the title track from the latest Oneohtrix Point Never album.

Featured on that track was none other than Jim O’Rourke, an experimental musician and producer perhaps best known to the pop-music world for working on Wilco’s Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and A Ghost Is Born. But O’Rourke’s cv is far too vast to dive into here, and the focus of this conversation is his 1990s collaboration with fellow musician David Grubbs in a band called Gastr del Sol. That duo burned bright for a few years, amassing a catalog that’s difficult to pin down, ranging as it does from arch orchestral pop to more rangy, experimental songs. They disbanded in 1998, leaving the world on a high note with their poppiest yet perhaps weirdest set of songs, Camofleur. Gastr del Sol’s legend has only grown in the meantime, and they finally got around to releasing some new-old material just this year, in the form of a combination live album/rarities set called We Have Dozens of Titles. True to their ethos, it’s neither a standard odds and ends package or a greatest hits, but rather combines an excellent live recording—of what turned out to be their final concert—and songs that had been previously orphaned on various compilations. Check out “The Seasons Reverse” here, which is referenced in this chat.

Speaking of this chat… Talkhouse conversations are usually more two-way streets than this one, but it turns out that Daniel Lopatin is a huge Gastr del Sol geek, so he ends up asking most of the questions. He’s got deep-seated opinions and interesting theories on their music: They chat about getting into music, about specific passages in Gastr songs, about the idea of indie-rock as a genre, and about the time Gastr del Sol was asked to license a song for a tentacle porn movie. Oh, and Daniel calls Gastr del Sol’s music trashy. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Daniel Lopatin, Jim O’Rourke, and David Grubbs for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time.

This episode is brought to you by DistroKid. DistroKid makes music distribution fun and easy with unlimited uploads and artists keep 100% of their royalties and earnings. To learn more and get 30% off your first year's membership, visit: distrokid.com/vip/talkhouse

Rick Mitarotonda (Goose) with M.C. Taylor (Hiss Golden Messenger) Jul 18, 2024

On this week's Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got what might seem like an unlikely pairing, but one that makes sense when you dive into it: Rick Mitarotonda from Goose and M.C. Taylor of Hiss Golden Messenger.

If you’re not into the jam-band world, Goose might not be super familiar to you yet, but in that world, the Connecticut band is absolutely massive, moving from clubs to amphitheaters over the past few years. And while jam bands themselves are pretty common—the barrier to entry isn’t super high—very few have reached these heights, and after a decade Goose already find themselves in the vaunted company of bands like Phish and Dead and Company. It’s kind of obvious why: They are fantastic players, and their songs offer more than just extended noodling. It makes sense that they’re not influenced just by their jam forebears, but by jam-adjacent indie kingpins like Radiohead. And they’ve even got the stamp of approval of Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Koenig, who asked them to cover his band’s song “2021”—and to stretch it out to 20 minutes and 21 seconds. The latest Goose album is Dripfield from 2022, but as you’ll hear in this chat, they’ve got a couple more in the works. Check out their song “Give It Time” right here.

As the primary creative force behind Hiss Golden Messenger, M.C. Taylor has amassed an incredible catalog over the past 15 or so years. He was initially lumped in with the alt-country scene and later with the likes of Will Oldham and Bill Callahan, Hiss records kind of defy categorization, though I should mention that 2019’s Terms Of Surrender was nominated for the Best Americana Album Grammy. Taylor’s latest album as Hiss Golden Messenger is called Jump For Joy, and the title is reflective of what’s inside: It’s looser and more playful and even groove-oriented at moments, a new move but not an unwelcome one for sure. Check out “Sanctuary” right here.

In this chat, Rick and M.C. chat about making studio records versus playing live, and they get into the fundamental question of how songs are written. Answer: It’s different for everybody. They both reflect, oddly, on the Hare Krishna world, and Rick decides that Goose is more like a sitcom or a sports team than a band. Enjoy.

0:00 – Intro

2:48 – Start of the chat

4:04 – What are you listening to right now?

12:05 – Rick’s musical awakening

19:01 – Long songs versus short ones. “It’d be sick to have some short bangers.”

24:36 – Goose’s recent lineup change and how that might affect things.

36:16 – The difficulty of writing new songs while on tour.

Thanks for listening, and thanks to Rick and M.C. for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by The Range. See you next time!

This episode is brought to you by DistroKid. DistroKid makes music distribution fun and easy with unlimited uploads and artists keep 100% of their royalties and earnings. To learn more and get 30% off your first year's membership, visit: distrokid.com/vip/talkhouse

Ruston Kelly with Sasha Alex Sloan Jul 11, 2024

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a pair of songwriters who’ve both been through some tough times and emerged all the better for them: Ruston Kelly and Sasha Alex Sloan.

There was no disguising the fact that Ruston Kelly’s third album, last year’s The Weakness, was deeply informed by his divorce from singer-songwriter Kacey Musgraves, with lines like “My marriage ended and I moved up north to mend.” But the album isn’t weepy or wallowing; in fact, it’s musically the most lively piece of Kelly’s catalog so far, sonically bigger and wider than anything he’s done before. It’s one of those close-one-door-and-other-opens kind of records, at times contemplative—he once cheekily described his music as “self-help rock”—but also not afraid to be playful and catchy.

The other half of today’s conversation is Kelly’s pal Sasha Alex Sloan, whose early career was kind of pop-focused. She had a co-write on a Juice WRLD song and did a huge duet with Sam Hunt that’s alluded to in today’s chat. But in spite of her pop leanings, Sloan’s music always has an undercurrent of self-examination. She left the major label that had released her first two albums recently and fully embraced a more inward-looking style for the new Me Again, which leans toward simplicity more than her past records. It’s still catchy as hell, of course, just with a more mature edge. The album also features a duet with Ruston Kelly on the fading-relationship song “Falling Out Of Like.” Check it out.

In this candid conversation, Kelly and Sloan talk about the vulnerability of making music—and how Sloan is handling the anxiety of putting out a less pop-oriented set of songs. Kelly talks about the pros and cons of a recent stripped-down tour he did, and they both reflect on the challenges of opening for bigger artists. We also get thoughts on nicotine, Shark Tank, and more. Enjoy.

0:00 – Intro

2:22 – Start of the chat

6:40 – On parental TMI

13:37 – Sloan’s concerns about whether her new record is as commercial as her past work

24:05 – Kelly’s recent bare-bones tour, and what he learned

31:50 – "I feel icky talking out financial sh-t as an artist"

41:03 – “There were some 14 year olds there. There are braces happening. I’m up here singing about hardcore drug addiction.”

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Ruston Kelly and Sasha Alex Sloan for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the other great podcasts in our network. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

This episode is brought to you by DistroKid. DistroKid makes music distribution fun and easy with unlimited uploads and artists keep 100% of their royalties and earnings. To learn more and get 30% off your first year's membership, visit: distrokid.com/vip/talkhouse

Jerry Harrison (Talking Heads) with Carlos Arévalo (Chicano Batman) Jun 27, 2024

The inspiration for the pairing on this week's Talkhouse Podcast goes back 40 years, to one of the greatest concert films—maybe the greatest concert film—ever made, Stop Making Sense. We’ve got Jerry Harrison and Carlos Arévalo.

Harrison was of course the keyboard player and sometimes guitarist behind one of the most influential and groundbreaking bands of the 1970s and 80s, Talking Heads. The band’s legacy can’t be overstated; they made eight incredible studio albums before splitting up in 1991, they’re in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and their impact on both other musicians and the culture at large has been enormous. And in addition to all of those studio records, Talking Heads—along with director Jonathan Demme—made Stop Making Sense, the audacious live document of the band from 1983. The film was lovingly restored for its 40th anniversary last year, with both the visuals and audio painstakingly refreshed—the latter in no small part due to Harrison’s efforts. Celebrating this reissue has been the closest thing to a Talking Heads reunion that the world has ever seen—or likely will see. They’ve gotten onstage together to talk about it, but the likelihood of them playing together again seems very slim. But during the band’s tenure and even more so afterward, Harrison made a career for himself as a producer for other bands, manning the boards for some incredibly successful records, some of which you’ll hear about in today’s chat. From Live to No Doubt and beyond, he’s had a hand in some really big ones.

Along with the Stop Making Sense re-release came a star-studded tribute album called Everyone’s Getting Involved: A Tribute to Talking Heads’ Stop Making Sense, and that’s where today’s other guest comes in. The album features contributions from heavy hitters like Paramore, Lorde, and The National, but one of the best tracks is by Arévalo’s band, Chicano Batman. The Los Angeles group has been around since 2008, mixing up a genre-defiant stew of psychedelia and R&B with bits of indie-rock and Latin flair. On the trio’s latest album, Notebook Fantasy, they stretch out a bit more than usual, allowing some extra breathing room for the songs. That’s not necessarily the case for their contribution to the Talking Heads tribute album, though: They do a pretty faithful rendition of the frenetic “Crosseyed and Painless,” re-creating its indelible groove and then adding their own flavor. Check out that cover right here.

In this conversation, Harrison and Arévalo talk about how Chicano Batman approached their Talking Heads cover—including the special guests they brought in to help. Then Arévalo, a budding producer himself, picks Harrison’s brain about some of the records he’s produced over the years, from Live to Les Butcherettes to No Doubt. Great stories abound, enjoy.

0:00 – Intro

2:34 – Start of the chat

4:06 – Jerry's thoughts on Chicano Batman's cover

8:28 – Talking about Jerry's production work, starting with the first Live album

19:20 – Carlos on <em>Notebook Fantasy</em> and studio techniques

24:05 – Producing No Doubt's "New"

34:40 – Jerry loses his car while mixing "Girlfriend is Better"

38:45 – On how Chicano Batman's cover of "Crosseyed and Painless" came to be

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Jerry Harrison and Carlos Arévalo for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

This episode is brought to you by DistroKid. DistroKid makes music distribution fun and easy with unlimited uploads and artists keep 100% of their royalties and earnings. To learn more and get 30% off your first year's membership, visit: distrokid.com/vip/talkhouse

Meshell Ndegeocello with David Harrington (Kronos Quartet) Jun 20, 2024

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’re diving deep into a chat inspired by two tribute albums to an incredibly influential musician, Sun Ra. Joining us are Meshell Ndegeocello and David Harrington.

And oh man, do I have my work cut out for me in trying to introduce these incredible people and their careers—I won’t even scratch the surface. Meshell Ndegeocello’s biggest foray into the public consciousness, strangely enough, came on a duet with John Mellencamp in the mid-’90s, but that’s not at all indicative of her wide-ranging career, which also includes everything from go-go music to neo-soul to jazz to rapping on a Madonna song. These days, the Grammys had to create an entirely new category for what she does: She just won the first-ever Grammy award for Alternative Jazz for last year’s The Omnichord Real Book. It’s no surprise given her musical serachings that Ndegeocello is also deeply inspired by Sun Ra, the legendary out-there jazz composer and performer who traveled through time and space until leaving our planet in 1993. His legacy lives on, though, and Ndegeocello recently released Red Hot & Ra: The Magic City, which features new compositions, old sounds, and a fresh look not just at Ra’s work but his musical spirit. It’s hard to explain, but check out “Bedlam Blues” from The Magic City right here.

Today’s other guest is David Harrington, founding member of Kronos Quartet, which has been expanding the music world for 50 years. I’d be a fool to try and sum up everything they’ve done and everyone with whom they’ve performed over the years, but do yourself a favor and Google them if you’re not familiar. I’ll just say that Kronos has pushed the envelope from just about every conceivable angle and expanded the scope and understanding of classical music, pop music, experimental music and much more. They’ve done film scores that you’ve definitely heard and deep dives into fringe classical compositions that you almost certainly haven’t. So it’s no wonder that they, too, like Ndegeocello, have found the wonder and mystery in Sun Ra’s music, and that they’ve put together their own tribute in the Red Hot and Ra series. Theirs is called Outer Spaceways Incorporated: Kronos Quartet and Friends Meet Sun Ra. The friends on their volume of the series include Laurie Anderson, Marshall Allen, Laraaji, Moor Mother, Terry Riley, and more. Check out “Outer Spaceways Incorporated,” which features Georgia Anne Muldrow, right here.

I should mention too that both of these albums are being released by the Red Hot organization, which has been raising money and awareness for good causes—initially AIDS research, and now that and more—since 1989. The Red Hot and Ra series is just the latest in a long line of albums that push musical boundaries while also serving humanity, so kudos to them—and to former Talkhouse host Elia Einhorn, who’s been working with the Red Hot folks on these Sun Ra tributes.

In this great conversation, Harrington and Ndegeocello talk, naturally, about Sun Ra, and they get granular with it, touching on MLK’s "I Have A Dream" speech and its relationship to this music. They also chat about bringing more women into composition—a Kronos mandate since the beginning—as well as how finding Sun Ra changed Ndegeocello’s musical path completely. Harrington also shares a great story about rehearsing with Ornette Coleman. Bonus! Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Meshell Ndegeocello and David Harrington for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

This episode is brought to you by DistroKid. DistroKid makes music distribution fun and easy. To learn more and get 30% off your first year's membership, visit: distrokid.com/vip/talkhouse

Marc Maron with Paige Stark Jun 13, 2024

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got a popular comedian, podcaster, and actor in conversation with a musician-slash-director who released their first song together earlier this year: Marc Maron and Paige Stark.

Maron is of course the host of the long-running interview podcast WTF, but that’s really just the headline on a long and winding career. He was of course first known—and is still known!—as a top-tier stand-up comedian whose shows are often discursive explorations of his own psyche while also being wildly funny. He’s also an actor, having been a regular on the Netflix series GLOW and a lead in a couple of dramatic movies, including To Leslie, which comes up in this conversation, and Sword of Trust, which was directed by Maron’s girlfriend Lynn Shelton, who died unexpectedly in 2020. That fact worked its way into Maron’s latest stand-up special, last year’s brilliant From Bleak to Dark. Oh, and he also dabbles as a musician, having played guitar in bands in his school days, and keeping it up mostly as a hobby since.

That’s where singer and songwriter Paige Stark comes in. A friend of Maron’s, she recruited him recently to play some "searing" guitar and duet with her on a cover of Love’s 1966 song “Signed DC.” Stark has been kicking around the L.A. music scene for years, most notably as part of the band Tashaki Miyaki, whose name is the subject of discussion in this podcast. Stark only recently began releasing music under her own name, including a bunch of singles this year that feature friends like Cherry Glazerr, Jon Brion, and of course Maron. Stark is also an actor and director who’s working on a narrative short at the moment. Busy busy. Check out the duet she did with Maron on “Signed DC.”

This funny, wide-ranging conversation covers everything from the recording of this duet to Maron’s guitar setup to Stark’s substance-fueled nights out in Los Angeles. They also clearly love talking about music, dissecting everything from Nick Cave to Bob Dylan and beyond. Enjoy!

0:00 - Intro

2:27 - Start of the chat/Trying to figure out Talkhouse

8:14 - Periods of self-doubt and Maron's confidence in singing

20:16 - "I don't know that many comedians."

29:20 - Paige's party years

33:26 - "You're one of my favorite actors"—Stark

37:18 - Maron's junior high and high school bands

45:55 - New bands Maron has recently seen

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Marc Maron and Paige Stark for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the good stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

This episode is brought to you by DistroKid. DistroKid makes music distribution fun and easy with unlimited uploads and artists keep 100% of their royalties and earnings. To learn more and get 30% off your first year's membership, visit: distrokid.com/vip/talkhouse

Frank Turner with Billy Bragg Jun 06, 2024

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got two singer-songwriters who both come from the tradition of socially conscious folk-punk. One of them you could credit with inventing the genre, the other may be its most popular current proponent: Billy Bragg and Frank Turner.

Billy Bragg is a legendary British performer who came up just after the punk boom of the late 1970s and channeled that energy into the style of a solo troubadour. His early records were massively influential to all sorts of musicians, which is no surprise given their wit, their lyrical pointedness, and how beautifully they capture the spirit of youthful engagement. But that was 40 years ago, and Bragg has created an incredible body of work that’s always expanding but never losing that kernel of truth. It got really easy to catch up with the whole thing recently, as he released a massive 14-CD box set called The Roaring Forty, which you’ll hear a little bit about in this chat. Bragg also has some US dates lined up for this July. Check out a classic Bragg track right here, one that today’s other guest references in this chat. This is “Tank Park Salute.”

Frank Turner mentions that song as well as some other Bragg classics in this chat, because he’s clearly a big fan. Turner has been doing it for two decades now, and he’s an absolute road warrior: Next week will mark his 3000th gig, a big number recently aided by a world record he set in which he played 15 shows in different cities in the span of 24 hours. True to his ethic, this wasn’t a publicity stunt, but also a way to support one of the many causes he believes in—in this case the Music Venue Trust. Those shows came hot on the heels of Turner’s tenth album, Undefeated, in which he reckons a bit with getting older but remaining true to himself and the things he believes in. That feeling is perfectly encapsulated in the relatively chill “Ceasefire,” check it out.

In this great chat, Bragg and Turner talk about everything from Bragg’s first US tour to their moments of musical awakening. Turner hilariously talks about his inner 15 year old giving him shit for being successful, as well as an old punk mentor who came to see him at Wembley. They talk about how activism and understanding change over the years, and how one of Bragg’s biggest songs, “Sexuality,” has morphed in this age of trans visibility. And they talk about how music—especially live music—as a chance for communion, which is something I imagine most Talkhouse listeners can relate to. Enjoy.

0:00 - Intro

3:00 - Start of the chat

4:58 - Where to look while you're on stage performing

8:04 - Who's the most famous person in Frank Turner's phone?

16:11 - How to sustain yourself in the music industry

18:50 - Turner's upcoming 3000th gig

24:24 - Frank's 15-year-old inner punk judges his current chart success

29:45 - Staying true to your 25 year old self

44:58 - People choose the wrong Frank and Billy songs for their weddings

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Frank Turner and Billy Bragg for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

This episode is brought to you by DistroKid. DistroKid makes music distribution fun and easy with unlimited uploads and artists keep 100% of their royalties and earnings. To learn more and get 30% off your first year's membership, visit: distrokid.com/vip/talkhouse

Amelia Meath (Sylvan Esso) with Fabi Reyna (Reyna Tropical) May 30, 2024

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a favorite repeat guest alongside a newer name you perhaps haven’t heard yet: Amelia Meath and Fabi Reyna.

Meath is half of the duo Sylvan Esso, which has been crafting gorgeous electro-pop for the past decade. It’s been amazing to watch Meath and her partner Nick Sanborn grow over the years, building a catalog and fanbase with songs that are equally enjoyable on headphones and in front of massive crowds. Speaking of massive crowds, Sylvan Esso has been trying to figure out for years how to play to all the people that want to see them in their adopted hometown of Durham, North Carolina, and this weekend marks their inaugural Good Moon Festival at a minor-league stadium. They’ll be joined by other great bands including co-headliner Fleet Foxes, plus a lineup of hand-picked bands including today’s other guest, Fabi Reyna.

Reyna is the driving force behind Reyna Tropical, whose debut album Malegria was recently released on the Psychic Hotline label, which is run by none other than… Sylvan Esso. Reyna has long been an advocate for women in music; she’s not only a musician herself but also founder and editor of She Shreds Media. It’s a fantastic, bouncing album that plucks influences from all over the world: Reyna is Mexican-American, and she pulls sounds from all over the Southern Hemisphere as well as West Africa and sultry pop. Check out “Cartagena” from Malegria right here.

In this great chat, Meath and Reyna talk about the upcoming Good Moon festival, about how playing in front of unfriendly audiences can sometimes be helpful, about the loss of Reyna’s musical partner Nectali Diaz, aka Sumohair, the just-released tenth anniversary reissue of Sylvan Esso’s great debut album and much more. Enjoy.

0:00 - Intro

2:14 - Start of the chat

3:42 - Anxiety, a constant companion.

5:58 - What to do when the audience isn't there for you.

12:26 - On naming the Good Moon festival.

15:20 - On Amelia's favorite part of a festival.

25:48 - On overcoming imposter syndrome.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Amelia Meath and Fabi Reyna for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

This episode is brought to you by DistroKid. DistroKid makes music distribution fun and easy with unlimited uploads and artists keep 100% of their royalties and earnings. To learn more and get 30% off your first year's membership, visit: distrokid.com/vip/talkhouse

Craig Finn with Matthew Houck (Phosphorescent) May 23, 2024

Greetings, Talkhouse friends. Instead of a Talkhouse episode this week, I wanted to share another episode of my pal Craig Finn’s show, That’s How I Remember It, which is just starting its third season. Craig has an incredible array of guests lined up, and he’s switching to a new schedule where he’ll have new episodes every other week without a break. That means more amazing chats for you, including this one with Phosphorescent’s Matthew Houck. Craig and Matt chat about the philosophy behind That’s How I Remember It—it’s a podcast about creativity and memory—as well as an early meeting between the two, Phosphorescent’s mighty “Song For Zula” and much more. I’ll be back next week with your regularly scheduled programming, but for now, give That’s How I Remember It your attention. See you next week!

0:00 - Intro

2:41 - "Do you think you have a good memory?"

3:58 - The origins of That's How I Remember It

8:43 - Craig vs. Matt's approach to songwriting

13:14 - "Do you have a first memory of music?

23:00 - "Do you connect music with seasons?"

35:53 - Craig and Matt first meeting at SXSW 2010

36:52 - "Did the Full Moon Project ... affect your own songwriting?"

43:30 - "Song For Zula" - "Did it surprise you?"

46:45 - "Has traveling/moving changed your music?"

This episode is brought to you by DistroKid. DistroKid makes music distribution fun and easy with unlimited uploads and artists keep 100% of their royalties and earnings. To learn more and get 30% off your first year's membership, visit: distrokid.com/vip/talkhouse

Bill Janovitz (Buffalo Tom) with Joe Pernice (Pernice Brothers) May 16, 2024

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got two incredible singer-songwriters who sprung from the same fertile late '80s/early '90s scene, and who are still doing it right all these years later: Joe Pernice and Bill Janovitz.

Joe Pernice first found notice in the country-ish pop band Scud Mountain Boys, whose home-recorded songs landed them a deal with Sub Pop in the mid-1990s. The Scuds weren’t around super long, but their end was the beginning of the Pernice Brothers, Joe’s long-running band that continues to put out excellent, often melancholy songs. The latest Pernice Brothers album—and by the way, he’s really the only constant member at this point—is called Who Will You Believe, and it stands up there with his incredibly durable catalog. In addition to writing and playing songs, Pernice wrote a great novel a while back called It Feels So Good When I Stop, and he even had a short stint writing for TV. But for now, he’s concentrating on music. Check out “December in Her Eyes” from Who Will You Believe.

The other half of today’s conversation, Bill Janovitz, has been the singer and guitar player for the band Buffalo Tom since their inception back in 1986, and while there have been quieter periods in there, they’ve consistently released records, including the new Jump Rope, which comes out on May 31. Buffalo Tom came out of the same incredible Boston/Amherst music scene that birthed Pernice Brothers, Pixies, Dinosaur Jr., Sebadoh, and many more, and these guys dive right into reminiscing about those fertile days. In addition to making music, Janovitz is also something of a rock historian, having written the comprehensive Leon Russell book in recent years, as well as a volume on The Rolling Stones. His next book is about The Cars, which these guys talk about during this chat as well. Check out “Helmet” from the upcoming album Jump Rope right here.

Like I said, these guys dive back into the Boston days, talking about mutual friends and collaborators like J Mascis and David Berman of Silver Jews. They also try to remember their first encounters, one of which involves Pernice being a little ornery, and they talk about selecting songs for records—and how they never know which ones people are going to react to. Enjoy.

0:00 - Intro

2:46 - Start of the chat

7:37 - Joe's legendary cousin

12:15 - Joe walks out of college and has "a mild nervous breakdown"

18:20 - "When did you meet [David] Berman?"

23:58 - "My first album was made for $60."

31:01 - Berman wants to hear Joe say the word "cocksucker."

42:12 - Craft versus hack, and writing for TV and film

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast and thanks to Joe Pernice and Bill Janovitz for chatting. If you like what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and make sure to check out all the goodness at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

This episode is brought to you by DistroKid. DistroKid makes music distribution fun and easy with unlimited uploads and artists keep 100% of their royalties and earnings. To learn more and get 30% off your first year's membership, visit: distrokid.com/vip/talkhouse

Miki Berenyi (Lush) with Debbie Googe (My Bloody Valentine) May 09, 2024

This week's Talkhouse Podcast brings together two important figures from the ‘90s shoegaze movement—and beyond—Miki Berenyi and Debbie Googe.

Berenyi was one of the two women at the front of Lush, the powerhouse band that burned very bright from the late ‘80s to a difficult end in 1996. Their fascinating story—and much more—is told in Berenyi’s recent autobiography, the excellent Fingers Crossed: How Music Saved Me From Success. The book details everything from Berenyi’s childhood through a no-holds-barred look at her band’s successes and failures, from management woes to in-fighting to a stage dive on Lollapalooza that left her in literal stitches. Berenyi is about to launch a U.S. tour, her first in a while, that also marks the beginnings of a new band, the Miki Berenyi Trio. Details can be found at mikistuff.com.

The other half of this conversation is Debbie Googe, best known as the bassist for My Bloody Valentine, perhaps the most legendary of the shoegaze bands. Googe was there almost from the volatile band’s start, both in their early, more rocking days—which you’ll hear a bit about in this chat—to its ongoing reunion. In the long stretches between My Bloody Valentine tours, Googe has played in other interesting bands, including Thurston Moore’s solo lineups and with Brix Smith of the Fall. Googe also recently started performing and recording more experimental music as da Googie, including a recent collaborative single with Too Many Things.

As you’ll hear, Berenyi and Googe know each other from way back—from the days when their bands were small enough to be playing shows in squats, in fact. In this chat, they talk about what touring is like in Europe versus their UK home—better food in Europe—as well as Berenyi’s bandmate and partner Moose losing his passport recently. Googe tells the hilarious story of her My Bloody Valentine bandmate Bilinda Butcher auditioning for the band, which involves accidentally being interviewed for another, entirely different, job. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Miki Berenyi and Debbie Googe for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the good stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

This episode is brought to you by DistroKid. DistroKid makes music distribution fun and easy with unlimited uploads and artists keep 100% of their royalties and earnings. To learn more and get 30% off your first year's membership, visit: distrokid.com/vip/talkhouse

Kevin Drew (Broken Social Scene) with Claire Rousay May 02, 2024

This week's Talkhouse Podcast came together in a fun way, when a new-ish artist referenced the work of a more established band in a song, and the head of a legendary indie label thought they should meet. That sounds complicated, but don’t worry I’ll explain. Our guests are Claire Rousay and Kevin Drew.

Kevin Drew is best known as one of the founders of Broken Social Scene, the influential Canadian band slash collective that’s been around for 25 years now. The band has amassed an incredible catalog that broke out with 2002’s unstoppable You Forgot It In People but all of its records reward a deep dive—as does the solo work that Drew has also released over the years. Last year he released a moving record about loss—among other things—called Aging, and as you’ll hear in this conversation, he hopes to reignite Broken Social Scene for one more run that includes some of the collective’s members that have gone on to big careers outside the band, like Leslie Feist and Emily Haines. I personally would love to see it.

I imagine the other half of today’s conversation, Claire Rousay, would as well. The impetus for this conversation is her song “Lover’s Spit Plays in the Background.” In case you’re not familiar with the aforementioned Broken Social Scene album, You Forgot It In People, it features a song called “Lover’s Spit.” Rousay’s song is from her fantastic new album Sentiment, just out on Thrill Jockey Records, on which she leans more into song structure than on past releases, which have been tagged “emo ambient.” Rousay uses found sounds, hazy atmospherics, and Auto-Tune to tell sometimes crushingly depressing stories in a way that somehow turns out gorgeous. Check out “Lover’s Spit Plays in the Background” right here.

This conversation ended up happening because Thrill Jockey’s Bettina Richards reached out to Drew to let him know about the nod on Rousay’s song, and the rest is history: As you’ll hear, they connected pretty quickly, and they chat about blackout curtains, influential record labels, the death of Kevin’s mom, and what Drew dubs Claire’s “beautiful, vulnerable, shadowy womb/sleeping bag of a record.” Enjoy.

0:00 - Intro

2:29 - Start of the chat

4:49 - On Claire's unusual introduction to Broken Social Scene's music

9:24 - On music as a lifesaver

13:47 - On the future of Broken Social Scene

17:35 - On being jealous of your peers

21:42 - On blackout curtains

31:27 - On signing to Thrill Jockey

36:46 - On negativity and career expectations

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Claire Rousay and Kevin Drew for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the goodness at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

This episode is brought to you by DistroKid. DistroKid makes music distribution fun and easy with unlimited uploads and artists keep 100% of their royalties and earnings. To learn more and get 30% off your first year's membership, visit: distrokid.com/vip/talkhouse

Rostam with Jason Stewart (How Long Gone) Apr 25, 2024

This week’s Talkhouse Podcast is actually taken from a conversation that served as the online launch party for the second issue of our print ‘zine, The Talkhouse Reader, which was lovingly put together by Talkhouse music editor Annie Fell. The issue, which you can order at store.talkhouse.com explores the intersection of food and music, so naturally this episode does as well. Our guests are Jason Stewart and Rostam.

Stewart is, along with Chris Black, the host of the popular podcast How Long Gone, in which the two discuss pop culture, fashion, and whatever else happens to come to mind, often with great guests—recent ones include Jenny Lewis, Waxahatchee, and Isaac Brock—but frequently just the two of them gabbing like better-read versions of your hippest friends. They’re part of the fabulous Talkhouse Podcast Network, and you can catch the How Long Gone guys live this June if you’re lucky enough to live in one of the cities they’ll be visiting. Tour dates and their deep catalog of episodes can be found on their site.

Today’s other guest is Rostam, who’s best known as a co-founder of Vampire Weekend and co-architect of that band’s sound. Rostam left Vampire Weekend a few years ago to pursue solo and production work, and he’s kept plenty busy. He made a great record with Hamilton Leithauser of the Walkmen as well as a fully solo record called Changephobia—you may have heard him on the Talkhouse Podcast talking about it with Michelle Zauner of Japanese Breakfast. He’s released a few standalone songs recently as well, and as always he’s a thoughtful conversationalist with something interesting to say.

Since this conversation is focused largely on food, you can expect to hear about Rostam’s egg habits, a killer salmon recipe, and some talk about Rostam’s mom, who’s a well known chef of Persian food who once went toe-to-toe with Martha Stewart. Enjoy, and please check out the Talkhouse Reader issue two at store.talkhouse.com.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Jason Stewart and Rostam for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform and check out all the goodness at Talkhouse.com. This episode was put together by Annie Fell and edited by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

This episode is brought to you by DistroKid. DistroKid makes music distribution fun and easy with unlimited uploads and artists keep 100% of their royalties and earnings. To learn more and get 30% off your first year's membership, visit: distrokid.com/vip/talkhouse

Local Natives with Peel Apr 18, 2024

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a whopping four guys representing three bands, more or less: Ryan Hahn and Nik Ewing from Local Natives and Sean Cimino and Isom Innis from Foster the People but, perhaps more importantly for purposes of this chat, their side project Peel.

Local Natives have been around since around 2005, but it wasn’t until their debut album Gorilla Manor hit shelves in 2009 that the California band had its first real moment. They rode a similar wave to bands like Fleet Foxes and Grizzly Bear, with bits of folk and punk and psychedelia all wrapped up in songs that are frequently undeniable earworms. They’ve built a really impressive catalog since, and the sessions for 2023’s Time Will Wait For No One were so fruitful that they actually yielded a companion record that’s just coming out now, called But I’ll Wait For You. It’s another gorgeously layered set of songs that feels even a little weirder than what came right before it. Check out the song “April” right here.

The other half of this conversation is Sean Cimino and Isom Innis, who are best known as part of Foster the People, which had a huge hit straight out of the gate in 2010 with “Pumped Up Kicks,” and which has been chipping away at incredible pop-inflected songs since. But Cimino and Innis recently released their debut album under the name Peel, which takes a much more psychedelic approach to songs, creating dancey dream-pop that sometimes looks back at the ‘90s through some gauzy glasses. Check out one of the dancier tracks from Peel’s album Acid Star right here. This is called “Y2J.”

In this chat, these old friends immediately head into a conversation about the relative merits of U2 and other bands that you should or should not be ashamed to love. They also chat about their history together, which goes way back, and of course about their latest records. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Sean Cimino, Isom Innis, Nik Ewing and Ryan Hahn for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

This episode is brought to you by DistroKid. DistroKid makes music distribution fun and easy with unlimited uploads and artists keep 100% of their royalties and earnings. To learn more and get 30% off your first year's membership, visit: distrokid.com/vip/talkhouse

Jeremiah Fraites (The Lumineers) with Gregory Alan Isakov Apr 11, 2024

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got two powerhouses in what I guess you might call modern indie-folk, though it’s a lot more than that: Gregory Alan Isakov and Jeremiah Fraites.

Fraites is, along with Wesley Schultz, a founding member of the Lumineers, the band whose simple-yet-powerful take on folky Americana has been met with pretty massive success over the past couple of decades. The band’s catalog goes deeper than massive hits like “Ho Hey” and “Stubborn Love,” songs you’ve probably heard even if you’re not super familiar with the band. The Lumineers’ latest album is 2022’s Brightside, but that’s not Fraites’ latest: He just released his second solo album of intriguing, fantastic instrumental piano pieces—a big departure from the sound of his main gig, but great nonetheless. It’s called Piano Piano 2—you can probably guess what the first one was called—and it stretches into even more cinematic territory than the first. Plus, it features a guest vocal from the other half of today’s conversation.

Gregory Alan Isakov may seem like an overnight sensation, but the Colorado-based singer-songwriter has been plugging away—sometimes quietly—for nearly two decades, building a fanbase for his intimate songs over the course of seven albums. His latest, Appaloosa Bones, came out late last year, and as you’ll hear in this chat, the songs ended up being a bit more fleshed out than those on his past records. He’s on tour now, and he’s featured on the new Noah Kahan single as well. So yeah, kind of a big deal. Oh, and as I mentioned a minute ago, he collaborated with Jeremiah Fraites recently, on a cover of Radiohead’s classic “No Surprises.” Check out a bit of the magic they wrung from making the song their own.

In this chat, Fraites and Isakov talk about how songwriting never gets easier—sorry, budding songwriters—about Isakov’s teenage obsession with the Nintendo game Metroid, and what that has to do with music, and about finding intimate sounds in massive places like Red Rocks, aka the best venue in the universe. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Jeremiah Fraites and Gregory Alan Isakov for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

This episode is brought to you by DistroKid. DistroKid makes music distribution fun and easy with unlimited uploads and artists keep 100% of their royalties and earnings. To learn more and get 30% off your first year's membership, visit: distrokid.com/vip/talkhouse

Joe Steinhardt and Marissa Paternoster (Screaming Females) with Jo Firestone Apr 04, 2024

On this week's Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got a rare trio episode for you, since two of our guests created something very cool together: Jo Firestone, Marissa Paternoster, and Joe Steinhardt.

I’ll start with Jo Firestone, the actor, writer, comedian, podcaster, game inventor, and probably some other stuff that I’m forgetting, who you may have seen on the show Joe Pera Talks With You or, like a million other things. She’s done stand-up specials and albums, she’s written for The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon, and she hosts the game-centric podcast Dr. Gameshow. Firestone is currently the head writer on After Midnight, the comedy/game show hybrid that airs late every night on CBS. In other words, she’s busy.

But not too busy to chat with her friends Marissa Paternoster and Joe Steinhardt about their new graphic novel, Merriment. You may recognize Paternoster are the singer and guitarist for the amazing, recently broken up band Screaming Females, and Talkhouse readers and listeners may even recognize her illustrations, which have appeared on the site over the years. Paternoster continues to make music, but the focus of this chat is Merriment, her first graphic novel. Paternoster put her eerie, singular images to a story by her old friend Joe Steinhardt, head of the long-running independent label Don Giovanni Records, which has been home to a number of incredible bands over the past two decades, including Screaming Females.

These three have a fun, loose chat about Merriment, which in case I didn’t say it yet, you should definitely check out, as well as Steinhardt’s not-so-secret desires to be a comedian, Paternoster’s can’t-fail movie idea, how Firestone was once tasked with selling St. Louis pizza with a New York attitude, and a game I’d never heard of called “Somebody Pooped in the Salad.” Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Jo Firestone, Marissa Paternoster, and Joe Steinhardt for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

This episode is brought to you by DistroKid. DistroKid makes music distribution fun and easy with unlimited uploads and artists keep 100% of their royalties and earnings. To learn more and get 30% off your first year's membership, visit: distrokid.com/vip/talkhouse

John Grant with CMAT Mar 28, 2024

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got two songwriters whose music bursts with personality, but in oddly different ways: CMAT and John Grant.

CMAT is the stage name/alter ego of Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, who’s already hit it pretty big in her native Ireland with funny, frank, and flamboyant songs about break-ups and time travel and everything in between, I guess you might say. She was recently nominated for a BRIT Award for Best International Artist—she wore a jaw-dropping dress to the ceremony—and her second album, Crazymad, For Me went to number one in her home country as well. Now she’s ready to take on the States a bit, to see if her music—queer-friendly, over-the-top pop—can make as big a splash here. Check out “Where are Your Kids Tonight,” which features today’s other guest John Grant, and catch CMAT on tour in the US right now. Dates are at cmatbaby.com.

John Grant is a tough guy to explain: On the surface, his music can sound like party-friendly electro-pop, but the themes and lyrics run deep and often pretty intense. Grant started out in the Denver band The Czars, but it wasn’t until he spread his wings as a solo artist—starting with 2010’s Queen of Denmark, which he made with help from members of the band Midlake—that he really found his unique voice. Since then it’s been a series of fascinating records with a series of fascinating collaborators, including Cate Le Bon, who produced his 2021 album Boy From Michigan. Grant just announced the release of his sixth album, The Art of The Lie. It comes out in June, and it promises a no-punches-pulled look at America in 2024, yet with some funk to help ease the medicine. Check out the song “It’s a Bitch” right here, and you can pre-order the whole record at johngrantmusic.com.

In this conversation, Grant and CMAT have pretty dissimilar demeanors—she’s brash, he’s a more quiet sort of intense—but it works: Clearly these two are fans of each other’s work, as you’ll see, and they have a great chat about language, the ugliness of social media—especially for queer and/or female artists—and CMAT’s ass crack, which was “pixelated by the Daily Mail.” Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to John Grant and CMAT for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the goodness at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Live at On Air Fest: Hamilton Leithauser (The Walkmen) with Randall Poster Mar 21, 2024

This week’s Talkhouse episode was recorded live at the On Air Festival in Brooklyn recently—that explains why you’ll hear some audience questions at the end—and it features Hamilton Leithauser and Randall Poster, two interesting guys who were just meeting for the first time.

Leithauser is best known as the frontman for The Walkmen, the New York band that put out a string of incredible records between 2000 and 2013 before going on a hiatus that lasted a decade—they reunited for a tour last year and have some festival dates lined up for this year. But Leithauser kept plenty busy during the band’s downtime, releasing three great records on his own—and he’s apparently got another one just about ready to go. Perhaps more relevant to this conversation, at least a bit, is the fact that he’s recently gotten into making music for film and TV. Avid Talkhouse listeners will remember that he was on the podcast last year talking with Ethan Hawke about a Paul Newman documentary they worked on together. Leithauser’s latest project in that realm is music for a doc series that just premiered at Sundance, and he also just finished up his yearly residence at the posh Cafe Carlyle.

You may not immediately recognize the name of today’s other guest, but Randall Poster has almost certainly played you a song that you love at some point over the past few decades. As the go-to music supervisor for some incredible filmmakers, he’s helped set the mood for more than 200 movies. Perhaps most notably Poster has worked repeatedly with Wes Anderson, a director for whom the soundtrack is massively important. Watch the credits next time you love the song choices in a movie, and you might just see his name. Poster also recently curated a huge 20-LP box set called The Birdsong Project Collection, which you’ll hear about in this chat as well.

Elsewhere, Leithauser and Poster talk about their jobs, about other podcasts—including one they had in common, called Call Your Grandmother. They get into the story of how Poster got into his unusual profession, and Leithauser talks about a Springsteen cover he recorded that may never see the light of day. Leithauser also talks about the time the presence of Christian Bale basically ruined a Walkmen show, though he can’t quite remember the movie it was surrounding: Guys, it was Terrence Malick’s already-kinda-forgotten film Song To Song. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Hamilton Leithauser and Randall Poster for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the goodness at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

This episode is brought to you by DistroKid. DistroKid makes music distribution fun and easy with unlimited uploads and artists keep 100% of their royalties and earnings. To learn more and get 30% off your first year's membership, visit: distrokid.com/vip/talkhouse

Ben Kweller with Brendan Benson Mar 14, 2024

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a pair of songwriters who broke out in the ‘90s and early 2000s and have had fruitful careers since—and who happen to be old pals—Ben Kweller and Brendan Benson.

As you’ll hear in this chat, Kweller got his rock life started early, learning guitar as a teenager and hustling hard for gigs in the small Texas town where he grew up. His first band, Radish, got a big record deal while Kweller was still a kid, and while they never exactly blew up, there’s definitely some love out there for the band’s early records. Kweller went solo in the early 2000s with the classic album Sha Sha, which was an early release on Dave Matthews’ record label ATO—and which last year got the deluxe anniversary reissue treatment. He’s had a run of great solo records since, and was in a supergroup called The Bens with Ben Folds and Ben Lee. He also started a music collective called The Noise Company, which is a sort of hybrid studio/management/record label. They’re having a big blowout at this year’s South by Southwest, so if you’re down there, it’s at the Mohawk on March 15. Check out a little bit of a great Kweller song right here, “American Cigarettes.”

Brendan Benson, as you’ll hear in this chat, is a bit older than Kweller, but he’s had a similarly remarkable career. Benson’s debut solo album came out back in 1996, but if you’re looking for a place to start with his driving rock songs, check out 2002’s Lapalco. Benson has eight solo albums to his credit, including 2002’s Low Key, but he might be best known as the co-frontman of The Raconteurs, along with his old friend, bandmate, and Detroit-area native Jack White. Check out a great Benson track for earlier days right here, “What I’m Looking For,” and catch him at the Noise Company showcase this weekend as well.

These two old pals sound delighted to be chatting, and they jump right into an unplanned episode of Car Talk—Kweller, as it turns out, might get himself a Tesla Cybertruck. They also talk a lot of the spark of creativity that led them to their chosen careers, and they each mention the embarrassing first songs they ever wrote. Kweller tells a great story about hearing “Smells Like Teen Spirit” for the first time as well, and Benson admits that The Three Stooges have had a huge influence on how he harmonizes. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Ben Kweller and Brendan Benson for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Revisited: Marisa Dabice (Mannequin Pussy) with Karly Hartzman (Wednesday) Mar 07, 2024

This episode originally aired on October 19, 2023.

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got two women who lead fierce, fantastic rock bands: Karly Hartzman and Marisa Dabice.

Hartzman is the driving force behind the band Wednesday, which started as a solo-ish vehicle for her songs back in 2017 but has blossomed into a full band with an already-sizable catalog. Everything they’ve done is worth checking out, but it sure feels like Wednesday hit exactly what they’d always been striving for on the album Rat Saw God, which came out earlier this year. Hartzman’s lyrics are both pointed and poetic—amazing in their specificity and delivered with some serious passion, whether in a country-ish moment, or one that feels almost metal. Today’s other guest, Marisa Dabice, thinks Wednesday sounds like Black Sabbath meets Sparklehorse, which is both accurate and something that’s probably never been said about any band before. Check out “Bull Believer” from Rat Saw God.

Marisa Dabice is the voice behind Mannequin Pussy, a band that’s been releasing blistering music since 2010. Just this week, Mannequin Pussy announced the release of their long-awaited fourth album, I Got Heaven, which will come out in March of 2024. Hartzman, as you’ll hear in this conversation, has already gotten a listen to the record—which was produced with John Congleton—and she loves it. The title track is already getting rave reviews for taking Mannequin Pussy’s intense punk energy and adding a bit of sweetness with some synths and a sugary chorus, but those aspects almost make it sound even more confrontational in a way. In any case, it’s awesome: Check out “I Got Heaven” right here.

In this chat, these two friends talk about touring, and specifically about how unusual it can feel to perform—and how that can lead to actual tears on stage, not the most fun experience. They chat about the difference between Mannequin Pussy and Wednesday fans, and about the pressure to enjoy your success while it’s happening. Oh, and about saunas. You’ve gotta love a sauna. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Maria Dabice and Karly Hartzman for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting service, and check out all the goodness elsewhere on this site. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Bob Odenkirk with Marcellus Hall Feb 29, 2024

I’m so excited to to share this week’s episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, which features a fascinating, deep yet kind of low-key conversation between two really talented people that you might not have expected to be paired up: Bob Odenkirk and Marcellus Hall.

I’m guessing most people listening to this podcast will know who Odenkirk is. A longtime comedian and writer, he and his pal David Cross gifted the world some of the funniest TV ever created in Mr. Show With Bob And David, and if that was the only thing Odenkirk ever did, it’d be plenty. But of course the other really huge thing in his career is his portrayal of Saul Goodman on both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, two dramas that stand among some of the best TV ever. And I haven’t even mentioned his books, the movies he’s produced and directed, or the many things he’s starred in. Without Bob, there would be no motivational speaker Matt Foley from SNL or any Tim and Eric Awesome Show. He’s a legend, and he probably wouldn’t want me saying that, which makes him a legend even more.

Bob has also been a huge booster for things that he loves over the course of his career, including the aforementioned Tim and Eric plus things like the Birthday Boys and the unheralded movie Girlfriends Day, which he also stars in. And Bob has been a vocal fan of today’s other guest, Marcellus Hall, for many years, too. Hall’s music career goes back to the 1990s, when he was the frontman of the band Railroad Jerk, a clattering blues-punk band whose self-titled debut was one of the first albums ever released by Matador Records. Railroad Jerk is one of those bands that never quite hit it big, but those who saw them play live—I did once, in Madison Wisconsin—never forgot it. After that band broke up, Hall started another one, called White Hassle, and eventually started releasing albums under his own name while simultaneously enjoying a career as an illustrator—he’s done a bunch of New Yorker covers and put out a really touching graphic novel a few years back called Kaleidoscope City. But this conversation was inspired by Hall’s return to music after some years away. He just released a brand new album called I Will Never Let You Down. Here’s the album’s title track, which these guys chat about.

In this lengthy and intimate conversation, which took place at Hall’s New York apartment, he and Odenkirk start and end by talking about Jack Kerouac, and in between they go to a ton of interesting places. Sometimes these Talkhouse chats really feel like you’re eavesdropping, and this is definitely one of those. They talk about Hall’s work as well as Odenkirk’s, and they dive into the notion that it gets harder as you get older to find that spark of inspiration. Odenkirk admits to some feelings of imposter syndrome, even after all of his success, and they both come across as guys who are still seeking, even after all these years. It’s contemplative, but I think ultimately inspiring. This may be the last podcast you hear Odenkirk on for a while, as he’s decided to stop saying “yes” to quite as many things as he did in the past. I love that, too. So get yourself some headphones and give this one your full attention—you won’t regret it.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Marcellus Hall and Bob Odenkirk for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the goodness at Talkhouse.com. This episode was recorded by Mark Yoshizumi and produced by Myron Kaplan. The Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

David Longstreth (Dirty Projectors) with Phil Elverum (Mount Eerie) Feb 22, 2024

On this week's Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a very cool episode that was inspired by a very cool performance coming up in Los Angeles soon. It’s David Longstreth in conversation with Phil Elverum.

Longstreth is the focal point of the band Dirty Projectors, which formed about 20 years ago in Brooklyn, and was part of a scene that kind of elevated indie-pop into something more serious and timeless. It’s been clear throughout the years that Longstreth is a musical searcher, having never been content to repeat himself. That’s led to an incredibly varied catalog that can even border on pleasantly confusing, and the huge undertaking that he’s in the midst of—and the starting point of this conversation—is no exception. About 10 years ago, Longstreth began working on what I’d guess you’d call a contemporary classical song cycle called Song of the Earth, which he performed with the ensemble stargaze a few years back. He’s since been refining and reworking the piece, and along with Dirty Projectors and the world-renowned L.A. Philharmonic, he’ll perform it on March 2 at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. That’s a huge group of people and a massive undertaking—and not to be missed.

At almost the opposite end of the spectrum will be that evening’s opening act, Mount Eerie, aka renowned minimalist songwriter Phil Elverum. Elverum is almost a mythical figure in indie-rock, having forged a truly unique path over the past decade, first under the name The Microphones and later Mount Eerie. His music is often deeply personal, and he’ll move from simply structured indie-folk into fully immersive lo-fi drones in ways that can confound and disarm. His catalog is wide and deep, though if you’re unfamiliar with his music, a good place to start is 2001’s The Glow Pt. 2. At this concert, he’ll not only open the show for Dirty Projectors but he’ll also—as you’ll hear—participate a little bit, because Longstreth tapped Elverum to help out on a Song of The Earth piece called “Twin Aspens.” They were nice enough to give us a preview of the piece here, so check out a little bit of a not-quite-final version of “Twin Aspens,” composed by Longstreth and with some help from Elverum.

As you’ll hear in this conversation, these guys are deeply immersed in music, and certainly not just pop music. From hearing them chat I learned about Japanese Gagaku music, among other things. They also talk at length about Elverum’s incredible album-length song “Microphones in 2020,” which is essentially a history of his own evolution, with a fascinating visual to go along with it. They also talk a lot about starting the creative process with a palette in mind, which I found fascinating as well. Enjoy the chat, and if you’re in the L.A. area, I think there are a few tickets left for this once-in-a-lifetime performance on March 2. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast and thanks to David Longstreth and Phil Elverum for talking. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. Annie Fell has my eternal thanks for stepping in to record it at the last minute, too. See you next time!

Jason Lytle (Grandaddy) with Gruff Rhys Feb 15, 2024

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a pair of songwriting visionaries who came to prominence in the 1990s with well respected indie bands, and who both have vital new music out now: Jason Lytle and Gruff Rhys.

Lytle started making music under the name Grandaddy back in 1992. He was a pro skateboarder who found a second passion in home recording, and as you’ll hear in this chat, kind of stumbled upon some guys who helped him flesh out the sound into something both humble and grand. The first run of Grandaddy albums—including Under the Western Freeway and 2000’s classic The Sophtware Slump—felt a bit like quieter, more heartfelt cousins to the music the Flaming Lips were making at the time. After that initial run, the band eventually split up, only to reform sporadically over the years. Lytle also recorded some really fascinating solo records while also taking time—as you’ll hear—to try and leave the music world behind a little bit. But he’s been called back to the Grandaddy world with a brand new album called Blu Wav, and it’s everything you’d expect from his brain: a mixture of sweet sadness with fuzzy guitars and synths from another age. Check out “Cabin in My Mind” from Blu Wav right here.

The other half of today’s conversation is Gruff Rhys, who just released his 25th album overall in a career that has spanned 35 years and taken some fascinating turns. He’s still probably best known as the frontman of the colorful, psych-leaning Welsh pop band Super Furry Animals, which was signed to the venerated Creation Records label back in the 1990s, and whose records and visuals always zigged when you thought they might zag—that’s a compliment. For his solo work, Rhys has been genre-expansive to say the least, but his brand new record, Sadness Sets Me Free, is refreshingly straightforward pop. As you’ll hear in this chat, it was recorded pretty quickly, without a lot of fuss. It doesn’t sound miles away from the new Grandaddy album, really. Check out “Bad Friend” right here.

As it turns out, these two toured together a million years ago, and each has fond memories of that time—a soccer match, a special parting gift, and more. They also chat about Lytle’s preference to stay away from the madness of the big city, even as he lives perilously close to it once again as well as their tendency to make up words in their songs when the ones that exist just won’t do. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Gruff Rhys and Jason Lytle for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, the Talkhouse theme was composed and performed by the Range, and we offer special thanks this week to Keenan Kush. See you next time!

Joe Wong with Mary Timony Feb 08, 2024

Hello and welcome to the Talkhouse Podcast, I’m Josh Modell. On this week’s episode we’ve got a pair of friends who, as you’ll hear, have provided emotional support and advice to each other throughout interesting, winding careers over the past couple of decades; Mary Timony and Joe Wong.

Timony is probably best known as the leader of the ‘90s indie-rock band Helium, but her catalog goes far beyond it. Prior to Helium, Timony came up in the DC punk scene as part of the band Autoclave, and after she’s been part of Wild Flag with members of Sleater-Kinney, fronted a band called Ex Hex, and released records under her own name. That’s mostly why we’re here today, because Timony is about to release her first solo record in 15 years, and it’s fantastic. It’s called Untame the Tiger, and it picks up on some of the psych elements that Timony has wrangled in the past—and even includes a guest appearance by the former drummer of Fairport Convention, Dave Mattacks, as you’ll hear in this chat. Untame the Tiger was also produced in part by today’s other guest, Joe Wong. It comes out February 23, but check out the song “Dominoes” right here.

As I mentioned, today’s other guest is Joe Wong, who grew up in Milwaukee and played in indie-rock bands before finding his creative path in two amazing ways: as a composer for TV and film and as a podcast host. He’s written music for the likes of Russian Doll and Master of None, and he helms the popular podcast The Trap Set, which originated as a way to spotlight his favorite drummers, but has since expanded into deep and incredible conversations with all kinds of creative folks. But a few years back, partly at the urging of his friend Mary Timony, Wong began writing songs for himself rather than for other people’s scores. He just released his second album, Mere Survival, and while it still has late-’60s big-pop vibes, it gets even bigger and weirder than his first. It features not only Timony, but also Pearl Jam’s Matt Cameron, among other guests. Check out the title track from Mere Survival right here.

This conversation took place shortly after two big release shows for Mere Survival for which Wong gathered a 20-piece band, so you’ll hear a bit about that, as well as some thoughts on songwriting itself. Wong and Timony also get deep on how their parents’ illnesses brought them together, about self-sabotage and perfectionism, and much more. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Mary TImony and Joe Wong for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great written pieces at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Dawn Richard with Torres Feb 01, 2024

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a pair of visionary artists who came from different backgrounds but ended up in the same place—sort of.

Dawn Richard jumped into the deep end when she auditioned for the reality show Making the Band 3 back in 2004. She made the cut and subsequently became part of the Diddy-manufactured girl group Danity Kane, which hit it pretty big for several years. Richard then formed Dirty Money, which eventually added Diddy himself as a member. But Richard’s artistic ambitions went far beyond mainstream pop, and about 10 years ago she leaned into more experimental music—while also filling her time with a vegan food truck, representing brands, and working with Adult Swim. She’s often compared to artists like Bjork and Imogen Heap, which makes sense in that she’s always surprising her audience. In what seemed like an unusual pairing, she signed with indie powerhouse Merge Records for the universally acclaimed album Second Line. She’s subsequently released an album with sonic experimentalist Spencer Zahn, and as you’ll hear in this chat, she plans on working with him again. Check out “Babe Ruth,” which is taken from Richard’s most recent EP, The Architect.

Torres—aka Mackenzie Scott—has also found a home at Merge Records, and her records—powerful, emotional indie-rock with big aspirations—are perhaps more in line with the sound the label was built on. The sixth Torres album just came out, and it’s got the best title you’ll hear all year: It’s called What an Enormous Room, and it’s the most expansive set of songs she’s ever done, with big hooks and big emotions to match that big title. Torres just kicked off a big tour that’ll take Scott and her band around the world this year, so whether you’re in Berlin or Boise, you can check them out. And you should. In the meantime, check out “Jerk Into Joy,” a song that Richard loves, as you’ll hear in this conversation.

Elsewhere in the chat, Scott and Richard talk about whether full albums and bigger concepts can compete with digital singles and instant internet culture, and they get into how running is a vital part of their creative processes. Richard tells Scott that the secret to getting everything done is not sleeping, and they compare church upbringings, and how religious songs left a big impression on both. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Dawn Richard and Mackenzie Scott of Torres for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting service, and check out the wide variety of other shows available on our network. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Mac DeMarco with Kirin J. Callinan Jan 25, 2024

On this week's Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a pair of friends who make sometimes challenging yet often incredibly catchy and tuneful music, one of whom you’ve seen and heard on Talkhouse several times before: Mac DeMarco and Kirin J. Callinan.

DeMarco has been on the podcast before, and we keep inviting him both because we love his music and because he’s a great conversationalist. For the music part, DeMarco has been making dizzyingly catchy songs since around 2012, when his confusingly titled debut, which is called 2, came out. But it’s been part of his fun-loving persona to keep it light and a little bit silly, even as he’s zapping you with catchy pop. Sometimes he ventures into soft-rock, other times he's vaguely psychedelic. For his latest album One Wayne G—and I’m not actually sure you can call it that—DeMarco assembled 199 songs that run almost nine hours. Songs might be a little strong a word to use for most of these tracks, which are often instrumental ideas more than fully fleshed out “songs”—he even says that on this podcast. Check out one of those ideas right here, whose title is simply the day it was recorded, “20190205.”

Now Kirin J. Callinan’s records are, like DeMarco’s, often referred to as “provocative,” but these two guys push buttons in different ways. While his friend Mac gives off chill vibes onstage, Callinan likes a little bit of danger in performances. His records can be grandiosely pop-centric while his persona is… intense. He’s often compared to either David Bowie or Nick Cave, and I think the truth is somewhere in between. He’s played on a lot of other folks’ records, including songs with DeMarco and appearances with Caroline Polachek and Mark Ronson, and he starred on the TV series Top of The Lake, so it's been a varied career to say the least. February 2 will see the release of Callinan’s fantastic new album If I Could Sing. Check out the song “Young Drunk Driver.”

You’ll realize quickly that DeMarco and Callinan are old friends: They get right into talking about Callinan’s recent dye-job and other chummy topics. Some are less fun, including the recent theft of Callinan’s motorcycle—recent meaning he had just gotten off the phone with the police when this chat started. They also talk about the relative coolness of tennis versus golf, Callinan’s new record, and potential future collaborations. You heard it here first. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Mac DeMarco and Kirin J. Callinan for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

David Wain (The State) with Craig Wedren Jan 18, 2024

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got two guys whose work I’ve admired for decades, but who I never realized were as close as they are personally: David Wain and Craig Wedren.

Wain is a writer-director-actor (and more) who first came to fame with the hilarious sketch-comedy group The State, whose mid-'90s MTV show was and is a cult sensation—and still holds up to this day. Proof of that: The State has been doing reunion shows recently, and today’s podcast was inspired by the fact that I saw today’s other guest, Craig Wedren, in the audience for their recent Chicago show. After The State, Wain went on to direct a bunch of hilarious movies, including Wet Hot American Summer, Wanderlust and Role Models. He’s also done lots of acting, and way more stuff than I can list here in a reasonable amount of time. On top of that, he started the just-for-fun, cheekily named Middle Aged Dad Jam Band, whose core also includes State alumnus Ken Marino and lots of big special guests. The Jam band will be playing at SF Sketchfest, which starts today, with tons of other great acts, including… The State.

Craig Wedren started his career as the singer of Shudder to Think, the DC-based band of art-rockers whose early records came out on Dischord. After that band split up—which had something to do with Wedren being diagnosed with a pretty serious cancer in his mid-20s—he switched his focus to scoring and soundtrack work, at which he has undoubtedly succeeded. He’s made music for tons of TV and film, including many of Wain’s projects. He’s also made some fantastic solo albums, including one that’s due for release next week called The Dream Dreaming. It’s maybe the most accessible thing he’s ever done, but as Wain points out in this conversation, accessible music by Craig Wedren is still beautifully odd. Check out “Play Innocent” from The Dream Dreaming.

As a huge fan of both Shudder to Think and The State, I’m surprised I didn’t realize that Wain and Wedren weren’t just professional collaborators, but literally life-long friends. They’ve known each other since they were about 4, and they started making creative things together not long after that—they get into that history here. In this conversation, they talk about their history together, what they’re doing now, the ups and downs of doing it yourself, bath-time tips, and Wedren’s health issues over the years, including one that just happened. It’s a great chat. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to David Wain and Craig Wedren for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting service, and check out all the goodness at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Sharon Van Etten with Charlotte Cornfield Jan 11, 2024

Hello and welcome to the Talkhouse Podcast, I’m Josh Modell. On this week’s episode we’ve got the return of one of our favorite repeat guests in conversation with an equally fantastic songwriter making her first Talkhouse Podcast appearance.

Sharon Van Etten is a singer and songwriter who’s been making records for the past decade plus, growing and changing and taking chances in exactly the way you hope truly talented people will. Her amazing early records were quietly intense, very confessional affairs, but she burst from the seams with subsequent releases. In 2019, she released Remind Me Tomorrow, which brought in bigger sounds and colors and an entirely different kind of confidence to her songwriting and performance. In 2022, Van Etten released another incredible album called We’ve Been Going About This All Wrong, which puts into intense songs some of the feelings we’ve all been feeling through the last few years. As you’ll hear in this chat, Van Etten has already written a ton of songs for her next album, and now she’s trying to figure out how to get there. Check out "Mistakes" from We've Been Going About This All Wrong.

The other half of today’s chat is Canadian singer-songwriter Charlotte Cornfield. Yes, that’s her real last name—you can actually read the story on Talkhouse.com from 2021 where she explained its origins to Amy Millan of the band Stars. Cornfield starting releasing music back in 2008, and her fifth album, Could Have Done Anything, was released in May of 2023. This conversation was originally meant to be recorded back then, but Cornfield had a baby around that same time, which as some of you surely know, changes your schedule pretty intensely. But motherhood is a big part of this conversation: Van Etten has a six-year-old, and the two openly talk about the joys and challenges of raising a child. Check out “Gentle Like the Drugs,” from Could Have Done Anything.

In addition to getting deep about parenting, Van Etten and Cornfield talk about Van Etten’s creative in-between space, about the plusses and minuses of New York vs Los Angeles vs Toronto, and about how Southerners eat trash—but in a good way. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Sharon Van Etten and Charlotte Cornfield for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Revisited: Stewart Copeland (The Police) with Jon Wurster Jan 04, 2024

On this week's Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got an episode for the drummers and those who like a great story: Jon Wurster and Stewart Copeland.

Copeland is of course the drummer for the legendary, gazillion-selling Rock and Roll Hall of Famers the Police, who were called “the biggest band in the world” during their mid-'80s heyday. Their hits have endured over the decades, too, and that’s in no small part due to the special chemistry the trio enjoyed—and that chemistry, as you’ll hear, often manifested itself in fights between Copeland and his old bandmate Sting. Copeland has made a fascinating career for himself since; he directed a documentary about his old band that made interesting use of their music, and he’s got a new album and tour called Police Deranged for Orchestra, which features those classic songs redone in wild new ways. As you’ll hear in this chat, Copeland also found a side career as a film composer, working on everything from Oliver Stone’s Wall Street to the classic Francis Ford Coppola movie Rumble Fish. Check out a little bit of “Every Little Thing She Does is Magic“ from Police Deranged for Orchestra right here.

Now the other half of this conversation is a drummer from a later era and, as you’ll hear, a huge fan of Copeland’s work. Jon Wurster is a renaissance man who’s played most regularly with Superchunk, the Mountain Goats, and Bob Mould, but whose list of credits goes way beyond those amazing acts. He’s also a comedy writer and half of the duo Scharpling and Wurster, which gave birth to some of the funniest characters in radio comedy ever. This summer, Wurster will tour with both Mountain Goats and Bob Mould, so chances are good that he’ll be in a city near you.

In this conversation, Wurster—as I had hoped he would—gets deep into specifics with Copeland, asking him right off the bat about a gig from the early 1980s. They also chat about how Copeland’s orchestral tours actually work and about his forays into the soundtrack world—I had never heard the term “shit chord” before. They get into the fights that Copeland had with Police frontman Sting, and about how band therapy helped sort that all out. Wurster also gets a chance to ask about the lyrics to a deep cut called “On Any Other Day.” Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Jon Wurster and Stewart Copeland for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Revisited: Ben Nichols (Lucero) with Jeff Nichols Dec 21, 2023

On this week’s episode we’ve got two guests who might know each other better than any two prior guests of this podcast ever have: brothers Ben Nichols and Jeff Nichols.

Ben Nichols is the singer, guitarist, and chief lyricist for the long-running Memphis band Lucero, and when I say long-running, I mean it: Assuming you’re listening to this podcast the day we release it, the band played its first show exactly 25 years ago today, on April 13 of 1998. In that time, they’ve released an even dozen albums, making the journey from punk-influenced country—or maybe that’s country-influenced punk—to soul to straight-up rock and roll. I’ve always felt like Lucero was the Southern version of The Hold Steady, purveyors of great story-songs and always an incredibly good time live. The newest Lucero album came out in February, and it’s a very intentional back-to-basics rock record called Should’ve Learned By Now. Check out “Macon If We Make It” from that record.

Ben’s younger brother Jeff followed a similar independently creative path, but down a different road: He’s a successful—and incredible—film director whose credits include Mud starring Matthew McConaughey, a drama about the real life battle over interracial marriage called Loving, and my personal favorite, Take Shelter, in which Nichols’ frequent collaborator Michael Shannon plays a family man who may or may not be coming unglued. Each is very different from the next, and each is excellent. Jeff Nichols next film is called The Bikeriders, and it will star Tom Hardy, Austin Butler, and Jodi Comer, among others. It’s very loosely based on a book of the same name that Jeff was introduced to by Ben. As you’ll hear in this conversation, it’s not the only time the two have influenced each other. They talk about how Lucero songs have found their way into Jeff’s movies, about how the brothers came upon the same exact story in different ways, and about Jeff’s potential future as the man who may attempt the impossible: adapting some of Cormac McCarthy’s more complicated books, including Blood Meridian, for the big screen. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Ben Nichols and Jeff Nichols for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great written stuff we’ve got at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Revisited: Jemaine Clement with Ruban Nielson (Unknown Mortal Orchestra) Dec 14, 2023

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a pair of New Zealanders who’ve forged incredible careers in music and comedy and comedic music: Jemaine Clement and Ruban Nielson.

I’m guessing Clement is best known to our listeners as half of Flight of the Conchords, his musical and acting duo with Bret McKenzie. They haven’t put out a record or toured much in the last decade or so, but their albums and HBO series definitely endure with their subtle hilarity. Clement has of course been plenty busy post-Conchords as both an actor and director. His 2014 mockumentary What We Do in the Shadows, co-directed with his old friend Taika Watiti, spun off into one of the funniest shows on TV, and you’ve also heard or seen him in everything from Despicable Me to the latest Avatar movie. In the awful event that you’re not familiar with Flight of the Conchords, here’s their David Bowie tribute, simply called “Bowie,” which is discussed a bit in this episode.

Clement seemed excited—and well prepared!—to speak with Ruban Nielson, the singer-guitarist behind Unknown Mortal Orchestra. Though both of these guys are, as I said, from New Zealand and fans of each other’s work, they had never met before. UMO, as Nielson’s band is known for short, has been making a sort of uncategorizable music since 2010; they most often get pegged as psychedelic rock, which isn’t wrong, but also doesn’t tell the whole story. There are also elements of lo-fi indie rock, a bit of funk, and some garage rock. But the fact that it’s tough to name is part of what makes UMO’s music so appealing. Check out a little their song “The Garden,” which opens the latest UMO album, V.

These guys have a fantastic conversation that spans everything from the history of New Zealand and their shared Maori heritage to an in-depth examination of the Jagstang, a guitar designed by Kurt Cobain and favored by Nielson. They talk about bombing on stage—and getting bombed before getting on stage—and they share stories about coming up in a shared place. Also, you’ll hear the phrase “sad funky ghost,” perhaps for the first and last time in your life. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Jemaine Clement and Ruban Nielson for chatting. If you like what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and be sure to check out all the goodies at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Briston Maroney with Samia Dec 07, 2023

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a rare but not totally unprecedented pairing of a couple—by which I mean boyfriend and girlfriend, for lack of better words—in conversation, both fantastic songwriters: Briston Maroney and Samia.

Briston Maroney is an earnest, powerful songwriter who first caught attention via American Idol, but perhaps lucky for him and us he didn’t ride that appearance into the pop world. Instead, over the past decade Maroney has built a solid catalog of personal songs that include folk and indie-rock influences, but that could really play anywhere people like a good tune. His latest album is called Ultrapure, a word he uses to describe those incredible moments in life that you might not even know you’re experiencing until they’re gone. Check out “Body” from Ultrapure right here.

The other half of today’s conversation is Maroney’s partner of the past few years, the singer and songwriter Samia. She’s a bit more interested in the darker sides of life than Maroney, as you’ll hear them laugh about in this conversation. Her latest album, Honey, features bitter breakup songs that will strike right at your heart: It’s no wonder she’s been compared to the likes of Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus. But Samia has her own thing going, and for my money, Honey is one of 2023’s best albums. Check out the intensely fantastic “KIll Her Freak Out” right here.

Though they live together, this conversation took place on different continents, as Samia was at their now former home in Nashville—they just moved to L.A., as you’ll hear—while Maroney was on tour in Europe. They joke at the outset that they hadn’t spoken in two years, but really they’re in constant contact, and know each other super well. They chat about horror movies, their dog camera, and how writing in the same physical space might lead to accidental song theft. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Samia and Briston Maroney for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Vic Mensa with Johan Lenox Nov 30, 2023

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got two guys from very different musical worlds who’ve collided over the years in really interesting and fruitful ways, Vic Mensa and Johan Lenox.

Mensa is a Chicago-bred rapper who first found notice with the group Kids These Days, but who quickly established himself as a solo artist around 2013. He’s collaborated with an amazing array of artists, from Kanye West to Weezer and all points in between. Mensa’s second proper album—there are lots of mix tapes and guest appearances out there, too—came out last year, and it’s called Victor. Once again, Mensa displays an incredible agility, bouncing from fun to deep and back again; he’s an incredible lyricist equally adept at party starters and deep thoughts, both of which are on display here. Contributors to the album include Jay Electronica, Chance the Rapper, Thundercat, Ty Dolla Sign, and may others, including today’s other guest, Johan Lenox.

Now Lenox did not come up through the hip-hop world, but rather the world of classical music. Hearing Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy pushed Lenox out of that bubble, though, and led to a cultural mash-up called Yeethoven, which utilized a live orchestra to mash up Kanye West and, yes, Beethoven. Lenox has since worked as a producer for West, Lil Nas X, and many others, and worked with the likes of No I.D. and Big Sean. He also put out a solo record of R&B-ish jams called What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up (technically titled WDYWTBWYGU, but that's hard to pronounce) and another record, also in 2022, credited to Isomonstrosity, a trio he formed that treats classical music like hip-hop, chopping and mixing it into something new and bold. Earlier this year, he released a string album called Johan’s Childhood Chamber Nostalgia Album. But let’s check out a track from the Isomonstrosity record that features Vic Mensa. This is called “Wake Up.”

In this conversation, Lenox and Mensa talk about being inspired by everyone from Kanye to Kurt Cobain, about how Mensa wants to inject his sense of humor into more of his music, about artificial intelligence and the future of music, and a songwriting trick they recently learned. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Vic Mensa and Johan Lenox for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the good stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Bridget Kearney (Lake Street Dive) with Margaret Glaspy Nov 16, 2023

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a pair of talented songwriter/performers who’ve known each other for years, and who’ve both had busy years: Margaret Glaspy and Bridget Kearney.

Margaret Glaspy has quietly built an impressive catalog of songs over the past decade, putting her sharp lyrics front and center. Her third album, Echo The Diamond, came out earlier this year, and it takes a turn back toward more organic sounds after 2020’s Devotion. You may have seen Glaspy on tour over the years with the likes of the Lumineers and Neko Case, and she just finished her first post-pandemic solo run throughout the U.S.—she’s an amazing live performer. Chicagoans will have a chance to see her this December when Glaspy opens Andrew Bird’s yearly holiday concerts there. In the meantime, check out the bluesy, scrappy “Act Natural” from Echo the Diamond.

The other half of today’s conversation, Bridget Kearney, is best known as a member of the band Lake Street Dive, the soulful indie-pop outfit that’s been kicking around for the past 20 or so years—and probably playing a big theater in your town sometime soon. In addition to holding down the low end for that band, Kearney makes slightly more somber music as a solo artist and more groove-oriented songs in a trio called BB Wisely. In other words, she’s not that into sitting still, musically or physically, it seems. Check out the great “I Bet UR,” from Kearney’s 2023 solo album Snakes of Paradise.

In this lively chat, Glaspy and Kearney talk about their long friendship, which leads to… powerful microscopes. They talk about Kearney’s three musical lanes, and how you should trust your gut when the recording vibe is off. And then they get into some powerful advice about exactly how many fucks one should give in a day—it seems like a great system to me, so check it out.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Margaret Glaspy and Bridget Kearney for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the goodness at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Tegan and Sara with LP Nov 09, 2023

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got everyone’s favorite Canadian twin-sister duo Tegan and Sara in conversation with powerhouse songwriter and artist LP.

Now LP has had a fascinating, winding career in the music business, starting out in the late ‘90s as a performer whose incredible voice attracted lots of attention in the industry—you’ll hear about that in this chat—but who ended up kind of going through the wringer of that system. But LP turned their attention to writing songs for other people, which had an immediate and far-reaching effect: LP’s compositions have been hits for the likes of Rihanna and Celine Dion, and for a while it seemed like that’s where LP’s career would stay. But a return to performing about ten years ago has born some incredible fruit, and with a big personality like LP’s, it’s not surprising that TikTok and other social media has embraced them. LP’s latest album is the powerful Love Lines, check out “Dayglow” from that album, and catch LP on tour in the US right now through the end of the month; dates are at iamLP.com.

The other half of today’s conversation, Tegan and Sara, started making music as teenagers and were flung into the spotlight very quickly, being signed to Neil Young’s record label and opening for him when they were basically still kids. But they got some good advice—you’ll hear about that here—that helped the twin sisters navigate the ups and downs of fame. Over the course of 25 years they’ve released ten albums, a memoir that was turned into a TV series, a graphic novel, and much more. They are creative lifers, and the world is a better place because of it. Check out the song “Yellow” from Tegan and Sara’s latest album Crybaby.

In this lively conversation, you’ll hear about two incredible, uncompromising careers. These three talk about how their music has not only inspired joy in other people, but also understanding: LP talks about visiting other countries where many people in the audience perhaps hadn’t met a gay person—at least not knowingly. They get into all things Canada, the vital importance of a good monitor mix, and the primal wound that inspires creativity. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse podcast, and thanks to Tegan and Sara and LP for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the good stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Sara Bareilles with Rob Moose Nov 02, 2023

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got an award-winning multi-hyphenate that you may have seen on TV, a Broadway stage, or packing out a big theater near you in conversation with a guy whose equally riveting work has mostly been behind the scenes: Sara Bareilles and Rob Moose.

