Best Jeff Gibbard Podcasts (2025)

1
Portugal. The Man’s Love Letter To Alaska 31:31

Play Pause

36m ago31:31

31:31

Portugal. The Man is out with a new album called SHISH. Emily Fox caught up with the band’s singer, songwriter and founder, John Gourley at Seattle’s Showbox SoDo to hear how his off-the-grid childhood in Alaska as well as his daughter’s genetic conduction influenced the album. “My mom and dad both became Iditarod mushers and finishers, and it took…

1
Brandi Carlile Returns to Herself 20:02

4d ago20:02

20:02

Seattle’s Brandi Carlile recently released her eighth studio album — it’s called “Returning to Myself.” Carlile stopped by KEXP recently to speak with DJ Kevin Cole about the themes of togetherness, confronting middle age, and watching her daughters slowly grow up and become more independent. She tells the story about how writing a poem in a barn s…

1
Neko Case on Her New Album and the Myth of Being “Lucky to Be Here” 23:34

8d ago23:34

23:34

Neko Case is out with a new album called Neon Grey Midnight Green. In conversation with Emily Fox, Case breaks down what spiderwebs can teach us about self-importance, what female and non-binary folks in the music industry have taught her about confidence and not caring about the male gaze and rock n’ roll’s mythology of “you’re lucky to be here.” …

1
Kassa Overall Jazzes Up '90s Hip-Hop Classics 38:42

15d ago38:42

38:42

The Seattle-based jazz musician Kassa Overall released CREAM in September 2025, an album that showcases new, original takes on some of the most classic tracks in 90s rap — from Wu Tang to Biggie and beyond. Overall spoke with KEXP’s Dusty Henry about his work. "As we're recording these songs, I'm realizing this is actually a response record to my o…

1
Jay Som Finds Where She Belongs 33:00

12d ago33:00

33:00

Jay Som is the moniker of Melina Duterte, a songwriter and producer originally based out of the Bay Area now living in Los Angeles. After producing music for other artists for so many years, she’s back with her fourth studio album, Belong, named for her quest to figure out her place in the indie music scene. While her tracks take you across various…

1
Clarissa Connelly’s ‘World of Work’ Rings Bells of Ecstasy and Apocalypse 30:04

29d ago30:04

30:04

In 2024, the Scottish-Danish artist Clarissa Connelly put out an album called World of Work. It doesn’t exactly deal with “work” the way that you might imagine in a 21st-century context. On the contrary, Connelly’s opus dives deep into philosophical concepts regarding our relationship with our mortal world, bodily movement, and what’s known as “rel…

1
Automatic Gets Live, Loose, and Political on 'Is It Now?’ 16:46

1M ago16:46

16:46

Izzy Glaudini, Halle Saxon, and Lola Dompé make up the Los Angeles post-punk trio Automatic. They released their third album Is It Now? last month on Stones Throw Records. KEXP’s Martin Douglas spoke with all three members of the band about the new album, how touring influenced their new sound, and finding joy in a polarized political climate. “The…

1
Support A Deeper Listen During KEXP’s 2025 Fall Fund Drive! 3:06

1M ago3:06

3:06

By KEXP

1
"Making It" Reveals Intimate Moments in 1990s and 2000s Seattle Music 26:34

2M ago26:34

26:34

By KEXP

1
Algernon Cadwallader Says What They Mean in Emo Revival Comeback Album 25:41

2M ago25:41

25:41

Algernon Cadwallader is a midwest emo band originally from Pennsylvania. They took a hiatus back in 2012, and now they’re officially back with their first full-length album in more than a decade, Trying Not to Have a Thought. KEXP’s Meerah Powell spoke with some of the members about the band’s revival, their newfound connections to the Pacific Nort…

