Before The Chorus

Julianna Zahariou on 'Dreamer Dreamer', recurring dreams, & demanding more than conditional love

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 21:20:00 -0000

On Dreamer Dreamer, Julianna Zachariou wades through dreams of never reaching a destination, deep feelings, and the kind of love that sustains us.

Find Julianna on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3MKLoCXEXufW2ldiQtUokO?si=hlMZ2ATKRvOJEsNq5-ij5g

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/madison-cunningham/461080475

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madicunningham/?hl=en

Subscribe: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Follow on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@beforethechoruspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@soundslikesofia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

About the podcast: Welcome to Before the Chorus, where we go beyond the sounds of our favourite songs to hear the stories of the artists who wrote them.

Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT.

Hosted by award-winning interviewer Sofia Loporcaro, Before the Chorus explores the genuine human experiences behind the music. Sofia’s deep knowledge of music and personal journey with mental health help her connect with artists on a meaningful level.

This is a space where fans connect with artists, and listeners from all walks of life feel seen through the stories that shape the music we love.

About the host: Sofia Loporcaro is an award-winning interviewer and radio host who’s spent over 8 years helping musicians share their stories. She’s hosted shows for Amazing Radio, and Transmission Roundhouse. Now on Before the Chorus, she’s had the chance to host guests like Glass Animals, Feist, Madison Cunningham, Mick Jenkins, & Ru Paul's Drag Race winner Shea Couleé.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Madison Cunningham on 'Ace', processing through songwriting, & how the right words bring release

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 22:15:00 -0000

On Ace, Madison Cunningham processes the cycles of heartbreak and falling in love again. For this episode, Madison's second time on the podcast, we sat down at her LA home and discussed the record at length.

Find Madison on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3h9TfIgwhovQELlP2jj4xL?si=poBMbSTbT9u4QcNWMO4vvw

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/madison-cunningham/461080475

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madicunningham/?hl=en

Subscribe: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Follow on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@beforethechoruspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@soundslikesofia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

About the podcast: Welcome to Before the Chorus, where we go beyond the sounds of our favourite songs to hear the stories of the artists who wrote them.

Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT.

This is a space where fans connect with artists, and listeners from all walks of life feel seen through the stories that shape the music we love.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ouri on 'Daisy Cutter', songs predicting the future, & jumping into the void

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 08:00:00 -0000

Ouri's latest album, Daisy Cutter, is a release of control, an excavation of inner truths, & an indulgence of sensuality. As always, we dive into the record's themes in depth, & we make sure to nerd out about Imogen Heap & FKA twigs along the way.

Find Ouri on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/41gxyJbzbAaChEyrZ9j3rv?si=RCBJvcV6TeKATOOYCHIB1g

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/ouri/584625515

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ouri.riou/?hl=en

Subscribe: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Follow on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@beforethechoruspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@soundslikesofia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

About the podcast: Welcome to Before the Chorus, where we go beyond the sounds of our favourite songs to hear the stories of the artists who wrote them.

Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT.

This is a space where fans connect with artists, and listeners from all walks of life feel seen through the stories that shape the music we love.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Flock of Dimes on 'The Life You Save' & building a safe space to tell difficult stories

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 17:37:00 -0000

Flock of Dimes, aka Jenn Wasner, created an album that is as warm as it is raw. Amidst its perfectly crafted & pared back instrumentation, 'The Life You Save' explores themes of codependency, people pleasing, & letting go. In this episode, we discuss the themes of the album, & what helped her tell these stories on her own terms.

Find Flock of Dimes on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1TTfuOdEtj8lin2zR4OWmP?si=-h3WrTzJTTCQ8IoX3LLPoQ

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/flock-of-dimes/561740721

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flockofdimes/?hl=en

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/tag/flockofdimes

Subscribe: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Follow on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@beforethechoruspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@soundslikesofia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

About the podcast: Welcome to Before the Chorus, where we go beyond the sounds of our favourite songs to hear the stories of the artists who wrote them.

Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT.

This is a space where fans connect with artists, and listeners from all walks of life feel seen through the stories that shape the music we love.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jack Garratt on 'Pillars' & asking for reciprocity

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 07:00:00 -0000

Jack Garratt's latest full-length album, Pillars, wrestles with longing: longing for reciprocity, longing for love, & longing for fulfillment. We discuss everything from the relationship between artists & their audiences, situationships, & navigating an increasingly difficult music industry.

Find Jack Garratt on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1Zp054Jc86WVKCxKEqZGOA?si=JKCs6VMDSgeWGHpRbtyLvw

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/jack-garratt/895155327

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackgarratt/?hl=en

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jackgarratt

Subscribe: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Follow on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@beforethechoruspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@soundslikesofia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

About the podcast: Welcome to Before the Chorus, where we go beyond the sounds of our favourite songs to hear the stories of the artists who wrote them.

Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT.

This is a space where fans connect with artists, and listeners from all walks of life feel seen through the stories that shape the music we love.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kilo Kish on 'Negotiations', & the tension between art & industry

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 07:00:00 -0000

On Kilo Kish's 'Negotiations', robotic soundscapes mirror the transactional, 'churned-out' side of the music industry. She asks "what am I worth?" - not to an unforgiving business model, but to herself. In this interview, we discuss this tension, & the importance of art on one's own terms.

Find Kilo Kish on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7lsnwlX6puQ7lcpSEpJbZE?si=LkhaVZsZTs-7Xaky7StGSA

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/kilo-kish/487657156

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kilokish/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kilokish

Subscribe: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Follow on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@beforethechoruspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@soundslikesofia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

About the podcast: Welcome to Before the Chorus, where we go beyond the sounds of our favourite songs to hear the stories of the artists who wrote them.

Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT.

This is a space where fans connect with artists, and listeners from all walks of life feel seen through the stories that shape the music we love.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

LIVE: Before the Chorus & Open Folk Present: In These Lines feat. Gaby Moreno, Lily Kershaw & James Spaite

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 23:37:00 -0000

On June 25th 2025, in collaboration with Open Folk, we presented our first ever live interview event in Los Angeles. As Open Folk put it: "In These Lines is a live event where three artists each bring one song — not just to perform, but to explore. They sit down with Sofia Loporcaro, host of Before The Chorus, to talk about where the song came from, what it meant to write it, and what it still holds. Then they play it. Just the song, and the truth behind it."

Find Open Folk on Instagram: @openfolkla

Find Gaby on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0K9pSmFx0kWESA9jqx8aCW?si=Wz4RUP88Qlm_RKs7QTLvWQ

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/gaby-moreno/472697737

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gaby_moreno/

Find Lily on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0p0ksmwMDQlAM24TWKu4Ua?si=Bmdg-uIUTHu-zRUc_dqL3g

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/lily-kershaw/526884610

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lilykershaw/

Find James on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3u50TPoLvMBXNT1KrLa3iT?si=OoLoq7ZTRZyUiytQcz0FsQ

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/james-spaite/905076868

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesspaite/

Subscribe: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Follow on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@beforethechoruspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@soundslikesofia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

About the podcast: Welcome to Before the Chorus, where we go beyond the sounds of our favourite songs to hear the stories of the artists who wrote them.

Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT.

This is a space where fans connect with artists, and listeners from all walks of life feel seen through the stories that shape the music we love.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Benét on 'Make 'Em Laugh', & writing through heartbreak as it's happening

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 20:21:00 -0000

Benét writes songs while in the eye of life's storms. Because of this, his lyrics are raw & visceral, bringing us right to the core of what he's been feeling. 'Make 'Em Laugh' is no exception - through songs of heartbreak & self-examination, we're taken on a journey of healing, & just plain trying to figure life out.

Find Benét on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/05YfgfbZtY7XRjc7So1DGB?si=FYz7irNwQVChvixvbAdJrg

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/ben%C3%A9t/56685750

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benantics/?hl=en

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@benantics

Subscribe: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Sign up for our newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.beforethechorus.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@beforethechoruspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@soundslikesofia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

About the podcast: Welcome to Before the Chorus, where we go beyond the sounds of our favourite songs to hear the stories of the artists who wrote them.

Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT.

This is a space where fans connect with artists, and listeners from all walks of life feel seen through the stories that shape the music we love.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Daisy The Great on 'The Rubber Teeth Talk' & making songs out of dreams

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 21:28:00 -0000

Daisy The Great's 'The Rubber Teeth Talk' takes us on a winding road through dream states. Amongst these dreams, real questions occur: "Have I accomplished enough?" "Am I behind?" "Will everything be okay in the end?" Dreams, as they often do, become a vessel for processing reality. In this interview, we talk about the band's weirdest recurring dreams, & trusting the path they take you down.

Find Daisy The Great on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0SrIPejckovMwhrN3MZFPB?si=oo3x1isKSbKKxv0kJ4nXNg

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/daisy-the-great/1249883179

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daisythegreatband/?hl=en

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@daisythegreat?lang=en

Subscribe: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Sign up for our newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.beforethechorus.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@beforethechoruspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@soundslikesofia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

About the podcast: Welcome to Before the Chorus, where we go beyond the sounds of our favourite songs to hear the stories of the artists who wrote them.

Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT.

This is a space where fans connect with artists, and listeners from all walks of life feel seen through the stories that shape the music we love.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MRCY on 'VOLUME 2', the spirituality of soul, & dancing through darkness

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 20:27:00 -0000

MRCY's ' VOLUME 2' is a celebration of life that never gets preachy. Rooted in soul music, it sanctifies the human experience in all of its good & bad. In this interview, we speak about the power of soul, life's unanswered questions, & so much more.

Find MRCY on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4fHvJqxNjCIVcJekRTHoVh?si=G2OdpBw0R5SzqHZfIXNlEw

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/pl/artist/mrcy/1725388761

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrcy.mrcy.mrcy/?hl=en

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mrcy.mrcy.mrcy.mrcy?lang=fr

Subscribe: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen⁠⁠⁠⁠

Sign up for our newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.beforethechorus.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@beforethechoruspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠@soundslikesofia⁠⁠⁠⁠

About the podcast: Welcome to Before the Chorus, where we go beyond the sounds of our favourite songs to hear the stories of the artists who wrote them.

Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT.