I’m not sure where to begin with Sara Bareilles’ resume: She found fame with her music, with songs like “Brave” and “Love Song” topping the charts. But in addition to making huge records, she’s been a judge on NBC’s The Sing-Off, she wrote the music and lyrics for—then eventually starred in—the Broadway production of Waitress, and she co-created the Apple TV series Little Voice and acted in the Peacock series Girls5Eva. And honestly, this is all just the tip of the iceberg. You will be surprised by how remarkably down to earth she seems in this conversation—I was.

Rob Moose met Bareilles when he was asked to do some string arrangements for her at a Lincoln Center event organized by Ben Folds. For the past 20 years, that’s the kind of work Moose has mostly done: His expert strings have added color and wonder to music by everyone from Sufjan Stevens and The Decemberists to Taylor Swift. He’s been a member of Bon Iver and performed live with Jay-Z. Chances are very good that you’ve heard him without ever hearing his name, because it wasn’t until this year that he decided to release music under his own name: It was while on tour with Paul Simon that Moose had the idea to collaborate with some amazing singers, setting their voices to his strings—and nothing more. The result is an EP called Inflorescence, which features Emily King, Brittany Howard, Phoebe Bridgers, Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon, and—perhaps you guessed by now—Sara Bareilles. It’s a fantastic, unexpected set of songs that brings out the best in both the strings and the voices. Check out a little bit of Moose and Bareilles on the song “Extract.”

In this conversation, these two chat about how a Craigslist ad changed Moose’s life, about how Bareilles was a bit gunshy about collaborating early in her career, and about how you’ve got to really want to live in New York City—which they both seem to want to do. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast and thanks to Rob Moose and Sara Bareilles for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the good stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Emily Haines (Metric) with Olivier Assayas Oct 26, 2023

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we have the pleasure of reuniting two intensely creative individuals who first worked together decades ago: Emily Haines and Olivier Assayas.

Haines is, of course, the singer and primary songwriter for the band Metric, which she’s been fronting for the past 20-plus years, and which sprang from the same fertile Canadian scene that gave the world Broken Social Scene and Stars, among many others—in fact, it’s Haines’ voice that you hear on Broken Social Scene’s biggest (and I would argue best) song, “Anthems for a Seventeen-Year-Old Girl.” But her primary focus over the years has of course been Metric, which just released their ninth album of thought-provoking indie-rock anthems, Formentera II. It’s a sequel to the excellent album they released exactly a year prior, and another collection of danceable, fantastic songs. Check out “Just the Once,” from Formentera II, which Haines describes as “regret disco.”

So what does a catchy Canadian indie band have to do with a fearless French filmmaker like Olivier Assayas? A lot, as it turns out. Back when Assayas was prepping his 2004 film Clean, he needed a band to perform in a scene, and when he saw Metric, everything clicked: You can see the band perform their early hit “Dead Disco” in the movie, and Haines and Assayas hit it off after working together. Like Metric, Assayas has created an incredible body of work over the years, and done it—again like Metric—by following his own muse. His best-known films include Irma Vep, Clouds of Sils Maria, and 2016’s Personal Shopper, for which he was proclaimed Best Director at the Cannes Film Festival. In a strange twist, he was asked to re-created Irma Vep as a TV series for HBO, which he did under the condition that he have total artistic freedom. That came out last year, and it’s definitely worth checking out.

These two get right into a great discussion about how they approach creating their art: Both rely on instinct rather than any desire for commercial success. They talk about the real Formentera—it’s an island in Spain—versus the one Haines created for these albums. They touch on Haines’ father, a well-known poet, and how that might have figured into her creative growth. Also, you’ll learn from this chat that every piano has one great song in it. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Emily Haines and Olivier Assayas for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Marisa Dabice (Mannequin Pussy) with Karly Hartzman (Wednesday) Oct 19, 2023

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got two women who lead fierce, fantastic rock bands: Karly Hartzman and Marisa Dabice.

Hartzman is the driving force behind the band Wednesday, which started as a solo-ish vehicle for her songs back in 2017 but has blossomed into a full band with an already-sizable catalog. Everything they’ve done is worth checking out, but it sure feels like Wednesday hit exactly what they’d always been striving for on the album Rat Saw God, which came out earlier this year. Hartzman’s lyrics are both pointed and poetic—amazing in their specificity and delivered with some serious passion, whether in a country-ish moment, or one that feels almost metal. Today’s other guest, Marisa Dabice, thinks Wednesday sounds like Black Sabbath meets Sparklehorse, which is both accurate and something that’s probably never been said about any band before. Check out “Bull Believer” from Rat Saw God.

Marisa Dabice is the voice behind Mannequin Pussy, a band that’s been releasing blistering music since 2010. Just this week, Mannequin Pussy announced the release of their long-awaited fourth album, I Got Heaven, which will come out in March of 2024. Hartzman, as you’ll hear in this conversation, has already gotten a listen to the record—which was produced with John Congleton—and she loves it. The title track is already getting rave reviews for taking Mannequin Pussy’s intense punk energy and adding a bit of sweetness with some synths and a sugary chorus, but those aspects almost make it sound even more confrontational in a way. In any case, it’s awesome: Check out “I Got Heaven” right here.

In this chat, these two friends talk about touring, and specifically about how unusual it can feel to perform—and how that can lead to actual tears on stage, not the most fun experience. They chat about the difference between Mannequin Pussy and Wednesday fans, and about the pressure to enjoy your success while it’s happening. Oh, and about saunas. You’ve gotta love a sauna. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Maria Dabice and Karly Hartzman for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting service, and check out all the goodness elsewhere on this site. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Robert Glasper with Emily King Oct 12, 2023

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a pair of performers and songwriters whose work joyfully throws genre out the window in search of something bigger: Robert Glasper and Emily King.

Glasper started his career pretty firmly in the jazz world, though as you’ll hear in this conversation he really started out by playing in churches in his native Texas. But in 2012 he released an album called Black Radio with his electric quartet, the Robert Glasper Experiment, which gleefully knocked down boundaries between jazz and hip-hop, and featured such artists as Erykah Badu and Lupe Fiasco—not to mention an awesome cover of “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” His catalog before and since is too broad and varied to cover in any depth here, but in addition to jazz and R&B records, he’s done a bunch of movie and TV work—including a bit of acting, which you’ll hear about—won a handful of Grammys, and helped curate the Blue Note Jazz Festival, another topic of conversation here. Right now he’s in the middle of “Robtober,” his monthlong residency at New York’s Blue Note Jazz Club, which will feature an incredible lineup of guests throughout.

The other half of this conversation is Glasper’s friend and fellow Blue Note alumni Emily King, herself a Grammy nominee whose music exists at the corner of R&B, soul, and pop. Her third and latest album, Special Occasion, is brash, heartfelt, and energetic, and she’s an incredible presence live. The album, like most of King’s work, was produced by Jeremy Most, who happens to be an old schoolmate of Glasper’s—and with whom King was in a long-term relationship with until just recently. (You can hear a bit of that tension in its songs, in a good way.) King will be opening for Marc Rebelliet later this month at Red Rocks, which is pretty awesome. Check out a little bit of “Special Occasion” right here.

In this lively chat, these two talk about how the New York Times accidentally named Glasper’s band for him, the chances of Glasper becoming a PEGOT—you’ll see—how being a messy person might make you creative, and more. There’s also talk of bad hairstyle choices, and how having white friends might exacerbate that problem. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Robert Glasper and Emily King for chatting. If you liked what you hear, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the goodness at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Jaboukie with Vagabon Oct 05, 2023

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a pair of musicians with interesting backgrounds: one in computer engineering, the other in stand-up comedy. It’s Vagabon and Jaboukie.

Vagabon, aka New Yorker Lætitia Tamko, just released her third album under the name, and as you’ll hear in this chat, it had been four years since her last. But Sorry I Haven’t Called was worth the wait, and another cool stylistic leap. Tamko’s first album, Infinite Worlds, felt like a fresh take on indie-rock; her second, a self-titled record from 2019, dipped more into more varied electronic pop. But Sorry I Haven’t Called, which was partly produced by former Vampire Weekend guy Rostam, takes things even a step further, with an eye toward something even bigger and bolder. And even though the songs were inspired by a dark time in Tamko’s life, they turned out incredibly buoyant and upbeat. Check out “Lexicon” right here.

Jaboukie Young-White is best known as a stand-up comic, writer, and actor: You may have experienced his jokes on Big Mouth, or seen him as a correspondent on The Daily Show or acting in Only Murders in the Building. If you’re a fan of this podcast, you may have heard him in conversation with Jonathan Pierce of the Drums a couple years back. But in the past couple of years, Jaboukie has set his last name aside and worked hard on his debut album, which just came out. It’s called all who can’t hear must feel, and it’s an incredibly diverse set of songs that touches on a bunch of genres—rock, hyperpop, jungle—without sounding beholden to any one in particular. Jaboukie played almost every note of every instrument on the record, and as you’ll hear, he spent a lot of time getting it just right. Check out “Cranberry Sauce” right here.

In this chat, Jaboukie and Vagabon talk about how creating is like molting, about how music can feel more timeless than comedy, about “domming” your audience, and about how Janet Jackson is MOTHER. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Vagabon and Jaboukie for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform and check out all the goodness elsewhere on this site. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Alex Lahey with Sarah Tudzin (Illuminati Hotties) Sep 28, 2023

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a pair of artists who got to know each other over the course of the pandemic, and who got together in the same room for this chat—which is still kind of a rarity these days: Sarah Tudzin and Alex Lahey.

Sarah Tudzin is best known as the mastermind behind Illuminati Hotties, the band she started as sort of an extension of her production and engineering work, which includes contributions to albums and songs by Boygenius, the Armed, and Eliza McLamb. As Illuminati Hotties, she creates pointed, sometimes funny, always catchy songs that she once described as “tenderpunk,” which is kind of perfect. Check out a little bit of “freequent letdown” from Illuminati Hotties’ 2020 release Free I.H., an album/mixtape that comes with an interesting backstory you can find online. New music is supposedly forthcoming pretty soon, so keep your ears open for that.

Alex Lahey was born and raised an ocean away from Tudzin, in Australia, but she’s been spending a lot more time in Los Angeles recently, as you’ll hear in this chat. Lahey has been releasing great records since 2016, and her latest set of punky, animated break-up anthems, called The Answer Is Always Yes, is actually being re-released in an expanded edition with some bonus tracks next week. Check out the ultra-catchy “On the Way Down” right here.

These two chat about the philosophy behind Lahey’s album title, The Answer is Always Yes, as well as thinking about whether a creative career beyond music makes sense. They talk about the relatively unpopularity of guitar music at the moment, and speculate whether either of their songs might someday get crazy big. (For the record, I don’t think it’s much of a stretch at all.) Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Alex Lahey and Sarah Tudzin for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all of the goodness at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

John Gourley (Portugal. The Man) with Jeff Bhasker Sep 21, 2023

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got the frontman for a band that recently made a welcome return after a long absence, and the producer who helped him find the sounds and songs to do it: John Gourley and Jeff Bhasker.

Gourley is the singer for Portugal. The Man, which started making music in their home state of Alaska back in the early 2000s before finding success and relocating to Portland, Oregon. The band has an impressive catalog that runs the pop gamut, and weirdly they hit it huge pretty deep into their career, with the 2017 song “Feel It Still,” which is still on pop radio six years later. Just this year, PTM finally released a new album, called Chris Black Changed My Life, which both mourns and celebrates the band’s close friend, for whom it’s also named. The album was also partly inspired by the daughter of Gourley and his bandmate Zoe Manville; Frances Gourley has a rare genetic disorder that’s touched on in this chat. But the album and Gourley’s story is by no means grim: He’s all about celebrating life, as you’ll hear on this track, “Summer of Luv,” which features some assistance from another recent Talkhouse guest, Unknown Mortal Orchestra.

You’ll also hear the fingerprints of producer Jeff Bhasker on that track. Bhasker is best known for co-writing and co-producing smash hits like Kanye West’s 808s and Heartbreak and My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and Mark Ronson’s “Uptown Funk.” He’s one of several names that Portugal. The Man brought in to help realize Chris Black Changed My Life. The two talk about how that process worked, and in particular how Gourley is—unlike some songwriters—always happy to have more creative voices in the room. They also chat about which of them is a better singer, about playing at the Hollywood Bowl, about Gourley’s life-changing jaw injury, and about Gourley’s daughter Frances and the challenges they face. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to John Gourley and Jeff Bhasker for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great written pieces at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Emile Mosseri with Jesse Eisenberg Sep 14, 2023

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got an actor-director you’ll likely recognize along with the musician-slash-composer who made beautiful sounds for one of his films: Jesse Eisenberg and Emile Mosseri.

Eisenberg is best known as an actor; he was nominated for an Academy Award for his portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network, which is just one of his dozens of credits. You’ve also seen him in Zombieland, The Squid and the Whale, the Now You See Me movies, and lots of indies. He also starred in the TV drama Fleishman is in Trouble last year alongside Claire Danes and Lizzy Caplan. And if that isn’t enough, Eisenberg is also a writer, playwright, and director. His feature debut as a director came earlier this year with When You Finish Saving the World, which began life as Audible original—which he also wrote. The movie stars Julianne Moore and Stranger Things’ Finn Wolfhard, and it was released by A24, a trademark of quality. And… segue time… music for the film was composed by today’s other guest, Emile Mosseri.

Now Mosseri spent years in bands, most notably The Dig, but really seems to have found his stride in recent years as a film composer. In 2020 he did the music for both Miranda July’s Kajillionaire and for Lee Isaac Chung’s Minari, for which Mosseri was Academy-nominated for Best Original Score. He’s also worked on Joe Talbot’s The Last Black Man in San Francisco and Jonah Hill’s Stutz, which you’ll hear a little about in this conversation. Earlier this year, Mosseri released his first album of original songs under his own name, which is called Heaven Hunters. It’s a really personal, intimate record that sounds best on a pair of quality headphones, as it’s sort of cinematic and somehow also small and quiet. Check out one of Eisenberg’s favorite songs from Heaven Hunters, this is “My Greedy Heart.”

These two get right into a great chat, talking about the various neuroses that fuel their art and stifle their ambition: Mosseri even talks about choosing whether to spend money on his therapist or an awards-season publicist. Eisenberg talks about his experiments using AI on a script—they don’t go well—which leads to a discussion about whether AI will impinge on creative jobs like theirs in the future. It’s a great, fun chat—enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Jesse Eisenberg and Emile Mosseri for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great written pieces at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Ethel Cain with Wicca Phase Springs Eternal Sep 07, 2023

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a pair of musicians who create with an air of mystery, but who have a fantastically straightforward chat here: Ethel Cain and Adam McIlwee.

Ethel Cain is a character created by Hayden Anhedonia, though one that’s been sort of all-consuming. Anhedonia began releasing music under the name in 2019, finding her sound and her vibe over the next couple of years before releasing the absolutely epic Preacher’s Daughter in May of 2022. The album, a concept collection about the life and ultimate demise of Ethel Cain, skillfully moves through sounds from a sort of Gothic Americana to slowcore to ambient sounds to who knows what, exactly, other than it’s thoroughly engaging. The album was pretty quickly hailed as a masterful debut, and Cain found herself not only the darling of the music world, but with some prominent modeling gigs as well. As you’ll hear in this chat, though, the spotlight has gotten a little bit bright for her taste lately. She’s currently on the European festival circuit, though she’ll head back to the States in October for sold-out shows at really interesting venues. Check out “Crush” right here.

Cain and today’s other guest, Adam McIlwee, go way back. He was an early supporter of her music, and appears on her Inbred EP under his most prominent alias, Wicca Phase Springs Eternal. Though he started his musical journey as part of the pop-punkish band Tigers Jaw, he’s moved in a dozen other directions since. He founded the emo-rap collective GothBoiClique back in 2012, which briefly counted Lil Peep among its members. As Wicca Phase, though, McIlwee combines synth-pop with more acoustic sounds and more hammering beats, depending on the track. His latest release under the name is self-titled, and it just came out in June. It’s well worth checking out. In fact, check out “Moving Without Movement” right here.

Now for two people who’ve created such interesting mystiques, this is a refreshingly down-to-earth conversation in which they talk about trying to carve out space as middle-class musicians who don’t expect to conquer the charts with their music—but who’d love to be able to make a decent living at it. They talk about what to do when you hit a touring wall—this chat took place not long after Cain fainted onstage in Australia—and how great Vicks Steam Inhalers are for singers. Hey Vicks, you might have a couple of spokespeople here if you play your cards right. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Hayden Anhedonia aka Ethel Cain and Adam McIlwee aka Wicca Phase Springs Eternal for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the other podcasts in our ever-expanding network. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Alaska Reid with Ekkstacy Aug 31, 2023

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a pair of young artists and friends who share more in their outlooks than they do in their sounds: Alaska Reid and Ekkstacy.

Alaska Reid, despite her name, actually grew up in Montana, as you’ll hear in this chat, but she splits her time between there and Los Angeles, and you can sort of hear that in her music—polished indie-rock that’s got an edge you kind of have to look for. She’s released a bunch of fantastic singles over the past couple of years, and just last month released her debut album, Disenchanter. You may have seen Reid opening for the likes of Charli XCX or Caroline Polachek, and she’ll embark on a headlining U.S. tour this September, and it’ll probably be your one and only chance to see her play in relatively small venues for a while. Check out “French Fries” from Disenchanter right here.

Ekkstacy is a Canadian musician who makes emotional songs that are deeply indebted to early-’80s new wave—a sound he definitely didn’t experience firsthand, since he’s barely old enough to drink. Ekkstacy is known for both songs and interviews that wear their emotions on their sleeves: He puts it all out there, and it often seems like he’s exorcizing his most negative feelings through catchy songs. Sample song titles from last year’s album Misery include “I Just Want to Hide My Face” and “Wish I was Dead,” and his big breakthrough single was “I Walk This Earth All By Myself.” But he’s no sad-sack: Ekkstacy is passionate about what he’s doing, and he wants to make it big, as you’ll hear in this conversation. Check out “I’m So Happy” right here.

As a person of a certain age—by which I mean way older than these two—I found this chat fascinating. Alaska and Ekkstacy talk about growing up plugged in, and how that can affect your personality. They talk about how much you’re obligated to engage with a live audience. And Ekkstacy talks about a run-in with Tobey Maguire and Leonardo DiCaprio, and how he wants what they’ve got, though not exactly. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Alaska Reid and Ekkstacy for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the delights at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Panda Bear (Animal Collective) with Paul Maroon (The Walkmen) Aug 24, 2023

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got two guys who were part of monumentally influential bands in the 2000s, and who continue to make groundbreaking music today: Paul Maroon and Noah Lennox.

Maroon is behind the incredible, instantly recognizable guitar sound of The Walkmen, a band that sort of split up a decade ago but reunited just this year for what has turned into an incredibly jubilant tour. The band is currently in Europe, where they just played a show in Lennox’s adopted home country of Portugal, and they’ll return for a string of U.S. dates this fall, culminating in a hometown—that’d be New York—show in October. Since the Walkmen split, Maroon has mostly turned his attention to composing classical music and the occasional film score. He put out a really engaging record with the pianist Jenny Lin called 13 Short Piano Pieces, with each of those pieces inspired by and named for a different place Maroon has lived—he currently calls Seville, Spain home. Check out “El Raval” right here, and go to Paulmaroon.co for info on his solo stuff, or thewalkmen.com for tour dates.

Maroon released a seven-inch recently that featured singing from his friend Noah Lennox, who’s perhaps better known by the name he uses as part of Animal Collective, Panda Bear. Lennox has been part of that massively influential experimental rock band for nearly 25 years, and he’s released a ton of great music both with Animal Collective and as a solo artist. His latest release, though, is a collaboration with Pete Kember, also known as Sonic Boom. Kember was a member of Spacemen 3 way back when, and he’s also released incredible music as Spectrum and E.A.R. He’s also earned his production stripes over the years, producing records for Beach House, MGMT, and… Panda Bear. Last year, Kember and Lennox released a collaborative album they recorded during the pandemic called Reset, and they just followed it with a dub version of the album remixed by Adrian Sherwood called Reset in Dub. Check out “Gettin’ to the Point” from Reset.

In this conversation, we learn that Lennox was in attendance for the first-ever Walkmen show; we hear about their adventures living in Portugal and Spain, the difference between a good show and a bad show, and whether these two are “daily guys.” Lennox also makes an accurate prediction about the NBA Finals, even though, as you’ll hear, this is not a basketball podcast. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Noah Lennox and Paul Maroon for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow us on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the goodness at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Beth Orton with Alabaster DePlume Aug 17, 2023

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a very mellow, very lovely conversation between a woman known for her gorgeous voice and heartfelt songwriting and a man known for, as he calls it, “wobbly saxophone,” Beth Orton and Alabaster dePlume.

Beth Orton has been making beautiful, often heartbreaking songs since the early 1990s, when she was a leading light in what I think is a now-forgotten genre called “folktronica.” She first found notice by contributing vocals to a few Chemical Brothers songs, then broke out with her timeless debut album Trailer Park in 1996. She has since created a lovely and varied body of work that’s explored a variety of sounds but that’s tied together by her unforgettable voice. Orton’s latest album is from last year: It’s called Weather Alive, which to me sounds like a spiritual heir to Van Morrison’s classic Astral Weeks, which may in part be because it features the saxophone playing of today’s other guest, Alabaster dePlume. Check out a little bit of “Fractals” right here, and definitely go see Orton on tour this fall; she’ll be back in the States this September. Bethortonofficial.com has all the dates.

Alabaster dePlume picked up the saxophone in 2007, but sort of reinvented himself—including taking on that stage name—in 2015. He became a fixture in London’s improvisational jazz scene not long after, and a lot of what he does is centered around the recording studio/gathering place where this conversation was recorded, Total Refreshment Centre. DePlume broke out in 2020 with an album called To Cy & Lee, which was inspired by and named after some folks he helped as a mental-health support worker. In a couple of weeks, he’ll release a new album called Come With Fierce Grace, whose initial sessions were done during the pandemic with Tom Skinner, a drummer who’s currently also a member of the Radiohead offshoot The Smile. Check out “Greek Honey Slick” from the new album, and check out alabaster-deplume.com for his schedule, which includes a month of U.S. shows in September.

As I mentioned at the top of this intro, this chat is both lovely and very mellow. DePlume is a soothing presence whose spirit seems powered almost exclusively by love, and Orton is happy to participate. They chat about the climate-activism event that landed dePlume in jail and found Orton chased off the stage; they talk about angry yoga and the joys of triangle chokes, and Orton points out how technological advances can help women artists. Find your zen and enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast and thanks to Beth Orton and Alabaster dePlume for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the goodness on this very site. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time.

Shirley Collins with Radie Peat (Lankum) Aug 10, 2023

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a couple of singers who’ve devoted themselves, in slightly different ways, to keeping traditional music alive: Shirley Collins and Radie Peat.

Collins is 88, and she’s had a pretty strange and incredible career. She started performing traditional songs in the mid-1950s, and she notably left England in 1959 to travel the United States with Alan Lomax, recording songs and singers in Appalachia and elsewhere that may otherwise have been lost to history. She recorded some incredibly influential records in the '60s and '70s with Davy Graham and, separately, with her sister Dolly Collins. And then Shirley left music entirely. It wasn’t until the 2000s that unlikely underground musicians would coax her back to performing: British apocalyptic-folk-industrial band Current 93 were the first, strangely. It wasn’t until 2014—38 years after her last album—that Collins made a new one, and it was gorgeous and well received. She’s since released a couple more, all for the hip Domino label, fitting for someone who’s been so quietly influential. Her latest is Archangel Hill; check out “Hares on the Mountain” right here.

Radie Peat, singer for Lankum, is one of the many musicians who’ve been deeply influenced by Collins—and by the traditional songs that Collins helped to keep alive. But while Lankum is definitely part of the folk tradition, they modernize the sound in wildly interesting ways. Their fourth and latest album is called False Lankum, and I love this quote about it from Mojo Magazine: “If modern folk music needs its own OK Computer, its own The Dark Side of the Moon, or indeed its own F♯A♯∞, this may well be it.” (That last album referenced, in case you didn’t recognize it, is the debut from Godspeed You Black Emperor.) If that all sounds intriguing, you’ll probably love it. Oh, and the album was recently shortlisted for the prestigious Mercury Prize. Here’s “Go Dig My Grave” from False Lankum.

Peat describes this conversation as “fangirling,” though I’m not sure that’s entirely fair. There’s definitely some mutual admiration happening here—Collins still keeps up with music, and she loves Lankum as well. They talk about Collins’ adventures in America with Alan Lomax, about other singers they admire, and how they share a pretty strong hatred for jazz. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Shirley Collins and Radie Peat for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the goodness at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Geoff Rickly (Thursday) with Jonah Bayer Aug 03, 2023

On this week’s Talkhouse episode we’ve got two guys who’ve known each other for decades, and who have a popular podcast, a post-hardcore band, and a new novel between them: Geoff Rickly and Jonah Bayer.

Now Geoff Rickly is best known as the singer of the band Thursday, whose 2001 album Full Collapse is rightly considered a touchstone in the post-hardcore/screamo genre. That band had a full and varied existence, creating an impressive catalog that they still occasionally tour on. Rickly has also been part of other wild and wooly outfits: He stood in for the singer of legendary vampire-hardcore band Ink & Dagger for a tour, after their singer passed away—you’ll hear about that band in this conversation. But most recently, Rickly switched his focus to writing his first novel, which just came out. Someone Who Isn’t Me is most definitely not a memoir, though it is slightly more than loosely based on Rickly’s experience in being in a band, becoming addicted to heroin, and finding a path to treatment.

The other half of this conversation is an old friend and bandmate of Ricky’s, Jonah Bayer. Bayer and Rickly were part of the mysterious supergroup United Nations, which put out a bunch of music while keeping most of their identities secret. There’s a small but powerful United Nations catalog out there, if you’re into confrontational, mysterious hardcore. Bayer is also a journalist and recently started working as a mental-health clinician, which maybe makes him the perfect guy to chat with Rickly about his book. Oh, and Bayer also hosts a really fun podcast with his sister Vanessa Bayer—of Saturday Night Live fame—called How Did We Get Weird that just launched its third season.

In this chat, Bayer gets deep with Rickly about Someone Who Isn’t Me, diving into the odd structure of the book, whether it made sense to fictionalize his friends, and how to dramatize a psychedelic trip. The two also talk about how “pharma bro” Martin Shkreli fits into Rickly’s story, how Ink & Dagger deserves more recognition, and about a Kurt Cobain dream that Rickly once had. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Jonah Bayer and Geoff Rickly for chatting. If you like what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the goodness at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Jeff Ament (Pearl Jam) with John Wicks Jul 27, 2023

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got two guys who’ve been friends a long time, but recently formed a new project together. Oh, and one of them happens to be the bassist in a little band called Pearl Jam: It’s Jeff Ament and John Wicks.

Now Jeff Ament you’ve surely heard of, since he’s a founding member of one of rock’s biggest and most reliable acts, Pearl Jam, who’ve been going strong and steady since the early 1990s. That band released their latest album, Gigaton, right when the pandemic first hit us, so it scuttled some touring plans, but Pearl Jam is back out on the road this fall. Ament has always been a musical seeker beyond his main gig, though, experimenting both with solo records and side projects over the years. He’s also an accomplished visual artist. Not only is Ament the hand behind Pearl Jam’s iconic stickman logo, but he’s also an incredible painter and poster artist.

John Wicks is an accomplished drummer probably best known as a founding member of the band Fitz & The Tantrums, though he’s also loaned his skills to the likes of Bruno Mars and Cee Lo Green. He teamed up with his old friend Ament to make the music for a TV series called Under the Banner of Heaven, and then the pandemic allowed them time to start an entirely new project that they’ve dubbed Deaf Charlie. Their debut album under the name is called Catastrophic Metamorphic, and it’s a weird, fun, occasionally dark set of psychedelic pop that’s also fully engaging. Ament sings lead on most of the songs, which is new for him. Check out “We are Doing It” right here.

The chat you’re about to hear took place the day after Deaf Charlie’s first rehearsal as a full band; even though Wicks and Ament never really intended to play these songs live, plans changed and they’ll be making their live debut at the Ohana Festival in early October. Both of these guys live in Montana now, and they chat about Ament’s upbringing in small town Big Sandy, Wicks’ recent job as a professor at the University of Montana, how originality is often discovered through mistakes, and the unparalleled joy of finding yourself inside the music—or other art—that you’re making. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Jeff Ament and John Wicks for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the goodness at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Stuart Murdoch (Belle and Sebastian) with Suki Waterhouse Jul 20, 2023

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a pair of songwriters from relatively similar locales but different generations who also happened to record a song together that’s finally coming out: Stuart Murdoch and Suki Waterhouse.

Stuart Murdoch is the primary force behind the delightfully wry and smart Scottish band Belle and Sebastian, which shyly emerged from Glasgow in the mid-'90s but quickly became one of those touchstone indie bands—or as Waterhouse puts it in this chat, a legacy band. Belle and Sebastian have released a dozen terrific albums over the years, and they’re still capable of surprising their devoted fanbase. The band’s latest, Late Developers, was released early this year, hot on the heels of the band’s 11th album, A Bit of Previous. If you haven’t availed yourself of the band’s charms in recent years, this new one is a great place to jump back in.

Suki Waterhouse is probably best known as an actor and model—you may have seen her in the music-focused Amazon Prime series Daisy Jones & The Six recently—but she’s been passionate about music forever as well. Her debut album came out last year on Sub Pop; it’s called I Can’t Let Go, and it’s perfect for fans of Fiona Apple or Lana Del Ray. And music isn’t just a side thing for Waterhouse; she jumped right in the van, as you’ll hear, to tour her songs as soon as her acting gig allowed it. She also recorded a song with Belle and Sebastian a few years back, which has finally been released as a Sub Pop single, and it’s the reason we ended up here together. The song is called “Every Day’s a Lesson in Humility.” Check it out.

Waterhouse and Murdoch hadn’t seen in each other in a while, but they picked up the conversation like old friends, talking about breakfast, peptides, a funny nickname that Murdoch got when he started his short-lived career as a roadie, and the difficulties of pooping as a touring musician. Yes, you read that right. We also hear about some incredible Los Angeles advice that Murdoch got way back when. It’s a charming chat, and I hope you enjoy it.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Suki Waterhouse and Stuart Murdoch for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out the many wonderful written pieces and other goings-on at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Stewart Copeland (The Police) with Jon Wurster Jul 13, 2023

On this week's Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got an episode for the drummers and those who like a great story: Jon Wurster and Stewart Copeland.

Copeland is of course the drummer for the legendary, gazillion-selling Rock and Roll Hall of Famers the Police, who were called “the biggest band in the world” during their mid-'80s heyday. Their hits have endured over the decades, too, and that’s in no small part due to the special chemistry the trio enjoyed—and that chemistry, as you’ll hear, often manifested itself in fights between Copeland and his old bandmate Sting. Copeland has made a fascinating career for himself since; he directed a documentary about his old band that made interesting use of their music, and he’s got a new album and tour called Police Deranged for Orchestra, which features those classic songs redone in wild new ways. As you’ll hear in this chat, Copeland also found a side career as a film composer, working on everything from Oliver Stone’s Wall Street to the classic Francis Ford Coppola movie Rumble Fish. Check out a little bit of “Every Little Thing She Does is Magic“ from Police Deranged for Orchestra right here.

Now the other half of this conversation is a drummer from a later era and, as you’ll hear, a huge fan of Copeland’s work. Jon Wurster is a renaissance man who’s played most regularly with Superchunk, the Mountain Goats, and Bob Mould, but whose list of credits goes way beyond those amazing acts. He’s also a comedy writer and half of the duo Scharpling and Wurster, which gave birth to some of the funniest characters in radio comedy ever. This summer, Wurster will tour with both Mountain Goats and Bob Mould, so chances are good that he’ll be in a city near you.

In this conversation, Wurster—as I had hoped he would—gets deep into specifics with Copeland, asking him right off the bat about a gig from the early 1980s. They also chat about how Copeland’s orchestral tours actually work and about his forays into the soundtrack world—I had never heard the term “shit chord” before. They get into the fights that Copeland had with Police frontman Sting, and about how band therapy helped sort that all out. Wurster also gets a chance to ask about the lyrics to a deep cut called “On Any Other Day.” Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Jon Wurster and Stewart Copeland for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Revisited: Benny Sings with Remi Wolf Jul 06, 2023

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a pair of songwriters separated by thousands of miles who came together recently for a killer single: Remi Wolf and Benny Sings.

Wolf has been writing songs since her early teens, but it wasn’t until a couple of years ago that her neon pop jams starting getting some social media attention. A major label came calling, and Wolf spent a good chunk of the early pandemic making her full-length debut album Juno, which she named after her recently adopted dog. It’s one of those deceptively sunny records that hides some bigger emotions inside huge hooks, and it led to a bunch of amazing singles like “Anthony Kiedis”—that’s the name of the song— and tours: Wolf will play Coachella next month.

As you’ll hear in this chat, Wolf met Dutch singer-songwriter Benny Sings when both were playing a Spanish festival that had some kind of Medieval theme. Wolf was already a fan of Benny’s work, both as a performer and a producer: Not only has he released a ton of great music on his own, but he also co-wrote a hit with Rex Orange County and has worked with the likes of Mac Demarco. Benny’s music has a sort of classic soft-pop vibe; he playfully mixes in hip-hop and island vibes on occasion, too, making the sort of breezy songs that easily get stuck in your head. When it came time to record his brand new album Young Hearts, which comes out next week, he reached out to Remi for some vocal assistance. The result is a delightful little nugget called “Pyjamas.” Check out that song right here.

In this chat, Remi and Benny talk about collaborating on the video for “Pyjamas”—she directed it, adding some of the visual flair she’s known for. They also chat about songwriting in general—whether it’s craft or divination, and they get into whether technology is good or evil—and whether these two would survive a tech-pocalypse. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Remi Wolf and Benny Sings for chatting. If you like what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the goodness at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Maya Hawke with Blondshell Jun 29, 2023

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got two performers who’ve got friends in common, and became fast friends themselves while recording this chat: Maya Hawke and Sabrina Teitelbaum.

Maya Hawke is best known for her day job as an actor, most visibly in a little show called Stranger Things, and she was also in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and the new Wes Anderson movie, Asteroid City. But as you’ll hear in this chat, she might be most excited by a side path as a singer and songwriter. Hawke has released two understated but fantastic albums so far, and she’s basically finished another. The vibe is sort of indie-folk, sort of floating and ambient but lyrically really engaging. She’s worked with some cool folks to realize her musical vision, including Christian Lee Hutson, who’s the “Christian” referenced in this conversation, just so you know. Check out a “Sweet Tooth” from Hawke’s 2022 album Moss right here.

Sabrina Teitelbaum just released her debut album under the name Blondshell, and it’s one of the best of 2023 so far. She describes it in this conversation as an emergency album—meaning a bunch of songs that she felt almost desperate to write, record, and unleash on the world. It’s direct and angry in spots, but also darkly funny and completely unafraid. She’s toured with the likes of Horsegirl and Porridge Radio, which might give some indication of what you’re in for. Or I could just play you Blondshell’s opus, “Salad,” right here. Check it out.

These two have a fantastic conversation, and just in case it’s not clear from the context, they’re both good friends with the singer Samia, and each has contributed to a Samia covers series called Honey Reimagained. Blondshell did a song called “Charm You,” which is available now. Elsewhere in this chat, they talk about Hawke’s playing “body air guitar,” the weird emotional hit you get when a tour is finished, and the difficulties of stage banter. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Sabrina Teiltelbaum and Maya Hawke for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the goodness at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Wye Oak with Johanna Samuels, Jay Hammond, and Joe Westerlund Jun 22, 2023

For this week's Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a special two-part episode featuring both members of one of my favorite bands, Wye Oak, in conversation with some other fantastic musicians, so be sure to stick around for both halves!

First up it’s Wye Oak’s Jenn Wasner and singer-songwriter Johanna Samuels, both of whom have new music coming out, coincidentally, on June 23. Samuels has been making beautiful, deeply personal music for the last decade or so, and her new one is a doozy. The album is called Bystander, and it was recorded with Josh Kaufman of Bonny Light Horseman—he’s the Josh you’ll hear referenced in this chat. Check out “Ugly on the Inside” from Bystander right here.

Samuels is joined here by Talkhouse pal Jenn Wasner, who’s probably best known as half of Wye Oak, but has also recorded music recently under the name Flock of Dimes. It’s no wonder that Wasner and Samuels get along, as both are incredibly thoughtful and sincere in their musical pursuits: They’re looking for something much bigger than a hooky song to sing, they’re out to connect on a deeper level. Wye Oak has sort of morphed into a different kind of band in recent years, choosing to stay away from the make-an-album-then-tour-forever cycle and instead release singles and one-off songs as Wasner and Andy Stack are able. A bunch of those songs have just been compiled on an album called Every Day Like the Last. They sound as good as anything the duo has done, which is to say they sound great. Check out “I Learned it From You” right here.

In this conversation, Wasner and Samuels talk about the magic of the Newport Folk Festival, how great it is to work with Josh Kaufman, and how to express heavy thoughts within joyful music. You’ll find out whether these are women of mystery, and you’ll hear Wasner refer to herself as “a big golden retriever of a person.” Enjoy.

In the second half of this epic Talkhouse two-parter, we’ve actually got three speakers: Andy Stack, who’s best known as half of Wye Oak, but who’s also made some solo records under the name Joyero. Along with him is Jay Hammond, with whom Stack recently made a great instrumental record, and Joe Westerlund.

I’ll start with Westerlund, and I’ll try to do his bio justice: He started out in the Wisconsin band Deyarmond Edison, which has a massive retrospective box set coming out this year, and which is best known as the band that started Justin Vernon of Bon Iver down his musical path. Westerlund has also contributed to lots of other song-based music over the years, drumming for the likes of Califone and his project Megafaun. But it definitely feels like Westerlund has found his true calling in his solo instrumental work, including the recent Elegies for the Drift, whose compositions were largely inspired by important people in his life who’d passed away recently. It’s a gorgeous, emotional ride. Check out “The Circle,” which is dedicated to Akron/Family’s Miles Cooper Seaton, a friend of Westerlund’s who tragically died in a car crash in 2021.

It makes sense that Westerlund got together for a chat with Andy Stack and Jay Hammond, because they all have North Carolina in common: It’s become something of a refuge for a bunch of bands over the past few years, with their friends in Sylvan Esso building a studio there, and lots of folks—including both members of Wye Oak—taking up residence there. Stack and Hammond got together recently and struck gold with a series of electro-acoustic improvisations that they winnowed down to album length and titled Inter Personal—a nod to the connection that they deepened by making this music together. Check out “Life on a Ship” right here.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Johanna Samuels, Jenn Wasner, Andy Stack, Jay Hammond, and Joe Westerlund for chatting. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

James Acaster with NNAMDÏ and Quelle Chris Jun 15, 2023

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got the ringleader of the year’s weirdest experimental hip-hop album, who also happens to be a well known comedian, along with two guys who helped him make it: James Acaster along with NNAMDÏ and Quelle Chris.

Now Acaster isn’t a household name in the States just yet, but he’s definitely a known quantity in the UK, where he’s from. He’s a stand-up comedian, a TV presenter, and an author—he wrote a great memoir a few years back called Perfect Sound Whatever, which uses music as a starting point for telling his own story. Which sort of bring us to his musical project, which he calls Temps. Before his comedy career took off, Acaster was an aspiring musician, and he jumped back into that pursuit during the pandemic, creating a collective of over 40 contributors to make an album called Party Gator Purgatory. It’s a wild mix of experimental hip-hop with rock and jazz elements, and it’s chaotic in all the right ways.

For this conversation, we put Acaster together with two of the guests he brought on to help out with Party Gator. NNAMDÏ seemed like a natural choice for a multiple-personality record like this one, since he’s one of the most restlessly engaging musicians working right now. The Chicagoan’s latest album, Please Have a Seat, was his first for Secretly Canadian, and it’s a blistering mix of hip-hop, electronic music, trap, and lots more—all tied together by his voice and outlook.

Also in this chat is Detroit’s Quelle Chris, who’s been making records as a rapper, producer, and writer for the past decade plus. His latest album, Deathfame, also came out last year, and it’s a smart, politically pointed collection of songs that showcases both his incredible flow and sense of humor—again, it makes perfect sense that Acaster would’ve called on him to bring something special to Party Gator. Let’s check out one of the album’s tracks that features all three of these guys; here’s “no, no.”

In this fun and insightful conversation, these three guys talk about collaborating long-distance, how whoever’s mixing an album is incredibly important, whether or not one should order cheesecake at Cheesecake Factory, and how Macklemore ruined thrift stores. Allegedly. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to James Acaster, NNAMDÏ, and Quelle Chris for chatting. The record is credited to Temps, and it’s called Party Gator Purgatory. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite platform, and check out all the goodness at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Louise Post (Veruca Salt) with Kay Hanley (Letters to Cleo) Jun 08, 2023

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a pair of women who were prominent in the ‘90s alternative rock scene, and whose bands followed similar paths: Kay Hanley of Letters to Cleo and Louise Post of Veruca Salt.

Our producer Myron Kaplan has been pushing to have Hanley as a guest for ages, and of course singing the praises of both Letters to Cleo and Hanley’s solo work—plus letting me know that Hanley has had an incredible second musical career writing for children’s TV shows, including popular shows like Doc McStuffins, for which she won a Peabody Award. Hanley also won a songwriting Emmy for her work on last year’s animated series We The People. She’s still rocking in Letters to Cleo, too, though the band was broken up for a good long while there—now they get together on occasion to make some noise and play a few shows every November. Sounds nice to me. Check out the song “Back to Nebraska“ right here.

The other half of today’s conversation is Louise Post, who was the co-frontperson of another ‘90s alt-rock titan, Veruca Salt. Together with her songwriting partner Nina Gordon, Post caused a huge stir back then, coming out of the gate (the gate being Chicago) with a ton of buzz and an incredible single called “Seether.” As you’ll hear in this conversation, the machinations of the music biz caused some real strife, and Gordon left the band. Post soldiered on with some great Veruca Salt music before things fizzled, but there’s a happy ending: Gordon returned in 2015 with the rest of the original lineup. And even better: Post has just released a firecracker of a solo album called Sleepwalker, which sounds grown up but still rocking in all the right ways. Check out “What About.”

In this chat, Post and Hanley talk about the early days and seeing each other play; Hanley gushes over Post’s new record, and they talk about living through that moment in the ‘90s alt-rock world when women were undeniably in the driver’s seat. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Kay Hanley and Louise Post for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the written goodness on this very website. This episode was produced by this week’s special guest host Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Sean Barna with Adam Duritz (Counting Crows) Jun 01, 2023

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got the singer and songwriter from a legendary ‘90s (and beyond) band alongside a relative newcomer whose songs he deeply influenced: Adam Duritz and Sean Barna.

If you don’t know his name, you certainly know Duritz’s band, Counting Crows. Active since 1991, the group has sold 20 million albums, enjoyed a bunch of big hits, and been a powerhouse touring act for that entire run. To his great credit, Duritz—as you’ll hear in this chat—has never stopped engaging with new music, both as a songwriter and a sort of talent scout. He started two different festivals that you’ll hear about, the Outlaw Roadshow and Underwater Sunshine, which are built like jam sessions for both established and up-and-coming songwriters. Counting Crows continues to release new music, too, including a lengthy EP called Butter Miracle, Suite One, which was recorded during pandemic times and showcases a slightly glammier side of the band. Check out “Elevator Boots” right here, and check out Counting Crows on tour this summer with Dashboard Confessional.

Today’s other guest, Sean Barna, was a drummer who was directly inspired to start writing songs after hearing Counting Crows. In some sort of amazing bit of serendipity, Barna found himself in Duritz’s orbit, and the two became fast friends and, eventually, guests on each other’s music. Barna recently signed to the venerated indie label Kill Rock Stars, which just released his second album, An Evening at Macri Park, which is a sort of concept album about modern-day queer life in Brooklyn. It’s emotional and catchy in all the right ways. Check out the song “Be a Man,” which features Duritz on guest vocals.

In this fun and wide-ranging conversation, Duritz and Barna talk about playing shows together, the perfection that is a BLT, a bit of hazing that happened when Barna opened for Counting Crows, and lots more. There’s even a lengthy story from Duritz that starts with badly injuring his leg and ends with him looking for his underwear. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Adam Duritz and Sean Barna for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the goodness at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Georgia Anne Muldrow with Angel Bat Dawid May 25, 2023

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got a pair of musicians who are both part of a brand new Sun Ra tribute album that’s part of the long-running Red Hot series, Angel Bat Dawid and Georgia Anne Muldrow. We’ve also got a special guest in the podcast intro: former Talkhouse host and co-producer of the tribute album Elia Einhorn.

Muldrow and Dawid hadn’t met before this call, but as you’ll hear, they’re definitely on the same wavelength both musically and personally—and they both have a deep connection to Sun Ra, the cosmic-jazz master who made incredible, out-there records starting back in the 1930s all the way through to his final journey off this planet in 1993.

Dawid was born in Georgia but she’s most closely associated with Chicago, where she’s part of an incredible jazz scene. Not only is she a musician—an ace clarinetist, in fact—but also an activist and a teacher with plans to open a music school.

Muldrow boasts an incredible—and incredibly diverse— catalog of music, which she’s been working on for the past couple of decades. Sometimes she records under her own name, but also under the name Jyoti—those records, Elia Einhorn notes, are a pretty good place to start with her catalog. There are elements of jazz, to be sure, but also hip-hop, funk, and blues in the mix.

These two become fast friends on the podcast, talking about Sun Ra visiting them in dreams, how Ra came into their lives, and their definitions of living spiritually. Again, check out the first installment of Red Hot And Ra, which is out now, and then dive into these incredible catalogs.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Angel Bat Dawid and Georgia Anne Muldrow for chatting—and thanks to Elia Einhorn for co-hosting. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Jemaine Clement with Ruban Nielson (Unknown Mortal Orchestra) May 18, 2023

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a pair of New Zealanders who’ve forged incredible careers in music and comedy and comedic music: Jemaine Clement and Ruban Nielson.

I’m guessing Clement is best known to our listeners as half of Flight of the Conchords, his musical and acting duo with Bret McKenzie. They haven’t put out a record or toured much in the last decade or so, but their albums and HBO series definitely endure with their subtle hilarity. Clement has of course been plenty busy post-Conchords as both an actor and director. His 2014 mockumentary What We Do in the Shadows, co-directed with his old friend Taika Watiti, spun off into one of the funniest shows on TV, and you’ve also heard or seen him in everything from Despicable Me to the latest Avatar movie. In the awful event that you’re not familiar with Flight of the Conchords, here’s their David Bowie tribute, simply called “Bowie,” which is discussed a bit in this episode.

Clement seemed excited—and well prepared!—to speak with Ruban Nielson, the singer-guitarist behind Unknown Mortal Orchestra. Though both of these guys are, as I said, from New Zealand and fans of each other’s work, they had never met before. UMO, as Nielson’s band is known for short, has been making a sort of uncategorizable music since 2010; they most often get pegged as psychedelic rock, which isn’t wrong, but also doesn’t tell the whole story. There are also elements of lo-fi indie rock, a bit of funk, and some garage rock. But the fact that it’s tough to name is part of what makes UMO’s music so appealing. Check out a little their song “The Garden,” which opens the latest UMO album, V.

These guys have a fantastic conversation that spans everything from the history of New Zealand and their shared Maori heritage to an in-depth examination of the Jagstang, a guitar designed by Kurt Cobain and favored by Nielson. They talk about bombing on stage—and getting bombed before getting on stage—and they share stories about coming up in a shared place. Also, you’ll hear the phrase “sad funky ghost,” perhaps for the first and last time in your life. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Jemaine Clement and Ruban Nielson for chatting. If you like what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and be sure to check out all the goodies at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Westerman with James Krivchenia (Big Thief) May 11, 2023

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a pair of guys who worked on an incredible record together, which just came out last week: Will Westerman and James Krivchenia.

Krivchenia is best known as the drummer of Big Thief, the Brooklyn indie band that has blown up pretty big over the past few years, up to and including last year’s fantastic album Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You. When he’s not busy with Big Thief, Krivchenia also plays in Mega Bog, among other bands, and he even played some drums on Taylor Swift’s re-recorded version of her Red album. He’s also made some really interesting music as a solo artist, including last year’s Blood Karaoke, which samples dozens of YouTube videos that had zero views and synthesizes them into an intense collage that will either get your toes tapping or your brain frying. Check out “Null States” right here.

Will Westerman, who releases music under his last name, happened to meet Krivchenia in the UK a few years back, and for the second Westerman album, the two worked together. An Inbuilt Fault is a more textured beast than the first Westerman record, gaining space and a bit of groove courtesy of both Krivchenia and some other ace players, like Luke Temple. Recording the album was a weird experience that involved a lonely apartment and a couple of guys with Covid, and lyrically it deals with a pretty dark time. Check out the song “Take” here, which they talk about in this chat.

In addition to their own recording experience, Krivchenia and Westerman talk about an incredible guitar that James’ uncle built, figuring out how you’re going to play studio-built compositions on the road, and a bunch of upcoming projects, including another Westerman record and a mythology-heavy, “metal as fuck” children’s album. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Will Westerman and James Krivchenia for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all of the other great podcasts in our network via Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Will Oldham (Bonnie Prince Billy) with David Wax May 04, 2023

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a pair of songwriters who come from different scenes but whose convergence sparked a longtime friendship and even some collaboration: David Wax and Will Oldham.

David Wax is half the core of the band that bears his name, David Wax Museum—the other half is his wife and longtime musical partner Suz Slezak. The duo has been making records and touring the world for the past 15 years or so, largely independently and definitely marching to the beat of their own drummer. Their blend of Mexican-flavored folk and other traditional-sounding influences has been called “Mexo-Americana,” but that’s really just a starting place. It’s charming, engaging, and always searching. David Wax Museum’s latest album is called You Must Change Your Life, and it was inspired by both a health scare that Wax had recently and by their choice of producer, Dan Molad, who’s a member of Lucius, among other major accomplishments. Check out the title track from You Must Change Your Life right here.

Perhaps you can hear how Wax might get along with today’s other guest, Will Oldham. Oldham is of course known as the songwriting genius behind Palace Music and Bonnie Prince Billy, and he’s been making timeless music since the early 1990s; his latest album is a collaboration with Bill Callahan called Blind Date Party. Oldham is also an actor, which is touched on in this conversation; you may have seen him in one of Kelly Reichardt’s movies, or in A Ghost Story which, if you haven’t seen it, please do, it’s amazing.

In this conversation, Wax and Oldham talk about how they were able to connect at a folk festival. They talk about how Oldham exists sort of outside the machinery of the music business, and how that’s helped and occasionally hurt (but mostly helped). They touch on the rare songs that Oldham has licensed for film and TV, and David asks Will to come to he and Suz’s barn to play for a blindfolded audience. It’ll make sense when you hear it.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to David Wax and Will Oldham for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great written pieces we’ve got on Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by The Range. See you next time!

Qveen Herby with Bunny Michael Apr 27, 2023

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a pairing that’s a little bit outside our normal wheelhouse, but that touches on topics that we love to hit: Qveen Herby and Bunny Michael.

Usually it’s easy to classify our guests by the main thing they do: musician, filmmaker, author. But both Qveen Herby and Bunny Michael do more than I can even reasonably tell you about in this intro: Each hosts a podcast, each has earned huge followings on social media, and each makes music. Herby started her career as part of the duo Karmin, as you’ll hear: Instant YouTube fame greeted their fun cover songs, and they ended up on Ellen and Saturday Night Live—and in what turned out to be a not-that-fun major-label deal. But Herby reinvented herself as a very 21st-century content creator, offering life advice on Instagram and via the House of Herby podcast, selling jewelry, and making funny, pointed hip-hop-indebted pop. Check out “Just Found Out” from Qveen Herby’s latest EP, The Muse.

As you’ll hear, Qveen Herby and today’s other guest, Bunny Michael, didn’t know each other personally before this conversation, but their paths have been incredibly similar. Michael found their biggest boost of fame via earnest self-help memes as well as a popular podcast called XO Higher Self. They’re also a visual artist and activist, and they’ve got a book coming out next year via Little Brown called Hello Higher Self. And yes, Bunny Michael is also a musician. Check out the song “Oracle” right here.

Like I said, these two didn’t know each other before this chat, but you can tell they’re going to be friends, as the old song goes. They talk about how to maintain boundaries with your own creativity, they talk about how your biggest song might be the one you’re most embarrassed by, and they talk about—horror—trying to put down your phone for a whole day. I don’t know if I could do it. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast and thanks to Qveen Herby and Bunny Michael for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the sweet goodness at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

A.C. Newman (The New Pornographers) with The Beths Apr 20, 2023

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got the songwriters behind some of the most tuneful tunes in indie-rock, one with a couple of decades under his belt, the other two relatively newer to the game: A.C. Newman along with Liz Stokes and Jonathan Pearce.

Stokes and Pearce are the core of the New Zealand band The Beths; she sings and plays guitar, he plays guitar and engineers their fabulous records. Their third and latest, Expert in a Dying Field, was one of 2022’s best—and you don’t have to take my word for it, it made tons of those best-of-the-year lists. Stokes is a fabulous lyricist and expressive singer; she’s one of those people whose semi-deadpan actually says quite a lot. The songs are melancholy and spunky, and sort of in the tradition of some great late-90s/early aughts indie-rock, like Superchunk or Rilo Kiley. Maybe it’s no surprise that some big bands that broke out in that era, like Death Cab for Cutie and The National, have taken the Beths out on tour. Check out the title track from Expert in a Dying Field right here, and catch the Beths on tour all over the world this summer.

Another Beths admirer who got his start in the early aughts is A.C. Newman, who’s best known as the singer and chief songwriter for the New Pornographers. That Canadian band started out as a sort of supergroup consisting of Newman and Neko Case alongside Dan Bejar and John Collins of Destroyer, but over the years it has really become a vehicle for Newman’s incredibly melodic songs. The band is on tour now behind their ninth album, the slightly mellower though no less engaging Continue As A Guest, and yes, both the current live lineup and the record still feature Neko Case—in the past she’s had to split time with her vibrant solo career. Check out “Really Really Light,” from Continue as a Guest.

In this conversation, Newman, Stokes, and Pearce—who were only admirers beforehand, not yet acquaintances—talk about the early days of these things called websites, blowing your life savings to go on tour, government arts grants that help bands do bigger things, and when doing it yourself just becomes too tough. Also, Newman gives some solid life and career advice: “Just do what you think is cool.” Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to A.C. Newman, Liz Stokes, and Jonathan Pearce for chatting. If you like what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and don’t forget to check out the other podcasts in our network, including Craig Finn’s That’s How I Remember It, How Long Gone, and Bjork’s Sonic Symbolism. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Ben Nichols (Lucero) with Jeff Nichols Apr 13, 2023

On this week’s episode we’ve got two guests who might know each other better than any two prior guests of this podcast ever have: brothers Ben Nichols and Jeff Nichols.

Ben Nichols is the singer, guitarist, and chief lyricist for the long-running Memphis band Lucero, and when I say long-running, I mean it: Assuming you’re listening to this podcast the day we release it, the band played its first show exactly 25 years ago today, on April 13 of 1998. In that time, they’ve released an even dozen albums, making the journey from punk-influenced country—or maybe that’s country-influenced punk—to soul to straight-up rock and roll. I’ve always felt like Lucero was the Southern version of The Hold Steady, purveyors of great story-songs and always an incredibly good time live. The newest Lucero album came out in February, and it’s a very intentional back-to-basics rock record called Should’ve Learned By Now. Check out “Macon If We Make It” from that record.

Ben’s younger brother Jeff followed a similar independently creative path, but down a different road: He’s a successful—and incredible—film director whose credits include Mud starring Matthew McConaughey, a drama about the real life battle over interracial marriage called Loving, and my personal favorite, Take Shelter, in which Nichols’ frequent collaborator Michael Shannon plays a family man who may or may not be coming unglued. Each is very different from the next, and each is excellent. Jeff Nichols next film is called The Bikeriders, and it will star Tom Hardy, Austin Butler, and Jodi Comer, among others. It’s very loosely based on a book of the same name that Jeff was introduced to by Ben. As you’ll hear in this conversation, it’s not the only time the two have influenced each other. They talk about how Lucero songs have found their way into Jeff’s movies, about how the brothers came upon the same exact story in different ways, and about Jeff’s potential future as the man who may attempt the impossible: adapting some of Cormac McCarthy’s more complicated books, including Blood Meridian, for the big screen. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Ben Nichols and Jeff Nichols for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great written stuff we’ve got at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Steve Ignorant (Crass) with Sunny War Apr 06, 2023

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve put together what might seem like two vastly different musicians, but they’re connected by a deep respect and by a truly rebellious spirit that’s reflected in their names: Steve Ignorant and Sunny War.

Sunny War has been releasing bluesy, folky, virtuosic albums for years, but recently hooked up with the notable Americana label New West for the album Anarchist Gospel, which features not only some of her best songs yet, but also a bunch of notable guest performers, like singer-songwriter David Rawlings and My Morning Jacket’s Jim James. You might not guess it from just a surface listen, but War cut her teeth not just on classic songwriters and fingerpickers, but on plenty of harder, more left-of-center music as well. On Anarchist Gospel she covers a Ween song and paraphrases a lyric by the legendary anarcho-punk band Crass—which is the genesis of today’s conversation. Check out Sunny War’s “Whole” right here, in which she namechecks Crass.

The other half of today’s chat is Steve Ignorant, a founding member of Crass and still the band’s flag bearer more than 40 years later. Now Crass is often overlooked by punk historians who don’t run deeper than the Sex Pistols or the Clash, but they were in many ways just as important. Crass were unapologetically political, making anti-corporate, anti-fascist, anti-racist, anti-bullshit statements in both their music and out in the streets—back when that could be a much more dangerous thing to do than it is now. Though Crass split in the early 1980s, Ignorant has performed under various guises over the years, and still plays gigs that cover his vast musical history, including new material as Steve Ignorant’s Slice of Life. At 65, he’s still got plenty of the anarchist’s spirit in him, as you’ll hear.

In this chat, War and Ignorant—that sounds funny together, doesn’t it?—talk about growing up as true outsiders—he in post-war England, her in drug-friendly Los Angeles. They chat about War’s devotion to Crass, including a misspelled tattoo she got way too young. And they get into their problems with how young people are educated, and offer a pretty smart, simple solution. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Steve Ignorant and Sunny War for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the good stuff we’ve got at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Craig Finn (The Hold Steady) with John Darnielle (The Mountain Goats) Mar 30, 2023

Hey Talkhouse listeners, we're off this week, so we're bringing you something special. To honor The Hold Steady's new record, The Price of Progress (out March 31st), we invited Craig Finn to highlight his favorite episode of his podcast, That's How I Remember It. Craig chose this conversation with The Mountain Goats frontman John Darnielle. Be sure to catch The Hold Steady and The Mountain Goats on tour together this summer, details at: theholdsteady.net. See you next week!

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John Darnielle is my guest on this week’s That’s How I Remember It. John has been making brilliant music as The Mountain Goats since 1991. Originally a solo lo-fi bedroom project, TMG has grown into a lush rock & roll juggernaut. John has also written four great novels, the most recent being Devil House, which we talked about here. We also talked about activated charcoal, local crime obsession, consciousness of sin, and whether the amazing new Mountain Goats record Bleed Out is their Age of Quarrel. Huge thanks to John for bringing a great conversation here. Listen, subscribe, and stay tuned for more awesome guests on That’s How I Remember It.

Dan Littleton (Ida, The Hated) with Helen Ballentine (Skullcrusher) Mar 23, 2023

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got a musician at the start of her career talking with a songwriter whose 35-year-old song she recently covered—after just discovering it. It’s Dan Littleton and Helen Ballentine, aka. Skullcrusher.

Don’t let that name fool you. Skullcrusher’s music taps into elements of ambient electronic and traditional folk to create a mesmerizing stew: In other words, if it crushes your skull, it will do so gently. On her debut album under the name, last year’s Quiet the Room, Ballentine deftly explores some complicated emotions via gorgeous songs and words; the two artists she’s been most frequently compared to are Phoebe Bridgers and Grouper, and I think if you smush those together, it makes some sense.

The other half of today’s conversation is Dan Littleton, whose indie-folk outfit Ida made some incredible records in the ‘90s and the aughts. But the focus of this conversation is actually Littleton’s hardcore band from the 1980s, the Hated. The Hated was part of what emo scholars—does such a thing exist?—consider the genre’s first wave, which was led most notably by Rites of Spring. They were adjacent to the so-called “Revolution Summer” in 1985, though the Hated faded into history more quickly than some of their counterparts. But the scholars at the venerated Numero Group label recently launched a reissue series that takes a deep dive into the Hated’s discography, starting with a compilation called Best Piece of Shit Vol. 4. Now what does an ‘80s hardcore band have to do with an ambient folk artist currently bubbling? Well, the Numero folks had the brilliant idea of asking Skullcrusher to cover a Hated song, and once she heard “Words Come Back,” she was all in. Check out the original below; the cover is available on your favorite streaming service starting today.

In this conversation, Ballentine and Littleton—who are chatting for the first time—talk about how this unusual cover version actually makes complete sense, and how sometimes radically different sounds can actually come from very similar places. Dan describes the emotional teenage years that inspired the original, and Helen talks about how she layered the unusual sounds on her version. It’s an inspiring lovefest of sincerity and creativity, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Helen Ballentine and Dan Littleton for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all we’ve got to offer on Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Welcome to the Talkhouse Podcast Mar 20, 2023

Artist-on-artist conversations about life, the creative process, and more. Subscribe today.

Benny Sings with Remi Wolf Mar 16, 2023

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a pair of songwriters separated by thousands of miles who came together recently for a killer single: Remi Wolf and Benny Sings.

Wolf has been writing songs since her early teens, but it wasn’t until a couple of years ago that her neon pop jams starting getting some social media attention. A major label came calling, and Wolf spent a good chunk of the early pandemic making her full-length debut album Juno, which she named after her recently adopted dog. It’s one of those deceptively sunny records that hides some bigger emotions inside huge hooks, and it led to a bunch of amazing singles like “Anthony Kiedis”—that’s the name of the song— and tours: Wolf will play Coachella next month.

As you’ll hear in this chat, Wolf met Dutch singer-songwriter Benny Sings when both were playing a Spanish festival that had some kind of Medieval theme. Wolf was already a fan of Benny’s work, both as a performer and a producer: Not only has he released a ton of great music on his own, but he also co-wrote a hit with Rex Orange County and has worked with the likes of Mac Demarco. Benny’s music has a sort of classic soft-pop vibe; he playfully mixes in hip-hop and island vibes on occasion, too, making the sort of breezy songs that easily get stuck in your head. When it came time to record his brand new album Young Hearts, which comes out next week, he reached out to Remi for some vocal assistance. The result is a delightful little nugget called “Pyjamas.” Check out that song right here.

In this chat, Remi and Benny talk about collaborating on the video for “Pyjamas”—she directed it, adding some of the visual flair she’s known for. They also chat about songwriting in general—whether it’s craft or divination, and they get into whether technology is good or evil—and whether these two would survive a tech-pocalypse. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Remi Wolf and Benny Sings for chatting. If you like what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the goodness at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Cate Le Bon with Huw Evans (H. Hawkline) Mar 09, 2023

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a pair of fantastic musicians who’ve been intimately involved with each other’s lives and work for the past decade and a half: Cate Le Bon and Huw Evans.

Le Bon and Evans each have their own incredible discographies that wouldn’t have been the same without the other: They’re not in a band together, but each has been a key component of the other’s work over the years, starting when they were young and romantically involved. Though they’re no longer in a relationship, they’re still a huge part of each other’s lives. And as you’ll hear in this conversation, they like to give each other shit—to the point where while recording I wasn’t sure if there was some real hostility happening. (There wasn't.)

Evans records under the name H. Hawkline, and this week he’ll release his fifth album, Milk For Flowers. It’s his most personal and intense yet, though strong emotions remain shrouded in what he once called “strange pop.” Hawkline first found a bit of fame in his and Le Bon’s native Wales as a TV presenter, but found his musical voice with a unique blend of classic-sounding songwriting flecked with psychedelic and folk influences. He’s worked with Tim Presley of White Fence a bunch; as you’ll hear, Presley even played a pivotal non-musical role in the creation of Milk For Flowers. Le Bon produced it, helping to shepherd some intense feelings onto tape. Here’s the title track.

Evans was there right at the start of Le Bon’s career, as you’ll hear in this chat: They were living together, and he convinced her to start playing her otherworldly songs outside of their house. He even had to come up with her stage name in order to create a flyer: What may or may not have been a reference to Duran Duran singer Simon Le Bon stuck. The two eventually moved to Los Angeles together and continued making music: Le Bon has amassed an unforgettable discography—you know immediately when you hear her music. (Jeff Tweedy once said he could always tell when it was Le Bon playing guitar, which sounds like a compliment to me.) Le Bon’s latest album is last year’s Pompeii, a grand, height-of-the-pandemic record that feels like an amazing high-wire act, with saxophone, clarinet, and synthesizers all complementing her voice, guitar, and bass. And it’s a matter of some debate, as you’ll hear, whether Evans contributed any bass as well. Check out “Remembering Me” from Pompeii.

In addition to giving each other grief about song titles and bass parts, the two talk about their history together, about how Le Bon narrowly avoided recording a song that sounded like Jane’s Addiction, their different writing styles, and about how the story of Le Bon’s first gig was like “a shit indie film.” Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Huw Evans and Cate Le Bon for letting us in on their chat. If you liked what you heard, please followTalkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and be sure to check out all the other podcasts in our network, including Jokermen, Craig Finn’s That’s How I Remember It, and more. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Chaz Bear (Toro y Moi) with Hannah van Loon (Tanukichan) Mar 02, 2023

On this week’s Talkhouse episode, we’ve got a couple of old friends who’ve made some great music both together and separately, and who record under interesting names: Chaz Bear and Hannah van Loon.

Those aren’t even the interesting names I was talking about. Chaz Bear is better known as Toro Y Moi, a pioneer in the chillwave genre who started releasing records about a dozen years ago. But that microgenre never quite captured what Toro Y Moi is all about, because nothing really can. Chaz Bear loves to jump around sonically, dipping his toes into indie rock, hip-hop, and even some jazzy influences. He’s got enough excess energy that Toro Y Moi isn’t even his only musical outlet, and he also moonlights as a graphic designer. This spring and summer he’ll open shows for Caroline Polachek, and he’s also part of the new ReSet touring festival that’s hitting bit cities this year. Oh, and he’s still got time to collaborate with today’s other guest.

Hannah van Loon has been making music as Tanukichan since 2016 or so, and Chaz Bear has been involved in quite a lot of it. In addition to releasing it via his own imprint, Company, Bear has produced quite a bit of van Loon’s music and collaborated with her on it, including the brand new Gizmo, which is out March 3. It’s a slightly more uplifting experience than her lovely but kinda dark debut, 2018’s Sundays. Her publicist describes one song on the new record, “Don’t Give Up,” as nu-metal meets Cocteau Twins, which is sort of simultaneously wrong and exactly right. Check out a different song, ”Take Care,” right here.

Van Loon and Bear are both a little bit introverted, as you’ll hear, but they chat a bit about her woodworking, his studio, and… TikTok. They talk a bunch about TikTok—whether it’s a force for good or evil, what kinds of weird corners you can find on it, and how it’s actually a really great tool for learning about new music. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Chaz Bear and Hannah van Loon for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great written content we’ve got at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Gina Birch (The Raincoats) with Vivien Goldman Feb 23, 2023

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a pair of women who came up together during one of the most exciting musical eras ever, and who’ve got the stories to prove it: Gina Birch and Vivien Goldman.

Birch started the Raincoats with friends from a London art college in 1977, stepping right into the burgeoning punk scene with records that were notoriously challenging in a scene not known for being particularly welcoming to women to begin with. The Raincoats were never poppy enough to flirt with the mainstream, but thanks to Kurt Cobain, the band had a bit of a resurrection in the mid-1990s. At Cobain’s behest, Nirvana’s American label re-released the Raincoats catalog, complete with liner notes by Cobain, and the band subsequently made its first album in over a decade. They were even set to tour with Nirvana in Europe, but Cobain’s death scuppered that plan. But Birch didn’t slow down; she set out on a filmmaking career while still pursuing music; she even made music videos for the likes of New Order and The Libertines. Later this year, Birch’s paintings will accompany a hardbound volume of Sharon Van Etten’s lyrics. Just recently, Jack White’s Third Man Records came calling, and it reignited Birch’s musical endeavors: This week marks the release of her first proper solo album, called I Play My Bass Loud. Check out the title track right here.

Vivien Goldman is known more as a writer than as a musician, but she’s done both of those things and much, much more. She worked in PR for Bob Marley and the Wailers way back when—and she lives part of the time in Jamaica nowadays, which is where she Zoomed in from. At the height of the punk boom, she released an influential single called “Launderette” before transitioning more into writer and journalist mode: She was the editor of influential UK music paper Sounds and co-wrote the Massive Attack song “Sly.” She was also roommates with Chrissie Hynde and, more important to this conversation, Geoff Travis of Rough Trade Records, which is how she got to know Gina Birch. These days, Goldman has been teaching about the history of punk at NYU, and she dove back into music last year, releasing an album called Next is Now. I’ve only scratched the surface, too: Check out viviengoldman.com for a more complete picture.

In this conversation, Birch and Goldman chat about the old days and the newer days, how roles and respect for women have changed over the decades, and about the famous musician and producer, Youth, who encouraged them both—and produced both of their new records. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Gina Birch and Vivien Goldman for this fantastic chat. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all we’ve got on offer at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Angélique Kidjo with Ibrahim Maalouf Feb 16, 2023

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got a pair of pioneering musical searchers who came together for a Grammy-nominated record last year: Angélique Kidjo and Ibrahim Maalouf.

Now, trying to encapsulate Kidjo’s career into the little space I have here is an even more daunting task than usual—and we’ve had some really accomplished people on this podcast. Born in West Africa, Kidjo has ably explored various musics over the past 40 years or so, winning fans with an incredible range of styles and interests. She’s played on Lilith Fair, won Grammys, been a muse for Philip Glass, started a foundation to empower girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa, collaborated with everyone from Carlos Santana to Ezra Koenig to Dr. John to Josh Groban to Kronos Quartet—and that list goes on and on. The only real constant in her career—besides a sort of deep, inexplicable beauty—is a restlessness. Kidjo is always looking for the next thing to spark her interest, which led to a recent Grammy-nominated collaboration with today’s other guest, Ibrahim Maalouf.

Maalouf is a French-Lebanese trumpeter who shares a musical outlook with Kidjo—both care deeply about always pushing the boundaries of what they do, and never repeating themselves. To that end, they collaborated on last year’s Queen of Sheba, which takes the oft-told Biblical story to new places. KIdjo wrote the lyrics in the Yoruba language, and Maalouf’s music builds a bridge between the sounds of the Middle East and Africa. Since that record came out, Maalouf has already released another, Capacity to Love, on which he examines American sounds—specifically hip-hop—gathering guests like Eric the Architect from Flatbush Zombies and Pos from De La Soul. Also, strangely, Sharon Stone.

In this lovely and enlightening conversation, Kidjo and Maalouf trade stories about their inspiration behind making music, and each shares some really profound advice they got as children. Kidjo speaks about the recent loss of her mother, and what that’s meant to her spiritually—and how it might affect her next album, which sounds like it will be deeply personal. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast and thanks to Angélique Kidjo and Ibrahim Maalouf for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff we’ve got going at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Hannibal Buress with Kristian Mercado Feb 09, 2023

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a couple of old friends who’ve both been trying new things lately: Hannibal Buress and Kristian Mercado.

Hannibal Buress just celebrated his 40th birthday, which means he’s spent more than half his life making people laugh for a living. He started out doing stand-up in his hometown of Chicago, winning audiences small and then eventually very large by telling pointed jokes with a sort of super laid-back style. He briefly wrote for Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock, and you’ve almost certainly seen him on The Eric Andre Show or Broad City, or maybe one of his many stand-up specials. In the past few years, though, Buress has turned his attention to music, releasing a bunch of hip-hop tracks under the name Eshu Tune. Though rumors of his retirement from comedy seem to be exaggerated—he talks about that here—he is taking music seriously. Or maybe seriously isn’t exactly the right word, but it’s his focus. Check out the Eshu Tune song “Knee Brace” right here.

The other side of this chat, Kristian Mercado, is best known as a filmmaker; he’s made music videos and directed stand-up specials for Michael Che, Taylor Tomlinson, and Ilana Glazer—and of course Hannibal Buress, with whom he worked on the weird and wonderful Miami Nights. Mercado is about to take the biggest jump a director can: He just directed his first feature film, called If You Were The Last, which will have its world premiere at this year’s South By Southwest festival in Austin. I haven’t seen it, but it stars Anthony Mackie and it’s a sci-fi love story, so I’m in. Mercado has also started dabbling in stand-up comedy, inspired by the many comics he’s worked with over the years, including, of course Hannibal.

These two chat about how they work, and Buress drops the news that he’s working on a feature-length script of his own—Mercado can’t wait to see it. Buress also quizzes Mercado on the most important people on a film set, and Mercado talks about the joys of experiencing the Sundance Film Festival under the influence of psychedelics. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Hannibal Buress and Kris Mercado for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff we’ve got going at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Philip Selway (Radiohead) with Dave Rowntree (Blur) Feb 02, 2023

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve put together the drummers from two of the UK’s biggest bands in recent memory: Dave Rowntree and Philip Selway.

Rowntree came to fame with Blur, one of the original Britpop bands of the early 1990s. I probably don’t need to give you much biography on Blur, but in the band’s couple of long hiatuses, Rowntree has lived about a dozen lives. He’s been an amateur pilot, a professional lawyer, an elected politician, and a social activist. On the music front, he found yet another career creating soundtracks for TV and film, starting with the Bros documentary After the Screaming Stops. Blur is back together for some massive shows in 2023, but during the pandemic Rowntree got together—virtually, of course—with producer Leo Abrahams to make his proper solo album. Freed from the constraints of both his bandmates and showrunners, Rowntree did his own thing, and the result is Radio Songs, a delightful 10-song album that flirts with Britpop here and there, but flirts with other interesting sounds as well. Here’s “London Bridge.”

Philip Selway is best known as the drummer for another huge British band, Radiohead, with whom he’s been making music since 1985. Though he always had the itch to write his own songs, it wasn’t until 2010 that Selway actually took the leap and released his first solo album, the gentle Familial. In between Radiohead duties, he’s found the time to release another one—the more sonically expansive Weatherhouse in 2014—and work on some soundtracks as well. Selway is now gearing up for the release of his third and most ambitious album yet: Strange Dance comes out toward the end of February, and it features a bunch of Selway’s musical friends on a very cinematic-yet-personal-sounding set songs. You can preorder various formats here; in the meantime, check out “Check for Signs of Life."

