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Tuesday, Aug 9 2022, 7AM
Good morning! It's finally overcast in Seattle again.
The song features only Mike Mills on piano, Michael Stipe on vocals and orchestral instruments arranged by Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones.
R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck wasn’t needed on the track, but he recalled the song’s creation: “Being competitive bastards that we are, Mike and I started auditioning chord changes and tunes for Michael,” he said. “Mike had a piano instrumental that he played to Michael. He listened once, nodded his head to hear it again, and on the second pass he sang the lyrics. It was ‘Nightswimming,’ exactly like the record we would record a year later. I was standing in the corner dumbfounded.”: americansongwriter.com
This song tells the semi-autobiographical story of a young man on a road trip, and his youthful idealism. The song has been recorded in five different versions by Stevens himself, the versions not on Illinois.
DeVotchKa, Live of KEXP in 2015 as hosted by DJ Morgan:
youtu.be
www.devotchka.net
Mark Lanegan was a guest vocalist on this one. Oh, how we miss him..
kexp.org
The phrase "red right hand" is from a line in John Milton's epic poem Paradise Lost that refers to divine vengeance.
While writing the lyrics, Cave filled an entire notebook with descriptions of the town the song is set in, including maps and sketches of prominent buildings, virtually none of which made it into the lyrics.
nyti.ms
Young Fathers return with “Geronimo," their first music in four years since 2018’s "Cocoa Sugar." bit.ly
In a statement, the Scottish trio (Alloysious Massaquoi, Kayus Bankole, and G. Hastingssaid) about the new track: “It’s a track about contrast, because life is contrast - pushing through, giving up, all at the same time. Wanting everything and then wanting nothing, then wanting everything again. It’s kind of reflective of where we are at the moment, trying to remember how to do this again.”
Young Fathers played live on KEXP back in 2019. Check out their full performance and interview here: www.youtube.com.
www.young-fathers.com
Sounds from Los Angeles, California. Automatic is the trio of Izzy Glaudini (synths, lead vocals), Lola Dompé (drums, vocals) and Halle Saxon (bass, vocals).
automatic-band.bandcamp.com
Desire is Chromatics mastermind Johnny Jewel’s project with singer Megan Louise.
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“Black Latex" is a spoken word piece in which Louise switches between English and her native French over Jewel’s cinematically ominous synth-pop burbles.
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You shouldn't miss the mesmerizing video for Desire's "Black Latex": www.youtube.com
Brittney Parks, aka Sudan Archives, has shared that this song is "about women and the celebration of hair. It’s about representation of different hair textures and embracing all colors and textures of it." She continued:
"I feel like there’s an American standard of what beautiful hair is, and I wanted to show in this video that’s not what all beauty is; to showcase different hairstyles and different types of women and their hair. I was inspired by India.Arie’s 'I Am Not My Hair,' one of the first songs I heard about this subject. She talks about extensions and weaves and natural hair and nappy hair, and that she’s not her hair; she won’t conform to the comparisons that would come up if you had a weave or sew-in or natural hair or Afro—that doesn’t represent her." bit.ly
New from U.S. Girls - their first new track since 2020’s Polaris Prize shortlisted album, Heavy Light.
Here is U.S. Girls played live on KEXP in in 2018:
www.youtube.com
usgirls.bandcamp.com
Here is Beth Ditto (of Gossip) performing a live version of "Oo La La," a new song from her debut solo album, "Fake Sugar":
www.npr.org
"'Free Yourself' is the beginning of a new era for me," Jessie Ware said in a statement. "I'm so excited for people to have this song for the end of their summer; to dance, to feel no inhibitions, and to feel joyful because that’s how I've been feeling recently being able to tour again and being able to sing again. Enjoy yourself, Free Yourself!"
www.jessieware.com
David Byrne's big fear in this one is something anyone who dreads hosting a dinner party can understand.
Everybody's coming to my house /
And they're never gonna go back home.
Daft Punk is playing at David Byrne's house and that's probably why no one is leaving the dinner party.
Lead vocalist Elizabeth Stokes says the new song is "about stress and anxiety manifesting as an intolerance to noise. Where each new sound makes you more and more stressed." bit.ly
Catch the Beths' Live on KEXP at Home Session with Troy here: www.youtube.com
Renowned pianist and musician Regina Spektor's father ensured she could continue her passion for music after her family immigrated from the former Soviet Union to New York in 1989. According to Regina, despite financial struggles, her father secured a piano teacher for her so she could continue learning her favorite instrument. She released her debut record 20 years ago in 2001, and remains active today.