This is a space where fans connect with artists, and listeners from all walks of life feel seen through the stories that shape the music we love.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Adam Melchor on 'The Diary of Living' & finding optimism in upheaval

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 07:00:00 -0000

Adam Melchor's latest album, 'The Diary of Living', balances honesty with levity. He talks about friends who passed away too young, missed connections, & trying to find meaning among all of it. In the end, the record encourages us to forgive ourselves & live life to the fullest

Find Adam on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/54tv11ndFfiqXiR03PwdlB?si=a27HBHw2TEKL4JMcd50GGA

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/adam-melchor/849341905

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adammelchor/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adammelchor?lang=en

Subscribe: ⁠⁠⁠https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen⁠⁠⁠

Sign up for our newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.beforethechorus.com/⁠⁠⁠

Follow on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@beforethechoruspodcast⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠@soundslikesofia⁠⁠⁠

About the podcast: Welcome to Before the Chorus, where we go beyond the sounds of our favourite songs to hear the stories of the artists who wrote them.

Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT.

This is a space where fans connect with artists, and listeners from all walks of life feel seen through the stories that shape the music we love.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rose Betts on 'There Is No Ship', looking to the past & running towards adventure

Mon, 19 May 2025 07:00:00 -0000

On 'There Is No Ship', Rose Betts uses her Irish heritage as a vehicle for storytelling. It documents the life of an artist in her thirties: what it means to choose a different path than your peers, moving countries, the vices we use to escape our troubles, even modern dating.

Find Rose on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3DYAP9CXyfNiM2nlu09w4i?si=tcNDgED0Rb-5mO4uS27dUg

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/rose-betts/421094349

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rosebettsmusic/?hl=en

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rosebettsmusic?lang=en

Subscribe: ⁠⁠https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen⁠⁠

Sign up for our newsletter: ⁠⁠https://www.beforethechorus.com/⁠⁠

Follow on Instagram: ⁠⁠@beforethechoruspodcast⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠@soundslikesofia⁠⁠

About the podcast: Welcome to Before the Chorus, where we go beyond the sounds of our favourite songs to hear the stories of the artists who wrote them.

Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT.

This is a space where fans connect with artists, and listeners from all walks of life feel seen through the stories that shape the music we love.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alisa Xayalith on 'Slow Crush', the power of healthy love, & finding her own creative voice

Mon, 12 May 2025 19:01:00 -0000

On 'Slow Crush', her debut LP, Alisa Xayalith takes us through a scrapbook of love stories. Some are about infatuation, toxic relationships & heartbreak. Others are about the kind of love that makes you feel seen & wholeheartedly loved. And after yers of being in a band, Alisa finally gets to tell these stories herself.

Find Alisa on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6yI9BJNdoOE6vjbZGoGyGz?si=oEvP7NJUS6Oopc58PADK4A

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/alisa-xayalith/278307610

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alisaxayalith/?hl=en

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alisaxayalith?lang=en

Subscribe: ⁠https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen⁠

Sign up for our newsletter: ⁠https://www.beforethechorus.com/⁠

Follow on Instagram: ⁠@beforethechoruspodcast⁠ & ⁠@soundslikesofia⁠

About the podcast: Welcome to Before the Chorus, where we go beyond the sounds of our favourite songs to hear the stories of the artists who wrote them.

Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT.

This is a space where fans connect with artists, and listeners from all walks of life feel seen through the stories that shape the music we love.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Motherhood - Five artists on the often-overlooked parts of pregnancy & motherhood, & putting those stories to music

Mon, 05 May 2025 21:13:00 -0000

Despite being an often-overlooked topic in music, motherhood has come up in several of my interviews, & has served as inspiration for several albums. Though I’m not a mother myself, these women’s diverse stories have been so inspiring to me - they challenge tropes of motherhood, & get honest about its high & lows.

Artists featured: Yukimi, Wet, Niambi, The Big Moon, Lady Wray

Subscribe: ⁠https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen⁠

Sign up for our newsletter: ⁠https://www.beforethechorus.com/⁠

Follow on Instagram: ⁠@beforethechoruspodcast⁠ & ⁠@soundslikesofia⁠

About the podcast: Welcome to Before the Chorus, where we go beyond the sounds of our favourite songs to hear the stories of the artists who wrote them.

Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT.

This is a space where fans connect with artists, and listeners from all walks of life feel seen through the stories that shape the music we love.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

RE-ISSUE: Julien Baker on ‘Little Oblivions’, relapse, sobriety, & not externalizing God

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 07:00:00 -0000

It’s been a busy spring for Julien Baker: she just released a collaborative album with Torres, ‘Send A Prayer My Way’ & announced her relationship with boygenius bandmate Lucy Dacus. Given all that, it seemed like a great time to re-issue my conversation with her from back in 2021. We talked about her last solo record, ‘Little Oblivions’, OCD, addiction & relapse, spirituality, & tons more. Her honesty throughout this conversation is why it remains one of my favourite interviews I’ve done, & one that has also resonated with a lot of you.

Find Julien on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/12zbUHbPHL5DGuJtiUfsip?si=9noprhXZSzCOHZ5TDEtEZw

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/vg/artist/julien-baker/1033453223

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julienrbaker/?hl=en

Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen

Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/

Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia

About the podcast: Welcome to Before the Chorus, where we go beyond the sounds of our favourite songs to hear the stories of the artists who wrote them.

Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT.

This is a space where fans connect with artists, and listeners from all walks of life feel seen through the stories that shape the music we love.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wet on ‘Two Lives’, anticipating motherhood, & singing from the subconscious

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 07:00:00 -0000

The writing process of ‘Two Lives’ began right as Kelly Zutrau, aka Wet, discovered that she was pregnant. As she processed the news, she let her subconscious to the talking, not filtering or polishing the words she found herself singing. Because of this, ‘Two Lives’ is an incredibly cerebral, raw record that demands to be felt, not just heard.

Find Wet on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2i9uaNzfUtuApAjEf1omV8?si=e9e6eZmYSEqz2SvMTvhCGg

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/wet/128746835

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wet/?hl=en

Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen

Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/

Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia

About the podcast: Welcome to Before the Chorus, where we go beyond the sounds of our favourite songs to hear the stories of the artists who wrote them.

Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT.

This is a space where fans connect with artists, and listeners from all walks of life feel seen through the stories that shape the music we love.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SYML on 'Nobody Lives Here', life's transient nature & loving yourself through it

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 07:00:00 -0000

On 'Nobody Lives Here', SYML sings about the transience of life with solemn acceptance. Things end, and we have to pick up and begin again. But the album also reminds us: even through endings, we can learn to love ourselves again.

Be sure to listen to 'Nobody Lives Here' wherever you stream or buy your music!

Find SYML on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6AyATGg7mDgBlZ4N5uNog0?si=5cWG2ERLQKOoSIyKbIAfjg

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/syml/1078016819

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/symlmusic/?hl=en

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@syml?lang=en

Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen

Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/

Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia

About the podcast: Welcome to Before the Chorus, where we go beyond the sounds of our favourite songs to hear the stories of the artists who wrote them.

Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT.

This is a space where fans connect with artists, and listeners from all walks of life feel seen through the stories that shape the music we love.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yukimi on 'For You', feeling your feelings, & imagining better futures as a first step towards change

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 20:57:00 -0000

Yukimi Nagano, long known as the frontperson of Little Dragon, came on the podcast to discuss her debut solo album 'For You'. The album is a beacon of both hope and acceptance, reminding us to hold onto our inner light, but that needing a good cry is okay too.

Be sure to listen to 'For You' wherever you stream or buy your music!

Find Yukimi on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/5J4McIA9reqqfM5nopbWHC?si=qCdHxQlQTG68KcV6EOd8Sw

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/yukimi/1768967173

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yukimiforyou/?hl=en

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yukimiforyou

Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen

Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/

Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia

About the podcast: Welcome to Before the Chorus, where we go beyond the sounds of our favourite songs to hear the stories of the artists who wrote them.

Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT.

This is a space where fans connect with artists, and listeners from all walks of life feel seen through the stories that shape the music we love.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

About You on 'The Lighthouse, The Storm', a debut record six years in the making, & sharing different people's stories, including his own

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 19:37:00 -0000

About You's 'The Lighthouse, The Storm' is an album of stories. Some were sent to him by friends, fans & strangers. Others are his own. In all of them, we get a vivid glimpse into deep human emotions, & the universal experience of longing for connection.

Be sure to listen to 'The Lighthouse, The Storm' when it comes out this summer!

Find About You on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7sOJEMeZc3dgr8JIFtXyYW?si=1GyoAK7GTMK5mjfLCm3abQ

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/about-you/1440552573

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abandaboutyou/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@abandaboutyou

Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen

Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/

Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia

About the podcast: Welcome to Before the Chorus, where we go beyond the sounds of our favourite songs to hear the stories of the artists who wrote them.

Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT.

This is a space where fans connect with artists, and listeners from all walks of life feel seen through the stories that shape the music we love.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TOKiMONSTA on 'Eternal Reverie', finding her love of music again & honouring her friend after their passing

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 07:00:00 -0000

'Eternal Reverie''s is the fruit of TOKiMONSTA changing her creative process & healing from burnout. Its 14 tracks are both a journal of joy & of grief; they serve as a tribute to her best friend, who passed away from cancer last year, & who, in many ways, is woven into them.

Be sure to listen to 'Eternal Reverie' wherever you stream or buy your music!

Find TOKiMONSTA on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3VwKSHAfgzV1DOHV0aANCI

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/tokimonsta/363141093

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokimonsta/?hl=en

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tiktokimonsta?lang=en

Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen

Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/

Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia

About the podcast: Welcome to Before the Chorus, where we go beyond the sounds of our favourite songs to hear the stories of the artists who wrote them.

Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT.

This is a space where fans connect with artists, and listeners from all walks of life feel seen through the stories that shape the music we love.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Divorce on ‘Drive to Goldenhammer’, earnestness in songwriting, & finding comfort on the road

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 07:00:00 -0000

Divorce blend the earnestness of country & folk with off-kilter headiness of indie rock. On their debut record 'Drive to Goldenhammer', they reflect on life on the road, long-distance relationships, queer identity, & the ways we care for others.

Be sure to listen to 'Drive to Goldenhammer' wherever you stream or buy your music!

Find Divorce on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0YMVzWF9HWGbV4DZHfCyKo?si=Uu14n-51Q_GZdZUJs48fhg

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/divorce/1608076649

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/divorcehq/?hl=en

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@divorcehq

Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen

Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/

Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia

About the podcast: Welcome to Before the Chorus, where we go beyond the sounds of our favourite songs to hear the stories of the artists who wrote them.

Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT.

This is a space where fans connect with artists, and listeners from all walks of life feel seen through the stories that shape the music we love.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

RE-ISSUE: Self Esteem on relationship & band breakups, queerness, & finding freedom in pop music

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 23:21:00 -0000

With her third album, 'A Complicated Woman', coming out next month, I wanted to revisit my first interview with Self Esteem from 2020. It was pretty clear from the get-go that she was going to bulldoze the rules of pop, & she has - her unfiltered lyrics about female pleasure, queerness, heartbreak & more have garnered her a large & loyal fanbase, both in the UK & internationally. She has also been nominated for a Mercury Prize, appeared as a guest judge on RuPaul's Drag Race UK, & has starred in the West End production of Cabaret.

Find Self Esteem on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3K9muOlJVKLgH4SIwwZiDe?si=GenvtJtPSiS82WjV5ZgnZA

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/self-esteem/268679963

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/selfesteemselfesteem/?hl=en

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@selfesteemselfesteem69?lang=en

Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen

Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/

Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia

About the podcast: Welcome to Before the Chorus, where we go beyond the sounds of our favourite songs to hear the stories of the artists who wrote them.

Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT.

This is a space where fans connect with artists, and listeners from all walks of life feel seen through the stories that shape the music we love.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The February 2025 Recap: Sofia shares the music & the moments

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 22:34:00 -0000

Sofia takes you through her month in the Los Angeles music scene, concert highlights, emerging artists & more.

Events & Artists mentioned:

Fine Folk: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6rVpawKdyzxZh9ZAPJbamg?si=7kna4es1S6u6R0fiCM_j7A

Rocko Wheeler: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2XOBzOx1k7DYB42TzHWT9Z?si=7lgx9dxPSJ-FQrBVmHPEog

Andrew Bird: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4uSftVc3FPWe6RJuMZNEe9?si=5ShOHQOSQfix9SPHdt2oaw

About You: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7sOJEMeZc3dgr8JIFtXyYW?si=aQrrbCF9TIaCGxG2Nhbd9w

Trousdale: https://open.spotify.com/artist/26DvqLYszG0oIOeelTF5kE?si=2I4LgIepSzWRGJhjCu5TWA

Jazzie Young: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6aGh6CzEE3wUrHIPkMLSPY?si=xoZD-_cMRm6pNgcLsQp9HQ

Plus, check out previous episodes featuring artists that I saw perform this past month:

Nik Ewing aka Chewing: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6uHDS94KuOaP9B7unHzFlS?si=9253947a42894d87

Miya Folick: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0EYU8E6CVjGA4iqjEHhi7X?si=d3cade623d1f44c0

Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen

Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/

Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia

About the podcast: Welcome to Before the Chorus, where we go beyond the sounds of our favourite songs to hear the stories of the artists who wrote them.

Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT.

This is a space where fans connect with artists, and listeners from all walks of life feel seen through the stories that shape the music we love.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michi on 'Dirty Talk', embracing the "messiness & dirtiness of life", & standing in your own light

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 08:00:00 -0000

Michi's debut LP 'Dirty Talk' is all about healing from past relationships, giving both yourself & former partners grace, & getting agency back. Most importantly, it reminds that this process is imperfect.

Be sure to listen to 'Dirty Talk', out February 28th 2025, wherever you stream or buy your music!

Find Michi on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3Wpco0QNxrTY1Gnqo06J6P?si=0A9mRdUUTnyYM_HIqgL1Jg

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/michi/1461424518

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michiguerrero/?hl=en

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@michi?lang=en

Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen

Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/

Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia

About the podcast: Welcome to Before the Chorus, where we go beyond the sounds of our favourite songs to hear the stories of the artists who wrote them.

Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT.

This is a space where fans connect with artists, and listeners from all walks of life feel seen through the stories that shape the music we love.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michigander on 'Michigander', experiencing anxiety in his thirties & not wanting to be a person who resists change

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 21:07:00 -0000

On his debut, self-titled record, Michigander runs through a gamut of questions. It reckons with the existential qualms around turning 30, how to let the people we love be imperfect, & speaking up for what you believe in, regardless of who it might alienate.

Be sure to listen to 'Michigander' wherever you stream or buy your music!

Find Michigander on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0oL26Dn9y761yfJgNb3vfu

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/michigander/1096482927

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michiganderband/?hl=en

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@michiganderband?lang=en

Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen

Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/

Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia

About the podcast: Welcome to Before the Chorus, where we go beyond the sounds of our favourite songs to hear the stories of the artists who wrote them.

Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT.

This is a space where fans connect with artists, and listeners from all walks of life feel seen through the stories that shape the music we love.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nilüfer Yanya on 'My Method Actor', whether art has to be authentic to be valid, & listening to your inner guide

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 19:45:00 -0000

Nilüfer Yanya's 'My Method Actor' gets existential over angular grooves. Each song asks a multitude of questions, often using the concept of method acting as a lens to explore them. We discuss the connections between reality & art, setting new boundaries, & learning to trust your inner voice.

Be sure to listen to 'My Method Actor' wherever you stream or buy your music! And get tickets for her US tour HERE: https://www.victoriacanal.com/tour

Find Nilüfer on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/09kXLeOXRyfNQMXRaDO4qA?si=__qS6h2KQF-yg_E6NRZKdw

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/nil%C3%BCfer-yanya/1102497241

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/niluferyanyaaaaaa/?hl=en

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@niluferyanya

Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen

Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/

Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia

About the podcast: Welcome to Before the Chorus, where we go beyond the sounds of our favourite songs to hear the stories of the artists who wrote them.

Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT.

This is a space where fans connect with artists, and listeners from all walks of life feel seen through the stories that shape the music we love.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The January 2025 Recap: Sofia shares the music & the moments that got her through the month

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 23:47:00 -0000

It's no secret that January 2025 has been rough for Los Angeles (And the US as a whole), but there were a few good moments that kept me going. I'm sharing a few of them here!

Events & Artists mentioned:

Open Folk LA: https://www.instagram.com/openfolkla/?hl=en

Gilbert Louie Ray: https://open.spotify.com/artist/26UBas4xYeXIco2bWX3Xb5

Plus, check out previous episodes featuring artists that I saw perform this past month:

Madison Cunningham: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3dY5etz8Mp73ooo4c4I4qO?si=22004214124f4bd3

Winnetka Bowling League: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Dgnoek8QWBgdoGjzhn1gw?si=62ddf08acfbb49e2

Local Natives: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2ujVUEFG8Shms8alRCJ0oK?si=fdefe2321aa446c5

Georgia Parker: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Yu9r0RkB3MPhbUUqqkhCO?si=154440c94c3e4223

Merrick Winter: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1hQS99isWv0Ksx5oY25cGE?si=fb1ee946d9864639

Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen

Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/

Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia

About the podcast: Welcome to Before the Chorus, where we go beyond the sounds of our favourite songs to hear the stories of the artists who wrote them.

Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT.

This is a space where fans connect with artists, and listeners from all walks of life feel seen through the stories that shape the music we love.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Victoria Canal on ‘Slowly, It Dawns’, the poison of validation, & unraveling in your twenties

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 21:01:00 -0000

Victoria Canal’s debut record ‘Slowly, It Dawns’ is a tale of unraveling in your twenties. Moving from stories of puppy love to existential spirals, it lets us sit with the early adulthood’s turbulence.

Be sure to listen to 'Slowly, It Dawns' wherever you stream or buy your music! And get tickets for her US tour HERE: https://www.victoriacanal.com/tour

Find Victoria on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2nE9x2JhbyjBVCaSnUGX3G?si=nmCJIGN_RJOWXbIk6DEcYg

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/victoria-canal/842683412

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victoriacanal/?hl=en

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@victoriacanal?lang=en

Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen

Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/

Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia

About the podcast: Welcome to Before the Chorus, where we go beyond the sounds of our favourite songs to hear the stories of the artists who wrote them.

Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT.

This is a space where fans connect with artists, and listeners from all walks of life feel seen through the stories that shape the music we love.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Niambi on 'Taboo', challenging tropes about motherhood, womanhood, & more

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 20:53:00 -0000

On 'Taboo', Niambi (who you may know as one half of the duo OSHUN) asks the uncomfortable questions out loud. She challenges our society's rigid views of motherhood, womanhood, relationships, friendships, & so much more. The EP forces us to look within ourselves &, just maybe, break free from convention.

Be sure to listen to 'Taboo', wherever you stream or buy your music!

Find Niambi on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/18VjYL567PiS4rphPwzWA6?si=7daKauvLQJSKmlmcnqOMVQ

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/au/artist/niambi/1729656842

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/niambi/?hl=en

Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen

Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/

Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia

About the podcast: Welcome to Before the Chorus, where we go beyond the sounds of our favorite songs to hear the stories of the artists who wrote them.

Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT.

This is a space where fans connect with artists, and listeners from all walks of life feel seen through the stories that shape the music we love.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mon Rovîa on 'Act 4: Atonement', the crooked road of healing, & combatting apathy

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 08:00:00 -0000

On the final EP of a four-part set, 'Act Four: Atonement', Mon Rovîa is atoning, letting go & finding footing. He describes the four EPs as a hero's journey of sorts. This last chapter reminds us that love truly is our greatest healer, a salve for guilt, apathy & trauma.

Be sure to listen to 'Act 4: Atonement', wherever you stream or buy your music!

Find Mon Rovîa on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6pvai2QB2c0defVI0UTFos?si=qX3d1QdNQQiudglD8Q3iXg

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/lk/artist/mon-rov%C3%AEa/1313944611

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monroviaboy/?hl=en

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mon_rovia_boy?lang=en

Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen

Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/

Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sofia Shares the Albums She's Excited for in 2025

Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Over a four-part episode series, Sofia will be looking back on the music & memories of 2024, & looking forward to what 2025 has in store. On this episode, Sofia's shares the albums she's excited for in 2025.

Albums mentioned:

Ethel Cain - Perverts (Jan 8)

Mon Rovia - Act 4: Atonement EP (Jan 10)

Victoria Canal - Slowly, It Dawns (Jan 17)

FKA twigs - EUSEXUA (Jan 24)

The Weeknd - Hurry Up Tomorrow (Jan 24)

Michigander - Michigander (Feb 7)

Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory - Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory (Feb 7)

Sam Fender - People Watching (Feb 21)

Sports Team - Boys These Days (Feb 28)

Divorce - Drive to Goldenhammer (March 7)

SASAMI - Blood On the Silver Screen (March 7)

Japanese Breakfast - rumoured, TBA

Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen

Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/

Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sofia Shares Her Artists To Watch in 2025

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Over a four-part episode series, Sofia will be looking back on the music & memories of 2024, & looking forward to what 2025 has in store. On this episode, we turn our eyes to the new year with Sofia's Artists To Watch In 2025.

