Kevin Cole

Murphy told the story behind this song to The NME May 18, 2010: "That came about because I was surfing with a guy's who's in a much more successful rock ensemble. He asked, 'Are you gonna make a radio hit on this record? I wanted to be like, 'You think I'm not trying?' I suddenly thought, 'Well, why don't I make hits?' I kind of like that we don't make hits, but it'd be fun to have one. This probably won't be because it's eight minutes long." www.songfacts.com

The Chemical Brothers' upcoming album is expected to come out later this year, just in time to celebrate the band's 30th anniversary.

This Brooklyn-based band are performing two sold-out shows in Seattle at The Crocodile on Thursday, May 18 and Friday, May 19. They'll be back in town on August 12-13 for Day In Day Out Fest! -- On "Sole Obsession," Nation of Language members Ian Devaneyand Aidan Noell say: "In simplest terms, 'Sole Obsession' is one about knowing when, or if, to give in or give up. Particularly, when to untie the knots we tie ourselves into when an infatuation sets in. So many of us have experienced an addictive feeling that constricts us further and further until, hopefully, there's a moment of clarity that allows one to free themself from that particular compulsion. The title of our next album, "Strange Disciple,"[ due for release on September 15th, 2023] is a lyric from 'Sole Obsession' which references a character of such a nature; one who finds themself an adherent to a subject that is probably not worth the devotion.

Happy Birthday Michael Kiwanuka! Check out KEXP's Sound & Vision interview with Kiwanuka where he talks about exploring identity through music and why the album was named after him. www.kexp.org See the official video for "You Ain't the Problem": youtu.be. www.michaelkiwanuka.com

Debut from East London-based singer/songwriter Yazmin Lacey, made out of studio jam session collaborations. The recording process intentionally captured the beauty of imperfection; Lacey opted to forego a polished sound to give way for rawness, the chance to “hear someone's pauses, their stops or the cracks in their voice”. Sonically she is uncategorisable, made up of many styles and influences. “There's lots of different flavours in there in terms of different ways I express myself. The things that I listen to, music that I love – it’s hard to place it. In some ways I would call it soul because that's where it comes from, my own soul. But I always avoid that; it's all perception.” __ yazminlacey.bandcamp.com __ www.yazminlacey.com

New Music! Hip-hop supergroup Dinner Party is a collaboration between musicians Kamasi Washington, Robert Glasper, Terrace Martin & 9th Wonder. bit.ly

The song is inspired by Lenker's childhood memories growing up in Minnesota. According to Lenker, the “Violet” in the song is a reference to her great-grandmother, who played music throughout her life and picked up electric bass when she was in her 80s. bigthief.bandcamp.com

Hailing from Asheville, North Carolina, Wednesday released their newest album earlier this month. You can grab it here - wednesdayband.bandcamp.com Across the album’s ten tracks Karly Hartzman, guitarist MJ Lenderman, bassist Margo Shultz, drummer Alan Miller, and lap/pedal steel player Xandy Chelmis build a shrine to minutiae. Half-funny, half-tragic dispatches from North Carolina unfurling somewhere between the wailing skuzz of Nineties shoegaze and classic country twang, that distorted lap steel and Hartzman’s voice slicing through the din.

The band sought to be more direct with this record than the previous two, resulting in a more mellow album. Tweedy attributes the lyrical directness to his listening to material by The Byrds and Fairport Convention while recording the album; he disliked the reliance on studio effects on previous albums: "I got nervous about the technology on Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. If you need a certain amp or pedal to make a song what it is, it isn't a song." Many of the album's songs were recorded in a single day, with the band reaching a consensus on how each song should sound. Eighteen songs were recorded for the album and twelve were selected for the album's track listing. bit.ly

It's an Aimee Mann day… can ya feel it? Yeah, totally.

Claud says: "I wrote “Every Fucking Time” two summers ago. It was hot and sticky in New York, so naturally I was spending a lot of time at home, overthinking everything… and this song was born. Even as I was writing “Every Fucking Time” I had flashes of what I wanted the music video to look like. The songs details and specificity came straight from me, so it only felt natural to write and direct the music video too. This was my first time directing, which was scary, but came easily because my vision for this song was so strong. The video wouldn’t have been the same without my co-star, Grace Kuhlenschmidt. We met on the internet early in the pandemic. I was a big fan of her comedy, and I watched every single video she posted. We quickly became friends and have been wanting to collaborate for a while, and I wrote this video concept with her in mind. Being on set with Grace was a dream come true because I got to work with my favorite comedian and a good friend all at once." BRAND NEW MUSIC ALERT! Claud, the first artist signed to Phoebe Bridgers’ Saddest Factory Records, has announced a new album. Claud’s sophomore release is called Supermodels and it’ll be out July 14. Coming two years after 2021’s Super Monster, Supermodels features 13 tracks, including lead single “Every Fucking Time.” www.stereogum.com

