SASAMI has just released a new pop album called Blood on the Silver Screen. While her first record fell in the indie rock realm and her second album had a lot of metal influence, this album represents another left turn. SASAMI talks with Emily Fox about what draws her to make music from so many different genres, and how her family’s story of immigration and involvement in unconventional religious communities might have impacted her self-described identity as a “weirdo outsider.” “As long as they're okay with me finding my own path, which they have really been supportive of as I've gotten older," SASAMI says. "For them, it was getting mass married in Madison Square Garden. For me, it's playing with a metal band." Photo by Andrew Thomas HuangSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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18:14
Ela Minus’ Journal of Freedom
On this week’s episode, songwriter Ela Minus talks with KEXP's Albina Cabrera about her new album, DÍA—a fully nomadic project with songs written and recorded between Mexico, Seattle, and her native Colombia. With DÍA, she steps away from her analog era and embraces everything at hand: broken microphones, acoustic instruments, and digital synths. It’s a search for freedom that began the moment she left her comfort zone. The album is out now via Domino Records. Photo by Alvaro ArisoSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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22:50
Perfume Genius Faces His Fears
Mike Hadreas of Perfume Genius talks with Emily Fox about how his inner fears, struggles with mental health, paranoid fantasies and reflections on gay lust and love show up on his latest album, Glory. “I think I was just really afraid and I felt really tender and mortal and the world felt really fragile and scary and I couldn't figure out how to move through it very well,” Hadreas says speaking writing through depression. "And I didn't really know how to hold all of these things that I was feeling and move towards getting out of my head. I was just kind of stuck.” Photo by Cody CritcheloeSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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26:49
Spotify and The Costs of the Perfect Playlist
Liz Pelly, author of Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist talks through the many practices at Spotify over the years that have impacted independent musicians-- from outsourcing stock music Spotify pays a lower royalty rate for and flooding Spotify's in-house playlists with that stock music, to paying artists a 30% lower royalty rate in exchange for promotion on Spotify. Then, guitarist and independent musician Lance Allen talks about how he was able to pay off his mortgage and buy a car off Spotify royalties and how he’s continued to find success on the music streaming service. Photo by Felix WalworthSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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44:12
Lucy Dacus on Love and Stillness
Songwriter Lucy Dacus talks about her new album, Forever Is A Feeling. In conversation with Emily Fox, she discusses everything from love, lyricism, and making conscious decisions to step away from boygenius and her solo work to find balance and stillness. She also breaks down some of her favorite songs and lyrical moments on the new record. “I keep saying this, how you spend your time is how you spent your life. And that has been a really profound cliche to remember,” Dacus says. “You're in charge of your time more than you realize.” Photo by Shervin LainezSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On A Deeper Listen, host Emily Fox and other storytellers from KEXP talk with artists about the stories behind their songs and the experiences that inform their work. Through each conversation, we uncover the humanity behind the music, allowing us to hear it in a whole new way.
Italia