In this conversation, these two drummers sound immediately chummy, though they were only passing acquaintances beforehand. They talk about stepping away from bigger bands to do your own thing, including the process of finding your own voice. “What if it’s rubbish?” laughs Rowntree at the top of the chat, proving that even the biggest stars can have doubts. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Dave Rowntree and Philip Selway for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all we’ve got to offer at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Justin Tranter with Jake Wesley Rogers Jan 26, 2023

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got a pair of multi-hyphenates who have recently joined music-world forces: Justin Tranter and Jake Wesley Rogers.

Tranter first found music-biz fame with the band Semi-Precious Weapons, which had a decade-long run starting in 2004, and whose biggest claim to fame—besides their music itself—was opening for Lady Gaga’s Monster Ball tour. But Tranter pivoted after Semi-Precious Weapons split up, and started writing songs for and with other artists—but not just any artists. Tranter has written for and/or with Justin Bieber, Imagine Dragons, Selena Gomez, Gwen Stefani, and many, many more—chances are good you’ve heard a Justin Tranter composition on the radio, even if you didn’t know it. Tranter has also written a bunch of songs for the upcoming Grease prequel series, Rise of the Pink Ladies, and seven songs on the brand-new album by the massive Italian band Måneskin. Tranter has also been an incredible activist in the LGBTQ+ community and beyond, and their next move is becoming, as you’ll hear in this chat, a mogul.

That’s where the other half of today’s Talkhouse Podcast comes into the picture: Jake Wesley Rogers recently signed on with Tranter’s new record label, Facet, and the two have plans to conquer the world together—I wouldn’t bet against them. Rogers is from a younger generation, having grown up with the instant gratification of social media. He even appeared on America’s Got Talent at 15, and started writing songs even earlier than that. But Rogers really finds his voice with a couple of recent EPs, Pluto and Love. Tranter and Rogers also recently co-wrote a song called “Hindsight,” which plays over the end credits of Bros, the first gay rom-com ever released by a major studio—they talk about that here a bit as well. Check out that song below.

In this conversation, Tranter and Rogers talk about their daily processes, including The Artists' Way, they talk about great pop songs, great middle school teachers, destroying the patriarchy, and the dangers and joys of social media. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Justin Tranter and Jake Wesley Rogers for chatting. If you like what you heard, please check out all the goodness on Talkhouse.com and subscribe to our weekly e-mail newsletter. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Tegan and Sara with Pamela Adlon Jan 19, 2023

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, our guests begin as strangers and end their conversation as family: It’s Pamela Adlon chatting with Tegan and Sara Quin.

Adlon has had an incredible career over the past 40 or so years; no matter what your pop culture diet, she has probably sneaked into your consciousness one way or another. Maybe you have vague memories of her character on The Facts of Life from the early ‘80s, or perhaps her roles on Californication and Louie in more recent years. Adlon has also had an incredible shadow career doing voices in animated shows, where she’s best known as Bobby Hill on King of the Hill. But perhaps the culmination of all that fantastic work is Better Things, the show that Adlon created, executive-produced, starred in, and let’s face it, gave birth to. Better Things just concluded its fifth and final season, and it stuck the landing so well. It’s one of those shows that hits that rare mixture of funny and true—and it definitely struck a nerve with the other half of today’s Talkhouse talk: Tegan and Sara.

Tegan and Sara started making music as teenagers, and given that they’re twin sisters, it’s no wonder that they were immediately in sync with each other. The duo were sort of flung into the big time immediately, being signed to Neil Young’s record label and opening for him when they were basically still kids. But some sage advice that you’ll hear about in this chat helped Tegan and Sara navigate what’s become a fruitful and varied career: They’ve made a ton of great music, stuck their heads into the mainstream here and there, and kept their vision intact. They’ve also written a memoir called High School, which was recently adapted into an Amazon TV show. They’re unabashed with their love and respect for Better Things, which may have seeped into their own show. Their latest album is called Crybaby, the memoir and TV show are both called High School, and they’ve got a new graphic memoir called Junior High coming out later this year. Check out “Yellow” from Crybaby.

In this delightful conversation, Tegan and Sara gush a little bit about Better Things and Adlon in general, and in turn Adlon offers to join their family. They talk about their various creative endeavors, the niceness of Neil Young, Sara’s recent parenthood, the “hairy edge” that Better Things walked, and lots more. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Pamela Adlon, Tegan Quin, and Sara Quin for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great stuff on our website and our podcast network. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Ambrose Kenny-Smith (King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard) with Babe Rainbow Jan 12, 2023

For our first brand new Talkhouse episode of 2023, we’ve got a short but great chat with three guys from the rollicking Australian rock scene: Ambrose Kenny-Smith, Jack “Cool Breeze” Crowther, and Elliot “Dr. Love Wisdom” O’Reilly.

Yes, they have excellent names, and so do their bands. Kenny-Smith is part of the super-prolific King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, which since coming together in Melbourne in 2010 has released an incredible 23 albums—three of those in October of 2022 alone. The band has built up a manic following along the way, building up a whole universe—people call it the Gizzverse—of characters and sounds that range from extended rock jams to jazz to microtonal exploration. If you’re not already familiar, there’s no perfect place to start, though last year’s Ice, Death, Planets, Lungs, Mushrooms, and Lava is accessible in its own way. In addition to non-stop touring and recording with King Gizz, Kenny-Smith also leads another band, The Murlocs, which put out their sixth album, Rapscallion, just last year as well. To borrow a funny line from Pitchfork, being a King Gizzard fan can feel like a full-time job, but seems like a fun one to me. Check out “Iron Lung” from that album I mentioned above with the really long name.

The other two gents in this conversation, Jack Crowther and Elliot O’Reilly, are part of Babe Rainbow, another hardworking Australian band. Though not quite as busy as King Gizzard, Babe Rainbow has managed to release five full lengths in just the last five or so years as well—including one produced by a member of King Gizzard. Theirs is a slightly more focused take on psychedelic rock—no less spacey but a bit more structured. Here’s “Inner Space” from their latest album, The Organic Band.

In this conversation, these three friendly guys talk about recent flooding in Australia that involved some cat rescuing, as well as fashion, having babies, surfing, and lots more. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Ambrose Kenny-Smith, Jack Crowther, and Elliot O’Reilly for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out Talkhouse.com for tons of great written pieces and other podcasts in our network. This episode was recorded and produced by Keenan Kush, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

This episode was recorded live at Desert Daze 2022. Special thanks to Desert Daze and to Dad Grass for making this episode possible.

Preview: Noble Champions with Santigold Jan 05, 2023

Happy Holidays. While we're on break, we'd love to share with you a recent addition to the Talkhouse Podcast Network, Noble Champions with Santigold.

This episode originally aired on Nov. 7, 2022, and is titled "Questlove, Angela Yee and Tunde Adebimpe." Subscribe to Noble Champions with Santigold.

In this episode, Santi rallies her longtime friends Questlove, Angela Yee, and Tunde Adebimpe, who are fellow artists, industry insiders, and cultural critics, to try to tackle the question, 'What exactly is Black Music?'. They discuss complex issues like what happens when you step out of the genre box - specifically when Black artists are making music that’s left outside the 'Black Music' box, who built the box, and what’s the bigger impact of caging in or boxing out music and the artists that make it? All this while geeking out about some of their favorite seminal recording artists like Bad Brains, Nina Simone, Fela Kuti, The Last Poets and more.

Preview: That's How I Remember It (with Craig Finn) Dec 15, 2022

Happy Holidays. While we're on break, we'd love to share a preview of another podcast on the Talkhouse Podcast Network, Craig Finn's That's How I Remember It.

This episode originally aired on Sept. 1, 2022, and is titled "Adam Duritz (Counting Crows)." Subscribe to That's How I Remember It.

Adam Duritz is my guest on this week’s That’s How I Remember It and I am quite psyched about it. Adam is obviously the singer and songwriter of platinum selling band Counting Crows, and has been making thoughtful and great music for decades now. I met Adam when Counting Crows took THS on tour in Europe/UK in 2009 and was so excited he agreed to do this. We talked about how the details matter so much in songs, each of our first trips to Asbury Park, loving Christmas music, that dog., last year's fantastic Counting Crows EP, bootlegs, and the way that light attaches to a girl. That’s a wrap on season one of That’s How I Remember It; we’ll be back with season two before long. Listen, subscribe, and keep your eye on this space for tour updates, etc. Stay Positive!

Nick Allbrook (Pond) with Josh Conway (The Marías) Dec 08, 2022

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a pair of guys who don’t know each other well, but who’ve crossed paths a few times over the years—most recently at the Desert Daze festival, Nick Allbrook and Josh Conway.

Allbrook is the frontman of the Australian psychedelic rock band Pond, which is sort of inextricably linked with another Australian band, Tame Impala. Allbrook was actually a member of Tame for years while also playing with Pond—which includes some current members of Tame Impala. But Pond, which has been around about as long, has built a sound of its own, much more hard charging than that other band, and released a whopping nine albums of frenetic, fun, fuzzy rock. If you’ve never heard the band, their album titles give a hint as to what they’re all about, from Corridors of Blissterday to Man It Feels Like Space Again. Pond’s latest album has a much simpler title, it’s called 9, and among its fantastic tracks is this one, “Lights of Leeming.”

Josh Conway is a huge fan of Pond, though his own band, The Marias, approaches music with a much gentler soul. Conway started the group with his significant other, the band’s namesake Maria Zardoya. Their beginnings are kind of funny: They tried to write songs for film and TV placements, none of which—as you’ll hear in this chat—were ever picked up. But, happy with what they’d written, Conway and Zardoya ended up releasing them anyway, and the Marias was born. Their alt-pop is miles from our other guest’s on today’s episode, with elements of jazz and even reggaeton sprinkled throughout a great debut album called Cinema. Check out “Hush” from that album right here.

In this conversation, Allbrook and Conway talk about the work hours of Australians versus Catalonians, about how even a deliberate attempt to sell out can result in great creative work, and how taking a walk under the influence of molly and Outkast changed Conway’s outlook. Also, they declare, cheekily, that God is dead, and art is too. Enjoy.

Thanks for checking out the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Nick Allbrook and Josh Conway for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcast platform. This episode was produced by Keenan Kush, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by The Range.

Andy Falkous (Mclusky) with David Yow (The Jesus Lizard) Dec 01, 2022

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve paired the frontmen for two gruff-sounding, kinda scary noise-rock bands, but who as it turns out are a couple of sweethearts: David Yow and Andrew Falkous.

David Yow began his music life in the Texas band Scratch Acid, which built its own legend before burning out in the mid-1980s, and then took his maniacal presence to The Jesus Lizard. That band built a following in the next dozen years both for its confrontational music and for Yow’s intensity in their live shows. You’d often find him drunk and half-naked, howling into the faces of stunned crowds. First you were scared, and then you loved it. The Jesus Lizard benefited from the grunge explosion in the mid-1990s, but they were always too weird and scary for the mainstream—even when they got an inexplicable major-label deal with Capitol. (You know, home of the Beatles.) The Jesus Lizard split in 1999, but have reunited a few times since then, with demand for Yow’s insanity peaking every few years. There hasn’t been a Jesus Lizard show in a few years, though—or a “reenactment” as he calls their reunion shows—but Yow has been out recently singing for the early noise-punk band Flipper. You may also have seen him in bit parts in a few movies; the guy has led a varied, full life so far.

Andrew Falkous unfortunately just had to postpone his own US tour-slash-reenactment with his band Mclusky, which was originally active from the mid-90s until 2006. An illness has affected his Falkous’ ability to sing, but he’s planning to reschedule very soon. In the years after Mclusky, Falkous made similarly brutish-but-incredible records both as the frontman of a band called Future of the Left and as a sort-of-solo artist under the name Christian Fitness. But as the legend of Mclusky snowballed and the 20th anniversary of their absolute classic of a second album Mclusky Do Dallas approached, he was coaxed to relaunch the name and to play those old songs again. Here’s hoping for a quick recovery and new dates soon. Here’s a little taste of what was certainly Mclusky’s biggest song, the charmingly titled “Lightsabre Cocksucking Blues.”

In this spirited conversation, Yow and Falkous start by talking about Falkous’ recent battles with his own voice. They get into the nervousness of playing your first-ever show as a singer: Yow dealt with the jitters by handing out tabs of acid to the crowd, while Falkous wore a yellow T-shirt. They talk about beer and whether Australian children should be forced to live in wells. Yow casually slaughters some sacred cows of the alterna-rock world. And lest you think they’re too tough for their own good, you should know that I edited out 15 minutes where they talked about how much they love their cats. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Andrew Falkous and David Yow for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting service and check out all the goodness at this very site. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Angelo Moore with Titus Nov 17, 2022

On this week's Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a lively conversation between two guys from different generations and geographical backgrounds, but some similar stories and experiences: Titus and Angelo Moore.

Angelo Moore is the legendary frontman of the legendary punk-funk-ska-soul-etc. band Fishbone, which has been a frequently mutating unit since 1979. Fishbone were peers and friends with a who’s-who of that era’s Los Angeles scene, including Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jane’s Addiction, and plenty of others, and they’ve been a huge influence on innumerable bands over the years. It hasn’t been the straightest journey, and there’s a pretty great documentary about the band that came out about 10 years ago called Everyday Sunshine. In addition to fronting the band, which still plays shows worldwide, Moore has embarked on tons of other projects over the years, releasing music as both Dr. Madd Vibe and with a group he calls the Brand New Step. Beyond that, he’s been touring as a vocalist with a David Bowie tribute tour that’s led by Todd Rundgren and Adrian Belew.

Titus, aka Randolph Newman, was a fan of Fishbone’s—no surprise for a guy who loves to blend genres, and who’s a person of color in a scene that isn’t known for a ton of diversity. Though they’re from different generations, they share some life experience, having grown up Black in largely white areas—and having ended up playing Warped Tour, though years apart. Titus’ music is less a stew than Fishbone’s: His two most prominent ingredients are pop-punk and hip-hop, with nods to titans of those genres like Taking Back Sunday and Lil’ Wayne. His latest release is an EP called Damned if I Do, and he also recently released a cover of Kate Bush’s Stranger Things-bolstered track “Running Up That Hill,” which is covered in this chat. Check out “Saddest Song” from Damned If I Do right here.

Moore and Titus talk about their experiences on Warped Tour, their experiences growing up as outsiders, and drugs. Titus talks about the recent loss of his mother, which has understandably had a profound impact on him, and Moore talks about his days trying to kick some ass in the mosh pit. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Angelo Moore and Titus for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform and check out all we’ve got on offer at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Dina Amer with Ramy Youssef Nov 10, 2022

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, the creator-star of Hulu’s Ramy, comedian Ramy Youssef, talks with Dina Amer, whose debut feature as writer-director, You Resemble Me, is in theaters now. The film is a lightly fictionalized, emotionally resonant portrait of Hasna Aït Boulahcen, a radicalized Muslim who Amer covered as a journalist in 2015 when Boulahcen was implicated in the Paris terrorist attacks. In an engaging, wide-ranging conversation, Youssef and Amer – fellow Egyptian-Americans who have been friends for years – talk about the personal nature of You Resemble Me, the major deal Dina turned down, Spike Lee’s take on her doing the film her way, casting a “hot” actor as a terrorist, and much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Nigel Godrich with Fran Healy (Travis) Nov 03, 2022

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got the Scottish singer and songwriter behind some of the catchiest songs of the past two decades along with the super producer who helped bring those songs into the world: Fran Healy and Nigel Godrich.

Healy is the singer, guitarist, and chief songwriter of the band Travis, which really broke big with 1999’s The Man Who, scoring mainstream hits with songs like “Why Does it Always Rain on Me” and “Turn.” They’ve since created a deep catalog that numbers nine albums. But for today’s purposes we’re going to concentrate on 2001’s The Invisible Band, which Travis is giving a belated 20th birthday celebration for at the moment, including a US tour that starts this week. It can be difficult to follow up a massive success like The Man Who, and Travis turned once again to Godrich to help them chart the proper course. It wasn’t the beginning, but rather the continuation of a long and fruitful relationship. Check out “Sing” from The Invisible Band.

Godrich, by the time Invisible Band came around, had found massive success as the producer of Radiohead’s OK Computer, and of course he would go on to be the sort of unofficial sixth member of that band—recording all of their albums and even playing music with Thom Yorke in Atoms for Peace. As you’ll hear in this conversation, Godrich had some solid advice for Healy heading into The Invisible Band, though it’s not necessarily advice he would give anymore. Beyond his work with Radiohead and Travis, Godrich has also produced classics by Beck—including Mutations and Sea Change—and Air and Arcade Fire and Roger Waters. The list goes on.

In this conversation, the two old friends talk about their state of mind and state of life back when they commenced recording The Invisible Band in Los Angeles. They talk about Godrich’s recent revelatory experience seeing the Pavement reunion tour—he also produced that band’s swan song, Terror Twilight. There’s even a story about a baby goat peeing in a very expensive guitar case. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast and thanks to Fran Healy and Nigel Godrich for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting and social media platforms. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Frank Turner with KT Tunstall Oct 27, 2022

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a pair of singer-songwriters who don’t sound much alike, but who’ve traveled similar paths and have similar outlooks on life—oh, and who did a duet earlier this year—Frank Turner and KT Tunstall.

Turner is a sort of folk-punk troubadour who’s built an incredible catalog and following over the past couple of decades from his home base in England. Like his hero Tim Barry of Avail or even Billy Bragg before him, Turner infuses truly catchy songs with a punk spirit, and he’s made a career buoyed by the fact that he never stops moving: He’s always on tour—including a recent “50 States in 50 Days” run—and always making new music. Not even the pandemic could stop him, though obviously it slowed down the live performance. During lockdown, Turner recorded his ninth album, a sort of back-to-basics affair called FTHC, which of course stands for Frank Turner Hardcore. Check out “A Wave Across a Bay” from that album, which was written as a tribute to Turner’s late friend, Scott Hutchison of Frightened Rabbit.

Also on that album is a song called “Little Life,” which Turner decided after the fact that he’d like to invite someone else to sing on. Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall perhaps wasn’t the most obvious choice, but then again, neither of these folks ever seems to make the obvious choice—and that’s definitely to their credit. Tunstall’s career, which stretches back to indie bands in the early 2000s, definitely started with a more mainstream-leaning trajectory, with BRIT awards and a Grammy nomination, even. But like Turner, Tunstall has a restless spirit, and some big life events not too long ago led her to sell everything she owns, move to Los Angeles, and dive into the world of musicals—where she has also, unsurprisingly, found success. And just last month, she released the final chapter in a trilogy of albums that were meant to convey the themes of “soul, body, and mind.” This one, called Nut—that’d be your mind—is great. Check out “Private Eyes” from that album right here.

Turner and Tunstall have a really fun chat here, covering everything from The Clash and Bruce Springsteen to the weirdness of recording a song before you’ve ever played it live. The talk about the touring life a lot, and how that tribe of people have plenty in common, even when it seems like they don’t. They come up with a slogan for Tunstall’s career, and get into the reality of using a tour bus bathroom. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to KT Tunstall and Frank Turner for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow us on your favorite platform, and don’t forget to check out all the other great podcasts in our network and written pieces on this very website. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Rhett Miller with Busy Philipps Oct 20, 2022

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a musician and an actor who also both happen to host their own podcasts—do they let just anybody do that now?—Rhett Miller and Busy Philipps.

Miller is best known as frontman and primary songwriter for the Old 97’s, a band that’s celebrating its 30th year together in 2022 and which is at least partly responsible for the phrase “alt-country” coming into existence. But don’t hold Miller responsible for lazy genre tags: He has written literally hundreds of incredible songs that transcend any pigeonhole you might want to shove him in. In addition to a dozen Old 97’s records, he’s also put out eight solo albums, and he tours regularly both on his own and with the 97’s. All that and, like I said, he’s got a podcast: Wheels Off features Miller in conversation with other creative folks, talking about creativity—kinda like the chat you’re about to hear! Before that, check out “Go Through You,” from Rhett Miller’s new solo album The Misfit.

You can see why Miller has won some diehard fans, among them actor Busy Philipps, who was introduced to the world via the cult classic TV show Freaks And Geeks back in 1999. (You’ve seen Freaks and Geeks, right? If not, please remedy that immediately.) Philipps went on to a ton of other TV and film roles, everything from ER to Cougar Town to her own chat show to her current gig on the very funny Girls5Eva on Peacock. She’s also built a passionate following by just being herself on the podcast Busy Philipps is Doing Her Best. If you’ve never heard it, you’ll get a little taste of what it’s like in this conversation with her friend Rhett.

The two are amazingly all over the place in this chat, talking about everything from why the Target stores in New Jersey are better than those in the big city, about how Philipps is dealing with her pandemic divorce—very well, as it turns out—bad advice received from a genius, Jon Brion, and how much fun it is to read ads for your podcast. I can relate. They also go deep in discussing the genius of Taylor Swift, which results in what may be a Talkhouse Podcast first: real tears captured during an episode. It’s a really great chat between two really charming people. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast and thanks to Busy Philipps and Rhett Miller for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse—and Wheels Off, and Busy Philipps is Doing Her Best—on your favorite podcasting platform. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Revisited: Aaron Dessner with Julien Baker Oct 13, 2022

This episode originally aired on December 16, 2021.

We’ve hosted some incredible Talkhouse Podcast conversations in 2021, and for our final brand-new episode of the year, we’ve got two people responsible for some of the best records of this year: Julien Baker and Aaron Dessner.

Baker released her third album, Little Oblivions, back in February, and it’s a doozy. Expanding her sonic palette massively, Baker delivered her powerful, vulnerable songs with much bigger sounds. That might have felt like a gamble, but it paid off massively—she produced it herself and pushed herself into new spaces.

Dessner is of course a founding member of the National, with whom he’s played for the past 20+ years. While his main band slowed down over the past couple of years, Dessner has been operating at hyperspeed. He was one of the main co-writers and producers on Taylor Swift’s Folklore and Evermore albums. He won an Album of the Year Grammy for the former, and was nominated for five more Grammys for the latter. He somehow also found time to release a new album with Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon under the name Big Red Machine called How Long Do You Think It’s Gonna Last? In addition to loads of guest singers, that record features Dessner on occasional lead vocals.

These two have a fantastic conversation about creativity and, specifically, production: Aaron has done a lot of producing for other artists, and Julien is just getting into it. Julien talks about what it’s like to have a full live band backing her, rather than being a quote-unquote masochist and playing alone. They talk about what it was like to be deprived of live audiences for so long, and Aaron gets into how his studio setup has changed over the years. Also, they both know what it’s like when music can make you cry—that’s the kind of thing we love here at Talkhouse. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast and thanks to Julien Baker and Aaron Dessner for having such a wonderful chat. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting service and social media channels--we’re everywhere. This episode was produced by Melissa Kaplan and Keenan Kush, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

The Tallest Man on Earth with Field Medic Oct 06, 2022

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a pair of singer-songwriters who’ve taken interesting names for what are essentially solo ventures: Kevin Sullivan, aka. Field Medic, and Kristian Matsson, better known as the Tallest Man on Earth.

Matsson has been making music as the Tallest Man since about 2006, winning fans both with his largely spare, Bob Dylan-like songs and his incredibly forceful live shows. Though he’s from Sweden, Matsson is definitely influenced by the American folk tradition, especially on his early records, like the classic 2008 debut Shallow Grave. He’s since released a handful of excellent albums, and in this conversation with Kevin Sullivan, he drops some hints about a new one that he’s really excited about to be released in 2023. In the meantime, the Tallest Man on Earth just released his first all-covers album, and though he downplays it a little bit, it’s pretty amazing. It’s called Too Late for Edelweiss, and on it he covers songs written by everyone from Hank Williams to Bon Iver to the National.

Kevin Patrick Sullivan, who records under the name Field Medic, has long been known for a pretty Spartan approach to recording: Most of his songs have been made super simply, in the folk tradition but with decidedly modern subject matter. For his upcoming fifth album, which has the deliciously long title grow your hair long if you’re wanting to see something that you can change, Sullivan decided to grow his sonic palette and bring in a producer. His confessional, put–it-all-out-there lyrics are still fully intact, of course. Field Medic will take these songs out for a headlining tour that features a full band this fall—a first for Sullivan. Check out the latest single from the new album, called “I Think About You All The Time.”

This is a fun conversation given that these guys don’t know each other, but they’re quick to connect. Tallest Man was clearly an influence on Field Medic’s sound, and we get to hear about a long-ago fan interaction between the two that did not, I repeat did not, involve marijuana. They also chat about finding inspiration when it’s gone missing, about the wonder of the Milli Vanilli story, and about which of them wanted to be Bob Dylan in high school, and which wanted to be Lou Reed. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast and thanks to Kevin Sullivan and Kristian Matsson for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform and social media channel. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Eugene Hutz (Gogol Bordello) with Walter Schreifels (Quicksand) Sep 29, 2022

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a hardcore legend and a fierce Ukrainian bandleader who recently worked on a record together: Walter Schreifels and Eugene Hutz.

Hutz is the founder, chief songwriter, and energetic frontman of Gogol Bordello, which has combined elements of punk, folk, Eastern European, Latin, and myriad other types of music for the past 20+ years. It’s a remarkable career that’s taken Hutz from his birthplace, Ukraine, to places as far flung as Vermont, Brazil, and New York’s Lower East Side. He’s also had forays into the film world, collaborated with everybody from Madonna to Primus, and gotten crowds jumping at pretty much every festival you can think of. The war in Ukraine has naturally been on Hutz’s mind, and he’s organized benefits and spoken up loudly about it this past year. At least one song on the brand new Gogol Bordello album addresses it directly. Speaking of that record, Solidartine, and Hutz’s penchant for collaboration, it was produced by Walter Schreifels. Check out “Fire on Ice Floe.”

Schreifels isn’t just a producer; in fact, that job is probably like the tenth thing on his impressive resume. He was a pioneer of the New York hardcore scene as a member of both Youth of Today and Gorilla Biscuits, and from there he went on to sing and play guitar in Quicksand. A restless writer and performer, Schreifels formed half a dozen short-lived projects over the past couple of decades, in addition to reuniting sporadically with his various bands. Quicksand has released two great albums since getting back together in 2012; they’re heading out on a package tour soon with Clutch and Helmet. There’s also a reissue of a great record by another of Schreifels’ short-lived projects, Rival Schools, coming later this year. It’s hard to keep track of everything he does, but well worth the effort.

These two NYC pals talk here about the city’s importance and vibe, as well as getting into deeper conversation about the war in Ukraine, how running can help prepare you for being in a punk band, and about how the pandemic might have led people back to hardcore music. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast and thanks to Eugene Hutz and Walter Schreifels for chatting. If you like what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all we have to offer on this very website. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Ti West with Tyler Bates and Tim Williams Sep 22, 2022

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve gathered three guys for a very focused discussion about one of the year’s most exciting horror movies: Ti West, Tyler Bates, and Tim Williams.

Ti West is a director who’s made his name with a string of what I guess you’d call indie-horror movies—though I’m not sure that does justice to the kind of auteurist vision he has. With films like The House of the Devil and The Innkeepers, he revealed a truly singular style. He tried his hand at a Western with the wild and wooly In A Valley of Violence in 2016, but returned to his horror roots this year with a pair of movies filmed back to back: X, which came out in March, and its prequel, Pearl, which is just hitting theaters now. For these two movies, which both star Mia Goth, West hooked up with indie powerhouse A24, which as you’ll hear in this chat, made a big bet on these two films—and since this chat took place, have now committed to a third in the franchise. If you like creepy, stylish horror, definitely check them out.

A big part of what makes both X and Pearl work is the music, and that’s where the two other guys on this chat come in. Tyler Bates is a composer who’s worked on music for an incredible array of films, from 300 to John Wick to Guardians of the Galaxy. But he knows horror, too, having worked on Rob Zombie’s string of early flicks as well. Bates is also a music producer, having recently done the new Starcrawler album, and he was, briefly, a member of Marilyn Manson. For the more old-fashioned orchestral score for Pearl, he recruited his friend and neighbor Tim Williams, who’s contributed to a ton of great film and TV scores over the past decade as well.

This chat among these three gets wonderfully granular about the world of film sound. Pearl is a prequel that takes place in 1918, so West wanted Bates to come up with something very old-school. That meant real orchestrations and the kinds of instruments and musical cues you don’t really hear anymore—and it works remarkably well. As you’ll hear in this conversation, West really thinks like an auteur: He’s concerned with every aspect of his movies, right down to whether the sound of crickets is going to interfere every so slightly with the score. All of that care definitely shows on screen, and you can hear when these guys talk how much they care about getting things just right. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Ti West, Tyler Bates, and Tim Williams for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great written pieces on this very site. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

A-Trak with Braxe & Falcon Sep 15, 2022

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we have a pair of French electronic music pioneers who recently teamed up alongside a DJ who’s been responsible for some of the most exciting production of the past 20+ years: Braxe and Falcon with A-Trak.

Alan Braxe and his cousin Stephane Quem—aka DJ Falcon—are legends of French house music going back decades: Braxe was one-third of the trio Stardust alongside Daft Punk’s Thomas Bangalter. They famously released just one song in 1998 before splitting up, but “Music Sounds Better With You” is a classic of the genre. Falcon’s biggest claim to fame might also be Daft Punk adjacent: He co-wrote and co-produced their song “Contact,” from 2013’s Random Access Memories. And though they’ve obviously been acquainted forever, Braxe and Falcon only recently came together for a project, and it’s pretty amazing. Their debut EP, Step By Step, includes a killer title track with an appearance by Panda Bear. Braxe and Falcon will make their live debut in November with two U.S. shows, one in New York and another in L.A. Check out “Step by Step” right here.

That EP also features a remix by Braxe and Falcon’s old friend DJ A-Trak, a superstar of the electronic world whose resume makes me feel very lazy. As a young guy, he was a championship-level turntablist in his native Canada, which led to a years-long role on stage with Kanye West. His career continued as a headlining DJ and producer in his own right: He’s known both for creating his own sounds and remixing big names. He also runs the vaunted Fool’s Gold label and collaborates with lots of other folks, including Armand Van Helden in Duck Sauce. A-Track’s latest project is a collaborative album with elusive hip-hop icon Cam’ron called U Wasn’t There, which comes out September 23. Check out “All I Really Wanted” from that upcoming record.

In this chat, Braxe, Falcon, and A-Trak talk about the sonic intersections of house music and old-school hip-hop, they discuss the ups and downs of the forced Covid break, and there’s a lot of gear talk—which is a whole different thing when you’re talking about samplers and keyboards instead of guitars and pedals. It’s a lot of fun, and I hope you enjoy it.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast and thanks to Braxe, Falcon, and A-Trak for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out Talkhouse.com for all kinds of great written features. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Marcus King with Neal Francis Sep 08, 2022

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got a conversation between two young performers who are just this week starting a huge tour together: Marcus King and Neal Francis.

King is a blues-rock prodigy who, at 26, already has a lifetime of music under his belt—both as leader of the Marcus King Band and, more recently, as a solo artist. Though he wasn’t alive for the 1970s, King clearly has an affinity for that decade, with nods in his music to players like Jimi Hendrix and ZZ Top. He’s earned a huge following over the years, which makes sense since he’s been gigging since his teens. King’s first solo disc, 2020’s El Dorado, earned him a Grammy nomination, and for the brand new Youngblood he once again hooked up with producer Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys. It’s a scorcher. Check out a little bit of “Hard Working Man” from Youngblood, from a recent performance on Jimmy Fallon's show.

Neal Francis is similarly enamored of 1970s sounds, though he leans more toward the funk and soul sides of things. Francis was in a band in his hometown of Chicago called The Heard, but graduated to more sophisticated sounds as a solo artist: Think Sly Stone and Elton John and you’re on the right track. His latest album for ATO Records is called In Plain Sight, and it was partly inspired by Francis’ time living in a haunted church in Chicago. Check out “Problems” from In Plain Sight right here.

What both Marcus and Neal’s records share is a little more seriousness than you might immediately hear in what sounds like party-friendly music. Both have had their bouts with substance issues and messy breakups, and those things make it into their songs. They’re both also really interested in ghosts, as you’ll hear: King isn’t sure whether alcohol made him see a demon, but he’s definitely seen it. They also talk about growing up bluesy, how David Lynch might translate into music, and the time-honored tradition of drawing dicks on dressing room walls. Enjoy.

This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Doug Martsch (Built to Spill) with Kenny Becker (Goon) Sep 01, 2022

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a couple of fantastic songwriters from the indie-rock world: Kenny Becker and Doug Martsch.

Martsch I’m guessing our listeners will know as the chief songwriter and sole consistent member of Built to Spill, the band that made Boise, Idaho famous. Built to Spill has been an ongoing concern since the early 1990s, releasing a ton of great albums at a fairly leisurely pace, including stone classics like There’s Nothing Wrong With Love and Keep it Like a Secret. The Built to Spill lineup has mutated a bunch of times over the years, and that’s never been more true than for the genesis of their latest album, When the Wind Forgets Your Name. Writing and recording the album was done with members of the Brazilian band Orua, but the latest live lineup features Martsch alongside a pair of incredibly talented young women from up-and-coming bands: Prism Bitch’s Teresa Esguerra and Blood Lemon’s Melanie Radford. They bring a new energy to this storied band. Check out the hilarious video for “Fool’s Gold” from When the Wind Forgets Your Name.

Goon has a much shorter history than Built to Spill, having really started as Kenny Becker’s solo project around 2015. Along with some college friends, Becker recorded Goon’s dreamy debut album Heaven is Humming. But that lineup was slowly lost to attrition and now, like Martsch, Becker has an entirely new set of players alongside a brand new album, Hour of Green Evening. This new one was recorded in a more bandlike setting, as you’ll hear in this chat, and Becker even had some help from Alex Fischel of Spoon. Check out the sweet and tender “Emily Says” from that new record.

In this chat, Becker and Martsch talk about recording in a studio versus recording at home; they talk about finding those eureka moments in the studio, Built to Spill’s recent cover of a Cate Le Bon song, and getting musical ideas from TikTok. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast and thanks to Doug Martsch and Kenny Becker for chatting. If you like what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all of the other Talkhouse network shows and written pieces at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Introducing: Björk: Sonic Symbolism Aug 25, 2022

New from Talkhouse:

Join Björk in conversations with collaborators about her sound experiences. In the podcast you’ll learn about the moods, timbers, and tempos that vibrate through each album.

Subscribe at: https://pod.link/bjork

Hamilton Leithauser with Ethan Hawke Aug 25, 2022

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve paired a couple of friends who recently worked together on an incredible project: Ethan Hawke and Hamilton Leithauser.

Ethan Hawke you surely know as the Academy Award-nominated actor in a million great films, from Reality Bites to Training Day to Richard Linklater’s Before trilogy to 2018’s First Reformed. Hawke is also a writer and director, and the impetus for today’s conversation is his six-part HBO Max documentary The Last Movie Stars. The series tells the story of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, both their personal lives as a married couple and their professional lives as two monumental actors of their generation. Far from a typical documentary, The Last Movie Stars uses archival footage alongside dramatizations of interviews featuring current movie stars. It even gets a bit meta, with Hawke revealing some of his process during the series via Zoom calls with contemporaries. It’s a fascinating way to tell this incredible story.

Another way that Hawke brought this story into the present was with music from his old friend Hamilton Leithauser, who’s best known as the singer of the Walkmen, and who’s had a fruitful solo career since that band went on hiatus a while back. As you’ll hear in this chat, Hawke had the idea that Leithauser would be great at soundtrack work ages ago, so when he started working on The Last Movie Stars, Leithauser immediately came to mind. There’s a lot of Leithauser in the doc, and one song that they cover in this chat quite a bit is called “1959,” from an album that Leithauser made with Vampire Weekend co-founder Rostam.

Elsewhere in the chat, Hawke and Leithauser talk about their processes for this project: Hawke originally envisioned a two-hour feature, but quickly realized that he needed much more time to tell this huge story. They talk about Bob Dylan’s influence—musical good, acting not so much—and the greatest soundtracks of all time. That, and much more. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast and thanks to Ethan Hawke and Hamilton Leithauser for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform—and check out The Last Movie Stars on HBO Max. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by The Range. See you next time!

Spiral Stairs (Pavement) with Kelley Stoltz Aug 18, 2022

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got a pair of old friends with a ton of records and history between them: Kelley Stoltz and Spiral Stairs.

Spiral Stairs—aka. Scott Kannberg—is a founding member of indie-rock kingpins Pavement, a band he formed in Stockton, California with his high school friend Stephen Malkmus. What started as a noisy, ramshackle outfit bloomed into one of the most important and influential bands of the 1990s. Their albums have only grown in stature over the years, getting the sort of deluxe reissue treatment that was once reserved only for the gods of classic rock. And though Pavement split up in 1999, they’ve reunited twice—and are about to launch a pretty hefty tour of the US and Europe. Outside of Pavement, Kannberg has kept plenty busy releasing music under both his Spiral Stairs moniker and, for a while, as Preston School of Industry. He’s had an incredibly prolific last few years, too, releasing three albums since 2017—the latest is the fantastic Medley Attack!!! It was a record born of some hardship, including Covid, worldwide relocations, and most unfortunately, the sudden death of Kannberg’s bassist Matt Harris. But those events resulted in what’s probably his best solo outing yet. Check out a little bit of the song “Pressure Drop (End of the Hurricane)” right here.

Kannberg enlisted the help of several friends in making that record, including the other half of today’s conversation, singer-songwriter Kelley Stoltz. Stoltz is one of those guys who just has a knack for writing incredibly tuneful pop songs. If they were recorded with more slickness, you might mistake them for radio hits of the ‘60s and ‘70s—I mean that as a high compliment. Stoltz recently released his seventeenth studio album, The Stylist, and it’s a great place to start in a catalog that includes plenty of stone classics. Check out “Your Name Escapes Me.”

As you’ll hear in this conversation—though not necessarily in either of those songs—Stoltz and Kannberg first bonded over a mutual love of Echo & The Bunnymen. Stoltz actually recorded a full album cover of that band’s Crocodiles album, and Kannberg joined him on some live shows to perform it. Weirdly, that led to Stoltz, who as a teen worshiped Ian McCulloch, to a brief stint as rhythm guitarist for the British band. Talk about Echo leads to talk about copycat haircuts of their youth, formative years working in record stores, and lots more. And you’ll even get to hear two songs in very early stages—one that Kannberg (maybe) wants to bring to his Pavement bandmates, and one that Stoltz has started writing for his infant daughter. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Kelley Stoltz and Scott Kannberg for chatting. If you liked what you heard, check out both of their new albums, and of course follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by The Range. See you next time!

Revisited: Reggie Watts with Chino Moreno (Deftones) Aug 11, 2022

To celebrate the release of the new Deftones album Ohms, we paired frontman Chino Moreno with his old friend and tourmate — and long-time Deftones fan! — comedian/musician Reggie Watts for a Talkhouse Podcast conversation.

The guys were very psyched to catch up, and their freewheeling talk took in the making of the new Deftones LP; the ups and downs of long-term collaborations; their very different writing and recording approaches; and… bikes. Turns out they're both waaay into bikes.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

For this week’s episode, everyone you hear recorded themselves. Our producer is Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Introducing: Listening Aug 08, 2022

In Listening, a new series from Talkhouse and Mailchimp Presents, we invite some of the world’s most beloved and inventive musicians to create new compositions that allow us to intimately experience a time and a place in their lives. We’ll join each artist to hear about the creation of their piece, how deeper listening informs their process and how that practice can enrich all of our lives. Subscribe today!

Davey von Bohlen (Promise Ring) with Jim Adkins (Jimmy Eat World) Aug 04, 2022

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got two old friends whose bands started around the same time, and who’ve had very different albums hit the 20-year-mark recently: Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World and Davey von Bohlen of the Promise Ring.

I had the idea to pair these guys after seeing a bunch of “best of emo” lists floating around the internet ether lately, and it reminded me of the heady days of the late ‘90s and early 2000s, and how many fond memories I have of those times. I saw the Promise Ring and Jimmy Eat World plenty of times back then; full disclosure: I was then and am now friends with the guys in the Promise Ring. It occurred to me that while the two bands had been on similar trajectories back then, that they diverged right around 20 years ago in a really interesting way. I figured it’d be fun to reconnect them and see what they had to say about it.

The Promise Ring were at the top of the emo heap in the late 1990s, though everybody hated that word with a passion back then. They were early fans of Jimmy Eat World’s music, and the bands toured together a few times over the years. By the end of the century, The Promise Ring had hit a weird rough patch: Von Bohlen had surgery for a brain tumor, and the band was naturally forced to slow down considerably. When they returned with their much anticipated fourth album, Wood/Water, it represented what felt at the time like a pretty intense left turn: The songs were slower and more melodic—not necessarily what fans were expecting, though the album has gotten a rightful reappraisal in the 20 years since its release. The Promise Ring split up soon after its release, and Davey went on to form the band Maritime with Promise Ring drummer Dan Didier, and they released a string of great records.

Jimmy Eat World also found themselves at a crossroads 20 years ago; having parted company with a major label, they self-funded a new album. That album, 2001’s Bleed American, spawned a leftfield hit for the band, a song called “The Middle.” It launched Jimmy Eat World into the mainstream before they knew what hit them, and it’s one of those songs that to this day you might hear on the radio. It was a blip, of course, in a consistently fantastic career: Jimmy Eat World kept making records and touring—their latest is 2019’s Surviving.

So it was an interesting point in time for both of these guys, who as you’ll hear remain fast friends after all these years. Playing music isn’t a huge part of von Bohlen’s life anymore, though he does point out that Maritime is technically still a band. These two chat about their 20-ish-year-old records, fatherhood, drinking, touring in the ‘90s, and lots more. Davey tells a great story I hadn’t heard before about the Promise Ring’s insane pact with each other in their earliest days. Sadly, Jim and Davey never get around to talking about Davey’s guest vocals on Bleed American, but maybe we’ll just have to have them chat again sometime. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Davey von Bohlen and Jim Adkins for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great written pieces elsewhere on this very site. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Joe Pera with Dan Wriggins (Friendship) Jul 28, 2022

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a comedian and a musician who recently joined forces to make a music video: Joe Pera and Dan Wriggins.

Joe Pera is a stand-up comedian who’s best known as the star and creator of Joe Pera Talks With You, the Adult Swim TV show about the beautifully modest existence of a middle-school choir instructor in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It’s a show unlike anything else on TV, past or present, and it’s a direct reflection of Pera’s unassuming comedic persona: In other words, it’s hard to tell where Joe Pera the character ends and Joe Pera the guy begins. It’s also insightful, weird, and decidedly sweet. And while the show just finished its three-season run recently, it won’t be the last the world sees of Pera. In fact, he’s in the midst of a stand-up tour right now, and you can find dates at joepera.com. Oh, and he also just landed the role of James Bond, which you can hear all about on his recent Seth Meyers appearance. Seems like kind of a big deal.

Yet Pera still has time to help out indie bands like Friendship, whose singer and songwriter Dan Wriggins is the other participant in today’s chat. Friendship is made up of old friends—no surprise there—though the band is actually named after a town in Maine near where they grew up. They’re currently based in Philadelphia, though Wriggins Zoomed in for this chat from Little Cranberry Island, Maine, where he also spent time as a kid. That island is also where Friendship and Joe Pera shot the video for “Hank,” from the band’s brand new album, Love The Stranger. It’s the band’s fourth full-length and first for the always reliable Merge Records. It’s a beautiful record full of straightforward but nuanced observations about life and love. Check out the video for "Hank" right here, which comes up in this chat quite a bit.

As I said earlier, that “Hank” video comes up in this conversation, and it leads to Joe and Dan talking about craftsmanship, lobster fishing, and lots more. They talk about touring as a comedy act versus touring as a band, and about how each of them works hard to make their respective art look easy. Oh, and at the end of the chat, Joe finally reveals who his celebrity spouse is, so stay tuned for the whole thing!

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Joe Pera and Dan Wriggins for chatting. If you liked what you heard, they’re both on tour—separately—right now. Please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out all the great written features we’ve got on Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Taylor Bennett with Matt Johnson (Matt and Kim) Jul 21, 2022

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got what might seem at first to be an unusual pairing, but that has its genesis in some serious fandom: Taylor Bennett and Matt Johnson.

Taylor Bennett is a musician, entrepreneur, and community activist who has helped guide the career of his older brother Chance the Rapper while also busting genres on his own records. Bennett is a restless musician, rarely content to make the same moves twice. He raps and sings, and has proudly been sample-free on his last few records. A few years back, he released Be Yourself, a manifesto of sorts that championed inclusivity and positivity—he also told the world around the same time that he’s proudly bisexual. For this year’s Coming of Age, Bennett once again found inspiration in all different kinds of music, even bringing in some guests from various areas on the musical spectrum. One guest he was particularly excited to work with was Matt Johnson of Matt and Kim, the New York indie duo behind some of the past two decades’ most invigorating songs. Johnson contributed vocals to “Kick Back,” from Coming of Age—check out that song right here.

As I said, Matt Johnson is half of Matt and Kim—you can probably guess which half—the life-affirming duo behind one really big hit, “Daylight,” a breakthrough music video that you’ll hear about in this chat, the end-credits song in a Lego movie, and perhaps most importantly, the sort of we-did-it-our-way career that should be the envy of their peers. Matt and Kim have released six albums in their two decades together, and they’ve built a relationship with their audience through undeniably joyous live shows and a sense of gratitude you don’t always see in bands. Their energy is, to use a true rock cliche, infectious, and it’s a big part of their appeal—along with damn catchy songs, of course. The inability to get out in front of his fans has made Matt a little itchy over the past couple of years, which you’ll hear about in this chat.

Johnson and Bennett also talk about giant dildos in this podcast, so prepare yourself for that. If that’s not enough to pique your interest, the two also talk about trying to separate the art from the artist, about the real reason to remain independent, and about what it’s like to get completely naked in Times Square in the dead of winter for a video shoot. It’s a lot of fun, and I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I did.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Taylor Bennett and Matt Johnson for chatting. If you like what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and check out our great written pieces and vast podcasting network on this very site. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Sharon Van Etten with Jonathan Meiburg (Shearwater) Jul 14, 2022

On this week's Talkhouse Podcast we’ve paired up a couple of old friends and onetime tourmates, Sharon Van Etten and Jonathan Meiburg. This pairing was especially fun for me, since I had the pleasure of putting these two together in a different context many years ago, when I was editor of The A.V. Club: Sharon and Jonathan performed an amazing version of the Tom Petty/Stevie Nicks duet “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” for the site’s A.V. Undercover series. Seeing their faces together brought back that fun memory, and it was great seeing them reconnect.

Van Etten is a singer and songwriter who’s been making records for the past decade plus, growing and changing and taking chances in exactly the way you hope truly talented people will. Her amazing early records were quietly intense, very confessional affairs, but she burst from the seams with subsequent releases. In 2019, she released Remind Me Tomorrow, which brought in bigger sounds and colors and an entirely different kind of confidence to her songwriting and performance. She gives partial credit in this chat to producer John Congleton, who was recommended to Van Etten by none other than Jonathan Meiburg. Earlier this year, Van Etten released another incredible album called We’ve Been Going About This All Wrong, which puts into intense songs some of the feelings we’ve all been feeling the past couple of years. You know what I’m talking about. Check out “Mistakes” from that new album, and check out Van Etten on the Wild Hearts tour over the next few months, with Angel Olsen and Julien Baker.

Today’s other guest, Jonathan Meiburg, is best known in the music world as the driving force behind the band Shearwater, which he started way back in the late ‘90s as an offshoot of his previous band, Okkervil River. But under this name, Meiburg has created a vast and varied catalog that combines his writerly mind with sometimes-moody, sometimes-joyous music. Shearwater just released their first album in six years: It’s called The Great Awakening, and it’s what a lazy podcast host might refer to as a return to form—or at least more austere earlier vibes. Don’t let that six-year gap fool you, though: Meiburg has been plenty busy. He’s got another band called Loma with the members of Cross Record, and they’ve got a third album on the way. Oh, and Meiburg wrote and released an incredible book called A Most Remarkable Creature: The Hidden Life and Epic Journey of the World’s Smartest Birds of Prey, which rolls up history, science, and travel into one really beautifully written piece. (Around Talkhouse HQ, we like to brag that Meiburg has written a bunch of pieces for us over the years.) As you’ll hear in this conversation, he’s already started working on another book. Check out “Empty Orchestra” from The Great Awakening.

As you’ll hear, Van Etten and Meiburg are old friends who toured together long ago, but hadn’t seen each other in person until very recently, when Van Etten’s tour took her to Hamburg, where Meiburg is currently living. They talk about writing songs—and specifically about how gibberish can become lyrics, which I always find interesting. Meiburg remarks on Van Etten’s transformation as a stage performer over the years, and they even chat about Sharon’s son—specifically his relationship to the movie Cool Runnings. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Sharon Van Etten and Jonathan Meiburg for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please do follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time.

Revisited: Carly Rae Jepsen with mxmtoon Jul 07, 2022

This week we’re revisiting a Talkhouse episode that was originally released in October of 2020, when perhaps you missed it because you had other things on your mind. It happens. This one features a great chat between two women at different phases in their careers: Carly Rae Jepsen and mxmtoon. You might recognize mxmtoon’s name from her podcast 365 Days, which is part of the Talkhouse Podcast Network. Speaking of, did you know we have a network full of other great shows, including Aquarium Drunkard Transmissions, Sing for Science, Craig Finn’s brand new podcast That’s How I Remember It, and What Had Happened Was with Open Mike Eagle? We do! Anyway, just before this episode, Carly Rae and mxmtoon had just collaborated on a track called “Ok on your own,” and they dove right into a great conversation about songwriting and much, much more. Check it out, and we’ll be back with a brand new episode next week!

To celebrate Carly Rae Jepsen and mxmtoon's rad collab track "ok on your own," we paired the pop stars for what turned out to be a deep dive into the art of making music and learning to thrive in the complicated music industry.

In this very warm and insightful conversation, Carly and Maia each share their (very different!) origin stories, and explore both the art of songwriting and live performance. Carly also shares clutch career wisdom.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast. Plus, ICYMI: mxmtoon just kicked off her yearlong podcast project 365 days with mxmtoon in collab with Talkhouse, which features quirky stories from history that occurred on each day, old diary entries and more; it’s really fun, and like eight minutes long.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

For this week’s episode, Carly was recorded by Nick Theodorakis, and everyone else you hear recorded themselves. Our producer is Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Jonathan Davis (Korn) with Danny Brown Jun 30, 2022

On this Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got one of those chats that feels like it’s going to lead to something bigger down the road: Jonathan Davis and Danny Brown.

Neither of these guys probably needs an introduction, but here goes anyway: Jonathan Davis is the frontman of the band Korn, which basically invented a sound and subsequent genre about 30 years ago. I’m not sure if people still say “nu metal,” but whatever you want to call it, it never really seemed to leave the cultural zeitgeist once it took hold. Korn always seemed to have a wider variety of influences than some of their peers, taking bits and pieces from goth, metal, and hip-hop to make a strange new brew. They’ve released an impressive 14 albums, taking stylistic turns like 2011’s The Path of Totality, which incorporated dubstep and drum-and-bass elements. The band’s latest is Requiem, which was written and recorded during Covid’s enforced ban on touring. It’s a bit of a return to their classic sound, and it’s gotten incredibly positive reviews from fans and critics.

Danny Brown is a rapper and, more recently, a comedian who broke out of his hometown of Detroit around 2010, and has released a series of groundbreaking, incredible records that never seem to sit still—just like him. He’s had huge singles and collaborated with everybody from Eminem to Purity Ring to Kendrick Lamar to A$AP Rocky. And though he hasn’t put out a proper album since 2019’s killer U Know What I’m Sayin’, Brown has kept busy making music, making his stand-up comedy debut, doing the hilarious Danny Brown Show on YouTube, and allegedly prepping a new record with the working title Quaranta. He’s described the record as “all over the place,” which makes sense considering Brown’s varied list of influences—one of which is Korn, which is how we got here in the first place. This genesis of this conversation, Davis and Brown’s first, was Brown covering Korn’s classic “Freak on a Leash” live in concert last year.

Like I said, this is the first real conversation that Brown and Davis have ever had, and they get along great—great enough that they’re instantly talking about meeting up in person to collaborate at Davis’ Bakersfield, California studio. They get into Korn’s songwriting process, Covid-inspired depression, and how the internet provides the kind of instant rejection you had to work harder for in the old days. It’s a great chat, I hope you enjoy it.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Jonathan Davis and Danny Brown for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please subscribe via your favorite podcasting app, and while you’re already there, go ahead and rate us. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Stuart Murdoch (Belle and Sebastian) with Ramesh Srivastava (Voxtrot) Jun 23, 2022

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a pair of musicians who both suffer from the effects of LSD—that’s lead singer disease—Stuart Murdoch and Ramesh Srivastava.

Ramesh was and is now again the lead singer and chief creative force behind the Austin, Texas band Voxtrot, which burned bright but maybe too quick in the early 2000s. They released a series of rapturously received EPs and one LP that were beloved by fans of deeply British institutions like Sarah Records and The Smiths. But the band had split by 2010, and Ramesh went on to release a pair of solo albums that didn’t quite have the impact his band did. For a while, he was content to leave Voxtrot in the past, but gathering material for two reissues gave him the spark to get thing going again. The next few months will see the release of both Early Music—which gathers the band’s beloved EPs—and Cut from the Stone, which features rarities and B-sides. And then, like some unstoppable force of nature, Voxtrot will tour the U.S. again. Dates can be found at voxtrot.net. And in case you’re not familiar, here’s a great Voxtrot song called “The Start of Something.”

Do you hear a bit of Belle and Sebastian in that song? They’re a pretty clear influence on Voxtrot, and Srivastava met Stuart Murdoch while living in Glasgow in his younger days—you’ll hear about their meet-cute in this conversation. Belle and Sebastian, of course, have had an incredible career over the past quarter century or so. They started life as a school project for Murdoch, a shy young man whose feelings spilled out into his gentle songs in a way that seemed then—and now—to be almost magical. Over the years, Belle and Sebastian developed from a sort of bedroom-pop project to a massive pop machine, while never losing that spirit of playfulness and sincerity that Murdoch has always projected. The band recently released their ninth studio album, called A Bit of Previous. The title is a bit tricky in that it seems to reference the good old days but also Murdoch’s longtime interest in Buddhism, which he explored in greater depth during the pandemic.

In this conversation, you’ll actually hear a bit about how both Ramesh and Stuart approach spirituality, both Christianity and Buddhism. You’ll hear how being a “gay brown person” pushed Ramesh away from religion for a long time. They talk about the aforementioned “lead singer disease,” and how that affects everyday life. And we get to hear about a young Stuart Murdoch making his way to the London flat of one of his musical heroes, but then deciding not to actually knock on his door. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Ramesh Srivastava and Stuart Murdoch for chatting. If you like what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite social channels and check out talkhouse.com for lots of great written pieces, too. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time.

Martin Courtney (Real Estate) with Tim Darcy (Ought, Cola) Jun 16, 2022

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a pair of songwriters who are meeting for the first time, which we haven’t had in an episode in quite a while. Martin Courtney and Tim Darcy.

Until recently, Darcy was the frontman of the band Ought, which released three fantastic, brainy art-punk albums from their home base of Montreal—despite the fact that Darcy is, in fact, “secretly American.” Ought split up pre-pandemic but that wasn’t really public news until the announcement of the existence of Darcy’s new band, Cola, which he started just a couple of years ago along with Ought bassist Ben Stidworthy and Weather Station/US Girls drummer Evan Cartwright. Just last month, Cola released their debut album, Deep In View, and it feels like a sort of back-to-basics take on their old band—but still fresh and exciting. Darcy is a guy who takes his lyrics seriously, and though he clearly had a great time making the record, there’s a darkness to it that recalls the best post-punk and trebly art-rock of the past 40 years, from Talking Heads to Parquet Courts.

Martin Courtney is the singer and guitarist of Real Estate, the New Jersey-born band that has released five albums of songs that battle gently the urges toward pop-song structure and a slight psychedelic haze. Real Estate had particularly bad timing luck with regard to that worldwide pandemic we’ve all talked so much about over the past couple of years, releasing an album just weeks before the world shut down, resulting naturally in canceled tours and other plans. Instead of diving into another Real Estate album during the lockdown, Courtney decided to take a path of less resistance and record his second solo album. As he jokes in this conversation, most solo albums tend to be an excuse for an artist to indulge their more out-there impulses, but his impulses tend to lead him back toward more structured pop songs. He came up with a killer batch for this record, which is called Magic Sign.

Darcy and Courtney hadn’t met before this chat, but that doesn’t stop them from getting into a great conversation: They talk about how podcasts might be boring—and how that’s okay (!?). They get into Courtney’s slight sense of disillusionment with music in general. Then they bring it back to creative desires: They are both guys itching with ideas and ready to get them out to the world. And, as fate would have it, both are going to be touring this summer, god willing. So get out there and see them, but first, check out this chat.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Tim Darcy and Martin Courtney for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcast platform, and check out the great new records by both of this week’s guests. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Podcast Preview: Craig Finn's 'That's How I Remember It' featuring Patterson Hood Jun 09, 2022

Hello Talkhouse listeners and readers. We’ve got a special treat for you this week: Instead of the usual Talkhouse Podcast, we’re featuring the debut episode of a podcast called That’s How I Remember It. Craig Finn, as you hopefully already know, is the singer of The Hold Steady as well as a solo artist. He’s got an excellent new solo record called A Legacy of Rentals, and it inspired him to start a new podcast that explores the intersection of memory and creativity. The Talkhouse gang helped him put it together, and we’re happy to present the first episode here. If you like it, which you undoubtedly will, please subscribe! Here it is, the first episode of That’s How I Remember It, featuring Craig in conversation with Patterson Hood of Drive-By Truckers. Enjoy, and we’ll be back to regular Talkhouse episodes next week!

Subscribe to That’s How I Remember It to catch future episodes with Brian Koppelman, Fred Armisen, and many more.

Revisited: Michelle Zauner (Japanese Breakfast) with Rostam Jun 02, 2022

Hello Talkhouse listeners; this week we’re resurfacing a talk featuring a frequent Talkhouse contributor who seems to be having yet another career moment: Michelle Zauner, aka. Japanese Breakfast. You may have caught Zauner and her band on the season finale of SNL, or playing your local theater, or on every playlist worth a dang. This talk, which originally ran on June 3, 2021—around the time the latest Japanese Breakfast album, Jubilee, came out—features Zauner in conversation with Rostam, the musician and producer best known as part of Vampire Weekend. If you like what you hear, there are two more Zauner-led Talkhouse Podcasts in the archives, one with Alex Cameron, and the other with Rachel Goswell of Slowdive.

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Today’s Talkhouse Podcast started with a little bit of serendipity in the form of album release dates: Both of our guests, Michelle Zauner of Japanese Breakfast and producer/musician/former Vampire Weekend guy Rostam, have excellent records coming out on June 4. They’re also fans of each other’s work, so we figured it made plenty of sense to put them together.

Zauner’s album, her third under the Japanese Breakfast name, is called Jubilee, and as you’ll hear in this conversation, it took a deliberate turn toward slightly happier themes than her first two. It comes hot on the heels of Zauner’s first book, a heartbreaking memoir called Crying In H Mart, that deals with her mother’s death—also a theme in her early music—and food, lots of food. It’s a really touching read, and an ideal companion to her musical catalog, which grew in really compelling ways with Jubilee.

Rostam is best known as a founding member of Vampire Weekend, and even though he officially left the band a few years ago, he still contributes some songwriting and production work. He’s kept plenty busy otherwise, producing records and writing songs with an incredible array of other artists, from Hamilton Leithauser to HAIM to Clairo. His first proper solo album is the gentle, string-filled, fantastic Half-Light, which came out in 2017, and now he’s releasing Changephobia, which as you’ll hear ditches the string section and brings in a sax, among other things.

These two jump right into a conversation that flits around from silly to deep: On one hand, they talk about childhood loves of chess and fencing and the importance of song five on an album. On the other, Zauner gets rightfully annoyed at interview questions she gets that other people don’t, and Rostam talks about being Persian in a band that was sometimes pegged as particularly white. It’s a funny, smart chat. Enjoy.

This episode was produced by Melissa Kaplan. The Talkhouse theme was composed and performed by The Range.

Sofi Tukker with The Knocks May 26, 2022

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a pair of electronic-music duos whose histories, as you’ll hear, are intimately intertwined: The Knocks and Sofi Tukker.

The Knocks—consisting of James Patterson and Ben Ruttner—just released their third album, and it’s once again dancefloor-ready and heavy on the collaborations with indie icons. It’s called History, and it’s their first since 2018’s New York Narcotic, which featured the massive Foster the People collaboration “Ride or Die.” The guys used the extra time granted them by the pandemic to refocus and make History exactly what they wanted it, and it shows. The album includes guest spots from Cold War Kids, Cannons, and another jam with Foster the People. Check out “Slow Song,” which features Dragonette.

Speaking of features and collaborations, The Knocks have worked with Sofi Tukker—the duo consisting of Sophie Hawley-Weld and Tucker Halpern—a bunch over the years, and as you’ll hear in this conversation, Sofi Tukker might not even be a chart-topping outfit at all without the help and influence of James and Ben. Together they scored a bit hit with “Best Friend,” though if you only know one Sofi Tukker song it’s probably the massive “Drinkee.” But the duo has a brand new record out with the provocative title Wet Tennis, and they’re about to embark on a massive tour that includes two huge California shows with the Knocks as special guests. Check out “Kakee” from Wet Tennis.

In this conversation, these four talk about their shared history in New York, right down to a specific building that the Beastie Boys used to own. They talk about the old days playing college shows and the new days playing the massive Greek Theatre. And you’ll hear them graciously compliment each other on their latest songs. It’s a regular lovefest. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Sophie, Tucker, Ben, and James for chatting. If you like what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite social channels and podcasting platforms. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Dana Margolin (Porridge Radio) with Joseph Mount (Metronomy) May 19, 2022

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a pair of musicians from the UK who recently collaborated for the first time, Dana Margolin and Joseph Mount.

Mount has been the driving force behind Metronomy since 1999, and he’s found success not only with a series of winning electro-pop records, but also by remixing tracks for big names like Franz Ferdinand, Gorillaz, and Lady Gaga. If you’re unfamiliar with Metronomy, a good place to start is 2008’s Nights Out, which is a sort of concept album about, as you might guess, a night out. But Metronomy’s catalog is intriguingly all over the map; the band’s latest is called Small World, and it features a much gentler side of Mount’s songwriting personality overall. It also features a stunning duet with the other side of today’s conversation, Dana Margolin of Porridge Radio.

Like Metronomy, Porridge Radio really started out as a solo project but grew into more of a band situation—though each is still the brainchild of one person. Margolin started recorded under the Porridge Radio name back in 2015, but it was her second proper studio album, 2020’s Every Bad, that really made the world stand up and take notice. It’s a powerful, intense record that stands alongside current heatseekers like Dry Cleaning and Wet Leg, but that has a stamina all its own. Margolin is just about to release the follow up to Every Bad, an equally bracing and incredible set of songs called Waterslide, Diving Board, Ladder to the Sky, once again on the Secretly Canadian label.

In this conversation, Mount and Margolin talk about their collaboration, about the time that Mount almost but didn’t quite catch Margolin performing, and about the importance of lyrics—you’ll hear how eczema factors into a new song. They also get to Kierkegaard, Michael Stipe, and Margolin’s desire to—but inability—to write a “nice little love song.” Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast and thanks to Dana Margolin and Joseph Mount for chatting. If you like what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcast platform and all social media channels. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

John Doe (X) with Shirley Manson (Garbage) May 12, 2022

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got a pair of guests who I can call legends without hesitation: Shirley Manson and John Doe.

Doe is a founding member of the insanely influential punk band X, which started life way back in 1977 Los Angeles. They were part of a scene that leaned into hardcore punk, but X set itself apart by sneaking elements of country and Americana into their blistering records and live sets. And the chemistry between Doe and his co-lead singer Exene Cervenka was legendary: In fact, it still is. Though the band has split a few times over the years, they’re still actively rocking all these years later, and in fact released a really great record in 2020, called Alphabetland—it was their first in about 20 years. Doe has also been an active solo artist as well, and he’s got a great new album coming out May 20, 2022: It’s called Fables in a Foreign Land, and it’s a concept record whose tales take place in the 1890s. It’s dark and folky, and includes some songwriting help from a bunch of amazing folks, including today’s other guest, Shirley Manson.

Manson of course is the singer and frontperson of Garbage, which she’s been a part of steadily since the early 1990s. Garbage was formed by producer Butch Vig—he of Nirvana’s Nevermind fame—and was a massive success right out of the gate, with hits like “Queer,” “Stupid Girl,” and “Only Happy When It Rains.” They even did one of the best James Bond themes in recent memory, “The World is Not Enough.” The band has released a steady stream of great records over the years, including last year’s No Gods No Masters. A bonus track from that album, “Destroying Angels,” was written with and features both John Doe and Exene Cervenka, and an entirely different version of it also appears on this great new John Doe record.

In this chat, Manson grills Doe on his intentions as a songwriter, and he asks her about Garbage’s process as well. Manson wants to know whether Doe considers himself a singer or songwriter first, and she refers to Butch Vig more than once in her charming Scottish accent as "Butchie." They also talk about the afterlife, and how playing new music for the people closest to you can be a little deflating. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Shirley Manson and John Doe for chatting. If you like what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcast platform and all social media channels. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

CORRECTION: May 12, 6:17 PM

Shirley claims via Twitter that she never referred to Vig as “Butchie,” and upon further review of the tapes, it seems I was misinterpreting a breath as another syllable. Apologies to Ms. Manson!

Mike Campbell with Margo Price May 05, 2022

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a legendary guitarist and songwriter in conversation with one of our favorite repeat guests: Mike Campbell and Margo Price.

Campbell is best known as Tom Petty’s right-hand man, a position he proudly held for five decades until Petty’s untimely death in 2017. Together they wrote some of the Heartbreakers’ best known songs, including “Refugee,” “Here Comes My Girl,” and “You Got Lucky.” Campbell also produced a bunch of Petty solo and Heartbreakers songs, and has contributed his playing and writing skills to lots of other artists, too. I was surprised to learn just recently that Campbell co-wrote Don Henley’s massive “Boys of Summer,” too. Who knew? But even before the end of the Heartbreakers’ run, Campbell would spend time with his side band, the Dirty Knobs, where he not only plays guitar but also sings and writes the lyrics. The band recently released their second studio album, External Combustion, which is where today’s other guest comes in.

Margo Price is a firecracker of a singer and songwriter who doesn’t exactly fit neatly into the world of country—which is perhaps why she’s been so embraced by folks outside of that world. Jack White’s Third Man Records released Price’s first two albums, including her killer debut from 2016, Midwest Farmer’s Daughter, and though she lives in Nashville, her sound is more old-school country than new. Her last album is 2020’s That’s How Rumors Get Started, though as you’ll hear in this chat, she’s been working on both new music and an upcoming memoir. She pulls no punches, so both should be great. Oh, and she found some time to help out with some vocals on The Dirty Knobs’ latest, specifically on a song called “State of Mind.” As a longtime fan of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, she was excited as hell to work with Campbell, and the feeling was mutual. Check out “State of Mind” here.

Classic sounding, right? In this chat, Campbell and Price talk about getting back on the road after so long away. They talk about songwriting with other people: Price thinks it can be more personal than sleeping with someone. Campbell gets Price excited by revealing that he’s being joined on some dates by old-school Heartbreakers drummer Stan Lynch. And the two make plans to meet up on the road, specifically when they’re both opening huge amphitheaters for Chris Stapleton in June. Enjoy!

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Margo Price and Mike Campbell for chatting. If you like what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platforms and social media channels. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Melody Prochet (Melody's Echo Chamber) with Lila Ramani (Crumb) Apr 28, 2022

On this week's Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got two leading lights of modern psychedelic indie-rock, Melody Prochet and Lila Ramani.

Prochet is the creative force behind Melody’s Echo Chamber, whose evocative name is taken from a dream she once had. Her debut album under the name, which Prochet recorded with help from Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker, was released in 2012. She has since released two more full-lengths while bouncing around the planet and raising children. The new one, Emotional Eternal, was partly inspired by Prochet’s move from Paris to the idyllic quiet of the Swiss Alps. It features assists from members of the Swedish band Dungen, though it’s more spare and stripped down than that might suggest—and more spare than her past work, too. There are bits of psych in there, along with echoes of bands like Stereolab.

Lila Ramani of the New York band Crumb shares some of those influences, and Melody Prochet’s music influenced what Ramani wanted to do in her band, too. Crumb got going while its members were still in college in 2016, but really picked up speed with their debut full length, Jinx, which came out in 2019. Crumb released a second album, Ice Melt, in 2021, further incorporating jazzy rhythms into their psychedelic stew.

In this conversation, the mutual admirers talk about their personal lives, including Prochet’s side gig as an art therapist as well as Ramani’s childhood growing up near the Gowanus Canal. They chat about Coachella, “grinding vs floating,” and Prochet’s favorite American city—which will almost certainly surprise you. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Melody Prochet and Lila Ramani for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please subscribe to Talkhouse on your favorite platform, and tell your friends that we’re the best. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

View the full transcript of this podcast here.

Joe Goddard (Hot Chip) with Eno Williams (Ibibio Sound Machine) Apr 21, 2022

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got a lovefest between two musicians who came together to create one of the year’s most electrifying records: Eno Williams of Ibibio Sound Machine and Joe Goddard of Hot Chip.

Ibibio Sound Machine has been mashing up sounds for just under a decade now, blending elements of Afrobeat and electronic music into a fierce combination that inspires dancing, chanting, and sweating—at least when they’re allowed to hit the road. Williams is a force of nature on their newest album, Electricity. She was born in London but grew up in Nigeria—specifically the Ibibio region—and was exposed to those incredible regional sounds before moving back to London for school and steeping herself in the electronic music happening there. Electricity captures her vision pretty perfectly, thanks at least in part to today’s other guest, Joe Goddard of Hot Chip.

As you’ll hear in this chat, Goddard was a fan of Ibibio Sound Machine, having seen one of their incredible live performances at a festival, and the feeling was mutual. Goddard and his Hot Chip collaborators came in to produce Electricity, which was the first time Ibibio had used an outside producer. You can hear the Hot Chip fingerprints all over the record; it’s an amazing collaboration that both sides are clearly very happy with, as evidenced by this chat. And just moments ago—for me, anyway, it will be later for you—Hot Chip announced a brand new album as well. Freakout/Release will be out in August, and Hot Chip will play the second weekend of Coachella this Saturday.

In this podcast, Goddard and Williams get deep into musical influences, including Nigerian electronic music pioneer Wiliam Onyeabor, Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti, and more. They also talk about how sometimes the audience doesn’t know you’re having a bad show, and about the “super synth power” they found while working together. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Eno Williams and Joe Goddard for chatting. If you like what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

View the full transcript of this podcast here.

Blake Schwarzenbach (Jawbreaker) with J. Robbins (Jawbox) Apr 14, 2022

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got two veterans of ‘90s rock who went on to form bands that referenced air travel in their name and whose biggest bands both start with Jaw: Blake Schwarzenbach of Jawbreaker and J. Robbins of Jawbox. Sorry if that was confusing, I’ll clear it up for you.

Blake Schwarzenbach was and is the singer and guitarist of the band Jawbreaker, which had its initial run from 1986 until 1996, at which time they acrimoniously splintered after longtime fans turned their backs on 1995’s Dear You, mostly because these dogmatic listeners were mad that the band had signed to a major label. These things were a big deal then, which seems kind of quaint now. History was incredibly kind to both Jawbreaker and Dear You, so much so that in 2017 they reformed to headline Chicago’s massive Riot Fest, and they’ve been playing together on and off ever since. In the intervening years, Schwarzenbach also played in other great bands, most notably Jets to Brazil, which is what I was referencing earlier. Jawbreaker is on tour now, and they’re bringing along some of their favorite bands to open, which brings us to…

Jawbox, which followed a sorta similar trajectory to Jawbreaker. They came together in the late ‘80s, released a couple of incredible albums for a respected independent label, and then moved into the big leagues, with all the baggage and joy that might bring. Jawbox split in 1997, and Robbins went on to form Burning Airlines—are you seeing a pattern here?—but Jawbox reconvened in 2019. Those two bands certainly aren’t the beginning and end of Robbins’ amazing contributions to the world of music, though: Prior to Jawbox he was in Government Issue—you’ll hear them referred to as GI in this chat—he’s served as producer for a number of bands over the years, including Jets to Brazil, the Promise Ring, the Dismemberment Plan, Against Me, and other bands that make my 1990s heart sing. I hope you’ll notice I haven’t said emo once yet.

In this conversation, J. and Blake talk about what it feels like to play shows together again after all these years—and all this pandemic. Blake compliments J. on his psychedelic guitar playing, and J. isn’t sure what to make of that. And we learn—I think for the first time—that Jawbox briefly considered calling themselves Jawbreaker, before J. discovered Jawbreaker’s first single at a record store and crossed it off his list. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to J. Robbins and Blake Schwarzenbach for chatting. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range.

Sondre Lerche with AURORA Apr 07, 2022

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got a pair of Norwegian friends who both have excellent new records out this year: Sondre Lerche and AURORA.

Lerche started writing gorgeous pop songs while he was still a teen in the suburbs of Bergen, Norway. It wasn’t too long before his music started finding its way out into the world, and he’s released a bunch of albums since the early 2000s. Though clearly starting from a pop background—his songs are incredibly catchy—Lerche has nimbly moved through various permutations over the years, flirting with jazzy sounds, more intimate acoustic numbers, touches of Brazilian sounds, and the occasional out-and-out new wavey rock. Not long before the pandemic, Lerche recorded Patience, which he intended to tour behind, but instead he ended up moving back to Norway from Los Angeles and recording another excellent album, called Avatars of Love. For this one, his tenth, Lerche recruited a bunch of friends to help out, including another Norwegian star from a younger generation, AURORA. Here’s a bit of the sensual duet they performed together for the album, it’s called “Alone in the Night.”

As you can hear, AURORA has a kind of otherworldly quality to her voice, though on her own records it’s more often set against a more electronic backdrop: You may have heard her killer single “Cure for Me,” which came out last year and appears on her latest album, which came out earlier this year. It’s called The Gods We Can Touch, and she’s once again—like Lerche—supremely interested in lyrics, this time around going heavy on love and relationships.