Links to artists mentioned:

Tin Angel

Apple: https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/tin-angel/1765244022

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7L3LoOLdiZ6RM4NEsH84nJ?si=BnRYMmJPQFCP9fEytA2-SA

Divorce

Apple: https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/divorce/1608076649

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0YMVzWF9HWGbV4DZHfCyKo?si=-1Be9tpBTte-HcvCiYTpCA

Tiffany Stringer

Apple: https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/tiffany-stringer/559628818

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6Dv6bV7bzZSCAX0E0qLw7u?si=OiXPxzUQTEug0q0uGBrkiA

Carly Bannister

Apple: https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/carly-bannister/523756644

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5GoLHATtGcyqwnLMmDRnch?si=KJ8gr0eXQDuP4EwCmXOBkw

Mon Rovîa

Apple: https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/mon-rov%C3%AEa/1313944611

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6pvai2QB2c0defVI0UTFos?si=5BVj5QC6RKaCsMwNulLwxg

Faux Real

Apple: https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/faux-real/620513308

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0853SMh8o0PpHpSTDHttsO?si=hi1W76PmTtGPxF-2yMkNSQ

PrettyUgly

Apple: https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/prettyugly/1711117807

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0E8A04ZukBqS3V5J8sKvPU?si=z-MEvc9xStWyN6A9HFzRsg

Adult DVD

Apple: https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/adult-dvd/1550456447

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1lT3vDbjqz299SxePec6ZG?si=PMOfOoJRTGqqGbdFRyN-AA

Lawrence Matthews

Apple: https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/lawrence-matthews/1688058288

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6Ow6yFUJ7YmITlMbdMUNTE?si=EpNTXR7aRUSnbYDZ_jkiSg

Jackson Singleton

Apple: https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/jackson-singleton/882868774

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2vwALZue2IavoUzzLKo7Rc?si=wQNvBpYkQKecIL8fqHo3Vg

Juliana Zachariou

Apple: https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/julianna-zachariou/528528813

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3MKLoCXEXufW2ldiQtUokO?si=eOJGSgFRSAGYadRA_sHn8w

Dafna

Apple: https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/dafna/1450666890

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6FR2ARlfDqNU7BMBaWjGZP?si=5CPZWyGkQX2V-hT8v75K1w

Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen

Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/

Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Local Natives on 'Time Will Wait For No One But I'll Wait For You' & the unwavering brotherhood of the five original band members

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 21:14:00 -0000

Local Natives have been on this podcast many times, & it is an honour to have them as the final guests of 2024. This is also a pivotal time for them: they have just released their final album with founding member Kelcey Ayer. We discuss the double (nay, triple) record, the unchanging love between the original five members, & supporting each other not just as bandmates, but as brothers.

Be sure to listen to 'Time Will Wait For No One But I'll Wait For You', wherever you stream or buy your music!

Find Local Natives on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/75dQReiBOHN37fQgWQrIAJ

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/local-natives/321144825

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/localnatives/?hl=en

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@localnatives

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Sofia Shares Her Favourite Music Memories From 2024

Sat, 14 Dec 2024 20:44:00 -0000

Over a four-part episode series, Sofia will be looking back on the music & memories of 2024, & looking forward to what 2025 has in store. On this episode, she shares her favourite music memories from the past year.

Links to events & artists mentioned:

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Sofia Shares Her Top 10 Albums of 2024

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 22:56:00 -0000

Over a four-part episode series, Sofia will be looking back on the music & memories of 2024, & looking forward to what 2025 has in store. On this episode, she shares her eclectic AoTY list, & tells you why you should be listening to these incredible albums.

Links to albums:

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Georgia Parker on 'Same Time Tomorrow', & writing songs people can relate to whether they want to or not

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 20:51:00 -0000

Georgia Parker's debut record 'Same Time Tomorrow' examines relationships gained & lost with honesty - even when it's uncomfortable. In our conversation, she reflects on learning to speak up for herself, her love of nuance, & not letting a sad song shy away from truth.

Be sure to listen to 'Same Time Tomorrow', wherever you stream or buy your music!

Find Georgia on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4OGodtGAXXUvXC4mmJzZNf

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/georgia-parker/1281309148

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/georgiaparkermusic/?hl=en

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Lucky Kilmartin on 'Borders, Baby', moving forwards & finding solace in positive writing

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 20:54:00 -0000

Lucky Kilmartin's debut record 'Borders, Baby' is an ode to letting go & letting in. It's also a love letter to the people that he cares for most: his friends, his partner & his father.

Be sure to listen to 'Borders, Baby', wherever you stream or buy your music!

Find Lucky on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2uWg345joqNfcay4l13YoN

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/lucky-kilmartin/1701896108

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lucky.kilmartin/?hl=en

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Jonah Yano on 'Jonah Yano & the Heavy Loop' & looking for a sense of belonging

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:57:00 -0000

Jonah Yano & the Heavy Loop is is a reflection on Jonah's most recent experiences. But even with its stream of consciousness-style writing, when we look closer, themes like desire, assimilation, & a need to belong emerge.

Be sure to listen to 'Jonah Yano & the Heavy Loop', wherever you stream or buy your music!

Find Jonah on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4Js9qeA7KMFyjBYHEjFaeJ

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/jonah-yano/1237016701

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Jake Isaac on 'BENJAMIN', & music that is "raw, real & warm"

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 20:02:00 -0000

Jake Isaac's new record BENJAMIN takes us through all of life's highs & lows. From both celebrating & questioning one's faith, to sharing the stories of his Caribbean immigrant ancestors, Jake invites us into his world with open arms.

Be sure to listen to 'BENJAMIN', wherever you stream or buy your music!

Find Jake on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6q94KewnCnut4Ta36dCoaB

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/hu/artist/jake-isaac/398900314

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100TH EPISODE - Spencer Sutherland on 'The Drama' & the power of a little delusion

Mon, 21 Oct 2024 07:00:00 -0000

Spencer Sutherland's sophomore album, The Drama, is a rock opera centred around the highs and lows of the fame game. For the 100th episode of this podcast, Spencer & I spoke about ego deaths, the art of high camp, and the fact that, sometimes, a little bit of delusion is healthy.

Be sure to listen to 'The Drama', wherever you stream or buy your music!

Find Spencer on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6mjz3NMhNE5SK7GsbJIg6C

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/md/artist/spencer-sutherland/769508624

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spencermusic/?hl=en

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@spencermusic?lang=en

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Ep. 99: St. Lundi on 'The Island' & learning to love home again

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 13:48:00 -0000

St. Lundi's debut album 'The Island' celebrates both the artist's journey away from home, & the home that was left behind. It recognizes that we can honour the place that we came from & the people that we love, while still pursuing our own path.

Be sure to listen to 'The Island', wherever you stream or buy your music!

Find St. Lundi on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3i94wxAKQqlJyiPLDmjNdH

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/st-lundi/1498668369

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/st.lundi/?hl=en

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Ep. 98: MICHELLE on 'Songs About You Specifically' & creating space for each others' stories

Mon, 07 Oct 2024 19:23:00 -0000

MICHELLE's infectious brand of pop yearning is in full force on 'Songs About You Specifically', but comes with a slight change to their process: the bulk of the record was written in Ojai, California instead of their hometown of New York City. We spoke about songwriting as a discipline, holding space for others to tell their stories, & so much more.

Be sure to listen to 'Songs About You Specifically', wherever you stream or buy your music!

Find MICHELLE on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4yYvor6Rq4fG82J1L47DYp

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/michelle/465052514

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearemichelle/?hl=en

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wearemichelle?lang=en

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Ep. 97: Nina Nesbitt on 'Mountain Music' & learning to tell the stories only she can tell

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 20:48:00 -0000

I spoke with Nina Nesbitt about her latest record 'Mountain Music', which is all about re-connecting with home. We often look forward to leaving home when we're young, but later come to cherish it. Nina explores this journey on 'Mountain Music', & much more.

Be sure to listen to 'Mountain Music', wherever you stream or buy your music!

Find Nina on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7AzjETXRUKNRSJHMW9GIqd

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/nina-nesbitt/484254148

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ninanesbitt/?hl=en

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ninanesbitt?lang=en

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Ep. 96: Lutalo on 'The Academy' & not hiding the messy parts of life in their songwriting

Mon, 23 Sep 2024 21:54:00 -0000

I spoke with Lutalo about their new record The Academy, which chronicles the artists early life in Vermont. They detail their many experiences, life lessons, & the points of view they adopted from them. The resulting record is an unvarnished look at race, class, oppressive systems in the United States, & more.

Be sure to listen to 'The Academy', wherever you stream or buy your music!

Find Lutalo on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0gSmzBSSMT1yJanwTK16Ln

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/lutalo/1432180470

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lutalojones/?hl=en

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@.lutalo?lang=en

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Ep. 95: Chewing on 'Songs For Linnéa' & making a sonic scrapbook of his daughter's infancy

Mon, 16 Sep 2024 21:47:00 -0000

Chewing, aka Local Natives' Nik Ewing, wanted to create a sonic scrapbook of sorts for his daughter Linnéa. When she was an infant, he would hold her in one arm, & play the piano with the other. The improvised melodies soon became full songs, & those songs in turn became an album: Songs For Linnéa. Our conversation covers everything from childhood music memories & bonding with one's own children, to finding acceptance in turbulent times.

Be sure to listen to 'Songs For Linnéa', wherever you stream or buy your music!

Find Chewing on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/23uUTeYuVFOEVK9VfN8kTl

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/chewing/1446479994

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikchewing/?hl=en

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nikchewing

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Ep. 94: Winnetka Bowling League on 'Sha La La', "This Is Life", & the balance between nostalgia & honest retrospection

Mon, 09 Sep 2024 17:43:00 -0000

I spoke with Matthew Koma of Winnetka Bowling League, on the heels of their first LP 'Sha La La' & the standalone single "This Is Life", featuring Medium Build & Dawes. Both the album & the single share a healthy mix of nostalgia & unfiltered honesty - two things that are rarely seen together. But that's what makes Winnetka Bowling League great: they remind us that we can long for the simplicity of youth, while also recognizing the flaws of the past.

