Episode 14: Open Mike Eagle

“Dark Comedy Morning Show (feat. Toy Light)”

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In this episode, rapper Open Mike Eagle talks about making the song Dark Comedy Morning Show, along with the track’s producer, Walker Ashby, aka Toy Light. Mike breaks down how Toy Light’s original instrumental version of this song inspired him, and how his view of his own vocals on the track has changed since recording them.

Buy the song “Dark Comedy Morning Show (feat. Toy Light)” on bandcamp.

For a transcript of this episode, click here.

footnotes
A Tribe Called Quest – Steve Biko (Stir It Up)

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Episode 13: The Microphones

“I Want Wind to Blow”

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Phil Elverum released the album The Glow, Pt 2 on K Records. Pitchfork named it the best album of the year. In this episode, Phil recounts how he created the first song on the record at Dub Narcotic Studio. He spoke with me from his home in Anacortes, Washington, about his love of being alone in the studio, evoking nature through music, and where the name The Microphones comes from. Plus a few words from Calvin Johnson, the founder of K Records.

Buy “I Want Wind to Blow” on Amazon MP3 here. Phil Elverum’s website is pwelverumandsun.com, where you can buy the album The Glow, Pt 2 on CD, or on vinyl as a double LP.

Here’s the original recording chart for this track (as described by Phil Elverum in the episode).

TheMicrophones_RecordingChart

For a transcript of this episode, click here.

footnotes
The recording of the Thunderclouds playing “Don’t Worry Baby” by the Beach Boys is from The Microphones album Blood.

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Episode 12: Converge

“Dark Horse”

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The band Converge formed in 1990, when its members were teenagers. They’ve been making music that lives somewhere in the intersection of punk, hardcore, and metal for almost 25 years. Guitarist Kurt Ballou spoke to me from his studio GodCity, which is where Converge writes and records. I also spoke over the phone with singer Jake Bannon. Coming up, they’ll talk about how the physical space of GodCity influenced their songwriting, how the Boston hardcore scene gave them a home, and how to get the classic Swedish death metal guitar tone.

Buy “Dark Horse” on iTunes here. Converge’s website is convergecult.com. They’re also on Facebook and Twitter.

For a transcript of this episode, click here.

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