Little Simz - Angel

Dabda - "Flower Tail" from the 2023 album Yonder on Electric Muse Records Korean quartet Dabda / 다브다 call their unique brand of math-rock "Pastel Psychedelic," which you can hear in the soft, dreamy sonic waves they weave on their latest EP Yonder.  Though based in Seoul, the band found inspiration in a recent trip to Thailand, describing it as "an intense experience." "The gap between the manufactured nature in vacation spots, which we usually are comforted with, and the nature that exists wildly was interesting," they continue in a press release. "We tried to capture the changing of air according to the season when the songs were made and I hope that the various temperaments of nature contained in each song will comfort and liberate the listeners." Today's Song of the Day "tells the story of a voyage through the horizon, sailing on a flower boat in the tropical sea. At the same time, the song is about the ones who set sail and leave for somewhere. In southern Thailand, the bow of a long-tailed wooded boat is decorated with flowers of different shapes, which is said to be a wish for the well-being of fishermen leaving for the sea." Read the full story at KEXP.orgSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

19 Okt 20235min

Subsonic Eye - "Performative," from the 2023 album All Around You on Topshelf Records. Singaporean dream-pop group Subsonic Eye continue their exploration of nature on their latest LP, All Around You. This examination of the natural world around urban landscapes began on their third album, 2021's Nature of Things. "Ticking boxes / charging laptops / separating causes from ourselves," they sing on today's Song of the Day. "Nature is everywhere around you, even in the city," vocalist Nur Wahidah told Whiteboard Journal last year. "It adds something special like cycling to school. It’s not just going to school — enjoying your time outside. I feel like a lot of people would think of it as like, 'oh, I live in the city, that means I can’t go into nature and stuff.' But, I think we all realized that nature is everywhere around us." Read the full story at KEXP.orgSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

18 Okt 20233min

James and the Cold Gun - "Something to Say" from their self-titled 2023 album on Loosegroove Records Often referred to as “South Wales’ loudest group,” the Cardiff, UK-based garage rockers James and the Cold Gun share their self-titled debut album via Seattle's own Loosegroove Records, the label owned by Stone Gossard (Pearl Jam) & Regan Hagar (Malfunkshun, Brad, Satchel). Gossard describes the band as "a shot of pure adrenaline," and invited the group to open for Pearl Jam at their Hyde Park show.  Frontman James Joseph calls the new LP, "a no frills rock and roll ripper recorded ourselves in the garage where we first started jamming as a band, we think it’s a great introduction to what we’re about at our core, loud, energetic guitar rock." Read the full story at KEXP.orgSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

17 Okt 20232min

DAIISTAR - "Speed Jesus" from the 2023 album Good Time on Fuzz Club Records Austin, TX psych-rock band DAIISTAR shine on their debut LP Good Time. The album was produced by Alex Maas of The Black Angels and engineered by James Petralli of White Denim. Formed in the Spring of 2020, Alex Capistran (vocals/guitar), Nick Cornetti (drums), Misti Hamrick (bass) and Derek Strahan (keys) escaped the doldrums of the pandemic through sonic waves of guitar.  “To us, these songs were a glimmer of light," Capistran says in a press release. “Starting a band at the peak of the pandemic to some might seem ill-timed, but to us it was a way to escape for a moment. There was something to look forward to and we kept our heads in the future. These songs guided us through some dark times and hopefully they can do the same for you. GOOD TIME is here.” Read the full story at KEXP.orgSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

16 Okt 20233min

Drew Martin - "Second Nature," from the 2023 album Where's Your Feet on Kritter Records Kānaka Maoli singer/songwriter Drew Martin recently returned to Seattle from Maui, releasing his latest LP Where’s Your Feet?. As he writes on Instagram, "There’s some joy on this record, there’s some grit on this record, there’s some chicken skin on this record." Drew utilizes a Hawaiian slack-key guitar in his folky blues-style songs, as you can hear on today's Song of the Day.  Read the full story at KEXP.orgSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

