Live on KEXP

Arooj Aftab [Performance & Interview Only]

07 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

With her recent Grammy nomination, Arooj Aftab has made headlines as the very first Pakistani woman to be nominated for the gilded gramophone. While t...

TORRES

30 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For Live on KEXP, Troy Nelson details Mackenzie Scott’s unique trajectory from Southern Baptist band kid to the subversive indie rocker best kno...

TORRES [Performance & Interview Only]

30 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For Live on KEXP, Troy Nelson details Mackenzie Scott’s unique trajectory from Southern Baptist band kid to the subversive indie rocker best kno...

Waxahatchee [Performance & Interview Only]

23 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Finally touring behind her latest Waxahatchee record, Saint Cloud, a year and a half after its release, Katie Crutchfield stops by KEXP to play s...

Waxahatchee

23 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Finally touring behind her latest Waxahatchee record, Saint Cloud, a year and a half after its release, Katie Crutchfield stops by KEXP to play s...

Bachelor

16 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For musicians Melina Duterte and Ellen Kemper, the collaborative project Bachelor is not just one of musical expression but also friendship. The week ...

Bachelor [Performance & Interview Only]

16 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For musicians Melina Duterte and Ellen Kemper, the collaborative project Bachelor is not just one of musical expression but also friendship. The week ...

Little Simz [Performance & Interview Only]

09 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

While the easiest way to categorize Little Simz is as an emcee, her resume goes far beyond just her impeccable flow. For Live on KEXP, Troy Nelson tra...

Little Simz

09 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

While the easiest way to categorize Little Simz is as an emcee, her resume goes far beyond just her impeccable flow. For Live on KEXP, Troy Nelson tra...

Kylie V [Performance & Interview Only]

02 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

At only 17-years-old Canadian singer/songwriter Kylie V has been writing and performing their personal brand of dreamy, pensive, lo-fi folk since they...

Kylie V

02 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

At only 17-years-old Canadian singer/songwriter Kylie V has been writing and performing their personal brand of dreamy, pensive, lo-fi folk since they...

José González

26 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For over 18 years, José González has been a master at constructing soft, contemplative guitar tunes. While, sonically, his latest album ...

José González [Performance & Interview Only]

26 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For over 18 years, José González has been a master at constructing soft, contemplative guitar tunes. While, sonically, his latest album ...

SPELLLING

19 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Chrystia Cabral conjures a mystical, magnificent dominion in the music she makes as SPELLLING. For Live on KEXP, Troy Nelson uses multiple entendres t...

SPELLLING [Performance & Interview Only]

19 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Chrystia Cabral conjures a mystical, magnificent dominion in the music she makes as SPELLLING. For Live on KEXP, Troy Nelson uses multiple entendres t...

Mndsgn

12 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Mndsgn, the pseudonym of Ringgo Ancheta, is no fresh face on the music scene. Since 2009, he’s been collaborating with incredible artists across...

Mndsgn [Performance & Interview Only]

12 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Mndsgn, the pseudonym of Ringgo Ancheta, is no fresh face on the music scene. Since 2009, he’s been collaborating with incredible artists across...

Femi and Made Kuti

05 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When your family name is synonymous with afrobeat activism, what do you do? For Femi and Made Kuti, the only option is to continue the Legacy, of cour...

Femi and Made Kuti [Performance & Interview Only]

05 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When your family name is synonymous with afrobeat activism, what do you do? For Femi and Made Kuti, the only option is to continue the Legacy, of cour...

Yu Su [Performance & Interview Only]

28 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Chinese-born, Vancouver-based musician Yu Su makes propulsive and evocative electronic that intends to bridge the gap between her motherland and her n...

Yu Su

28 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Chinese-born, Vancouver-based musician Yu Su makes propulsive and evocative electronic that intends to bridge the gap between her motherland and her n...

Ya Tseen [Performance & Interview Only]

21 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Activist, thinker, contemporary artist, and musician Nicholas Galanin entwines his experience as an Alaskan indigenous person and passion for social a...

Ya Tseen

21 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Activist, thinker, contemporary artist, and musician Nicholas Galanin entwines his experience as an Alaskan indigenous person and passion for social a...

