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Song Exploder

Song Exploder is a podcast where musicians take apart their songs, and piece by piece, tell the story of how they were made. Each episode is produced and edited by host Hrishikesh Hirway in Los Angeles. Song Exploder is a member of the Radiotopia podcast network.  

 
 
 
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Björk

Björk breaks down the making of both the original version of the song “Stonemilker,” as well as the strings version. She traces her writing and recording process for the track, her collaboration with the electronic producer Arca, and why she wanted to make a second version.

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Wilco

Jeff Tweedy of Wilco breaks down the song Magnetized, from their Star Wars album. In addition to collaborating with his five bandmates, John Stirratt, Pat Sansone, Mike Jorgensen, Nels Cline, and Glenn Kotche, it turns out Jeff Tweedy makes an active effort to remove his own ego from the process of songwriting.

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Transparent TV Show

Composer Dustin O’Halloran breaks down how he made the Transparent show theme, using an 80-year old piano and channeling his own family nostalgia. The story centers on a family where the father, played by Jeffrey Tambor, comes out to his children and the to world at large as transgender.

 

“Song Exploder is probably the best use of the podcast format ever.” — Vulture