Check out Live Video from her 2017 KEXP In-Studio: bit.ly.
www.reginaspektor.com
Happy 2006! Thank you for powering KEXP for 50 years! - kexp.org
Sylvan Esso is currently on tour with Odesza, and recently played three nights with them in Seattle at Climate Pledge Arena!
Here is their KEXP Live at Home session: Sylvan Esso from October 2020: youtu.be
Lizzo will be performing at Climate Pledge Arena on November 9th!
"And no, when I sing ‘Take your mask off,’ I didn't mean your N95," Lizzo says. "I meant like the mask of the person that you have to uphold when you're out in the world, the mask that protects your true self. Take that off, because we accept you for who you are in this space." -- tinyurl.com
We are remembering Olivia Newton-John, who passed away yesterday at the age of 73.
This one is from the musical fantasy film 'Xanadu' released in 1980. The film stars Olivia Newton-John, Michael Beck and Gene Kelly. The soundtrack features music from Newton-John, Electric Light Orchestra, Cliff Richard, and the Tubes.
Vocalist Greg Katz states that the song is about “what it means to say the right thing if others think you’re virtue signaling, especially if you’re worried they might be a little right.”
www.undertheradarmag.com
cheekface.bandcamp.com
Back from a three year hiatus,Titus Andronicus new cover of Cock Sparrer's “We’re Coming Back.”
Using Cock Sparrer’s 1982 anthem to announce their return, frontman Patrick Stickles said of their decision to cover the track: “All I can tell you right now is that Cock Sparrer gave us the most open-hearted and uplifting song in all of British punk’s second wave, perhaps even of any wave, foreign or domestic.
www.nme.com
“Spiderweb” is not a No Doubt cover.
Built Spill's new album When The Wind Forget's Your Name will be available worldwide on September 9th.
www.builttospill.com
Lead vocalist Charlie Drinkwater said in previous statement "Bury Me In My Shoes" is a hangover of a song. It was written as a response to that general feeling of unease and creeping dread. "A feeling you get from bad news on no breakfast."
bit.ly
tvpriest.bandcamp.com
Unravelling is from TV Priest's 2022 album, My Other People. Read about the release here:
www.subpop.com
TV Priest Live on KEXP.. right here, right now!
tvpriest.bandcamp.com
Watch their Live on KEXP at Home from April 2021: bit.ly
Frontman Syd Minsky-Sargeant discussed the new album's creation: "I like the contrast of it being happy, uplifting music and really dark lyrics. It’s not a minimal record, certainly compared to the first one. That’s because there’s been a lot more going on that needed to be said."
Yard Act will play at The Crocodile in Seattle on Thursday, October 6th.
Elton John said of the collab: "I love playing on other people’s songs, especially these guys, because I started off as a session musician. The fascinating thing is you hear things so differently from other people, and when you hear what they hear, then it all makes sense.” bit.ly
The Tragically Hip are receiving their second star on Canada’s Walk of Fame in downtown Toronto.
The group was first inducted into the Walk of Fame in 2002 in the Arts & Entertainment sector, and now, 20 years later, they are being recognized again for their humanitarian efforts.
globalnews.ca
This one goes out to Jerry Garcia, American guitarist of Grateful Dead, born August 1, 1942 and passed on this day in 1995 at the age of 53.
After playing three days at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle with guests, Sylvan Esso and ford, Odesza is on the road for The Last Goodbye tour!
"This song was born out of the concept of trying to bring these lasting, defining musical pieces like the 1965 release of 'Let Me Down Easy' by Bettye LaVette into a modern and contemporary electronic setting," explained Clayton Knight and Harrison Mills of the song. Read more about "The Last Goodbye," here: bit.ly
Cheryl Waters was there when ODESZA stopped by KEXP back in 2017! Check out the full performance and interview here: www.youtube.com
odesza.com
Danger Mouse's current project - the highly anticipated collaboration with Black Thought, 'Cheat Codes' to be released August 12th!
The latest single from 'Cheat Codes' features Michael Kiwanuka. Check out the "Aquamarine" Video!!
youtu.be
Have a great day, friends! Thanks for hanging out with us this morning!