You’ll hear the two of them chat about the importance of love in this podcast, as well as their native Norway, earlobe hair, and more. One minute they’re deep into how music can help us overcome grief, and the next they’re talking about how religion and music are both like penises, in that they are beautiful and lovely, but you shouldn’t shove any of them in someone’s face. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to AURORA and Sondre Lerche for letting us listen in on their fun. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

From Broken Record: Anthony Kiedis and John Frusciante of The Red Hot Chili Peppers Reunite Apr 05, 2022

I’m thrilled to share a special preview of the Broken Record podcast from Pushkin Industries. In honor of the Red Hot Chili Peppers new album, Unlimited Love, the band members sit with their legendary producer Rick Rubin to share exclusive insights about the band’s dynamic. In this preview, Rick, John, and Anthony discuss John rejoining the band after a 10 year hiatus and how right it felt to be playing together again. You can hear the full episode, and more from Broken Record at https://podcasts.pushkin.fm/brokenrecordrhcp?sid=talkhouse.

Ben Folds with Neil Hannon Mar 31, 2022

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a pair of songwriters who share a serious dedication to the craft, a slightly sardonic outlook on life, and deep, incredible catalogs: Neil Hannon and Ben Folds.

Neil Hannon is from Northern Ireland, and it’s safe to say that he and the band that he’s fronted for the past 30 years, the Divine Comedy, are a bit better known in Europe than in the States. Under the Divine Comedy name, Hannon has released a dozen delightfully clever albums, the latest of which is 2019’s Office Politics. If you’re a newbie and that seems far too much to catch up on, you’re in luck: Just this year, the Divine Comedy released a fantastic greatest-hits set called Charmed Life. Hannon has also kept himself busy over the years writing an opera of sorts, as well as composing the theme songs to two beloved British sitcoms, The IT Crowd and Father Ted—the latter show comes up at the beginning of this conversation. Another thing you’ll hear Hannon reference in this chat is “Wonka money”—he’s referring to the fact that he’s composing the music for the upcoming Willy Wonka movie starring Timothee Chalamet. Not too shabby. Here’s a little bit of the Divine Comedy’s “The Best Mistakes.”

Ben Folds, as you’ll hear in this conversation, is a huge fan of Hannon and his music. They’ve played together in the past and they plan to again; you’ll even hear them chatting about an orchestral series of concerts that Folds helps produce at the Kennedy Center. Folds, of course, is the piano-playing maestro who led the Ben Folds Five during the ‘90s, then struck out on his own for a vastly varied career in music. In addition to more pop-oriented albums, he’s collaborated with everyone from William Shatner to Weird Al; he’s written a piano concerto for the Nashville Symphony, released a well received memoir, and started a podcast in which he interviews interesting folks from various walks of life. Another guest who makes us all feel lazy. Damn it, Folds!

For this chat, the old friends were in vastly different time zones: Hannon in Ireland and Folds in Australia, the former ready for bed and the latter just waking up. They talk about their admiration for each other—and how they don’t really understand current pop music, because they know they’re not supposed to. They talk about the downsides of ProTools and the upsides of the pandemic. And you get to hear Ben Folds say the phrase “getting on fucking Talkhouse and kissing ass,” which made my week. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Ben Folds and Neil Hannon for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Revisited: Alana Haim with Sasha Spielberg (Buzzy Lee) Mar 24, 2022

Sometimes Talkhouse Podcast participants have never met, sometimes they're acquainted, and on rare occasions, they know each other really well. For this week's chat, it became clear pretty quickly that Sasha Spielberg—a.k.a. Buzzy Lee—and Alana Haim already spoke the same language. As it turns out, and you'll hear this in the conversation, they're close enough to share a Hulu account.

The occasion for this conversation is the debut full-length from Buzzy Lee, the excellent Spoiled Love, which is out now. And of course, it's not too late to enjoy the latest album from HAIM, Women In Music Pt. III, which came out in 2020. The two old friends talk about young love, bat mitzvahs, "cozy boys," and songwriting. It's charming as hell.

Steve Albini with Max Collins (Eve 6) Mar 17, 2022

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a funny pairing that proves that good things do occasionally result from the existence of social media: Steve Albini and Max Collins.

You almost certainly know Steve Albini’s name and probably some of his work, too, but I’ll share this brief summary anyway: As a musician, he has played in some incredibly influential bands, most notably Big Black and Shellac. As a producer/engineer/studio owner, he has helped make records by thousands of small independent bands and several huge mainstream ones, most notably Nirvana, with whom he recorded In Utero. (Other notable credits include PJ Harvey, Pixies, and the list goes on.) Albini is also a poker enthusiast who holds a World Series bracelet, though that part of his life doesn’t come up here. Throughout his career, Albini has been an outspoken champion of independence from the major-label system, and even penned a widely shared essay way back in the day about the general shittiness of the mainstream music business.

Which makes it kind of funny that he’s speaking today with Max Collins, frontman for the band Eve 6, who were sort of a prime example of the major-label machinery in the ‘90s—though through no fault of their own. Signed to a huge deal just out of high school, the band had a pretty massive hit with a song called “Inside Out,” whose chorus features the phrase “heart in a blender.” Eve 6 largely disappeared after the turn of the century, but Collins found a hilarious new way to connect with fans during the pandemic: Twitter. His no-holds-barred tweets are funny and self-effacing, and they gained him an instant following. He refers to himself frequently—even once during this podcast—as the “heart in a blender guy,” and he openly shares his stories about other alt stars of the ‘90s, his opinions on current and older bands, and even some of his personal life. Albini, no stranger to no filter himself, became a fan after the two started playfully sparring about the relative merits of Counting Crows. A Twitter beef was born. If you don’t like that phrase, this is not the episode for you.

Eve 6 has since started recording and releasing new music, and the two talk a bit about that in this episode. They also get into Eve 6’s financial history, the evils of major-label deals in the ‘90s, and for brief moment of non-playfulness, the idea of art as the antidote for the hellscape we all live in. Then there’s talk of starting a new beef, this time with Dave Grohl. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Steve Albini and Max Collins for chatting. If you liked what you heard, follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform, and please rate us—it actually does help. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie) with Meg Remy (U.S. Girls) Mar 10, 2022

On this week’s Talkhouse episode, which we recorded as part of the On Air Festival, we’ve got a kind of unusually focused conversation about another person entirely: It’s Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie along with Meg Remy of U.S. Girls, talking at length about legendary artist Yoko Ono.

It’s not just out of nowhere, though: Ben Gibbard, who you almost certainly know as the frontman of Death Cab For Cutie, whose impressive catalog has shaped indie-rock over the past two decades, recently curated a compilation that pays tribute to Ono’s music. He’s a man on a mission, which as you’ll hear is not to re-evaluate Yoko Ono’s vast catalog, but really to evaluate it in the first place. What people tend to know about Ono’s music doesn’t reflect the variety of her output, and her narrative as the villain in the Beatles story is ridiculous. To that end, Gibbard gathered a killer lineup to cover Ono’s songs for an album called Ocean Child. Musicians features in the collection include David Byrne with Yo La Tengo, Sharon Van Etten, Jay Som, Japanese Breakfast, the Flaming Lips, and of course Death Cab for Cutie themselves.

Also included on Ocean Child is U.S. Girls, the musical project of Meg Remy. She’s been making music under the name for the past 15 years or so, amassing an impressive collection of records up to an including 2020’s Heavy Light–a Pitchfork best new music designee. She’s a perfect fit for a tribute to and conversation about Yoko Ono, since she’s not only a huge fan but clearly influenced by Ono’s sonic and political fearlessness.

Before they get to chatting Yoko, Gibbard and Remy talk about Covid—there were some positives in it for Remy, who also gave birth to twins recently—and hotel notepads. Then it’s on to Yoko, whom they both deeply admire: They talk about her records, her art, and how the recent Get Back documentary kind of exploded the narrative on her vis a vis the Beatles. It’s a great chat about a worthy, misunderstood subject. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Meg Remy and Ben Gibbard for chatting. If you like what you heard, check out Ocean Child. And if you enjoyed the podcast, please follow, like, and rate Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

View the full transcript of this podcast here.

Lou Barlow (Sebadoh, Dinosaur Jr.) with Ben Bridwell (Band of Horses) Mar 03, 2022

This week's Talkhouse Podcast features a bit of a lovefest between two titans of the indie-rock world, Lou Barlow and Ben Bridwell.

It’s a cliche, sure, but Lou Barlow probably doesn’t need an introduction around here. A founding member of Dinosaur Jr., he played on that band’s formative 1980s albums before not very amicably parting ways with frontman J Mascis. But Barlow found plenty of subsequent success in the 90s with Sebadoh, whose 1994 masterpiece Bakesale is referenced in this chat. Barlow also, weirdly, had kind of a mainstream hit with his side project Folk Implosion—and there’s some very interesting, unexpected Folk Implosion news in this podcast that I won’t spoil for you. Barlow eventually rejoined Dinosaur Jr. in 2005, and the band has found a fruitful third life, making vital new records. Speaking of vital records, the prolific Barlow has also found time to make new Sebadoh music and solo records. The latest Lou Barlow record came out just last year, and it’s called Reason to Live, and there was also an excellent Dinosaur Jr. album from 2021 called Sweep it Into Space.

As Ben Bridwell points out in this chat, Lou Barlow has been making music in public for damn near 40 years, while the group that Bridwell leads, Band of Horses, is approaching 20 years now. As you’ll hear in this conversation, Bridwell moved from the South to various other cities, ending up in Seattle—and specifically at the legendary Crocodile Cafe—where he played in bands and listened to lots of music. He loved Sebadoh, as did pretty much everybody in the 90s, and it was one of the inspirations for Bridwell to launch Band of Horses, which subsequently found its own substantial fanbase—no surprise considering Bridwell’s passionate voice and fantastic songs. Band of Horses hasn’t put out a full length in more than five years—blame the pandemic for at least some of that delay—but is just now releasing a great new record that feels a bit more like their early stuff, and they’re about to head out on a huge tour supporting the Black Keys. The new album is called Things are Great.

It’s clear from the very start of this conversation what a huge fan of each other these two guys are—and also that neither of them are very good at accepting compliments. Barlow talks about the magical moment he connected with Bridwell’s voice, Bridwell talks about discovering the power of that voice, they talk about how a Camel cigarettes tour brought them together, and eventually, Bridwell makes up his own segment for the Talkhouse Podcast called “rapid fire.” It’s a delight. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Lou Barlow and Ben Bridwell for chatting. If you like what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform and social media service. Oh, and rate us, too—it really does help! This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Chris Carrabba (Dashboard Confessional) with Jim Adkins (Jimmy Eat World) Feb 24, 2022

As a music fan of a certain age, I can be a bit partial to the 1990s, and to that era’s emo-rock in particular, so this week’s Talkhouse pairing speaks to me: It’s Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World and Chris Carrabba of Dashboard Confessional.

Jimmy Eat World started life in 1993 in Arizona, pretty much straight out of high school. Before they knew what hit them, they had a major label deal with Capitol and a hearty underground following for their catchy, raw songs. A rollercoaster of a career eventually led to a massive radio hit in 2001: “The Middle”—you know it, believe me—which launched them to new heights but didn’t really change the band’s fundamentals. They’ve continued making excellent records since, up to and including 2019’s Surviving. One of that album’s best songs is the focus of part of today’s podcast, too: “555.”

Dashboard Confessional, which is the product of singer-songwriter Chris Carrabba, started life a little later in the ‘90s, but also with a bang. His heart-on-sleeve lyrics almost immediately inspired sold-out shows and tear-stained singalongs. In other words, the “emo” tag actually makes some sense for once. The pandemic cut short Carrabba’s touring look back at 20 years of Dashboard Confessional, but it allowed him to finish a brand new album called All the Truth That I Can Tell.

Now Carrabba and Adkins aren’t just here because they’re pals and they come from similar backgrounds. They’re also bringing their bands together through March on a co-headlining tour dubbed “Surviving The Truth" and then both bands will be part of the When We Were Young festival in Las Vegas in October. All the dates can be found on either band’s website, naturally.

Adkins and Carrabba chat a lot about songwriting here, specifically about techniques for letting a song find itself. They also ponder whether it’s better to have a big radio hit, like Jimmy Eat World did, or to be associated with a huge Spider-Man movie, as Dashboard Confessional was. And both seem delighted, even after all this time, to be able to make music their living. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Chris Carrabba and Jim Adkins for chatting. If you liked what you heard, check out Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform and social channels. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

BadBadNotGood with Laraaji Feb 17, 2022

This week’s episode, while not particularly hilarious, might set a new Talkhouse record for the sheer amount of laughter. You’ll see why when you listen: It’s the members of BadBadNotGood in conversation with Laraaji.

BadBadNotGood is a Canadian band that straddles the line between jazz and instrumental hip-hop, but has gone well beyond those two things in the last decade, incorporating electronic elements, Brazilian sounds, and much more. They’ve collaborated with everyone from Kendrick Lamar, who sought them out after seeing them at Coachella, to Tyler the Creator to Ghostface Killah to Future Islands’ Samuel Herring. The list goes on and on. BadBadNotGood returned last year after a five-year album gap with a collection called Talk Memory. On it, they proved more collaborative than ever, bringing in a bunch of incredible musicians to expand their sound.

One of the musicians they called on was the legendary yet under the radar Laraaji, who’s had a remarkable career over the past 40 years or so. After a winding road that included acting and stand-up comedy, Laraaji was eventually discovered while busking in Washington Square Park by none other than Brian Eno, who produced and released Laraaji’s Day of Radiance album as part of his Ambient series. Since then, he’s released dozens more recordings.

Laraaji’s main instrument is an electrified zither, which as you’ll hear in this conversation, came to him in kind of a magical way. Once you hear him talk, though, that won’t surprise you: He’s obviously open to whatever experiences the world wants to bring him. On record that most recently includes a collaboration with the improvisational ensemble NOUS and his old friend Arji OceAnanda called Circle of Celebration.

In this conversation, you’ll hear Laraaji laughing a lot, because in addition to his music, he leads laughter workshops—which are exactly what you might think they are. You’ll also hear about Laraaji’s past, about the brain that exists inside your abdomen, creative trances, and why the color orange has played a big part in his life. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Laraaji and the members of BadBadNotGood for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Britt Daniel (Spoon) with Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top) Feb 10, 2022

On this week's Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got an unlikely pairing of two performers who share a home state, but it would seem at first glance not too much else—though that’s just first glance: Britt Daniel of Spoon and Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top.

Now the genesis of this conversation was actually a comment that Britt Daniel made around the time the band announced its new album, Lucifer on the Sofa. About the song “The Hardest Cut,” he simply said that he’d been listening to a lot of ZZ Top in the years leading up to the album’s recording. And while the song is certainly no tribute to ZZ Top, you can hear the snarl and bite coming through in its tones and lyrics as well as on a few other place on this collection.

It’s album number 10 for Spoon, who have had an incredibly strong run over the past almost three decades. Lucifer on the Sofa is out this week, and it stands among their best—catchy, considered, and a bit more raw than recent records. Maybe that’s because they recorded it back in Britt’s home state, which of course is where the legendary ZZ Top was born as well.

Billy Gibbons formed the band with Dusty Hill and Frank Beard way back in 1969, and the original trio rocked consistently for five decades until Hill’s death in 2021. The blues-inspired rock band gained traction in the ‘70s with songs like “La Grange” and “Tush,” then took off in the ‘80s as they became superstars of the early MTV era with “Sharp Dressed Man” and “Legs.” They were shoo-ins for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, of course, and not even Hill’s death could stop them: His guitar tech and friend Elwood Francis stepped in, and ZZ Top will play shows with Cheap Trick this April—all the dates, naturally, are at ZZTop.com.

Daniel and Gibbons talk a lot about what they have in common, which is the state of Texas and specifically its myriad Mexican restaurants. Daniel asks about the legendary photo inside ZZ Top’s classic 1973 album Tres Hombres, and Gibbons gets a chance to talk about some of his contemporaries and friends, including Roky Erickson of the 13th Floor Elevators and Bo Diddley, with whom he collaborated on a guitar design, among other things. Enjoy.

If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platforms and social media channels. This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range.

Nathan Stocker (Hippo Campus) with Yasmin Williams Feb 03, 2022

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got the guitarist-singer of a great young-ish band from Minneapolis in conversation with a hotshot guitarist who’s just starting to make a name for herself: Nathan Stocker of Hippo Campus and Yasmin Williams.

Hippo Campus formed just under a decade ago, while Stocker and his bandmates were still in high school. They came out of the gate just as you might expect: eager and excited, releasing a series of EPs followed by a bang-bang pair of excellent albums and inspiring crowds at pretty much every festival you could think of. After touring behind 2018’s Bambi, Hippo Campus took some time to stretch their legs, with each member heading off into side projects of various sounds and sizes. But the band reconvened with fresh motivation and a clearer-eyed outlook last year, and they came up with a powerhouse of an album with the simple title of LP3. It’s slightly more mature in the best ways, but still incredibly catchy and true to their sound. There’s a lot of inward looking existential lyrics, but wrapped in fantastic hooks.

It was Stocker’s idea to chat with guitarist Yasmin Williams, who he had recently come across via NPR’s long-running, always reliable Tiny Desk concert series. That performance was particularly captivating, because you’re not just hearing what Williams can do with an acoustic guitar, but you’re seeing it as well. She takes the foundation built by fingerstyle masters like John Fahey and Michael Hedges but brings a modern sensibility to it: In this conversation, she talks a lot about her love of metal and math-rock, bits of which you can almost hear in her beautiful playing. Williams has released two albums so far, and as you’ll also hear in this chat, she’s working on a third. The latest is Urban Driftwood.

Williams and Stocker didn’t know each other at all prior to this chat, but it turned out that she’s a Hippo Campus fan. The two talk about gear nerd stuff, YouTube videos by Andy McKee, being in competition with yourself, and of course the inspiration for Williams’ interest in music to begin with: a little game called Guitar Hero 2. Enjoy.

This episode was produced by Myron Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range.

Harry Melling with Amanda Kramer Jan 27, 2022

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, highly acclaimed actor Harry Melling and writer-director Amanda Kramer chat over Zoom from their respective homes in London and Los Angeles. The two recently collaborated as star and filmmaker on Kramer’s latest feature, Please Baby Please, which also stars Andrea Riseborough and Demi Moore and is the opening film at 2022 International Film Festival Rotterdam. In a wide-ranging conversation, Kramer and Melling touched on many subjects, from making Please Baby Please during COVID in Montana, to Harry’s love of dancing, why Amanda almost had a breakdown on set, actors’ misplaced obsession with playing real people, how Amanda expanded Harry’s love and knowledge of English cinema, and much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Hrishikesh Hirway with Jay Som Jan 20, 2022

This week’s Talkhouse conversation features a pair of indie musicians—one of whom is known a bit better for another career—who recently collaborated on a song, and who have lots to say about creativity and the current state of the music biz: Hrishikesh Hirway and Melina Duterte, aka. Jay Som.

If you recognize Hirway’s name, chances are good it’s from one of his popular podcasts: The best known is probably Song Exploder, on which Hirway and a guest break down a single song, spending time to get at its component parts and to explore the creative process. (Perhaps it goes without saying that it shares some DNA with the Talkhouse Podcast.) Guests over the years have included Bjork, Spoon, St. Vincent—the list goes on and on. Song Exploder became a Netflix series in 2020, with Hirway acting host on the TV version as well. In addition to that, he’s behind some other great podcasts, including the fun pandemic-era food chat show Home Cooking, which he co-hosts with Samin Nusrat.

With all of that on his plate, it’s easy to overlook that Hirway spent many years making gentle, melancholy indie music under the name The One AM Radio. That part of his life took a backseat to his other pursuits, but music called him back, and he spent some time over the pandemic recording some songs that he’s slowly releasing under his own name. The first was a collaboration with famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and just this week came the second: a collaboration with today’s other guest, Melina Duterte, who’s better known by her project’s name, Jay Som.

The two met because Duterte was a guest on Song Exploder, where she spoke about her song “Tenderness.” Though he didn’t actually host that episode, Hirway loved what he heard, and the two struck up a friendship that led to Duterte guesting on the touching song “Home.”

If you like what you hear, the Jay Som catalog is thoroughly fantastic. Her last album under the name was 2019’s Anak Ko, but she’s spent time producing and collaborating with other folks over the past couple of years, including production duties for the latest album by Julia Shapiro of Chastity Belt—a recent guest on this very podcast. Jay Som’s music is often called “bedroom pop,” but after people hear this conversation, they may have to start calling it “attic pop,” since Duterte recently relocated to a private top floor of her own. Elsewhere in this conversation, she and Hirway talk about the hot mess that is the music industry, the software they sometimes use, and the alt-rock band that Duterte obsessed over as a pre-teen. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Hrishikesh Hirway and Melina Duterte for chatting. Check out their collaborative song, “Home,” and be sure to follow them both—and Talkhouse!—on your favorite social media channels. See you next time!

Lex Luger with Michael Vincent Waller Jan 13, 2022

For the first new Talkhouse Podcast episode of the new year, we’ve got an unlikely pairing—which is one of our favorite kinds of pairings. But it wasn’t exactly our idea to connect Michael Vincent Waller and Lex Luger, it was theirs. The contemporary classical composer and the extremely prolific hip-hop producer made a really cool record together that came out in 2021, called Classic$.

Waller is not your typical classical composer, he’s a real musical searcher. His compositions range from avant-garde to minimalist to slightly more classic-sounding classical music. But over his career he hasn’t stayed in one place musically for very long. He made a record back in 2019 with electronic producer JLin, which you may have read about in an interview with the pair right on this very website. So maybe it’s no surprise at all that Waller didn’t let genre get in the way of his love for hip-hop when he reached out to Luger for an assist on Classic$—which I should note is credited to MVW, rather than Waller’s full name, in case you have trouble finding it on your favorite streaming service. The two collaborated on the music, as you’ll hear, and they brought in a bunch of voices to help flesh things out.

Luger has had an incredible career in hip-hop. For the last decade-plus, he’s been a go-to producer for some huge names, starting with Waka Flocka Flame—who he connected with via MySpace—and Rick Ross, but running through tracks by Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Snoop Dogg, among many, many others. He famously used to make hundreds of beats at a stretch: If you didn’t like one of his spooky trap sounds, he had a dozen others ready for you. I guess the place that Luger and Waller might intersect is that Luger’s beats often feature symphonic elements: They can sound, at times, like horror-movie scores.

In this conversation, Luger and Waller talk about how working together affected them: It was more than just another job for Luger, who feels like he learned something valuable from Waller’s acoustic-first approach. They also talk about what music actually means to them, which is a very Talkhouse-friendly subject. They clearly want to work with one another again, which says something about the deep connection they made on Classic$. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Lex Luger and Michael Vincent Waller for chatting. Be sure to follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting services and social media outlets. This episode was produced by Melissa Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by The Range.

Revisited: Matt Berninger with Aimee Mann Jan 06, 2022

This week we’re resurfacing a delightful episode that originally ran in April of 2020, and which features two of our favorite songwriters/performers: Matt Berninger of The National and Aimee Mann. Their chat was inspired by the release of an excellent documentary about Other Music, the revered New York record store that closed in 2016. The conversation veers into many other areas as well, including creativity during the pandemic. The challenges of the past couple of years were no match for these two: Berninger released a solo album called Serpentine Prison last year, and Mann just released Queens of the Summer Hotel, a set of new songs inspired by the book Girl, Interrupted. Enjoy, and we’ll be back with a brand new episode next week.

—Josh Modell

This week on the show, we celebrate the wonderful Other Music documentary with two Grammy-winning artists: singer-songwriter Aimee Mann and the National's Matt Berninger. The two discuss the iconic record store and the creative importance of having physical spaces dedicated to musical community, plus we hear how they're managing to work during the pandemic, and Matt reveals that he's both writing a musical and launching a label imprint.

The Other Music doc features many wonderful artists that have appeared on our show — TV on the Radio, the Magnetic Fields, Superchunk, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Jason Schwartzman, Animal Collective, William Basinski, Frankie Cosmos and more — this is truly a #talkhousecore film!

Other Music is currently being screened via a "virtual theatrical release," with more than 200 independent record shops and movie theaters offering it to rent, and splitting the profits 50/50. This is a wonderful chance to support your local purveyor of brilliant art, and catch one of the must-see music films of the year. Click here to find your local favorite store or theater that's screening it! (Our producer Mark Yoshizumi rented it from his alma mater Reckless Records in Chicago; Talkhouse Film's Editor-in-Chief Nick Dawson supported Permanent Records in L.A., and I went with Record Grouch in Brooklyn, where I've spent many and many a happy hour amongst the hallowed racks.)

Enjoy today's show, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast, including upcoming talks like Jarvis Cocker (Pulp) with the Magnetic Fields’ Stephin Merritt, and Black Belt Eagle Scout with Sasami.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

This week’s show was recorded by Aimee Mann, Matt Berninger, Nick Dawson, and myself in our respective #stayhome studios. The Talkhouse Podcast's co-producer is Mark Yoshizumi.

Our theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Aaron Dessner with Julien Baker Dec 16, 2021

We’ve hosted some incredible Talkhouse conversations in 2021, and for our final brand-new episode of the year, we’ve got two people responsible for some of the best records of this year: Julien Baker and Aaron Dessner.

Baker released her third album, Little Oblivions, back in February, and it’s a doozy. Expanding her sonic palette massively, Baker delivered her powerful, vulnerable songs with much bigger sounds. That might have felt like a gamble, but it paid off massively—she produced it herself and pushed herself into new spaces.

Dessner is of course a founding member of the National, with whom he’s played for the past 20+ years. While his main band slowed down over the past couple of years, Dessner has been operating at hyperspeed. He was one of the main co-writers and producers on Taylor Swift’s Folklore and Evermore albums. He won an Album of the Year Grammy for the former, and was nominated for five more Grammys for the latter. He somehow also found time to release a new album with Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon under the name Big Red Machine called How Long Do You Think It’s Gonna Last? In addition to loads of guest singers, that record features Dessner on occasional lead vocals.

These two have a fantastic conversation about creativity and, specifically, production: Aaron has done a lot of producing for other artists, and Julien is just getting into it. Julien talks about what it’s like to have a full live band backing her, rather than being a quote-unquote masochist and playing alone. They talk about what it was like to be deprived of live audiences for so long, and Aaron gets into how his studio setup has changed over the years. Also, they both know what it’s like when music can make you cry—that’s the kind of thing we love here at Talkhouse. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast and thanks to Julien Baker and Aaron Dessner for having such a wonderful chat. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting service and social media channels--we’re everywhere. This episode was produced by Melissa Kaplan and Keenan Kush, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Steve Earle with Jay Farrar Dec 09, 2021

This week’s Talkhouse episode features a pair of legends from the alt-country or country or No Depression or Americana worlds—you pick. It’s Jay Farrar of Son Volt along with singer-songwriter (and many other things) Steve Earle.

Jay Farrar started his career as part of the seminal band Uncle Tupelo alongside another noted songwriter (and frequent Talkhouse guest) Jeff Tweedy. After their split, Tweedy went on to Wilco while Farrar formed the band Son Volt, which has since released an impressive catalog—their tenth and latest album was recorded during pandemic downtime, and you can hear it in the deliberateness of the songs. It’s called Electro Melodier.

Steve Earle is one of those guys who makes you feel lazy. He’s not only an incredibly accomplished singer and songwriter with literally dozens of albums to his credit, he’s also a producer, an actor—most notably on The Wire—a novelist, a Sirius XM DJ, and as you’ll hear here, an aspiring TV show creator. His 2020 album Ghosts of West Virginia was spun off from an off-Broadway show he worked on, while this year’s J.T. is a tribute to his talented son, Justin Townes Earle, who passed away just last year. As you’ll hear, he’s got even more projects in the works, including a tribute to singer-songwriter Jerry Jeff Walker.

As you’ll hear, Steve Earle loves to chat, while Jay Farrar is a bit more subdued—a fact that these friends acknowledge right off the bat. But they get into a great conversation about their favorite subject: music—what they listened to growing up, the great shows that Earle saw as a kid, and even selling some weed to Leslie West of Mountain. Steve talks about missing the whole genesis of alt-country for good reason—he was in jail—but catching up with it, and with Son Volt in particular. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast and thanks to Jay Farrar and Steve Earle for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on all your favorite podcasting services and social media channels. This week’s episode was produced by Melissa Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Jeff Tweedy with Mountain Man Dec 02, 2021

On this week's Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got a lively conversation between some people whose relationship got off to kind of a rocky start, but who’ve since become friends: Jeff Tweedy of Wilco and all three members of Mountain Man: Amelia Meath, Alexandra Sauser-Monnig, and Molly Sarle.

Now the occasion for this conversation is the recent reissue of the first Mountain Man record, 2010’s Made the Harbor, which features new liner notes written by Tweedy. This gorgeous, strange record was made back when these three women were just getting to know each other as college students in Vermont. Somehow, as if by magic—you’ll hear about that in this chat—their voices perfectly intertwined, and some of the very first songs that any of them wrote ended up becoming these timeless little gems. And then they went their separate ways for quite a long time: Meath ended up as half of Sylvan Esso, most notably. They’ve since regrouped for shows and more excellent music, most recently a live album called Look at Me, Don’t Look at Me.

The members of Mountain Man first met Jeff Tweedy when they played Wilco’s Solid Sound Festival—and apparently snubbed Tweedy when he introduced himself. No offense was taken and a friendship was eventually formed, though as you’ll hear, Tweedy still finds himself a little intimidated in their presence. Tweedy’s latest entry in an incredibly prolific career is a deluxe edition of Love is the King, the album he recorded and released during the first part of the pandemic. It’s now getting a bonus disc called Live is the King, which as you may have guessed, features live renditions of these excellent songs. Tweedy and Mountain Man will meet again in person in January during Wilco’s Sky Blue Sky festival in Mexico. Presumably they will recognize him this time.

In this funny, winding conversation, they begin by talking about seasonal depression, pivot quickly to a discussion of candy, and then move on to the serious business of creating music—and what that means to them. So we’ve got everything from Mountain Man’s magical discovery of their own voices—like a unicorn in the woods—to Jeff’s story about the time he thought he could lose weight by eating only Snickers. One minute, Amelia Meath is talking about sexy lumberjacks on TikTok, the next Jeff Tweedy is pining for an honorary Bachelor’s Degree. Won’t somebody give him one? We’re looking at you, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Jeff Tweedy and Mountain Man for chatting. If you liked what you heard, follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platform and all relevant social channels. This episode was produced by Melissa Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time.

Revisited: Joe Talbot (IDLES) Nov 25, 2021

Hey Talkhouse friends, this week we’re re-surfacing an episode that originally ran in May of 2020. Unlike most Talkhouse Podcast episodes, which feature two or more creative folks in conversation, this one is mostly just one guy talking: Joe Talbot of the band IDLES. It was recorded in front of a live audience in Glasgow, just before the pandemic hit, and it’s a fascinating look at an incredible artist—Talbot is a guy who’s unafraid to put it all out there, in both interviews and in his music. Speaking of music, part of the reason we’re re-promoting this episode this week is that Idles just released another incredible album: Crawler is the British band’s fourth, and it’s unsurprisingly being met with pretty ecstatic reviews. Check out this fascinating chat with Joe and a live audience, and have a great Thanksgiving.

—Josh Modell

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This week's show is a bit different from usual Talkhouse Podcast episodes. While it's nominally hosted by the legendary Alan McGee of Creation Records — the man who signed The Jesus and Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine, and a lil ol' band called Oasis — it's not at all a two-person conversation. Instead, this episode features Joe Talbot, frontman of the incredible post-punk group IDLES, in one of the funniest, most viscerally honest live audience Q&A's I've ever witnessed.

Both Joe and the attendees are willing to go to deep and often uncomfortable areas: Buckle up for a discussion of toxic masculinity, the role of violence in IDLES' music, and the difficult process of developing one’s own artistic language. We also hear about Joe collabing with Mike Skinner of The Streets, turning Sleaford Mods’ taunts into a song, putting human ashes into vinyl records, and... we even get an unexpected lesson on mindfulness.

This Q&A was recorded at the wonderful Barras Art & Design in Glasgow.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast, including upcoming talks like Helado Negro with Buscabulla, Julien Baker and Katie Harkin (Harkin, Sleater-Kinney), Black Belt Eagle Scout with Sasami, and Scott Avett (The Avett Brothers) with Eef Barzelay (Clem Snide).

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today’s show was recorded in Glasgow by Nadar Shahzad of Blue Audio (thx Nadar!). Our co-producer is Mark Yoshizumi.

Thanks so much to Matt Sadowski of Alt Waves Records and to Barras Art & Design for allowing us to share this event.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Bush Tetras with Thurston Moore and Jim Jarmusch Nov 18, 2021

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got a roundtable of old friends who are also, as it happens, all New York City legends: Cynthia Sley and Pat Place of Bush Tetras with Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore, and director Jim Jarmusch.

Cynthia and Pat — vocalist and guitarist, respectively — started the “groove-centric” post-punk band Bush Tetras in 1979 with Laura Kennedy on bass and Dee Pop on drums. They broke up just a few years later, but over the decades they’ve reunited periodically, and are back in action now — though, sadly, without Kennedy, who died in 2011, and Dee Pop, who passed away last month after the recording of this conversation. But as Cynthia told the New York Times, “Bush Tetras is a force that cannot be stopped.” Their pioneering work lives on, archived in a new box set called Rhythm and Paranoia: The Best of Bush Tetras, which came out on Wharf Cat last week and includes three LPs and a booklet featuring essays by Moore, Jarmusch, members of The Clash and Gang of Four, and many others.

Thurston Moore was a founding member of Sonic Youth. Now based in London, he performs and records solo — his latest album is last year's By The Fire. Jim Jarmusch is the director of films like Stranger Than Paradise, Down By Law, Coffee and Cigarettes, and so many more. He’s also a musician, and currently performs with the avant-rock band SQÜRL.

As Cynthia says at the beginning of their conversation, they have about 40 years of friendship between the four them, but this is the first time all four of them have gotten to talk together. Their decades-in-the-making conversation covers a lot, including Pat’s influence on Thurston as a guitarist, Tier 3 and Mudd Club memories, and an era of New York when there were still chicken slaughterhouses on Prince Street. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Bush Tetras, Thurston Moore, and Jim Jarmusch for chatting. This episode was produced by Melissa Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Rosario Dawson with Talia Lugacy Nov 11, 2021

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, longtime friends and collaborators Rosario Dawson and Talia Lugacy sit down for a chat, on the occasion of the release of their latest film together, This is Not a War Story, the moving drama about combat trauma which Lugacy wrote, directed and stars in and Dawson executive produced. In a wide-ranging conversation, the two started off by talking about the recent tragic death of Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust and how it connects with persistent problems in both indie and studio filmmaking, and moved on to touch on everything from the human aspect of cinema, art as therapy and Rosario’s thoughts on directing, to their time as teenagers at the Lee Strasberg Institute with Scarlett Johansson and Hayden Christensen, the changing of the guard that is currently taking place in Hollywood, and the journey they have taken together, both creatively and personally. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

This episode was produced by Melissa Kaplan. The Talkhouse Podcast theme music is composed and performed by the Range.

Nick Lowe with Matthew Houck (Phosphorescent) Nov 04, 2021

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got a little more focused conversation than usual, as Matthew Houck—the driving force behind the band Phosphorescent—chats with legendary songwriter Nick Lowe, largely about Lowe’s recently reissued 2001 album The Convincer.

Even if Nick Lowe’s name isn’t super familiar to you, some of his songs almost certainly are. He’s had an incredible career that stretches back to the late 1960s, with his biggest mainstream moment coming via his dear friend Elvis Costello, who covered Lowe’s “(What’s so Funny ‘Bout) Peace Love and Understanding” and made it a hit. Lowe also produced Costello’s first five albums, as well as a bunch of other classic British records, in addition to his solo work and his time with the band Rockpile.

Today’s conversation is focused largely on Lowe’s 2001 album The Convincer, which was something of an artistic rebirth for him. He wanted to age gracefully and continue to challenge himself, which he did with a trilogy of albums that ended with this one. It’s a beautifully written and performed set of songs that didn’t set the commercial world on fire, but which has quietly found its way into many people’s hearts over the past two decades.

The song “I’m A Mess” is the reason for this conversation. Matthew Houck, who has been making incredible music of his own under the name Phosphorescent since the early aughts, is an obsessive fan of The Convincer, so much so that he’s been working on a cover of “I’m A Mess.” A mutual friend of Houck and Lowe’s sent Lowe a copy of the song, which isn’t available yet, and they chat about it here. The most recent Phosphorescent release is the BBC Sessions EP, and it strips a set of Houck’s songs down to their barest essentials—much of his studio material is far more gussied up, and this is a great chance to hear them naked.

As you’ll hear in this conversation, Houck is a huge fan of Lowe’s, and specifically of The Convincer. They get into specifics about a bunch of the songs—and you’ll find out if Lowe agrees that this was indeed his finest hour. You’ll also hear about how The Bodyguard soundtrack changed Lowe’s fortunes forever, how his onetime girlfriend Margot Kidder made her way into a song, and how Wilco helped him win fans in Indianapolis. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast and thanks to Nick Lowe and Matthew Houck for chatting. If you like what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting services and social media outlets. This week’s episode was produced by Melissa Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by The Range. See you next time!

Patterson Hood (Drive-By Truckers) with Buffalo Nichols Oct 28, 2021

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve put together a pair of tourmates—past and present—who are separated by decades but united by a deep respect of American music: Patterson Hood and Carl Nichols.

Patterson Hood has been in rock bands since he was a pre-teen, and he’s been the co-leader of Drive-By Truckers since 1996. The band has explored the sounds and ideas of Southern rock—Hood is from Alabama—over the years, with sounds and lyrics that stretch the boundaries well beyond the world of Lynyrd Skynyrd. As you’ll hear in this conversation, Hood is a nuanced thinker and writer. You’ll also hear that, of course, on his records, both as a solo artist and a Drive-By Trucker. The band actually released two albums last year, The Unraveling back in January, and then its companion, The New OK, in October.

Carl Nichols, aka Buffalo Nichols, toured with Drive-By Truckers in the past, and he’s in the midst of another touring opening for them now. Nichols, as you’ll hear, has an interesting musical history of his own—he’s been more of a genre jumper than his friend Patterson, playing in punk bands early on and then in the Milwaukee folk-ish duo Nickel and Rose. He just released his debut as Buffalo Nichols, and it takes a turn toward what Rolling Stone called “existential blues.” It’s just out on the venerated Fat Possum label.

Nichols and Hood—that sounds like a great name for a duo, come to think of it—talk here about the protests in Portland, where Hood now lives; how Hood’s politics drove off a certain percentage of his audience; and a mutual love of Outkast. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Patterson Hood and Carl Nichols for chatting. This episode was produced by Melissa Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time.

Tim Burgess (The Charlatans) with Joan Wasser (Joan as Police Woman) Oct 21, 2021

This week’s Talkhouse conversation features a pair of performers who came up in the ‘90s, and who have followed each other’s careers since: Tim Burgess of the Charlatans, and Joan Wasser, aka. Joan as Police Woman.

Tim Burgess has had a fascinatingly diverse career: He first came to prominence as singer of the Charlatans, who were part of the early '90s Madchester scene along with the likes of The Stone Roses and Happy Mondays. But unlike many of their contemporaries, the Charlatans have had a long and prosperous career, releasing more than a dozen albums in addition to Burgess’ solo output. This week sees the release of a massive Charlatans box set called A Head Full Of Ideas that spans their career and includes hits and rare tracks.

In addition to the box set, a Charlatans tour that’s just about to start, and a solo album slated for next year, Burgess has kept himself busy through the pandemic with a fun concept he named Tim’s Twitter Listening Party. It’s simple enough: He coaxes other musicians to essentially live-tweet their own albums, and it’s resulted in literally hundreds of sessions with everyone from his UK contemporaries like Oasis and Blur to a session with Sir Paul McCartney himself. A hundred of those parties have now been gathered into a hardcover book, which also includes rare photos from the participants and lots more.

One of those hundred is Joan Wasser, who also got her start in a ‘90s band—the Dambuilders—and subsequently launched an incredibly varied career. She was in Antony and the Johnsons for a bit, and she’s recorded a bunch of great records under the name Joan As Police Woman. The first of those, 2006’s Real Life, knocked Tim Burgess over when he first heard it—as you’ll hear in this conversation. Wasser is just about to release an incredible collaborative album that she made with Dave Okumu and Afrobeat pioneer Tony Allen, not long before Allen’s death last year. It’s called The Solution is Restless, which is a pretty perfect title, and it’ll be out in November.

These two have a great chat: Tim is super chill and loves to meditate; Joan is a total firecracker. They talk about how Joan’s album “knocked Tim for six,” the myth of Lou Reed—Tim met him as a fan, Joan toured with him—and how Tim, in addition to everything else, has a coffee business. Sort of. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast and thanks to Tim Burgess and Joan Wasser for chatting. If you like what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting services and social media outlets. This episode was produced by Melissa Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Kurt Vile with Julia Shapiro (Chastity Belt) Oct 14, 2021

For this week’s Talkhouse Podcast episode, we rounded up a pair of friends who deeply admire each other’s playing and songwriting—and who ultimately met because of a different episode of the Talkhouse Podcast: Kurt Vile and Julia Shapiro.

Kurt Vile first came into music fans’ consciousness as part of The War On Drugs, though it wasn’t long before he decided to dedicate his time to his solo material. He’s released a string of incredible albums since, including 2013’s instant classic Wakin’ On A Pretty Daze and 2018’s Bottle It In. As you’ll hear in this conversation, he’s been hard at work, writing "too many" songs for a new album. In 2017, Vile collaborated with Australian singer Courtney Barnett on an album called Lotta Sea Lice, and it was Barnett who turned him onto Julia Shapiro and her band Chastity Belt. When Barnett and Shapiro chatted on this very podcast back in 2017, that sealed the deal for Vile, who became a huge Chastity Belt fan—and eventual friend of Shapiro’s.

Now Chastity Belt, which started life about a decade ago in Washington State, has released four powerful albums over the years, most recently a self-titled set in 2019. But the occasion for this conversation is actually Shapiro’s second album as a solo artist. It’s called Zorked, a word that means kind of what you might think: extremely stoned, or maybe just completely out of it. That’s how Shapiro felt after moving to Los Angeles at the beginning of the pandemic, where her social circle was smaller and the world kind of closed in on her. The result is a weird, incredible set of songs Shapiro co-produced with her roommate Melina Duterte—aka Jay Som.

That might sound a little serious, but Julia and Kurt have a fun chat here, talking about how they met, how Kurt mistook Chastity Belt for another band at first, how Julia once crowdsurfed at one of Kurt’s shows, and Julia’s love of TikTok. She even tries to convince Kurt to sign up. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Kurt Vile and Julia Shapiro for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcast and social media outlets. This episode was produced by Melissa Kaplan and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

A.C. Newman (The New Pornographers) with Liam Kazar Oct 07, 2021

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a pair of songwriters separated by a generation, but united by a serious dedication to the craft: Carl Newman and Liam Kazar.

Carl Newman—aka. A.C. Newman—is best known as the gravitational center of The New Pornographers, the lark of a supergroup that he started back in 1997 but that quickly found great enough success that it became his main gig. As you perhaps already know, the band also features the prodigious talents of Neko Case and Destroyer’s Dan Bejar, though Newman does the vast majority of the songwriting. The band’s latest album is 2019’s In The Morse Code of Brake Lights, but as you’ll hear—maybe for the first time?—in this conversation, they’ve spent part of the pandemic working on a new one. If that’s not enough, the band’s classic debut Mass Romantic has just been reissued on vinyl, and in November and December the New Pornographers will do a tour on which they perform both that album and 2005’s Twin Cinema in their entirety.

Newman has also been spending some time on Twitter in the past couple of years, and that’s how he heard about Liam Kazar’s song “Shoes Too Tight.” Another Talkhouse guest from this year, Eric Slick, tweeted about the song, and Newman heartily endorsed it. It’s from Kazar’s debut solo album Due North, which came out earlier this year on Kevin Morby’s new label, Mare Records. And while it may be his first album as a solo artist, it’s far from the first thing Kazar has done: He was part of the Chicago collective Kids These Days, which also featured Vic Mensa, and he’s part of the band Tweedy with his pal Spencer Tweedy and Spencer’s famous dad, Jeff. But Due North is the first time that Kazar has been front and center as a songwriter, and he sounds like an old soul. Newman and Kazar talk a lot about songwriting on this podcast, and they also get into social media, Liam’s talented family, and lots more. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Carl Newman and Liam Kazar for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting services and social media channels. Today’s episode was produced by Melissa Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range.

Tiller Russell with Kevin Willmott Sep 30, 2021

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, Tiller Russell – the man behind both the doc series The Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer and real-life drama Silk Road – sits down with Oscar winner Kevin Willmott, Spike Lee’s screenwriting partner on BlacKkKlansman, Chiraq and Da 5 Bloods and a fine director in his own right om films such as C.S.A: Confederate States of America and The 24th. In a fascinating conversation, the two filmmakers discuss the parallels between their work, the theme of duality that runs through Willmott’s movies, making work that resonates in a post-January 6th world, how Errol Morris changed Tiller’s life, Kevin’s path to becoming Spike Lee’s collaborator, and much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Mac McCaughan (Superchunk) with Amber Tamblyn Sep 23, 2021

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a couple of friends who both happen to have new but very different projects out this month: Amber Tamblyn and Mac McCaughan.

Tamblyn is an actor-writer-director-poet-activist with a wildly diverse resume. She may be best known for roles on Joan of Arcadia and Two and a Half Men, but that’s only the tip of a pretty incredible iceberg. She’s written well received books of poetry—including 2015’s Dark Sparkler. She directed the 2016 film Paint it Black, which features a score by today’s other guest. She’s one of the founders of the Time’s Up movement and the author of a book about feminism and activism called Era of Ignition. And now she’s starring the FX/Hulu adaptation of the comic book Y: The Last Man, in which every man on earth suddenly dies—except one. It’s pretty awesome so far, and she’s great in it.

Mac McCaughan also wears many hats, chiefly as singer-guitarist of the long-running band Superchunk and co-owner of the righteously vaunted independent record label Merge. During the pandemic—after suffering a sort-of writer’s block—McCaughan wrote and recorded a solo album, though he didn’t exactly do it alone. The Sound of Yourself features a bunch of guests that Mac wrangled over the internet—one of the only good uses for that damn thing—including Mackenzie Scott of Torres, Michael Lerner of Telekinesis, and many more. It’s a quietly contemplative record that mixes McCaughan’s perfect pop with some more ambient instrumental passages—something he and Tamblyn talk about in this podcast.

Elsewhere in this lively conversation, we get to hear about how Mac and Amber didn’t quite cross paths during the pandemic, when he graciously loaned his house to Amber, her husband David Cross, and their young daughter. They also chat about writer’s block, and whether that exists, what it was like for Tamblyn to play an ultra-conservative in Y The Last Man, and their other recent projects, which include the score for Amy Poehler’s movie Moxie (for Mac), and a bunch of new books (for Amber). They also connect about ambient music and the sheer power of Bob Mould. Enjoy.

This episode was produced by Melissa Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Kathy Valentine (The Go-Go's) with Sadie Dupuis (Speedy Ortiz) Sep 16, 2021

On this week's Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got a fabulous cross-generational conversation between two women separated by a good number of years but united by a punk spirit: Kathy Valentine of The Go-Go’s and Sadie Dupuis of Speedy Ortiz and Sad13.

It’s no overstatement to say that Kathy Valentine has a massive place in music history as part of The Go-Go’s, who burst from the L.A. punk scene of the late ‘70s and into the musical mainstream in the early ‘80s. They were the first (and still only!) all-woman band who wrote and performed their own songs to top the Billboard charts, and their debut album Beauty And The Beat remains a classic to this day.

It’s been an amazing career for Valentine and her band, some of which she recalls in her excellent memoir, called All I Ever Wanted, which came out last year. If you’re more of a viewer than a reader, there’s also a great Go-Go’s documentary on Showtime that covers the remarkable band’s career. This year—finally, after being eligible for 15 years—the Go-Go’s have been voted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They’ll be inducted next month alongside Foo Fighters, Todd Rundgren, Jay-Z, Tina Turner, and Carole King. Good company. These days, Valentine lives in Austin, makes her own music when she’s not writing or doing charitable work, and occasionally gigs with The Go-Go’s.

Sadie Dupuis lived in Austin very briefly—the two get into that—not long before she started the band that would launch her career, Speedy Ortiz, in Massachusetts. With Speedy, she’s released three albums—the latest is 2018’s Twerp Verse—and as Sad13, she’s released another two, including last year’s fully vibing Haunted Painting. She’s also released a book of poems called Mouthguard, and perhaps most importantly, she’s been dissecting every episode of the Gossip Girl reboot exclusively for the Talkhouse newsletter. Yes, you should subscribe.

Valentine and Dupuis have a great conversation about everything from Sadie’s punk-rock parents—and her dad’s odd connection to the Rock Hall—to the Greenbrier alternative school to the soundtrack that Valentine created to go along with her book. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Kathy Valentine and Sadie Dupuis for chatting. If you like what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on all your favorite podcast providers and social media channels. This episode was produced by Melissa Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme was composed by the Range. See you next time!

Revisited: Joe Pera with David Bazan (Pedro The Lion) Sep 09, 2021

Comedian Joe Pera (Joe Pera Talks With You) and singer-songwriter David Bazan (Pedro The Lion) have elevated self-aware open-heartedness and detailed observation of humanity into, well, art. When David discovered Joe's show, he fell for it hard, and reached out to Talkhouse to see if we could arrange a convo. We loved the idea, and think you'll really enjoy the result.

Joe and David discuss a lot, including: their granular writing techniques; appreciating the gentle joys of life, like wearing green hats on St. Patrick’s day; how some performers only achieve their maximum authenticity onstage; and why live performers must be doms.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Margo Price with Tristen Sep 02, 2021

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got a lively conversation between a pair of Nashville friends who also happen to be incredible songwriters and performers: Margo Price and Tristen.

Price grew up in small town Illinois, but made her way to Music City and played in a couple of pop-leaning bands before giving into the allure of country music. (It can be hard not to, and she’s great at it.) After going solo, Price released a pair of albums on Jack White’s Nashville-based Third Man Records and built up a loyal fanbase with amazing songs and even better live shows. For album number three, she moved to a new label and engaged some incredible session musicians to help her out, including Benmont Tench, Matt Sweeny, Pino Palladino, and her old pal Sturgill Simpson, who co-produced. It’s called That’s How Rumors Get Started.

Tristen also grew up in Illinois and made her way to Nashville, though her musical journey has taken her to more out of the way sounds than her friend Margo over the course of five albums. She’s one of those songwriters and performers absolutely beloved by other musicians, and for good reason. She’s a risk-taker in the studio, venturing out into unknown territory and pretty much always finding something at least interesting, and often incredible. Her latest album is this year’s Aquatic Flowers.

Tristen and Margo get into it right away, talking about the financial realities of today’s music industry, how working with their significant others works, and “the trick of capitalism at its core.” That might sound heavy, and sometimes it is, but it’s also super informative and fun. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Margo and Tristen for chatting. If you liked what you heard, definitely check out their recent records—and of course check out Talkhouse on all your favorite social channels. This episode was produced by Melissa Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

beabadoobee with Nina Persson (The Cardigans) Aug 26, 2021

This week on the Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got one of those fun conversations where the reverence is on full display from the get-go. When we asked singer-songwriter Beabadoobee who she’d be interested in speaking with for the podcast, she immediately responded Nina Persson of The Cardigans—one of her heroes, as you’ll hear.

For those unfamiliar with Beabadoobee, she was born in the Philippines, raised in London, and found fame over the past couple of years via social media platforms like TikTok. Canadian rapper Powfu built his song “Death Bed” around Bea’s song “Coffee,” giving her a huge hit with what was essentially the first song she ever wrote. She followed that with a string of really strong EPs, and then dropped her proper debut album, called Fake It Flowers, in October of last year. It’s a fantastic set of fuzzy pop songs that clearly found a ton of inspiration in the music of the 1990s—bands like The Sundays, Pavement, Belly, and even Daniel Johnston have bandied about in reviews. Beabadoobee is hitting the road this year with her fantastic labelmates Blackstar Kids; you can see all the tour dates down below.

And maybe if you’re listening closely you’ll hear a little bit of the Cardigans in there as well, another band that found fame in those alternative-nation days. The Swedish band had a huge hit in 1996 with the song “Lovefool,” whose chorus was imprinted on a generation, and released a string of excellent albums right up through 2005, when they went into a sort of semi-retirement, emerging occasionally to play shows. At the front of the band was charming lead singer Persson, who went on to form a band called A Camp, as well as release a solo album. She’s also, admiringly, enjoying not being all that busy. She plays the occasional show but also teaches and does pottery. Sounds nice.

Bea and Nina had a really lively cross-generational conversation: You can hear the admiration in Bea’s voice, and the real interest from Nina about how things are different as a twentysomething woman in the music business now versus when she was topping the charts. They also talk about social media, Nina’s favorite moments from the Cardigans catalog, red pandas, and gross hotel rooms with shag carpet, sperm, and toenails. Yuck. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Nina and Bea for chatting. If you like what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting platforms and social channels, and don’t forget to check out all the great written content at Talkhouse.com. This episode was produced by Melissa Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Richard Marx with Jakob Dylan (The Wallflowers) Aug 19, 2021

This week’s Talkhouse Podcast features a couple of names you almost certainly know, because each of these guys has had a pretty incredible career in music: Richard Marx and Jakob Dylan.

Marx, of course, wrote and performed some of the most indelible pop hits of the late ’80s and early ’90s, including “Endless Summer Nights,” “Hold on to the Nights,” and the super smash “Right Here Waiting,” which comes up in this conversation. But even as the era of mullets and frosted jeans faded, Marx couldn’t be stopped—or rather Marx’s songs couldn’t be stopped. He’s continued releasing music over the years, and his influence can be felt deeply to this day: Just check out the audio and visual vibe of John Mayer’s latest album, which basically pays tribute.

And it’s not just music: Marx recently released a funny, candid memoir called Stories To Tell, in which he details some of the incredible memories he’s made in the music business over the years. And that’s where Jakob Dylan enters the picture, as you’ll hear. Though the two didn’t know each other, Dylan went on Joe Rogan’s podcast to praise Marx’s book, and a friendship was born.

Dylan is no slouch in the music department, either—you can’t be, with that family name. He’s been the main creative force behind the Wallflowers for the past 30 years, releasing seven Wallflowers albums, two solo sets, and criss-crossing the globe. The latest Wallflowers record, Exit Wounds, just came out, and its lyrics and vibe are reflective of the times we’re living in, which is to say it’s a bit harrowing but also incredibly catchy. A bunch of the songs feature Shelby Lynne on backing vocals as well, which is a great bonus.

In this chat, the two songwriters talk about process, about how writing a book is different than writing a song, a special moment Marx recently dedicated to his ailing mother, and how Barbra Streisand has no regrets about not recording Marx’s biggest hit. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Richard Marx and Jakob Dylan for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting service as well as all your favorite social media services. This episode was produced by Melissa Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range.

Max Richter with Perfume Genius Aug 12, 2021

On this week's Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got a great conversation between two guys who don’t necessarily have a ton in common musically, but who approach creativity in similar ways—and who happen to be great fans of each other’s work: Mike Hadreas of Perfume Genius, and composer-performer-multi-hyphenate Max Richter.

Hadreas, whom you’ve hopefully heard on the Talkhouse Podcast in the past, has been recording and performing under the name Perfume Genius since 2008, and he’s one of those artists whose music just inexplicably gets better with each passing day—even when you think it couldn’t. His records are this incredible combination of fearlessness and joy, whether he’s singing about dealing with homophobia or just making bodies move. The latest Perfume Genius record, which came out right as Covid was entering the world’s consciousness, bears the fantastic title Set My Heart On Fire Immediately. Perfume Genius will start playing shows again next month; check out perfumegenius.org for dates.

As for Max Richter, it would take far more than this limited space allows just going over his resume. From contributing to a classic Future Sound of London album back in the ‘90s through his incredible score for HBO’s The Leftovers to a dozen other things, the musician/composer has an incredibly full plate. He composed an eight-hour minimalist classical piece called Sleep, which was performed for audiences that were provided with beds and encouraged to, y’know, fall asleep. (It’s now an app, too!) His latest release, just out last week, is called Exiles, and it features a lengthy new track that he composed for a ballet alongside some reimaginings of pieces he’s composed over the years.

In this conversation, Richter and Hadreas talk about how making music is about articulating what can’t otherwise be articulated, where to start when you’re working on a soundtrack, and the joys of being influenced by other music. Enjoy.

This episode was produced by Melissa Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme was composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

John Darnielle (The Mountain Goats) with Maggie Smith Aug 05, 2021

This week’s episode of the Talkhouse Podcast began somewhere not particularly known for good or fruitful ideas: Twitter. That’s where the poet Maggie Smith dropped a funny notion, which songwriter John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats picked up and ran with.

Smith, whose was in the process of splitting up with her husband, suggested a photo essay in which she’d take her old wedding dress on a tour of the country, Weekend at Bernie’s style, only the dead thing isn’t a guy—it’s her marriage. Never one to shy away from life’s darkest moments, Darnielle jokingly suggested—or at least it seemed like a joke—that there was a song in Smith’s idea, and he suggested calling it “Picture of My Dress.” And then, wouldn’t you know it, he went and wrote the song, releasing it on last year’s excellent album Getting Into Knives.

It probably shouldn’t come as a surprise that Darnielle came up with the song: He’s so prolific that it makes the average person—meaning me—really jealous. The Mountain Goats released two studio albums and a live album in 2020, and another new album this year, called Dark In Here. He’s also an accomplished novelist and served as a judge for the 2020 National Book Awards.

Speaking of writers, Maggie Smith had the unusual distinction of being a poet who broke through to the wider world with a poem called “Good Bones” back in 2016. Last year, she released the well received essay collection Keep Moving: Notes on Loss, Creativity and Change, and just last month released a poetry collection called Goldenrod. All are well worth your time, and Smith is on a sort of virtual book tour at the moment: You can check out the details on that at her site, maggiesmithpoet.com.

In this conversation, Darnielle and Smith talk about the unusual nature of their kinda-sorta collaboration, a delightful thing she calls “the cake sound,” John’s failed attempt at writing a song about NASCAR, and much more. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Maggie Smith and John Darnielle for chatting. If you liked what you heard, please follow us wherever you get your podcasts and/or your social media. This week’s episode was produced by Melissa Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Mike Mills (R.E.M.) with Jason Narducy (Superchunk, Bob Mould) Jul 29, 2021

Jason Narducy is a Chicago guy, but he spends a ton of his time—or at least he used to—on tour, playing bass for both Bob Mould and Superchunk. In early 2020, a local theatre mounted a production of a musical called Verboten, which was based on Jason’s life—specifically his time as a pre-teen in a punk band. As a grown-up, in addition to providing the low end for those other great folks, he fronts his own band, Split Single. Under that moniker, Narducy writes the songs and recruits incredible musicians to record and play with him. For the excellent new Split Single album, Amplificado, Narducy once again asked Superchunk’s Jon Wurster to play drums, and he summoned the bassist from a certain famous Athens, Georgia band to play as well.

That’d be R.E.M.’s Mike Mills, who fleshes out the Split Single sound with his bass and backing vocals on Amplificado, which the trio recorded here in Chicago before the pandemic ground everything to a halt. Mills has kept himself busy since R.E.M. split up about ten years ago, playing with the Baseball Project and playing golf, as you’ll hear. (He’s earned it, right?) In this conversation, he also talks about a long-gestating solo album, a project that incorporates classical music, and his rescue pooch. In case you missed it, Mills’ R.E.M. bandmate Michael Stipe was on the Talkhouse Podcast just six weeks ago—we’re two for four!

Elsewhere in this conversation, Mills and Narducy talk about the pandemic, of course, as well as hope for the future, passing the baton to the next generation, and the majesty of working with excellent drummers—specifically Jon Wurster and Bill Berry. Enjoy.

This episode was produced by Melissa Kaplan. The Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by The Range. Thanks for checking it out!

Chet Faker (Nick Murphy) with Soulwax Jul 22, 2021

Nick Murphy is best known for his downtempo electronic project Chet Faker, which is confusing because it also sounds like a guy’s name—but which released one of the best albums of 2014, Built On Glass. But as you’ll hear in this Talkhouse chat, Murphy put the Chet Faker name on a shelf at the height of its popularity in order to go in a more organic route under his own name. He subsequently released a pair of albums—including one initially through a meditation app, which is very 21st century and awesome. This year, he decided to bring the Chet Faker name and sound out of the attic, and he’s just released a killer new record called Hotel Surrender.

And that’s where the Belgian musicians/DJs Stephen and David Dewaele come in. The two are the principal players in a band called Soulwax, but they’ve made a massive second career as a DJ duo called 2 Many DJ’s. Back in the early aughts, 2 Many DJ’s reignited the mash-up trend with a classic mix called As Heard on Radio Soulwax Part 2. That’s right, they incorporate the name of their band right in with their other lives as DJs. They also recently opened a studio called DeeWee. Oh, and did I mention that they’re super in-demand, Grammy-nominated remixers as well? They are. And they remixed a song from the new Chet Faker album called “Whatever Tomorrow," which is what brought them together for this chat.

This intercontinental conversation—Murphy is Australian but lives in New York, the Dewaele brothers are from Belgium—gets into a lot of great stuff really quickly, including the confusing but smart way both acts can diversify, how Murphy initially found the whole idea of EDM distasteful, and a little something called “spacebar energy.” I won’t tell you what it is, but I’ll say that you probably want your songs to have it.

0:00 – Intro

2:23 – Start of the chat

5:20 – Live versions of dance music with drummers

11:28 – How Murphy initially found the whole idea of EDM distasteful

13:40 – "spacebar energy" and Chet vs. Nick

19:10 – "brick walls"

22:57 – How Soulwax work creatively

28:35 – Active vs. passive listening

34:38 – We're "naive romantics"

38:22 – "great people try and push you"

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast and thanks to Nick, Stephen, and David for chatting. Check out their various guises—you won’t be disappointed. This week’s episode was produced by Melissa Kaplan, and special thanks to Keenan Kush for stepping in to record it. The Talkhouse theme song is composed and performed by the Range.

Dorian Electra with Claud Jul 15, 2021

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, we’ve got a pair of incredible young songwriter-performers whose music isn’t super similar, but who both embrace a sort of ultra-modern mish-mash of styles: Dorian Electra and Claud. Claud was the first performer signed to Phoebe Bridgers’ new label, Saddest Factory, after spending some time in a duo called Toast. Claud’s debut album, Super Monster, is most often described as “bedroom pop”—that term is brought up in this chat—but that’s only a small part of it. There are hints of all kinds of sounds here, from vaguely Latin-esque to pop-punkish on the delightful “That’s Mr. Bitch to You.”

Dorian Electra has been at it a bit longer than Claud, having made a splash around ten years ago with playful, politically charged songs about money and gender fluidity, among many other things. Electra was featured on the Charli XCX track “Femmebot” a few years back, and in 2020 released their second album, My Agenda, which features everyone from Pussy Riot to Village People.

Electra and Claud have a great conversation, tackling everything from the importance of Spotify playlists—which played a role in each of their success—to college to the complicated commercialization of Pride Month. Enjoy.

This episode was produced by Melissa Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Liz Phair with Zella Day Jul 08, 2021

Liz Phair crashed into the indie-rock world in a huge way in the early ‘90s with her instant classic album Exile In Guyville, and she was already the talk of the town—in this case Chicago—before she had even performed publicly. It was an auspicious start to a fascinating career that went from indie-world stardom to Lilith Fair to composing for films and TV to a consciously pop-leaning album to a fantastic memoir called Horror Stories. And it comes full circle, sort of, with her new album Soberish, which she created with the help of producer Brad Wood, with whom she worked on her early albums, including Exile.

Zella Day took a very different path in her music life, starting out very young—at age 15—trying to write songs and make it in Nashville. That led to a revelation that she’d rather perform herself, and eventually a record deal and 2015’s pop-centric album Kicker. She played Coachella and other huge festivals, but wasn’t fully satisfied with where she was artistically, as you’ll hear in this chat. After relocating to L.A., she fell in with a slightly more serious crowd, included pals like Lana Del Rey and Weyes Blood, and her music shifted a bit. She’s currently working on an album with producer Jay Joyce, and recently released a song with Natalie Mering of Weyes Blood called “Holocene.”

Phair and Day hit it off right away in this conversation, diving right into a conversation about restarting their careers post-COVID—Phair’s dad is a retired infectious diseases expert, which gave her some unique insight—as well as the challenges of not giving too much of yourself during an album’s promotional cycle. They also tackle the meaning of the word “sober-ish,” which is pretty great. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks to Liz Phair and Zella Day for chatting. This episode was produced by Melissa Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme was composed and performed by the Range. See you next time!

Morgan Simpson of Black Midi with Bill Bruford (King Crimson, Yes) Jul 01, 2021

This week on the Talkhouse Podcast we’ve got a special treat for the drummers and drum geeks out there: a conversation between Morgan Simpson of Black Midi and Bill Bruford of, as he says in their chat, about 101 bands. That number for Bruford isn’t too far from reality. Over a 40+ year career, he played with some incredible names in the world of progressive music, most notably Yes and King Crimson, but also his own projects, including Earthworks. He’s an astoundingly versatile and musical drummer, and we were delighted to hear that he’s still got his ear to the ground all these years later, as a fan of the relatively young band Black Midi.

You can hear it in Morgan Simpson’s voice that he’s both pleased and excited to make Bruford’s acquaintance as part of the podcast—and it’s actually the first episode we’ve recorded in quite some time where the participants are in the same room with each other! Simpson pays Bruford the ultimate drummer compliment when he says that he can recognize his playing within a couple of seconds, and Bruford isn’t shy about his love for Black Midi. He even compares them—rightfully so—to King Crimson.

Bruford himself actually retired from performing about 10 years ago, while Black Midi is just getting started. The band released their second album, Cavalcade, in May, and it’s a massively eclectic, fantastic collection of songs—a little more focused than their first, perhaps, but no less rangy and striking. They’ll hit the road for a huge tour this fall, kicking off with a slot at Pitchfork Fest in Chicago. Bruford and Simpson have a lot of fun, as you’ll hear, talking about other drummers—Phil Collins, Billy Cobham, etc—as well as the similarities in their own playing. If you’ve never realized that a snare drum could sound like you’re quote “being slapped around the head with a wet kipper,” then this conversation is for you. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening to the Talkhouse Podcast, and thanks so much to Bill Bruford and Morgan Simpson for chatting. If you like what you heard, follow Talkhouse on your favorite podcasting service, and all available social channels. This episode was produced by Melissa Kaplan, and the Talkhouse theme was composed and performed by the Range.

Michael Stipe with Jim McKay Jun 24, 2021

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, former REM frontman Michael Stipe talks with veteran indie director Jim McKay about the production company they’ve run together since the late 1980s, C-Hundred Film Corp, and the amazing work that has come out of it. In a fascinating conversation, the two best friends not only walk us through the history of the company – its humble beginnings in Athens, GA, to creating PSAs with KRS-One and Natalie Merchant, and Michael making the *original* Orange is the New Black at the Sundance Film Festival back in the ’90s – but also touch on their latest projects (McKay’s new film, and the photography book which Stipe just published) and how the pandemic has affected them, both creatively and personally. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Edgar Wright with Ron and Russell Mael (Sparks) Jun 17, 2021

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, director Edgar Wright chats with musicians Ron and Russell Mael of the beloved cult band Sparks, who are the subject of Wright’s deeply enjoyable new documentary, The Sparks Brothers. In a wide-ranging conversation, the friends and collaborators veer from gripping discussions about food to in-depth explorations of the Mael brothers’ longstanding love of their other creative passion, cinema, which finally resulted in Leos Carax directing their film Annette – which opens the Cannes Film Festival next month! They also discuss record-store hijinks, the genesis of past projects, compare notes on trailers, and much, much more. A veritable smorgasbord of an episode, it’s a real pleasure to listen to three people who so obviously relish each others company. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

This episode was produced by Melissa Kaplan. The Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range.

Meghan Trainor with VINCINT Jun 10, 2021

Meghan Trainor burst into the public consciousness with her 2014 hit “All About That Bass,” which was accompanied by a triple-platinum album and loads of subsequent success. Two more albums followed, as did judging roles on the British version of The Voice, and perhaps more important to this conversation, a singing competition called The Four, where she was on a panel with Sean Combs and DJ Khaled. That show is where Trainor first encountered the spectacular singing voice of VINCINT, who wowed her and the other judges with his incredible stylistic range, culminating in a cover of Radiohead’s “Creep” that was all around the internet a couple of years ago. VINCINT has since released a bunch of songs, and he’s finally ready to drop a proper debut album: There Will Be Tears is packed with what sound like future hits, and includes guest spots from Tegan and Sara, Parson James, Qveen Herby, and more.

You’ll be hearing a ton more from VINCINT this month and year: He’s going to be on the Today Show, as you’ll hear in the chat, and he’s headlining HBO Max’s Pride programming. Trainor is awfully busy herself, having recorded and released a holiday album during quarantine and, in bigger news, signed a huge cross-platform deal with NBCUniversal that will include a comedy series at NBC. But she was so psyched about VINCINT’s album that she made some time to chat about it with him, and about their favorite songwriters, mutual acquaintances, and advice on dealing with stardom. Enjoy.

This episode was produced by Melissa Kaplan. The Talkhouse theme was composed and performed by The Range.

Michelle Zauner (Japanese Breakfast) with Rostam Jun 03, 2021

Today’s Talkhouse podcast started with a little bit of serendipity in the form of album release dates: Both of our guests, Michelle Zauner of Japanese Breakfast and producer/musician/former Vampire Weekend guy Rostam, have excellent records coming out on June 4. They’re also fans of each other’s work, so we figured it made plenty of sense to put them together.

Zauner’s album, her third under the Japanese Breakfast name, is called Jubilee, and as you’ll hear in this conversation, it took a deliberate turn toward slightly happier themes than her first two. It comes hot on the heels of Zauner’s first book, a heartbreaking memoir called Crying In H Mart, that deals with her mother’s death—also a theme in her early music—and food, lots of food. It’s a really touching read, and an ideal companion to her musical catalog, which grew in really compelling ways with Jubilee.

Rostam is best known as a founding member of Vampire Weekend, and even though he officially left the band a few years ago, he still contributes some songwriting and production work. He’s kept plenty busy otherwise, producing records and writing songs with an incredible array of other artists, from Hamilton Leithauser to HAIM to Clairo. His first proper solo album is the gentle, string-filled, fantastic Half-Light, which came out in 2017, and now he’s releasing Changephobia, which as you’ll hear ditches the string section and brings in a sax, among other things.

These two jump right into a conversation that flits around from silly to deep: On one hand, they talk about childhood loves of chess and fencing and the importance of song five on an album. On the other, Zauner gets rightfully annoyed at interview questions she gets that other people don’t, and Rostam talks about being Persian in a band that was sometimes pegged as particularly white. It’s a funny, smart chat. Enjoy.

This episode was produced by Melissa Kaplan. The Talkhouse theme was composed and performed by The Range.

Chris Gethard with Jeff Rosenstock May 27, 2021

Chris Gethard is a comedian whose stories are often so serious and touching that they make people cry, and Jeff Rosenstock writes and sings heartfelt songs that are also witty and funny enough to make you laugh. So it’s no wonder that these two are friends and comrades in arms: From practically the moment they met, they could tell they were on the same page.

Gethard has had a boundary-defying career that I’ll try and fail to quickly encapsulate here. He’s been a stand-up comedian, but perhaps more importantly the host of a public access show bearing his name that eventually ran for three seasons on a couple of different cable networks and was, to put it bluntly, kind of insane. He spun his stand-up into an off-Broadway show about depression, alcoholism, and suicide called Career Suicide, which later became an HBO special produced by Judd Apatow. Somewhere in there, he started several podcasts, the most popular of which is Beautiful/Anonymous, wherein he spends an hour with an anonymous stranger telling him their deepest secrets. I have yet to mention his books, his other podcasts, his appearances in movies and TV shows like Broad City and The Office, and more. The occasion for this conversation is the release of Gethard’s newest thing, called Half My Life, which is sort of a hybrid tour documentary and stand-up special that he recorded at ten venues around the country, including one with an audience of live alligators. It’s available on demand starting June 1.

Jeff Rosenstock has been making music in various guises and with lots of people since the late 1990s, when he was in a ska-punk band called the Arrogant Sons of Bitches. He went on to greater renown in Bomb the Music Industry before launching a pretty incredible solo career, in which he combines super thoughtful, personal and political lyrics with catchy, genre-blending sounds. So maybe it shouldn’t have been a surprise when, earlier this year, he released a song-for-song reworking of his 2020 album No Dream called Ska Dream, on which he re-recorded every track… but ska. He roped in amazing guests, too—from Angelo Moore of Fishbone to members of PUP and Deafheaven. In this conversation, Gethard and Rosenstock are, unsurprisingly, both funny and serious. They’ve got doubts about whether audiences will be there when they return from lockdown, but they’ve also got a relentless desire to create art and to do the right thing. It’s refreshing, and I hope you enjoy it.

This episode was produced by Melissa Kaplan. The Talkhouse theme was written and performed by The Range.

Nick Sanborn (Sylvan Esso) with Blake Mills May 20, 2021

Blake Mills has the kind of resume that might make the average person feel really lazy. Not only is he an active musician, but also a Grammy-winning producer (for Alabama Shakes’ 2015 album Sound and Color), a collaborator to the stars—including the likes of Fiona Apple and Bob Dylan—and most recently, one of the guys in charge of the legendary Sound City studio in L.A. Mills’ newest musical project is a collaboration with legendary bassist Pino Palladino called Notes With Attachments. Just prior to that, it was the Pitchfork Best New Music designee Mutable Set, from 2020.

Nick Sanborn is half of Sylvan Esso, along with Amelia Meath. The duo recorded their third and latest album, the excellent Free Love, while they were constructing a brand new studio, called Betty’s, on their farm in North Carolina. The album came out in September of last year, which obviously meant touring was off the table, but Sanborn got plenty busy with production work, including helping to create the most recent Flock of Dimes record with recent Talkhouse guest Jenn Wasner. Since the album’s release, Nick and Amelia have kept busy, releasing videos, a killer remix of their song “Numb,” and a live album called WITH. And now they’ve rescheduled a big tour for this fall, kicking off at Bonaroo, where they’ll host the Super Jam. Check out sylvanesso.com for tour dates.

Sanborn and Blake get right into it in this conversation, covering the intimate relationships that make for good records, the joy and trepidation about returning to public stages, and even how weird it is to do the Talkhouse Podcast. Enjoy.

This episode was produced by Melissa Kaplan. The Talkhouse Podcast theme is composed and performed by the Range.

Revisited: Mac DeMarco with Dayglow May 13, 2021

This week, we revisit a chat from last year, featuring Mac DeMarco and Dayglow's Sloan Struble. The second Dayglow album, Harmony House, comes out May 21. Check it out!

