The superproducer reflects on choosing joy, the power of the Instagram scroll, and the voices that make up his deeply moving instant classic album.

Fred again… Breaks Down Every Song on Actual Life (April 14 - December 17 2020)

Josh Shaw of the Memphis-based rising band Blvck Hippie spoke with KEXP while at Treefort Music Festival this past March about their long and winding road towards music, their mission to bring other Black bands up alongside them, and how fatherhood has only pushed them harder towards success.

Blvck Hippie on Adversity, Putting other Black Bands On, and their Eternal Love for Kid Cudi

As KEXP celebrates its 50th anniversary, we're looking back at the last half-century of music. Each week in 2022, KEXP pays homage to a different year and our writers are commemorating with one song from that year that resonates with them. This week, Martin Douglas explores a heavy year and a half of his life through Earl Sweatshirt's 2015 single "Grief."

Read the full article: https://www.kexp.org/read/2022/6/1/50-years-music-2015-earl-sweatshirt-grief/

50 Years of Music: 2015 — Earl Sweatshirt - "Grief"

As KEXP celebrates its 50th anniversary, we're looking back at the last half-century of music. Each week in 2022, KEXP pays homage to a different year and our writers are commemorating with one song from that year that resonates with them. This week, Emily Fox looks back  on White Town's "Your Woman" and unlocking the mystery of a favorite song.

50 Years of Music: 1997 – White Town - "Your Woman"

KEXP is celebrating our 50th anniversary this year, and we're looking back at the last half-century of music. Each week in 2022, KEXP pays homage to a different year, and our writers are commemorating a song from that year that resonates with them. This week, KEXP's Dusty Henry looks at Jeff Buckley's 1994 masterpiece 'Grace' and how "Lover, You Should've Come Over" might be his greatest artistic achievement. 

Read the article here: https://www.kexp.org/read/2022/8/10/50-years-of-music-1994-jeff-buckley-lover-you-shouldve-come-over/

50 Years of Music: 1994 – Jeff Buckley - “Lover, You Should’ve Come Over”

As KEXP celebrates its 50th anniversary, we're looking back at the last half-century of music. Each week in 2022, KEXP pays homage to a different year and our writers are commemorating with one song from that year that resonates with them. This week, Martin Douglas writes about the thrill of being a young hip-hop fan listening to Raekwon's legendary "Purple Tape" and why Wu-Tang Clan are the Beatles of their generation.

Read the article version here: https://www.kexp.org/read/2022/9/21/50-years-of-music-1995-raekwon-incarcerated-scarfaces/

50 Years of Music: 1995 - Raekwon - "Incarcerated Scarfaces"

On the show this time, it’s the cinematic piano and electronics of Hania Rani.  The Polish pianist’s latest album “On Giacometti” will be released on Gondwana Records.  She continues to  expand on her film score ambient classical atmospherics, using electronics and her clear wistful voice.  In this episode we touch on origin story and influences and then get right to the music as these works are a bit longer.  This performance features 3 previously unreleased pieces, and one - “Buka” from her 2020 release “Home.”

Live On KEXP

Live On KEXP, Episode 372 - Hania Rani

On the show this time, it’s the epic afrobeat-rap-rock disco-garage-prog of King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard.  Their latest albums “Ice, Death, Planets, Lungs, Mushrooms and Lava”, “Laminated Denim”, “Changes”, and “Live at Red Rocks 22” are available on Bandcamp.

Live On KEXP, Episode 376 - King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard

On the show this time, it’s the spell-binding heavy-rock of All Them Witches. Their latest album is “Nothing As Ideal” released on New West Records.

Live On KEXP, Episode 402 - All Them Witches

On the show this time, dance your butt right off with London producers Jungle.  Their latest record “Volcano” is available on Caiola Records.

Live On KEXP, Episode 421 - Jungle

On the show this time, it’s the brilliant intensity of the veteran New York City band - Blonde Redhead.  Their latest is called “Sit Down For Dinner” and it’s available on Section1 Records.

Live On KEXP, Episode 426 - Blonde Redhead

On the show this time, it's a high energy set of music from Bay area producer DJ Shadow. His latest album is called “Action Adventure” and is available through Mass Appeal.

Live On KEXP, Episode 436 - DJ Shadow

On the show this time, it’s the contemporary jazz and black classical music of Yussef Dayes.  His debut solo album “Black Classical Music” is available through Brownswood Recordings and Nonesuch Records.