1
Jeremiah Chiu and Marta Sofia Honer’s “Different Rooms” Captures Elusive Moments in Live Music 36:25

2M ago36:25

36:25

Two composers walk into a room (actually, they walk into different rooms) and record an album focused on the serendipity of live performance. Fittingly, it’s titled Different Rooms. The composers in question are Jeremiah Chiu, who plays the synth, and Marta Sofia Honer, a violist. KEXP contributor Isabel Khalili spoke with them about how this lates…

1
Ivy Revives Their Decades-Long Career Alongside Adam Schlesinger on “Traces of You” 37:59

2M ago37:59

37:59

Before this year, Ivy last released new music in 2011 with the album All Hours. Now, 14 years later, Ivy has reassembled to share Traces of You, which came out September 5 on Bar/None Records. What makes this album extra special is that it includes parts from one of the late members, Adam Schlessinger, who died from complications of COVID-19 in 202…

1
Jesse Beaman Builds His Portfolio Without the Help of Spotify 33:02

3M ago33:02

33:02

Jesse Beaman, an ambient composer based in Mexico City, joins a growing number of artists who are no longer making their music available on Spotify. He cites the platform’s requirement for musicians to have 1,000 yearly streams to receive royalties, as well as CEO Daniel Ek’s investments in Helsing, a company that makes AI-powered defense weaponry.…

1
Car Seat Headrest Delivers the Next Big Rock Opera 18:59

3M ago18:59

18:59

Will Toledo, vocalist for Seattle-based Car Seat Headrest, wanted the band’s latest release to be a concept album in the tradition of a rock opera. The Scholars delivers just that: strong storytelling within each of its nine tracks, inventing characters in a “fictional America,” attesting to the human search for meaning inside and outside of oursel…

1
Seiji Oda's "Lo-Fi Hyphy" Tribute to the Bay Area 36:17

3M ago36:17

36:17

Seiji Oda pays respect to his Oakland roots in his 2025 album HUMAN + NATURE. He not only samples Bay Area titans like Mac Dre and Trunk Boiz — the record also features numerous collaborations with local artists making waves in the scene today, like the producer ClayDough. KEXP’s Dusty Henry spoke with Oda about his signature “lofi hyphy” sound, bl…

1
Open Mike Eagle on Divorce, Sears Catalogues, and Black Surrealism 42:20

3M ago42:20

42:20

Open Mike Eagle’s tenth studio album, Neighborhood Gods Unlimited, continues the rap legacy that he started in the late 2000s when he cofounded the trio Thirsty Fish. From there, he made a bigger name for himself as a solo artist, starting with his 2010 debut, Unapologetic Art Rap. Along the way, he even appeared in the cartoon Adventure Time as a …

1
Den Tapes Celebrates 10 Years of Seattle Music with Den Fest 45:14

4M ago45:14

45:14

When Kay Redden moved to Seattle from Garland, Texas, she made it her mission to connect with her newly adopted home through music. So, in searching for meaning after mother’s death in April 2015, she launched Den Tapes, spending countless hours hand-dubbing cassettes. It wasn’t long before local bands gravitated toward her down-to-earth, community…

1
White Lotus Actor Michael Imperioli on Lou Reed, Buddhism, and Antiquity 16:15

4M ago16:15

16:15

Michael Imperioli, the actor known for his roles in The Sopranos and The White Lotus, is also the guitarist of a three-piece indie band called Zopa. Their latest album, Diamond Vehicle, came out in early 2025. KEXP’s Martin Douglas spoke with Imperioli about how he started playing music, the influence of Buddhism in his songwriting, and his fondnes…

1
Bonus: Wu-Tang’s Final Chamber 29:44

4M ago29:44

29:44

July 18, 2025 was the last day of Wu-Tang Clan’s farewell concert tour, The Final Chamber. One of their stops was at Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena, where KEXP’s Dusty Henry, Martin Douglas, and Larry Mizell, Jr. rapped alongside thousands of fans. We recap the concert and pay tribute to the group’s decades-long legacy. “Wu-Tang Clan is our generat…