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On this week’s show, a young gun picks a veteran’s brain. A youngish veteran, admittedly — Mac DeMarco’s only 30, but compared to 21 year old Spotify-wunderkind Sloan Struble, aka Dayglow, he’s already spent a lifetime in the music industry trenches.

The two take in a lot in this conversation. We hear Mac’s origin story, and get a nice overview of his career. We get insight into what it’s like finding fast fame online in 2020, and the two dissect the term “DIY” and the changing definition of “indie.”

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

This week’s talk was originally produced by Mark Yoshizumi and Elia Einhorn. This episode was produced by Melissa Kaplan. The Talkhouse Podcast theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Mary Lattimore with Sarah Neufeld (Arcade Fire) May 06, 2021

The way that Mary Lattimore and Sarah Neufeld met is kind of a rock and roll dream. Lattimore went to see Neufeld’s band, Arcade Fire, before they were huge stars, and they got to talking. When Lattimore mentioned that she’d be moving to Philadelphia soon, Neufeld and her bandmates asked her to perform with them—so her first time playing on stage outside a more classical setting was in front of a huge Arcade Fire crowd, and it gave her the performing bug.

Both Neufeld and Lattimore have released fantastic records recently: Lattimore’s Silver Ladders came out last year on the Ghostly International label, and it met with widespread acclaim. Sarah Neufeld’s brand new record, Detritus, was born via a collaboration with Canadian dancer Peggy Baker. Neufeld wrote the songs that would become this album to accompany Baker’s choreography, and she even went on the road to accompany the dance performances. She later went into the studio and, with help from her Arcade Fire bandmate Jeremy Gara, set to recording them. It’s an incredible collection that blends her primary instrument with ambient electronics, drums, and other sounds.

In this conversation, Neufeld and Lattimore talk about the night they met and subsequent nights they don’t remember, a harp that lives in Prague, writing music to accompany dance, and how a harp might actually help induce labor in an expecting mother. Enjoy.

This episode was produced by Melissa Kaplan. The Talkhouse theme was composed and performed by The Range.

Ben Gibbard with Teenage Fanclub's Norman Blake Apr 29, 2021

It’s no secret that Death Cab For Cutie's Ben Gibbard deeply admires Norman Blake’s band, Teenage Fanclub. In fact, he’s called 1991’s masterpiece Bandwagonesque his favorite album of all time; he loves it so much that just a few years ago, he recorded and released a cover of the entire thing. With that album turning 30 this year, and with a fantastic new Teenage Fanclub album, Endless Arcade, out this week it seemed the perfect time to get the two together.

For this conversation, the two old friends dive into what their pandemic lives have been like, which includes lots of songwriting and record collecting. They also talk about the joy that comes from being a lifer in the rock and roll business, how streaming has affected all of the above, and how deeply emotional a return to rocking is likely to be for both of them. Enjoy.

Jenn Wasner (Wye Oak, Flock of Dimes) with Merrill Garbus (tUnE-yArDs) Apr 22, 2021

Merrill Garbus and Jenn Wasner released monumental records just a week apart this year: Tune-Yards fifth album—sixth if you count their score to Boots Riley’s film Sorry to Bother You—is called Sketchy, and it’s as puzzling and progressive as you’ve hopefully come to expect. Garbus and bassist Nate Brenner are never content to rest on their past glories: They’re always searching for new modes of thought and expression, and Garbus’ lyrics meld the personal and political into one fiery concoction.

Jenn Wasner is best known for singing and playing guitar in Wye Oak, and she’s also released albums with Dungeonesse and solo style under the name Flock of Dimes, in addition to being a recent touring member of Bon Iver. It’s her Flock of Dimes project that’s garnering some incredible, well deserved attention this year, including a huge feature in the New York Times. It makes sense, considering that the album she’s promoting is so extraordinary: Head of Roses will be both familiar to her fans and unexpected, with new sounds, textures, and lyrical motivations. The story is that it’s an album about heartbreak, but it’s so much more. It's a great conversation between two great friends. Enjoy.

Bonnie McKee with Carlson Young Apr 15, 2021

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, we have two artists who recently became writer-directors after finding success in other creative fields: singer-songwriter Bonnie McKee and actor Carlson Young. McKee, a Grammy-nominated hit songwriter best known for her collaborations with Katy Perry, is now on the festival circuit with her powerful and very personal short April Kills the Vibe, while her friend Young, who broke through on the small-screen version of Scream in 2015, just made her feature debut with The Blazing World, which world premiered at Sundance this past January. In their compelling conversation, the two talk about their journeys behind the camera, their COVID experiences, making movies as a form of psychodrama, Bonnie’s upcoming music-inspired film project, Carlson’s recent nightmare experience with a moving scam, and much, much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Revisited: Kevin Parker (Tame Impala) with Dan Snaith (Caribou) Apr 08, 2021

It might feel like a lifetime ago, but it was just over a year ago in February of 2020 when we got new albums from both Tame Impala and Caribou. For Kevin Parker, The Slow Rush was his fourth full-length record following an extended break after Currents. Caribou fans had a slightly longer wait for Dan Snaith's tenth record, Suddenly.

Now both artists have rereleases in 2021. Kevin Parker and company recently celebrated ten years since their debut record, Innerspeaker. There's a new behind-the-scenes short film chronicling the 2010 recording process, a box set, and an upcoming livestream performance later this month, April 21 (more info on tickets here), of the full album from the Wave House. Dan Snaith has also been in the news recently, releasing Suddenly Remixes, featuring reworked tracks by Toro y Moi, Four Tet, Floating Points, and others.

This conversation, which originally aired in October of 2020, never has a dull moment and features the pair chatting about how and when they first met, having confidence as an artist, and their "de facto lockdown albums." Don't forget to subscribe to the Talkhouse Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

—Keenan Kush, Talkhouse Director of Operations

This week's talk was originally produced by Mark Yoshizumi and Elia Einhorn. This episode was produced by Melissa Kaplan. The Talkhouse Podcast theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Sharon Van Etten with Jamie Stewart (Xiu Xiu) Apr 01, 2021

Sharon van Etten and Jamie Stewart met a few years ago, when producer John Congleton recommended the Xiu Xiu frontman as a contributor to the singer-songwriter's 2019 album, Remind Me Tomorrow. Though their music isn't super similar sounding, each traffics in a kind of emotional honesty that's difficult to pull off but incredibly rewarding. Van Etten contributed vocals to the song "Sad Mezcalita" on Xiu Xiu's new all-duets album, OH NO, and the two chat about that collaboration here, along with the creative process, being open in their songwriting, and much more.

This episode was produced by Melissa Kaplan. The Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range.

Future Islands with Dan Deacon Mar 25, 2021

In this week's Talkhouse Podcast, we hear from old friends Dan Deacon and the members of Future Islands. Both came up in the super fertile Baltimore scene, and both released new albums in 2020. Future Islands asked Deacon to remix their recent track "For Sure," and he took it to epic new heights, which they discuss on this chat—along with the reality of staying home during the pandemic, what their writing/road-testing/recording processes are like, and a brand new genre that they hope to create when this is all over. Sports Jazz! Enjoy.

This episode was produced by Kevin O’Connell. The Talkhouse Podcast theme was composed and performed by The Range.

Michael Ian Black with Jen Spyra Mar 18, 2021

Two very funny people have a very funny conversation on this week's Talkhouse Podcast: Michael Ian Black and Jen Spyra. Black you probably know as part of the sketch-comedy troupe The State, or from his many podcasts—the latest is Obscure—or maybe one of his books, including last year's more serious A Better Man. Jen Spyra just released her first book, a collection of darkly hilarious short stories called Big Time. The two were fans of each other's work before their chat, but you can hear them get to know each other better. They talk about their writing processes, self-doubt, Michael's poker playing and Cameo birthday-ing, and lots more. Enjoy.

Andrew Bird with Jimbo Mathus (Squirrel Nut Zippers) Mar 11, 2021

Andrew Bird and Jimbo Mathus have known each other for decades, going back to the beginning of Bird's solo career and Mathus' earliest days with Squirrel Nut Zippers. Most of their work together has been assistive—Bird would add his fiddle to the Zippers' records, and Mathus would return the favor with some horns. But a couple of years back, the old friends decided to write some songs together, and the result is These 13, a truly collaborative album featuring just their voices, guitar, and fiddle, for the most part. It's spare and surprising. In this Talkhouse conversation, they chat about the old days and the new, as well as a shared love of Charley Patton. Enjoy.

—Josh Modell, Executive Editor

This episode was produced by Kevin O'Connell. The Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by the Range.

Todd Rundgren with Eric Slick (Dr. Dog) Mar 04, 2021

Todd Rundgren is a legendary musician and producer whose list of credits is impressive as the man himself is down to earth. He had his own string of pop hits—including the novelty song “Bang on the Drum All Day”—and experimental albums, both as a solo artist and with the Nazz. He produced Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell, one of the biggest-selling albums of all time, as well as New York Dolls’ self-titled debut, one of the most influential. This month, he’s been on the “Clearly Human” tour, which—due to obvious reasons—is all virtual. As a tech pioneer, he’s doing things a bit different, as you’ll hear in the podcast.

Eric Slick is a fellow Philly boy and longtime fan of Rundgren’s who was excited to chat with him. Slick is best known as the drummer in the excellent Dr. Dog, and he’s also a frequent Talkhouse contributor. If that’s not enough, Slick recently released a magnificent solo record called Wiseacre. The two chat about making records, playing shows, and—of course—a certain former president.

This episode was produced by Kevin O’Connell. The Talkhouse theme is composed and performed by The Range.

Mike Ness (Social Distortion) with Ben Nichols (Lucero) Feb 25, 2021

Mike Ness and Ben Nichols both front bands that blur the already-blurry genre lines between punk, Americana, country, and more—so it's no surprise that the two get along. Nichols' band, Lucero, opened for Ness' band, Social Distortion, on a tour about a decade ago, and the two hit it off. Since then, Lucero returned the favor by taking out Jade Jackson's band—which features Ness' son Julian on guitar. The occasion for this Talkhouse conversation is the release of Lucero's newest album, When You Found Me. The two songwriters talk about their craft, their kids, and how to write a song that makes a statement without getting political. —Josh Modell, Executive Editor

This episode was produced by Kevin O’Connell. The Talkhouse Podcast theme was composed and performed by The Range.

Julia Jacklin with Tamara Lindeman (The Weather Station) Feb 18, 2021

Tamara Lindeman and Julia Jacklin are spending the pandemic thousands of miles away from each other, but you’d never know if from the closeness of this Talkhouse chat. Lindeman, who’s based in Canada, just released her fifth album as The Weather Station—and Ignorance is already making waves. It got the coveted Best New Music designation from Pitchfork, as well as a five-star review in The Guardian, both well deserved. Jacklin, who’s from Australia, finished touring her last album, Crushing, not long before the lockdown hit. Here, they discuss the ins and outs of how much they share in their songs, what they’re looking forward to when normalcy returns, and Joni Mitchell.

This episode was produced by Kevin O’Connell. The Talkhouse Podcast theme was composed and performed by The Range.

McIntosh "for the love of music..." — Gregory Porter Feb 11, 2021

In the third episode of McIntosh's "for the love of music..." podcast series presented by Talkhouse, Elia Einhorn spoke with one of the most recognizable names in popular jazz and soul: Gregory Porter. Gregory has been using his powerful baritone on both Broadway and concert stages for decades. His smooth take on classic American pop forms has earned him critical accolades, and fans the world over. The multiple Grammy-winning singer-songwriter has long had an intense touring schedule, and while the pandemic has forced him off the road, he’s been staying very busy. Gregory has a podcast of his own—called The Hang—and recently released a new album of original music, All Rise, which was nominated for Best R&B Album at this year’s Grammys. In this episode, Gregory talks about writing songs in the sky, English accents in gospel music, recording in some of the coolest studios in the world, and much more.

Jenny Lewis with Serengeti Feb 11, 2021

Jenny Lewis—she of Rilo Kiley, The Postal Service, and numerous excellent solo albums—met Chicago rapper Serengeti when they were both performers at the PEOPLE Festival in Berlin, back in 2018. They struck up a fast friendship that led to Serengeti asking Lewis to provide some music—a very specific amount of music—for him to rhyme over. They’ve since released two excellent songs together via Lewis’ Love’s Way label, “Unblu” and “Vroom Vroom,” and there are more on the way, as you’ll hear in their conversation. There’s also a mysterious appearance by Mr. Peanut.

This episode was produced by Kevin O’Connell. The Talkhouse theme was composed and performed by The Range.

Viggo Mortensen with Alix Lambert Feb 04, 2021

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, the iconic actor Viggo Mortensen sits down with his longtime friend and fellow filmmaker Alix Lambert. The occasion for their talk is the release of Falling, Mortensen’s debut as writer-director, an intense family drama starring Lance Henriksen, Laura Linney and Mortensen himself. In a fascinating, wide-ranging conversation, Mortensen and Lambert discuss not only Falling and the pandemic, but also Viggo’s musical collaborations with the guitarist Buckethead, the various cinematic exploits of Mortensen’s son Henry, Lambert’s current non-fiction project, the shared love that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and Mortensen have for a very surprising TV show, and much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Alana Haim with Sasha Spielberg (Buzzy Lee) Jan 28, 2021

Sometimes Talkhouse Podcast participants have never met, sometimes they’re acquainted, and on rare occasions, they know each other really well. For this week’s chat, it became clear pretty quickly that Sasha Spielberg—a.k.a. Buzzy Lee—and Alana Haim already spoke the same language. As it turns out, and you’ll hear this in the conversation, they’re close enough to share a Hulu account.

The occasion for this conversation is the debut full-length from Buzzy Lee, the excellent Spoiled Love, which is out this week. And of course, it’s not too late to enjoy the latest album from HAIM, Women In Music Pt. III, which came out last year. The two old friends talk about young love, bat mitzvahs, “cozy boys,” and songwriting. It’s charming as hell.

Robin Pecknold (Fleet Foxes) with Elijah Wolf Jan 21, 2021

On this week’s Talkhouse Podcast, we bring together a pair of singer-songwriters who share a love of intimate, thoughtful compositions and recordings. Robin Pecknold has been the chief creative mind behind Fleet Foxes since the band’s beginnings back in 2005; the latest Fleet Foxes album was surprise-released in September of 2020, and Shore was met with lots of well-deserved love. Elijah Wolf is just starting out on his career. The Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter was raised in upstate New York, and was a fan of Fleet Foxes before a chance meeting with Pecknold in a New York guitar shop. Wolf, who was working at Crandall Guitars, was playing music by a band called Holy Hive in the store, and it turned out that both Pecknold and Wolf were friends with that band. They got to know each other and started sharing works-in-progress with each other during the pandemic. Pecknold’s songs would end up on Shore, and Wolf’s would become his first album, Brighter Lighting, which is due out February 26 on Trash Casual Records. Both records, funnily enough, feature drummer Josh Jaeger—it’s a small world after all.

The two songwriters get into a great chat about their process, their pandemic work strategies, and the idea of what defines an album. Enjoy the talk, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes. This week’s episode was produced by Kevin O’Connell, and the Talkhouse Podcast theme is composed and performed by The Range.

Alexi Pappas with Robin Tunney Jan 14, 2021

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, actress Robin Tunney chats with multihyphenate extraordinaire Alexi Pappas, the filmmaker and Olympic athlete whose excellent new memoir, Bravey: Chasing Dreams, Befriending Pain and Other Big Ideas, is out now through Random House. Tunney, most recently seen in ABC’s The Fix and best known for her roles in Empire Records, The Craft and TV’s The Mentalist, is not only one of Pappas’ mentors, but she’s also her cousin by marriage, and their familial ease with each other is evident in a very open, insightful and sometimes funny conversation that takes in such topics as the shadow of mental illness, the challenges of finding the balance between career and family, bonding with others over trauma, how the thing we’re best at may still give us discomfort or pain, and much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Bootsy Collins with Mix Master Mike Jan 07, 2021

On this week's Talkhouse Podcast, we bring together a pair of legends from different generations: Bootsy Collins and Mix Master Mike. Collins is of course best known for his long stints with Parliament-Funkadelic and James Brown's band, and Mike for his unstoppable contributions to the Beastie Boys. But each musician has spread his wings much farther than those Hall Of Fame acts, up to an including powerful new music. For Bootsy, it's The Power of the One, and for Mix Master Mike, it's Beat Odyssey 2020—what those albums share, beyond a spiritual connection to creativity itself, is a long list of collaborators, because these guys love to find new connections.

This chat is one of those connections: Mike is clearly a fan of Bootsy's, and they get deep into conversation about history, music, and—eventually—some more cosmic topics. I wouldn't be the slightest bit surprised if this meeting leads to a collaboration between the two in the future.

Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes. This week's episode was produced by Kevin O'Connell, and the Talkhouse Podcast theme is composed and performed by The Range.

—Josh Modell, Executive Editor

Jeff Tweedy with Nick Offerman Dec 17, 2020

This week’s show is presented in collaboration with The Hideout and Seminary Co-op Bookstore. Big thanks and love to both of those Chicago institutions!

To celebrate the release of his new book How To Write One Song: Loving The Things We Create and How They Love Us Back, Jeff Tweedy (Wilco) caught up with his friend and collaborator, comedian Nick Offerman. Their funny and illuminating conversation is followed by an audience Q&A, and an exclusive solo performance by Jeff.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast. Plus be sure to check our Soundcloud archives for recent shows featuring Tame Impala with Caribou, Carly Rae Jepsen with mxmtoon, Diplo with Charlie Crockett, and Jeff Tweedy with Norah Jones.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

For this week’s episode, Nick recorded himself and Jeff was recorded in Chicago by Mark Greenberg.

Our producer is Mark Yoshizumi. The researcher for this episode was Reese Higgins.

The Talkhouse Podcast theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

PEEEEEAAAACE!

Jeff Tweedy with Norah Jones Dec 10, 2020

This week's show is presented in collaboration with Murmrr and Community Bookstore. We give big thanks and love to those two Brooklyn institutions!

To celebrate the release of his new book How To Write One Song: Loving The Things We Create and How They Love Us Back, Jeff Tweedy (Wilco) sat down with his friend and collaborator Norah Jones for a deep dive into the creative process. Their warm and insightful conversation is followed by an audience Q&A, and an exclusive solo performance by Jeff.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast, including Jeff Tweedy again(!), this time with comedian Nick Offerman, and Bootsy Collins (it's Bootsy, baby!) with Mix Master Mike (Beastie Boys). Plus be sure to check our Soundcloud archives for recent shows featuring Tame Impala with Caribou, Carly Rae Jepsen with mxmtoon, Diplo with Charlie Crockett, and loads more.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

For this week’s episode, Norah recorded herself, and Jeff was recorded in Chicago by Mark Greenberg.

Our patient producer is Mark Yoshizumi. The researcher for this episode was Reese Higgins.

The Talkhouse Podcast theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol, and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com. I adore hearing from you guys. And, I mean, how long do we all stay in the same place, right? Who knows where I'll be, come 2021...

Revisited: Black Belt Eagle Scout with SASAMI (and Guest Host Vagabon) Dec 03, 2020

On this week's episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, we share a deep-diving conversation about the idea of space for BIPOC folks in indie rock venues — a discussion with the explicit intent "to talk about brown voices, and to talk about how we can uplift them."

Black Belt Eagle Scout — real name Katherine Paul — is a self-described “radical indigenous queer feminist” who grew up on the Swinomish Indian Reservation in Northwest Washington state. KP, as she's known, is Swinomish and Iñupiaq (a Native community in Alaska). Here, she speaks with Sasami Ashworth, aka SASAMI, a Korean-American singer/songwriter and musician based in Los Angeles. Sasami made her name playing synth in Cherry Glazerr before going solo in 2018. Our special guest-host is Vagabon, or Lætitia Tamko, a Cameroonian-born singer/songwriter/producer.

This episode was inspired by the Twitter backlash after a conversation Black Belt Eagle Scout had with Ailsa Chang on the NPR show All Things Considered. With Chang, KP discussed feeling uncomfortable with so many white people at her shows, as her music is intended for BIPOC folks, and stated:

"It's for people of color, for indigenous people, for queer people, and white men are so fragile when I say stuff like that. It's because of white privilege and they don't often get told that."

KP was obviously not advocating for banning white men from her shows, but for there to be more room at each performance for her community. Still, of course, a number of fragile white men took to Twitter calling KP racist, and hating on the show for having her on. I saw Lætitia and Sasami tweeting support for KP, with Sasami doing full on UFC-style e-battle with some trolls! I reached out the next day to offer the platform of the Talkhouse Podcast for an extended convo on the topic, one without journalists or "fragile white men" involved. This talk was recorded back in March, just before Covid-19 slammed the States, and before the Black Lives Matter movement's incredible recent strides.

Keep it locked to hear about issues of safety and space in DIY touring, the importance of land acknowledgments, and actionable things that bands and fans can do.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

For this week’s episode, Sasami Ashworth was recorded by Eric Rennaker at bedrock.LA; Katherine Paul, Lætitia Tamko and I each recorded ourselves. Our producer extraordinaire is Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol, and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com.

Phoebe Bridgers with Bettye LaVette Nov 24, 2020

On this week's show, we pair in conversation the artists behind two of 2020's best albums: soul and blues legend Bettye LaVette and indie wunderkind Phoebe Bridgers. Though separated by five decades in age, when the two met backstage at a Tibet House US benefit at Carnegie Hall earlier this year, they immediately developed a mutual friend crush. Now that we've gotten them reconnected here, it appears something very dope is on the horizon... but more on that in the talk!

Their warm, freewheeling convo takes in a lot, including: a wonderful overview of a career Bettye calls “tenuous at best”; the unexpected benefits of promoting a new album during the pandemic; and privilege in the music industry. We also get to hear about making Pete Townshend cry, quirky Little Stevie Wonder, and learn the answer to Bettye's query "What is a Princess Nokia?"

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast, including Norah Jones with Jeff Tweedy, and then Jeff again(!) with comedian Nick Offerman, and Bootsy Collins (Bootzilla, baby!) with Mix Master Mike (Beastie Boys). Plus be sure to check our Soundcloud archives for recent shows featuring Tame Impala with Caribou, Carly Rae Jepsen with mxmtoon, Diplo with Charlie Crockett, and loads more.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

For this week’s episode, Bettye LaVette was recorded by her adoring hubby Kevin Kiley, and Phoebe Bridgers by her pal Marshall Vore.

Our long-suffering producer is Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast theme song was composed and performed by The Range. Dude released gorgeous new music this year — check it out!

Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol, and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com. Seriously, I love hearing from you guys. And if we're honest with ourselves, isn't the end always sneaking up on us?

Jude Law with Sean Durkin and Arcade Fire’s Richard Reed Parry Nov 19, 2020

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, three of the creative talents behind the new movie The Nest – writer-director Sean Durkin, actor Jude Law and composer Richard Reed Parry – sit down for a deep-dive conversation about their work together and their respective artistic processes. Over the course of their talk, the trio discuss how their deeply collaborative creative approaches aligned in creating a collective vision for The Nest, how Sean and Richard met and became friends and collaborators, how Richard approached writing music for The Nest (and how Sean was able to “find” the film through the music), the way Jude and Seantogether sketched a backstory for Jude’s protagonist Rory, the ways in which they each “submitted to the moment” while making the movie, and much more. For more filmmakers and musicians in conversation, visit Talkhouse at talkhouse.com. Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Phish's Mike Gordon with Leo Kottke Nov 12, 2020

For this week's show, we pair two truly virtuosic musicians — legendary fingerstyle guitarist Leo Kottke and Phish bassist-extraordinaire Mike Gordon. Their wonderful new collaborative album Noon just came out on CD and vinyl, so we knew we had to get these brilliant musical minds together for a deep-diving Talkhouse convo.

Tune in to hear the guys share their superhero origin stories; what The Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir taught Mike about rock & roll; Leo’s tricks to never playing predictably; the importance of violating one's own musical expectations; Trey Anastasio's literary recommendation; and so much more.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast, including Norah Jones with Jeff Tweedy, and then Jeff again(!) with comedian Nick Offerman, and Bootsy Collins (Bootzilla, baby!) with Mix Master Mike (Beastie Boys). Next week's show features actor Jude Law with director Sean Durkin and composer Richard Reed Parry (The Arcade Fire) discussing their film The Nest. Plus be sure to check our Soundcloud archives for recent shows featuring Tame Impala with Caribou, Carly Rae Jepsen with mxmtoon, Diplo with Charlie Crockett, and loads more.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

For this week’s episode, Mike Gordon was recorded by Jared Slomoff, and Leo Kottke by Miles Hanson.

Our incredible producer is Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol, and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com. Seriously, I love hearing from you guys, and I won't be around forever.

Tegan and Sara with Dehd Nov 05, 2020

It turns out that Tegan and Sara, Talkhouse Podcast producer extraordinaire Mark, and lil ol' me all share a favorite new band: Dehd. Hailing from Chicago, the jangle-tastic indie-rocking three-piece recently released their second LP Flower of Devotion, a tour de fookin' force of boy/girl vocals, Sarah Records-worthy guitar, and lyrics that make you wonder if the tears in your eyes are from loneliness or laughter.

When we saw Sara tweeting her, um, devotion to the band, we knew a Talkhouse convo was in order! Keep it locked to hear about the vicissitudes of intense intra-band relationships; how musical joy isn't necessarily part and parcel of "success"; and pets as surrogate babies, tourmates, and social media fodder.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast, including Phish‘s Mike Gordon with Leo Kottke, Norah Jones with Jeff Tweedy, and then Jeff again(!) with comedian Nick Offerman. And be sure to check our Soundcloud archives for recent shows featuring Tame Impala with Caribou, Carly Rae Jepsen with mxmtoon, Diplo with Charlie Crockett, and loads more.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

For this week’s episode, each band recorded themselves. Our long-suffering producer is Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol, and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com. Seriously, I love hearing from you guys.

Reggie Watts with Chino Moreno (Deftones) Oct 29, 2020

To celebrate the release of the new Deftones album Ohms, we paired frontman Chino Moreno with his old friend and tourmate — and long-time Deftones fan! — comedian/musician Reggie Watts for a Talkhouse Podcast conversation.

The guys were very psyched to catch up, and their freewheeling talk took in the making of the new Deftones LP; the ups and downs of long-term collaborations; their very different writing and recording approaches; and… bikes. Turns out they're both waaay into bikes.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast, including Tegan and Sara with Dehd, Phish‘s Mike Gordon with Leo Kottke, and Norah Jones with Jeff Tweedy. And be sure to check our Soundcloud archives for recent shows featuring Tame Impala with Caribou, Carly Rae Jepsen with mxmtoon, Diplo with Charlie Crockett, and loads more.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

For this week’s episode, everyone you hear recorded themselves. Our producer is Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol, and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com.

Revisited: Dev Hynes (Blood Orange) with Beverly Glenn-Copeland Oct 22, 2020

Devonté Hynes, aka Blood Orange, had an incredible 2019. He dropped the mixtape Angel's Pulse; scored the critically acclaimed film Queen and Slim; released a classical album with Third Coast Percussion; directed a music video for Beck; and, as a fan, finally saw the brilliant composer/vocalist Beverly Glenn-Copeland live. Glenn-Copeland (as he prefers to go by in his day-to-day life) had his own amazing year: At the age of 74, he had his first international tour, released the new LP Primal Prayer, and saw his previously obscure, decade-spanning seven album catalog finally embraced in music communities around the world. And he met Dev, whose music he adores.

We introduced Dev and Glenn right here on the Talkhouse Podcast, and the ensuing convo was warm, vulnerable, funny, and potent. The two sat on a sofa at Hook and Fade Studio in Brooklyn, and instantly formed a world all their own; they stared into each other's eyes, and spoke so softly that it was difficult to hear them from even a few feet away. In their wide-ranging conversation, Glenn and Dev discuss discovering parts of themselves by traveling out of their home countries; the way they each approach their songwriting; and the story behind Glenn’s seminal 1986 album Keyboard Fantasies. We also learn the importance of nature and its role in their music; how recently Dev began to honor music as the foundation of all his creativity; and the trick Glenn’s mother used to make him a musician while still in utero.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today's show was engineered and co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi. Additional editing by Katie Lau. Research by Reese Higgins.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol, and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com.

Kevin Parker (Tame Impala) with Dan Snaith (Caribou) Oct 15, 2020

TAME IMPALA AND CARIBOU ARE ON THE SHOW THIS WEEK!!!

Sorry, I tried to write a more "professional" first line, but this is just SO DOPE! Tame Impala's Kevin Parker and Caribou's Dan Snaith are two of the most fascinating artists working today, and when the Talkhouse Podcast discovered they're also huge fans of each other's work, we knew we had to get them together to chop it up.

In this warm and open conversation, the guys get into their very different creative processes; the pluses and minuses of having confidence in your artistic output; the clutch piece of gear Kevin uses to help get that sweet sweet Tame Impala sound; and much more.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast, including Tegan and Sara with Dehd, Deftones‘ Chino Moreno with comedian Reggie Watts, and Phish's Mike Gordon with Leo Kottke. And be sure to check our Soundcloud archives for recent shows featuring Mac DeMarco with Dayglow, Carly Rae Jepsen with mxmtoon, Diplo with Charlie Crockett, and loads more.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

For this week’s episode, everyone you hear recorded themselves. Our producers are Mark Yoshizumi and Elia Einhorn.

The Talkhouse Podcast theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol, and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com.

Carly Rae Jepsen with mxmtoon Oct 08, 2020

To celebrate Carly Rae Jepsen and mxmtoon's rad collab track "ok on your own," we paired the pop stars for what turned out to be a deep dive into the art of making music and learning to thrive in the complicated music industry.

In this very warm and insightful conversation, Carly and Maia each share their (very different!) origin stories, and explore both the art of songwriting and live performance. Carly also shares clutch career wisdom.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast, including Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker with Caribou’s Dan Snaith, and Deftones‘ Chino Moreno with comedian Reggie Watts. Plus, ICYMI: mxmtoon just kicked off her yearlong podcast project 365 days with mxmtoon in collab with Talkhouse, which features quirky stories from history that occurred on each day, old diary entries and more; it’s really fun, and like eight minutes long.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

For this week’s episode, Carly was recorded by Nick Theodorakis, and everyone else you hear recorded themselves. Our producer is Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol, and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com.

Mac DeMarco with Dayglow Oct 01, 2020

On this week’s show, a young gun picks a veteran’s brain. A youngish veteran, admittedly — Mac DeMarco’s only 30, but compared to 21 year old Spotify-wunderkind Sloan Struble, aka Dayglow, he’s already spent a lifetime in the music industry trenches.

The two take in a lot in this conversation. We hear Mac's origin story, and get a nice overview of his career. We get insight into what it's like finding fast fame online in 2020, and the two dissect the term "DIY" and the changing definition of “indie.”

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast, including Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker with Caribou’s Dan Snaith, Carly Rae Jepsen with mxmtoon, and Deftones' Chino Moreno with comedian Reggie Watts. Follow @talkhouse across socials to catch upcoming installments of Talkhouse Podcast Live On Insta.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

For this week’s episode, everyone you hear recorded themselves. Our producer is Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol, and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com.

Bob Mould with Alicia Bognanno (Bully) Sep 24, 2020

For this week's episode of the show, we paired two brilliant rockers from different generations, each of whom has a fantastic new record out: Bob Mould (Hüsker Dü, Sugar) and Bully's Alicia Bognanno.

They chop it up about a lot, including the making of their new albums; how the music industry has changed since Bob’s early days in the game; the ups and downs of sharing one's life — including familial and mental health issues — with the public; and so much more.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast, including Tame Impala's Kevin Parker with Caribou's Dan Snaith, and Mac DeMarco with Dayglow. Follow @talkhouse across socials to catch upcoming installments of Talkhouse Podcast Live On Insta.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

For this week’s episode, everyone you hear recorded themselves. Our producer is Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol, and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com.

Deerhoof with Wadada Leo Smith Sep 17, 2020

To celebrate the release of their collaborative live LP To Be Surrounded By Beautiful, Curious, Breathing, Laughing Flesh Is Enough, experimental indie rockers Deerhoof and avant garde trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith chop it up on the Talkhouse Podcast.

Recalling the shows they've played together — including the one at Le Poisson Rouge here in New York that the record captures — they discuss the magic of collaboration, improvisation, and other matters of cosmic music philosophy.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast, including Bob Mould with Bully's Alicia Bognanno and Mac DeMarco with Dayglow. Follow @talkhouse across socials to catch upcoming installments of Talkhouse Podcast Live On Insta.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

For this week’s episode, everyone you hear recorded themselves. Our producer is Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol, and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com.

McIntosh "for the love of music..." — Ben Blackwell (Third Man Records) Sep 16, 2020

In the second episode of the McIntosh "for the love of music..." podcast series presented by Talkhouse, Elia Einhorn spoke with Ben Blackwell, head honcho and co-founder of the world-renowned Third Man Records alongside Jack White, and drummer of Detroit band the Dirtbombs. In the talk, Blackwell discusses Third Man's approach to the music industry — their business model, their philosophy, and the decisions behind their curation process. He also touches on Third Man's commitment to integrity and "doing things the old fashioned way;" tells the story of Neil Young and a very old (and expensive) recording booth; and gives a full rundown on the gear that he and Jack White use to listen to records.

Paul Banks (Interpol, Muzz) with Shepard Fairey (Obey) Sep 10, 2020

For this week's show, we paired two game-changing artists working in different mediums who are obsessed with each other's output: musician Paul Banks (Interpol, Muzz) and visual artist/designer Shepard Fairey (Obey).

Originally aired as part of our Talkhouse Podcast Live On Insta series, their talk takes in a lot, including the evolution of their art; the thrills and intricacies of collaborating; the direct and passive political work they're involved in; and, of course, Paul's new Muzz LP!

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast, including Bob Mould with Bully's Alicia Bognanno, Deerhoof with Wadada Leo Smith, and Mac DeMarco with Dayglow. Follow @talkhouse across socials to catch upcoming installments of Talkhouse Podcast Live On Insta.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Our producer is Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol, and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com.

Mike Hadreas (Perfume Genius) with Jeremy O. Harris (Slave Play) Sep 03, 2020

Singer/songwriter Perfume Genius — aka Mike Hadreas — and playwright Jeremy O. Harris (Slave Play) are each boundary-shattering artists. Their takes on queer sexuality, trauma, and, in Jeremy's case, race have seen them deified in their respective fields. They're also massive fans of one another's work, and while the two have been "internet friends" for a while, we were truly thrilled to pair them for their first-ever conversation right here on the Talkhouse Podcast.

In this insightful discussion, they share their artistic processes, including consciously pushing boundaries and avoiding comfort zones by showing the world one’s metaphorical — and literal — asshole. They also share deets on the amazing celebs Mike has written with, and who Jeremy is getting ready to work with.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast, including Bob Mould with Bully‘s Alicia Bognanno, Deerhoof with Wadada Leo Smith, and Mac DeMarco with Dayglow.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

For this week’s episode, everyone you hear recorded themself. Our producer is Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol, and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com.

Diplo (Major Lazer) with Charley Crockett Aug 27, 2020

Here's the mark of a great Talkhouse Podcast pairing: For this week's show, we introduced legendary producer Diplo (Major Lazer) and rising country star Charley Crockett, and by the end of the talk, the two had decided to work together!

In this wonderful conversation, Charley and Diplo go deep on the connections between country music and hip hop, their love of flashy cowboy fashion, the changing looks and sounds of country, and much more.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast, including Perfume Genius with Jeremy O. Harris (Slave Play), Bob Mould with Bully‘s Alicia Bognanno, Deerhoof with Wadada Leo Smith, and Mac DeMarco with Dayglow.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

For this week’s episode, Charley Crockett was recorded by Gary Calhoun James at King Electric in Austin, and everyone else recorded themself at their #stayhome studios. Our producer is Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol, and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com.

Alejandro Jodorowsky with Darren Aronofsky Aug 20, 2020

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, we reunite two filmmaking greats who first talked on the show back in 2017: Alejandro Jodorowsky and Darren Aronofsky. The iconic directors this time spoke on the occasion of the release of Jodorowsky’s new documentary about the therapy he created, Psychomagic: A Healing Art (now available on Alamo on Demand), with the 91-year-old maestro Skyping from his home in Paris and Aronofsky from New York. The two discussed a variety of subjects including, of course, psychomagic, but also touched upon the “idiot moment” of the current pandemic, how Jodorowsky maintains his physical and spiritual health, his desire to live many hundreds of years, how he would script the end of 2020, and much, much more. For more filmmakers talking film, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Bruce Hornsby with James Mercer (The Shins, Broken Bells) Aug 13, 2020

On this week's show, we present a deep dive conversation between mutual fans — and newly minted collaborators! — Bruce Hornsby and James Mercer (The Shins, Broken Bells).

To celebrate Bruce's single "My Resolve," which features James, the guys sat down for a talk that takes in each of their earliest musical moments, right up to their new collab. Tune in for some wonderful stories of the roles Sir Elton John, Modest Mouse’s Isaac Brock, Zach Braff, and even the musical The Music Man played in their careers.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast, including Diplo with Charley Crockett, Bob Mould with Bully's Alicia Bognanno, Deerhoof with Wadada Leo Smith, and Mac DeMarco with Dayglow.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

For this week’s episode, everyone you hear recorded themself at their #stayhome studios. Our producer is Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast theme song was composed and performed by The Range. (But not, you know, Bruce Hornsby's The Range...)

Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol, and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com.

Phil Elverum (Mount Eerie, The Microphones) with Mirah Aug 06, 2020

To celebrate the 20th anniversary deluxe reissue of Mirah's iconic debut You Think It's Like This But Really It's Like This as well the surprise return of The Microphones with The Microphones in 2020, today's show pairs Phil Elverum (also of Mount Eerie) and Mirah in conversation.

The dear old friends and collaborators share memories — and explore the act of remembering — in this touching, often very funny talk. Stay tuned for insights into the incredible Olympia, WA music scene of the late '90s/early '00s; why Phil is recording as The Microphones again; and metaphorically — as well as literally — carrying your trash around with you.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast, including Bob Mould with Bully's Alicia Bognanno, Deerhoof with Wadada Leo Smith, and Mac DeMarco with Dayglow.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

For this week’s episode, everyone you hear recorded themself at their #stayhome studios. Our producer is Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol, and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com.

Hanif Abdurraqib with Adia Victoria Jul 30, 2020

Today’s show, originally aired as part of our Talkhouse Podcast Live on Insta series, features a thoughtful and often hilarious conversation between poet Hanif Abdurraqib and singer/songwriter/poet Adia Victoria.

Tune in for a celebration of Little Richard, the history and context of the blues (including why Beyonce is a blues artist!), a nuanced view of Flannery O’Connor, and so much more.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast, including Bob Mould with Bully‘s Alicia Bognanno, Deerhoof with Wadada Leo Smith, and Phil Elverum (The Microphones, Mount Eerie) with Mirah.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

For this week’s episode, everyone you hear recorded themself at their #stayhome studios. Our producer is Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol, and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com.

Shamir with Liza Anne Jul 23, 2020

This week’s show pairs up newly minted friends — and mutual fans — Shamir and Liza Anne. Originally broadcast on our Talkhouse Podcast Live on Insta series, we now present their hilarious and thoughtful convo in podcast form for your listening pleasure!

Keep it locked for their deep dive into religion and spirituality, including why Shamir longs to act the part of “the evil queer person in a corny low budget Christian movie.” They also take in finding one’s literal — or metaphorical — New York; Liza Anne’s determined focus on mental health; and which folk star Shamir was in a past life.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast, including Bob Mould with Bully's Alicia Bognanno, Hanif Abdurraqib with Adia Victoria, and Phil Elverum (The Microphones, Mount Eerie) with Mirah.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

For this week’s episode, everyone you hear recorded themself at their #stayhome studios. Our producer is Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol, and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com.

Revisited: Jarvis Cocker with Stephin Merritt (the Magnetic Fields) Jul 16, 2020

Surprise! Jarvis Cocker has moved his wonderful new LP Beyond The Pale's release date up two months to... tomorrow! Get ready for it with a listen to this rebroadcast of Jarvis' fantastic Talkhouse conversation with The Magnetic Fields' Stephin Merritt.

On this week's show, we pair two of the greatest living songwriters, artists who've reimagined what the form can look like, and what it can accomplish.

The Magnetic Fields' Stephin Merritt and ex-Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker each have great new music in the world; when I heard the latter was coming to NYC, I instantly knew I had to try to get these two together in person for a Talkhouse Podcast convo. Thankfully, when presented with the idea, both were psyched!

Over cups of tea at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn (before the pandemic), the guys sat down for a delightfully freewheeling conversation about songwriting — and how they both love to subvert its norms in different ways — as well as the vastly different approaches they took to making their new LPs. But of course with these two, there's so much more here, including (but not limited to!): a moving discussion of reunions with their showbiz fathers who had abandoned them; the bad omen that nearly caused Jarvis to quit music in the year 2000; why Stephin’s new sexual fetish might be a “one time only” experience; and their shared love of that "hippy writer" Richard Brautigan.

This episode is dedicated to all you "mis-shapes, mistakes, misfits" — enjoy!

Pick up The Magnetic Fields' Quickies here, and Jarvis's Beyond The Pale here. Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast, including upcoming talks like Helado Negro with Buscabulla and Black Belt Eagle Scout with Sasami. Make sure to revisit Stephin Merritt and Daniel Handler (aka the author Lemony Snicket)'s 2019 look back on 69 Love Songs on its 20th anniversary.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

This week’s show was recorded by the Talkhouse Podcast's producer Mark Yoshizumi. Josh Modell and I recorded ourselves in our respective #stayhome studios.

Our theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol, and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com.

Julien Baker (boygenius) with Katie Harkin (HARKIN, Sleater-Kinney) Jul 09, 2020

This week’s show pairs friends, tourmates, and mutual fans Julien Baker (boygenius) and Katie Harkin (HARKIN, Sleater-Kinney). Originally broadcast to kick off the Talkhouse Podcast Live on Insta series, we now present Julien and Katie’s insightful and hilarious convo in podcast form for your listening pleasure!

Keep it locked to hear about the unwelcome expectation that artists be creative during quarantine; elitism in the already intimidating world of synthesizers; and the importance of taking control of your own work. Plus — of course, with these two! — John Milton and dick pics…

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast, including Bob Mould with Bully‘s Alicia Bognanno, Shamir with Liza Anne, and Hanif Abdurraqib with Adia Victoria.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

For this week’s episode, everyone you hear recorded themself at their #stayhome studios. Our producer is Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol, and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com.

Black Belt Eagle Scout with SASAMI Jul 02, 2020

On this week’s episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, we share a deep-diving conversation about the idea of space for BIPOC folks in indie rock venues — a discussion with the explicit intent “to talk about brown voices, and to talk about how we can uplift them.”

Black Belt Eagle Scout — real name Katherine Paul — is a self-described “radical indigenous queer feminist” who grew up on the Swinomish Indian Reservation in Northwest Washington state. KP, as she’s known, is Swinomish and Iñupiaq (a Native community in Alaska). Here, she speaks with Sasami Ashworth, aka SASAMI, a Korean-American singer/songwriter and musician based in Los Angeles. Sasami made her name playing synth in Cherry Glazerr before going solo in 2018. Our special guest-host is Vagabon, or Lætitia Tamko, a Cameroonian-born singer/songwriter/producer.

This episode was inspired by the Twitter backlash after a conversation Black Belt Eagle Scout had with Ailsa Chang on the NPR show All Things Considered. With Chang, KP discussed feeling uncomfortable with so many white people at her shows, as her music is intended for BIPOC folks, and stated:

“It’s for people of color, for indigenous people, for queer people, and white men are so fragile when I say stuff like that. It’s because of white privilege and they don’t often get told that.”

KP was obviously not advocating for banning white men from her shows, but for there to be more room at each performance for her community. Still, of course, a number of fragile white men took to Twitter calling KP racist, and hating on the show for having her on. I saw Lætitia and Sasami tweeting support for KP, with Sasami doing full on UFC-style e-battle with some trolls! I reached out the next day to offer the platform of the Talkhouse Podcast for an extended convo on the topic, one without journalists or “fragile white men” involved. This talk was recorded back in March, just before Covid-19 slammed the States, and before the Black Lives Matter movement’s incredible recent strides.

Keep it locked to hear about issues of safety and space in DIY touring, the importance of land acknowledgments, and actionable things that bands and fans can do.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast; next week’s is Julien Baker with Katie Harkin.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

For this week’s episode, Sasami Ashworth was recorded by Eric Rennaker at bedrock.LA; Katherine Paul, Lætitia Tamko and I each recorded ourselves. Our producer extraordinaire is Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol, and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com.

McIntosh "for the love of music..." — Janet Furman Jun 19, 2020

In this inaugural episode of the McIntosh "for the love of music..." podcast series presented by Talkhouse, Elia Einhorn caught up with former Grateful Dead electronics outfitter, and renowned music gear creator, Janet Furman. Janet grew up in New York City, graduating from Columbia University in the late 1960s with an engineering degree before moving to San Francisco and finding work with Alembic, the Grateful Dead’s preferred recording studio and sound crew. Janet recorded the Dead’s live sets on multiple tours, as well as engineering sessions for other rock stars like Steve Miller. She went on to found her own pro audio equipment manufacturing company, Furman, whose products are used in almost every studio and live venue around the world, and which we here at Talkhouse work with every day. Janet shared some amazing stories about working for Owsley Stanley, touring Europe with the Dead and recording some of their most famous work, and even commandeering a helicopter in order to save a massive rock festival… with McIntosh amplifiers.

Jehnny Beth with Jenny Hval Jun 18, 2020

Sexuality, violence, gender, anger, technology, love. Singer/actress/writer Jehnny Beth (Savages) and Norwegian experimental pop musician and author Jenny Hval are both aesthetically very dark artists who brilliantly dissect these topics in their respective music and erotic novels. On this week's show, we introduce the mutual fans for the very first time; what follows is a powerful, deep dive conversation. Zola Jesus joins me as special guest host.

I recently woke up at 5:30AM to set up this conversation between Jehnny's home in Paris, and Jenny's in Oslo. A couple hours later, my almost-three-year-old daughter Conwy woke up just after the talk ended; I took her out of her crib and told her "Dada just listened to a fantastic conversation between two very strong and talented women!"

And it really is a fantastic conversation. With Jehnny Beth's debut solo LP To Live Is To Love out just last week, and her book of erotic fiction and photography, Crimes Against Love Memories dropping in early July, and Jenny's new single "Bonus Material" out now and second novel Girls Against God coming later this year, they had a lot to talk about. The two chop it up on their complex relationships with their countries of origin, and the powerful role of language in self-identity; their reasons for functioning primarily outside of the mainstream; and the artist's necessary freedom to express the darker sides of their humanity.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast, including upcoming shows featuring Black Belt Eagle Scout with Sasami, Fusilier with Bartees Strange, and Julien Baker with Katie Harkin.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

This week’s show was recorded by Jehnny Beth, Jenny Hval, Zola Jesus, and myself at our respective #stayhome studios. The Talkhouse Podcast’s co-producer is Mark Yoshizumi.

Our theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Research assistance was provided by Samantha Small.

Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol, and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com.

Scott Avett (The Avett Brothers) with Eef Barzelay (Clem Snide) Jun 11, 2020

Did you catch the first of our two podcasts this week? It featured Yrsa Daley-Ward reading her powerful new poem "Making The End," and Helado Negro in convo with Buscabulla. Check it out on talkhouse.com

Today's show sees The Avett Brothers' Scott Avett chop it up with Eef Barzelay of Clem Snide. The friends and collaborators cover a lot, including: the role of faith in their music; being true to their art even when it hurts; and some amazing stories about Jason Molina and David Berman.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast, including upcoming shows featuring Black Belt Eagle Scout with Sasami, Jehnny Beth with Jenny Hval, and Julien Baker with Katie Harkin.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

This week’s show was recorded by Scott, Eef, Talkhouse’s Executive Editor Josh Modell, and myself at our respective #stayhome studios. The Talkhouse Podcast’s co-producer is Mark Yoshizumi.

Our theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Research assistance was provided by Samantha Small.

Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol, and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com.

Helado Negro with Buscabulla Jun 09, 2020

Today's show opens with poet Yrsa Daley-Ward reading her new work "Making The End."

Helado Negro and Buscabulla kicked off the Talkhouse Podcast Live on Insta series last month with this warm, thoughtful conversation. The old friends and regular collaborators each have wonderful new music out: Helado Negro recently dropped the single "I Fell In Love" featuring Xenia Rubinos, while Puerto Rican art-poppers Buscabulla just released their hotly tipped debut LP Regressa.

As flags from across Latin America and beyond were posted in the comments, they chopped it up on a lot: The experience of releasing music during quarantine; the tight community of “everybody in New York that makes weird music in Spanish”; why Nick Hakim is really Neo from The Matrix; and lots more.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast, including upcoming shows featuring Black Belt Eagle Scout with Sasami, Jehnny Beth with Jenny Hval, and Julien Baker with Katie Harkin.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

This week’s show was recorded by Buscabulla in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, Helado Negro in Marfa, Texas, Talkhouse’s Executive Editor Josh Modell in Chicago, and myself in Philadelphia. The Talkhouse Podcast's co-producer is Mark Yoshizumi.

Our theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Research assistance was provided by Samantha Small.

Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol, and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com.

Joe Talbot (IDLES) May 28, 2020

This week's show is a bit different from usual Talkhouse Podcast episodes. While it's nominally hosted by the legendary Alan McGee of Creation Records — the man who signed The Jesus and Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine, and a lil ol' band called Oasis — it's not at all a two-person conversation. Instead, this episode features Joe Talbot, frontman of the incredible post-punk group Idles, in one of the funniest, most viscerally honest live audience Q&A's I've ever witnessed.

Both Joe and the attendees are willing to go to deep and often uncomfortable areas: Buckle up for a discussion of toxic masculinity, the role of violence in Idles' music, and the difficult process of developing one’s own artistic language. We also hear about Joe collabing with Mike Skinner of The Streets, turning Sleaford Mods’ taunts into a song, putting human ashes into vinyl records, and... we even get an unexpected lesson on mindfulness.

This Q&A was recorded at the wonderful Barras Art & Design in Glasgow.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast, including upcoming talks like Helado Negro with Buscabulla, Julien Baker and Katie Harkin (Harkin, Sleater-Kinney), Black Belt Eagle Scout with Sasami, and Scott Avett (The Avett Brothers) with Eef Barzelay (Clem Snide).

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today’s show was recorded in Glasgow by Nadar Shahzad of Blue Audio (thx Nadar!), and in Philadelphia and Chicago by Elia Einhorn and Josh Modell. Our co-producer is Mark Yoshizumi.

Thanks so much to Matt Sadowski of Alt Waves Records and to Barras Art & Design for allowing us to share this event.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Research assistance was provided by Samantha Small.

Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol, and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com.

Revisited: Fred Armisen and Mary Lynn Rajskub with Lindsey Jordan (Snail Mail) May 14, 2020

We here at the Talkhouse Podcast have been nominated by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences for a Webby Award! Woo hoo! It’s in the "Best Live Podcast Recording” category, and we got the nod for our musical episode with Snail Mail, Fred Armisen, and Mary Lynn Rajskub. The show took place last summer at FORM Fest in Arcosanti, Arizona, and the three of them play, sing, and talk… at the same time. In case you missed it the first time around, or are in the mood to crack up again, check it out!

BREAKING NEWS! Indie rock it-band Snail Mail has an all-new lineup! Don't worry, Lindsey Jordan is still there — only now, so is Fred Armisen and comedian Mary Lynn Rajskub (24, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia).

On our second Talkhouse Podcast episode recorded backstage at the wonderful FORM Fest, the three form a group on the spot, then, with instruments in hand, improvise songs about: How they’re actually the new Snail Mail lineup; Chef Boyardee; Neil Young; "lemon squares that Mommy made"; Jesus’ selective saving tendencies (that one's titled called “Here Comes The Son”), and loads more.

We also witness spoofs of Queen and Beyonce; hear thoughts on fergiepeepants.jpg; learn about foot fetishists and Wikifeet; take in some sarcastic breakdancing; consider gentle piss modulators; and find out why Mary Lynn is convinced Lindsey needs to get pregnant immediately.

This Talkhouse Podcast and video was recorded in the Conservatory backstage at FORM Fest in Arcosanti, Arizona. Pulp Arts and Patreon teamed up to co-present The Conservatory, a rad backstage visual arts installation and recording studio. Talkhouse recorded six episodes there throughout the weekend, so subscribe to make sure to catch upcoming shows, including:

Kelsey Lu & Yrsa Daley-Ward

Julianna Barwick & Mary Lattimore

American Football & Pelican

L’Rain & Melanie Faye

You can also check out the just-released first episode from the fest, featuring jazz and hip hop legend Robert Glasper with a giant of African music, Malian guitarist Vieux Farka Touré, plus an appearance by Lonnie Holley.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today’s episode was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi. It was recorded at FORM Festival in Arcosanti, Arizona, and at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn by Mark Yoshizumi, Danny Clifton and Ian Jones.

Research assistance was provided by Madalyn Feltus.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Jarvis Cocker with Stephin Merritt (the Magnetic Fields) May 07, 2020

On this week's show, we pair two of the greatest living songwriters, artists who've reimagined what the form can look like, and what it can accomplish.

The Magnetic Fields' Stephin Merritt and ex-Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker each have great new music in the world; when I heard the latter was coming to NYC, I instantly knew I had to try to get these two together in person for a Talkhouse Podcast convo. Thankfully, when presented with the idea, both were psyched!

Over cups of tea at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn (before the pandemic), the guys sat down for a delightfully freewheeling conversation about songwriting — and how they both love to subvert its norms in different ways — as well as the vastly different approaches they took to making their new LPs. But of course with these two, there's so much more here, including (but not limited to!): a moving discussion of reunions with their showbiz fathers who had abandoned them; the bad omen that nearly caused Jarvis to quit music in the year 2000; why Stephin’s new sexual fetish might be a “one time only” experience; and their shared love of that "hippy writer" Richard Brautigan.

This episode is dedicated to all you "mis-shapes, mistakes, misfits" — enjoy!

Pick up The Magnetic Fields' Quickies here, and Jarvis's Beyond The Pale here. Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast, including upcoming talks like Helado Negro with Buscabulla, Black Belt Eagle Scout with Sasami, and comedian Chris D'Elia with filmmaker Amanda Kramer. Make sure to revisit Stephin Merritt and Daniel Handler (aka the author Lemony Snicket)'s 2019 look back on 69 Love Songs on its 20th anniversary.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

This week’s show was recorded by the Talkhouse Podcast's producer Mark Yoshizumi. Josh Modell and I recorded ourselves in our respective #stayhome studios.

Our theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol, and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com.

Matt Berninger with Aimee Mann Apr 28, 2020

This week on the show, we celebrate the wonderful Other Music documentary with two Grammy-winning artists: singer-songwriter Aimee Mann and the National's Matt Berninger. The two discuss the iconic record store and the creative importance of having physical spaces dedicated to musical community, plus we hear how they're managing to work during the pandemic, and Matt reveals that he's both writing a musical and launching a label imprint.

The Other Music doc features many wonderful artists that have appeared on our show — TV on the Radio, the Magnetic Fields, Superchunk, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Jason Schwartzman, Animal Collective, William Basinski, Frankie Cosmos and more — this is truly a #talkhousecore film!

Other Music is currently being screened via a "virtual theatrical release," with more than 200 independent record shops and movie theaters offering it to rent, and splitting the profits 50/50. This is a wonderful chance to support your local purveyor of brilliant art, and catch one of the must-see music films of the year. Click here to find your local favorite store or theater that's screening it! (Our producer Mark Yoshizumi rented it from his alma mater Reckless Records in Chicago; Talkhouse Film's Editor-in-Chief Nick Dawson supported Permanent Records in L.A., and I went with Record Grouch in Brooklyn, where I've spent many and many a happy hour amongst the hallowed racks.)

Enjoy today's show, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast, including upcoming talks like Jarvis Cocker (Pulp) with the Magnetic Fields’ Stephin Merritt, and Black Belt Eagle Scout with Sasami.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

This week’s show was recorded by Aimee Mann, Matt Berninger, Nick Dawson, and myself in our respective #stayhome studios. The Talkhouse Podcast's co-producer is Mark Yoshizumi.

Our theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com.

David Bazan (Pedro The Lion) with Joe Pera Apr 23, 2020

Comedian Joe Pera (Joe Pera Talks With You) and singer-songwriter David Bazan (Pedro The Lion) have elevated self-aware open-heartedness and detailed observation of humanity into, well, art. When David discovered Joe's show, he fell for it hard, and reached out to Talkhouse to see if we could arrange a convo. We loved the idea, and think you'll really enjoy the result.

Joe and David discuss a lot, including: their granular writing techniques; appreciating the gentle joys of life, like wearing green hats on St. Patrick’s day; how some performers only achieve their maximum authenticity onstage; and why live performers must be doms.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast, including upcoming shows featuring Jarvis Cocker (Pulp) with the Magnetic Fields’ Stephin Merritt, and Black Belt Eagle Scout with Sasami.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

This week's show was recorded by Joe Pera, David Bazan, Talkhouse's Executive Editor Josh Modell, and myself in our respective #stayhome studios. The Talkhouse Podcast's co-producer is Mark Yoshizumi.

Our theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol, and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com.

George Saunders with Dana Spiotta Apr 16, 2020

Today’s episode is produced in collaboration with Murmrr Ballroom and Community Bookstore.

We are so pleased to, for the first time on the Talkhouse Podcast, present two authors in conversation. And what authors!

To celebrate George Saunders’ new short story in the New Yorker, his appearance on Cheryl Strayed’s new podcast Sugar Calling, and many of us having a little more time to read now, we wanted to share from our digital vault his wonderful 2018 talk with Dana Spiotta.

George and Dana share quite a bit in their conversation, including: why it’s important to read fiction right now; trying to write in the style of '90s chat rooms; Jesus the Temple-trashing tough guy; and… dreaming of goiters.

This show includes great readings by both authors, and kicks off with a live intro from Michael Miller of Bookforum. It closes with an audience q and a. Check it out.

Huge thanks to Brian Kelly and all at Murmrr. Also to Community Bookstore in Park Slope, Brooklyn; they’re one of the greats here in New York, and during this time of social isolation, are still open for deliveries, with free media mail.

Regular listeners might remember we collaborated with these great folks on previous episodes including Jeff Tweedy with Abbi Jacobson and Judd Apatow with David Duchovny.

Today’s show was recorded in Brooklyn by Justin Hrabvosky, Eric Lemke and our co-producer Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com or @eliaeinhorn on Twitter.

Revisited: Jeff Tweedy (Wilco) with Abbi Jacobson Apr 09, 2020

This harrowing virus and quarantine have brought infinite terrible things with them. Still, I want to take a moment to celebrate a ray of sunshine — some truly incredible live-from-their-home sets from brilliant artists. “The Tweedy Show,” the nightly show that Wilco‘s Jeff Tweedy and his family stream on Instagram each weeknight is not to be missed. Jeff, his wife Susie, and their sons Spencer (The Blisters, Tweedy… um, the band, that is) and Sammy broadcast whatever they feel like: impromptu live versions of Wilco songs, Jeff’s from-a-dream lyrics for a song called “Grandma’s A Cyborg Now,” or a chat with Curb Your Enthusiasm‘s Jeff Garlin.

So this week, we’re re-airing a wonderful live talk between Jeff Tweedy and genius comedian Abbi Jacobson (Broad City, Disenchantment).

After you listen, make sure to check out the new Mavis Staples song “All In It Together” that Jeff produced and sang on, as well as Spencer Tweedy‘s past Talkhouse Podcast episodes with NE-HI (RIP) and Whitney.

Until catching this talk live last month, it would never have occurred to me that there could be a deep similarity between Jeff Tweedy’s songs and Abbi Jacobson’s Broad City character, but—there is!

Jeff (Wilco, Tweedy) and Abbi (Broad City, Disenchantment) sat down at the beautiful Murmrr Theater in Brooklyn to celebrate the release of Jeff’s memoir Let’s Go (So We Can Get Back): A Memoir of Recording and Discording with Wilco, Etc. and his new solo album Warm. Their thoughtful and funny conversation took in a lot, including the difficulties they each had writing books after focusing their careers on other types of writing; opening up about mental health and addiction; Jeff breaking into comedy; and so much more.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast. Feel free to DM me to let me know which artist(s) you’d love to see appear on a future episode.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

This episode was recorded by Mark Yoshizumi with Eric Lemke and Justin Hrabovski at Murmrr Theater, and at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn. It was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

Big thanks to Brian Kelly at Murmrr.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol, and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com.

Katie Crutchfield (Waxahatchee) with Whitmer Thomas Apr 02, 2020

Singer-songwriter Katie Crutchfield, aka Waxahatchee, and comedian Whitmer Thomas have each released perhaps the best work of their careers thus far in the past month or so: Waxahatchee with her new LP, Saint Cloud, Whitmer with his HBO comedy special The Golden One. The two are huge fans of each other's emotionally vulnerable work; having recently met, they have, as Katie puts it in this talk, “a weird kismet connection."

In their open and honest conversation, Katie and Whitmer take us through their careers, from their beginnings as teenage rockers in Alabama to their current professional successes, and the processes of making their powerful new works. We also hear about the benefits of a slower professional trajectory; pre-album-release shame when you’ve been completely open about your life in your art; and how Katie getting sober changed her music.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast, including upcoming shows featuring Jarvis Cocker (Pulp) with the Magnetic Fields’ Stephin Merritt; Black Belt Eagle Scout with Sasami; and George Saunders with fellow author Dana Spiotta.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

This week's show was recorded by Claire Morison at Bedrock.la and in Brooklyn by Talkhouse Film's Editor-in-chief Nick Dawson and myself in our respective #stayhome studios. The Talkhouse Podcast's co-producer is Mark Yoshizumi.

Our theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol, and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com.

Black Thought (The Roots) with Wyatt Cenac Mar 26, 2020

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, we feature a very special conversation recorded live at On Air Fest in Brooklyn earlier this month between The Roots’ lead MC Black Thought (aka Tarik Trotter) and comedian Wyatt Cenac. The two friends have a hilarious, highly entertaining talk about everything from beard grooming and the need for adult playgrounds, to their initial forays into showbiz (Tarik went to school with Questlove, Boyz II Men and Beanie Sigel!), to Wyatt’s disastrous gig hosting a CMJ hip-hop show and the awful time Tarik forgot the lyrics to the Jay-Z song he was performing – as part of a tribute to Hov himself! For more filmmakers and musicians in conversation, visit Talkhouse at talkhouse.com and subscribe to the Talkhouse Podcast to stay in the loop about future episodes.

This episode was recorded by Sam Bair at On Air Fest, Elia and Nick recorded themselves in quarantine, and was co-produced Mark Yoshizumi.

Revisited: Chuck D (Public Enemy) with Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine) Mar 19, 2020

With Public Enemy in the news recently, and Rage Against the Machine active this year, we were immediately reminded of this talk with Tom Morello and Public Enemy's Chuck D. A lot has changed since we recorded the new intro for this episode a week ago. We want to wish all of our listeners good health. Talkhouse will be continuing to publish new and archival conversations with your favorite musicians, actors, and filmmakers at our usual pace. Take care and thanks for listening.

Chuck D (Public Enemy) and Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine, Audioslave, the Nightwatchman) have been sending radical political messages up the pop charts for decades. On the occasion of the debut LP by their new supergroup, Prophets Of Rage, the two musical revolutionaries bum-rush the Talkhouse Podcast to discuss protest music. Their conversation also covers why new groups are afraid to be overtly political, the democratization of music via technology, how Rage Against the Machine fooled MTV and Viacom, and "Puff the Magic Dragon." Check it out, and subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today's episode was recorded by Susan Valot, and mixed and co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

A.C. Newman with Post Animal Mar 12, 2020

A.C. Newman of The New Pornographers and Wesley Toledo, the drummer for psych/prog rockers Post Animal, are big fans of each other's music. When we paired 'em up for a Talkhouse convo, the guys were thrilled to dive deep on embracing irony and ridiculousness in their songwriting. Their talk also takes in how hip hop and psych are getting closer and closer, what can be learned from Electric Light Orchestra, and the lengths Andrew Bird will go to to get the right take.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast, including upcoming episodes featuring Jarvis Cocker with The Magnetic Fields' Stephin Merritt; The Roots' Black Thought with comedian Wyatt Cenac; and George Saunders with Dana Spiotta.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Wesley Toledo was recorded by Talkhouse's dear pal Alex Hall at Reliable Recorders in Chicago, A.C. Newman recorded himself, and Annie Fell and I were committed to 1s and 0s by our co-producer Mark Yoshizumi at Hook and Fade Studios, Brooklyn.

The Talkhouse Podcast theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol, and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com.

Kelly Reichardt with Olivier Assayas Mar 05, 2020

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, two of the greatest living filmmakers, Kelly Reichardt and Olivier Assayas, sit down for an intimate conversation. Recorded last fall when Reichardt’s First Cow (in theaters March 6 through A24) and Assayas’ Wasp Network were both playing at the New York Film Festival, this talk sees the two comparing notes on the intricacies of their respective creative processes, from writing through to editing. They discuss the ways in which they differ (such as Assayas’ enforced spontaneity and Reichardt’s love of preparation), the personal backstories to Assayas’ films Cold Water and Summer Hours, Reichardt’s past growing up in a law-enforcement family in Miami, the way new technology figures in their work, and much more. For more filmmakers and comedians talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Maria Bamford with Chris Gethard Feb 27, 2020

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, there’s a meeting of kindred spirits as Maria Bamford sits down with fellow stand-up Chris Gethard. Bamford and Gethard are both famous for having put their own mental health struggles at the center of their comedy, and Bamford’s new Topic show, What’s Your Ailment?, is a series of in-depth discussions with other comedians about depression, addiction and the like. Unsurprisingly, the two swap stories about meds and therapists, but also share their fantasies of quitting comedy (and what other jobs they dream of doing), debate the relative merits of different hotel franchises, and dish on social media attacks, how to deal with hecklers, and much, much more. For more filmmakers and comedians talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Robbie Robertson (The Band) with M.C. Taylor (Hiss Golden Messenger) Feb 20, 2020

Robbie Robertson is a songwriter and guitarist who redefined American music with The Band, redefined what a concert film could be with The Last Waltz, and redefined movie soundtracks via his scoring of critical Martin Scorsese films like Raging Bull, The King of Comedy, and, most recently, The Irishman. To celebrate the release of the new documentary Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band, Robbie sat down for an incredible Talkhouse conversation with an artist at Americana's vanguard, M.C. Taylor, AKA Hiss Golden Messenger.

The guys chop it up on some truly incredible stories, including (but by no means limited to!) Robbie's touring with Bob Dylan, working with Martin Scorsese, and corresponding with the brilliant classical composer Krzysztof Penderecki. Their talk also takes in the meaning and process of songwriting, Levon Helm absolutely hating country music, and Robbie’s “incredible jukebox in the sky."

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast, including upcoming episodes with authors George Saunders and Dana Spiotta, filmmakers Olivier Assayas and Kelly Reichardt, and musicians A.C. Newman (The New Pornographers) and Post Animal.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today's episode is brought to you by Current.com. It was recorded in North Carolina by M.C. Taylor, in Los Angeles at Village Studios by Karl Wingate, and in Brooklyn at Hook and Fade Studios by our co-producer Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com

Judd Apatow with David Duchovny Feb 13, 2020

Today's episode is produced in collaboration with Murmrr Ballroom and Community Bookstore.

Judd Apatow and David Duchovny absolutely adored their friend and collaborator Garry Shandling. Since Garry's death in 2016, Judd has been memorializing the game-changing comedian, first with his HBO documentary The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling, and more recently through the book, It's Garry Shandling's Book, comprised of journal entries, photos, and contributions from peers. To celebrate Garry's life via the book's release late last year, Judd and David sat down at a sold-out Murmrr Ballroom to share some heartfelt and hilarious stories, and to answer audience questions.

In this very special episode, tune in for tales of boxing and meditating with Garry; on-set shenanigans; wild times at his famous Hollywood basketball games with the likes of Adam Sandler, George Clooney, and Brad Pitt; and so much more.

Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast, including upcoming episodes with George Saunders and Dana Spiotta (another Murmrr Lit collaboration), the New Pornographer’s AC Newman and Post Animal, Robbie Robertson of The Band and Hiss Golden Messenger, and filmmakers Olivier Assayas and Kelly Reichardt.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Huge thanks to Brian Kelly and all at Murmrr, and to Community Bookstore in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Today’s show was recorded in Brooklyn by Justin Hrabvosky and our co-producer Mark Yoshizumi, at Murmrr and Hook and Fade Studios.

The Talkhouse Podcast theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com

Michael Shannon with Jason Narducy Feb 06, 2020

Michael Shannon (Knives Out, The Shape Of Water) and Jason Narducy (Superchunk, Bob Mould) met while playing in a Lou Reed cover band put together by Robbie Fulks, and their friendship has only gotten more interesting from there.

On the occasion of the new musical Verböten — which tells the story of Jason’s real-life punk band that formed when he was just 11 years old — opening at Chicago's Chopin Theatre, the old friends sat down for a wonderful conversation. Tune in for insider stories of Michael's newest film Knives Out, Jason's journey to seeing Verböten through to curtain, hangs with The Pretenders' Chrissie Hynde, and so much more.

Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast, including upcoming episodes with Judd Apatow and David Duchovny, The New Pornographer's AC Newman and Post Animal, and Robbie Robertson of The Band and Hiss Golden Messenger. —Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer Today's show was recorded in Chicago by Stephen Shirk at Shirk Studios, and in Brooklyn by our co-producer Mark Yoshizumi at Hook and Fade Studios. The Talkhouse Podcast theme song was composed and performed by The Range. Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol, and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com

Revisited: Steve Albini with Jerry Casale (Devo) Jan 30, 2020

This week on the show, we revisit a fan-favorite episode: legendary producer and musician Steve Albini, and the game-changing Devo's Jerry Casale. Enjoy!

The Talkhouse Podcast recently headed out to the fantastic Desert Daze festival at Moreno Beach at Lake Perris in Southern California. When we weren't catching sets by Tame Impala, King Gizzard, and My Bloody Valentine, we recorded a trio of great talks; this week, we present the first.

When I saw that both Steve Albini and Devo's Jerry Casale were going to be at Desert Daze giving talks, I knew we had to pair these two icons of alternative music. They're big fans of each other's work, and halfway through their conversation, Steve said, “This is the sort of stuff no one ever talks about. These are the questions I’ve had for 30 years.”

Their fascinating talk takes in the beginning years of Devo’s existence; their complex relationship with Neil Young; Brian Eno’s proclivity for ménage à trois; the differences between poker and making records; and how the name Devo became a category alongside jocks, squares and nerds.

Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast. Feel free to DM me to let me know which artist(s) you’d love to see appear on a future episode.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

This episode was recorded by Keenan Kush at Desert Daze, and by Mark Yoshizumi at Hook & Fade Studios in Brooklyn. It was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Big thanks to Desert Daze for hosting the Talkhouse Podcast.

Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol, and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com

Juliana Harkavy with Ryan Hurst Jan 23, 2020

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, we feature the second of our talks recorded live at last year’s LA Comic Con. Though the pairing of actors Juliana Harkavy (aka Black Canary on Arrow) and Ryan Hurst (best known as Opie on Sons of Anarchy) came together at the last minute, the two clicked instantly, helped by their joint love of dogs (Ryan has 12 and is a dog trainer!) and the fact that both of them have acted on The Walking Dead. As well as swapping stories about eating lunch with zombies, the two discuss the bliss of sky-diving (which Ryan has done about 1000 times), their (sometimes embarrassing) early acting experiences, Ryan shares a hilarious Marlon Brando story, and Juliana teases a possible sideways career move into music. For more filmmakers on film, go to talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Today’s show was recorded at LA Comic Con by Ali Nikou, and at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn by our co-producer Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Dev Hynes (Blood Orange) with Beverly Glenn-Copeland Jan 16, 2020

Devonté Hynes, aka Blood Orange, had an incredible 2019. He dropped the mixtape Angel's Pulse; scored the critically acclaimed film Queen and Slim; released a classical album with Third Coast Percussion; directed a music video for Beck; and, as a fan, finally saw the brilliant composer/vocalist Beverly Glenn-Copeland live. Glenn-Copeland (as he prefers to go by in his day-to-day life) had his own amazing year: At the age of 74, he had his first international tour, released the new LP Primal Prayer, and saw his previously obscure, decade-spanning seven album catalog finally embraced in music communities around the world. And he met Dev, whose music he adores.

We introduced Dev and Glenn right here on the Talkhouse Podcast, and the ensuing convo was warm, vulnerable, funny, and potent. The two sat on a sofa at Hook and Fade Studio in Brooklyn, and instantly formed a world all their own; they stared into each other's eyes, and spoke so softly that it was difficult to hear them from even a few feet away. In their wide-ranging conversation, Glenn and Dev discuss discovering parts of themselves by traveling out of their home countries; the way they each approach their songwriting; and the story behind Glenn’s seminal 1986 album Keyboard Fantasies. We also learn the importance of nature and its role in their music; how recently Dev began to honor music as the foundation of all his creativity; and the trick Glenn’s mother used to make him a musician while still in utero.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer @eliaeinhorn

Today's show was engineered and co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi. Additional editing by Katie Lau. Research by Reese Higgins.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol, and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com

Suzi Quatro with Donita Sparks (L7) Jan 09, 2020

Suzi Quatro and L7's Donita Sparks are iconic rockers who have each paved the way for generations of women in music. And on today's show — for the first time ever — they meet!

To celebrate the theatrical release of the documentary Suzi Q, which Donita appears in, as well as the L7 doc L7: Pretend We're Dead and new LP Scatter The Rats, the two chop it up in a wide-ranging, rapid fire convo. They talk refusing to "do gender" when it comes to their music, while also knowing when to pull what they call the “female card” and charge a “pussy premium” for their work.

We also hear about Suzi's astrological studies; Donita’s time-travel crush; Suzi’s life mantra — in lyrics — and what she's gonna do to get ready when it comes time for her to kick the bucket.