I saw someone ask a Seattle drag queen if she had listened to the new boygenius album yet and she responded, "I'm gay and depressed I've listened to it 400 times already." boygenius plays The Gorge on Saturday, July 29th! www.xboygeniusx.com

“Romántica Champeta” is a tribute to the Barranquilla Carnaval in Colombia. remezcla.com

Caroline Polachek will be in Seattle playing Showbox SoDo this Thursday & Friday, May 4 & 5 with Sudan Archives. bit.ly Caroline Polachek released her new album 'Desire, I Want to Turn Into You' on February 14. carolinepolachek.bandcamp.com

The new single marks the beginning of a more club-focused chapter for the electro-pop duo at their new label home at Polydor. ‘On & On (Again)’ is A heady mix of Confidence Man’s maximalist songwriting and the thunderous energy of producer Avery’s left-field rave music. “Dan knows what’s good,” said the duo in a statement. “And Conman does too. It’s a match made in sexy rave heaven. A naughty international subgenre mashup. Yin and Yang in parachute pants. And we did it all for you. Open up and let us in.” More on NME: www.nme.com

"'Free Yourself' is the beginning of a new era for me," Ware has revealed. "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!" In the video for this banger, watch Ware stride into a regal hall to lead a freaky congregation in a ritual dance: bit.ly This one goes out to Astrid, who turns 10 today!

Happy Birthday to the late great James Brown! Born on this day in 1933.

Released in 2006, 3121 was the thirty-first studio album by the Legend, the Icon, Prince. www.prince.com

From the hip hop duo's 3rd album. Chief Xcel of Blackalicious said, "The Craft is our passion to bring discipline to this music, the passion to keep growing, keep stretching, keep doing things we haven't before." Rest in Peace, Timothy J. Parker AKA Gift of Gab

Live on KEXP, May 9, 2013 Happy Birthday, Mary Lambert!

Live on KEXP, May 9, 2013 Happy Birthday, Mary Lambert!

New release from Habihah Iqbal. Iqbal says "Sunflower" was inspired by a William Blake poem. www.clashmusic.com

Kae Tempest released their "Nice Idea" EP on 12" vinyl on Record Store Day April 22. recordstoreday.com.

New song from JOHN. Here they are, Live on KEXP for International Clash Day back in London 2019.. hosted by our John and Cheryl. www.youtube.com johntimestwo.bandcamp.com

This U.K. trio is made up of Nina Cristante, Jezmi Tarik Fehmi and Sam Fenton, They're a bit mysterious, as this article suggests: surgfm.com

Killer Mike from Run The Jewels says of this solo project: "RTJ is the X-Men, this is my Logan." "The song is self-explanatory. With the video I wanted show the freedom and beauty in being able to turn up in spite of all the f**k-s**t. That upsets the bourgeoisie even more–in spite of all your criticisms, we’re gonna live free and stay lit," stated Mike upon its release. bit.ly

Technique is New Order's fifth studio album, released in 1989 "Fine Time" was written and partially recorded in Ibiza; its title was inspired by an incident in which band member Stephen Morris's car was towed, and he had to remember to pay the fine. www.kexp.org/donate

Little Dragon have announced their new album Slugs of Love, out July 7th!

The Austin band's debut album comes out July 8: templeofangels.bandcamp.com

On this day in 1982, Modern English dropped After the Snow featuring this classic track. Modern English will be LIVE on KEXP on The Morning Show with John on Friday, June 2nd at 9:30 AM. They'll be at The Triple Door on June 9th, 2023: modernenglish.me -- If you're wondering, the lyrics say,"...mesh and lace.": www.songfacts.com

Sudan Archives will perform (with Caroline Polachek) at Showbox SoDo tomorrow and Friday, May 5th. -- This ODESZA remix is the pair's first in eight years.

Title track from Helplessness Blues, the second studio album by Seattle-based band Fleet Foxes - www.fleetfoxes.co --- Here's Fleet Foxes performing live in the KEXP studio in 2017 - www.youtube.com