1
Marlon Williams Amplifies Te Reo Maori in Dynamic New Album 30:59

4M ago30:59

30:59

Marlon Williams, singer-songwriter from New Zealand, uses his deep vibrato on more than a dozen new original songs written entirely in the Indigenous language Te Reo Maori. It was a years-long endeavor, with songs featuring collaborators like KOMMI and Lorde. KEXP contributor Celine Teo-Blockey spoke with Williams in Sydney, Australia last month. H…

1
Artificial Go Answers a Toddler’s Burning Questions 19:35

4M ago19:35

19:35

Cincinnati-based trio Artificial Go released their sophomore album, Musical Chairs, in May 2025. Their blend of post-punk riffs, danceable rhythms, and faux British accents has made them one of the most exciting groups on the scene. During their live shows, singer Angie Willcut wears a marching band uniform and literally marches around the audience…

1
Bonus: “Waiting for Britney Spears” and Jeff Weiss’ Surrealistic Account of Pop Stardom (Allegedly) 22:54

4M ago22:54

22:54

Music journalist Jeff Weiss recently wrote a book titled Waiting for Britney Spears, documenting the pop stars rise and fall from the public eye. But the book isn’t a historical account, it’s an “allegedly true” story that blurs fact and fiction, putting Weiss himself in the middle of the action. His writing takes a playful tabloid-style tone — a c…

1
Sea Lemon’s Shoegaze Captivates Ben Gibbard, Seattle, and Beyond 31:06

4M ago31:06

31:06

Natalie Lew, also known as Sea Lemon, released her debut album Diving for a Prize in June 2025 on Luminelle Recordings. Across 12 songs, reverb-heavy guitars wash underneath vocals that allude to made-up stories and unhealthy obsessions. For example, “Stay” draws inspiration from the real-life antics of an elderly security guard at a thrift store w…

1
Meet Carl the Collector, the PBS Kids Show with “Synth and Soul" 40:00

5M ago40:00

40:00

Max Perla and Vincent John make up Eraserhood Sound, the duo that scores the animated PBS Kids series Carl the Collector. In the spirit of Vince Guaraldi’s signature sound in Peanuts cartoons, show creator Zach Ohora says that Eraserhood’s “synth and soul” formula provides the perfect soundscape for the everyday happenings of an autistic raccoon an…

1
“Youth Revolution Now”: Sharp Pins on Chicago’s DIY Scene 27:44

5M ago27:44

27:44

Sharp Pins is the solo project of 20-year-old Kai Slater, who also runs a zine called Hallogallo. Based in Chicago, he started the zine during the height of the coronavirus pandemic as a teenager, overwhelmed and frustrated with a life dominated by screens. So, both his music and zine are analog, made with tape recorders, photo copiers, and type wr…

1
Outer Spaceways Incorporated Honors Sun Ra’s Cosmic Legacy 25:52

5M ago25:52

25:52

The Kronos Quartet — founded in Seattle, now based in San Francisco — has shaped modern classical music for more than 50 years. Their 2024 album Outer Spaceways Incorporated reimagines the work of the trailblazing American jazz pianist, Sun Ra, featuring covers and collaborations with artists like Jlin, Armand Hammer, and others. In addition to rec…

1
The Revival of Panchiko, a '90s “Lostwave” Band 28:45

5M ago28:45

28:45

Owain Davies received a message from a stranger in 2020 asking if he might have been the singer of a band called Panchiko more than two decades ago. As it turns out, he was — but they never put their music online. They just had seven demo tracks on CDs, but Panchiko never really broke out of their scene in central England at the time. Fast forward …

1
Tune-Yards: “I don't need hope. I need wonder and a will to live.” 40:15

6M ago40:15

40:15

Merrill Garbus says the lyrics simply poured out of her mouth on several tracks for the new Tune-Yards album, Better Dreaming. This time, she and her partner Nate Brenner trusted their gut more in the writing process. The record is heavily inspired by current events domestically and abroad, the ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ rights, and unexpected lesson…