Japanese Breakfast [Performance & Interview Only]

14 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

There are many negative ways one could sum up 2021 but one shining bright positive title we can give it is The Year of Michelle Zauner. The Oregon-bor...

Japanese Breakfast

14 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

There are many negative ways one could sum up 2021 but one shining bright positive title we can give it is The Year of Michelle Zauner. The Oregon-bor...

True Loves

07 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It’s important that we all feel like the star of our own movie, and if you’re still searching for a badass theme song for your personal fi...

True Loves [Performance & Interview Only]

07 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It’s important that we all feel like the star of our own movie, and if you’re still searching for a badass theme song for your personal fi...

Working Men's Club

31 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The quick evolution of London’s Working Men’s Club from guitar-based rock band to synth-driven dance outfit might seem odd but listening t...

Working Men's Club [Performance & Interview Only]

31 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The quick evolution of London’s Working Men’s Club from guitar-based rock band to synth-driven dance outfit might seem odd but listening t...

TEKE::TEKE

24 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Montreal 7-piece psych-rock band TEKE::TEKE expand on the wide array of influences that led to the name of their band - urban legends, onomatopoeias, ...

TEKE::TEKE [Performance & Interview Only]

24 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Montreal 7-piece psych-rock band TEKE::TEKE expand on the wide array of influences that led to the name of their band - urban legends, onomatopoeias, ...

Laraaji [Performance & Interview Only]

17 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A pioneer of new age and ambient sounds, Laraaji recently added a trilogy of albums, 'Sun Piano,’ 'Moon Piano,' and 'Through Luminous Eyes' to h...

Laraaji

17 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A pioneer of new age and ambient sounds, Laraaji recently added a trilogy of albums, 'Sun Piano,’ 'Moon Piano,' and 'Through Luminous Eyes' to h...

No-No Boy

10 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For Julian Saporiti, music is not just an opportunity for creative expression but also an avenue to share his rich knowledge of Asian American history...

No-No Boy [Performance Only]

10 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For Julian Saporiti, music is not just an opportunity for creative expression but also an avenue to share his rich knowledge of Asian American history...

Shovels & Rope

03 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Much has been said about the pros and cons of being a parent during the pandemic. For musicians like Shovels & Rope’s Cary Anne Hearst and M...

Shovels & Rope [Performance & Interview Only]

03 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Much has been said about the pros and cons of being a parent during the pandemic. For musicians like Shovels & Rope’s Cary Anne Hearst and M...

Flock of Dimes

27 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In April, Jenn Wasner released her second album under the name Flock of Dimes. Titled 'Head of Roses,' the album explores the depths of heartbreak but...

Flock of Dimes [Performance & Interview Only]

27 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In April, Jenn Wasner released her second album under the name Flock of Dimes. Titled 'Head of Roses,' the album explores the depths of heartbreak but...

TV Priest

20 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

London four-piece TV Priest make blazing, brash post-punk that sees frontman Charlie Drinkwater deliver fired-up musings in a spoken-word style. For L...

TV Priest [Performance & Interview Only]

20 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

London four-piece TV Priest make blazing, brash post-punk that sees frontman Charlie Drinkwater deliver fired-up musings in a spoken-word style. ...

Psychedelic Porn Crumpets

13 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Besides playing a scathing set of punchy psych-rock, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets answer some of the tough questions on this week’s episode of Live...

Psychedelic Porn Crumpets [Performance & Interview Only]

13 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Besides playing a scathing set of punchy psych-rock, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets answer some of the tough questions on this week’s episode of Live...

The Weather Station

06 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For over a decade, Tamara Lindeman has been expanding the depth and breadth of the music she makes as The Weather Station. For her latest record, 'Ign...

The Weather Station [Performance & Interview Only]

06 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For over a decade, Tamara Lindeman has been expanding the depth and breadth of the music she makes as The Weather Station. For her latest record, 'Ign...

PVA [Performance & Interview Only]

29 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Genre-hopping London three-piece PVA arrive at this juncture as one of the most dynamic and exciting new bands in the country, intuitively blending cl...

PVA

29 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Genre-hopping London three-piece PVA arrive at this juncture as one of the most dynamic and exciting new bands in the country, intuitively blending cl...

Langhorne Slim

22 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It’s been often spoken about how, while the past year has been incredibly trying for most, for many it was also a moment of calm and self-reflec...