13 Okt 20234min

Miiesha - "Made for Silence," from the 2022 self-released album Smoke & Mirrors Though still in her early-20s, R&B artist Miiesha is already a five-time ARIA nominee (like the Australian GRAMMYs) and NIMA (National Indigenous Music Awards) award-winning artist. Her 2019 debut LP, Nyaaringu, explored themes of growing up in Woorabinda — an Aboriginal community in Queensland — with interludes of her late Grandmother's voice woven between the songs. ("For me, she was and always will stay with me as the strongest voice in my life, so I felt she had to be a part of this with me," Miiesha told Stack in 2020.)  On today's Song of the Day, Miiesha continues to explore her grief at the loss of her grandmother, as well as examine her complex relationship with her mom.  "I wasn't in a good place in my journey [when I wrote this song]. This was around the time that my Nana passed, and I was also going through a tough time with my mum. My writing sessions were really dragging on because I was going through it; I remember thinking that I didn't even want to do music anymore," she tells Refinery 29. "For me, 'Made for Silence' is about that rollercoaster relationship with my mum. The song is me expressing my exhaustion towards our arguing and tension. Like, can you be quiet for one second and just listen to me?! Writing the lyrics and singing them has been really healing for me because it was so emotional to even just vocalize the things I'd been feeling. And for my mom to hear it... that's done so much for me." Read the full story at KEXP.org         Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

12 Okt 20232min

Bobby Sanchez - "the premonition (lethalneedle)" from the 2023 album Melancholy Tgirl on Harawiq Records "Indigenous people is who I pray for / The past can be painful so we face forward" A veteran Song of the Day featured artist, American-Peruvian Indigenous songwriter Bobby Sanchez kicked off 2023 with their sixth EP, titled Melancholy Tgirl. The three-song release continues Sanchez's mission of using art to speak out for Indigenous rights, as well as for LGBTQ+ rights, environmental preservation, immigration, and more.  Sanchez's Indigenous blood originates from Ayacucho, Peru; she was born and raised on Lenape and Siwanoy land. Sanchez found her voice through poetry at seven; by age 15, she was attending poetry slams and open mics, which soon evolved into hip-hop compositions. Today's Song of the Day features fierce verses against a delicate looped piano piece, resulting in an empowering, thoughtful groove.  Read the full story at KEXP.orgSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

11 Okt 20233min

This week’s Song of the Day picks, as chosen by DJ Miss Ashley, coincide with Indigenous Peoples’ Day. While Indigenous Peoples’ Day is recognized on October 9, KEXP will be paying tribute to Indigenous artists throughout the whole week here and throughout the rest of our podcasts and programming. Learn more about our Indigenous Peoples’ Day coverage.  Warning: This write-up touches on topics of suicide.  In 2019, Statistics Canada delivered an alarming report about the Indigenous suicide rate crisis – finding that Indigenous people in Canada are three times more likely to die by suicide than non-Indigenous Canadians. This troubling data reflects the harrowing experience and conditions not just in Canada, but for Indigenous people across the globe.  Jeremy Dutcher commemorates this experience in his heart-wrenching song “Ancestors Too Young.” The enigmatic songwriter is known for their dazzling blend of their classical training and pop songwriting. Dutcher, who is from the Tobique First Nation, will often sing in Wolastoqey. But on this song, Dutcher sings in English. Against a beautiful backdrop of piano, organ, strings, and smattering drums, Dutcher’s voice pleads and aches. Less of a sentimental song and more of a dire asking – why? Why does this have to be this way? On the chorus Dutcher soars with the refrain “Ancestors too young, where do they go?”  Dutcher’s powerful plea is a needed revelation for the masses. As he says in the song, this epidemic is not something that should be ignored until more pass away. There is urgency in Dutcher’s voice, just as their should be urgency in all of us to wake up and make change and reconcile the perpetuated conditions that have led to this tragic moment in history. - Dusty Henry Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

10 Okt 20235min