1
Hiro Ama Creates Peace with a 1980s Japanese Synthesizer 18:07

6M ago18:07

18:07

Hiro Ama, born in Japan and based in London, plays drums in the indie pop band Teleman. In late 2024, he released his debut solo album, Music for Peace and Harmony, which leans heavily into the sounds of a 1980s Japanese synthesizer called Waraku, which literally means “peace and harmony” in Japanese. KEXP's Dusty Henry spoke with him shortly after…

1
World Goth Day Cofounder: “Anyone Is Welcome” 20:00

6M ago20:00

20:00

In this bonus episode, we hear from Martin Oldgoth, cofounder of World Goth Day, in conversation with Sharlese, host of Mechanical Breakdown, about the holiday’s origin in 2009. What started as a sort of joke on BBC Radio 6 Music rapidly spread across the world as a celebration of goth culture, which is constantly evolving. And, no, you don’t have …

1
Suzzallo’s Loud Grief on The Quiet Year 40:00

6M ago40:00

40:00

Seattle-based musician Rocky Votolato has formed a new band called Suzzallo, who put out their debut album The Quiet Year earlier this year on Thirty Something Records. Through loud guitars and cathartic screaming, Suzzallo offers an outlet to help him grieve the loss of his child, Kienan, who died in a car accident in 2021. “Without a way to expre…

1
Dead Pioneers Confront the American Dream 39:30

6M ago39:30

39:30

Denver-based punk group Dead Pioneers recently released their second album, PO$T AMERICAN, on Hassle Records. They’ve been opening for Pearl Jam on their U.S. tour this spring. KEXP’s Dusty Henry caught up with lead vocalist Gregg Deal to discuss the band’s rapid success, how their new album portrays disillusionment with modern America, and how the…

1
Vegas Sober & 8 Months Pregnant for Pitbull 8:58

7M ago8:58

8:58

Emily Fox, host of A Deeper Listen and Sound & Vision, is taking maternity leave form now until the fall. Before she left, shared an essay about why she went to Las Vegas sober and 8 months pregnant to see Pitbull in concert and why she thinks Pitbull deserves “a deeper listen.” Best wishes to Emily and her family! In the meantime, the A Deeper Lis…

1
SASAMI’s Left Turn Pop Album 18:14

7M ago18:14

18:14

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 immigr…

1
Ela Minus’ Journal of Freedom 22:50

7M ago22:50

22:50

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. I…

1
Perfume Genius Faces His Fears 26:49

7M ago26:49

26:49

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 mo…

1
Spotify and The Costs of the Perfect Playlist 44:12

7M ago44:12

44:12

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%…

1
Lucy Dacus on Love and Stillness 26:12

8M ago26:12

26:12

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 kee…

1
La Fonda Quit Corporate Day Jobs For Band & Vintage Shop 20:16

8M ago20:16

20:16

Valerie and Veronica Tapacio left their corporate day jobs to dedicate their time to their Seattle band, La Fonda and their vintage clothing shop, Delusional Bird, which is named after one of their songs. Last year was the first year they made more money doing music and running their business than they did at their 8-5 desk jobs. The sisters talk a…

1
Lupe Flores: Rock Drummer, Budding Restauranteur 18:10

8M ago18:10

18:10

For years, Lupe Flores was primarily known as the drummer for a number of Seattle rock bands, including Wild Powwers. But as something to do to keep herself sane during pandemic lockdown, she reconnected with a childhood tradition. “I feel like a lot of musicians are like, 'Oh, I sang whatever in church' or 'My parents always had music,’” Flores sa…

