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A post shared by Song Exploder (@songexploder) on Dec 26, 2019 at 6:38am PST

The band Vampire Weekend started in 2006, in New York. Their third album came out in 2013 and it was named one of the best albums of the year all over the place, and it won a Grammy. But then, it took six years for their next album, Father of the Bride, to come out. This album’s also been nominated for a Grammy, for album of the year. And the lead single from it, “Harmony Hall,” was nominated for Best Rock Song.

In this episode, Ezra Koenig from Vampire Weekend takes “Harmony Hall” apart. I spoke to him along with producer Ariel Rechtshaid, and the two of them detailed winding path the song went down, over several years, before it finally took shape.

You can buy or stream “Harmony Hall” here.

Right now, Radiotopia is holding its annual fundraiser. You can help support Song Exploder and the network that makes it possible. Make your mark. Go to Radiotopia.fm to donate today.

For a transcript of this episode, click here.

Illustration by Carlos Lerma.

footnotes
Origin of the Alice Cooper quote
Mark Ronson
Rostam Batmangliij, additional production
Danielle Haim, backing vocals
Dave Longstreth, backing vocals

 

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A post shared by Song Exploder (@songexploder) on Dec 11, 2019 at 10:02am PST

Meek Mill is a rapper from Philadelphia. He’s put out five albums. His most recent, Championships, debuted at #1 on the charts, and was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rap Album.

Back in 2007, He was arrested on a gun charge at the age of 19, and over the last eleven years, he was sent to prison four times for parole violations. But in July 2019, based on evidence of alleged police corruption, the Pennsylvania Superior Court threw out his conviction, and the parole violation that had led to his most recent time in prison, a five-month sentence.

It was soon after Meek Mill was released that this song, “Trauma,” was created. He took inspiration from his experiences in prison, and his early life in Philadelphia.

In this episode, Meek Mill and Don Cannon, who produced the track, break down how the whole thing came together.

Learn more about the Reform Alliance here.

You can buy or stream “Trauma” here.

Right now, Radiotopia is holding its annual fundraiser. You can help support Song Exploder and the network that makes it possible. Make your mark. Go to Radiotopia.fm to donate today.

For a transcript of this episode, click here.

Illustration by Carlos Lerma.

footnotes
Meek Mill – “Getaway Freestyle”
Barclay James Harvest – “Taking Me Higher”
1500 or Nothin’ (band)

 

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A post shared by Song Exploder (@songexploder) on Nov 27, 2019 at 10:03am PST

Natasha Khan makes music under the name Bat for Lashes. She’s released five albums, including Lost Girls, which came out in September 2019. In this episode, she breaks down the making of the lead single from that album, called “Kids in the Dark.” But just before she started writing it, she wasn’t sure if she would make another album at all.

You can buy or stream “Kids in the Dark” here.

Right now, Radiotopia is holding its annual fundraiser. You can help support Song Exploder and the network that makes it possible. Make your mark. Go to Radiotopia.fm to donate today.

For a transcript of this episode, click here.

Illustration by Carlos Lerma.

footnotes
Com Truise – “Propagation”
Castle Rock
Charles Scott IV (producer)
Prophet synthesizer