Be sure to listen to 'Sha La La' & "This Is Life" feat. Dawes & Medium Build, wherever you stream or buy your music!

Find Winnetka Bowling League on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4ug3P1K8BaCdJXROrqHqhu?si=ZUexk5iiQIyLSgthFJMkNw

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/winnetka-bowling-league/1421521203

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/winnetkabowlingleague/?hl=en

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@winnetkabowlingleague?lang=en

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Ep. 93: Paris Paloma on 'Cacophony', "Labour", & a hero's journey through trauma, sisterhood, & healing

Mon, 02 Sep 2024 19:39:00 -0000

Paris Paloma's debut record, "Cacophony", is a 15-song hero's journey. It puts into question the patriarchal structures that hold women down, & proves that we can rebuild ourselves without them. Paris & I spoke over Zoom, discussing the themes that resonated with so many people on her viral single 'labour', sisterhood, & finding peace after trauma.

Be sure to listen to 'Cacophony', wherever you stream or buy your music!

Find Paris on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2EXpthNgSeTDeX8nGwxppp

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/paris-paloma/1530898376

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parispaloma/?hl=en

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@parispalomaofficial?lang=en

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The July Recap!

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 21:58:00 -0000

It's time for another one-on-one catchup! Sofia looks back on July's music news & personal highlights.

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Ep. 92: James McVey on 'Letters Home', re-connecting with his younger self & cherishing the little things

Tue, 23 Jul 2024 22:34:00 -0000

'Letters Home', the latest solo EP from The Vamps' James McVey, came together on the road. As him & his friends/ collaborators sat on the tour bus, they wrote about the people they'd left behind, childhood memories, mental health, & more.

Be sure to listen to 'Letters Home', wherever you stream or buy your music!

Find James on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1LXsEmvNi2vdi1oOfVTK3r?si=WTkXLMZzSPWwsuBeJNqEaw

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/james-mcvey/311903088

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesmcvey/profilecard/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jamesmcvey

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Ep. 91: Donovan Woods on 'Things Were Never Good If They're Not Good Now' & learning to stop hiding behind an image of perfection

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 20:48:00 -0000

I spoke with songwriter & fellow Canadian Donovan Woods about his new record 'Things Were Never Good If They're Not Good Now'. On the album, he is brutally honest - he brings the same level of honesty to our conversation. We discuss the problems with creating an image of 'perfection', opening up to a partner about one's feelings, & the power of saxophones.

Be sure to listen to 'Things Were Never Good If They're Not Good Now', wherever you stream or buy your music!

Find Donovan on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4SOtk3HtPYKqxnVuxNBMti?si=pfib1FPuQjiKLE8GGpWq7A

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/donovan-woods/275859076

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donovanwoods/profilecard/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@donovanwoods?lang=en

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The June Recap!

Wed, 10 Jul 2024 20:55:00 -0000

The Recap episodes are back! Sofia reflects on her favourite record & concerts from June 2024!

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Ep. 90: NEIL FRANCES on 'It's All A Bit Fuzzy', & finding both community & identity on the dancefloor

Mon, 08 Jul 2024 19:44:00 -0000

Jordan Feller and Marc Gilfry, the duo that make up NEIL FRANCES, came by to talk all things 'It's All A Bit Fuzzier', the deluxe edition of last year's 'It's All A Bit Fuzzy'. Our conversation spanned everything from dance floor communities & identity, to yacht rock.

Be sure to listen to ''It's All A Bit Fuzzy'', wherever you stream or buy your music!

Find NEIL FRANCES on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/587PA35pRGL1JwQr6idJbb?si=PjJGSoz1RBmKqrCwLnDAmA

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/neil-frances/1220582680

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neilfrances/?hl=en

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@neil_frances?lang=en

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Ep. 89: Superfan on 'Tow Truck Jesus' & the overlooked universality of trans experiences

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 19:46:00 -0000

Superfan & I hopped on a Zoom call to discuss his debut record 'Tow Truck Jesus' (which has received praise from the likes of Julian Casablancas of The Strokes). The record touches on everything from transitioning & hormone replacement therapy, to navigating new love. And even though this record comes from his unique perspective, he reminds us that its themes are very much universal.

Be sure to listen to 'Tow Truck Jesus', wherever you stream or buy your music!

Find Superfan on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3BO07jDo7Qs7qNLdwRoISM?si=S-KhLxu8QvOtSOLTHM32UQ

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/dk/artist/superfan/1536446529

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaliflanagan/?hl=en

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Ep. 88: Orlando Weeks on 'LOJA' & bearing witness to life's milestones

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 19:56:00 -0000

I interview Orlando Weeks (who you may also know as a member of recently-reunited The Maccabees) about his third full-length album LOJA. The album is an ode to him, his partner & their son's shared new life in Lisbon, & a reflection on their time in London.

Be sure to listen to 'LOJA', wherever you stream or buy your music!

Find Orlando on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5K9Px0eeCuYatmBGFfhSOA?si=TuYruS4qQLWPsRY19oC7jA

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/orlando-weeks/201628833

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orlandoweeks/?hl=en

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Ep. 87: Taylor Sackson on 'You Are Not A Friend' & finally getting to stand up for her younger self

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 19:10:00 -0000

On Taylor Sackson's debut solo EP 'You Are Not A Friend', she finds catharsis in speaking up for herself, calling out toxic behaviour, & healing for her younger self.

Be sure to listen to 'You Are Not A Friend', wherever you stream or buy your music!

Find Taylor on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0J4SgyQe1Mt4U1z855jZEJ?si=G1NPkc4kQTSJw8m9feb2kA

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/taylor-sackson/1473070700

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taylorsackson/profilecard/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@taylorsackson

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Episode 86: Lawrence Matthews

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 21:08:00 -0000

Lawrence Matthews is an artist from Memphis, Tennessee. As he sheds his previous moniker Don Lifted, he is centring on his own story & that of his environment. His first record under his own name, 'Between Mortal Reach And Posthumous Grip', shifts between haunting & celebratory moments, & presents itself with a Southern Gothic drawl.

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Episode 85: Abby Sage

Mon, 03 Jun 2024 07:00:00 -0000

Abby Sage is a Canadian-British artist. On her debut album The Rot, she muses on the cyclical nature of learning & unlearning. The record covers moments from her childhood all the way up to the present day, & embraces both the ugly & the beautiful parts of life.

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Episode 84: Crumb

Mon, 27 May 2024 21:17:00 -0000

Crumb are a band from New York City. On their latest record AMAMA, the band navigate our universal need to feel at home, all while taking us through deliciously strange soundscapes.

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Episode 83: Chandler Leighton

Mon, 20 May 2024 21:46:00 -0000

Chandler Leighton is an artist based in Los Angeles. On 'Proof You Weren't The Only One', she openly examines her own coping mechanisms. The end result is a deeply relatable record, one she hopes will help others heal too.

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Episode 82 - Infinity Song

Mon, 13 May 2024 07:00:00 -0000

Infinity Song are a group of four siblings from New York City. On Metamorphosis, the group celebrate the things that make them unique, & aim to empower others in the process.

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Episode 81: The Staves

Mon, 06 May 2024 19:50:00 -0000

The Staves are a duo from Watford, England. On their latest record All Now, sisters Camilla and Jessica find release in their most anthemic writing yet, learning to let go of indecisiveness, the past, & the fear of speaking up.

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The April Recap!

Wed, 01 May 2024 19:51:36 -0000

Sofia looks back on her favourite memories, releases, & gigs from April 2024!

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Episode 80: X Ambassadors

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 07:00:00 -0000

X Ambassadors are a band with roots in Ithaca, New York. On 'Townie' they set their sights homeward: reflecting on teenage restlessness, leaving for bigger cities, & how home shapes who we are.

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Episode 79: Another Sky

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 07:00:00 -0000

Another Sky are a band based in London, England. Four years after their first time on this podcast, they return to discuss their sophomore album 'Beach Day'. On the record, the band learns to embrace anger & find compassion for our younger selves.

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Episode 78: Griff

Mon, 08 Apr 2024 07:00:00 -0000

Griff is an artist based in the UK. On ver2igo vol. 2, the follow-up to vert1go vol. 1, Griff continues the arc of someone processing an ending. Through the power of her own incredible pop songwriting, she makes these big emotions a little easier to digest... maybe even dance to.

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The March Recap!

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 22:44:36 -0000

Sofia shares her artist highlights from SXSW!

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Episode 77: Empress Of

Mon, 01 Apr 2024 07:00:00 -0000

Empress Of is a Honduran-American artist based in Los Angeles. On 'For Your Consideration', she explores transactional relationships & desire through a raw, unfiltered, & danceable lens.

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Episode 76: Harmless

Tue, 26 Mar 2024 20:06:00 -0000

Harmless is an artist based in Los Angeles. On his latest record 'Springs Eternal', he tells stories of identity & relationships to his younger self. In our conversation, we discuss the benefits & costs of anger, self-deprecation, & rediscovering one's identity after trauma.

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Episode 75: Mick Jenkins

Tue, 19 Mar 2024 19:55:00 -0000

Mick Jenkins is a rapper from Chicago by way of Alabama. On his latest album The Patience, Mick grounds himself in his craft & the support of his day-ones. We spoke about the Deluxe Edition of the album, which includes two new songs: "2011" & "Perm".

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Episode 74: Jamila Woods

Mon, 11 Mar 2024 07:00:00 -0000

Jamila Woods is an artist from Chicago, Illinois. On Water Made Us, Jamila dives into the phases of love & heartbreak, exploring the habits & cycles that shape them. It's a refreshing, emotionally intelligent take on the endlessly-explored topic, & we unpack it further in this interview.

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The February Recap!

Mon, 04 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Sofia looks back on the highlights of February 2024, including her top new music releases, gig, & more!

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Bonus Episode 1: Name 3 Songs

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Sofia is joined by Sara Feigin & Jenna Million, hosts of Name 3 Songs for a chance to talk shop! The conversation covers everything from reclaiming the word 'fangirl', to swapping interview notes, our local music scenes & much more.

