by Mary Dolan

Key Change: James Acaster

“Hey Ya!” by OutKast

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My guest today is James Acaster, a comedian, author, musician, and interviewer. He’s filmed comedy specials for HBO and Netflix, which are hilarious and high concept. His musical project, Temps, has released an album and an EP. He’s written multiple books, including one about how the year 2016 was the greatest year for music. James also co-hosts the food podcast Off Menu, with comedian Ed Gamble. And I’ve listened to more hours of Off Menu than any other podcast. James and Ed don’t know it, but they’re my best friends. And I have lured James out of the parasocial relationship that we have in my head and into this conversation with me, to talk about a song that had a profound effect on his life.

You can buy or stream “Hey Ya!” here.

footnotes:
Nish Kumar
André 3000
Black Sabbath and AC/DC
Nu metal
Limp Bizkit
“Dressed To Kill” – Eddie Izzard
James’ latest standup special, “Hecklers Welcome”

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by Tiger Biskup

Episode 289: Severance

Theodore Shapiro – Severance (Main Title Theme)

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The TV show Severance debuted on Apple TV+ in February 2022. It was created by writer Dan Erickson, and developed into a series by director and executive producer Ben Stiller. He directed the pilot and most of the episodes. After the first season came out, Severance was nominated for 14 Emmys, including Outstanding Drama Series, and it won two Emmys: for Main Title Design and for Musical Composition. I love this show, and the main title sequence is incredible. I was so excited to get to talk to the composer, Theodore Shapiro, about how he made the main title theme music. In this episode, you’ll hear how that theme first came into existence in a totally different form, and then, how Teddy re-imagined it to become the final version.

You can buy or stream the Severance main title theme here.

Illustration by Carlos Lerma.

For a transcript of this episode, click here.

footnotes:
Rob Moose and Gabriel Cabezas – strings
Oliver Latta aka Extraweg – main title design
Theodore Shapiro and Ben Stiller had previously worked together on Dodgeball, Tropic Thunder, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, and Zoolander 2
Adam Scott
Temp track
Moog Model D
Bobby McFerrin

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by Mary Dolan

Key Change: Hanif Abdurraqib

“Lost In the Supermarket” by The Clash

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My guest today is Hanif Abdurraqib, a poet, cultural critic, and New York Times bestselling author of books like They Can’t Kill us Until They Kill Us, Go Ahead in the Rain: Notes to A Tribe Called Quest, and A Little Devil in America, which won the Andrew Carnegie medal for nonfiction. I’ve been a guest on Hanif’s podcast, Object of Sound, and I just love reading and hearing his thoughts about music. When I first started toying with the idea for this Key Change series, I was specifically excited about the idea that it could give me the chance to have Hanif on as a guest.

You can buy or stream “Lost in the Supermarket” here.

footnotes:
Hanif’s profile on Spotify
The Columbus Metropolitan Library
Whitney Houston
Miriam Makeba
Hugh Masekela
The Oregon Trail
“Call The Doctor” by Sleater-Kinney
Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein
“Rudy Can’t Fail,” “Brand New Cadillac,” and “Jimmy Jazz” – The Clash

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