Today's show was recorded at Elevate Studios in Hamburg by Jan Strehl, in Los Angeles by Ali Nikou, and at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn by Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Damien Jurado with Nick Thune Jan 02, 2020

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, singer-songwriter Damien Jurado and standup comedian and actor Nick Thune sit down together in advance of their upcoming joint “Sad Music, Sad Comedy” tour, which is hitting the East Coast this January. The two became friends after the passing in 2018 of their mutual friend, producer and musician Richard Swift, who both Nick and Damien made records with. As well as swapping stories about Swift, the two discuss how Swift’s death pushed Nick to get sober, how comedians want to be musicians (and vice versa), Nick teaching his kid manipulative behavior so he can excel at Made You Look and how Damien discovered the Beatles in his forties, plus they set the ground rules for their tour – Cracker Barrel, look out! For more filmmakers and musicians in conversation, subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Today’s show was recorded at Bedrock.LA by Eric Rennaker and at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn by our co-producer Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

The Best Moments of the Talkhouse Podcast (2019) Dec 19, 2019

What a FOOKIN' TRULY RAD YEAR it's been here at the Talkhouse Podcast! Thx for being on this wild ride with us!

As we hurtle towards 2020, I've been doing a bit of year-end tallying; can I share just a few stats with you? Please? Ok, thx.

We released a whopping FORTY NINE new episodes in 2019. (WHO DOES THAT?! WHAT WERE WE THINKING?!) This year we featured artists like Brian Wilson, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tierra Whack, Harmony Korine, Chelsea Peretti, Portugal. The Man, Fred Armisen, Shabazz Palaces, Nikki Glaser, Drew Carey, Chris Redd, The Flaming Lips, Robert Glasper, Snail Mail, The Magnetic Fields, Animal Collective, Karen O, Tim Heidecker, Kate Nash, Karen Gillan, Jon Cryer, and Ariel Pink, plus so many more greats.

The Talkhouse Podcast held live tapings from LA Comic Con to Rough Trade NYC, with stops at SXSW in Austin, both Tomorrow Never Knows and Pitchfork x The Art Institute of Chicago's Midwinter in Chi, Life Is Beautiful in Las Vegas, and loads more. Oh, and did you see the videos from our time at FORM Fest in Arcosanti, Az?? They're gorgeous!

We celebrate 2019 on the show this week with a roundtable of Talkhouse's editorial team looking back on some of our fave moments from the show this year.

Enjoy, and happiest of holiday seasons to you! Can't wait to share the incredible episodes we've already got in store for you next year.

xoxo Elia

Today’s show was recorded at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn by our co-producer Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Revisited: Ariel Pink with Cate Le Bon Dec 12, 2019

Dearest Talkhousers!

As we near the end of an incredible year at the Talkhouse Podcast, we wanted to re-air one of our fan fave episodes: Cate Le Bon in conversation with Ariel Pink. Make sure to tune in next week for the Talkhouse Podcast Best of 2019 all-star bonanza show!

Sending posi-core choose-your-own-holiday vibez, Elia

To celebrate Mexican Summer’s ten year anniversary, we paired two of the fantastic record label’s most fascinating artists: Ariel Pink and Cate Le Bon.

Backstage at A Decade Deeper: Mexican Summer’s 10 Year Anniversary party at Brooklyn’s Pioneer Works arts space, Cate and Ariel—fans of each other’s work who'd never met irl—sat down for a talk before their sets. The two really hit it off, and their wide-ranging conversation takes in a lot: the deep flaws they see in the way music press works; Ariel not always working well with others; and the difficult genesis of Cate’s upcoming LP. Ariel also talks about his favorite site on the internet, and Cate divulges the, um, very weird act she was asked to perform for a shoot. Check it out.

Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today’s episode was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

Big thanks to Justin Frye and Pioneer Works for hosting this taping.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Chelsea Peretti with Will Schwartz (Imperial Teen) Dec 05, 2019

Comedian Chelsea Peretti and Imperial Teen's Will Schwartz are working on a secret collaboration. Well it was secret, that is, until they sat down together for this week's podcast!

Tune in to hear about their upcoming musical project, Will's wild connection to the Clinton impeachment scandal, Chelsea dishing on her and hubby Jordan Peele's complicated (and hilarious) relationship with ordering in, and “the trick to singing good.”

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today’s show was recorded at Bedrock.LA by Eric Rennaker and at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn by our co-producer Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Portugal. The Man with Fred Armisen and Chris Redd Nov 21, 2019

We announced this surprise Talkhouse Podcast live episode at Life is Beautiful less than 45 minutes before it started. But by the time the venue where we were recording opened its doors, an impossible line snaked through rows of metal dividers, down the block, and out of sight around the corner. How could it not be a standing-room-only situation, though, when the artists on stage were Fred Armisen, Chris Redd, and Portugal. The Man???

Over the next 50 minutes, in convo and Q&A, the guys hilariously tackled impersonating the arpeggiator on a synthesizer; shared the secrets to continuously reinventing their art; and spilled tea on mind-blowing Saturday Night Live moments as well as PTM's most epic onstage meltdown.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Thanks so much to Life is Beautiful for hosting the Talkhouse Podcast!

Today’s show was recorded at Life is Beautiful by Logan Shields and Mark Yoshizumi, and in NYC by our co-producer Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Felicia Day with Jonah Ray Nov 14, 2019

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, friends and Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return co-stars Felicia Day and Jonah Ray sit down for a live on-stage conversation at LA Comic Con to find out all the stuff they realize they don’t actually know about one another! The two are inveterate multi-hyphenates – Day is an actress (from Buffy the Vampire Slayer to Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog to Supernatural), web video creator (most famously of The Guild) and best-selling author (most recently of Embrace Your Weird) and Ray is a stand-up comedian, podcast host, TV host (Hidden America with Jonah Ray) and writer-director – so there’s no shortage of topics to dive into. In their wide-ranging talk, the two discuss everything from their plan Bs (if showbiz fails), Jonah’s planned indie movie about his Hawaii upbringing (which Bobcat Goldthwait is helping him with!), Felicia’s permissive, poop-friendly parenting approach, early bedtimes, accidentally ripping off Fleabag, and much, much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Shannon Shaw (Shannon and The Clams) with Calvin Langman (The Happy Fits) Nov 07, 2019

On this week's show, we share a talk that took place as a fans-only live taping at Rough Trade NYC last year. Curated by Talkhouse intern Lauren McGrath, the episode sees Shannon Shaw of Shannon And The Clams and Hunx and his Punx chop it up with Happy Fits' singer/cellist Calvin Langman.

Their revealing backstage convo takes in the time Shannon met Andre 3000; Calvin’s experience having his very first single blow up on Spotify; recording with The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach; and even Shannon's job working at a mental institution for the criminally insane.

Check it out, and catch Shannon and The Clams on tour with the Black Keys through November: all dates @ http://shannonandtheclams.com/

This episode was recorded and co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

Our theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Big thanks to Jill Wheeler and Rough Trade NYC for hosting us!

CHAI with Stef Smith (Varsity) Oct 31, 2019

For our fifth consecutive year there, the Talkhouse Podcast crew flew out to the fantastic Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago this past July to record artists in conversation backstage.

Over the years, this series has featured talks between Brian Wilson & Carly Rae Jepsen, Frankie Cosmos & Vagabon, Priests with LCD Soundsystem's Tyler Pope, and many more.

This week’s show is our second from the fest this year (the first was Tasha & Lillie West of Lala Lala), and it's Talkhouse's first ever bilingual conversation! In this episode, all four members of Nagoya, Japan's CHAI — whose "neo-kawaii" post-punk-pop record Punk is one of our favorites of the year — talk to Stef Smith from the stellar Chicago-based indie pop band Varsity.

With the help of CHAI's translator Rena, they chat about what it’s like touring in a country where you don’t speak the language (and how that’s actually been a good thing for CHAI when it comes to getting interviewed); the real, unexpected danger of being interviewed by Nardwuar; and why dogs make such great musical inspiration. They also cover where to find the best deep dish in Chicago — controversial! — and the food Nagoya is famous for.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast!

—Annie Fell, Talkhouse Senior Editor

This episode was recorded by Joe Darnaby and Mark Yoshizumi, and co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi, Annie Fell, and Elia Einhorn.

Our theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Big thanks to Pitchfork Music Festival for hosting Talkhouse!

Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth) with Ian Williams (Battles) Oct 24, 2019

Last month, Ian Williams (Battles) and Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth) chopped it up in front of a fully packed house at the grand opening of Everlane's flagship store in Williamsburg for a live taping of the Talkhouse Podcast.

The experimental guitar legends shared the unusual processes of making their new LPs (Battles' Juice B. Crypts came out last week, and Lee's drops early next year). Their talk also takes in Sonic Youth's versus Wilco's insane touring guitar collections; how a chance encounter with Les Savy Fav led to the first ever Battles show; the cross-genre pollination of 1980s New York; and their thoughts on recently departed icons Ric Ocasek of The Cars and Daniel Johnston.

Stay tuned after the talk for an audience Q&A with Lee, Ian, and myself.

Links galore: If you enjoy this episode, keep an eye peeled for the wonderful Consequence of Sound podcast This Must Be The Gig's upcoming show featuring Lee Renaldo and his collaborator Raül Refree; I attended the live taping in New York and just loved it. You can also check out past Talkhouse Podcast episodes featuring Battles' Juice B. Crypts collaborators Xenia Rubinos, Tune-Yards, and Shabazz Palaces. And finally, here's Lee and Ian's first meeting on the show from back in 2016.

Today's show was recorded by Stephan Kimbel Olson and Mark Yoshizumi at Everlane, and at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn by our co-producer Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt with Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh Oct 17, 2019

Ever bring your family to Burning Man?

Sorry, let me back up. A bit of context: The Talkhouse Podcast spent a fantastic weekend in Las Vegas last month at Life Is Beautiful Music and Art Festival. We put on two live Talkhouse tapings as part of their comedy lineup: Nikki Glaser x Bachelor Nation superstar Kaitlyn Bristowe, and Fred Armisen x Chris Redd x Portugal. The Man (which'll be released as a podcast soon). We also hosted a live talk under the fest's Ideas banner, featuring legendary entrepreneur Tony Hsieh (CEO of Zappos) and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (insanely famous actor, founder of HitRecord).

The two friends take a heady dive into the question of what collaboration will look like in the future. Along the way we hear about parallels between artistic and entrepreneurial creativity; how the '80s show MacGyver shaped Tony's business philosophy; and, yep, taking your family to Burning Man.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer @eliaeinhorn

Today’s show was recorded at Life Is Beautiful by Logan Shields and Mark Yoshizumi, and at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn by our co-producer Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Pete Yorn with Jackson Phillips (Day Wave) Oct 10, 2019

Singer/songwriter Pete Yorn knows how to pick collaborators — he's worked with The Pixies' Frank Black, Scarlett Johansson, and REM's Peter Buck to name just a few greats. When he and Day Wave's Jackson Phillips began making music together, Yorn knew he'd found the right co-pilot for a new musical undertaking.

To celebrate Yorn's new LP Caretakers, co-produced by him and Phillips, the two sat down for a deep dive on the Talkhouse Podcast. They examine the benefits and drawbacks of a musical education; discuss the pluses and minuses of working in both small and big recording studio; and take in how hearing The Cure & The Smiths changed the course of Yorn's life.

Check it out, and subscribe to the Talkhouse Podcast to catch upcoming episodes featuring Portugal. The Man with SNL's Chris Redd and Fred Armisen, Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth) with Battles' Ian Williams, and CHAI in convo with Varsity.

Today’s show was recorded in New York by Dan Arnes and Mark Yoshizumi. It was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Nikki Glaser with Kaitlyn Bristowe Oct 08, 2019

What's uuuuuuup!!

Dearest listeners, the Talkhouse Podcast team is back from Life Is Beautiful Fest in Las Vegas and we can definitively report that it totally. fookin'. RULES!

We saw Billie Eilish start five separate mosh pits; watched famous DJs spin to a rooftop pool full of three-drinks-in, beach-ball-tossing, all-gender hotties at 1:00 in the afternoon; made it rain on 11th Street Records picking up rare original-pressing Smiths 12"s; and danced like fools down strobe-lit alleyways soundtracked by blasting synth-drenched four on the floor. (Fine, I'll admit that those last two were just me...)

Oh, yeah, and we also put on three live Talkhouse Podcast events! For the Life Is Beautiful Comedy series, we paired SNL's Chris Redd, Fred Armisen, and Portugal. The Man, then comedian Nikki Glaser with Bachelor Nation mega-star Kaitlyn Bristowe.

And as part of the Life Is Beautiful Ideas vertical, we brought together actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt with Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh.

This week we share Nikki and Kaitlyn's HILARIOUS talk. Tune in for Kaitlyn spilling tea on Ashley I and Jared's wedding, Nick Vial, JJ Lane, and her beef with The Bachelor creator Mike Fleis. Nikki tells us which Bachelor she's dying to get with, how her stint on Dancing With The Stars left her a wreck, and about her brilliant just-dropped new Netflix special Bangin'.

And of course, with these two, we hear all about the benefits of getting tied up in bed; why men should “explore their assholes;” and dating bisexuals. Plus, Nikki changes Kaitlyn’s life by teaching her how to fart silently.

Our special guest co-host for this episode is Liam Mathews, co-host of A Beautiful Podcast to Fall in Love, TV Guide’s unofficial Bachelor Nation podcast.

Check it out!

Today’s show was recorded at Life Is Beautiful by Logan Shields and Mark Yoshizumi, and at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn by our co-producer Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Drew Carey with Palmyra Delran Oct 03, 2019

Did you have any idea that Drew Carey is a deep music nerd??? Yeah, that Drew Carey, the one from The Drew Carey Show, Who’s Line Is It Anyway, and The Price Is Right. Did you realize that he hosts a show called Friday Night Freak Out on Little Stevie’s Underground Garage Sirius XM radio station? He does, and it gets wonderfully weird.

Drew sat down with legendary Philly musician — and fellow Underground Garage DJ — Palmyra Delran (The Friggs, The Coolies) for a fun trip down the musical rabbit hole.

The two chop it up on Drew’s history playing in polka bands; the culture clash that occurred when Palmyra hired a classical cellist for a session; meeting Dick Clark, Brian Wilson, and a couple of Beatles; and so much more.

Check it out!

Today’s show was recorded by Eric Rennaker at Bedrock.LA in Los Angeles, and Mark Yoshizumi at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn. It was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Revisited: Jaboukie Young-White with The Drums Sep 26, 2019

The Talkhouse team just returned back from Life is Beautiful 2019 with an amazing group of talks. This week we revisit one of our favorite conversations recorded out at last year's Life is Beautiful festival. Subscribe today to keep up to date with future Talkhouse Podcasts.

In September, the Talkhouse Podcast squad rolled out to Las Vegas for Life is Beautiful Music and Arts Festival. In between performances from Talkhouse faves A$AP Ferg, CHVRCHES, and Death Cab For Cutie, we recorded some epic convos for the show.

Comedian Jaboukie Young-White (The Daily Show, American Vandal) and indiepop legends The Drums’ Jonny Pierce are whip-smart queer artists who have intricately bound together their work and sexuality. Backstage at the fest, they and newer Drums' member Bryan de Leon dissected what exactly it means to be a "queer artist." Their talk takes in coming out through one’s art, "conveniently Christian homophobes," Balenciaga daddies, and how the world needs a gay Shrek. Oh, and Bryan also got Jaboukie to give some inside scoop on American Vandal season two...

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast. Feel free to DM me to let me know which artist(s) you’d love to see appear on a future episode.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer @eliaeinhorn

This episode was recorded by Mark Yoshizumi at Life is Beautiful, and at Hook & Fade Studios in Brooklyn. It was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Big thanks to Life Is Beautiful for hosting the Talkhouse Podcast.

Devendra Banhart with Alison Mosshart Sep 19, 2019

Alison Mosshart (The Kills, The Dead Weather) has been painting with remote control cars; Devendra Banhart's been obsessively pondering Christian Slater's '89 skater flick Gleaming The Cube. To celebrate Alison's new art book about cars — Car Ma — and Devendra's LP Ma, the two got together over salted egg brainless shrimp heads to discuss the above as well as skateboarding as a gateway drug to dope music, the multi-hyphenate magic of Captain Beefheart, how Guns N' Roses' November Rain video shaped Devendra's idea of Americans, and so much more.

Check it out!

Today’s show was recorded by Michael Harris at Electro-Vox Studios in Los Angeles, and Mark Yoshizumi at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn. It was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Brian Wilson with The Zombies Sep 12, 2019

Brian Wilson and The Zombies are touring together!!! I repeat, head Beach Boy Brian Wilson and recent Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees The Zombies are touring America together right now! To celebrate these legendary artists sharing the stage, we got 'em together at the first gig of the run for a Talkhouse Podcast conversation.

The Zombies’ songwriter/keyboardist Rod Argent and singer Colin Blunstone roundtable some wonderful ideas with Wilson, fellow Beach Boys founder Al Jardine, 1970s Beach Boys addition Blondie Chaplin (who also plays with The Rolling Stones), and Darian Sahanaja, who’s played with Brian for two decades and was key in the making of the fantastic Smile LP. Their talk takes in the early days of The Beach Boys and The Zombies, and the bands' love of each other's music; challenges in playing songs you haven’t played in 50 years; recording Friends in Brian’s living room; and "balls out" Hammond B3 organ that'd make Argent proud.

Check it out, and stay tuned after the featured conversation for clips of our favorite Brian Wilson and Zombies appearances on the show from 2016, including Brian and Carly Rae Jepsen in a "one-question wonder" chat from Pitchfork Music Festival, and The Zombies chatting with Hollis Brown at the Samsung store in NYC.

Catch Brian Wilson and The Zombies on tour:

9/12: Los Angeles, CA — Greek Theatre

9/13: Oakland, CA — Fox Theater

9/16: Seattle, WA — Paramount Theatre

9/17: Portland, OR — Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall

9/19: Sandy, UT — Sandy Amphitheater

9/20: Denver, CO — Paramount Theatre

9/22: Milwaukee, WI — The Riverside Theater

9/23: Cincinnati, OH — Taft Theatre

9/24: Detroit, MI — Masonic Temple

9/26: New York, NY — Beacon Theatre

9/27: Waterbury, CT — Palace Theater

9/28: Upper Darby, PA — Tower Theater

Today's show was recorded by Malcolm Harrison of National Southwestern in Las Vegas, and Mark Yoshizumi at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn. It was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Chris Gethard with Mal Blum Sep 05, 2019

As I learned from today's episode, comedian Chris Gethard and singer-songwriter Mal Blum are "self-deprecating sad boys from Jersey" who are attracted to “erratic or controlling people who will blow your life up.” What I already knew going in is that the two are old friends, occasional collaborators, and incredibly talented at their art.

Gethard and Blum joined us on the Talkhouse Podcast to celebrate the release of Blum's excellent new LP Pity Boy, and their conversation is predictably openhearted, neurotic, and fucking hilarious. Tune in to hear them consider going to a Love Addicts 12-step meeting, share their writing processes (Gethard even opens up his joke notebook and shares some new ideas!), unpack Mal's lack of boundaries, and learn why Gethard wants to wind up his career.

Today’s episode was co-produced and recorded by Mark Yoshizumi. It was cut at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn.

Research assistance was provided by Madalyn Feltus.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

With this week's episode, Chris Gethard has joined the (sort of) rare and (moderately) coveted Talkhouse Podcast Hat Trick Club! Check out his previous appearances, talking with Todd Barry and Tim Heidecker.

Trevor de Brauw (Pelican) and Nate Kinsella (American Football, Joan of Arc) Aug 29, 2019

Our latest installment of the Talkhouse Podcast at FORM Fest 2019 is a love letter to Chicago's post-rock, punk and emo scenes from the '00s to today. Windy City music legends — and old friends — Trevor de Brauw (Pelican, RLYR, TUSK) and Nate Kinsella (American Football, Joan of Arc, Make Believe) caught up backstage for a warm and hilarious convo, as well as a rad improvised ambient musical collaboration.

The guys' talk takes in a lot: playing in bands with family members; having your musician father hate on your experimental work; and balancing parenthood and tour life. Oh and, of course: tone clusters, alternate tunings, death metal, and odd time signatures.

This Talkhouse Podcast episode was recorded in the Conservatory backstage at FORM Fest in Arcosanti, Arizona. Pulp Arts and Patreon teamed up to co-present The Conservatory, a dope backstage visual arts installation and recording studio. Talkhouse recorded six episodes there throughout the weekend. You can also check out the other episodes in this series, including Snail Mail with Fred Armisen & Mary Lynn Rajskub, Robert Glasper & Vieux Farka Touré with special guest Lonnie Holley, Julianna Barwick & Mary Lattimore, and Kelsey Lu with Yrsa Daley-Ward.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer @eliaeinhorn

Today’s episode was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi. It was recorded at FORM Festival in Arcosanti, Arizona, and at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn by Mark Yoshizumi, Danny Clifton, and Ian Jones.

Research assistance was provided by Madalyn Feltus.

The performance includes Trevor de Brauw on guitar and Nate Kinsella playing the drums.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Lulu Wang with Ruben Östlund Aug 22, 2019

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, Lulu Wang — writer-director of the summer indie hit The Farewell — chats with one of her favorite directors, Ruben Östlund, the award-winning Swedish director of such acclaimed films as The Square and Force Majeure. Talking from New York City and Gothenburg, respectively, the two filmmakers have a profound and highly entertaining conversation that touches on everything from the crucial role cinema plays in society and the importance of making films from lived experience, to how the internet turns us into shitty people and what Lulu and her boyfriend Barry Jenkins watch when they just want to relax. Special thanks to Katey Rich from Vanity Fair for collaborating on this special conversation, and for joining us on the podcast. Check out today's episode of Vanity Fair's awards podcast Little Gold Men for more from Lulu and Ruben. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Tasha with Lillie West (Lala Lala) Aug 15, 2019

For our fifth consecutive year there, the Talkhouse Podcast squad rolled out to the fantastic Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago last month to record artists in conversation backstage.

Over the years, this series has featured talks between Brian Wilson & Carly Rae Jepsen, Kamasi Washington & Thundercat, HAIM and Chvrches, and many more.

This week's show features two young Chicago singer-songwriters who are both blowing up fast: Tasha and Lala Lala's Lillie West. The two chopped it up on how much they're learning all the time as their careers explode (including adjusting to having teams working around them); dealing with impostor syndrome; and the perils of making jokes onstage. Their talk also took in Jack White's technophobia, the pluses and minuses of freeing the nipple onstage, and Marie Kondo-ing your Instagram.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

This episode was recorded by Joe Darnaby and Mark Yoshizumi, and co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi, Annie Fell, and Elia Einhorn.

Big thanks to Pitchfork Music Festival for hosting Talkhouse.

Craig Finn, Peter Katis, and Katie Harkin talk Frightened Rabbit Aug 08, 2019

In honor of the release of Tiny Changes: A Celebration of Frightened Rabbit’s ‘The Midnight Organ Fight’, Talkhouse paired three notable Frightened Rabbit collaborators and friends for a live conversation at Rough Trade NYC. Craig Finn (The Hold Steady), Katie Harkin (Sleater-Kinney, HARKIN), and Grammy-winning producer Peter Katis joined Talkhouse’s Executive Editor Josh Modell — a friend and fan of the band — to share favorite stories about the making of The Midnight Organ Fight, and Scott Hutchison’s life and legacy.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today’s episode was produced by Mark Yoshizumi, Josh Modell, and Elia Einhorn. It was recorded at Rough Trade NYC, and at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn by Mark Yoshizumi. Front of house engineering at Rough Trade was by Alex Payne.

Research assistance was provided by Madalyn Feltus.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Yrsa Daley-Ward with Kelsey Lu Aug 01, 2019

Our latest installment of the Talkhouse Podcast at FORM Fest 2019 pairs the brilliant poet/actress Yrsa Daley-Ward with avant-pop singer/songwriter/cellist Kelsey Lu in powerful conversation and musical collaboration.

Their talk takes in a lot, including just how much effort is the right amount to put into a piece of art; how to make spaces your own when on the road; and how important the right clothes and hair are to each of their attitudes. They also touch on what it’s like to date a taurus (comfy!), and the devilish fun of writing disco revenge tracks.

This Talkhouse Podcast episode was recorded in the Conservatory backstage at FORM Fest in Arcosanti, Arizona. Pulp Arts and Patreon teamed up to co-present The Conservatory, a rad backstage visual arts installation and recording studio. Talkhouse recorded six episodes there throughout the weekend, so subscribe to make sure to catch upcoming shows, including:

— American Football & Pelican

— L’Rain & Melanie Faye

You can also check out the first three episodes in this series, including Snail Mail with Fred Armisen & Mary Lynn Rajskub, Robert Glasper & Vieux Farka Touré with special guest Lonnie Holley, and Julianna Barwick & Mary Lattimore.

For their performance, Lu and Daley-Ward are joined by Max André Rademacher.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today’s episode was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi. It was recorded at FORM Festival in Arcosanti, Arizona, and at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn by Mark Yoshizumi, Danny Clifton and Ian Jones.

Research assistance was provided by Madalyn Feltus.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Butch Vig with Brian Aubert (Silversun Pickups) Jul 25, 2019

For today’s show, legendary record producer and Garbage drummer Butch Vig and Silversun Pickups frontman Brian Aubert sat down for some deep musical shop talk. The occasion was the release of Widow’s Weeds, the new album by Silversun Pickups that Vig produced. Their convo takes in the nitty gritty of writing, recording, doing press, and touring. To that end, we hear about: a German journalist being a bit too honest; Butch’s psychic connection with his crack engineer; Brian’s reason for having lots of guests in studio; advice on how to keep your band together for the long haul; and so much more.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today’s episode was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi. It was recorded in LA by Butch Vig (yes, that Butch Vig), and at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn by Mark Yoshizumi.

Research assistance was provided by Madalyn Feltus.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Julianna Barwick with Mary Lattimore Jul 18, 2019

Julianna Barwick and Mary Lattimore are two of ambient music's most brilliant artists working today. On our third Talkhouse Podcast episode recorded backstage at FORM Fest, the two sit down for an in-depth conversation, as well as a wonderful improvised musical collaboration.

Their talk takes in a lot, including making up stories about your art for the press; creating a 24-hour long score; hanging with an oracle friend of Grouper’s; and a “dead corpse” putting babies to sleep.

This Talkhouse Podcast — and video of the performance element of today's show — was recorded in the Conservatory backstage at FORM Fest in Arcosanti, Arizona. Pulp Arts and Patreon teamed up to co-present The Conservatory, a rad backstage visual arts installation and recording studio. Talkhouse recorded six episodes there throughout the weekend, so subscribe to make sure to catch upcoming shows, including:

— Kelsey Lu & Yrsa Daley-Ward

— American Football & Pelican

— L’Rain & Melanie Faye

You can also check out the first two episodes in the series, including Snail Mail with Fred Armisen & Mary Lynn Rajskub, and Robert Glasper & Vieux Farka Touré with special guest Lonnie Holley.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today’s episode was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi. It was recorded at FORM Festival in Arcosanti, Arizona, and at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn by Mark Yoshizumi, Danny Clifton and Ian Jones.

Research assistance was provided by Madalyn Feltus.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Wayne Coyne with Sean Lennon and Les Claypool Jul 11, 2019

Ahead of their much-anticipated upcoming US co-tour, the Flaming Lips' Wayne Coyne and The Claypool Lennon Delirium's Les Claypool and Sean Lennon catch up on the Talkhouse Podcast. The three legends have known each other for years, and they get into a lot here, including: how Wayne comes up with new ideas for the Lips' incredible stage visuals; CLD playing to pachyderms; life lessons they've learned from Butthole Surfers, Bootsy Collins, and Mike Watt; and having the best New Years Eve ever... every night.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today’s episode was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi. It was recorded in Sacramento, California at Ace of Spades by Matthew Maxwell, at Wayne's Oklahoma City, Oklahoma studio by Michael Ivins, and at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn by Mark Yoshizumi.

Research assistance was provided by Madalyn Feltus.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Fred Armisen and Mary Lynn Rajskub with Lindsey Jordan (Snail Mail) Jul 09, 2019

BREAKING NEWS! Indie rock it-band Snail Mail has an all-new lineup! Don't worry, Lindsey Jordan is still there — only now, so is Fred Armisen and comedian Mary Lynn Rajskub (24, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia).

On our second Talkhouse Podcast episode recorded backstage at the wonderful FORM Fest, the three form a group on the spot, then, with instruments in hand, improvise songs about: How they’re actually the new Snail Mail lineup; Chef Boyardee; Neil Young; "lemon squares that Mommy made"; Jesus’ selective saving tendencies (that one's titled called “Here Comes The Son”), and loads more.

We also witness spoofs of Queen and Beyonce; hear thoughts on fergiepeepants.jpg; learn about foot fetishists and Wikifeet; take in some sarcastic breakdancing; consider gentle piss modulators; and find out why Mary Lynn is convinced Lindsey needs to get pregnant immediately.

This Talkhouse Podcast and video was recorded in the Conservatory backstage at FORM Fest in Arcosanti, Arizona. Pulp Arts and Patreon teamed up to co-present The Conservatory, a rad backstage visual arts installation and recording studio. Talkhouse recorded six episodes there throughout the weekend, so subscribe to make sure to catch upcoming shows, including:

— Kelsey Lu & Yrsa Daley-Ward

— Julianna Barwick & Mary Lattimore

— American Football & Pelican

— L’Rain & Melanie Faye

You can also check out the just-released first episode from the fest, featuring jazz and hip hop legend Robert Glasper with a giant of African music, Malian guitarist Vieux Farka Touré, plus an appearance by Lonnie Holley.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today’s episode was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi. It was recorded at FORM Festival in Arcosanti, Arizona, and at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn by Mark Yoshizumi, Danny Clifton and Ian Jones.

Research assistance was provided by Madalyn Feltus.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Revisited: Robin Pecknold (Fleet Foxes) with Nilüfer Yanya & Dev Hynes (Blood Orange) with Raphael Saadiq Jul 04, 2019

With Pitchfork Music Festival 2019 closely approaching, we thought we'd highlight this double feature from last year's fest. Happy holidays!

Welcome to this week’s bumper double feature of a show! We’re thrilled to bring you two fantastic conversations recorded backstage at Pitchfork Music Festival 2018: a short chat between Fleet Foxes main-man Robin Pecknold and Nilüfer Yanya, and a deep dive between Dev Hynes—aka Blood Orange—and super-producer Raphael Saadiq. PLUS we’ve got a brand new theme song created just for us by one of our favorite artists, The Range!

Tune in to hear firsthand accounts of Solange‘s impromptu shopping trips, how Joanna Newsom helped get Fleet Foxes back together, the inside scoop on Yanya’s upcoming debut LP, how Deadheads influenced Saadiq’s musicality, and how Hynes created his powerful brand new album Negro Swan.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

This episode was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

Big thanks to Pitchfork Music Festival for hosting Talkhouse, and to Karolina Barej for all of her coordination work.

I’m very pleased to write for the very first time that the Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Robert Glasper with Vieux Farka Touré Jun 27, 2019

FORM is a festival unlike any other. It takes place in the “eco-city” of Arcosanti, an architectural marvel in the middle of the Arizona desert. Attendance is limited to 2,000, but they still bring in massive headliners like Florence + The Machine and Anderson .Paak. Fans get to see their favorite stadium artists in an incredibly beautiful and intimate space — and discover their next five favorite bands, all in the same day. There’s no VIP section, but there is a cliffside pool with DJs, rooftop yoga, and immersive listening stations. I'd been hearing rave reviews for years from musicians who'd played the fest, so this spring Talkhouse Podcast producer Mark Yoshizumi and I headed out to FORM to get our glamping on, and record some amazing artists in convo. As an added dimension, we also paired them in musical collaboration.

Pulp Arts and Patreon teamed up to co-present The Conservatory, a backstage visual arts installation and recording studio. Talkhouse recorded six episodes there throughout the weekend, so subscribe to make sure to catch upcoming shows, including:

— Snail Mail, Fred Armisen & Mary Lynn Rajskub

— Kelsey Lu & Yrsa Daley-Ward

— Julianna Barwick & Mary Lattimore

— American Football & Pelican

— L'Rain & Melanie Faye

Our first episode from the fest features jazz and hip hop legend Robert Glasper with a giant of African music, Malian guitarist Vieux Farka Touré. The two were excited to meet and chop it up, and immediately found a lot of common ground. They get into a lot, including: the role their musician parents played in their own artistic development; the difficulties of being a professional musician in Mali; Vieux’s fear of playing jazz; and the inspiration Vieux drops that Robert wants tattooed on his… well, check it out.

After the talk, keep it locked for a trio of breathtaking improvisations between Vieux on guitar and Robert on keys, accompanied by Vieux’s rhythm section of bassist Marshall Henry and drummer Tim Kiper. The uniquely brilliant singer, songwriter, and sculptor Lonnie Holley, who’d stopped in to watch the session after his own incredible set at the fest, also jumped in to sing on a jam.

Sinat Giwa, Events Director at OkayPlayer, OkayAfrica, and OkaySpace, joins me to intro this first episode from FORM.

You can also enjoy today's show as a video via Talkhouse.com

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today’s episode was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi. It was recorded at FORM Festival in Arcosanti, Arizona, and at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn.

Research assistance provided by Madalyn Feltus. The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Lake Bell with Santigold Jun 20, 2019

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, two good friends, actor-writer-director Lake Bell and singer Santigold, sit down for a long-awaited chat together. The pair are both very busy performers – Bell is hard at work on the second season of her new show Bless This Mess and can be heard in the new animated feature The Secret Life of Pets 2, and Santi recently dropped I Don't Want: The Gold Fire Sessions and just came back from a U.S. tour – but are also highly involved mothers, and a large focus of their talk is on the challenges of balancing family life with creative work. They discuss how you can’t in fact do it all or have it all, how the making art changes after you have kids, how filmmaking and parenting are (kind of) the same thing, plus Santi’s social media struggles, where the roots of Lake’s comedy lie, what Lake is doing to address the current political situation, Santi’s move into directing, and much, much more. For more filmmakers musicians in conversation, visit Talkhouse at talkhouse.com and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Father’s Day Edition (Prince Paul, DJ PForReal, Larry Fessenden, Jack Fessenden) Jun 13, 2019

I'm a father. It's awesome. The best! Seriously. And also simultaneously exhausting and sleepless. And complicated. But eminently worth it!

This week, we here at Talkhouse salute the dads, and father figures, of music and cinema. Our Father's Day episode pairs two creative father-and-son duos; one pair defining the sound of hip hop, the others prolific film multi-hyphenates.

— Segment one: Prince Paul & DJ PForReal aka Paul Huston Sr. and Jr.

The legendary hip-hop producer Prince Paul — known for his pioneering work with Stetsasonic, De La Soul, Handsome Boy Modeling School, Gravediggaz, BROOKZILL! and more — raised his son, DJ PForReal, in the music game. Paul Jr, DJ for rap star Lil Uzi Vert, joined his dad for today's show to discuss pushing one’s comfort zone, never taking the straight path, faking it till you make it, and what it's like when your first ever DJ gig is opening up for Wu-Tang’s GZA.

— Segment two: Larry Fessenden and Jack Fessenden

The great horror director, producer and actor Larry Fessenden (The Last Winter, Habit) also brought his kid up in his chosen craft. Jack Fessenden, who's still a teenager (!), has already directed one feature, Stray Bullets, and is in pre-production for his next. The two sat down to chop it up on the highs and lows of coming up in a cinematic family, why Larry likes to mentor young people, and the reason Jack hasn’t seen many of his dad’s films.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today’s episode was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

DJ PForReal was recorded in Atlanta by Luther Banks at Patchwerk Studios.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Revisited: Talkhouse x Food Republic: A$AP Ferg with Andrew Carmellini Jun 06, 2019

To celebrate the release of A$AP Ferg's new joint "Pups," which features fellow Mob member A$AP Rocky, we're re-sharing the Hood Pope's rad 2017 Talkhouse convo with culinary icon — and, as we learn, former rap producer — Andrew Carmellini. Check it out.

On Talkhouse's premiere food culture episode (part of its new Talkhouse x Food Republic series), New York City chef and restaurateur Andrew Carmellini meets Harlem rapper A$AP Ferg at the flagship Sonos store in NYC. In their conversation, they discuss the challenges of their respective crafts, their role as leaders, branding, cooking and more. Check out these two New York cultural titans chopping it up, and subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Stephin Merritt (the Magnetic Fields) with Daniel Handler (Lemony Snicket) May 30, 2019

Stephin Merritt is one of the most brilliant songwriters of our time. Through his projects The Magnetic Fields, The Gothic Archies, Future Bible Heroes, and The 6ths, he’s deconstructed and reimagined the art of the song. Stephin’s lyrics are wonderfully dark and witty, often gender-bending, sometimes intellectual, occasionally utterly heartbreaking. His melodies are addictive enough to be illegal under drug-dealing laws. Stephin is able to make listeners laugh, cry, and think, all in the same song.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of 69 Love Songs, widely considered the crown jewel of Stephin Merritt's vast catalog. A three CD (now also a six 10” vinyl) box set, the album is a meta conceit: a record not only full of love songs, but also about love songs themselves. Running 172 minutes and 35 seconds, the songs stylistically jump between indie rock, synth-pop, country, faux punk and jazz, Sondheim-esque showtunes, folk, a capella, '70s singer-songwriter, world music and much more.

For today’s show, Stephin sat down with Daniel Handler — aka, A Series Of Unfortunate Events author Lemony Snicket — who played accordion on 69 Love Songs as well as interviewed Stephin for the liner notes. The old friends and collaborators chop it up on the triumphs and occasional difficulties of 69 Love Songs’ improbable existence — the arduous recording, uncharted release campaign, surprising live shows, initial reaction and beloved legacy. Their deep dive talk also takes in: Daniel’s theory that 69 LS has become a children’s album; “tweecore” beefs with Belle and Sebastian and Stereolab; the record release show that found Stephin trapped above the stage; the best music to get busy to; whispering hecklers; and why 69 Love Songs should’ve been sold in sex shops.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today’s episode was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi. It was recorded at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Avey Tare (Animal Collective) with Ishmael Butler May 23, 2019

This week on the Talkhouse Podcast, we’re celebrating artists who take music in unexpected and brilliant new directions. Tuesday’s show saw Tierra Whack and Nnamdi Ogbonnaya in conversation; today, we bring you a fantastic deep dive between Avey Tare of Animal Collective and Ishmael “Ish” Butler, aka Palaceer Lazaro in Shabazz Palaces, fka Butterfly of Digable Planets.

Ish and Avey are massive fans of each other’s work — Animal Collective and Shabazz Palaces have even remixed tracks for each other.

This convo takes in a lot: how seeing Animal Collective play live got Ish back into making his own records when he thought he was done with music; what artists they’re both vibing on rn; Ish’s goal to "elasticize minds" with his live shows; and the “secret sauce” that goes into writing Animal Collective and Shabazz Palaces songs.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today’s episode was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi. Ish was recorded by Dan Arnes at The Knitting Factory in Brooklyn. Avey was recorded by Adam McDaniel at Drop of Sun Studios in Asheville, NC.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Tierra Whack with Nnamdi Ogbonnaya May 21, 2019

Duuudes! Those of you who follow us on Insta may know that Mark The Producer and I just got back from our first festival of 2019. As we glamped and recorded some of the best musicians in the world in convo for upcoming Talkhouse episodes, it occurred to me that full-on festival season is almost upon us. That means, of course, that this summer, Talkhouse will be returning to Pitchfork Music Festival for our fifth straight year of recording backstage talks with many of the brilliant artists rocking Union Park. We're so psyched for this year's lineup; get your tix now to catch Belle and Sebastian (playing Sinister in it's entirety!), Pusha T, Haim, Robyn, Earl Sweatshirt, Khruangbin and more.

In anticipation, we wanted to share with you a special bonus episode this week. So, here's a fantastic conversation that happened spontaneously at last year's fest; it was too short to be released as a regular episode, but was too good not to share.

Tierra Whack and Nnamdi Ogbonnaya both have sounds and visual aesthetics all their own. When the two met in our trailer studio, they connected immediately, cracking us all the f up in the process. Their hilarious and insightful chat takes in quite a bit in its brief runtime: their production techniques and studio vibes; fave bands and movies of all time (some very surprising answers here); wtf happened to those balloons from the Whackworld video; and some pretty great impressions of Oprah and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today’s episode was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Big thx to the fantastic Pitchfork Music Festival for hosting the Talkhouse Podcast. PMF 2019 takes place in Chicago from July 19-21st, 2019. SEE YOU IN THE PIT, er PARK!

Grasshopper (Mercury Rev) with Lia Braswell (A Place to Bury Strangers) May 16, 2019

For today’s episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, we sat down backstage at Desert Daze with Grasshopper of Mercury Rev and A Place To Bury Strangers’s Lia Braswell. The two are big fans of each others’ live sets, and were psyched to meet and chop it up.

Their conversation takes in a lot: artistic community, DIY culture, the years of work it takes to succeed, and the restorative power of seeing live music. Oh, and we learn how Lia learned to appreciate the feedback.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

You can also now follow us on Spotify!

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today’s episode was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi. It was recorded at by Keenan Kush at Desert Daze, and at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn by Mark The Producer. Additional recording by Josh Modell.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Big thx for the fantastic Desert Daze for hosting the Talkhouse Podcast. Desert Daze 2019 takes place at Moreno Beach from October 10-13, 2019. The first two announced artists are Animal Collective and Stereolab. Find tix and info at https://desertdaze.org/

Mother's Day Moments May 09, 2019

This week, we here at Talkhouse celebrate two monumental things: first off, this is the Talkhouse Podcast's 250th episode (holy shit, how did that happen?!?!? Thank you, listeners!) The second thing we're celebrating officially this week, and unofficially every other day of the year: mothers and maternal figures!

For today’s show, we took a deep dive through the past five years of the podcast to share some of our favorite clips of artists discussing the myriad experiences that comprise motherhood. So buckle up for:

— Christina Choe and Andrew Ahn on Christina's mom's star turn as an actress.

— Tori Amos and Shirley Manson (Garbage) on the sacrifices and uncertainties of motherhood, and the continuing inspiration Tori receives from her own mother.

— Fred Armisen and Alix Lambert on the crazy, sad true story of Fred’s stepmother's time in East Berlin.

— Ben Lee and Jon Cryer on how Ben's mum helped him make a really important career decision when he was a teenager.

— Tracy Droz Tragos and Martha Shane on how Tracy's maternal instincts guided her experiences on and off screen while making Rich Hill.

— Julia Pott’s mum reviewing Get Out — on Julia's answering machine.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today’s episode was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Knox Fortune with Brandon Wardell May 02, 2019

“All night, I been drinking all night, I been drinking all night, I been drinking, ay ay” sang Knox Fortune on the hook of Chance The Rapper’s mega-hit single "All Night." For this podcast, Knox and his old buddy comedian Brandon Wardell (Yeah But Still) switched it up and did a little day drinking.

The guys sat down late last year to chop it up on the Talkhouse Podcast backstage at Life Is Beautiful Music and Art Festival in Las Vegas, where they’d both performed. Their truly freewheeling convo takes in a lot: which pop stars have the best and worst fans; thoughts on Trippie Redd and Juice WRLD; Banksy’s true identity; the drug that fueled both Home Alone and Aladdin; The Beatles vs. Emo Rap; and loads more.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

You can also now follow us on Spotify!

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today’s episode was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi. It was recorded at National Southwestern Recording in Las Vegas and at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn by Mark The Producer. Additional recording by Josh Modell.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Thanks to Life Is Beautiful and Ronald Corso at National Southwestern Recording.

This year’s Life Is Beautiful happens Sept 20-22, and the lineup is, as usual, incredible, featuring Chance The Rapper, Billie Eilish, The Black Keys, Desus and Mero, Pod Save America, and so many more. Tix can be purchased here.

Karen O with Sam Spiegel Apr 25, 2019

Hot on the heels of Karen O (Yeah Yeah Yeahs)'s incredible new LP Lux Prima and Sam Spiegel (N.A.S.A.)'s new single "Perfect," the two old friends and collaborators sat down for a deep dive on the Talkhouse Podcast.

Buckle up for stories of working with everyone from Ol' Dirty Bastard to David Byrne to Danger Mouse; collab-ing with your literal family — Sam's brother is Spike Jonze — and your figurative one, as Karen does in the YYYs; and the rad audio-visual experiences that Sam and Karen created for each of their new projects.

Check it out and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast. Stay up to date on live Talkhouse events with our Events tab.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today’s episode was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi. It was recorded in at Sam's house in Los Angeles by Ali Nikou, and at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn by Mark Yoshizumi. Additional engineering by Josh Modell.

Tim Heidecker with Hayden Pedigo Apr 18, 2019

The brilliant composer and two-time Talkhouse Podcast guest William Basinski recently dropped me an intriguing email. He wrote of a “very talented young friend, a fine guitarist from Amarillo” who has “a great story.” If Billy recommends an artist, I look into them; the more I learned about this guitarist from Amarillo, TX — Hayden Pedigo — the more fascinated I became.

A born and raised Amarilloan, Hayden is an ambient acoustic guitarist and soundscape composer who's written music dedicated to the landscape and beauty of his hometown. Changing artistic lanes late last year, Hayden undertook a satirical project inspired by Harmony Korine that was composed of a series of bizarre, Tim and Eric-esque fake campaign videos. When the vids went viral, he decided to run for City Council in Amarillo in earnest, and is now a leading contender with a real shot at being elected.

With his gonzo comedic approach and dual life in music, we thought that a convo between Hayden and Tim Heidecker — who's fresh off the release of Us — would make for a quite a show. Talkhouse pals Nick Dawson (EIC, Film) and Josh Modell (Executive Editor, Music) join me to introduce this politically-minded conversation between two great weirdos.

Check it out and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast. Stay up to date on live Talkhouse events with our Events tab.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today’s episode was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi. It was recorded in Los Angeles by Tim Heidecker, and at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn by Mark Yoshizumi.

Clem Creevy (Cherry Glazerr) with Kate Nash Apr 11, 2019

Both Kate Nash and Cherry Glazerr’s Clem Creevy have talent, smarts, and attitude to burn; they've each also got incredible, recently-released music. To celebrate their new bops, the two friends sat down to chop it up at Clem’s home in LA.

We hear about the truly unique story behind Kate’s new single "Trash" and the Maharaja musical she’s been writing; the curious empowerment Clem finds in singing from the perspective of a misogynist; and their takes on religion, rebellion, and life in Los Angeles.

Check it out and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast. Stay up to date on live Talkhouse events with our Events tab. And if you’re in the New York area, come hang April 13 at our Record Store Day event!

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today’s episode was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi. It was recorded in Los Angeles by Ali Nikou, and at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn by Mark Yoshizumi.

Harmony Korine (The Beach Bum) with Caveh Zahedi Apr 04, 2019

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, we feature a conversation between two of the most distinctive and original voices in American cinema: Harmony Korine and Caveh Zahedi. The two got together in New York City in advance of the release of Korine’s new movie, The Beach Bum, a wild Florida-set fantasia about cosmic poet Moondog, starring Matthew McConaughey, Isla Fisher, Snoop Dogg, Jonah Hill, Martin Lawrence, Zac Efron and Jimmy Buffett. Korine and Zahedi, who used to be phone buddies years back, discuss seemingly everything under the sun, from The Beach Bum as an autobiographical portrait, to the art of parenting, to Korine’s recipe for joy – plus, Rimbaud vs. Rambo, the awesome thing about Bob Dylan playing minor league baseball grounds, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, Hemingway’s six-toed cats, how Zahedi’s web series The Show about the Show kinda led to his divorce, and much, much more. For more filmmakers musicians in conversation, visit Talkhouse at talkhouse.com and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Episode recorded by Elia Einhorn, and recorded and co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi at Hook & Fade Studios in Brooklyn. The Talkhouse podcast producer is Elia Einhorn.

Revisited: Agnès Varda with Kirsten Johnson (Cameraperson) Apr 01, 2019

To mark the sad passing of the brilliant Agnès Varda, we are revisiting an old episode of the Talkhouse Podcast in which documentary cinematographer and Cameraperson director Kirsten Johnson sat down with the legendary French New Wave auteur when she was in town in 2017 for a gallery exhibit of her art at Blum & Poe and a French Institute film series. In a wonderfully thoughtful and engaged conversation, the two discuss Varda's artwork, how her films play with time, finding permission as an artist, Varda's feelings about New York City, Faces Places, her collaboration with the artist JR, her favorite color (!), and much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Kevin Drew (Broken Social Scene) with John Vanderslice Mar 28, 2019

Earlier this month, Talkhouse headed down to the legendary insanity that is SXSW in Austin, TX for bands, breakfast tacos, more bands, and — of course — podcasts! We were honored to be asked for the second consecutive year to curate a live Talkhouse Podcast recording on the official SXSW Podcast Stage, where we paired two of indie rock’s prolific singer/songwriters releasing exciting new music this year.

John Vanderslice and Broken Social Scene’s Kevin Drew are both fantastic artists and hilarious, thoughtful conversationalists. The two chopped it up in front of an audience of fans on everything from the various forms of therapy that each is currently undergoing (one is micro-dosing) to the Great SX Scooter Scourge of 2019. Their talk also takes in their new music, the economic realities of running a pro recording studio in 2019, Vanderslice’s near-death tour experience, and ordering cocaine on the dark web.

Check it out and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast. Stay up to date on live Talkhouse events with our Events tab.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today’s episode was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi. It was recorded at JW Marriott in Austin by Sean Cherry and Kari Erickson, and at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn by Mark Yoshizumi. Additional recording by Josh Modell.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range. Thanks to SXSW, Cadence 13, and all the Talkhouse fans who roll through our live events.

Mike Kinsella (American Football) with Andy Hull (Manchester Orchestra) Mar 21, 2019

We here at the Talkhouse Podcast were psyched when Chicago-based indie festival Tomorrow Never Knows asked us to curate a live taping as part of their January 2019 lineup. So, we paired Andy Hull (Manchester Orchestra) and Mike Kinsella (American Football, Owen) for an exclusive conversation and acoustic performance. Thanks to all of you Midwest listeners who braved the winter chill to pack out Sleeping Village!

Andy and Mike are old friends, and big fans of each other’s music. They were excited to catch up for this talk, and the ensuing conversation covered a lot, including: their ever-evolving songwriting chops and philosophies; how having kids changes one’s creativity; and what exactly went down at that craziest Owen show ever…

The performance setlist is:

Andy — “The Gold”

Mike — “Love is Not Enough”

Andy — “Untitled (Blue)”

Mike — “The Desperate Act”

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast. Stay up to date on live Talkhouse events with our Events tab.

You can also now follow us on Spotify! While you’re there, make sure to check out American Football’s American Football (LP3), out tomorrow.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today’s episode was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi. It was recorded at Sleeping Village in Chicago by Joe Darnaby and Greg Obis and at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn by Mark Yoshizumi. Additional recording by Josh Modell.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range. Thanks to Tomorrow Never Knows, Sleeping Village, and all the Talkhouse fans who roll through our live events.

Brian Huskey with Timothy Simons Mar 14, 2019

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, we mark the imminent return of Veep for its seventh and final season with a conversation between two of the show's cast members, Timothy Simons and Brian Huskey. Simons and Huskey – who play manchild Jonah Ryan and pesky political reporter Leon West, respectively – have a hilarious and wide-ranging talk that takes in everything from the perils (and occasional positives) of social media and getting sincere in middle age, to shilling for free stuff on podcasts and, of course, their show's swan song season. Plus, we see how long their pledge to not talk about Trump actually lasts and find out exactly what happened when Tim went to a Tony Robbins-designed Pitbull show at a celebrity golf tournament! For more filmmakers musicians in conversation, visit Talkhouse at talkhouse.com and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Karen Gillan with James Roday Mar 07, 2019

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, friends and fellow actor-writer-directors James Roday and Karen Gillan sit down for a chat at The Grant, James' bar-to-be in Los Angeles' Eagle Rock neighborhood. Roday and Gillan, best known as Shawn from Psych and Nebula from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, respectively, got together to discuss Roday's second feature as writer-director, the slowburning horror, Treehouse, which debuted March 1 on Hulu as part of Blumhouse's yearlong Into the Dark series. To the faint sounds of construction workers finishing The Grant, the two pals chat about Treehouse, Gillan's directorial debut The Party's Just Beginning, their mutual love of horror movies and Lynne Ramsay, Roday's obsession with Highland cows, that time Gillan wrote a letter to Michael Haneke, and much, much more. For more filmmakers musicians in conversation, visit Talkhouse at talkhouse.com and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Sylvan Esso with Anna Drezen Feb 28, 2019

When we paired them for a Talkhouse Podcast at the fantastic Life Is Beautiful Fest, Sylvan Esso’s Amelia Meath and Nick Sanborn and SNL writer Anna Drezen got on, as they say in the talk, like a house on fire. A week after meeting, Sylvan Esso were posting pics backstage from SNL!

In this chat, the trio do cover some artistic topics: the similarities and differences in the professional lives of bands and comedians; their worst gigs ever; and the emotional brutality of both writing songs and pitching sketches at SNL. And they also get into a tooon of riffing. (Turns out Sylvan Esso can hang with the best!) So we also hear about “egg sluts,” Property Brothers fan fiction, the problem with Steven Seagal flicks, and even witness a fiery debate on whether Sylvan Esso… make good hula hooping music.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

You can also now follow us on Spotify!

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today’s episode was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi. It was recorded at National Southwestern Recording in Las Vegas and at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn by Mark The Producer. Additional recording by Josh Modell.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range. Thanks to Life Is Beautiful and Ronald Corso at National Southwestern Recording.

Revisited: Meredith Graves (Perfect Pussy) with Cameron Lynch Feb 21, 2019

This week, we're revisiting a unique talk recorded at last year's On Air Fest. On Air is a rad festival devoted to audio storytelling and the creative possibilities of sound. The festival returns later this month in Brooklyn. You can find more info about speakers and how to attend at onairfest.com

Today's episode, a collaboration with The Players' Tribune, was recorded earlier this month in front of a live audience at On Air Fest at the Wythe Hotel in Brooklyn.

When On Air Fest reached out to Talkhouse about curating a live episode for their podcast festival, we had an idea: What if we, the outlet where musicians and filmmakers write and speak about their experiences, partnered with Derek Jeter's The Players' Tribune, the site where athletes write about their own experiences, for a podcast discussion about what the first-person narrative really looks like? The Players' Tribune loved the idea, and brought in NFL linebacker Cameron Lynch to speak with frequent Talkhouse contributor Meredith Graves (Perfect Pussy). Their thoughtful and often funny conversation takes in a lot, from shutting down the "shut up and dribble" narrative, to the very real pressures of professionally rolling "the dice of life" every single day. It also touches on Fergie's National Anthem blowback, the truth and falsity of people's preconceptions about athletes and rock stars, the perils of Googling oneself, and reckoning with the fact that each of us is "an unpredictable consciousness driving a meat-covered skeleton."

Dan Treadway, Deputy Editor at Players' Tribune, and I kick off the live conversation with some background on each of our first-person-driven media outlets.

Check it out, and subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today’s episode was recorded by Mark Yoshizumi with Michael Bosworth, and co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi. The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

V-Day with 5 Famous Artist Couples! Feb 14, 2019

Happiest of Valentines Days to ya, listeners! To celebrate the duality of this love-filled and oh-so-fraught time, the Talkhouse Podcast asked five of our favorite artist couples to answer two questions: What’s the best thing about being in a two-artist relationship? And, what’s the worst??

Answering both Cupid’s and our calls are:

— Katie Crutchfield (Waxahatchee) and Kevin Morby;

— Maliibu Miitch and Chase Money Marz;

— Heather Matarazzo and Heather Turman;

— Sadie Dupuis (Speedy Ortiz, Sad13) and Dylan Baldi (Cloud Nothings);

— Natalie Prass and Eric Slick (Dr. Dog)

So get ready to hear about inter-couple artistic competitiveness, the strains of touring in a relationship, having recording sessions on your spouse’s birthday, and the perils of dating “civilians.”

As I couldn’t ask these artists to walk through a potential relationship minefield that I wasn’t willing to tread myself, I’m very pleased (and slightly afraid) to welcome my wife—and Pitchfork’s Managing Editor—Amy Phillips on to help intro this episode. Buckle up! Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

You can also now follow us on Spotify!

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today’s episode was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi. It was recorded by each of the participating couples, and by Mark Yoshizumi. The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Jon Cryer with Ben Lee Feb 07, 2019

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, we get to listen in on two friends and recent collaborators in conversation: actor Jon Cryer (of Two and a Half Men fame) and musician Ben Lee. The pair, who teamed up on the musical B is for Beer, which Lee adapted with Tom Robbins from the iconic novelist’s book of the same name – and then roped in Cryer to both direct and play the role of the Beer Vendor. In a wide-ranging chat recorded at Lee’s house in Los Angeles, Jon and Ben discuss being famous in your teens (and then trying to become a grounded adult), their partnership on B is for Beer, how to deal with setbacks and failures in show business, Ben’s life-changing moment being cast at age 7 in Uncle Moishy and His Mitzvah Men, Jon’s memories of working on Superman IV, and much, much more. For more filmmakers musicians in conversation, visit Talkhouse at talkhouse.com and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Episode recorded by Ben Lee in Los Angeles, and recorded and co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi at Hook & Fade Studios in Brooklyn. The Talkhouse podcast producer is Elia Einhorn.

Revisited: Jlin with William Basinski Jan 31, 2019

We're re-airing this talk with the news that Jlin and William Basinski are reconnecting for an upcoming Talkhouse Podcast happening live on Pitchfork Radio at Midwinter.

Jlin and William Basinski are two of today's most fascinating and gifted composers. Basinski works with decaying analogue tape loops to create ambient soundscapes, while Jlin constructs brilliant, stuttering reimaginings of footwork rhythms. The friends and collaborators sat down in the Sonos room at Rough Trade NYC for one of three conversations that Talkhouse curated for Northside Festival. The two get into Basinski's tribute to his hero David Bowie, Jlin's boundary-pushing collaborations with cutting-edge dancers, and how a cat on the loose ended up significantly contributing to Basinski’s artistry.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today's episode was recorded and co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

John Grant with Jake Shears (Scissor Sisters) Jan 24, 2019

Hardcore porn, boring mega-fans, and ANOHNI dropping allegorical knowledge are just the start of this incredibly thoughtful and open conversation between John Grant and Jake Shears (Scissor Sisters, Kinky Boots). The two are huge fans of each other’s work, and were both nervous and excited at the opportunity to sit down and chop it up. Their talk also covers how they’ve each faced, and overcome, their worst performing nightmares; the inspiration chili and cheesecake brought to recording John’s Love Is Magic; and Jake’s uncomfortably intimate encounter with the String Cheese Incident.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

You can also now follow us on Spotify!

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today’s episode was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi. It was recorded by Ali Nikou at Shears’ home in LA, and by Mark Yoshizumi at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Protomartyr with Preoccupations & Geoff Barrow with Annika Henderson Jan 17, 2019

Today's episode is an action-packed double-header! First up, we've got post-punk heavy-hitters Matt Flegel (singer and bassist of Preoccupations) and Joe Casey (Protomartyr frontman and new entrant into the Talkhouse Podcast Three Timers Club). The recent tour mates discuss their new 7" split Telemetry At Howe Bridge, intra-band fighting, how sports nerds and music nerds can be the same kind of insufferable, and so much more!

Plus, we've got a short and sweet clip from a convo with Geoff Barrow (Portishead, Beak>) and Annika Henderson (aka Anika). They talk about how Annika found her band Exploded View just when she was about to quit the music industry forever, and how EV has benefitted from having members from three different countries. Check it out.

Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Joe Casey and Matt Flegel were recorded in Kansas City by James Grau; Geoff Barrow and Anika recorded themselves. This episode was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Vince Clarke with Orbital Jan 10, 2019

Today’s show is dedicated to the OG electronic music heads! Synthpop wizard Vince Clarke (Depeche Mode, Yaz, Erasure) sat down with U.K. rave gods Paul and Phil Hartnoll of Orbital for a catch-up amidst the drool-worthy vintage synthesizer collection at Hook & Fade Studios here in Brooklyn. The old friends take us on a trip back through the dance scenes they were immersed in throughout the '80s and '90s, analyze the American and British music communities, and compare notes on the differences between the legendary old raves and today’s massive EDM festivals. And while on past podcast episodes we’ve heard very disparate takes on the way artists work up demos — Clams Casino’s iPhone apps, Yoshimi’s train riding — we’ve never heard anything remotely like Paul’s method. (And we’re guessing his dentist hadn’t, either.) Check it out.

Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today’s episode was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Ariel Pink with Cate Le Bon Jan 03, 2019

To celebrate Mexican Summer’s ten year anniversary, we paired two of the fantastic record label’s most fascinating artists: Ariel Pink and Cate Le Bon.

Backstage at A Decade Deeper: Mexican Summer’s 10 Year Anniversary party at Brooklyn’s Pioneer Works arts space, Cate and Ariel—fans of each other’s work who'd never met irl—sat down for a talk before their sets. The two really hit it off, and their wide-ranging conversation takes in a lot: the deep flaws they see in the way music press works; Ariel not always working well with others; and the difficult genesis of Cate’s upcoming LP. Ariel also talks about his favorite site on the internet, and Cate divulges the, um, very weird act she was asked to perform for a shoot. Check it out.

Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today’s episode was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

Big thanks to Justin Frye and Pioneer Works for hosting this taping.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Pedro the Lion with Tomberlin Dec 18, 2018

Tbh, we didn’t mean to make our last episode before Christmas one that explores two fantastic singer-songwriters’ experiences growing up in very religious Christian homes and the effect it’s had on their art, but here we are — and it’s a damn fine talk!

David Bazan (Pedro the Lion) and Sarah Beth Tomberlin (Tomberlin) are big fans of each other’s music, and jumped at the chance to meet via a Talkhouse Podcast episode. They got on so well, they’ve decided to hit the road together throughout February! You can find those dates at Talkhouse.com and hopefully catch them in your city; in the meantime, enjoy this conversation that takes in Sarah Beth’s experiences at bible school; David’s assessment of the biggest lie of Christianity; and finding personal salvation in ... the Beatles. Check it out.

Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast. Thanks so much to all of you listeners for an incredible year here at the Talkhouse Podcast; we truly appreciate the millions of you that tuned in, gave feedback, and sent rad suggestions for artists you’d love to see appear on the show. Happiest of holidays!

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today’s episode was recorded by Joe Darnaby in Chicago, David Bazan at his home, and Mark Yoshizumi at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn. Our co-producer is Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Jeff Tweedy (Wilco) with Abbi Jacobson Dec 13, 2018

Until catching this talk live last month, it would never have occurred to me that there could be a deep similarity between Jeff Tweedy's songs and Abbi Jacobson's Broad City character, but—there is!

Jeff (Wilco, Tweedy) and Abbi (Broad City, Disenchantment) sat down at the beautiful Murmrr Theater in Brooklyn to celebrate the release of Jeff's memoir Let's Go (So We Can Get Back): A Memoir of Recording and Discording with Wilco, Etc. and his new solo album Warm. Their thoughtful and funny conversation took in a lot, including the difficulties they each had writing books after focusing their careers on other types of writing; opening up about mental health and addiction; Jeff breaking into comedy; and so much more.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast. Feel free to DM me to let me know which artist(s) you’d love to see appear on a future episode.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

This episode was recorded by Mark Yoshizumi with Eric Lemke and Justin Hrabovski at Murmrr Theater, and at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn. It was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

Big thanks to Brian Kelly at Murmrr.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Adam Conover with Raphael Bob-Waksberg Dec 11, 2018

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, BoJack Horseman creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg chats with Adam Conover, the host and creator of Adam Ruins Everything, now in its third season on truTV. Bob-Waksberg and Conover – who met at Bard, where they were members of the Olde English comedy troupe, and then became post-college roommates – dive deep into their shared past in a conversation that only two longtime friends could have. They talk about everything from how Conover’s personal history informs Adam Ruins Everything, their comedy philosophies (and Adam’s alternate life as a philosopher!) and their time together in Olde English to their “dishes rule,” Howie Mandel’s prank TV show Howie Do It and their favorite tweets that Adam has deleted. Plus, there's a very special song improvised by Raphael during a Googling break! For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Neko Case with Eric Bachmann Dec 06, 2018

On today’s Talkhouse Podcast episode, old friends and collaborators Neko Case and Eric Bachmann (Archers Of Loaf, Crooked Fingers) catch up.

The two—who most recently collaborated on a duet Eric wrote that they recorded for Neko’s new record Hell On—take in a lot here. We learn about Neko’s plans for when she retires from touring; get a deep dive into their favorite duet recordings of all time; and hear Eric give a long overdue apology for a very wet tour bus accident...

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast. Feel free to DM me to let me know which artist(s) you’d love to see appear on a future episode.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Neko was recorded by Jody Peterson at Cliff House Audio in Montpelier, VT, and Eric at his home in Georgia by Joel Hatstat. This episode was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Jaboukie Young-White with The Drums Nov 29, 2018

In September, the Talkhouse Podcast squad rolled out to Las Vegas for Life is Beautiful Music and Arts Festival. In between performances from Talkhouse faves A$AP Ferg, CHVRCHES, and Death Cab For Cutie, we recorded some epic convos for the show.

Comedian Jaboukie Young-White (The Daily Show, American Vandal) and indiepop legends The Drums’ Jonny Pierce are whip-smart queer artists who have intricately bound together their work and sexuality. Backstage at the fest, they and newer Drums' member Bryan de Leon dissected what exactly it means to be a "queer artist." Their talk takes in coming out through one’s art, "conveniently Christian homophobes," Balenciaga daddies, and how the world needs a gay Shrek. Oh, and Bryan also got Jaboukie to give some inside scoop on American Vandal season two...

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast. Feel free to DM me to let me know which artist(s) you’d love to see appear on a future episode.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

This episode was recorded by Mark Yoshizumi at Life is Beautiful, and at Hook & Fade Studios in Brooklyn. It was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Big thanks to Life Is Beautiful for hosting the Talkhouse Podcast.

Steve Albini with Jerry Casale (Devo) Nov 15, 2018

The Talkhouse Podcast recently headed out to the fantastic Desert Daze festival at Moreno Beach at Lake Perris in Southern California. When we weren't catching sets by Tame Impala, King Gizzard and My Bloody Valentine, we recorded a trio of great talks; this week, we present the first.

When I saw that both Steve Albini and Devo's Jerry Casale were going to be at Desert Daze giving talks, I knew we had to pair these two icons of alternative music. They're big fans of each other's work, and halfway through their conversation, Steve said, “This is the sort of stuff no one ever talks about. These are the questions I’ve had for 30 years.”

Their fascinating talk takes in the beginning years of Devo’s existence; their complex relationship with Neil Young; Brian Eno’s proclivity for ménage à trois; the differences between poker and making records; and how the name Devo became a category alongside jocks, squares and nerds.

Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast. Feel free to DM me to let me know which artist(s) you’d love to see appear on a future episode.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

This episode was recorded by Keenan Kush at Desert Daze, and by Mark Yoshizumi at Hook & Fade Studios in Brooklyn. It was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Big thanks to Desert Daze for hosting the Talkhouse Podcast.

Lucy Dacus (boygenius) with Dave Depper (Death Cab for Cutie) Nov 08, 2018

This week’s show was recorded during The Decemberists’ fantastic Traveler’s Rest Festival in Missoula, Montana. Death Cab For Cutie’s Dave Depper and Lucy Dacus (boygenius) sat down backstage for a freewheeling chat… and a tarot card reading.

The two discuss the benefits of artist-curated fests, night terrors on the tour bus, the Sidemen's Guild of the United States, the importance of tuning out the music industry, and much more.

Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast. Feel free to DM me to let me know which artist(s) you’d love to see appear on a future episode.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

This episode was recorded by Keenan Kush at Travelers' Rest, and by Mark Yoshizumi at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn. It was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Blake Schwarzenbach (Jawbreaker) with Graham Elliot (Masterchef, Top Chef) Nov 01, 2018

Today’s show features Blake Schwarzenbach (Jawbreaker, Jets To Brazil) and chef Graham Elliot (Masterchef, Top Chef) in conversation live from Virgin Hotels Chicago.

Their talk covers some of the big experiences of their respective art forms — the inherent pressures of reuniting with a legendary band, or of being asked to recreate classic dishes in a high pressure public environment; false “perfection” vs. authenticity in the recording studio and in the kitchen — as well as Jawbreaker’s formation, rise and reunion, and the consequences of speaking out politically while being a star on Top Chef. It also takes in wet sax solos, keytars, Auto-Tune, Trump supporters at Jawbreaker shows, menu B-sides, being Gordon Ramsay’s “backup dancer,” and vocal fry vs. frying.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast. Don’t be shy to DM me to let me know which artist(s) you’d love to see appear on a future episode.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

This episode was recorded by Greg Panciera at Virgin Hotels Chicago, and by Mark Yoshizumi at Hook & Fade Studios in Brooklyn. It was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

Dave Monks (Tokyo Police Club) with Katie Monks (Dilly Dally) Oct 25, 2018

“I don’t know if this is a therapy session or a podcast,” says Katie Monks (Dilly Dally) part way through this conversation with her brother Dave Monks (Tokyo Police Club). We here at Talkhouse think it’s a bit of both. We're also excited to premiere a never-before-heard ambient collaboration between Katie and Dave.

The sibling frontpeople chopped it up in their hometown of Toronto, and their talk takes in a lot: how they saved each others’ bands; the life lessons they learned from those two kids down the street who copied everything they did; their upbringing, and how it influenced their artistry; and learning about religion through The Simpsons.

Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast. Feel free to DM me to let me know which artist(s) you’d love to see appear on a future episode.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

This episode was recorded at Dine Alone in Toronto, and by Mark Yoshizumi at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn. It was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Aubrey Plaza with Craig Robinson Oct 23, 2018

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, Craig Robinson and Aubrey Plaza sit down for a hilarious off-the-cuff conversation. Robinson and Plaza are two of the funniest people in Hollywood, and also two of the stars of An Evening with Beverly Luff Linn, the new movie by Jim Hosking, writer-director of The Greasy Strangler and Talkhouse repeat offender. Over the course of their delightfully unpredictable chat, Robinson and Plaza organize a radio call-in show, do a LOT of singing (including that song about the Swedish friend), share Molly Shannon’s sage advice about acting and exhaustion, and discuss dongles, being wheelchair-bound, Aubrey's failed prank on NBA All-Star Chris Bosh, and much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Episode recorded by Gideon Brower and co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi; the Talkhouse podcast producer is Elia Einhorn.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Elizabeth McGovern with Gretchen Peters Oct 18, 2018

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, Nashville-based singer-songwriter Gretchen Peters sits down for a chat with Elizabeth McGovern, the iconic actress from Ordinary People, Once Upon a Time in America and Downton Abbey, who is a talented musician in her own right. The two friends, who connected just a few years ago via Twitter, discuss everything from their mutual commitment to telling women’s stories (especially women over 30), the pluses and minuses of collaborating creatively with one's spouse, the downsides of early success, what songwriters can learn from watching Inside the Actors Studio, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Rosanne Cash's love of Downton Abbey, and much more. For more filmmakers and musicians in conversation, visit Talkhouse at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Colin Trevorrow (Jurassic World) with Megan Griffiths (Sadie) Oct 11, 2018

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, Jurassic World's Colin Trevorrow sits down with his fellow director and longtime friend Megan Griffiths, whose new movie Sadie, starring Melanie Lynskey, John Gallagher Jr and emerging star Sophia Mitri Schloss, is in select theaters from October 12. The two filmmakers, both veterans of the vibrant Seattle indie scene, discuss everything from the correct pronunciation of their names (spoiler: people always say Trevorrow's wrong) to how their upbringings shaped them as directors, while also touching on such topics as diversity in Hollywood, Bryce Dallas Howard's footwear in Jurassic World, why Griffiths is an ideal candidate to direct blockbusters, the myth of Trevorrow's “overnight success,” and much, much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast

Ben Gibbard (Death Cab For Cutie) with Alan Sparhawk (Low) Oct 09, 2018

Today’s episode features Ben Gibbard of Death Cab For Cutie and Low’s Alan Sparhawk—and it's the first to be curated by Talkhouse’s new Executive Editor Josh Modell, who joins me to introduce it. (Welcome, Josh!)

Ben and Alan’s talk goes all the way back to the earliest days of their bands, and up to the present with the fantastic LPs they each recently dropped. We hear about the formative teenage moments when seeing bands changed their lives; staying open to new sounds as "men of a certain age playing rock & roll;" Ben blatantly ripping off Low on his earliest Death Cab material; and how Modest Mouse’s Isaac Brock spent a long time looking like he’d just crawled out of a dumpster.

Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast. Feel free to DM me to let me know which artist(s) you’d love to see appear on a future episode.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

This episode was recorded at Bad Animals in Seattle, by Maija Jenson at KUMD 103.3 FM Duluth Public Radio, and by Mark Yoshizumi at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn. It was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Merrill Garbus (Tune-Yards) with Meghan Remy (U.S. Girls) Oct 04, 2018

Merrill Garbus of Tune-Yards and Meghan Remy, who performs under the name U.S. Girls, are two of indie’s leftist vanguard. So it’s no surprise that the 4AD labelmates’ conversation takes in a ton of the big sociopolitical quandaries affecting today’s musicians, such as the ethical difficulties of playing festivals (and touring at all) and undoing white privilege.

We also hear about how action movies pale in comparison to Meg’s real life; understanding Trump-supporting family members; whether people should be oil or sand in the machine; why Father John Misty must be "rich as fuuuuck," and much, much more. Buckle up!

Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast. Feel free to DM me to let me know which artist(s) you’d love to see appear on a future episode.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

This episode was recorded by Christopher Sandes in Toronto, Merrill Garbus in “a coffee shop by my hotel” somewhere in America, and Mark Yoshizumi at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn. It was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

David Lowery with James Ponsoldt Oct 02, 2018

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, director James Ponsoldt sits down with longtime friend David Lowery, whose new movie, The Old Man and the Gun starring Robert Redford and an all-star supporting cast, just opened in theaters. In a conversation recorded at Soho House in Los Angeles, Lowery talks with Ponsoldt about reteaming with Redford on the legendary actor's final movie, his memorable phone conversations with Tom Waits, the joy of making movies with old cars, using the Kinks' “Lola” (at great cost!), the surprising influence of Robocop on the film, and much, much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Mac DeMarco with Neil Finn and Liam Finn Sep 27, 2018

On this week’s show, Mac DeMarco sits down with Neil Finn (Crowded House, Split Enz, Fleetwood Mac) and Liam Finn on the occasion of the father and son’s new LP Lightsleeper. Their chat took place in Mac’s Los Angeles garage studio (he's gone full Marc Maron!), and covered a lot. We hear about the artistic freedoms and constraints that Mac experiences; the pluses and minuses of falling in love with one’s demos; Neil’s shopping trip with Mick Fleetwood; why hiring a dominatrix can really help the recording process; and so much more.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast. Feel free to DM me to let me know which artist(s) you'd love to see appear on a future episode.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

This episode was recorded by Ali Nikou in LA and Mark Yoshizumi at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn. It was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Angel Olsen with Nic Russo (Dick Stusso) Sep 20, 2018

When I got an email saying that Angel Olsen was a huge fan of a relatively new, still somewhat obscure singer-songwriter and wanted to record a Talkhouse Podcast episode with him, I knew I wanted to check him out immediately. As soon as I heard the new LP from Nic Russo (who goes by the name "Dick Stusso"), I was in.