Langhorne Slim [Performance & Interview Only]

22 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It’s been often spoken about how, while the past year has been incredibly trying for most, for many it was also a moment of calm and self-reflec...

Claud

15 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If perfect pop songs made of punchy drums, rich chords, emotional dynamics, and just heaps and piles of vibe are your thing then we suggest you get fa...

Claud [Performance & Interview Only]

15 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If perfect pop songs made of punchy drums, rich chords, emotional dynamics, and just heaps and piles of vibe are your thing then we suggest you get fa...

Aaron Frazer

08 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Best-known as a multi-instrumentalist and co-lead singer in Durand Jones & The Indications, Aaron Frazer broke out on his own earlier this year wi...

Aaron Frazer [Performance & Interview Only]

08 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Best-known as a multi-instrumentalist and co-lead singer in Durand Jones & The Indications, Aaron Frazer broke out on his own earlier this year wi...

Nilüfer Yanya

01 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On the heels of releasing her first project since 2019’s acclaimed full-length debut Miss Universe, an EP titled Feeling Lucky, Nilüfer Yan...

Nilüfer Yanya [Performance & Interview Only]

01 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On the heels of releasing her first project since 2019’s acclaimed full-length debut Miss Universe, an EP titled Feeling Lucky, Nilüfer Yan...

Faye Webster [Performance & Interview Only]

25 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Atlanta wunderkind Faye Webster is on the cusp of releasing her fourth studio album, 'I Know I’m Funny haha,' out June 25th via Secretly Canadia...

Faye Webster

25 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Atlanta wunderkind Faye Webster is on the cusp of releasing her fourth studio album, 'I Know I’m Funny haha,' out June 25th via Secretly Canadia...

Mogwai

18 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

After over 25 years in the game, Mogwai are a band that should need no introduction. Yet, perhaps because of their primarily instrumental nature, the ...

A Change to Live on KEXP

18 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

As you may know, last year we started producing intros for each episode, providing insights and backstory for the session you were about to hear. Whil...

Mogwai [Performance & Interview Only]

18 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

After over 25 years in the game, Mogwai are a band that should need no introduction. Yet, perhaps because of their primarily instrumental nature, the ...

Miss Grit

11 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Korean American musician Margaret Sohn has been dealing with the syndrome that inflicts nearly everyone in creative fields from time to time. Her soph...

Y La Bamba

04 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Since 2008, Luz Elena Mendoza has been blending indie, Latin, folk, and pop music in eclectic, inventive ways under the name Y La Bamba. For Live on K...

Valerie June

27 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Tennessee-born, Brooklyn-based artist Valerie June fuses folk, soul, gospel, country, and blues for a blissful blend of Southern charm. Her latest rel...

Arlo Parks

20 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

With two EPs and a seemingly endless number of accolades from nearly every tastemaker in the music industry under her belt, it’s an understateme...

Anjimile

13 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Malawi-born and Boston-based musician Anjimile has more resilience and fortitude than your average 27-year-old. After battling alcoholism, the queer t...

Yves Jarvis

06 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

As Troy Nelson details in this week’s Live on KEXP,  Jean-Sébastien Yves Audet has created an incredibly large body of work for only...

Stella Donnelly

30 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A skillfully quick-witted musician, Stella Donnelly rose from the secluded coastal beaches of Perth to a world-touring artist by being uncompromisingl...

Songhoy Blues

23 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In an effort to explain the context of the land from which the desert blues rockers Songhoy Blues reside, Troy Nelson delves into the meaning behind t...

Tricky

16 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

“I meant to behave.  There were just too many other options.” While this quote comes from paranormal romantic thriller writer Darynda...

Slow Pulp

09 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

“Age is just a number. It’s irrelevant unless, of course, you happen to be a bottle of wine.” This Joan Collins quote sets the tone ...

Bartees Strange

02 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

“Conform, go crazy or become an artist.” DC-based musician Bartees Strange understands this sentiment well. As an artist, he’s pushi...

Jupiter & Okwess

23 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” So Shakespeare wrote in Hamlet. Or to put it ...

Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings

16 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Live on KEXP is doing something a little different. In honor of Black History Month, we’re revisiting an incredible performance from ...

