Shawn Mendes’ hit song “If I Can’t Have You” is so ridiculously catchy that Charlie had it stuck in his head after the first chorus. How is that possible?! Declamation, or the way that text is set to music, is a big part of the song’s appeal—every word that Mendes sings is perfectly in rhythm. In this episode we use Mendes’ latest track to explore creative d ... Show More
Jun 9
Paul McCartney went back to Liverpool for something new to say
Boys of Dungeon Lane, McCartney's collaboration with producer Andrew Watt, arrived when McCartney was 83 and and he came out swinging: the opening track greets listeners with a dissonant, unresolved guitar chord that sets the album's tone. Harmonic instability runs through the en ... Show More
42m 8s
Jun 5
How a sci-fi dystopia became a personal utopia (ft. Arc Iris)
A sci-fi ballet imagined a 2080 where AI strips people of purpose, and the day before its New York premiere, an actual dystopia arrived. Arc Iris, the trio of Jocie Adams, Zach Tenorio and Ray Belli, built iTMRW as a concept record set in a future ruled by a mega-corporation that ... Show More
13m 2s
Jun 2
Why bands give us purpose (ft. MUNA)
A culture that rewards easily consumable individual identities produces plenty of pop stars and almost no bands. A significant exception: MUNA, the trio of Katie Gavin, Josette Maskin, and Naomi McPherson. MUNA treats the band as a structure that grounds identity beyond the ego a ... Show More
52m 19s
Apr 2021
Love Story (Taylor's Version)
Taylor Swift was a young girl that wrote this song in a matter of minutes... but there is a lot to discuss here! Who inspired it? And why did the Shakespeare stans get upset? Amy, Ana, Lacey and Nick dive deep into this classic song and find the real meaning behind it, and what " ... Show More
23m 22s
Aug 2023
The Music that Shaped Us with Renee Rapp
<p>There is something so special about the art form of music, don’t you think? Music helps document big and small moments of our lives, whether it’s blasting a break up song to heal your broken heart, or slow dancing to a love song at your wedding. But what about the process of m ... Show More
54m 29s
Nov 2023
SwifTea: Secret Song Sentiments, Grammys and a Big Reputation
Last night, Taylor Swift returned to the stage in Buenos Aires, Argentina and What. A. Night. Everyone was in awe waiting to see what Taylor had planned for the evening.. and it was an enchanted show for sure. Were there changes/ additions to the setlist? Any malfunctions or ward ... Show More
29m 26s