Song Exploder

Song Exploder is a podcast where musicians take apart their songs, and piece by piece, tell the story of how they were made. Each episode features an artist discussing a song of theirs, breaking down the sounds and ideas that went into the writing and recording. Hosted and produced by Hrishikesh Hirway.
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Episodes
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Noah Kahan - Stick Season
Wednesday, January 25th, 2023
Noah Kahan tells the story of how he created his hit song "Stick Season."
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Sampa the Great - Let Me Be Great (feat. Angélique Kidjo)
Wednesday, December 21st, 2022
Sampa the Great, Angélique Kidjo, and producer Mag44 break down the making of "Let Me Be Great."
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Son Lux - This is a Life (from 'Everything Everywhere All at Once')
Wednesday, December 7th, 2022
Ryan Lott of Son Lux breaks down "This Is a Life," the end credits song from the hit film ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once.’
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Omah Lay - Never Forget
Wednesday, November 16th, 2022
Omah Lay breaks down his song, "Never Forget."
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Book Exploder: James McBride - Deacon King Kong
Wednesday, November 9th, 2022
James McBride breaks down the opening passage of his 2020 novel Deacon King Kong.
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Iron & Wine - Flightless Bird, American Mouth
Wednesday, November 2nd, 2022
Sam Beam of Iron & Wine breaks down "Flightless Bird, American Mouth."
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Book Exploder: George Saunders - Victory Lap
Wednesday, October 26th, 2022
George Saunders breaks down a passage from "Victory Lap," a short story from Tenth of December.
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Santigold - Ushers of the New World
Wednesday, October 19th, 2022
Santigold breaks down "Ushers of the New World."
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Book Exploder: Celeste Ng - Little Fires Everywhere
Wednesday, October 12th, 2022
Celeste Ng breaks down a passage from her best-selling novel, Little Fires Everywhere.
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King Princess - Let Us Die
Wednesday, October 5th, 2022
King Princess breaks down her single, "Let Us Die", joined by her collaborators Ethan Gruska and Mark Ronson.
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Book Exploder: Tayari Jones - An American Marriage
Wednesday, September 28th, 2022
Tayari Jones breaks down a passage from An American Marriage.
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Panic! At the Disco - Viva Las Vengeance
Wednesday, September 21st, 2022
Brendon Urie of Panic! At the Disco breaks down "Viva Las Vengeance."
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Book Exploder: Carmen Maria Machado - In the Dream House
Wednesday, September 14th, 2022
Carmen Maria Machado breaks down a passage from her 2019 memoir, In the Dream House.
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Re-issue: Björk - Stonemilker
Wednesday, September 7th, 2022
Björk breaks down her song Stonemilker.
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Book Exploder: Michael Cunningham - The Hours
Wednesday, August 31st, 2022
Michael Cunningham breaks down a passage from the prologue of The Hours, his Pulitzer-winning novel.
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Madonna - Hung Up
Wednesday, August 24th, 2022
Madonna breaks down her song "Hung Up," along with co-writer and co-producer Stuart Price.
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Book Exploder: Min Jin Lee - Pachinko
Wednesday, August 17th, 2022
Min Jin Lee discusses a passage from her novel Pachinko.
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Kae Tempest - Move
Wednesday, August 10th, 2022
Kae Tempest and producer Dan Carey break down "Move."
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Book Exploder: Susan Orlean - The Library Book
Wednesday, August 3rd, 2022
Susan Orlean breaks down a passage from her best-seller, The Library Book.
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Sudan Archives - Selfish Soul
Wednesday, July 27th, 2022
Sudan Archives breaks down her song "Selfish Soul."
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mxmtoon - Mona Lisa
Wednesday, July 13th, 2022
mxmtoon breaks down her song "Mona Lisa."
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Monica Martin - Go Easy, Kid
Wednesday, June 29th, 2022
Monica Martin breaks down her song "Go Easy, Kid."
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Maren Morris - Humble Quest
Wednesday, June 15th, 2022
Maren Morris breaks down her song "Humble Quest."
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Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up
Wednesday, June 1st, 2022
Rick Astley tells the story of how "Never Gonna Give You Up" was made.
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Kevin Morby - This Is a Photograph
Wednesday, May 18th, 2022
Kevin Morby breaks down his song "This Is a Photograph."
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Arooj Aftab - Mohabbat
Wednesday, May 4th, 2022
Arooj Aftab tells the story of making her song "Mohabbat."
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Partners: Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
Wednesday, April 20th, 2022
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss tell the story of their Grammy-winning partnership.
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Peaches - Boys Wanna Be Her
Wednesday, April 6th, 2022
Peaches breaks down her song "Boys Wanna Be Her."
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Steve Reich - Different Trains: America, Before the War
Wednesday, March 23rd, 2022
Steve Reich breaks down the first movement of "Different Trains."
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Reissue: Perfume Genius - Slip Away
Wednesday, March 9th, 2022
Mike Hadreas breaks down his song "Slip Away."
Now and Next
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Global Warmup with Judge Jules
1:00am - 3:00am
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Sister Bliss in Session
3:00am - 4:00am
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Future Disco - Carly Foxx
4:00am - 5:00am
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Alan Nicklin's Guilty Pleasures
5:00am - 7:00am