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Episode 73: Red Rum Club

Mon, 26 Feb 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Red Rum Club are a band from Liverpool, UK. For their new album Western Approaches, they were inspired by the docks in their hometown where ships once came in from the Atlantic. It became a parallel for their own travels to America, & the home that they missed while they were gone. The record spans many topics, but ultimately finds the band centring on the things & the people that matter most.

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Episode 72: ĠENN

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 08:00:00 -0000

ĠENN are a Maltese-British band based in Brighton, UK. On their debut album 'unum', the band search for oneness, detouring through French existentialism, Greek mythology, & presentations of identity on the way.

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Episode 71: Spiritune

Mon, 12 Feb 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Spiritune is a mobile application that uses music to help alter you mental state. With a team of music therapists & composers, founder Jamie Pabst built the app to help people improve their mental wellbeing. I spoke to her & composer Diego Rodoni about their work, & the transformative power of music.

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The January 2024 Recap!

Mon, 05 Feb 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Sofia looks back on the first month of year, sharing her favourite new releases AND some of yours!

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Episode 70: Black Honey

Mon, 29 Jan 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Black Honey are an indie rock band from Brighton, UK. On their 2023 LP 'A Fistful of Peaches', as well as on their latest single "Lemonade", the band sits in a space of radical honesty; both the record & standalone single are about accepting exactly where one is at, no mater what that looks like. Together, they form a love letter to the weirdos, the outcasts, & the kids that needed someone to listen.

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Episode 69: Vacations

Mon, 22 Jan 2024 08:00:00 -0000

Vacations are a band from New South Wales in Australia. Within the last couple of years, frontman Campbell Burns was diagnosed with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, better known as OCD. On the band's latest album No Place Like Home, Campbell sings about learning to cope with OCD, big life changes, love as a touring musician, & more.

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Sofia Shares Her Album Tips For 2024

Wed, 27 Dec 2023 08:00:00 -0000

In this 4-episode series, Sofia looks back at the music that moved her this year, & looks forward to 2024. Up third: albums to watch our for in 2024.

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Sofia Shares Her Artists To Watch In 2024

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 17:16:00 -0000

In this 4-episode series, Sofia looks back at the music that moved her this year, & looks forward to 2024. Up third: artists to watch in 2024.

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Episode 68: Madison Cunningham

Mon, 18 Dec 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Madison Cunningham is an artist based in Los Angeles. On her Grammy award-winning album 'Revealer', Madison faces hard inner truths, questions priorities, & unpacks family dynamics with compassion & curiosity. We spoke about the Deluxe Edition of the record, which includes extra songs that did not make the original cut.

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Sofia Shares Her Favourite Albums of 2023

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 00:01:00 -0000

In this 4-episode series, Sofia looks back at the music that moved her this year, & looks forward to 2024. Up second: her favourite albums of 2023.

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Episode 67: Jelani Blackman

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 23:20:29 -0000

Jelani Blackman is an artist from London, UK. On The Heart of It, he toes the fine line between hope & cynicism intertwining stories of infatuation & heartbreak, with ones of institutionalized discrimination & politicians who don't represent their people.

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Sofia Shares Her Favourite Concerts & Music Memories of 2023

Wed, 06 Dec 2023 08:00:00 -0000

In this 4-episode series, Sofia looks back at the music that moved her this year, & looks forward to 2024. Up first: her favourite concerts & music memories of 2023.

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Episode 66: Merrick Winter

Mon, 04 Dec 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Merrick Winter is an American-born, British artist living in London. On his first EP 'Eve of Disaster', he takes us through character studies on masculinity, communication breakdowns, & the fields of Iowa.

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Episode 65: Vagabon

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 18:16:52 -0000

Vagabon is an artist based in New York City. On her latest record, 'Sorry I Haven't Called', she weaves together stories of escapism through dance, letting someone go, & absorbing life's lessons. The result is a multilayered-yet-raw look into her psyche, that simultaneously feels universal & communal.

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Ep. 64: Shea Couleé on '8', her cyberpunk-inspired story of black, queer euphoria

Mon, 20 Nov 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Shea Couleé is a drag performer & musician from Chicago. Having rose to fame across three seasons of Ru Paul's Drag Race, she became beloved for her multifaceted performance skills. Now, she's released her debut album, '8' - a conceptual look at the fictional Lipstick City, & a tale of black, queer euphoria.

Be sure to listen to '8', wherever you stream or buy your music!

Find Shea on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0FrOnmhn1KtQ2n5mHF2SD6?si=RU0xe5WwT-KvgGn4SFGSKQ

On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/shea-coule%C3%A9/1250786046

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheacoulee/?hl=en

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sheacoulee?lang=en

Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen

Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/

Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia

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Episode 63: Murkage Dave

Mon, 13 Nov 2023 08:00:00 -0000

Murkage Dave is an artist from London. His raw, cards-on-the-table lyricism dances through an eclectic soundtrack - equally inspired by UK garage as it is by post punk. On 'The City Needs... Part Deux', stories of compassion meet ones about ego, & cheeky humour intermingles with moments of deeper reflection.

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Episode 62: ER FIGHTMASTER

Mon, 06 Nov 2023 08:00:00 -0000

ER FIGHTMASTER is an LA-based musician, comedian, actor & writer. On their new EP 'Violence', they re-fashion anti-queer, derogatory terms into stories of queer love, lust, & joy. It's as powerful as it is bop-heavy.

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Episode 61: Flyte

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 07:00:00 -0000

Flyte are a London-based folk duo. Whether they're narrating the lives of fictional characters, or getting vulnerable with personal tales, the band always takes a heartfelt approach. Each subject is handled with care, each song penned with poetry and nuance. On their third record, the self-titled 'Flyte', the band's relationships take centre stage - both long-term romantic relationships, and their beloved creative friendships.

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Episode 60: Bombay Bicycle Club

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 19:21:44 -0000

Bombay Bicycle Club are a band from North London. Beloved in the world of indie rock for their vibrant take on the genre, the band has seen enormous international success. Now, they return with their latest record, My Big Day - it features some of the band's most heartfelt and playful writing, as well as collaborations with Damon Albarn, Chaka Khan, Holly Humberstone, Nilüfer Yanya, and Jay Som.

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Episode 59: Jalen Ngonda

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 12:09:46 -0000

Jalen Ngonda is an artist from Maryland, USA. Some of his accolades include graduating from LIPA (the performing arts school founded by Paul McCartney), playing some of world's biggest jazz festivals, and supporting the likes of Lauryn Hill and Laura Mvula. He joins me to discuss his debut album, Come Around And Love Me, and the creative process behind it.

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Episode 58: Feist

Wed, 23 Aug 2023 07:00:00 -0000

Feist is an artist from Alberta, Canada. For more than two decades, Feist has cemented herself as a pillar of Canada's folk music legacy. On her latest album Multitudes, she covers topics from motherhood and intergenerational womanhood, to mortality and variations of grief.

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Episode 57: Local Natives

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 07:00:00 -0000

Local Natives are a band from Los Angeles, California. After a difficult few years, the band worked hard to find healing & come back together stronger. On 'Time Will Wait For No One', the band sings of the unforgiving nature of time, trying to control the uncontrollable, & the resilience of hope amidst it all.

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Episode 56: Miya Folick

Mon, 17 Jul 2023 07:00:00 -0000

Miya Folick is a solo artist based in Los Angeles. On her latest album Roach, Miya documents the high highs & low lows of early adulthood. Thanks to her unabashed vulnerability, the record gives us all room to be gentle to our younger selves, laugh at our mistakes, & rejoice in our growth.

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What Happens on Before the Chorus?

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 01:45:38 -0000

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Episode 55: Curtis Waters

Mon, 03 Jul 2023 17:04:00 -0000

Curtis Waters is a Nepalese-Canadian artist. After a sudden viral hit shot him to fame in 2020, Curtis wanted to showcase a deeper side of his music, & tell his story on his own terms. Enter his sophomore album, BAD SON. On the album, Curtis covers the themes that intertwine in his life: fame & ego, bipolar disorder, the pressures of being the child of immigrants, & more.

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Episode 54: Gengahr

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 23:43:59 -0000

Gengahr are a band from East London. Their brilliant musicianship has endured across four albums, and their approach to songwriting has grown and shifted alongside of it. While earlier songs played with abstract concepts and mythical creatures, their later work is increasingly personal. On Red Sun Titans, the band explores life’s big existential themes and grounding in the things that get us through our days.

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Episode 53: Half Moon Run

Mon, 05 Jun 2023 07:00:00 -0000

Half Moon Run are a band based in Montreal, Canada. They released their debut album, Dark Eyes, in 2013, and quickly gained fans both locally & internationally. Throughout the pandemic, they found themselves digging through cassettes from that time period, revisiting these ideas with fresh perspective. The result is is their fourth album Salt: a musical conversation between past and present, exploring all that has changed and all that remains.

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Episode 52: The Big Moon

Mon, 22 May 2023 07:00:00 -0000

The Big Moon are a 4-piece indie rock group from London England. On their latest album Here Is Everything, frontwoman Juliette Jackson unpacks the highs and lows of first-time motherhood. She details expectations versus realities, the double isolation of infant rearing and Covid lockdowns, all the way to the euphoria of loving your child.

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Episode 51: Westerman

Mon, 08 May 2023 07:00:00 -0000

Westerman is an artist from London, England currently based in Athens, Greece. On his latest record ‘An Inbuilt Fault’, he looks at the human condition in both its glory & its mess, doing so by fusing stories from his own life, those of known figures, & observations about our modern way of living.

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Episode 50: Will Joseph Cook

Mon, 24 Apr 2023 07:00:00 -0000

Will Joseph Cook is an artist from Kent, England. With his newer music, namely his last album ‘Every Single Thing’ and his recent single “MF BASSLINE”, Will aims to be more open. These songs are an excercise in acceptance: accepting the way one feels, no matter how scary, difficult or even awkward a feeling is. Whether he’s musing about an unabashed dive into infatuation, or finding peace with emotional lows, his music reminds us that vulnerability is the best way forward.

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Episode 49: Billie Marten

Mon, 10 Apr 2023 07:00:00 -0000

Billie Marten is a songwriter based in London. On her last record, Flora Fauna, Billie began to examine herself through her writing (We actually spoke about Flora Fauna back on Episode 24 of the podcast). Nearly two years later, she is out with another self-examining record: Drop Cherries. It’s a tender, multifaceted observation of long-term love, vulnerability, and finding joy in the mundane.