The two spoke from their homes in Asheville, NC (Olsen) and Oakland, CA (Russo), and covered a lot of ground. Nic talked about his skewed musicality and backstory, Angel spoke a ton about the direction she taking on her next LP, and even revealed which superstar producer she just worked with out in L.A.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

This episode was recorded by Kenny Harrington in Asheville, Tarek Fouda in Oakland, and Mark Yoshizumi at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn. It was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Revisited: Terence Nance with Flying Lotus Sep 13, 2018

To celebrate the release of Terence Nance's acclaimed HBO series Random Acts of Flyness, we thought we'd resurface his fantastic conversation with the inimitable Flying Lotus from last July. Here's that episode in its entirety; check it out.

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, two longtime friends who bridge the worlds of music and film – writer-director Terence Nance, who’s also a musician, and Steve Ellison, widely known as the recording artist Flying Lotus, whose supremely out-there debut feature film Kuso is out now – sit down for a chat. Over the course of their highly entertaining and unpredictable conversation, the pair talks about dick-stabbing, Steve’s traumatic first time getting tested for STDs, the unique mix of crude humor and transcendence in his work, their respective creative struggles, their greatest fears, and much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now to stay in the loop about future Talkhouse Podcasts.

Episode engineered by the Talkhouse Podcast producer Elia Einhorn and mixed by Mark Yoshizumi.

Taja Cheek (L’Rain) with Hisham Bharoocha (Soft Circle, Black Dice) Sep 06, 2018

Welcome to the Talkhouse Podcast’s first ever guest-curated episode! Today’s talk was curated by Brandon Stosuy (Editor-In-Chief of The Creative Independent; manager of Zola Jesus, Diamanda Galas, and more; and curator for The Broad Museum and, until recently, MoMA PS1’s Warm Up) and Melissa Auf Der Maur (former bassist for Hole and the Smashing Pumpkins, and co-founder of the Hudson, New York arts center Basilica Hudson). Stosuy and Auf Der Mauer are part of the team behind the fantastic annual Basilica Soundscape “anti-festival,” which presents boundary-pushing artists creating music, film, visual art, literature and more, inside a converted 19th century forge and foundry for steel railway wheels. They join me to intro today’s episode.

Past Basilica Soundscape artists have included Matthew Barney, JLIN, Amber Tamblyn, and Deafheaven. This year’s festival takes place September 14-16, and features a killer lineup. Two of the artists performing are this week’s Talkhouse Podcast guests; Taja Cheek—aka L’Rain—and Hisham Bharoocha (Boredoms, Black Dice, Lightning Bolt, Soft Circle).

Fittingly, much of their talk focuses on curation and the line where it blurs with artistic creation; Taja’s day job is Curatorial Assistant at MoMA PS1, and Hisham organizes the large-scale Boadrum events. We also hear about the incredible way Boredoms drummer Yoshimi writes music, how time constraints can stimulate creativity, and the ups and downs of playing with 111 drummers simultaneously.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

This episode was recorded by Ivan Kuraev, Ali Nikou, and Mark Yoshizumi, and co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

Robin Pecknold (Fleet Foxes) with Nilüfer Yanya & Dev Hynes (Blood Orange) with Raphael Saadiq Aug 30, 2018

Welcome to this week’s bumper double feature of a show! We're thrilled to bring you two fantastic conversations recorded backstage at Pitchfork Music Festival 2018: a short chat between Fleet Foxes main-man Robin Pecknold and Nilüfer Yanya, and a deep dive between Dev Hynes—aka Blood Orange—and super-producer Raphael Saadiq. PLUS we've got a brand new theme song created just for us by one of our favorite artists, The Range!

Tune in to hear firsthand accounts of Solange's impromptu shopping trips, how Joanna Newsom helped get Fleet Foxes back together, the inside scoop on Yanya’s upcoming debut LP, how Deadheads influenced Saadiq's musicality, and how Hynes created his powerful brand new album Negro Swan.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

This episode was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

Big thanks to Pitchfork Music Festival for hosting Talkhouse, and to Karolina Barej for all of her coordination work.

I'm very pleased to write for the very first time that the Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Zola Jesus with Circuit des Yeux Aug 23, 2018

On this week’s episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, another powerful and funny conversation recorded backstage at Pitchfork Music Festival 2018. Zola Jesus—real name Nika Roza Danilova—and Circuit des Yeux, aka Haley Fohr, posses two of the most breathtaking voices in music today. The two sat down backstage at the fest to discuss all things vocals: finding non-traditional places to warm up while on tour, knowing when to party and when to rest, and how to react when your instrument gives out.

They got into a lot more, too, including: diva moves for one's show rider; the difficulties of being people who go to 11 all the time; and why Joanna Newsom stayed silent for two months straight.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

This episode was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

Big thanks to Pitchfork Music Festival for hosting Talkhouse, and to Karolina Barej for all of her coordination work.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song is “Plastic Man vs. the Giant Red Phase of the Sun” by Iced Ink.

Julie Byrne with Lætitia Tamko (Vagabon) Aug 16, 2018

On this week's episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, another of the incredible conversations recorded backstage at Pitchfork Music Festival 2018: a talk between two of the breakout artists of 2017, Julie Byrne and Vagabon’s Laetitia Tamko.

Fresh off a national co-headline tour, the friends sat down backstage to discuss the physical and the metaphysical elements of self-care on the road; the often delicate symbiosis of creating art and managing one’s business; the pressures of creating new music when people are watching; and that one guy in the front row in St Louis. Fuck that guy.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

This episode was produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

Big thanks to Pitchfork Music Festival for hosting Talkhouse, and to Karolina Barej for all of her coordination work.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song is “Plastic Man vs. the Giant Red Phase of the Sun” by Iced Ink.

Hannah Fidell (The Long Dumb Road) with Josephine Decker (Madeline’s Madeline) Aug 09, 2018

The latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast is a conversation recorded at Sundance 2018 between directors Josephine Decker and Hannah Fidell, who were at the festival with, respectively, Madeline's Madeline and The Long Dumb Road. The fact that Decker's and Fidell's movies are so radically different – the former is an intense, female-centric drama about a young woman of color with mental health problems, the latter a fun, masculine road-movie comedy – is a focus of their discussion, but they also find points of connection in the incredible care they took in telling the stories of people of color — and also the remarkably creative storytelling games they played in their youth. Their talk also touches on their upcoming TV projects, how failure and success feel remarkably similar, silencing exercises, clown breakdowns, and much, much more. Madeline's Madeline is in select theaters from August 10 through Oscilloscope, and The Long Dumb Road is forthcoming in November through Universal. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Michelle Zauner (Japanese Breakfast) with Alex Cameron Aug 02, 2018

Each summer, Pitchfork Music Festival brings to Chicago musical legends, the hottest new acts, and the artists that are about to become your new favorites. And for the past four years, Talkhouse has been backstage to record these artists in conversation.

Over the coming weeks, we'll be bringing you the rad episodes we cut at the fest last month, including:

— Fleet Foxes' Robin Pecknold x Nilüfer Yanya

— Blood Orange's Dev Hynes x Raphael Saadiq

— Tierra Whack x Nnamdi Ogbonnaya

— Zola Jesus x Circuit des Yeux

— Vagabon's Lætitia Tamko x Julie Byrne

This week, we kick off our series of Pitchfork Fest episodes with Japanese Breakfast's Michelle Zauner talking with Alex Cameron. Alex and Michelle chop it up about a lot, including their onstage electrocutions, the triumphs and tribulations of the hometown gig, Michelle's future music production goals, the massive on-stage panic attack that nearly ended Alex's career, and his collaborator Brandon Flowers’ extremely unorthodox way of recording The Killers’ vocals.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

This episode was produced by Mark “North Side” Yoshizumi.

Big thanks to Pitchfork Music Festival for hosting Talkhouse, and to Karolina Barej for all of her coordinating work.

The Talkhouse Podcast's theme song is “Plastic Man vs. the Giant Red Phase of the Sun” by Iced Ink.

Black Thought (The Roots) with Daveed Diggs (Blindspotting) Jul 26, 2018

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, two hip-hop stars who have reshaped how we think about the genre – former Hamilton star Daveed Diggs and The Roots' MC Black Thought – sit down for a fascinating conversation at 30 Rock, recorded after a taping of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Over the course of their talk, the two friends discuss each of their long-gestating projects, Daveed's movie Blindspotting and Black Thought's album Streams of Thought, parallels between the current Oakland film explosion and the Philly music boom of the late '90s, Black Thought's (pre-Hamilton) dislike of musicals, life-work balance, John Malkovich's surprising on-set viewing habits, and much, much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

The Best Moments of 2018 (So Far) Jul 19, 2018

Life is busy, and it can be tough to stay up to date on your favorite shows. So, to highlight a few of the Talkhouse team’s favorite moments from the first six months of 2018, we bring you our semi-annual Best Of episode. This week’s show features clips of:

— Aasif Mandvi and Jason Jones talking fashion at the flagship Sonos store

— Natalie Prass and Matthew E. White discussing the challenges of writing political pop songs at the Strand

— Meredith Graves and Cameron Lynch chatting the intersection of music and sports at On Air Festival (in collaboration with The Players Tribune)

— An unreleased clip of Adam Goldberg and The Flaming Lips’ Steven Drozd on confronting Nazi internet trolls

— Oscar winners Guillermo del Toro and William Friedkin on Academy nominations and the apocalypse (in collaboration with Vanity Fair)

— Broad City’s Abbi Jacobson and writer Samantha Irby recounting their hilarious path to collaborating on the upcoming TV show Meaty, recorded live at Books Are Magic

For this special episode, I’m joined by joined by Talkhouse’s Brooklyn team: Film Editor-in-Chief Nick Dawson, Associate Editor Annie Fell and Operations Manager Keenan Kush.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

This episode is produced by Mark “the new papa” Yoshizumi.

Devendra Banhart with Tim Kinsella (Joan of Arc) Jul 12, 2018

On the heels of covering each other’s music as part of Joyful Noise Recordings’ very cool Cause & Effect series, Devendra Banhart and Tim Kinsella (Joan Of Arc) sat down to record a Talkhouse Podcast episode about the project. They touch on it for a moment and then, as one might expect from such restless and prolific artists, veer away, never to return.

Their talk instead covers their upcoming books, the poems that came out of Devendra’s “ashram-hopping in India,” and the nuts and bolts of what goes into staying sane as highly productive working artists. Oh, and we also hear their argument for a hallucinatory experience as a prerequisite to lead the United States of America …

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today’s episode was recorded by Tim and Devendra, and co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

Reinaldo Marcus Green with Boots Riley Jul 10, 2018

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, two of the most exciting emerging writer-directors of the moment sit down together for a chat at the Sundance Film Festival. The filmmakers in question – Reinaldo Marcus Green, whose Monsters and Men is forthcoming this fall, and Boots Riley, frontman of the Coup and mastermind behind the current cinematic sensation Sorry to Bother You – talk about the contrasting routes they took to making their debut features, the stresses of selling your movie at Sundance, how internet-age distraction is the enemy of creativity, partying with Idris Elba, and much, much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Revisited: David Cross with Jean Grae and Fab Moretti Jul 05, 2018

For the Independence Day break, we revisit one of our favorite Talkhouse Podcast episodes of the past year, a conversation recorded live at Sonos' flagship store in Soho NYC featuring Mr Show and Arrested Development's David Cross chatting with two of his longtime friends, comedian and hip-hop star Jean Grae and Fabrizio Moretti, the drummer from the Strokes and Little Joy. Over the course of a hilarious and thoroughly unpredictable conversation, the trio talk about David going into an old people's home, the ills of social media, Jean's inability to ride a bike, the mysterious “gum incident,” the movie and musical of Newsies, conspiracy theories, jobs they were fired from … and David and Fab give Jean an opportunity to prove her talents at the last job she was fired from: a phone sex operator. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now to stay in the loop about future Talkhouse Podcasts.

Episode engineered and mixed by Mark Yoshizumi and produced by Talkhouse Podcast producer Elia Einhorn.

Natalie Prass with Matthew E. White Jun 28, 2018

Natalie Prass' new LP, The Future and The Past, has been a long time in the making. Reeling from the results of 2016's presidential election, Prass made a last-minute decision to cancel the recording sessions she'd booked with producer Matthew E. White, feeling that the songs she'd written about a breakup had to be replaced with new ones which addressed what was unfolding in America.

To celebrate the release of this powerful new record, Prass was joined by White at Manhattan's iconic bookstore The Strand for a deep-dive conversation about her creative process and vision for these songs. Their talk also gets into sexism in the studio, aborted attempts at writing with L.A. songwriters, and how Prass almost chose running a dog-clothing company over her music career.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today’s episode is in partnership with The Strand. It was recorded by Jason Kelly and co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

The Raincoats with Protomartyr Jun 21, 2018

This week’s Talkhouse Podcast episode features a fantastic conversation between The Raincoats and Protomartyr, recorded live at Rough Trade East in London, followed by an audience Q&A session.

My special guest host is Jenn Pelly, Contributing Editor at Pitchfork — where she glowingly reviewed Protomartyr’s new Consolation EP last week — and author of the 33 1/3 series book on The Raincoats’ self-titled debut album.

The bands’ talk takes in a lot: presenting oneself as you are versus a cultivated rock star image; Protomartyr’s collaboration with Kelley Deal of The Breeders and The Raincoats’ work with Angel Olsen; how Kurt Cobain’s fandom forever changed The Raincoats’ career; and much, much more.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today’s episode is in partnership with Rough Trade. It was recorded by James Spinks and co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

Abbi Jacobson (Broad City) with Samantha Irby Jun 14, 2018

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, Broad City's Abbi Jacobson sits down with the hilarious blogger and memoirist Samantha Irby in a conversation recorded at Brooklyn's Books Are Magic. The two discuss Irby's first book Meaty – which not only just got re-issued in an all-new edition but which Jacobson and Irby are also currently turning into a TV show – as well as how Abbi first “courted” Sam five years ago, the perfect soundtrack to writing a great personal essay, Sam’s dream to put diarrhea on TV (and her other aims for the small-screen version of Meaty), her planned Emmy revenge (!), and much, much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Griffin Dunne with Simon Baker Jun 07, 2018

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, Simon Baker (best known for playing the title role in The Mentalist) talks with fellow actor-turned-director Griffin Dunne, who he has known for two decades. The two friends discuss Breath, Baker's newly released directorial debut – a coming-of-age surfing movie, in which Baker also stars – as well as directing vs. acting, the challenges of making an authentic surfing movie, the documentary Dunne made about his aunt Joan Didion, how “human cinema” will outlast superhero franchises, a hilarious story about Dunne's father giving him “the talk,” and much, more. For more filmmakers talking film, visit Talkhouse at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Adam Goldberg with Steven Drozd (The Flaming Lips) May 31, 2018

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, Steven Drozd of the Flaming Lips chats with his longtime friend and sometime musical collaborator Adam Goldberg, the actor (and musician-writer-director-producer-editor-photographer) whose new record under the Goldberg Sisters moniker, Home: A Nice Place to Visit, is out now. In a fascinating, wide-ranging conversation, the two talk about having a split artistic identity, the impact of technology in our lives, the infamously wacky Flaming Lips movie Christmas on Mars, not to mention the reason Adam hasn't watched Breaking Bad or The Sopranos, their respective childhood obsessions with Kiss and Grease, and Drozd's appearances on both Beverly Hills 90210 and Charmed. For more filmmakers and musicians talking film and music, visit Talkhouse at talkhouse.com. Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Shame with Goat Girl & Konshens with Bad Gyal May 24, 2018

On today's Talkhouse Podcast episode, we bring you a bumper double feature recorded live on Pitchfork Radio at SXSW. To kick things off, Shame's Charlie Steen and Goat Girl's Clottie Cream, L.E.D and Rosy Bones give us some insights that only locals could into the rad young indie and post-punk scene popping off in their hometown of London. Part two of the podcast pairs Jamaican legend Konshens with fab Spanish newcomer Bad Gyal for an international dancehall summit.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today’s episode was recorded and co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

Will Sheff (Okkervil River) with A.C. Newman (The New Pornographers) May 17, 2018

This week's Talkhouse Podcast episode features Okkervil River frontman Will Sheff in conversation with A.C. Newman, the lead singer and guitarist from the New Pornographers. The talk is a collaboration with the iconic Manhattan bookstore Strand Books, and was recorded live in their Rare Book Room to celebrate the release of Okkervil River's new L.P., In the Rainbow Rain.

The old friends, occasional collaborators, and recent neighbors go deep into the writing, structuring and influences on Will’s new album. But they cover a lot more than that, including; predestination vs. free will; the joys and drawbacks of living in a political bubble; the magic of what A.C. calls "the nerd store;" and why the gig after New York City always sucks.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today’s episode was recorded by Charles Mueller and co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

Andrew W.K. with Albert Hammond Jr. May 10, 2018

This week's episode of the Talkhouse Podcast features Andrew W.K. and Albert Hammond Jr. (The Strokes) in an insightful, hilarious conversation. It was recorded in front of a live audience at South By Southwest and is a collaboration with TuneIn.

Veterans of NYC's turbo-charged indie-rock aughts, Hammond and W.K. are currently making some of the most vital music of their careers. When the two caught up for this podcast chat, they naturally talked about their new albums, Francis Trouble (Hammond) and You're Not Alone (W.K.) But they certainly didn't stop there; this conversation also covers the pluses and minuses of total creative control, curating the live show experience for their fans, the joys of picking one's nose, glow-in-the-dark condoms, and how Hammond received inspiration for his alter ego ... from his dog.

Party this podcast, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today's episode was recorded by Dutch Worthington and co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

Paul Feig with Alia Shawkat and Miguel Arteta May 03, 2018

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, a meeting of great comedy minds: Paul Feig, the creator of Freaks and Geeks and director of Bridesmaids, Spy and Ghostbusters, sits down with actress-writer Alia Shawkat and writer-director Miguel Arteta, whose excellent new collaboration, the comedy drama Duck Butter, is now in theaters and on VOD. The trio, all in New York City for the Tribeca Film Festival, discuss a wide variety of topics including Duck Butter, the upcoming Freaks and Geeks documentary, using your personal problems and experiences in your art, morning routines, their collaborations with one another, why the Trump era is bad for creativity, getting high, and much, much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

The music featured in the podcast is as follows:

1. Intro / outro underscore: “Plastic Man vs. The Giant Red Phase Of The Sun” – Iced Ink

Episode engineered by Charles Mueller and edited by Mark Yoshizumi. The Talkhouse podcast producer is Elia Einhorn.

Chelsea Manning with Nadya Tolokonnikova (Pussy Riot) Apr 26, 2018

The latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, recorded at Day for Night Festival in Houston, features Chelsea Manning and Pussy Riot's Nadya Tolokonnikova.

The program includes a talk by Manning on resisting "the data-driven society and the police state"; a conversation between her and Tolokonnikova on their experiences in resistance, incarceration and prison reform; and a talk by Tolokonnikova on bringing "punk feminism" to Russia and the problems with Putin. The two also share their views on how neighborhood communities have better answers than think tanks, the ways empathy can help make real change, and — powerfully — how political action can be more than voting.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

This week’s episode is a collaboration with Day for Night Festival. It was recorded and co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

Guillermo del Toro with William Friedkin Part 2 Apr 19, 2018

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, we feature the concluding part of an epic conversation between two Academy Award-winning directors, Guillermo del Toro and William Friedkin. Here, the longtime friends discuss the genesis of and remarkable stories surrounding Friedkin's compelling new documentary about the Vatican's exorcist, The Devil and Father Amorth. In the process, they tackle some of the most substantial topics imaginable, including: Christ, Hitler, religion, evil, reason vs. emotion, empathy vs. fear, free will, the impending apocalypse — and how filmmakers can make a difference in a world on the brink. Special thanks to Katey Rich from Vanity Fair for collaborating on this special conversation, and for joining us for Part 1 of this conversation. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Guillermo del Toro with William Friedkin Part 1 Apr 17, 2018

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, a casual cinematic chat between two friends, who also happen to be Academy Award-winning directors: Guillermo del Toro and William Friedkin. In the first part of their enthralling two-part conversation for the Talkhouse Podcast, the pair discuss winning big at the Oscars, surviving award season, how to stay a scrapper despite success, del Toro's apprenticeship under makeup legend Dick Smith, the remarkable story of Friedkin and the Pazuzu statue in The Exorcist, the plagiarism controversy surrounding The Shape of Water, and much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Eliza Hittman with Lynne Ramsay Apr 12, 2018

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, Eliza Hittman – the writer-director of It Felt Like Love and Beach Rats – chats with one of the great living filmmakers (and one of Hittman's personal heroes), Scottish writer-director Lynne Ramsay. The two talk about Ramsay's latest film, You Were Never Really Here starring Joaquin Phoenix, which is in theaters now, touching on such topics as the adaptation process, tackling violent subject matter, making a thriller for the first time, staying open to new ideas during all phases of the creative process, balancing life and work, and much more besides. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Billy Bragg Apr 05, 2018

Today’s show features a talk the brilliant English folk-punk activist Billy Bragg gave on skiffle music at NYC’s Strand Bookstore last year upon the release of his book Roots, Radicals and Rockers: How Skiffle Changed the World. Bragg traces the little-known genre from its distinctly American roots to its British chart-topping success, and consequent all-conquering return to America repackaged as the British Invasion. He describes how the short-lived “hillbilly” sound forever changed the course of Western music via its teenaged adherents, who included Van Morrison and, crucially, the Beatles. This utterly fascinating tale also touches on questions of cultural appropriation (and appropriation of appropriation), how young women wanting to jive created a new gig infrastructure, calypso hitting the U.K. charts due to a cricket match, and how the spread of skiffle — and, for that matter, rap — mimics the fidget spinner. Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

This week’s episode is a collaboration with the Strand. It was recorded by Charles Mueller and co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

Meredith Graves with Cameron Lynch Mar 29, 2018

Today's episode, a collaboration with The Players' Tribune, was recorded earlier this month in front of a live audience at On Air Fest at the Wythe Hotel in Brooklyn.

When On Air Fest reached out to Talkhouse about curating a live episode for their podcast festival, we had an idea: what if we, the outlet where musicians and filmmakers write and speak about their experiences, partnered with Derek Jeter's The Players' Tribune, the site where athletes write about their own experiences, for a podcast discussion about what the first-person narrative really looks like? The Players' Tribune loved the idea, and brought in NFL linebacker Cameron Lynch to speak with frequent Talkhouse contributor Meredith Graves (Perfect Pussy). Their thoughtful and often funny conversation takes in a lot, from shutting down the "shut up and dribble" narrative, to the very real pressures of professionally rolling "the dice of life" every single day. It also touches on Fergie's National Anthem blowback, the truth and falsity of people's preconceptions about athletes and rock stars, the perils of Googling oneself, and reckoning with the fact that each of us is "an unpredictable consciousness driving a meat-covered skeleton."

Dan Treadway, Deputy Editor at Players' Tribune, and I kick off the live conversation with some background on each of our first-person-driven media outlets.

Check it out, and subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today’s episode was recorded by Mark Yoshizumi with Michael Bosworth, and co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

Chris Frantz (Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club) with Richard Lloyd (Television) Mar 22, 2018

Chris Frantz (Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club) and Richard Lloyd (Television) were key architects of punk and new wave, forever changing what music could be. Lloyd just published his memoir, Everything Is Combustible: Television, CBGB’s and Five Decades of Rock and Roll: The Memoirs of an Alchemical Guitarist, and to celebrate he sat down with his old friend Franz at N.Y.C.’s iconic Strand Book Store for a deep dive into the wild times of his youth and musical hijinks. Tune in to hear about Lloyd hanging with Jimi Hendrix, the advice John Lee Hooker gave him, and how he blew up a Chinese laundry. Plus Tina Weymouth (Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club) pops up in the Q&A with a question of her own!

Check it out, and subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today’s episode was recorded by Mark Yoshizumi with Garrett Karrberg, and co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi. Big thanks to the Strand.

Sam Harris (X Ambassadors) with Kendra Foster (D’Angelo, Parliament Funkadelic) Mar 08, 2018

Kendra Foster and X Ambassadors’ Sam Harris know a thing or two about songwriting. Foster is a two-time Grammy winner for her work with D’Angelo on his seminal Black Messiah LP, while Harris has written for Rihanna and scored major song placements with Chrysler and ESPN College Football, and in the Will Smith movie Bright. We paired Foster and Harris for a deep-dive conversation on all things songwriting, and they delivered. This conversation covers co-writing, making time to work on new joints while on tour, how songwriting blends technical and spiritual elements, and working with and without producers. It also takes in the artistic and financial benefits of taking risks, how D’Angelo taught Kendra to be patient with her perfectionism, and the way Imagine Dragons forever changed X Ambassadors’ career. Check it out, and subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today’s episode was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

Tom Kalin, Eliza Hittman, Reinaldo Marcus Green and Kirsten Johnson Talk the Oscars Mar 01, 2018

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, filmmakers Eliza Hittman (Beach Rats), Kirsten Johnson (Cameraperson), Tom Kalin (Savage Grace) and Reinaldo Marcus Green (Monsters and Men) talk all things Oscars. In a conversation recorded at Kickstarter HQ in Brooklyn, the four directors discuss this year's (historic!) nominees, notable snubs, changes the Academy has made as part of its diversity push, parallels to the awards in the 1970s, the experience of being a contender and an Oscar voter, and much more. Plus, of course, they offer up their predictions for the big night! For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop about future Talkhouse Podcasts.

Jenn Wasner (Wye Oak, Flock of Dimes) with Jana Hunter (Lower Dens) Feb 22, 2018

Before Jenn Wasner (Wye Oak, Flock of Dimes) and Jana Hunter (Lower Dens) were famous musicians, they worked long shifts together in a Baltimore restaurant. The friends watched each other's artistic careers explode, and when they sat down in the Sonos room at Rough Trade NYC — for one of three conversations that Talkhouse curated for Northside Festival — their chat was both hilarious and moving. (You can listen to Jlin with William Basinski now, and Suicide's Martin Rev talking with Julianna Barwick will drop soon.) As well as tales of those early days washing dishes and lying to annoying customers, their talk takes in the baggage of being "a girl with a guitar," the pros and cons of ceding control in the creative process, and... Abba.

Check it out, and subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer @eliaeinhorn

Today's episode was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi

Christina Choe with Andrew Ahn Feb 15, 2018

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, we feature a conversation between friends and fellow Korean-American writer-directors Andrew Ahn and Christina Choe, recorded at the Kickstarter Lodge during last month's Sundance Film Festival. Choe was at Sundance with her debut feature Nancy (which won her the festival's Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award) and Ahn with his Sundance Now TV show This Close, about two deaf best friends. Over the course of their wide-ranging and extremely unfiltered conversation, Ahn and Choe discuss not only their new projects but also telling stories of one's own community, how Andrew came out to his parents through a short film, Christina's club KGB (Koreans Gone Bad) – and a whole lot about Christina's mom! For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop about future Talkhouse Podcasts.

Jlin with William Basinski Feb 08, 2018

Jlin and William Basinski are two of today's most fascinating and gifted composers. Basinski works with decaying analogue tape loops to create ambient soundscapes, while Jlin constructs brilliant, stuttering reimaginings of footwork rhythms. The friends and collaborators sat down in the Sonos room at Rough Trade NYC for one of three conversations that Talkhouse curated for Northside Festival. (Upcoming episodes will feature the other two, Suicide's Martin Rev with Julianna Barwick, and Lower Dens' Jana Hunter with Jenn Wasner from Wye Oak and Flock of Dimes). The two get into Basinski's tribute to his hero David Bowie, Jlin's boundary-pushing collaborations with cutting-edge dancers, and how a cat on the loose ended up significantly contributing to Basinski’s artistry.

Check it out, and subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today's episode was recorded and co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi

Revisited: Andy Rourke (the Smiths) with Dolores O’Riordan (the Cranberries) Feb 01, 2018

Like fans the world over, we here at Talkhouse were devastated to hear of the Cranberries' Dolores O'Riordan's untimely passing. We felt that the best way to honor her was to share her sweet and funny conversation with her D.A.R.K. bandmate Andy Rourke from 2016.

On this week’s episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, Andy Rourke of the Smiths and Dolores O’Riordan of the Cranberries sit down to discuss their new supergroup, D.A.R.K, and we give their song “High Fashion” its world premiere.

The new bandmates and old friends talk about Dolores’ teenage Smiths fandom, Stephen Street (who helmed production duties on iconic records for both groups), initial reaction from their legendary bands’ diehard fans to the new project, and getting pelted onstage at festivals back in the day by a half-eaten apple and a packet of sausages adorned with the note “Meat is Murder.” Take a listen and subscribe now on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future Talkhouse Podcasts.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast producer and engineer

Today's episode was mixed by Mark Yoshizumi.

The Best Moments of 2017 on the Talkhouse Podcast Jan 18, 2018

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, we look back on the past year as Talkhouse Podcast host/producer Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Music Editor-in-Chief Amy Rose Spiegel, Talkhouse Film Editor-in-Chief Nick Dawson and Talkhouse’s marketing manager Keenan Kush discuss some of their favorite moments from the Talkhouse Podcasts of 2017. The highlights featured include: Taran Killam and Kyle Mooney discussing exercise routines (and doing a little beatboxing); Frankie Cosmos and Vagabon on setting boundaries with fans; Paul Major talking with the legendary Stephen Malkmus about listening to psychedelic music (but without the psychedelics); David Cross and the Strokes’ Fab Moretti helping Jean Grae recreate her past as a phone sex worker; Sam Esmail (Mr Robot) and Mark Frost (Twin Peaks) discussing TV vs. film (and Frost’s experiences writing Marvel movies); an extract from’s Shamir Voice Memos series; Sinkane dishing to Oddisee on his encounter with Usher; and Rob Corddry reminding Lake Bell about her unsuccessful attempt to be a vegan in Vegas. Check it out, and subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop about future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Vivian Howard with Cynthia Hill Jan 11, 2018

The latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast continues our delicious dive into the world of food, following recent episodes that paired Chef Andrew Carmellini with A$AP Ferg, and Chef Paul Kahan with Sonic Youth and Pavement's Mark Ibold.

For today's show, lifelong friends — and now A Chef's Life colleagues — chef Vivian Howard and filmmaker Cynthia Hill sit down to chat about bringing the food and culture of rural North Carolina to the rest of America via their Peabody- and Emmy-winning series, the difficulty of working professionally with one's spouse, and how the hardest critics to please can sometimes be one's own parents. Check it out, and subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop about future Talkhouse Podcasts.

Today's episode was recorded by John Plymale, and mixed by Mark Yoshizumi.

Aasif Mandvi with Jason Jones (The Detour) Jan 04, 2018

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, friends and longtime former colleagues on The Daily Show Jason Jones and Aasif Mandvi are reunited for a conversation at the flagship Sonos store in Soho, NYC. Over the course of a hilarious and wide-ranging chat, the two talk about their worst fashion choices, their respective exercise regimes, their ambivalent feelings about social media, the new documentary The Problem with Apu (which Aasif appears in), Aasif's desire to be (or to spawn) Hollywood's first Indian-American action star, during all of which Jason Jones Solves Everything. (Including how to repeatedly plug the new season of his show, The Detour.) For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop about future Talkhouse Podcasts.

Talkhouse x Food Republic: Paul Kahan with Mark Ibold (Sonic Youth, Pavement) Dec 28, 2017

On the second episode of the Talkhouse x Food Republic podcast, Chicago chef and restaurateur Paul Kahan and musician Mark Ibold (of Pavement and Sonic Youth fame) find that they're at a very similar place in life. The two cultural icons are into cooking, music and family, and they trade stories in this special conversation at the flagship Sonos store in New York. The podcast opens with Ibold admitting that he spent the previous evening testing out a recipe from Kahan's new cookbook, Cheers to the Publican, Repast and Present: Recipes and Ramblings from an American Beer Hall, which takes its name from the chef's Chicago institution, The Publican — part of a restaurant and bar group that includes Avec, Blackbird, Big Star and many others. As they chat, Kahan also taps Ibold for recording advice and coaxes out a few stories from the bassist's days on the road with Pavement. It's a rare chance to hear two legendary figures who'd never met before assess where they're at in life, and share hard-earned wisdom. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Michael Chernus (Orange is the New Black) with Sam Beam (Iron & Wine) Dec 21, 2017

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, actor Michael Chernus (aka Cal Chapman on Orange is the New Black) sits down at the flagship Sonos store in New York City with Sam Beam of Iron & Wine, whose latest album, Beast Epic, came out in Summer 2017. The two longtime friends chat about Beam's roots as a painter and filmmaker, how Chernus has entered the Marvel Universe (playing the Tinkerer in Spider-Man: Homecoming), Beam's plans to make a movie in the near future, how Chernus has used Beam's music as part of his acting process, and much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop about future Talkhouse Podcasts.

Rainn Wilson with Josh Radnor and Ben Lee Dec 14, 2017

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, actor and comedian Rainn Wilson (aka Dwight on The Office) chats with two old friends, actor-writer-director Josh Radnor (best known as Ted on How I Met Your Mother) and Australian indie singer-songwriter Ben Lee, who now make up the musical duo Radnor & Lee. The three talk about how Josh and Ben became friends (and then later collaborators), the spiritual focus of their debut album, Josh and Rainn's shared history as drama students at NYU, the balance between spirituality and creativity in each of their lives, Ben's children's album about Islam, and much, much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop about future Talkhouse Podcasts.

Sasheer Zamata with Noël Wells (Mr. Roosevelt) Dec 07, 2017

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, comedian and actor Sasheer Zamata is in conversation with her former Saturday Night Live castmate Noël Wells, whose debut feature as writer-director and star, Mr. Roosevelt, is out now in select theaters. Zamata and Wells, who shared a dressing room at SNL, talk about a diverse range of subjects, taking in everything from political activism to internet addiction and social media use, from Zamata's stint on The Talk and Brad Pitt's photography and sculpture work to their experiences returning to 30 Rock and Wells' fledgling music career. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop about future Talkhouse Podcasts.

Sinkane with Oddisee Nov 30, 2017

The latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast features rapper Oddisee and singer-songwriter Sinkane in conversation. The old friends powerfully — and hilariously — share the triumphs and travails of pursuing careers in music as Sudanese Americans. They also chat about the current and historic musical infrastructures of rap and punk, Oddisee’s amazing Hudson Mohawk connection, and how Caribou helped change Sinkane’s life. Plus Sinkane drops some "Sudanese Dad wisdom." Check it out, and subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

This episode was recorded by Elia Einhorn, and mixed and co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

NE-HI with Spencer Tweedy Nov 24, 2017

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, Spencer Tweedy (Tweedy, the Blisters) chops it up with NE-HI’s Jason Balla and Mikey Wells backstage at Pitchfork Music Festival 2017. Their talk takes in why bands ask for “gold-flaked burgers” on their riders, a theory of WWE’s progressivism, and how what really matters in life is rock ’n’ roll … and taxes. Check it out, and subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast. Today’s episode is sponsored in part by Shure. Big thanks to Pitchfork for hosting Talkhouse at the festival.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

This episode was recorded, mixed and co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

Jamila Woods with Ohmme Nov 21, 2017

Singer Jamila Woods and Ohmme's Macie Stewart and Sima Cunningham are ubiquitous collaborators working at the heart of Chicago's diverse and vibrant music scene.

Between them they've worked with Wilco, Chance the Rapper, Twin Peaks, Vic Mensa and many more, and also release their own fantastic records. On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, the old friends catch up backstage at Pitchfork Music Festival 2017. Their wonderfully Chicago-centric talk takes in the city's vital musical infrastructure, free jazz, the Brown Girls web series, and how amazing sci-fi author Octavia Butler is. Oh, and Talkhouse Music Editor-in-Chief Amy Rose Spiegel gets me to revisit my pre-adolescent singing voice. Check it out, and subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast. Today’s episode is sponsored in part by Shure. Big thanks to Pitchfork for hosting Talkhouse at the festival.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

This episode was recorded, mixed and co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

Sam Esmail (Mr. Robot) with Mark Frost (Twin Peaks) Nov 16, 2017

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, Mr. Robot creator Sam Esmail sits down to talk with one of his heroes, Mark Frost, the man who created Twin Peaks and Twin Peaks: The Return with David Lynch – and is also a huge fan of Mr. Robot. The two talk about the unique circumstances under which Twin Peaks: The Return was conceived and made, the story behind Episode 8 (one of the great hours of TV in recent memory), the polarizing second season of Mr. Robot, pushing the boundaries of what TV can be, and much more – including insights into projects that Frost and Lynch worked on that sadly never came to fruition. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop about future Talkhouse Podcasts.

Javier Muñoz with Stephanie Beatriz Nov 09, 2017

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, Javier Muñoz (currently playing the title role in Hamilton on Broadway) talks with his friend Stephanie Beatriz, best known for playing Rosa on Brooklyn Nine-Nine. The two touch on a wide variety of subjects, including Beatriz's new film The Light of the Moon (in which she plays a rape survivor), Harvey Weinstein, the joys and perils of social media, the physical toll of performing Hamilton, the famous actors who gave them driving lessons, their love lives, and much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop about future Talkhouse Podcasts.

Katie Alice Greer and Daniele Daniele (Priests) with Tyler Pope (LCD Soundsystem) Nov 02, 2017

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, LCD Soundsystem's Tyler Pope and Priests' Katie Alice Greer and Daniele Daniele chop it up backstage at Pitchfork Music Festival 2017. Their talk takes in the fantastic indie labels they run, D.C. punk, and LCD Soundsystem's earliest days. We also hear about the amplifier that nearly broke up Priests, and LCD's little-known Shellac connection. Check it out, and subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast. Today’s episode is sponsored in part by Shure. Big thanks to Pitchfork for hosting Talkhouse at the festival. This episode premiered on Pitchfork Radio.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

This episode was recorded, mixed and co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

Voice Memos: Shamir Oct 26, 2017

Welcome to Voice Memos, a new audio diary series from the Talkhouse Podcast. Our featured artist for this inaugural episode is the brilliant and chameleonic singer-songwriter Shamir.

Shamir Bailey rose to fame in 2015 with his oh-so-danceable debut LP, Ratchet, and its ubiquitous single, "On the Regular." Earlier this year, seemingly out of the blue, he self-released a followup, Hope. In stark contrast to its predecessor, Hope was an eminently DIY affair; it was recorded on a four-track over a single weekend in his bedroom in Philadelphia. Critics and fans were surprised and divided.

What happened next, though, is the subject of today's podcast. A devastating manic episode saw Shamir admitted to a mental hospital. After being released, he retreated to his home city of Las Vegas to recuperate. As part of this healing, Shamir began speaking diary entries into his Voice Memos, trying to work through what had happened, and what life would look like going forward. He also began writing new songs in earnest all about his current experiences, again demoing them on his phone. Those powerful home-recorded journals and gorgeous unheard compositions comprise this episode.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Shamir is donating a portion of all pre-sales of his upcoming album, Revelations, to The Mental Health Association in Pennsylvania. Order the album and support this fantastic cause.

Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Today's podcast was recorded by Shamir Bailey. It was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

Frankie Cosmos with Vagabon Oct 19, 2017

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, Greta Kline (Frankie Cosmos, aka my absolute favorite current band) and Lætitia Tamko (Vagabon, who released one of the best records of 2017) catch up backstage at Pitchfork Music Festival 2017. The friends and occasional collaborators talk the ins and outs of being mid-level indie musicians in today's musical climate — working your own merch, fans' frequent lack of physical boundaries, managing oneself, how to engage with corporate sponsors, and much more. They also take in Tegan and Sara's deep knowledge of the Brooklyn DIY scene, breaking edge in Paris, and finding wisdom in Kimya Dawson's LiveJournal. Check it out, and subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast. Today's episode is sponsored in part by Shure. Big thanks to Pitchfork for hosting Talkhouse at the festival.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today's episode was recorded, mixed and co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

Jackie Chan with Edgar Wright Oct 12, 2017

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, Baby Driver's writer-director Edgar Wright sits down for a chat with the legendary actor, martial arts star and director Jackie Chan, whose latest film, The Foreigner, is in theaters from this Friday. A self-professed “fanboy” of Chan's work, Wright talks with him about his game-changing films Police Story and Project A; making it in Hollywood on his own terms; how he approached doing some of his death-defying stunts (and fearing ghosts were trying to kill him!); his transition from action star to actor, being on set with James Cameron; receiving a special Oscar at this year's Academy Awards; and much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop about future Talkhouse Podcasts.

Chuck D (Public Enemy) with Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine) Oct 05, 2017

Chuck D (Public Enemy) and Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine, Audioslave, the Nightwatchman) have been sending radical political messages up the pop charts for decades. On the occasion of the debut LP by their new supergroup, Prophets Of Rage, the two musical revolutionaries bum-rush the Talkhouse Podcast to discuss protest music. Their conversation also covers why new groups are afraid to be overtly political, the democratization of music via technology, how Rage Against the Machine fooled MTV and Viacom, and "Puff the Magic Dragon." Check it out, and subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today's episode was recorded by Susan Valot, and mixed and coproduced by Mark Yoshizumi.

Lena Dunham with Danny Strong Oct 03, 2017

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, Girls' creator and star Lena Dunham sits down with fellow actor-writer-director Danny Strong, whose J.D. Salinger biopic Rebel in the Rye – his debut as writer-director – is now in theaters. The two friends and officemates discuss the challenges of stepping behind the camera for the first time, owning one's failures, how they met, Lena's mentors David Carr and Nora Ephron, their creative beginnings, and much more – including the projects they are currently working on, such as Dunham's previously unannounced stage project at St. Ann's Warehouse. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop about future Talkhouse Podcasts.

Tunde Adebimpe (TV on the Radio) with Ian Brennan Sep 28, 2017

Tunde Adebimpe (TV on the Radio, Rachel Getting Married) and Ian Brennan (Grammy-winning producer of Tinariwen) are dedicated to making music that lays purposely apart from the mainstream. The old friends and collaborators sat down for the Talkhouse Podcast on the occasion of the release of the Brennan-produced Tanzania Albinism Collective’s White African Power record (my favorite album of 2017 so far). Their conversation takes in the persecution of people with albinism in East Africa, and Brennan’s trip to a remote albino colony in Tanzania where he recorded this incredibly honest and heartrending record. The chat also covers the Western music industry’s proximity bias, artists who prize spirit over virtuosity, the travails and triumphs of the Malawi Mouse Boys, and Celine Dion. Check it out, and subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today’s episode was recorded by Tunde Adebimpe and Ian Brennan. It was mixed and co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

Tyler Pope (LCD Soundsystem) with Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth) Sep 26, 2017

For today's episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, we paired Tyler Pope (LCD Soundsystem, Interference Pattern Records) and Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth) on the occasion of the release of Moore's new LP, Rock n Roll Consciousness. Pope is a lifelong Sonic Youth fan, and when Pitchfork asked me if I'd like to host an Over / Under with Moore earlier the same summer day that we were due to record this podcast, I asked if he had a subject he'd love to hear Moore's take on. His immediate response? "Ask him about techno." I did, and in his answer, Moore dropped the bombshell that he's got a fully recorded, unreleased techno record. This conversation, recorded minutes after that Over / Under taping, picks up on that teaser. Moore and Pope discuss that unreleased record and nerd out on techno, and their talk also takes in what drew each of them to "subversive" music, amazing black metal band names, Pope's new (mostly) electronic record label, being in a democratic band versus running the ship, and so much more. Today's episode features a special introductory conversation with Pope recorded the week that the new LCD Soundsystem album, American Dream, hit #1 in the charts.

In addition, Moore asked Pope for recommendations on which techno tracks he should hear; you can find that list on Talkhouse.com.

Check it all out, and subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast. Catch LCD Soundsystem and Thurston Moore on their current world tours.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer Today’s episode was recorded by Tyler Pope and Mark Yoshizumi. It was mixed and co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

Helado Negro with Sylvan Esso Sep 21, 2017

Both Helado Negro and Sylvan Esso are rewriting the rules of what a pop song can sound like. The friends and current tourmates sat down for the Talkhouse Podcast to discuss the creative process and artistic evolution. Their talk takes in the songwriter's quest for self-expression, freedom, money, and transcendence — and just how bonkers searching for all of those things at once really is. It also covers artistically growing up in public, how creating can be a necessary escape during troubled times, vibing on YMCA boot-camp workout music, and how occasionally they write their best work ... while peeing. Check it out, and subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast. Catch Sylvan Esso and Helado Negro on tour together through the end of September.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today’s episode was recorded, mixed and co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

Talkhouse x Food Republic: A$AP Ferg with Andrew Carmellini Sep 14, 2017

On Talkhouse's premiere food culture episode (part of its new Talkhouse x Food Republic series), New York City chef and restaurateur Andrew Carmellini meets Harlem rapper A$AP Ferg at the flagship Sonos store in NYC. In their conversation, they discuss the challenges of their respective crafts, their role as leaders, branding, cooking and more. Check out these two New York cultural titans chopping it up, and subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Barry Jenkins (Moonlight) with Eliza Hittman (Beach Rats) Sep 07, 2017

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, Moonlight's Oscar-winning writer-director Barry Jenkins sits down with fellow filmmaker and (and fellow Talkhouse contributor!) Eliza Hittman to talk about Beach Rats, her sophomore feature which is currently in theaters. The friends discuss how they bonded while doing the Cinereach Fellowship (aka “filmmaker therapy”), the parallels between Moonlight and Beach Rats, the challenges of shooting on a beach at night, how they both feared overly muscular actors might “ruin” their films, and much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop about future Talkhouse Podcasts.

Courtney Barnett with Julia Shapiro (Chastity Belt) Aug 31, 2017

Courtney Barnett and Julia Shapiro (Chastity Belt) love each others' songs so much that they admit to feeling like "creepy fans." The friends and frequent tourmates caught up on the Talkhouse Podcast to talk finger tapping, heavy metal guitar pedals, Chastity Belt's new LP I Used To Spend So Much Time Alone, Courtney Barnett's songwriting difficulties and her new project with Kurt Vile, and so much more. This episode premiered on Pitchfork Radio. Check it out, and subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Today’s episode was recorded by Courtney Barnett, Bill Marcus and Mark Yoshizumi. It was mixed and co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

Rob Corddry with Lake Bell Aug 29, 2017

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, longtime friends and regular collaborators Lake Bell and Rob Corddry sit down for a conversation, timed to the September 1 theatrical release of I Do … Until I Don’t, which Bell wrote, directed and stars in. As well as Lake’s new movie, the pair talk about how they first met, their time working together on Childrens Hospital, the challenges of maintaining a film career as a parent, why Lake is a natural director (and Rob isn’t), Lake’s transitional phase as a vegan who ate meat, and much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop about future Talkhouse Podcasts.

Paul Major with Stephen Malkmus Aug 24, 2017

To celebrate the release of Feel the Music: The Psychedelic Worlds of Paul Major, Stephen Malkmus (Pavement, Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks) sat down with Paul Major (Endless Boogie) at NYC's famed Bowery Ballroom for a live conversation. Their talk takes in Major's life as a preeminent private press psych rock collector, dealer and champion; how he was protected by the mob while slinging records in '70s Manhattan; the dog bite that prevented him from accepting Johnny Thunders' offer to shoot up; and so much more. Joining me for this episode's introduction is special guest Matt Sweeney (Chavez, ZWAN, Iggy Pop, Endless Boogie). Check it out, and subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Seth Meyers with Senator Al Franken Aug 22, 2017

On a very special new episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, two men who straddle the worlds of comedy and politics – Senator Al Franken and Late Night's Seth Meyers – sit down for a conversation timed to the publication of Franken's new book, Al Franken, Giant of the Senate. In a talk organized through NYC's legendary Strand Bookstore, the two friends and Saturday Night Live alums discuss Franken's transition from comedy to politics (including the “dehumorizing” process), our current president's sense of humor (or lack), Franken's take on both Republican adversaries Ted Cruz and Lindsay Graham, SNL memories of George Harrison and the “Fart Doctor” sketch, and much, much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop about future Talkhouse Podcasts.

Lizzy Goodman with Kyp Malone (TV on the Radio) and Brian Chase (Yeah Yeah Yeahs) Aug 17, 2017

On today’s episode, Meet Me in the Bathroom: Rebirth and Rock and Roll in New York City 2001-2011 author Lizzy Goodman sat down with Yeah Yeah Yeah's Brian Chase and TV On The Radio's Kyp Malone at the flagship Sonos store in NYC. In their conversation, they relive those halcyon years and see what everyone's staying busy with. Check it out, and subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast.

Patrick Brice with Miguel Arteta Aug 10, 2017

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, writer-director Patrick Brice (The Overnight) and Miguel Arteta, the director of Chuck & Buck, The Good Girl and Cedar Rapids, sit down for a conversation at Arteta's house. The two, who are both currently editing films produced by Mark and Jay Duplass, have a lively talk which encompasses everything from Jason Schwartzman's reticence to take off his shirt to a nightmare TV project Arteta worked on with Martin Scorsese, but focuses most on two major topics: parenthood (Brice recently became a father for the first time) and the current political climate (Arteta's new film is the very prescient and Trump-inflected Beatriz at Dinner). For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop about future Talkhouse Podcasts.

Jenny Slate and Gillian Robespierre with Nicole Holofcener Aug 03, 2017

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, Nicole Holofcener – the writer-director of such acclaimed comedy dramas as Walking and Talking, Please Give and Enough Said – talks with two of her biggest fans, Jenny Slate and Gillian Robespierre, the star and writer-director of Obvious Child and the newly released Landline. In a wide-ranging and often hilarious conversation, the trio talk about sex scenes, motherhood, humping furniture, the difference between male and female directors, their struggles with chewing sounds, telling time and counting – and Jenny and Nicole share their very different memories of working together on Bored to Death. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop about future Talkhouse Podcasts.

Taran Killam with Kyle Mooney Jul 27, 2017

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, Saturday Night Live alum Taran Killam sits down with longtime friend and current SNL cast member Kyle Mooney at the flagship Sonos store in New York City, tied to the release of Mooney's new movie Brigsby Bear, which he stars in and also co-wrote. In a conversation rich with '80s and '90s pop culture trivia (and impromptu singing!), the two talk about their favorite karaoke songs, boy bands of decades past, Kyle's legendary collection of VHS tapes, Saved by the Bell and other teen TV shows, working with legends such as Mark Hamill and Arnold Schwarzenegger, and much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop about future Talkhouse Podcasts.

Terence Nance with Flying Lotus Jul 25, 2017

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, two longtime friends who bridge the worlds of music and film – writer-director Terence Nance, who’s also a musician, and Steve Ellison, widely known as the recording artist Flying Lotus, whose supremely out-there debut feature film Kuso is out now – sit down for a chat. Over the course of their highly entertaining and unpredictable conversation, the pair talks about dick-stabbing, Steve’s traumatic first time getting tested for STDs, the unique mix of crude humor and transcendence in his work, their respective creative struggles, their greatest fears, and much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop about future Talkhouse Podcasts.

Darren Aronofsky with Alejandro Jodorowsky Jul 20, 2017

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, two cinematic titans are in conversation as Darren Aronofsky sits down with the legendary Alejandro Jodorowsky, to coincide with the theatrical release of the 88-year-old cult director's new film, Endless Poetry. The two have a fascinating, wide-ranging conversation that takes in the challenge of making art within the Hollywood system, the ability of films to heal, the vulgarity of Trump and life's big questions – death, God, aliens, the universe – and Jodorowsky also fulfills a longheld dream of the Black Swan director's by reading his tarot. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop about future Talkhouse Podcasts.

David Cross with Jean Grae and Fab Moretti (The Strokes) Jul 13, 2017

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, we continue our series of episodes recorded live at Sonos' flagship store in Soho NYC with a hilarious conversation between Mr Show and Arrested Development's David Cross and two of his longtime friends, comedian and hip-hop star Jean Grae and Fabrizio Moretti, the drummer from the Strokes and Little Joy. Over the course of a hilarious and thoroughly unpredictable conversation, the trio talk about David going into an old people's home, the ills of social media, Jean's inability to ride a bike, the mysterious “gum incident,” the movie and musical of Newsies, conspiracy theories, jobs they were fired from … and David and Fab give Jean an opportunity to prove her talents at the last job she was fired from: a phone sex operator. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop about future Talkhouse Podcasts.

Talkhouse Podcast Best of Spring 2017 Jul 06, 2017

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, host Elia Einhorn sits down with Talkhouse Film's Editor-in-Chief Nick Dawson and then Talkhouse Music Editor-in-Chief Amy Rose Spiegel (with Talkhouse editorial intern Sophie Kemp in tow!) to discuss some of their favorite moments from the past few months, which include discussions of privilege, Tom Cruise's penis, clothing essentials, stripping, among other topics. Featured here are conversations between Talib Kweli and Patterson Hood of Drive-By Truckers, comedy multihyphenates Ken Marino and Paul Scheer, Cosey Fanni Tutti from Throbbing Gristle and Patti Smith Group's Lenny Kaye, standup stalwarts Todd Barry and Chris Gethard, and more. Plus there's an unreleased outtake in which Ryley Walker and Teenage Fanclub's Norman Blake riff on the weirdness of settling back into real life after tour, and a closing moment that would move Alvin Ailey to tears. Subscribe to the Talkhouse Podcast now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop about future episodes, too!

Rian Johnson (Star Wars: The Last Jedi) with Ana Lily Amirpour (The Bad Batch) Jun 22, 2017

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, writer-director Rian Johnson (Brick, Looper) sits down with the visionary Ana Lily Amirpour, whose debut feature A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night announced her as a major talent and whose second film, The Bad Batch, is released June 23. Their wide-ranging conversation covers the breadth of the filmmaking process, from the trials of writing to post-production anxieties, and takes in cinematic boners, being a “frame fucker,” their respective metaphors for making movies, Rian's experiences making his upcoming Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop about future Talkhouse Podcasts.

Norman Blake (Teenage Fanclub) with Ryley Walker Jun 16, 2017

On today's episode, fingerstyle guitar wunderkind (and massive Teenage Fanclub fan) Ryley Walker chats with that legendary band's frontman, Norman Blake. Their talk takes in songwriting process, challenging oneself onstage, the excitement of collaborating with experimental musicians, studio techniques, and so much more. Check it out, and subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future Talkhouse podcasts.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer.

Today's episode was recorded by Ryley and Norman, and mixed and co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi.

Jim Hemphill with Lea Thompson (The Year of Spectacular Men) Jun 15, 2017

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, writer-director and frequent Talkhouse contributor Jim Hemphill sits down with Lea Thompson, whose feature directorial debut, The Year of Spectacular Men, has its world premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival on June 16. The two old friends talk about her new movie, collaborating on Jim's movie The Trouble About the Truth, Lea's memories of working on Howard the Duck, Some Kind of Wonderful and All the Right Moves (which includes a frank discussion of her and Tom Cruise's nudity!), sexism in Hollywood, Jim's lack of prowess as an actor, and much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop about future Talkhouse Podcasts.

Patterson Hood (Drive-By Truckers) with Talib Kweli Jun 09, 2017

Patterson Hood (Drive-By Truckers) and Talib Kweli both make music to make a difference. On their respective new releases American Band and The Seven (Kweli’s EP in collaboration with Styles P), the lyrics directly address social and political issues. The Southern rocker and NYC rapper sat down for the Talkhouse Podcast last month and covered a lot of ground, including: Kweli’s experiences on the ground in Ferguson; Patterson’s desire to provide a visible alternative to white Southern men as bigots in the media; Dave Chappelle’s planning meeting with Saturday Night Live’s Lorne Michaels; Harry Belafonte’s attempt to make a “We Are The World”-style song with rappers for Ferguson; and so much more. Check it out, and subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future Talkhouse podcasts.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer.

Today’s episode was recorded by Mark Yoshizumi and Patterson Hood, and mixed by Mark Yoshizumi.

Want to take action? Talib Kweli recommends:

Indivisible.org is a bunch of congressional staffers, people who have worked in Congress who are giving people tools to be anti Trump, whether it’s to participate in a Hill Day or to go to your local town hall and stuff like that. Indivisible.org, they’re doing great, great work.

Adopt-A-State is getting people to change the demographic, change the vote in some of the red states so we can change some of the electoral college nonsense.

Very important to me is Sleeping Giants. I’m not sure if they have a website but they’re on Facebook and Twitter. Sleeping Giants is a group of people ... taking on Breitbart.com ... They’re going after their advertisers and getting advertisers to pull their ads and money out of Breitbart. That’s a strategy I feel like is working.

Kumail Nanjiani (The Big Sick) with Zoe Lister-Jones (Band Aid) Jun 08, 2017

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, Kumail Nanjiani, the writer-star of the forthcoming The Big Sick, talks with Zoe Lister-Jones, whose Band Aid – which she wrote, produced, directed, stars in and wrote the songs for – is in now in theaters on VOD. In a conversation interrupted both by gardeners and Zoe's Band Aid co-star Adam Pally, the two multihyphenates chat about putting their real lives in their movies, working with their partners, getting in touch with their emotions, why comedies have terrible third acts, why Boardwalk Empire made enemies in New York, and what it's like to make a movie with an all-female crew. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop about future Talkhouse Podcasts.

Paul Scheer with Ken Marino (How to Be a Latin Lover) Jun 01, 2017

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, comedian and actor Paul Scheer talks with his friend and former collaborator Ken Marino, whose directorial debut, the very funny How To Be a Latin Lover, is currently in theaters. In a fascinating and often hilarious conversation, the two discuss Marino's work on his new film with Mexican comedy star Eugenio Derbez and Salma Hayek; their roots in sketch comedy (Marino found fame with The State and Scheer with Human Giant); doing diverse work as writers, directors and actors; professional competitiveness; their comic histories; Pixar bloopers; Ken's love of dance, and much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop about future Talkhouse Podcasts.

Revisited: Alan Palomo with Caroline Polachek May 25, 2017

For the latest episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, we invited Talkhouse Music’s editor-in-chief, Amy Rose Spiegel, to choose one of her favorite episodes from the vault. The one she picked is the only episode of the podcast to ever be scored live: Caroline Polachek (ex-Chairlift) with Alan Palomo of Neon Indian. The episode, which originally aired in 2016, is presented here in its entirety with a new introduction from Amy Rose and me.

Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop about future Talkhouse Podcasts.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Music Podcast host and producer

New introduction recorded and mixed by Mark Yoshizumi.

Last year, Alan Palomo of Neon Indian and Chairlift’s Caroline Polachek sat down at Samsung 837 in New York City for a live Talkhouse Music Podcast recording. As Alan played ambient self-generated sounds and Caroline spun an unreleased composition for atmosphere, the friends and mutual admirers discussed what can and can’t be co-opted in the arts, experimental and pop music, the music and arts scene in Williamsburg, collaborating with siblings, eating curried cow brains in Indonesia an hour before going onstage, and so much more. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future Talkhouse Podcasts.

Cosey Fanni Tutti (Throbbing Gristle) with Lenny Kaye (Patti Smith Group) May 18, 2017

On the occasion of her autobiography Art Sex Music's American book release, industrial music pioneer and acclaimed performance artist Cosey Fanni Tutti (Throbbing Gristle, Chris and Cosey) sat down with Patti Smith Group's Lenny Kaye to discuss her fascinating life on the margins. Their conversation, which took place at McNally Jackson bookstore in New York, takes in the rise and fall of Throbbing Gristle, transgressive art shows, a hilarious story about Tutti using "Because The Night" during her strip routine, and much more. It begins with a stage-setting reading from Art Sex Music.

Many thanks to McNally Jackson and Faber and Faber for allowing Talkhouse to record and release this fantastic conversation.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Music Podcast host and producer

Shannon Plumb (Towheads) with Azazel Jacobs (The Lovers) May 11, 2017

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Film Podcast, friends, filmmakers and fellow humanists Shannon Plumb and Azazel Jacobs get up close and personal. Snuggled in bed in a room at the Lower East Side Ludlow Hotel, the pair share a unique rapport that translates to their fascination with the human condition and the deeper understanding of human beings that informs their work. The freewheeling conversation includes how Jacobs tapped into his comedic side for his new film The Lovers, starring Debra Winger and Tracy Letts, and then transcends space and time, delving into Lenny Bruce, the Clash and the possible existence of space babies. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop about future Talkhouse Podcasts.

The music featured in the podcast is as follows:

1. Intro / outro underscore: “Plastic Man vs. the Giant Red Phase of the Sun” – Iced Ink

Episode recorded by Susan Valot and mixed by Mark Yoshizumi; the Talkhouse podcast producer is Elia Einhorn.

Todd Barry with Chris Gethard May 04, 2017

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Film Podcast, two of the funniest (and also most underappreciated) comedians around, Todd Barry and Chris Gethard, sit down for a conversation at Sonos' flagship store at 101 Greene Street in New York City. The two multihyphenates talk about their myriad projects, including Barry's newly published book Thank You for Coming to Hattiesburg, Gethard's one-person show Career Suicide (which hits HBO later this month), the Webby Gethard just won for his podcast, but focus most of their conversation on the minutiae that is the very stuff of comics' lives: clothing choices, frequent flyer miles, college gigs, life on the road. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Revisited: Kevin Drew with Julia Holter May 02, 2017

With the recent release of Julia Holter’s new LP In the Same Room (which features gorgeous new live-in-studio versions of songs from her last two albums) as well as an imminent new album from Broken Social Scene, we wanted to revisit the thoughtful conversation Holter and Broken Social Scene’s Kevin Drew had last summer for the Talkhouse Music Podcast. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop about future Talkhouse Podcasts.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Music Podcast host and producer

Songwriter/composer Julia Holter and Broken Social Scene’s Kevin Drew sat down backstage at Pitchfork Fest earlier this summer to discuss the difference between writing solo and with a group, how the next Broken Social Scene record needs some Bobby McFerrin-esque acapella… and a possible collaboration. Take a listen and subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future Talkhouse Podcasts.

Revisited: Genesis Breyer P-Orridge (Throbbing Gristle, Psychic TV) with Laura Jane Grace (Against Me!) Apr 27, 2017

For the latest episode of the Talkhouse Music Podcast, we invited Talkhouse Music's new editor-in-chief, Amy Rose Spiegel, to choose one of her favorite episodes from the vault. The one she picked happens to be one of my faves, as well: Genesis Breyer P-Orridge with Laura Jane Grace. The episode, which originally aired in 2015, is presented here in its entirety with a new introduction from Amy Rose and me.

Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop about future Talkhouse Podcasts.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Music Podcast host and producer

New introduction recorded and mixed by Mark Yoshizumi.

“Transsexuals are the stormtroopers of the future.” So says Genesis P-Orridge, the iconic, visionary musician who has fronted influential bands like Psychic TV and Throbbing Gristle. While P-Orridge isn’t transgender — they* call themselves a pandrogyne — their partner in this Talkhouse Music Podcast, Against Me! frontwoman Laura Jane Grace, came out as transgender in 2012. Still, as P-Orridge points out, both musicians have done something very brave: they’ve transitioned, in one way or another, in front of their audience. And it was P-Orridge who paved the way. As Grace says here, “Someone like yourself is so important to me.”

P-Orridge and Grace might hail from different generations, countries and musical communities, but they found plenty to talk about: what it was like to transition in public, the mind-body duality, paranormal phenomena, the perennial bathroom problem, the perennnial airport screening problem, courage, death, Caitlyn Jenner, a hilarious exchange about what to wear on stage, dealing with photographers who want you to show your boobs, and what P-Orridge calls “a gradual shift in the way that gender and sexuality are perceived in our species.”

This is one of the more fascinating and potentially visionary exchanges we’ve ever had on the Talkhouse Podcast. It’s also one of the more risqué, so if you’re easily offended, maybe you’ll want to check out one of our other podcasts.

* A word about pronouns: P-Orridge call themselves “we” because they feel at one with their late wife Lady Jaye. Much more about that in the podcast.

Talkhouse Music Podcast Best of Winter 2017 Apr 20, 2017

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Music Podcast, we look back on winter 2017. Talkhouse Music Podcast host Elia Einhorn and Talkhouse Music Editor-In-Chief Amy Rose Spiegel discuss some of their favorite moments from the podcast, including Starita and A Tribe Called Quest’s Jarobi White remembering Phife Dawg, Xenia Rubinos and Digable Planets’ Ladybug Mecca on intersectional feminism, the Flaming Lips’ Wayne Coyne asking Prince Paul about De La Soul’s industry-changing sampling issues, and the Smiths’ Andy Rourke and Joy Division and New Order’s Peter Hook on the first time they saw each other. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop about future Talkhouse Podcasts.

—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Music Podcast host and producer

Revisiting a Webby Award Honoree: Kid Cudi with Paul Reubens Apr 11, 2017

On the occasion of the episode becoming a Webby Award honoree, Talkhouse podcast producer Elia Einhorn and Talkhouse Film's Editor-in-Chief Nick Dawson revisit the very special conversation from 2016 between hip-hop star, actor and longtime Pee-wee Herman fan Kid Cudi and Pee-wee himself, Paul Reubens. In addition to the full original talk between the two — which touches on how they first met, Reubens' journey to bring Pee-wee Herman back to the big screen, Cudi's strong dislike of skunks (and recent encounter with a mountain lion), and a discussion by both of future creative projects — you get to listen to the full backstory of how this unlikely episode came together. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Talkhouse Film Podcast Best of Winter 2017 Apr 06, 2017

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Film Podcast, Talkhouse podcast producer Elia Einhorn and Talkhouse Film's Editor-in-Chief, Nick Dawson, look back on the some of best moments from episodes recorded in the first quarter of 2017. Highlights include: Portlandia's Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein talking Wikipedia errors; Penelope Spheeris looking back on directing Donald Trump in The Little Rascals; Neal Brennan on how he and Seth Meyers thought they had “conquered” Trump through satire; Kirsten Johnson asking Agnès Varda about her favorite colors; and Morgan Spurlock and Louis Theroux discussing porn and Nipplegate. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Rachel Goswell (Slowdive) with Michelle Zauner (Japanese Breakfast) Apr 04, 2017

Slowdive's Rachel Goswell and Michelle Zauner of Japanese Breakfast are mutual fans of each other’s dreamy music. As their bands gear up to tour the US together, we thought it the perfect time to pair these two on The Talkhouse Music Podcast. Their chat covers the vicissitudes of Goswell’s professional and personal relationship with Neil Halstead over the decades, how Slowdive relearned old material via fan videos on YouTube, nerding out on gear, and exciting new details about Slowdive and Japanese Breakfast’s upcoming LPs. Check it out, and subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future Talkhouse podcasts.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Music Podcast host and producer

Today's episode was recorded by Mark Yoshizumi and Rachel Goswell and mixed by Mark Yoshizumi.

Revisited: Kamasi Washington with Thundercat & Carly Rae Jepsen with Brian Wilson Mar 30, 2017

To celebrate the release of Thundercat's excellent new album, Drunk, we're revisiting the time Stephen “Thundercat” Bruner and Kamasi Washington sat down backstage at Pitchfork Festival for The Talkhouse Music Podcast. In this episode, they discuss growing up playing music together, working with Kendrick Lamar and Flying Lotus, the last conversation Thundercat ever had with J Dilla, and much more. Their talk follows a bonus chat between Carly Rae Jepsen and Brian Wilson. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop about future Talkhouse Podcasts.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Music Podcast host and producer

Troy Sanders and Bill Kelliher (Mastodon) with Jesse Leach (Killswitch Engage) Mar 28, 2017

Mastodon’s Troy Sanders and Bill Kelliher got together with their old pal Jesse Leach of Killswitch Engage to talk metal for our podcast. Except, that didn’t really happen. Instead, the guys had an impromptu riff session, including hilarious off-the-cuff stories about how Mastodon’s Brent Hinds taught Jesse to save his tour per diems for drugs, Phil Anselmo of Pantera’s bathroom antics, Bill’s high school breakdance troupe, Troy’s recommendation for the perfect place to dump a body, and so much more. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future Talkhouse podcasts.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Music Podcast host and producer

Tim Heidecker with Adam Curtis Mar 23, 2017

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Film Podcast, comedian Tim Heidecker sits down with Adam Curtis, the BBC filmmaker whose sprawling, epic political documentaries about have in recent years made him a cult figure. In a highly engaged conversation, the two discuss Curtis' past making films about “talented animals,” tropes in current pop music (and how dull music in docs is), Donald Trump, how John Oliver and Jon Stewart contributed to Trump's success, the power of storytelling in politics, and much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Mike Posner with Taraka Larson Mar 21, 2017

Mike Posner is a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter whose megahit "I Took a Pill in Ibiza" has been streamed more than a billion times; last week, he released a book of poetry titled Teardrops and Balloons. Taraka Larson fronts the beloved psych-pop group Prince Rama, and is a pop music theorist who has lectured on the subject at New York University and Melbourne College in Australia. We thought it would make for a great conversation to pair this pop scholar with one of pop’s biggest current writers. And it was! In a talk that was part theory discussion, part psychoanalysis, the two discuss where truth is to be found in the inherent artifice of art, the temptation to glorify one’s suffering in one's work, how you know when you’ve created good art (and when you haven’t), Prince Rama appearing in James Franco’s new Lifetime film, and much more. Check it out. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future Talkhouse Podcasts.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Music Podcast host and producer

Today's episode was recorded and mixed by Mark Yoshizumi.

Louis Theroux with Morgan Spurlock Mar 16, 2017

In conversation on the latest episode of the Talkhouse Film Podcast are Super Size Me director Morgan Spurlock and Louis Theroux, whose latest documentary, My Scientology Movie, is in theaters now. In a highly entertaining discussion, the two talk about: Michael Moore; the joys and pitfalls of immersive journalism; Theroux's time with the infamous British TV presenter Jimmy Saville; getting up close and personal with bigots, pedophiles, Ted Nugent and other unsavory characters; whether or not Louis hates Alex Gibney (who, of course, made his own Scientology doc); Janet Jackson and Nipplegate; and much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Kirsten Johnson with Agnès Varda Mar 14, 2017

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Film Podcast, documentary cinematographer and Cameraperson director Kirsten Johnson sits down with the legendary French New Wave auteur Agnès Varda, in town for a gallery exhibit of her art at Blum & Poe and a French Institute film series. In a wonderfully thoughtful and engaged conversation, the two discuss Varda's artwork, how her films play with time, finding permission as an artist, Varda's feelings about New York City, her forthcoming documentary with the artist JR, her favorite color (!), and much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Joe Lynch with Dolph Lundgren Mar 09, 2017

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Film Podcast, to mark the release of Dolph Lundgren's latest movie, Mike Mendez's B-horror Don't Kill It, regular Talkhouse Film contributor Joe Lynch, also the director of Everly and the forthcoming Mayhem, talks with the iconic action star. Among the topics the two discuss, aside from Mendez's film, include: Lundgren modeling his career on Clint Eastwood, his move into writing and directing, what he's learned from directors as diverse Sidney J. Furie and Sylvester Stallone, why it's worse to be chased by a 50-year-old guy with a shotgun than a 20-year-old with a shotgun, the political incorrectness of movie violence, the "Harvey Keitel penis genre," and much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Ladybug Mecca with Xenia Rubinos Mar 07, 2017

Ladybug Mecca (Digable Planets, Brookzill) and Xenia Rubinos are genre-mashing, multicultural artists who bring socio-political commentary (and the party) to their music. After Rubinos wrote a glowing piece about Brookzill's LP for Talkhouse, and we heard that Mecca's fandom was reciprocal, we knew a Talkhouse Music Podcast was in order. The two sat down to mutually fan out and discuss being the only women in their touring parties, singing to their parents as they were dying, how travel triggers creativity, the difficulty of collaborations, why their early audiences were so white and male, intersectional feminism and so much more. Check it out! Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future Talkhouse Podcasts.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Music Podcast host and producer

Jarobi White with Starita Mar 02, 2017

Jarobi White (A Tribe Called Quest) and Starita, who worked on Tribe’s recent chart-topping album We got it from Here... Thank You 4 Your service, remember Phife Dawg in this edition of the Talkhouse Music Podcast. Jarobi talks about their earliest days, breaks down the meaning of Tribe lyrics, shares the last words Phife ever spoke to him and so much more. Starita was the last engineer to ever work with Phife, and brings us into those final days of frantic work and heavy emotions. Check it out. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future Talkhouse Podcasts.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast producer and engineer

Peter Hook with Andy Rourke Feb 28, 2017

To celebrate Peter Hook’s (Joy Division, New Order, Peter Hook and the Light) new band memoir Substance: Inside New Order, he and old friend and bandmate Andy Rourke (the Smiths, D.A.R.K.), sat down to talk old times. Their amazing chat takes in Johnny Marr and Andy's adolescent love of Joy Division, Hooky's ongoing legal battle against New Order, Morrissey and Johnny Marr’s autobiographies, Hook’s longstanding personal issues with Bernard Sumner (a.k.a. Barney) and so much more. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future Talkhouse Podcasts.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast producer and engineer

Neal Brennan with Michael Kirk Feb 23, 2017

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Film Podcast, to mark the release of his new Netflix hourlong special, 3 Mics, writer, director and standup comedian Neal Brennan sits down with Michael Kirk, a documentary director who has made numerous award-winning films for PBS' current affairs show Frontline, Brennan's favorite TV show of all time. In their wide-ranging conversation, the two discuss fake news; Brennan and Dave Chappelle watching Frontline on the tour bus together; how Errol Morris, Michael Moore and Adam Curtis have reshaped documentary; what John Oliver told Seth Meyers three days after the election; which political power player refers to himself as Darth Vader; and much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Craig Finn with Syd Butler Feb 21, 2017

To celebrate Frenchkiss Records’ deluxe reissues of the first two Hold Steady LPs, Craig Finn (The Hold Steady) and Syd Butler (The 8G Band, Les Savy Fav, Frenchkiss Records) sat down backstage at Late Night with Seth Meyers to share funny and poignant stories about the band’s early years. Their talk also takes in Butler’s high school straight edge band, how Seth Meyers’ house band writes the show’s music, and the time Finn and Butler’s groups were playing together and the one and only Joe Strummer showed up. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future Talkhouse Podcasts.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

Stephen Malkmus with Emil Amos Feb 16, 2017

Today’s guests are indie-rock veterans: Stephen Malkmus (Pavement, Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks) and Emil Amos (drummer for Om and Grails and main man at Holy Sons). During the conversation, Amos draws out Malkmus’ story: from his early music fandom in Stockton, California, to college in Virginia to the ups and downs of being a '90s indie guitar god in Pavement and beyond.