Live On KEXP, Episode 444 - Yussef Dayes

On the show this time, it’s jazz, it's Afrobeat, it’s KOKOROKO! Their latest release is the EP “Get the Message” available on Brownswood Recordings.

Live on KEXP, Episode 471 - KOKOROKO

On the show this time, it's Ólafur Arnalds, and Janus Rasmussen making music together as Kiasmos. Their latest album together is simply titled “II” and is available on Erased Tapes.


Live on KEXP, Episode 478 - Kiasmos

On the show this time, it’s the Belarusian synth-pop of Molchat Doma.   Molchat Doma is a post-punk, synth-pop, new-wave electronic band from Minsk, Belarus.  Their latest is Belaya Polosa or White Stripe, available on Sacred Bones records.

Live on KEXP, Episode 488 - Molchat Doma

On the show this time, it’s the northern African desert-blues of Etran de l’Aïr.  The group is a family band from the city of Agadez in Niger, who got their start playing weddings.  They play guitar driven desert blues, made for dancing.  They sing in chorus, in Tamasheq, filling the air with glorious celebratory Saharan music.  Their latest album is “100 Percent Sahara Guitar”  available on Sahel Sounds out of Portland Oregon.

Live on KEXP, Episode 492 - Etran de L'Aïr

On the show this time, it’s motorik psych-rock from a Japanese beach, with maya ongaku. They hail from the island of Enoshima, famed for a shrine to Buddhist deity Benzaiten.  They play long-form psych rock, sometimes meditative, sometimes folky, sometimes even jazzy.  Their debut Approach to Anima features quiet singing, fingerstyle guitars, ambient recordings of bird calls, acoustic percussion, flute and saxophone, and spoken word.  Their latest EP Electronic Phantoms leans more towards drum machines for the rhythm samples, and rich synth-tronica to balance the guitars.  Both are available on Guruguru Brain.


Live on KEXP, Episode 493 - maya ongaku

On the show this time, it’s the hook-laden, R&B chill-groove of English electronica producers Maribou State.
Chris Davids and Liam Ivory have been releasing music as Maribou State since 2011.  They grew up just north of London, and started making music together when they met in school.  In addition to creating their own music, they have had success as remixers, for artists like Lana Del Ray and Fatboy Slim.  They’ve built a community of musicians, and collaboration is part of their process.  Their latest offering is Hallucinating Love, which is their 3rd full length album. It is available on Ninja Tune.

Live on KEXP, Episode 494 - Maribou State

On the show this time, it's the Peruvian-influenced, rock n roll-cumbia, of Chicha Libre.   They’ve released an EP - Cuatro tigres, and two studio albums - Sonido Amazonico! and Canibalismo - all available on Bandcamp and their own Barbés Records imprint.

Live on KEXP, Episode 497 - Chicha Libre

On the show this time, it’s the Nigerian Afrobeat of Seun Kuti and Egypt 80.

Seun Kuti is Afrobeat royalty - the son of Fela Kuti, and the leader of Fela’s former band Egypt 80, since 1997.  He’s released 7 studio albums since then, playing saxophone and singing in addition to running the band.  Their latest is Heavier Yet (Lays The Crownless Head) available on Record Kicks out of Milan, Italy.


Live on KEXP, Episode 498 - Seun Kuti & Egypt 80

On the show this time, it’s the indie R&B of South Asian-American singer Raveena. She self released her first EP Shanti in 2017, and the single “If Only” blew up, especially after an appearance on Berlin-based minimalist YouTube channel COLORSXSTUDIOS.  Her latest is her 3rd studio album Where the Butterflies Go in the Rain, available on Empire imprint - Moonstone Recordings.


Live on KEXP, Episode 499 - Raveena

On the show this time, we’re celebrating our 500th episode! Thank you to all of you who have listened and supported the show over the last 10 years.  We’re releasing this into the world just one day later in the year than the very first episode featuring Courtney Barnett dropped on September 14th back in 2015.  

liveonkexp500_LONG VERSION WEB ONLY

On the show this time, it’s the rich storytelling of Matt Berninger.  Matt Berninger is, of course, the front-person for The National, a band that has been writing perfect songs to live your life to, since they formed back in 1999.  His first “solo” record, Serpentine Prison, was produced by Memphis legend Booker T Jones, and they started a label together to put it out.  His latest offering is called Get Sunk and it is available on Book Records.

