Goapele is a singer/songwriter from the Bay Area. She released her first album in 2001. Since then, she’s released five more albums and collaborated with Snoop Dogg. In 2017, on her album Dreamseeker, she put out the song “Stand.” It was written in the wake of the shooting death of Oscar Grant, a 22-year-old black man who was shot and killed while unarmed and handcuffed by a Bay Area Rapid Transit Police officer. The shooting took place in 2009. In this episode, Goapele tells the story of why it took 8 years for her to finish the song.

You can get “Stand” on iTunes.

Illustration by Carlos Lerma.

For a transcript of this episode, click here.

footnotes
The shooting of Oscar Grant
Fruitvale Station, a film by Ryan Coogler about Oscar Grant’s murder.

Fleet Foxes formed in Seattle, Washington in 2006. In 2011, they put out their second record, which was nominated for a Grammy; and then, the band went on hiatus. The lead singer and songwriter, Robin Pecknold, moved to New York to go to Columbia University. In 2017, the band returned with their third album, Crack-Up. And in this episode, Robin breaks down a song from that record called “Mearcstapa.”

You can get “Mearcstapa” on iTunes.

Illustration by Carlos Lerma.

For a transcript of this episode, click here.

footnotes
Ali Farka Touré – “Petenere”
Bernard Moitessier
The Beach Boys – “Feel Flows”
Can – “Vitamin C”
Mahmoud Guinia – “Makawyahy” (using the krakeb)

Michelle Branch is a Grammy-winning singer/songwriter. She put two platinum albums when she was still a teenager. Those records were huge hits, and so her sound on those records defined her as an artist—for better or worse. Over a decade later, and after a long stretch, in 2017, Michelle put out her third album, Hopeless Romantic. In this episode, Michelle talks about why she was in musical limbo for so long, as she takes apart her song “Best You Ever.”

You can get “Best You Ever” on iTunes.

Illustration by Carlos Lerma.

For a transcript of this episode, click here.

footnotes
Michelle Branch – Everywhere
Amy Kuney
Harlan Silverman
The Black Keys
Patrick Carney
Gus Seyffert