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Episode 48: Benny Sings

Mon, 27 Mar 2023 07:00:00 -0000

Benny Sings is a songwriter & producer based in Amsterdam. Over the years, he has become known for his vibrant & eclectic approach to pop. On Young Hearts, Benny continues his quest for pop gold, flexing his well-established songwriting skills & breathing new life into some of pop’s longstanding tropes.

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Episode 47: Jaws of Love

Mon, 21 Nov 2022 05:16:00 -0000

Jaws of Love is the solo project of Kelcey Ayer, one of the founding members of Local Natives. His new record, Second Life, explores big, existential questions by way of small, everyday moments. It’s about moving through life’s phases, even when change is scary & outcomes are uncertain.

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Episode 46: Mykki Blanco

Mon, 24 Oct 2022 15:33:00 -0000

Mykki Blanco is an artist with a decade-long career. For ‘Stay Close to Music’, they pulled several pages from their own diary - the record delves into Mykki’s innermost worries and desires, asking questions about oneself & their relationships with others. Simultaneously, the record is celebratory: Mykki proudly flexes their position as a musical pioneer, & honors the icons who inspired them.

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Episode 45: Quinn Christopherson

Mon, 26 Sep 2022 19:35:00 -0000

Quinn Christopherson is an artist from Anchorage, Alaska. Much like his Ahtna Athabascan and Iñupiaq ancestors, he is a storyteller at heart. He writes with earnestness & compassion, handling both heavy & joyful moments with equal care. On his debut record ‘Write Your Name in Pink’, he tells us stories from his life up until now.

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Episode 44: The Amazons

Mon, 12 Sep 2022 03:40:00 -0000

The Amazons are a four-piece rock group from Reading, England. Their third album, How Will I Know If Heaven Will Find Me? is incredibly personal - a lot of its songs focus on frontman Matt Thomson’s long-distance relationship with his partner. In a wider sense, the record explores the feeling of loving someone from a distance & of longing for the things we miss - after the past few years, these are feelings we can all relate to.

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Episode 43: MUNA

Mon, 01 Aug 2022 04:00:00 -0000

MUNA are a pop trio based in Los Angeles. They have garnered a devout fanbase, thanks to their bright hooks & unique approach to pop songwriting. Their lyrics cover everything from heartbreak & longing, to mindfulness, self-love, & queer & female empowerment. Their new self-titled record, their first release on Phoebe Bridgers’ Saddest Factory Records, is simultaneously their healthiest &, as they've said themselves, their horniest songwriting yet.

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Episode 42: Bhi Bhiman

Mon, 11 Jul 2022 17:53:00 -0000

Bhi Bhiman is a solo artist based in Los Angeles, who has collaborated with the likes of Chris Cornell, Keegan-Michael Key, Dave Eggers and Boots Riley. On his latest record, I’ll Sleep When I’m Famous, Bhi balances feelings of hope and grief. It’s a deeply existential album, exploring how we choose to live our lives & face our ultimate fate. But in the end, the record offers a sense of hope and peace: we can live on after tragedy, and hold on to love while we’re still here.

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Episode 41: Mysie

Mon, 13 Jun 2022 04:00:00 -0000

Mysie is an artist based in London, England. On her latest EP ‘joyride’, she explores the complexities & heartbreak of a long-term relationship. We discuss the ways we protect ourselves in relationships, the forces - both internal and external - that can drive people apart, and discovering that, in the end, there is still light at the end of the tunnel.

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Episode 40: Pond

Mon, 30 May 2022 04:00:00 -0000

Pond are a psychedelic rock band from Perth. On their 9th album (aptly named ‘9’), they took a mostly insular approach, drawing on personal experiences and niche interests for lyrical themes. Frontman Nick Albrook wanted the album to be lengthly and sprawling, but in a democratic vote amongst band members, they decided to cap it at 9 tracks. This is where the Deluxe Edition comes in: with 4 new songs added to the tracklist, Nick and I go through all 12 songs in depth. So buckle in.

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Episode 39: Poppy Ajudha

Mon, 25 Apr 2022 04:00:00 -0000

Poppy Ajudha is a London-based solo artist. She has been making a name for herself in the London music scene for years, and in 2022, she has finally released her debut album The Power In Us. On this record, Poppy fiercely takes on a breadth of social issues, like abortion bans, feminism, immigration bans, mental health and more.

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Episode 38: Lady Wray

Mon, 11 Apr 2022 04:00:00 -0000

Lady Wray is a solo artist based in Atlanta. She has had a long career in the world of RnB & Hip-Hop, and has experienced her fair share of highs and lows. Her latest record Piece of Me offers raw insight into her life, career, faith & the all-encompassing love she has for her daughter.

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Episode 37: Fana Hues

Mon, 28 Mar 2022 04:00:00 -0000

Fana Hues is a RnB artist based in Los Angeles. Her new album flora + fana is as refreshingly botanical as it is dizzyingly psychedelic. More importantly, it’s a beautiful scrapbook of musings on heartbreak, sex, situationships, & the growth that comes with them.

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Episode 36: Metronomy

Mon, 21 Feb 2022 05:00:00 -0000

Metronomy are a wonky pop 5-piece from the UK. They’ve been a major indie staple in their homeland for over a decade, & it’s really no wonder why - their unique approach to pop is more than meets the ear, encompassing an eclectic concoction of other genres. Their latest record, Small World is no exception: you’ll hear indietronica rubbing shoulders with alternative rock, dream pop, & more. And it all soundtracks a hopeful message, which we’ll be discussing in this episode.

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Episode 35: Palace

Mon, 07 Feb 2022 05:00:00 -0000

Palace are a London-based indie four-piece. Their third full-length album, Shoals, is a meditation on fear - something we all struggle to come to terms with. Backed by an ethereal soundtrack, frontman Leo Wyndham takes us through his journey towards befriending the unknown - from his first interactions with fear to finding solace in human connection.

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Episode 34: Sloppy Jane

Mon, 24 Jan 2022 05:00:00 -0000

Sloppy Jane is an artist based in New York City. Her latest record, Madison, is a concept album through and through - amongst other things, she recorded it 120 feet below ground in a West Virginian cave. The record explores the theme of unrequited love, and basks in all of its blue-washed melodrama.

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Episode 33: Munya

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 05:00:00 -0000

Munya is a solo artist, originally from Saguenay, Quebec. Like many people during the pandemic, she found herself needing an escape - so she began writing. The result was an album filled with space-themed songs, made to take the listener on an intergalactic journey.

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Episode 32: Nation of Language

Mon, 08 Nov 2021 05:00:00 -0000

Nation of Language are a trio from Brooklyn, New York. Despite close comparisons to OMD, New Order & Kraftwerk, the band have managed to carve out an original sound. Their use of synthesizers is emotive & visceral, easily morphing from song to song. Their new record A Way Forward, spans the cold sounds of a concrete jungle to the euphoria of new love.

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Episode 31: Self Esteem

Mon, 25 Oct 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Back in 2019, Rebecca Lucy Taylor released Compliments Please, her debut solo album under the moniker Self Esteem. She has now returned with Prioritize Pleasure, another album celebrating emotional growth, sexual freedom, healing, & queer expression. She joined me way back on Episode 3 to discuss the first record, so it is a joy to have her back now.

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Episode 30: Mr. Jukes & Barney Artist

Mon, 16 Aug 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Mr. Jukes & Barney Artist is the collaborative project between two of London’s brightest musicians. Mr. Jukes, aka Jack Steadman, is a solo jazz artist, as well as the frontman of Bombay Bicycle Club. Barney is a rapper from East London whose style is a blend of 90s era rap - think A Tribe Called Quest & Wu-Tang Clan - and jazz. Both artists frequently collaborate with their friends in the London jazz scene, so collaborating on an album came naturally to them. On ‘The Locket’, they hope to spread a little joy, and remind us all to hold onto the things that matter most.

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Episode 29: Her's Tribute with Saam Jafarzadeh

Mon, 09 Aug 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Her’s was a duo from Liverpool, comprised of Stephen Fitzpatrick and Audun Laading. Their fans loved them for their silly antics, beautiful friendship, and most importantly, their stylish yet deeply tender songs. As the third anniversary of their debut album “Invitation to Her’s” approaches, I wanted to look back on the beautiful music they made, and the wonderful people that they were. Because I did not know them well, I am joined by someone who did: Saam Jafarzadeh, their dear friend and producer of their debut album.

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Episode 28: Eliza Shaddad

Mon, 19 Jul 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Eliza Shaddad is a Sudanese-Scottish artist. Her sound is equal parts gritty grunge and soft folk, and she pens her lyrics with unabashed transparency. On ‘The Woman You Want’, Eliza writes about the lows of lockdown, new marriage, and pushing against the expectations that others put on her.

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Episode 27: Drug Store Romeos

Mon, 05 Jul 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Drug Stores Romeos are a trio from Fleet in the UK. For their debut album ‘the world within our bedrooms’, they’ve offered up a slice of escapism, thanks to their cushiony sonic worlds. We get to wander through subconscious thoughts & unpack the world around us from a safe emotional distance, tucked away in the safe space of one’s own bedroom.

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Episode 26: Sandunes

Mon, 21 Jun 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Sandunes is a composer, producer and pianist from Mumbai, India. She has been making mostly instrumental music for years, but lately she has been drawn to the emotional power of the human voice. This has been especially important for her latest EP ‘ Nowhere to Stand’, which explores the fears & questions surrounding change. On the EP, she explores both her own relationship with change, and that of the four guest vocalists who feature on it.

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Episode 25: Japanese Breakfast

Mon, 07 Jun 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Michelle Zauner, better known as Japanese Breakfast, is a Brooklyn-based solo artist. After writing two albums made to help process grief - ‘Psychopomp’ & ‘Soft Sounds from Another Planet’ - she felt that she deserved to finally write about joy. On ‘Jubilee’, she explores joy from all angles, from chasing it to the experience of it.

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Episode 24: Billie Marten

Mon, 24 May 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Billie Marten is a solo artist currently based in London. Throughout her teen years, she became a rising star of UK indie folk. But until recently, she never explicitly wrote about herself, obscuring meaning behind poeticized lyrics. On “Flora Fauna” however, she has chosen to face herself directly, both celebrating the growth she has experienced, & readying herself for the growth that comes next.