Their chat also takes in venturing out of their DIY comfort zones to work with big name producers, Elliot Smith’s love of fine recording gear (and his studio size miscalculation), Silver Jews’ David Berman's the Cure obsession, and their thoughts on indie rock's '90s revival. Check it out. Grails LP Chalice Hymnal is out on February 17. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future Talkhouse Podcasts.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast producer and engineer

Penn Badgley with Kendra Foster Feb 14, 2017

Penn Badgley (Mothxr, Gossip Girl) and Kendra Foster (D’Angelo, Parliament Funkadelic) sat down at Samsung 837 in New York City last year to talk artistic collaboration, Black Messiah and all things D’Angelo. Foster also let slip that there are new D'Angelo tracks on the horizon. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future Talkhouse Podcasts.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast producer and engineer

Marky Ramone with Andy Hilfiger Feb 09, 2017

Old friends and bandmates Marky Ramone (the Ramones) and music fashion mogul Andy Hilfiger sat down at Samsung 837 in New York City last year to talk about Andy dressing everyone from Pete Townsend to the Wu Tang Clan, the Ramones working with Phil Spector and filming Rock 'n' Roll High School, Andy recording with Joey Ramone, Deedee Ramone getting lost in a graveyard at night while filming the "Pet Sematary" video, and how "Andy Hilfiger" almost became "Andy Ramone." Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future Talkhouse Podcasts.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast producer and engineer

Jeanie Finlay with Penelope Spheeris Feb 07, 2017

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Film Podcast, we celebrate the 25th anniversary re-release of Wayne's World with a conversation between the film's director, Penelope Spheeris – who also made the legendary trilogy of Decline of Western Civilization punk documentaries – and Jeanie Finlay, a maker of music docs herself and also a big Wayne's World fan. Over the course of their highly entertaining chat, the two discuss: all things Wayne's World, getting Ozzy Osbourne to make eggs in Decline Part II, IMDb errors, Spheeris' accidental career as a studio comedy director, the two mysterious documentary projects she's working on, exactly what she thought of Donald Trump when he made a cameo in Little Rascals, and much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Craig Finn with Seth Meyers Feb 02, 2017

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Film Podcast, the Hold Steady's Craig Finn – whose new album We All Want the Same Things drops next month – sits down for a conversation with Late Night host Seth Meyers at his office at 30 Rock. Among the topics the two friends discuss include making the jump from SNL to late night, comedy in Trump's America, taking refuge in fiction and sports, why Bruce Springsteen is “the Harlem Globetrotters of music,” Meyers' favorite guests, the secret of a great skit (and a great song), and much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

The Best of Music 2016 Jan 31, 2017

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Music Podcast, we look back on 2016. Talkhouse Music Podcast host Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Music Editor-In-Chief Brenna Ehrlich and Marketing Manager Dave Lucas discuss some of their favorite moments and the biggest news reveals.

The highlights featured include Javier Muñoz (Hamilton) and John Cameron Mitchell (Hedwig and the Angry Inch) discussing inspiration and giving voice to their communities, Kamasi Washington and Thundercat chatting about wilding out in session with Snoop Dogg and Kendrick Lamar and the Zombies discussing the legend of the Fake Zombies! Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future Talkhouse Podcasts.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Music Podcast host and producer

The Best of Film 2016 Jan 26, 2017

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Film Podcast, we look back on the year just past as the Talkhouse's podcast producer, Elia Einhorn, and Talkhouse Film's Editor-in-Chief, Nick Dawson, discuss some of their favorite moments from the Talkhouse Film podcasts of 2016. The highlights featured include Aidy Bryant on stealing Drake's candle and Jessi Klein confessing to calling Live Schreiber while day drunk; Kid Cudi opening up to Paul Reubens about his struggles adapting to fame; Max Landis pitching a found-footage Gremlins movie to Joe Dante; Michel Gondry talking with Terence Nance about his "disaster" of a love life; and Tim Heidecker and Chris Gethard inviting an army of fans to invade the podcast booth. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Wayne Coyne with Prince Paul Jan 24, 2017

On the eve of the release of the Flaming Lips’ new record Oxzy Mlody, Wayne Coyne sat down with legendary hip-hop producer Prince Paul at the Sonos store in New York City and got deep on creativity and collaboration. Their talk takes on the Lips’ creative process, De La Soul’s copyright issues, the joy of life, scaring neighborhood kids and how Wayne gets blamed for turning Miley Cyrus into a drug addict. After their conversation, Wayne and Prince Paul answered questions from members of Battles, Bauhaus/Love and Rockets, and Brookzill! Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future Talkhouse Podcasts.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Music Podcast host and producer

Carrie Brownstein with Fred Armisen Jan 19, 2017

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Film Podcast, Portlandia's stars and co-creators Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein mark the start of the show's seventh season by sitting down together for a chat. Over the course of their wide-ranging conversation, the two friends and longtime collaborators discuss their cooking habits, bizarre medicinal uses for garlic, Fred's trip to Japan to find his roots, This is Spinal Tap, the difference between live comedy and live music, erroneous details on their Wikipedia pages, and much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Andrew W.K. with Dan Deacon Jan 17, 2017

Andrew W.K. and Dan Deacon are party-loving, arty outsiders who have had huge success in the pop realm. They’re also big fans of each other, and sat down last year to discuss the need to share underground music, being open-minded toward cuisine that potentially tastes like human feces (and eating vomit), personal and societal musical evolution, hope and their journeys from the underground to mainstream recognition. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future Talkhouse Podcasts. This episode premiered on Pitchfork Radio. As Andrew W.K. would say, party this podcast!

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Music Podcast host and producer

Tommy Stinson with Wayne Kramer Jan 12, 2017

Tommy Stinson (the Replacements, Guns N’ Roses, Bash and Pop) and Wayne Kramer (MC5, Gang War) recently sat down at the flagship Sonos store in New York City to discuss the current political climate, A Tribe Called Quest and how music can forge deep connections in fractured times. Oh, and that time Gang War blew out Bob Mould’s guitar amp. Craig Finn (the Hold Steady) joined in to lead a fan Q&A session. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future Talkhouse Podcasts.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Music Podcast host and producer

Vanessa Bayer with Jonah Bayer Dec 20, 2016

The holidays are upon us, which means one thing: family. To celebrate that whole being related thing, the Talkhouse threw a special live podcast at New York’s Sonos store featuring a conversation between Saturday Night Live‘s Vanessa Bayer and her brother, musician and writer Jonah Bayer. The hilarious sibs sat down to discuss Jonah's first-ever cappuccino (at Lilith Fair), how Vanessa only gets into cool bands after they play on SNL, their sibling band and how the Bayer family spends the holidays. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future Talkhouse Podcasts.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Music Podcast host and producer

Ben Watt with Bernard Butler Dec 13, 2016

Ben Watt and Bernard Butler may have made their names with Everything But the Girl and Suede (respectively), but these two musicians have always reinvented their careers in fascinating — and successful — ways. The guys sat down to discuss their artistic transformations, following the Smiths on tour, concert bootlegging, and skillful, speedy collaboration. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future Talkhouse Podcasts.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Music Podcast host and producer

Wyclef Jean with Will Butler Dec 08, 2016

Earlier this year, Wyclef Jean sat down with the Arcade Fire’s Will Butler at Samsung 837 in New York City to discuss the twentieth anniversary of the Fugees’ seminal record, The Score. There's a great story about how they stole a beat originally meant for Fat Joe to make "Fu-gee-la." Oh, and they break into song. A lot. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future Talkhouse Podcasts.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Music Podcast host and producer

Vince Clarke with Jean-Michel Jarre Dec 06, 2016

Analog synthesizer music pioneers Vince Clarke (Depeche Mode, Yaz, Erasure) and Jean-Michel Jarre sat down for the Talkhouse Music Podcast and went deep on all things synth, gear, their music…and the one question Jean’s always wanted to ask Vince about Depeche Mode. Gavin Russom of LCD Soundsystem begins the episode with a synthesizertutorial. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future Talkhouse Podcasts.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Music Podcast host and producer

Jason Schwartzman with Robert Schwartzman Dec 01, 2016

For the first time ever on the Talkhouse Film podcast, we have two brothers in conversation as Jason Schwartzman chats with his brother Robert Schwartzman (best known as the frontman of indie band Rooney), whose first film as a writer-director, Dreamland, is out now. In between bouts of fraternal bickering, the two talk about making the jump from music to movies, working with actors, MIDI files and player pianos (cue a serious geek-out from Jason), how Gene Wilder found his way into playing Willy Wonka, crazy real-life experiences with agents and A&R guys, Robert's aptitude with money (at least in comparison to Jason), and much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

George Clinton with Soul Clap Nov 29, 2016

On Halloween, Soul Clap’s Eli Goldstein and Charles Levine sat down with their friend and collaborator George Clinton for a catchup on the Talkhouse Music Podcast. Inspired by the holiday, they talked about Clinton’s everyday costumes, and also covered their past and future collaborations: Parliament and Funkadelic, and Clinton’s upcoming record with Flying Lotus. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future Talkhouse Podcasts.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast producer and engineer

Meredith Graves with Rose McGowan Nov 22, 2016

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Film podcast, Perfect Pussy frontwoman talks with actress, director, singer and activist Rose McGowan. Their wide-ranging and compelling conversation touches on McGowan's troubled time in Hollywood; her move into directing; systemic misogyny, gender hypocrisy and violence against women; the no-holds-barred book she's currently writing, and much more – including a surprising and revelatory detour into their respective feelings about death. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Tori Amos with Shirley Manson Nov 17, 2016

Tori Amos and Garbage’s Shirley Manson ruled the ‘90s alternative music charts with hits like “Cornflake Girl” and “Only Happy When It Rains" (respectively), and they continue to make vital music today. On the eve of Amos’ Boys for Pele twentieth anniversary deluxe reissue release, the old friends sat down to talk revisiting their younger selves and early work, the constraints society puts on aging women, the film Audrie & Daisy being a powerful teaching tool against sexual assault and the song Amos wrote for it, motherhood, and the patriarchy in the music business. They even offer some advice to aspiring female pop stars. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future Talkhouse Podcasts.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast producer and engineer

Matt Berninger with Conor Oberst Nov 15, 2016

Matt Berninger (the National) and Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes, Desaparecidos) are two of rock’s heaviest-hitting lyricists. Turns out, they’re also huge fans of each other’s songs.

The guys recently sat down to discuss all things songwriting (lyrics, finding melody, influences, “dick references," embarrassment and so much more) for the Talkhouse Music Podcast. They break down songs from across their catalogues, such as the National’s "All the Wine," "Fake Empire" and "Lemonworld," and Conor’s "Lua," "You Are Your Mother’s Child" and "Artifact #1." They also discuss their favorite songwriters, giving a lot of love to Leonard Cohen. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future Talkhouse Podcasts.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast producer and engineer

DJ Premier with Prince Paul Nov 10, 2016

DJ Premier and Prince Paul are two of the most influential DJs and producers in hip-hop history. The legends recently sat down at Sonos’ flagship store in New York City to talk staying dope while aging, the gear they’re currently using, stylistic changes in hip-hop through the years, how Premier was too afraid to dress like Prince (but did wear a full Devo suit), and Prince Paul and Ladybug Mecca’s fantastic new Brazilian/hip-hop project Brookzill! Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future Talkhouse Podcasts.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast producer and engineer

Alan Palomo with Caroline Polachek Oct 20, 2016

Earlier this year, Alan Palomo of Neon Indian and Chairlift’s Caroline Polachek sat down at Samsung 837 in New York City for a live Talkhouse Music Podcast recording. As Alan played ambient self-generated sounds and Caroline spun an unreleased composition for atmosphere, the friends and mutual admirers discussed what can and can’t be co-opted in the arts, experimental and pop music, the music and arts scene in Williamsburg, collaborating with siblings, eating curried cow brains in Indonesia an hour before going onstage, and so much more. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future Talkhouse Podcasts.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast producer and engineer

Kathleen Hanna with Meredith Graves Oct 13, 2016

Two generations of feminist punk icons, Kathleen Hanna (Bikini Kill, Le Tigre, the Julie Ruin) and Meredith Graves (Perfect Pussy, MTV News), sat down at the flagship SONOS store in New York for an in-depth episode of the Talkhouse Music Podcast.

They’re big fans of each other’s music, and this fantastic talk covers capitalism, rocking gunnysacks, trolls, today’s definition of punk, feminism, chronic illness, stalkers, the “Etsy-fication of riot grrrl," why we should vote for Hillary Clinton, and, as Kathleen says, how she and Meredith have “been living parallel lives like twenty, thirty years apart."

Oh, and Kathleen drops the bomb that Le Tigre is reuniting! Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future Talkhouse Podcasts.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast producer and engineer

Eric Slick with Dominic Angelella Oct 06, 2016

Eric Slick (Dr. Dog, Lithuania) and Dominic Angelella (Lithuania) are hardcore “Danatics” — that is, Steely Dan fanatics. This summer, the guys stopped by Samsung 837 in New York City for a live Talkhouse Music Podcast. They nerded out and got very deep in explaining their “DanVinci Code” theory, which Slick expounded upon in his previous Talkhouse piece.

Oh! And fellow Danatics take note: Slick and the Talkhouse have teamed up to throw a Steely Dan tribute show at Shea Stadium in Brooklyn on October 8, featuring covers by Lithuania, Ian Sweet, Mikey Erg, Slonk Donkerson, Twiga and Bad Faces. Get your tickets here and subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future Talkhouse Podcasts.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast producer and engineer

Joe Casey with Andrew Savage Sep 29, 2016

Joe Casey of Protomartyr and Andrew Savage of Parquet Courts are two of modern rock’s most intelligent, biting lyricists. The two friends and mutual admirers sat down earlier this year to talk about writing highly personal lyrics about people they love, how Tyvek are “the Michigan Talking Heads," having ideas that are good in theory, and, in a followup to a piece Casey wrote for The Talkhouse, why they’d rather be compared to their peers than bands from the past.

Take a listen and subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future Talkhouse Podcasts.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast producer and engineer

RZA with Paul Banks Sep 15, 2016

The Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA and Interpol frontman Paul Banks (together Banks and Steelz) recently sat down for what may be the Talkhouse Podcast's most freewheeling conversation to date.

Their talk includes: music production hardware versus software, RZA’s enthusiasm for a recent Donald Trump speech, the President of the Philippines, Banks’ feelings about Suicide Squad, why Bill Clinton was at a Chance the Rapper set, Jessica Alba, confusing Bill Hader and Johnny Depp, and, oh yeah, their collaboration on their debut record, Anything But Words. Check it out and subscribe now on iTunes orStitcher to stay in the loop!

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast producer and engineer

DJ Shadow with Clams Casino Sep 12, 2016

Representing two generations of game-changing hip hop production technique, DJ Shadow and Clams Casino recently caught up in New York City to tape an episode of the Talkhouse Music Podcast. They discussed their new records, Shadow’s Endtroducing..... remake, the ways that recording and sampling have changed over the years, and how it’s sometimes worth giving a great MC (like A$AP Rocky) a beat you were saving for your own record. Take a listen and subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future Talkhouse Podcasts.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast producer and engineer

Andy Rourke with Dolores O'Riordan Sep 06, 2016

On this week’s episode of the Talkhouse Music Podcast, Andy Rourke of the Smiths and Dolores O’Riordan of the Cranberries sit down to discuss their new supergroup, D.A.R.K, and we give their song, "High Fashion," its world premiere.

The new bandmates and old friends talk Dolores’ teenage Smiths fandom, Stephen Street (who helmed production duties on iconic records for both groups), initial reaction from their legendary bands’ diehard fans to the new project, and getting pelted onstage at festivals back in the day by a half-eaten apple and a packet of sausages adorned with the note "Meat is Murder." Take a listen and subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop on future Talkhouse Podcasts.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast producer and engineer

NB: If you can’t contain your excitement and need to hear "High Fashion" before the talk, skip ahead to 4:30. We don't blame you.

Kevin Drew with Julia Holter Sep 02, 2016

Songwriter/composer Julia Holter and Broken Social Scene’s Kevin Drew sat down backstage at Pitchfork Fest earlier this summer to discuss the difference between writing solo and with a group, how the next Broken Social Scene record needs some Bobby McFerrin-esque acapella… and a possible collaboration. Take a listen and subscribe now on iTunesor Stitcher to stay in the loop on future Talkhouse Podcasts.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast producer and engineer

Spencer Tweedy with Whitney Aug 25, 2016

Spencer Tweedy of the bands Tweedy and the Blisters sat down with Julian Ehrlich and Max Kakacek of Whitney backstage at Pitchfork Music Festival and talked about Chicago’s young rock scene, Wilco’s legendary studio, embarrassing moments with Wayne Coyne and Snoop Dogg, and, in an exciting twist, potentially collaborating. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop!

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast producer and engineer

BJ the Chicago Kid with Mick Jenkins Aug 18, 2016

R&B singer BJ the Chicago Kid made his name guesting on tracks by Kanye West, Chance the Rapper, Kendrick Lamar, Dr. Dre and more. Now, he's dropped his own excellent new album, In My Mind. Rapper Mick Jenkins, also from Chicago and also a Chance collaborator, draws on his poetry background to deliver lyrics that are breathtakingly constructed.

BJ and Mick caught up backstage at Pitchfork Fest earlier this summer and discussed violence in Chicago, the way rappers talk about women and much more. Bonus: There's an amazing story about working with Dr. Dre.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast producer and engineer

Kumail Nanjiani with DANIELS Aug 16, 2016

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Film podcast, standup comedian and Silicon Valley star Kumail Nanjiani sits down with DANIELS (aka Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert), the directors of one his recent favorite movies, Swiss Army Man. The trio talk about their latest projects – the aforementioned “farting corpse” movie, DANIELS' new interactive short Possibilia, and Nanjiani's upcoming feature as writer-actor The Big Sick – as well as the insurance-related impact of action thrillers and superhero movies, the effect ADHD and anxiety on Kwan and Nanjiani's careers and creativity, the perennial arguments Scheinert and Nanjiani have with their respective partners, and much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Shamir with Aaron Maine (Porches) Aug 11, 2016

Shamir and Porches’ Aaron Maine sat down backstage at Pitchfork Music Festival to talk Taylor Swift, songwriting, Taylor Swift again, and how both started with guitars but are known for their electronic sounds.

We recorded even more podcasts backstage at Pitchfork Music Fest, including Julia Holter and Broken Social Scene’s Kevin Drew, BJ the Chicago Kid and Mick Jenkins, Spencer Tweedy and Whitney, and last week's episode with Brian Wilson and Carly Rae Jepsen and Kamasi Washington and Thundercat. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop!

John Waters with Zach Clark Aug 09, 2016

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Film podcast, White Reindeer director and regular Talkhouse Film contributor Zach Clark sits down with one of his filmmaking idols, John Waters, whose second feature Multiple Maniacs is now on release in a beautifully restored new version. Clark and Waters' highly entertaining conversation touches on such topics as Waters' encounters with people as diverse as Rainer Werner Fassbinder and Justin Bieber, the theatrical stunts he used to pull to get publicity for his films, why he loves Terrence Malick's movies (even though he really shouldn't), his mother's reaction to seeing his first film, recent movies he and Clark have enjoyed, and much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Zac Stuart-Pontier with Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman Aug 04, 2016

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Film Podcast, Zac Stuart-Pontier, the editor of Catfish, Martha Marcy May Marlene and The Jinx, chats with his former collaborators Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman, the directing team behind Catfish and the new thriller Nerve. In a wide-ranging conversation, the three old friends talk about the genesis of Catfish, favorite New York films, their movie tattoo tradition, the crazy dare inNerve Lionsgate thought they’d done for real, their upcoming projects – including a surprising left turn from Stuart-Pontier – and their colorful memories of the Meatpacking District from back in the day. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Kamasi Washington with Thundercat & Carly Rae Jepsen with Brian Wilson Aug 04, 2016

At Pitchfork Music Festival, we gave Carly Rae Jepsen the chance to ask head Beach Boy Brian Wilson any question she could dream of. Hear the "Call Me Maybe" singer kick off today's Talkhouse Music Podcast with her choice.

Next, Stephen “Thundercat” Bruner and Kamasi Washington sat down to talk growing up playing music together, working with Kendrick Lamar and Flying Lotus, the last conversation Thundercat ever had with J Dilla, and much more.

We recorded even more podcasts backstage at Pitchfork Music Fest, including Julia Holter and Broken Social Scene’s Kevin Drew, Porches’ Aaron Maine and Shamir, BJ the Chicago Kid and Mick Jenkins, and Spencer Tweedy and Whitney. Subscribe now on iTunes or Stitcher to stay in the loop!

Bill Plympton with Lloyd Kaufman Jul 28, 2016

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Film podcast, two legendary figures of the New York independent film scene, Oscar-nominated animator Bill Plympton and The Toxic Avenger director and Troma mastermind Lloyd Kaufman, sit down for a chat at Samsung 837. Their highly entertaining conversation touches on such subjects as how to survive as an indie filmmaker, their cinematic idols and influences, the advantages and disadvantages of working outside the system, all things scatological, Comic-Con, and Leni Riefenstahl's body odor. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Aidy Bryant with Jessi Klein Jul 20, 2016

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Film podcast, two of the funniest people around – Saturday Night Live's Aidy Bryant and Inside Amy Schumer's head writer, Jessi Klein – meet for the first time. Talking on the day Klein's new book, You'll Grow Out of It, is published, the two have a hilarious conversation about the very specific discomfort of SNL writing nights, Emmy awkwardness, casting nightmares, their SNL host crushes (which leads to a great story about Drake), the celebrity Jessi recently drunk-dialed, hot guys, bras and breasts, and a whole bunch more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

The Zombies with Hollis Brown Jul 11, 2016

New York band Hollis Brown recently sat down with the legendary English group The Zombies for a Talkhouse Music Podcast recorded live at Samsung 837. Over the course of the conversation, Hollis Brown’s Mike Montali and Jonathan Bonilla drew out a history of The Zombies’ singular career as told by key members Rod Argent and Colin Blunstone. Get ready for tales of meeting The Rolling Stones in their hardcore R&B purist days, how the Zombies tried to meet Elvis while in Memphis but hung out with his dad instead, and how it feels to have their new record, Still Got That Hunger, in six Billboard charts after not touching those hallowed heights for 50 years. You’ll also hear about Hollis Brown singer Montali writing Aaron Neville’s new song “I Wanna Love You”, and how guitarist Bonilla got a little too drunk one night in Memphis… and ended up with an Elvis tattoo.

Terence Nance with Michel Gondry Jul 07, 2016

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Film podcast, filmmaker and regular Talkhouse Film contributor sits down for an intimate conversation with one of his favorite directors, Michel Gondry, whose latest film, Microbe and Gasoline, is in theaters now. The two discuss a variety of topics – including deep dives into music and romantic relationships, as well as film – and touch on such topics as the secret to Dave Chapelle's comic genius and to Noam Chomsky's romantic appeal, how Gondry played the drums with Paul McCartney and Kanye West, Gondry's fear of jokes and his love of the word "both,” and much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Aaron Stewart-Ahn with Nicolas Winding Refn Jun 30, 2016

On this latest episode of the Talkhouse Film podcast, to mark the release of Nicolas Winding Refn's dark, stylish thriller The Neon Demon, filmmaker and Talkhouse Film contributor Aaron Stewart-Ahn sits down with the Danish director. In a highly entertaining conversation, Refn opens up about such diverse subjects as embracing narcism, how overcoming dyslexia taught him to turn his weaknesses into strengths, the filmmaking advice he received from Elia Kazan, the near-spiritual experiences he had communing with master auteurs Alejandro Jodorowsky and Dario Argento, his time as a club kid in New York City in the 1980s, his surprising home-viewing habits, and much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Sean Lennon with Les Claypool Jun 24, 2016

Sean Lennon (The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger) and Les Claypool (Primus) have formed the proggy psych supergroup the Claypool Lennon Delirium. The two recently recorded a Talkhouse Music Podcast live at Samsung 837 in New York City, where they discussed their new record, The Monolith Of Phobos, Les’ musical beginnings playing in Hells Angels bars, and the origin of Sean’s surname. Their conversation also covers Trump, Noel Fielding, Sean’s beliefs about body odors, how indie musicians will rule the planet and spirochetes. The Monolith Of Phobos came out June 3 on ATO Records, and the band is currently touring America.

Alex Winter with Henry Rollins Jun 17, 2016

On this latest episode of the Talkhouse Film podcast, musician, actor, writer and broadcaster Henry Rollins sits down with longtime friend and collaborator Alex Winter, the acclaimed documentary filmmaker also known for playing Bill in the Bill and Ted movies. In an inspiring, wide-ranging discussion touching on their many creative pursuits, the two talk about numerous subjects, including: how Crispin Glover encouraged Rollins to pursue acting, Winter's classic response to MTV's request for him to VJ in character as Bill, Rollins' story about taking a bus to a catastrophic audition for The Lion King, his planned documentary which was nixed in record time by National Geographic. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Ben Gibbard with Lauren Mayberry Jun 13, 2016

Death Cab For Cutie’s Ben Gibbard and Chvrches’ Lauren Mayberry have a mutual appreciation society, and in today’s episode of The Talkhouse Music Podcast, they meet for the very first time. The two discuss songwriting, the Glasgow and Seattle music scenes, life on the road, and the co-headlining tour they were about to embark on (which is underway now).

Chris Gethard with Tim Heidecker May 31, 2016

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Film podcast, Tim and Eric's Tim Heidecker sits down in the Samsung 837 studio for a chat with Chris Gethard, of Broad City and The Chris Gethard Show. The two comedians discuss Heidecker's new record, In Glendale, their unusual career paths, Andy Kaufman, the SNL theme music, and more – before chaos (and even greater hilarity) ensues when they invite wave after wave of audience members to join them in the studio. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Lee Ranaldo with Ian Williams May 18, 2016

Two of experimental music's most important figures — Ian Williams of Battles and Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth — talk lyrics, writing for bands versus scoring orchestral music, and the profound musical influence of the cheerleading movie Bring It On in this edition of the Talkhouse Music Podcast, recorded live at Samsung 837.

Questlove, Carrie Brownstein, Dominique Crenn in Conversation (presented by Urban Outfitters) May 09, 2016

Two of the Talkhouse Music Podcast’s most beloved guests — the Roots’ Questlove and Carrie Brownstein of Sleater-Kinney and Portlandia — reunited onstage recently to celebrate Questlove’s new book, Something To Food About: Exploring Creativity with Innovative Chefs. Joined by celebrated Chef Dominique Crenn at Urban Outfitters’ Space Ninety 8 in Brooklyn, they discussed Madonna, soul food and how eating on tour gets a lot better once you get some real success… unless you’re Eminem. Many thanks to Urban Outfitters and Space Ninety 8 for allowing The Talkhouse to record and release this conversation.

Jason Reitman with Karyn Kusama May 06, 2016

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Film podcast, Jason Reitman talks with fellow director Karyn Kusama, whose fine new film, The Invitation, is out now. Over the course of their fascinating and intimate conversation, Kusama and Reitman discuss misleading trailers, the impact of TV's golden age on cinema, the pros and cons of test screening, how parenthood affects their approach to filmmaking, the end of the world, and much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Amber Tamblyn with Aisha Tyler May 03, 2016

On the new episode of the Talkhouse Film podcast, as she winds up the Kickstarter campaign for Axis, her debut feature as director, the multi-talented Aisha Tyler talks with fellow actress-turned-director Amber Tamblyn, whose Paint It Black premieres in June at the LA Film Festival. In their very entertaining and funny conversation, the two discuss their respective paths to the director's chair, great L.A. movies (and Keeping Up with the Kardashians), why Amber is Aisha's "Oreo tit," how Aisha is a “machine,” and much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Kid Cudi with Paul Reubens (Pee-wee Herman) Apr 21, 2016

On a very special new episode of the Talkhouse Film podcast, to coincide with the release of Pee-wee's Big Holiday, hip-hop star, actor and longtime Pee-wee Herman fan Kid Cudi is in conversation with Pee-wee himself, Paul Reubens. The topics they talk about include how they first met, Reubens' journey to bring Pee-wee Herman back to the big screen, Cudi's strong dislike of skunks (and recent encounter with a mountain lion), plus a discussion by both of planned creative projects that they've never talked about before. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Brandi Carlile with Torres Apr 18, 2016

When Brandi Carlile was an up-and-coming songwriter, she waited outside the Indigo Girls’ tour bus to meet her heroes. Fast forward a few years, and the Indigo Girls appeared on her 2007 album, The Story. By 2010, young musicians were waiting outside Carlile’s tour bus to meet her — including Mackenzie Scott, a.k.a. Torres.

These two women are songwriters with a deep country influence who write lyrics that explore dark feelings — and deliver them like Armageddon is at their heels. They’re also huge fans of each other’s music.

Hear Scott and Carlile discuss meeting their heroes, attempting to lead balanced lives while living on the road, and what it’s like being “gay Christ followers” on this episode of the Talkhouse Music Podcast.

Artie Lange with Ari Shaffir Apr 11, 2016

The latest episode of the Talkhouse Film podcast is a conversation between Ari Shaffir, stand-up comedian and host of Comedy Central's This Is Not Happening, and one of the most recent guests on that show, Artie Lange, best known for The Howard Stern Show and MADtv. In a funny, provocative talk, the two share war stories about their lives as comics, such as Shaffir eating "tarnished" baked goods and receiving death threats for his videos, and Artie doing time in L.A. County Jail, working as a Santa in a strip club, and having a very memorable encounter with Dave Navarro and Carmen Electra. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

John Cameron Mitchell with Javier Muñoz Mar 30, 2016

This episode of the Talkhouse Music Podcast — our first in a series of live recordings at New York’s Samsung 837 space — is a Broadway takeover. It features Hedwig and the Angry Inch co-creator and star John Cameron Mitchell in conversation with Javier Muñoz, who starred in In the Heights and is currently Lin-Manuel Miranda’s alternate in the runaway smash hit hip-hop musical, Hamilton.

These two truly believe musical theater can change lives and push society forward; their lives, and this talk, echo that sentiment.

Muñoz and Mitchell cover a lot in this conversation: rock & roll and hip-hop on Broadway, sure, but also Pussy Riot, New York City’s constant evolution, Glee, the way social media can inhibit artistic development, and David Bowie. Oh, they also discuss figuratively — and literally — peeing yourself on stage. You don’t want to miss this chat.

— Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast producer and engineer

Kumail Nanjiani with Michael Showalter Mar 28, 2016

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Film podcast, stand-up comedy hero and Silicon Valley star Kumail Nanjiani talks with Michael Showalter about his new movie, Hello, My Name is Doris (in which Nanjiani has a small role). As well as that film, the two longtime friends discuss their first collaboration, the differing paths their careers have taken, Showalter's tremendous love of money, the practical joke that former colleague Jessi Klein is still mad about, their upcoming movie together, and much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Joe Dante with Max Landis Mar 24, 2016

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Film podcast, filmmaker, prolific screenwriter Max Landis — whose first film as director, Me Him Her, is out now — talks with one of his favorite filmmakers, Joe Dante. In a wide-ranging, rapid-fire conversation, Landis and the Gremlins director discuss Max's corny '80s movie-style altruism, the ultimate screenwriter tattoo, fake film announcements, the death of big movies with personality, and much more, including Landis' awesome pitch for a reboot of Gremlins. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead with Melanie Lynskey Mar 10, 2016

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Film podcast, filmmaker, actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead marks the release of her new movie, 10 Cloverfield Lane, by sitting down with Togetherness star Melanie Lynskey. Over the course of a frank and entertaining conversation, the two discuss everything from the inevitable insecurities that come from watching yourself on screen, to improvisation, their beginnings in the film business, the perils of making audition tapes, and their differing approaches to timekeeping. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Stuart Gordon with Robert Eggers Feb 18, 2016

The latest episode is the first in a series of podcasts brought to you by Talkhouse Film and Soho House, with whom we are teaming up to curate a regular series of special advance screenings followed by a conversation between the director and another filmmaker. Here, Re-Animator director (and regular Talkhouse Film contributor) Stuart Gordon talks with Robert Eggers, director of the horror phenomenon The Witch, with the two touching on such topics as the influence of Kubrick and silent cinema, the experience of casting witches and the need for a "Ken Loach time machine to the 17th Century." For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Alix Lambert with Fred Armisen Feb 03, 2016

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Film podcast, filmmaker, photographer and author Alix Lambert talks with her friend of almost 30 years, Fred Armisen. In a lively, wide-ranging conversation, the two touch upon such subjects as their mutual love of Bitmoji and airport texting, why Fred insisted The Wizard of Oz was a documentary to Alix's CalArts class, the incredible story surrounding Fred's half-brother's mother and the Stasi, and, of course, Portlandia, Documentary Now and his upcoming Spanish-language comedy show for Más Mejor. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Darren Aronofsky with Laurie Anderson Jan 26, 2016

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Film podcast, in a special conversation recorded after a screening of Laurie Anderson's documentary Heart of a Dog, the acclaimed musician, artist and filmmaker talks onstage with fellow New York director Darren Aronofsky, best known for his films Pi, Requiem for a Dream and Black Swan. The pair discuss Anderson's new film, which ponders questions of love, death and language, and touch on such other diverse subjects as Herman Melville's discussions with his editor about Moby Dick and the problems that can come from putting batteries in one's mouth. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Tunde Adebimpe with Ruban Nielson Dec 02, 2015

In 2000, Tunde Adebimpe and Dave Sitek formed TV on the Radio, one of the most creative, inspired and influential bands of their era. Fifteen years, five albums and a whole lot of ups and downs later, they've still managed to preserve that energy and vision. Which is pretty remarkable. Unknown Mortal Orchestra's Ruban Nielson has also sustained a very long creative streak. He'd played guitar in a hard-edged New Zealand post-hardcore band called the Mint Chicks, and when that ended, he found himself in Portland, Oregon, around 2010. He began messing around with music again — making highly wrought, idiosyncratic basement recordings with an odd psychedelic feel. This new project — Unknown Mortal Orchestra — got a record deal, and Nielson began touring and gathering crowds and critical praise. The UMO sound has broadened and morphed over the course of three albums, right through this year's release, the acclaimed and addictively strange Multi-Love. In retrospect, it's no surprise that Adebimpe and Nielson are huge fans of each other's music — they have a similar creative spirit — and they have lots of other things in common too, as you're about to hear. But, aside from the Mint Chicks opening for TV on the Radio many years ago, they'd never really met. What a great excuse to put them together and see what they talk about. And the answer is: a whole lot of very interesting things, like, when you write a song that comes from a deep emotional place, how do you find it in yourself to sing that song on stage, night after night — and sometimes for year after year? Where does inspiration come from? What does success do to creativity? And there's a lot more where that came from. Give a listen.

Alan Palomo with Martin Rev Nov 25, 2015

If you come out of the indie community and you make synth-based music, you owe a huge debt to an iconic duo called Suicide. In fact, if you come out of the indie community at all, you owe a huge debt to Suicide. Starting in New York’s East Village in the early ’70s, Suicide were confrontational, tough, and absolutely visionary, and they were one of the first punk rock bands. But they had no guitars: it was just Martin Rev on cheap electric keyboards and drum machines, and notorious singer Alan Vega.

This revolutionary, very DIY approach initially influenced English synth bands from Erasure to Throbbing Gristle, and went on to become a huge influence on industrial dance music, and everything from noise to ambient. Suicide has been covered by everyone from Bruce Springsteen to Savages, and their influence extends to bands like LCD Soundsystem, Liars and MIA, who sampled them on her 2010 track “Born Free.”

Neon Indian’s Alan Palomo is a big Suicide fan, and he recently commissioned Martin Rev to remix “Annie,” a track from his new album VEGA INTL. Night School. So we invited these two representatives of different, but related, musical generations to sit down for a Talkhouse Music Podcast.

They talked about all sorts of things: how you know when your music is done, the economic realities of being an artist, the evolution of New York City as an artistic capitol, creative cycles and the effect of the internet, and the birth of punk rock. Palomo knows his stuff, and Rev throws down a whole lot of hard-earned knowledge and wisdom, so listen closely.

J.C. Chandor with Josh Mond Nov 16, 2015

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Film podcast, Academy Award nominee J.C. Chandor, the director of Margin Call and All is Lost, is in conversation with Borderline Films' Josh Mond, a producer turned writer-director whose debut feature, James White, is out now. The two friends discuss Mond's personal and professional path to this semi-autobiographical film inspired by his own experiences with his late mother as she battled cancer, while their chat also touches on: Mond's aborted first feature, a sex comedy that was to star Jonah Hill; which of his collaborators had a full beard at 13; and how The Jinx, Andrew Jarecki's sensational doc miniseries about Robert Durst, threw a wrench into James White's editing process. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Lil BUB with Jon Wurster (G-Rated Version) Nov 11, 2015

Lil BUB is a tiny, very special cat from outer space who has been an internet star since 2011, when her "dude" — recording studio owner Mike Bridavsky — posted some photos of her on Tumblr. She's been the subject of an award-winning documentary, she's the author of Lil BUB’s Lil Book: The Extraordinary Life of the Most Amazing Cat on the Planet and she hosts Lil BUB's Big Show, a web-based talk show.

And on December 4th, 2015, BUB will release her debut album Science and Magic. The music was composed by Bridavsky's close friend, bandmate and official bubbysitter, Matt Tobey, and produced by Bridavsky. But the whole thing was guided by Bub, whom big-time fan Andrew WK recently described as "the most musically and compassionately gifted" animal he has ever met.

As a rescue cat with several genetic mutations, BUB works to spread awareness about adoption and proper animal care. 25% of the net proceeds from the sales of Science and Magic benefit Lil BUB’s Big Fund for the ASPCA, a national fund for special needs pets.

BUB's conversation partner for this Talkhouse Music Podcast is her fellow musician Jon Wurster, who plays drums — brilliantly — for Superchunk, Mountain Goats, Bob Mould among notable others. With Tom Scharpling, Jon is also one half of the team that does The Best Show, which is one of the funniest things you can listen to. And he's also a big-time animal lover.

BUB and Jon have a conversation about BUB's new album, her intergalactic origins and… pooping on very expensive comforters. BUB also has a few probing questions for Jon and, well, he answers them as honestly as he can. These two do have a few tense moments, but they're both nice folks, so they patch it up nicely. As an extra bonus, this podcast features what just might be Jon's debut recording as a solo singer.

Lil BUB with Jon Wurster (Explicit Version) Nov 11, 2015

Lil BUB is a tiny, very special cat from outer space who has been an internet star since 2011, when her "dude" — recording studio owner Mike Bridavsky — posted some photos of her on Tumblr. She's been the subject of an award-winning documentary, she's the author of Lil BUB’s Lil Book: The Extraordinary Life of the Most Amazing Cat on the Planet and she hosts Lil BUB's Big Show, a web-based talk show.

And on December 4th, 2015, BUB will release her debut album Science and Magic. The music was composed by Bridavsky's close friend, bandmate and official bubbysitter, Matt Tobey, and produced by Bridavsky. But the whole thing was guided by Bub, whom big-time fan Andrew WK recently described as "the most musically and compassionately gifted" animal he has ever met.

As a rescue cat with several genetic mutations, BUB works to spread awareness about adoption and proper animal care. 25% of the net proceeds from the sales of Science and Magic benefit Lil BUB’s Big Fund for the ASPCA, a national fund for special needs pets.

BUB's conversation partner for this Talkhouse Music Podcast is her fellow musician Jon Wurster, who plays drums — brilliantly — for Superchunk, Mountain Goats, Bob Mould among notable others. With Tom Scharpling, Jon is also one half of the team that does The Best Show, which is one of the funniest things you can listen to. And he's also a big-time animal lover.

BUB and Jon have a conversation about BUB's new album, her intergalactic origins and… pooping on very expensive comforters. BUB also has a few probing questions for Jon and, well, he answers them as honestly as he can. These two do have a few tense moments, but they're both nice folks, so they patch it up nicely. As an extra bonus, this podcast features what just might be Jon's debut recording as a solo singer.

Carrie Brownstein with Questlove Nov 04, 2015

Sleater-Kinney singer-guitarist and Portlandia co-star Carrie Brownstein has published a critically acclaimed memoir, the candid, moving and eloquent Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl. And to kick off her book tour, she sat down and had a great conversation with another acclaimed musician-author, the Roots' Questlove, on October 27th, 2015 at St. Vitus, the beloved metal bar in the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn.

The event was produced by the very cool WORD bookstore mini-chain, with stores in Greenpoint and Jersey City. WORD gave the Talkhouse permission to record and air the conversation — thanks, WORD!

Carrie and Questlove might come from different backgrounds and make different kinds of music, but from reading each other's books, they realized have a whole lot of things in common, as you're about to hear.

Abel Ferrara with Gaspar Noé Nov 03, 2015

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Film podcast, two of contemporary cinema’s most controversial, boundary-pushing directors are in conversation. From New York City, Gaspar Noé – whose new film, the pornographic 3D romance Love, is now out in theaters – chats with Abel Ferrara, a fellow scourge of the censors, who is currently living in Rome. Over the course of their highly entertaining talk, the pair discusses such topics as censorship, having their movies banned, what’s sexy in Saudi Arabia, the connections between Love and Ferrara’s first film, Nine Lives of a Wet Pussy, porn’s rightful place on the big screen, and their mutual hero, Pier Paolo Pasolini. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

JG Thirlwell with David Harrington Oct 28, 2015

JG Thirlwell came out of the early ’80s New York underground scene and, under multiple pseudonyms that all had the word “foetus” in them, made lots of intense albums that evoke what AllMusicGuide has called “a harrowing netherworld of death, lust, disease and decay.” You can hear the Foetus influence in bands like Nine Inch Nails and Ministry.

Over the years, Thirlwell broadened his musical scope to the point where he is now an acclaimed new music composer, as well writing scores for film and television, and developing site-specific audio installations. And he’s kept his hand in rock music, collaborating with a wide range of rock musicians, from the Melvins to Zola Jesus to Sonic Youth. He’s composed pieces for various renowned new music ensembles, including the Kronos Quartet.

One could argue that the chart-topping, prize-winning, multiple Grammy-winning Kronos Quartet is the most famous string quartet in the entire history of string quartets. Over their 42-year existence, they’ve exposed many different kinds of audiences to many kinds of music by breaking down, or at least ignoring, barriers between genres. They’ve played art-tango with Astor Piazzolla, backed up Tom Waits, David Bowie, Paul McCartney and Björk, and covered Bob Dylan, Ornette Colemanand Sigur Rós.

But most importantly, Kronos has been a major player in nurturing the contemporary repertoire, working closely with iconic composers such as Steve Reich, Arvo Pärt, Terry Riley, Laurie Anderson, Henryk Gorecki, Osvaldo Golijov and Philip Glass. And lately, they’ve also begun collaborating with — and commissioning pieces by — a wide variety of younger musicians: Bryce Dessner (the National), Greg Saunier (Deerhoof), Amon Tobin, Glenn Kotche (Wilco) and Richard Reed Parry (Arcade Fire), among many others.

Kronos has commissioned and performed two pieces by JG Thirlwell: “Eremikophobia” and “Nomatophobis,” with a third piece on the way. So we put together these two thoughtful and visionary musicians for a Talkhouse Music Podcast.

Lynn Shelton with Bobcat Goldthwait Oct 27, 2015

On this latest episode of the Talkhouse Film podcast, in conversation are two former actors who are now two of the funniest and liveliest writer-directors in the U.S. indie sphere. Lynn Shelton, best known for her movies Humpday, Your Sister's Sister and Laggies, chats with the impishly provocative Bobcat Goldthwait, whose new film, the excellent documentary Call Me Lucky, reveals yet another facet of his creative personality. In their talk, they discuss their work in detail and also touch on such diverse topics as the unlikely location of one of Bobcat's tattoos, the reason he used to wear silly hats while directing, and why the U.S. is the People's Republic of Spring Break. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Mac McCaughan with Laura Cantrell Oct 21, 2015

Back when they were in college in the late '80s, Laura Cantrell and Mac McCaughan were in a band called Bricks. That band didn't get very far, but Laura went on to become an acclaimed country singer-songwriter hailed by the likes of Elvis Costello and legendary BBC DJ John Peel. Mac soon founded Superchunk, who went on to 26 years (and counting) of indie-rock glory, as well as co-founding the phenomenally successful Merge Records.

Even though Laura and Mac have taken different musical paths, they've not just maintained their long friendship, they've both stayed true to themselves and to their art, and carved out respected, sustainable careers. They actually still have a lot in common. So we figured we'd put them together for a Talkhouse Music Podcast and have them catch up, reminisce, compare notes and share a little wisdom.

Boots with El-P Oct 14, 2015

El-P, legendary hip-hop producer and half of the celebrated rap duo Run the Jewels, and acclaimed new singer, rapper, songwriter, producer, musician and filmmaker Boots (Beyoncé, FKA twigs, Run the Jewels), sat down and recorded a Talkhouse Music Podcast while they were on tour, backstage at Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They talked about lots of things: their jazz-musician dads, the creative value of sampling, drugs and music, the internet’s fascination with cats, their doomsday scenarios and whether iconic film director Stanley Kubrick predicted the iPhone. We also find out how Boots got his nickname — and the answer will amaze you.

Ben Wheatley with Alex Cox Oct 06, 2015

On this new episode of the Talkhouse Film podcast, two highly original and idiosyncratic British writer-directors are in conversation: Ben Wheatley and Alex Cox. In addition to their new projects (the current festival hit High-Rise and the multi-perspective Western Tombstone Rashomon, respectively), the two email friends discuss numerous movie-related topics, from their favorite portmanteau films and the difference between Charlie Kaufman and Charlton Heston, to the forgotten genius of Peter Watkins and how Repo Man invented supermarket generic brands. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Merrill Garbus with Laurie Anderson (Part 2) Sep 29, 2015

The iconic multimedia artist Laurie Anderson always has two or three projects going at any one time, and aside from her acclaimed new feature film Heart of a Dog, she’s unveiling an installation and performance called Habeas Corpus, which takes place at the cavernous Park Avenue Armory in New York, October 2nd through 4th, 2015.

Among Anderson’s collaborators on the show are the great Syrian singer Omar Souleyman, ace multi-instrumentalist Shahzad Ismaily and Anderson’s partner in this Talkhouse Music Podcast, Merrill Garbus from Tune-Yards. Garbus and Anderson actually met through a Talkhouse Music Podcast, and you can hear them hit it off in the course of that conversation.

If fact, they hit it off so well that Anderson invited Garbus to develop a musical piece with her for Habeas Corpus. So, on the occasion of their collaboration, we brought these two remarkable artists back together for another chat. They spoke mostly about the show, but when you get two such brilliant, interesting people, the conversation is going to go to some fascinating places, and it sure did — everything from Anderson’s experiences with a psychiatrist to the reason why Garbus wanted to become an artist.

Eddie Argos with Ezra Furman Sep 22, 2015

If there's a running theme in London neo-post-punk band Art Brut's rock music, it's rock music. The band's leader Eddie Argos isn't just a musician, he's a big-time music fan. And one of the musicians he's a big fan of is indie-pop sensation Ezra Furman, whose new album Perpetual Motion People takes inspiration from brilliant, nasal auteurs such as Bob Dylan, the Violent Femmes and Jonathan Richman to make smart, heartfelt music. But his songs are all over the map: sure, it's indie-pop, but he works in all kinds of sounds: mid-'60s pop, countrified ballads, '70s glam, doo-wop and sounds from a more recent vintage, like Destroyer and Built to Spill.

Furman and Argos struck up a mutual appreciation society a few years ago when their two bands played some shows together, and it blossomed into a long-distance friendship. With Furman beginning to break through in the United Kingdom, we put the two musicians together for a Talkhouse Music Podcast.

The two musicians found a lot to talk about: the time Furman accidentally got filmed naked, playing live as an opportunity to do something weird, parenthood and its effect on one's music, the advantages of being pretentious, and why "no" always beats "yes."

Jim James with M.C. Taylor Sep 16, 2015

Hiss Golden Messenger’s most recent album Lateness of Dancers came out in the autumn of 2014, and found frontman M.C. Taylor’s songwriting process still evolving. He obviously thinks a lot about the craft and inspiration involved, so it’s no surprise that the songwriting process was the main thing he talked about with My Morning Jacket frontman Jim James in this edition of the Talkhouse Music Podcast

My Morning Jacket brings in some disparate outside influences — prog-rock and disco, for instance — while Hiss Golden Messenger mostly keeps it local, with roots in country-rock, folk and Memphis r&b, but both musicians make their acclaimed music with a pronounced southern flavor. They have plenty in common, and they’re fans of each other’s work, which made for an interesting conversation. The two spoke via Skype while both were on tour — Taylor in Toronto and James in Niagara Falls, New York — and together they delved into the enduring mysteries of how songs are made.

Andrew W.K. with Fred Thomas Sep 15, 2015

This edition of the Talkhouse Music Podcast features Fred Thomas, longtime mainstay of the beloved, idiosyncratic lo-fi indie-pop band Saturday Looks Good to Me, with musician, motivational speaker, producer, nightclub impresario, advice columnist, and TV and radio host Andrew WK.

It's a little-known fact that Mr. Thomas and Mr. WK go back a long way — 20 years, to when they were teenagers in the very weird and wild Ann Arbor, Michigan underground music scene. They're still good friends, and WK even guested on a song on Thomas' debut solo album All Are Saved, which came out this spring.

These are two very thoughtful, well spoken and very experienced musicians, and conversation is filled with really great insights about what it's like to be a musician — any kind of musician. This is the kind of thing you won't get in an ordinary interview, so listen closely for an explanation of why your audience is your enemy, a great discussion about the value of criticism, a realistic definition of artistic success, musings on the intersection of life and art, and an attempt to pin down the mysterious miracle of artistic inspiration.

Allison Anders with Wim Wenders Sep 09, 2015

On this latest episode of the Talkhouse Film podcast, writer-director Allison Anders talks with her mentor, iconic German filmmaker Wim Wenders, on the occasion of Wenders' new touring film series. In their fascinating and wide-ranging conversation, the two old friends talk about a possible sequel to Paris, Texas, why Wenders didn't direct True Detective, how Until the End of the World presciently anticipated everything from GPS to search engines to selfie culture – and also a lot of stuff about music, including how Wenders saved The Goalie's Anxiety at the Penalty Kick by digitally replacing an Elvis song with a copycat track, Wim buying Allison her first iPod, and a discussion of the art of the mixtape. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Jessica Pratt with Tobias Jesso Jr. Sep 01, 2015

This edition of the Talkhouse Music Podcast features two of the more acclaimed new singer-songwriters of 2015: Jessica Pratt and Tobias Jesso, Jr. Both musicians have deep roots in the sounds of the '70s, but two very different sides of the '70s. Jesso's piano-driven debut album Goon evokes superstar '70s singer-songwriters like John Lennon, Carole King, Harry Nilsson and Elton John. But Pratt's latest album On Your Own Love Again channels a very different, much more obscure side of the Me Decade: psychedelic folk from brilliant musicians such as Linda Perhacs and Vashti Bunyan.

We put these two together backstage at this summer's Pitchfork Music Festival and they covered a wide range of topics: the recent Brian Wilson bio-pic, the difference between playing solo and with a band, dealing with stage nerves and insecurity, how malfunctioning equipment can be a blessing, the interview tricks journalists try to pull on them and the wonderfulness of the Train song "Drops of Jupiter."

Jesso reveals his tricks for playing as few songs as possible in his set. Pratt recounts a synopsis of the film she has seen more times than any other: The Brave Little Toaster (1987), which prompts our guests to wrestle with a most vexing question: "How weird is it for a blanket to be chasing a kid through a forest?"

Genesis Breyer P-Orridge with Laura Jane Grace Aug 25, 2015

“Transsexuals are the stormtroopers of the future.” So says Genesis P-Orridge, the iconic, visionary musician who has fronted influential bands like Psychic TV and Throbbing Gristle. While P-Orridge isn’t transgender — they* call themselves a pandrogyne — their partner in this Talkhouse Music Podcast, Against Me! frontwoman Laura Jane Grace, came out as transgender in 2012. Still, as P-Orridge points out, both musicians have done something very brave: they’ve transitioned, in one way or another, in front of their audience. And it was P-Orridge who paved the way. As Grace says here, “Someone like yourself is so important to me.”

P-Orridge and Grace might hail from different generations, countries and musical communities, but they found plenty to talk about: what it was like to transition in public, the mind-body duality, paranormal phenomena, the perennial bathroom problem, the perennnial airport screening problem, courage, death, Caitlyn Jenner, a hilarious exchange about what to wear on stage, dealing with photographers who want you to show your boobs, and what P-Orridge calls “a gradual shift in the way that gender and sexuality are perceived in our species.”

This is one of the more fascinating and potentially visionary exchanges we’ve ever had on the Talkhouse Podcast. It’s also one of the more risqué, so if you’re easily offended, maybe you’ll want to check out one of our other podcasts.

* A word about pronouns: P-Orridge call themselves “we” because they feel at one with their late wife Lady Jaye. Much more about that in the podcast.

Dan Zanes with Bill Sherman Aug 18, 2015

Dan Zanes has long been one of the biggest names in the still-exploding genre of so-called "kindie-rock" — music made especially for kids. As the leader of the Grammy-winning Dan Zanes and Friends, he’s made over a dozen hugely popular and acclaimed albums and played concerts for adoring audiences all over the world.

And Bill Sherman has not only won a Tony, a Grammy and an Emmmy, he's the music director of the iconic children's show Sesame Street. As a songwriter and orchestrator, he's responsible for the music you hear on the show, and works with the many musicians who drop in and sing: stars like Janelle Monae, Ed Sheeran and Will-I-Am, and many others. But perhaps more impressively, Sherman is one of the driving forces behind such magnum opuses as "Glory of Cookies," "Grover Can Do It All" and "Guacamole: the Musical."

In the mid to late ‘80s, Zanes led the scrappy and beloved New England roots-rock band the Del Fuegos. Here, Zanes talks about how he went from playing in a rock band that, as Spinal Tap keyboardist Viv Savage once put it, had a good time all the time to making wholesome music for kids, and how it helped him rediscover what he loved about making music in the first place.

Sherman discusses how Sesame Street music is made — with a lot of care, for starters — and what it's like to work with the many stars who drop by the show… and lots of other stuff you've probably wondered about music at Sesame Street.

So these guys certainly had a lot of interesting things to say about making music for children, but they also had a lot of interesting things to say about making any kind of music. Like, why — and how — do you make music in the first place?

A note to parents: while the music these guys make is rated G, some of the language here is definitely PG.

Geoff Barrow with Clint Mansell Aug 18, 2015

On this latest episode of the Talkhouse Film podcast, acclaimed English composers Geoff Barrow (Ex Machina) of Portishead fame, and Clint Mansell (Noah, Black Swan) discuss their creative processes, working with filmmakers, Ennio Morricone's low opinion of modern composers, the questionable quality of most films today, and much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Jana Hunter with Mike Hadreas Aug 11, 2015

Lower Dens leader Jana Hunter is a frequent Talkhouse contributor and a fine writer — in April of 2015, she wrote a widely read piece for Cosmopolitan titled "What It's Like to Be a Female Musician When You Don't Identify as a Woman." And Perfume Genius, aka Mike Hadreas, has said he's pretty fluid with gender too. But that was only one reason why we invited these two to sit down and chat for the Talkhouse Music Podcast. Lower Dens and Perfume Genius make some of the most interestingly beautiful music around, and Hunter and Hadreas are two intriguing, well spoken people.

Sure, they talked about "gay/gender stuff" but they also just related as musicians — and talked candidly about inspiration, how to conduct yourself on stage, the perils of social media and dealing with hate mail. And they related as people too — they talk about dealing with email, the awesomeness of Rihanna, their methods for quitting smoking and why Clark Kent is hot.

Hadreas and Hunter had met only briefly once before, but they're fans of each other's music, and when they sat down at the Talkhouse Music mikes, they hit it off immediately — in fact, almost from the start these two very thoughtful people were giggling like teenagers. They do have one big difference, though: Hadreas believes in everything, but Hunter doesn't believe in anything.

Jonathan Lisecki with Sarah Gertrude Shapiro Aug 07, 2015

On this latest episode of the Talkhouse Film podcast, Gayby's writer-director Jonathan Lisecki talks about the best new TV show of the summer, UnREAL, with Sarah Gertrude Shapiro, its co-creator, writer and supervising producer. The pair discuss Shapiro's background, her inspirations, how she turned an award-winning short film into a hit TV show in record time, getting over "the Lifetime of it all," and much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Andy Gill with Jon Langford Aug 06, 2015

In the late '70s, Andy Gill and Jon Langford were schoolmates at the University of Leeds in England. That was where Andy co-founded a band called Gang of Four and Jon helped start a band called the Mekons. Those bands went on to great things, such as helping to invent post-punk — and becoming iconic bands in the process.

The Mekons are possibly the longest-running and certainly the most beloved post-punk band. Their music has encompassed punk rock, country music and dub reggae, and they've released a long string of truly great albums like Fear and Whiskey (1985) and The Mekons Rock & Roll (1989). Their history, their music and their perseverance through thick and thin, not to mention their sense of humor, are showcased in the 2015 documentary Revenge of the Mekons.

In the late '70s and early '80s, Gang of Four made some classic albums of life-changing, canonical Neo-Marxist post-punk, like Entertainment (1979), Solid Gold (1981) and Songs of the Free (1982). They've influenced everybody from Rage Against the Machine to St. Vincent. With Andy Gill as the sole remaining original member, they released an album in 2015 called What Happens Next.

Here, these two smart musicians and old friends recall their common roots, trace the evolution of the concept of punk rock as it traveled north through England, and how it inspired their respective bands.

Punk's chief message, according to these guys: "You can really go anywhere you want with it."

Joe Swanberg with Kris Swanberg Jul 31, 2015

On this latest episode of the Talkhouse Film podcast, Joe Swanberg becomes the first person to make a return appearance, here talking to Kris Swanberg, his wife and the writer-director of the recently released Unexpected. In a really frank and revealing conversation, they discuss the Sundance experience, selling a film, finding the right distributor, dealing with agents, taking meetings, shaping a career, and the challenges of being in a two-filmmaker household. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Samuel T. Herring with Vic Mensa Jul 31, 2015

You might think that Chicago rapper Vic Mensa and Samuel Herring, the frontman of Baltimore synth-pop band Future Islands, don't have much in common. But you'd be wrong. And it's not because Mensa used to rap in a rock band and Herring has been a hip-hop fan since he was a kid. And it's not because Mensa is a fan of the Beatles and Nirvana, and Herring is about to drop a hip-hop EP he recorded with Stones Throw producer Madlib.

No, it's because Mensa and Herring are both musicians and they enjoy each other's work. So these guys, who had never met before, hit it off right away when they sat down at the Talkhouse Music microphones backstage at the 2015 Pitchfork Music Festival.

In less than 30 minutes, they cover a whole lot of ground: their previous lives as shoplifters, music biz economics, compromising your youthful ideals, going to church, the ghettoes of Baltimore, the U.S. legal system and their mutual disappointment with the Obama presidency. And Herring even reveals the inspiration for his trademark sidestepping dance move!

Lauren Mayberry (Chvrches) with Haim Jul 27, 2015

Chvrches was playing a great set at the 2015 Pitchfork Music Festival when we noticed all three members of Haim rocking out by the side of the stage. Clearly, they're big Chvrches fans. When our producer bumped into Este Haim in the VIP area, he asked if she'd like to do a podcast with Lauren Mayberry, Chvrches' lead singer (and a regular Talkhouse writer). She absolutely did. Then Danielle Haim wanted in. And then Alana Haim wanted in too. So we wound up with Lauren chatting with all three Haim sisters in a noisy trailer right there on the festival grounds.

Topics covered: how to deal with getting hit in the face with a beachball in front of thousands of people, mesmerizing Afros, panic-vomiting, forgetting lyrics on stage and, most importantly, how to pronounce GIF.

Mary Harron with Rose McGowan Jul 24, 2015

On this latest episode of the Talkhouse Film podcast, writerdirector Mary Harron sits down with Rose McGowan, the actress turned director who last year moved behind the camera for the acclaimed Sundance short, Dawn. Their wideranging discussion touches on everything from punk, religious cults and pyromania to Harron's experiences making American Psycho, McGowan's past as a teenage runaway and the ingrained sexism of Hollywood. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Stuart David (Belle and Sebastian) with David Fearnley Jul 14, 2015

Belle & Sebastian co-founder Stuart David is the author of the critically acclaimed In the All-Night Café: A Memoir of Belle and Sebastian's Formative Year, which came out this year, and the Pogues' longtime accordionist James Fearnley is the author of the candid, vivid and appropriately rip-roaring Here Comes Everybody: The Story of the Pogues (2012). The two author-musicians discuss the tricky matter of writing about your bandmates, the vagaries of memory and taking out the bits that make you look like a knobhead. And there might just be an anecdote or two.

Kim Thayil (Soundgarden) with Bhi Bhiman Jul 09, 2015

If you’re a pop musician of South Asian descent, not many like you have yet reached the toppermost of the poppermost. Some really famous ones include M.I.A., Norah Jones and Tony Kanal from No Doubt. Soundgarden lead guitarist Kim Thayil, whose folks came from India, was among the first. As a kid, acclaimed new singer-songwriter Bhi Bhiman, whose family emigrated from Sri Lanka, looked to Thayil as something of a role model. Which was wise, because Thayil is one of the brightest, coolest rock musicians one could hope to meet.

Now Bhiman and Thayil aren’t just mutual fans, they’re also friends. We put them together at KEXP’s studios in Seattle for a Talkhouse Music Podcast, and sure, they talked about being self-described “outsiders in rock & roll,” but they talked about a lot of other interesting things, too: their musical backstories, ruminations on the nature of pleasure and pain, the role of baseball in assimilation, their first guitars, the Chi-Lites, Nirvana’s nickname for Thayil, dealing with fans and, perhaps most important of all, the meaning of the word “epistemological.”

Kim Deal with Courtney Barnett Jul 01, 2015

In this episode of The Talkhouse Music Podcast, two great rock songwriters, Courtney Barnett and Kim Deal — of iconic alt-rockers the Breeders — get together, have a few laughs and talk about hearing the sound of your own voice, obsessing in the studio, the relationship between drugs and creativity, touring and seeing the world, what it's like to be 27, and playing guitar upside down. Don't miss Kim's imitations of English people speaking French. And she just may have come up with the title of Courtney's next album.

Phil Selway (Radiohead) with Ghostpoet (Part 2) Jun 27, 2015

In this episode of the Talkhouse Music Podcast, Philip Selway (Radiohead drummer and outstanding solo artist) has a really lovely conversation with one of his favorite new musicians, Ghostpoet, who weds vivid poetry with flowing grooves. (Offstage, he's Obaro Ejimiwe, and he happens to be a big Radiohead fan.)

The two had never met before, but you can hear them hit it off, as they get deep into their processes in a really candid and insightful way, and get to places that only two musicians can get.

Selway has some really great reminiscences about the dawning days of Radiohead, and Ejimiwe has some really great reminiscences about the dawning days of Ghostpoet, and they talk about music theory vs. intuition, collaboration, self-doubt, the dangers and benefits of reading your own press, and much more. Although they make very different kinds of music, by the end, Selway declares, "We've got similarly wired brains."

Phil Selway (Radiohead) with Ghostpoet (Part 1) Jun 25, 2015

In this episode of the Talkhouse Music Podcast, Philip Selway (Radiohead drummer and outstanding solo artist) has a really lovely conversation with one of his favorite new musicians, Ghostpoet, who weds vivid poetry with flowing grooves. (Offstage, he's Obaro Ejimiwe, and he happens to be a big Radiohead fan.)

The two had never met before, but you can hear them hit it off, as they get deep into their processes in a really candid and insightful way, and get to places that only two musicians can get.

Selway has some really great reminiscences about the dawning days of Radiohead, and Ejimiwe has some really great reminiscences about the dawning days of Ghostpoet, and they talk about music theory vs. intuition, collaboration, self-doubt, the dangers and benefits of reading your own press, and much more. Although they make very different kinds of music, by the end, Selway declares, "We've got similarly wired brains."

Erika Wennerstrom (Heartless Bastards) with Ray Wylie Hubbard Jun 18, 2015

Erika Wennerstrom sings and plays guitar and keyboards with the great Heartless Bastards, whose new album Restless Ones came out June 15th. Her band has threads of garage rock, blues and country — and the music of the great Texan singer-songwriter Ray Wylie Hubbard shares some of those same sounds. Wennerstrom and Hubbard are also fans of each other’s music, so we put them together for a Talkhouse Music Podcast and they dug deep into their songwriting process and had some laughs… and maybe a cry too.

Matthew E. White with Matthew Vasquez (Delta Spirit) Jun 12, 2015

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Matthew E. White and Delta Spirit lead singer Matt Vasquez had never met before they recorded this Talkhouse Music Podcast, but they just fell right into a great conversation, and they covered a whole lot of ground: their path into a career in music, the new music industry, the future of music, why they are musicians, and why and how they do what they do, and who is the greatest American rock & roll band.

Meredith Graves with Janet Weiss (Part 2) Apr 04, 2015

In the second part of their conversation for the Talkhouse Music Podcast, Janet Weiss discusses her talent crush on Nick Cave and Meredith Graves talks about making music as a solo artist.

Meredith Graves with Janet Weiss (Part 1) Apr 01, 2015

In this edition of the Talkhouse Music Podcast, Janet Weiss of Sleater-Kinney and Meredith Graves, formerly of Perfect Pussy, talk about creating safe spaces for women to feel empowered, crashing with your fans, and fist fights.

Annie Clark (St. Vincent) with Andy Gill (Gang of Four) Mar 08, 2015

Big-time Gang of Four fan Annie Clark (St. Vincent) talks with the band’s guitarist Andy Gill about distortion pedals, soccer tricks and the Grateful Dead.

Lawrence Michael Levine & Sophia Takal with Larry Karaszewski Feb 27, 2015

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Film podcast, husband-and-wife filmmaking team (and regular Talkhouse Film contributors) Lawrence Michael Levine and Sophia Takal discuss with Hollywood screenwriter Larry Karaszewski their Brooklyn-set screwball comedy Wild Canaries, plus the art of writing dialogue, acting in your own movies, mysteries, the movies of Milos Forman and Blake Edwards, and much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Daniel Schechter with Desiree Akhavan Jan 26, 2015

On this latest episode of the Talkhouse Film podcast, Daniel Schechter, the writer/director of Life of Crime and also a Talkhouse Film regular, is in conversation with actor/writer/director Desiree Akhavan about her debut feature Appropriate Behavior, plus women in film, bad actors, "director jail," finding your voice, and much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Kim Cattrall with Isabelle Huppert Nov 14, 2014

On this latest episode of the Talkhouse Film podcast, legendary actresses Isabelle Huppert and Kim Cattrall -- who first met on the set of Otto Preminger's 1975 suspense drama Rosebud -- look back on their friendship and discuss such topics as achieving longevity in their careers, Sex and the City, Cattrall's new TV series Sensitive Skin, and the joys of producing. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Errol Morris with James Marsh Nov 07, 2014

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Film podcast, two Academy Award-winning filmmakers are in conversation as Errol Morris talks with James Marsh about his new Stephen Hawking biopic The Theory of Everything, plus Morris' own Hawking film, A Brief History of Time, Frederick Wiseman, cinematic misanthropy, Ed Gein, beating Donald Rumsfeld with a brick, and much more. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Laura Poitras with James Marsh Oct 31, 2014

On this week's episode of the Talkhouse Film podcast, James Marsh — the Oscar-winning director of Man on Wire and a regular Talkhouse Film contributor — sits down with Laura Poitras to discuss her gripping and revelatory Edward Snowden doc, CITIZENFOUR. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Joshua Marston with Jesse Moss Oct 10, 2014

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Film podcast, Joshua Marston, the director of the Oscar-nominated Maria Full of Grace, talks with his longtime friend Jesse Moss about Moss' surprising and compelling Sundance documentary hit The Overnighters, a portrait of a smalltown priest in North Dakota who houses incoming oil workers in his church. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Merrill Garbus with Laurie Anderson (Part 1) Oct 07, 2014

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Music podcast, Merrill Garbus from Tune-Yards talks with the iconic performance artist and musician Laurie Anderson. By turns funny and poignant, and always insightful, the conversation between these two affable powerhouses ranges from coping with sudden fame, "the art police," the healing power of puppetry, their upcoming projects, dehydrated kale bars, nutritional pantyhose and… hotel hotdogs. For more musicians talking music, visit Talkhouse Music at thetalkhouse.com/music.

Gareth Evans with Ben Wheatley Oct 03, 2014

On the latest episode of the Talkhouse Film podcast, Gareth Evans, director of the awesome martial arts thrillers The Raid: Redemption and The Raid 2, talks with fellow fan favorite Ben Wheatley (Kill List, A Field in England), with their wide-ranging conversation touching on everything from fight choreography and their upcoming projects to musicals and gonzo filmmaking. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Savage Steve Holland with Michael Tully Sep 26, 2014

This week on the Talkhouse Film podcast, Savage Steve Holland, writer-director of the classic '80s movies Better Off Dead and One Crazy Summer, talks with filmmaker (and Talkhouse Film contributor) Michael Tully about Ping Pong Summer, Tully's heartfelt homage to '80s teen movies. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Terry Gilliam with Rian Johnson pt. 2 Sep 19, 2014

Rian Johnson, the writer-director Brick and Looper, talks with Terry Gilliam on the occasion of the U.S. theatrical release of Gilliam's new movie, The Zero Theorem. In the concluding part of their two-part conversation for the Talkhouse Film podcast, Johnson and Gilliam touch on such disparate subjects as piracy, directing opera, Star Wars, magic, the horror of nature and Gilliam's long-delayed Don Quixote project. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Terry Gilliam with Rian Johnson pt. 1 Sep 18, 2014

Rian Johnson, the writer-director Brick and Looper, talks with Terry Gilliam on the occasion of the U.S. theatrical release of Gilliam's new movie, The Zero Theorem. In the first part of a two-part conversation for the Talkhouse Film podcast, Johnson and Gilliam discuss topics ranging from modern movie-watching and the perils of social media to Stars Wars Episode VIII, which Johnson is to write and direct. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Scott Z. Burns with Oorlagh George Aug 29, 2014

The latest episode of the Talkhouse Film podcast was recorded earlier this summer at the Sundance Resort, where the Sundance Screenwriters Lab took place. In conversation are lab mentor Scott Z. Burns, a regular collaborator with Stephen Soderbergh, and lab fellow Oorlagh George, who won an Oscar for producing her father Terry George's 2012 short The Shore, as they share stories from trenches, screenwriting wisdom — and a very memorable Bob Dylan story. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Stacie Passon with Ira Sachs Aug 22, 2014

The latest episode of the Talkhouse Film podcast features a conversation between writer-directors Stacie Passon (Concussion) and Ira Sachs, whose film about two men who finally marry after 39 years, Love is Strange, is released this week. The two friends and fellow filmmakers discuss full frontal nudity, how to get great performances, and the necessity of being a "hustler" in indie film. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Tracy Droz Tragos with Martha Shane Aug 15, 2014

Recorded at a live event at DCTV, the latest episode of the Talkhouse Film podcast features Tracy Droz Tragos, one of the directors of Sundance Grand Jury Prize-winning documentary Rich Hill (now on general release), in conversation with After Tiller's Martha Shane. The two talk about the more personal aspects of non-fiction filmmaking, such as the art of co-directing (with your cousin!), building trust with subjects and how relationships shift after production has ended. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Elliott Gould with Robert Downey Aug 08, 2014

In the latest episode of the Talkhouse Film podcast, Robert Altman's frequent collaborator (and also one of the most interesting leading men in Hollywood history) Elliott Gould talks with Robert Downey, the legendary director of such cult comedies as Putney Swope and Greaser's Palace. To mark the premiere of the new documentary Altman, the two raconteurs not only discuss Altman and his movies, but also aging, marriage, baseball and the state of the world, and tell stories involving Warren Beatty, Francis Ford Coppola and Groucho Marx. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Mike Cahill with Cary Fukunaga Aug 01, 2014

In the latest Talkhouse Film podcast, I Origins writer-director Mike Cahill and True Detective director Cary Fukunaga are in conversation. Cahill makes emotionally acute sci-fi movies that ask big cosmic questions, while Fukunaga's work is darker and grounded in an often bleak reality; although their filmmaking styles couldn't be more different, the two have been good friends for years. Their wonderfully wide-ranging conversation here takes in everything from science to storytelling, with some gripping real-life stories of ghosts and the unexplained in there too. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Joe Swanberg with Hal Hartley Jul 25, 2014

In the first ever Talkhouse Film podcast, we bring together in conversation two pivotal figures from the recent American independent film scene: erstwhile "mumblecore" ringleader Joe Swanberg (Happy Christmas, Drinking Buddies) and Hal Hartley (Amateur, Simple Men), one of the smartest, wittiest directors to emerge in the '90s. Over the course of their conversation, they discuss everything from film vs. digital and the changing landscape of the indie scene to the growing prominence of television and the role that technology plays in their lives, for better or worse. It's the kind of conversation that only two filmmakers could have. For more filmmakers talking film and TV, visit Talkhouse Film at talkhouse.com/film.

Liam Wilson with Kip Winger Jun 13, 2014

In the new Talkhouse Music podcast, underground art-hardcore-metal meets classic '80s hair metal: Liam Wilson of the Dillinger Escape Plan chats with Kip Winger of Winger. They're two very different musicians from two very different generations, but they find plenty of common ground: how to deal with being pigeonholed, how to be a mature band and still be exciting, great stories about how their bands started, and Liam introduces Kip to the concept of math metal. It's a conversation that only two musicians could have. And for more musicians talking music, visit Talkhouse music at music.thetalkhouse.com

Carrie Brownstein with Patrick Carney Jun 03, 2014

In today's Talkhouse Music podcast, the Black Keys' drummer Patrick Carney speaks with Carrie Brownstein (Sleater-Kinney, Portlandia) and over the course of a fascinating 49-minute conversation, the two veteran musicians cover a whole lot of ground: working with Danger Mouse on the Black Keys' new, #1 album Turn Blue, withstanding the haters, the dark side of social media, the Black Keys' internal chemistry, surviving fame, and what it’s like to wing it in front of 35,000 fans. It's a candid and insightful exchange that only two musicians could have.

Carrie Brownstein with Hamilton Leithauser May 12, 2014

In this podcast from the acclaimed music site the Talkhouse, Hamilton Leithauser, formerly the lead singer of the Walkmen, talks with Carrie Brownstein (Wild Flag, Sleater-Kinney, Portlandia) not just about Leithauser's outstanding new album Black Hours and the joys of going solo, but also lame horn sections, working with Rostam from Vampire Weekend, singing when your voice is shot, and people eating hotdogs while they watch you play. There’s even a preview of Leithauser’s hilarious upcoming Talkhouse piece about bodily injury. It’s fascinating, witty and revealing conversation that only two veteran musicians could have.

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