Blimes and Gab

09 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Rapping is hard. To deliver lyrics clearly, with speed and cadence, with rhythm and syncopation and with meaning, with TRUTH, is really dang HARD. Bli...

The New Pornographers

02 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It’s a rarity and an honor when a band is able to not only stick around for 20 years but still make music that people love and connect to. Canad...

Caroline Rose

26 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If there’s one thing that hit shows like ’Sopranos’ and ‘Breaking Bad’ have taught us, it’s that we love an anti-h...

Son Rompe Pera

19 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The older they get, the cooler your parents are (or whoever plays that role in your life.) Mexico City-raised trio Son Rompe Pera know this well. The ...

IDLES

12 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

So, way back when, in 2020, there were 262 “working days.” Whatever that means. Nevertheless, KEXP favorites IDLES spent one of those days...

Adia Victoria

05 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Adia Victoria hails from Spartanburg, South Carolina, informally known as “The Upstate” just a few miles down Highway 9 from the trucks hu...

Hot Chip

29 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In summer 2019, when the world looked vastly different, Hot Chip dropped their seventh full-length, ‘A Bath Full of Ecstasy.’ One of their...

Corridor

22 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

As the very first Francophone band signed to Sub Pop, Corridor prove that they’re worth their salt with their third studio album, ‘Junior....

Courtney Marie Andrews

15 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

With a long, community-driven career in music, Courtney Marie Andrews’ Grammy nomination for her latest album, ‘Old Flowers,’ feels ...

Ana Tijoux

08 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

“It is not enough to say that justice takes time but it’s coming soon. Justice that is not exercised when appropriate is not justice.&rdqu...

Bambara

01 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today’s episode is brought to you by the letter “B,” with the brooding brutalism and bashing bombardment of Bambara. Using the belov...

Frances Quinlan

24 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The sooner you start, the greater chance you have of doing something for half your life. This is something Frances Quinlan understands, as she’s...

Kelly Lee Owens

17 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Ever take a bath in sound? Like a full-on gong-bathing sonic immersion? Well, that’s what the music of Kelly Lee Owens both sounds and feels lik...

Sessa

10 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Writing of reality, like all forms of truth-telling, is dangerous. That hasn’t stopped Brazilian musician Sessa from forging ahead and blending ...

Habibi

03 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

According to Rumi, “The Wound is the place where the Light enters you.” Iranian American band Habibi know this better than most and use th...

Polyrhythmics

27 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Seattle-based collective Polyrhythmics specializes in a flavorful blend of progressive funk, psychedelic rock and modern afro-beat. As Troy Nelson exp...

Kassa Overall

20 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

You know that feeling you get when you hear something that's just the right kind of new? Seattle-born, Brooklyn-based Kassa Overall is redefining jazz...

Andy Shauf

13 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Singer/songwriter Andy Shauf is a master storyteller who adeptly weaves complex stories and tenderly realistic emotions with softly strummed folk rock...

Jamila Woods

06 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Chicago poet and R&B songstress Jamila Woods is a budding phenom and self-love champion who radiates radically positive energy. Last year, she rel...

Metronomy

29 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Over the past 14 years, Metronomy has released 6 albums that span such a diverse range of genres and sonic textures that it’s tough to pin down ...

Dr. Dog

22 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Philadelphia’s Dr. Dog have spent two decades specializing in bright, jaunty sing-along tunes that have captured the hearts of a large and rabid...

Yīn Yīn

15 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Listening to Yīn Yīn, you might expect the band to hail from the country from which their main source of inspiration is derived: Thailand. Instead, ...

Travis Thompson

08 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Burien’s biggest musical export Travis Thompson has been building buzz since signing a record deal with major label Epic last year to release hi...

Moundrag

01 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Brother band Moundrag brag about their lack of guitars, which may not seem like a big deal, but you try making heavy progressive psych without it! Cam...

L'Eclair

25 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Swiss six-piece L’Eclair make eccentric grooves inspired by an eclectic combination of sources including dub, funk, krautrock, ambient, and prog...

The Joy Formidable

18 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Welsh band The Joy Formidable have spent the past decade making stadium-ready indie rock opuses that sound larger than life itself. In 2019, after rel...

Matthew Dear

11 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Veteran electronic producer Matthew Dear is a self-described “tinkerer” and “loop-obsessed” musician who is known for crafting...