1
TOKiMONSTA Moves Through Grief 27:32

8M ago27:32

27:32

Los Angeles-based DJ and producer, TOKiMONSTA is out with a new album called Eternal Reverie. The album was written while TOKiMONSTA’s best friend was diagnosed with cancer and ultimately passed away a few months later. TOKiMONSTA talks about how her friend informed this latest record, why it was important to delay this record and cancel her initia…

1
How Big Tech Inspired Marie Davidson’s New Album 26:52

9M ago26:52

26:52

Montreal-based electronic artist Marie Davidson is concerned about the rise of big tech and intrusion of privacy. In this episode, host Emily Fox talks with Davidson about her latest album City of Clowns, how these themes show up on the record, and the inspiration it took from Shoshana Zuboff’s book The Age of Surveillance Capitalism. “I would say …

1
Youth Lagoon: “I’m against nostalgia. I view that as a prison.” 21:55

9M ago21:55

21:55

Trevor Powers of Youth Lagoon talks about how rediscovering home videos inspired his latest album, Rarely Do I Dream. He also discusses songwriting, meditation, and about a health crisis that gave him new life. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

1
Bonus: A Review of Neko Case’s Memoir 8:10

9M ago8:10

8:10

Neko Case recently put out a memoir called “The Harder I Fight the More I Love You.” It’s a story largely about neglect and abandonment. KEXP's Emily Fox reviews the book and shares her personal connection to Neko Case. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

1
Bartees Strange on ‘Horror’ and Overcoming his Fears 29:42

9M ago29:42

29:42

Bartees Strange talks with Emily Fox about his album, Horror. He talks about how his parents raised him on scary stories to showcase the fear and issues of being black in America, what his opera singing mother taught him about being a black performer in mostly white spaces, and how he’s feeling more comfortable, more empowered and more himself than…

1
Oakland’s Flung Listens to the Hum of the World 22:58

9M ago22:58

22:58

Flung is the moniker of Seattle-raised and Oakland-based multi-instrumentalist Kashika Kollaikal. Her 2024 album, 'All Heartbeat,' is the result of listening deeply to her surroundings, tuning into what she calls the “hum of the world.”Kollaikal joins KEXP’s Isabel Khalili to talk about her approach to the record and how she finds inspiration in he…

1
Bonus: Kendrick Lamar and Hip-Hop Beefs 24:59

9M ago24:59

24:59

This year’s Superbowl halftime show features Kendrick Lamar, who is in a long running beef with Drake. Seattle hip hop historian Daudi Abe talks with contributor Hans Anderson about the history of hip-hop beefs and how Kendrick Lamar’s beef made its way into the biggest music event of the year. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/ See omny…

1
Maribou State on growth, hope, and Hallucinating Love 18:36

10M ago18:36

18:36

The English electronic duo Maribou State released a new album, Hallucinating Love on January 31st. KEXP's Tia Ho talked with the band about the hardships they faced during the recording process, including getting diagnosed with a rare brain condition, and how it's all reflected in their most personal album to date. Support the show: https://www.kex…

1
The Career of Soundgarden and Pearl Jam Drummer Matt Cameron 40:13

10M ago40:13

40:13

Matt Cameron is the drummer for Soundgarden and Pearl Jam. Before then he played in the influential Seattle bands Bam Bam, Skin Yard, and Temple of the Dog. Cameron talks about his career and how he’s been able to keep at it for more than 40 years. Learn more about Bam Bam: https://www.kexp.org/podcasts/sound-vision/2021/3/2/tina-bell-unsung-goddes…

1
The Lijadu Sisters' Long Overdue Recognition 17:04

10M ago17:04

17:04

Twin sisters Kehinde and Yeye Taiwo Lijadu performed as The Lijadu Sisters from the 1960s to the 1980s in Nigeria, but their influence is still felt globally today. Their hits include songs like "Come On Home" and "Life's Gone Down Low." The surviving sister of the duo, Yeye Taiwo Lijadu, joins A Deeper Listen to talk about being one of the only fe…