For nearly a decade, Julia Michaels has penned hit songs for the biggest acts in pop music. She is adept at turning people’s vulnerabilities into memorable hooks — think Justin Bieber’s “Sorry” or Selena Gomez’s “Lose You to Love Me.” There are countless others, but all of them share distinctive traits. Where many songwriters might turn to the simplest, almo ... Show More
Apr 28
Hrishikesh Hirway made an album about running out of time — in no time
Hrishikesh Hirway, host of Song Exploder, returns with his first album in fifteen years, In the Last Hour of Light, made under a premise that's almost contradictory for a podcaster built around isolated stems: session players who had never heard the songs, vocals tracked live in ... Show More
43m 12s
Apr 17
Maggie Rogers: going viral is a trap
Ten years ago, Maggie Rogers was a senior at NYU, scrambling to finish a song for a music production class she was close to failing. The guest critic that week happened to be Pharrell Williams. She played him "Alaska," a track she'd written in about fifteen minutes. It is a bit o ... Show More
37m 36s
Mar 2021
March 23rd – Demi Lovato Premieres New Music, Halsey Changes Her Pronouns and Selena Gomez Celebrates No. 1 Latin Album
Demi Lovato debuted two new songs during the L.A. premiere of her docuseries 'Dancing With the Devil', Halsey opens up about why changing her pronouns makes her feel the 'most authentic' and Selena Gomez reaches a career milestone with her first No. 1 on the Top Latin Albums char ... Show More
5m 1s
Jan 2023
Two Songs That Remind Me of my Mom, Jenni
In this emotional episode, Chiquis breaks down two very special songs: “Paloma Blanca” and “Wind Beneath My Wings.” Not only was “Paloma Blanca” her first single, but it was a song written in response to her late mother Jenni Rivera’s “Paloma Negra.” A refreshed Mariachi version ... Show More
36m 54s
Aug 2020
Lianne La Havas's Bittersweet Memories
British singer/songwriter Lianne La Havas recently released her third album, a self-titled collection of songs about love, heartbreak, and independence. Pitchfork editor Puja Patel recently spoke with Lianne at home in London over video chat for Pitchfork’s Listening Club. They t ... Show More
21 m