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Episode 23: Small Black

Mon, 03 May 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Small Black are a chillwave four-piece from New York City. Frontman Josh Kolenik has called several parts of the Tri State Area home, having grown up on Long Island and now residing in Brooklyn. Between moving around & the recent loss of his uncle, a surfboard shaper and local fixture on Long Island, Josh has been reflecting on what it means to live a fulfilling life. It is this question that has largely shaped the band’s new album, Cheap Dreams.

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Episode 22: Flyte

Mon, 19 Apr 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Flyte are a three-piece band based in London, known for their tight harmonies & brilliant, near-perfect instrumentation. On ‘This Is Really Going to Hurt’, they intentionally dropped some of their usual polish; frontman Will had come out of an 8-year relationship, & was writing his most vulnerable songs to date. The resulting record is a true gut-punch, powerfully taking us through the pain of endings, & the healing that comes after them.

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Episode 21: Julien Baker

Mon, 05 Apr 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Julien Baker is an artist from Memphis Tennessee. She is known for both her solo work, & as a member of the bands Forrister & boygenius. Her 2015 record Sprained Ankle rose her to fame with its gut-wrenchingly honest songwriting. On Little Oblivions, her third full-length album, Julien explores themes of addiction & relapse, mental health & faith, never mincing her words.

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Episode 20: Nuha Ruby Ra

Mon, 22 Mar 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Nuha Ruby Ra is a London-based experimental artist, with roots in sound art & avant-punk music. For her debut EP, she took the ups & downs of an unhealthy relationship & fashioned them into a powerful journey. How To Move is a raw, visceral, complete record that shows that while the healing process is never perfect, we can emerge with new resilience.

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Episode 19: Genesis Owusu

Mon, 08 Mar 2021 05:00:00 -0000

Genesis Owusu is a Ghanian-Australian artist, currently based in Canberra. He has an affinity for genre-stretching sounds & storytelling; because of this, his music is full of colour & complexity. On his debut album ‘Smiling With No Teeth’, he explores the interconnectedness of depression & racism - two things that have greatly impacted his life.

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Episode 18: Claud

Mon, 22 Feb 2021 05:00:00 -0000

Claud is a solo artist based in Los Angeles. Blending elements of dream pop, indie & more, their music is as refreshingly bright as it is warm & introspective. On their debut album Super Monster, they show that growth isn’t an easy, linear process; it’s okay to fall on your face, & overcoming things does’t happen overnight. In time, we all fall into place.

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Episode 17: clipping.

Mon, 08 Feb 2021 05:00:00 -0000

clipping. are an experimental rap trio currently based out of Los Angeles, California. Their last two albums, 'There Existed an Addiction to Blood' & 'Visions of Bodies Being Burned', draw heavy influence from horrorcore, a niche genre of rap from the 90s. However, where horrorcore was often campy, clipping. goes visceral, making fully-fledged horror films for your ears. I am joined now by the three members of the group to discuss the second of the aforementioned records, Visions of Bodies Being Burned.

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Episode 16: BEYRIES

Mon, 07 Dec 2020 05:00:00 -0000

BEYRIES is a bilingual solo artist from Montreal Canada. She is passionate about the things that connect us, and this is what she centres her writing around. When her songs are released, she happily lets them evolve, allowing listeners find their own meanings in her music. This was a very different conversation than most of the ones I’ve had on this podcast. That being said, it’s a great reminder that meaning isn’t static, and that an artist’s role in shaping meaning can vary.

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Episode 15: Helena Deland

Mon, 16 Nov 2020 05:00:00 -0000

Helena Deland is a solo artist based in Montreal, Canada. Over the past four years, she has released multiple EPs, and even appeared on JPEGMAFIA’s ‘All My Heroes Are Cornballs’. Her debut album Someone New, which was released last month, explores the struggle between idealization and reality, femininity, and asking for what we need from friends and lovers alike.

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Episode 14: Local Natives

Mon, 02 Nov 2020 05:00:00 -0000

Local Natives are a five-piece group from Los Angeles. For over a decade, they’ve been a respected indie staple, blending folk-esque harmonies & storytelling with indie guitars & bright choruses. Their albums are meticulously planned & thought out; while this yields great results, it can get pretty tiring. So this time, they decided to try something different: release a short EP, highlighting four songs that never fit into an album, but needed to be heard.

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Episode 13: Future Islands

Mon, 19 Oct 2020 04:00:00 -0000

Future Islands are a four-piece based in Baltimore, Maryland. Their epic hooks & soul-wrenching lyrics helped them skyrocket to fame back in 2014, with the release of their song Seasons and their fourth album Singles. Their sixth studio album, As Long As You Are forces you to feel things just as deeply. Now, while this makes its heartbreaking moments quite palpable, it also means that the joyous parts are monumental. Like, so joyful you might spread your arms and try to fly even though you clearly can’t.

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Episode 12: Cut Worms

Mon, 12 Oct 2020 04:00:00 -0000

Max Clarke, better known as Cut Worms, is a solo artist based in Brooklyn, New York. He is both drawn to and heavily critical of the past; while the American songbook provides inspiration to his writing, he worries that people tend to romanticize the past, glossing over its glaring problems. His new double LP ‘Nobody Lives Here Anymore’ explores this dichotomy in depth, using the very images that define traditional Americana to examine it.

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Episode 11: Bully

Mon, 21 Sep 2020 04:00:00 -0000

Bully is the project of now-solo artist Alicia Bognanno. Her third album SUGAREGG is all about letting go and embracing reality, even when the process of doing so isn’t perfect. With its message shouted through wailing guitars and well, literal shouting, the album provides catharsis and release for both the listener and for Alicia herself.

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Episode 10: Kay Young

Mon, 07 Sep 2020 04:00:00 -0000

Kay Young is a solo artist & producer based in London. While she’s been making music for a while, cutting her teeth at the same time as Jessie J & Ed Sheeran, she has been in an especially fruitful creative period for the past two years. After a hiatus allowed her to reset & experience life outside the industry, Kay returned to her writing re-energized & with plenty on her mind. On Middle Matters, she details finding peace in her passion, Faith, & following the path that she feels called to.

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Episode 9: Oscar Jerome

Mon, 17 Aug 2020 04:00:00 -0000

Oscar Jerome is a staple member of the London jazz scene. In addition to being part of the collective KOKOROKO & appearing on many friends' projects, he’s a solo artist with his own brilliant work. His debut album, Breathe Deep, builds a rich sonic world, while speaking out about social greed and the treatment of refugees, and celebrating the love of family.

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Episode 8: Glass Animals

Mon, 10 Aug 2020 04:00:00 -0000

Glass Animals are internationally loved for their genreless, often cheeky songs. They’ve never hesitated to work against the grain: they went weird and murky on their first album Zaba, told anecdotes about homemade characters on How To Be a Human Being. But Dave, the band’s frontman, never told his own stories out of insecurity; until now. Their third album Dreamland weaves through stories of a childhood in rural Texas, later years in Oxford and London, and a range of experiences from questions of masculinity to late-night hookups.

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Episode 7: Another Sky

Mon, 27 Jul 2020 04:00:00 -0000

Another Sky are a London-based four piece, comprised of Catrin Vincent, Jack Gilbert, Naomi Le Dune, and Max Doohan. Their songs manage to be anthemic and urgent, tender and vulnerable at the same time. Which makes sense; they see the ways in which mental health and the state of the world are interwoven, often leaving our generation in a state of overwhelm. I Slept on the Floor, the band’s debut album, covers the many ills of the modern world, offering a sense of hope through each call to action.

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Episode 6: Gordi

Mon, 22 Jun 2020 04:00:00 -0000

Gordi is a solo artist, originally from Canowindra, Australia. She’s been championed by the likes of Bon Iver, and it’s no wonder why: her songwriting cuts to the bone. Her sophomore album, Our Two Skins, is Gordi in her most radically honest form. Each song paints a vivid, raw picture of the album’s themes, from mental health and questions of sexuality to love and acceptance.

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Episode 5: Mystery Jets

Mon, 11 May 2020 04:00:00 -0000

Mystery Jets are a three-piece indie band from London, who first made a name for themselves over a decade ago. Approaching their sixth studio album, lead singer Blaine Harrison found himself amidst the turmoil of post-Brexit London. While living around the corner from Trafalgar Square, Blaine weaved himself into the crowds of the EU rallies, the Extinction Rebellion, even far-right groups like Britain First and the National Defence League. The album birthed from this period, A Billion Heartbeats, navigates through all of the problems that both unite and separate us, reminding us that we all need to fight for compassion.

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Episode 4: Equiknoxx

Mon, 27 Apr 2020 19:15:00 -0000

Equiknoxx are a collective based in Kingston, Jamaica. They are comprised of Gavborg, Shanique Marie, Time Cow, Kemikal, and Bobby Blackbird. Over the last decade or so, they have woven through genre after genre. They first cut their teeth as dancehall producers, and later folded their wide range of influences into their music. I have Gav, Shanique, and Nick aka Bobby Blackbird here to discuss their 2019 album, Eternal Children, and the history that brought all five members together as a united project.

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Episode 3: Self Esteem

Mon, 13 Apr 2020 04:00:00 -0000

Rebecca Lucy Taylor, better known as Self Esteem, is an outspoken newcomer to the pop world. She shamelessly tackles mental health struggles, bad relationships, bisexuality, and more in her music. Her 2019 debut album, Compliments Please, is a reminder that pop music can be complex, contradictory and raw, even during its most danceable moments.

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Episode 2: Overcoats

Mon, 09 Mar 2020 04:00:00 -0000

Overcoats are a Brooklyn-based pop duo, comprised of Hana Elion and JJ Mitchell. Their second album, The Fight, follows their 2017 debut Young. While it has a few nods to their first release, The Fight is largely a departure for Overcoats. On their new album, their pop anthems unpack what it means to fight, in every sense of the word: fighting for womxn, against misogyny and ignorance, fighting to be understood, and fighting for one’s self-worth.

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Episode 1: Gengahr

Mon, 10 Feb 2020 11:00:00 -0000

Gengahr are a four-piece band from Hackney in East London. Their third studio album, Sanctuary, is an intimate dive into lead singer Felix’s experience with loss. It is also, however, a celebration of friendship and collaboration; Felix’s bandmates, Hugh, Danny, and John, stuck by him, and they brought on Jack Steadman of Bombay Bicycle Club as producer. The resulting songs are glimmering, heartbreaking, hopeful, and liberating, all at the same time.

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