Live on KEXP, Episode 501 - Matt Berninger

On the show this time, it’s the brilliant songs and transcendent singing of Seattle’s own Deep Sea Diver.
Deep Sea Diver is at its core, the dynamic duo of guitarist and singer Jessica Dobson, and drummer Peter Mansen. They released their first EP in 2009, followed up by the albums History Speaks, Secrets, and Impossible Weight.  They played a live session in the Gathering Space at KEXP - with bandmates Elliot Jackson, Kristyn Chapman, and Michael Dondero - to celebrate their latest Billboard Heart.  It is available on Sub Pop Records.

Live on KEXP, Episode 502 - Deep Sea Diver

On the show this time, it’s the fresh original rock of English band Black Country, New Road.
The London based group make delightful music, catchy but unpredictable, poppy - but with elements of classical music, cinematic scores, jazz, choral music, show tunes, and heavy rock.  And that’s really selling them short.  They play music.  Anything is on the table.  Their latest is called Forever Howlong and it is available on Ninja Tune Records.


Live on KEXP, Episode 503 - Black Country, New Road

On the show this time, it’s the inimitable smart-pop of legendary band - They Might Be Giants.
They Might Be Giants have been making records since the early ‘80s, building a legion of hardcore fans, addicted to their charming, clever, catchy, and completely original sound. Since then, they’ve released a massive body of work. They are now on their 23rd full length album.  Their latest is called Book and is available on the band’s own Idlewild Recordings.

Live on KEXP, Episode 504 - They Might Be Giants

On the show this time, it’s the soul-filling songs of Choctaw Nation story-teller Samantha Crain.
Shawnee, Oklahoma native Samantha Crain is foremost a writer.  She’s got characters to introduce, stories to tell, and an original take on country-folk singer-songwriter music.  She has been making recordings since the mid 2000s, putting out her first EP The Confiscation herself, a collection based on 5 of her own short stories.  Her way with words has united a community of musicians who collaborate and contribute to her sound.  Now 7 full albums in, her latest is 2025’s Gumshoe, available on Real Kind Records.


Live on KEXP, Episode 505 - Samantha Crain

On the show this time, it’s the sunny 50’s and 60’s movie theme songs of Japanese singer Yuma Abe.
Yuma Abe released his second solo album Hotel New Yuma in December of 2024.  It’s a concept album. The music is based on a fictitious variety show at a hotel “on a warm island, somewhere south of the country”, with Yuma himself as the host of the show. The songs on the record are the theme songs for the variety show.  It is available on White Noise Records.

Live on KEXP, Episode 506 - Yuma Abe

On the show this time, it’s the dreamy psych-rock of Brooklyn band Crumb.
Brooklyn quartet Crumb started as a college band at Tufts University around 2016.  Singer and guitarist Lila Ramani had a collection of songs that pals Jesse Brotter (on bass and vocals), Bri Aronow (on keys and saxophone), and Jonathan Gilad (on drums) just loved. They experimented with playing them together.  They embraced a wide swath of influences, including indie rock, 60s psych, jazz, and Brazilian pop. Their latest is Amama, available on their own Crumb Records.



Live on KEXP, Episode 507 - Crumb

The obnoxiously named Texas quartet, THIS WILL DESTROY YOU, started recording music in 2005 to have something to sell at shows.  Their first record which they were burning to CD-R themselves, was called Young Mountain. They released 4 more records, recorded with the brilliant producer John Congleton.  Musical and personal differences led to members leaving, and eventually to the current situation, where there are two versions of the band, each with one of the original guitarists.  This performance at KEXP features original member Jeremy Galindo, and songs from Young Mountain, S/T, and Another Language.  There’s one song from Jeremy and original bass player Raymond Brown’s new project - You, Infinite, available on Pelagic Records.

Live on KEXP, Episode 508 - THIS WILL DESTROY YOU

On the show this time, it’s the Northwest dream-pop of Sea Lemon.
Sea Lemon is the Seattle-based solo project of musician Natalie Lew. The songs inhabit the deep, lush, reverb-drenched spaces of shoegaze, but carry the bright hooks of true pop music into those depths.  Her debut album Diving for a Prize was released in May of 2025.

Live on KEXP, Episode 509 - Sea Lemon

This week on Under The Needle, it's the psychedelic world funk of Houston's Khruangbin.

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