In Our Headphones will be back next week with song recommendations from Lace Cadence, host of The Continent.

But this week, we'd like to share another KEXP podcast: The Cobain 50, which explores the famous list Kurt Cobain left behind in one of his journals naming his Top 50 albums. Hosted by Martin Douglas and Dusty Henry, the series digs into a different album from the list each week, discussing its influence on Nirvana and the bigger themes still resonating today.

On this episode, Dusty Henry dives into 'Surfer Rosa' by The Pixies. It's arguably the most influential "alternative music" album of the 90s — not just for Nirvana, but artists worldwide. Surfer Rosa was Nevermind before Nevermind.

Subscribe to The Cobain 50 wherever you get your podcasts.

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KEXP Variety Mix DJ Reeves shares a sinister ambient track, some optimistic indie rock, and changes the show name to In Our Chat Pile, in honor of the Oklahoma City-based band. He also shares a sweet story and shout-out to his Dad. Plus, KEXP Music Director Chris Sanley shares a hypnotic track from a long-time KEXP fave band, that she describes as the “middle ground between Radiohead and Young Fathers.“

1. Lustmord - “Entrails of the God Machine” 
2. Chat Pile - "I am Dog Now"
3. Rui Gabriel - “Target”
4. Drive-By Truckers - “Gravity's Gone” 
5. Wand - "Mistletoe"

Listen to the full songs on KEXP's "In Our Headphones 2024" playlist on Spotify or the “What's In Our Headphones” playlist on YouTube.

Listen to DJ Reeves on Saturdays from 2-6 AM PT, or anytime on the 2-week archive, at KEXP.org or the KEXP App.

Hosted and produced by: Janice Headley and Isabel Khalili
Mixed by: Emily Fox
Mastered by: William Myers
Editorial Director: Larry Mizell Jr.

Our theme music is “好吗 (Hao Ma)” by Chinese American Bear

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Greg Vandy is the host of The Roadhouse, KEXP’s Sunday morning roots and American music show. He talks with Isabel Khalili about how the show is more about a feeling than a genre, and how he uses music to draw connections between the past and present. Then he shares three songs he’s been loving lately, from 60’s girl group harmonies to a soulful expression of joy, plus one lesser known track from the inventor of the power chord.

Lastly, we hear from KEXP Music Director Chris Sanley about a powerful indie collaboration recorded at Abbey Road Studios.

Songs featured:

1. The Lostines - “A Tear”
2. Scott Ballew - “True Love Can’t Surf”
3. Allison Russell - “The Returner”
4. Link Wray - “From Tulsa To North Carolina”
5. IAN SWEET & Porridge Radio - "Everyone's A Superstar"

Listen to the full songs on KEXP's "In Our Headphones 2024" playlist on Spotify or the “What's In Our Headphones” playlist on YouTube.

Listen to Greg Vandy on The Roadhouse live every Sunday from 9am to noon Pacific Time, or anytime on the 2-week archive, at KEXP.org or the KEXP App.

Hosted and produced by: Janice Headley and Isabel Khalili
Mixed by: Emily Fox
Mastered by: William Myers
Editorial Director: Larry Mizell Jr.

Our theme music is “好吗 (Hao Ma)” by Chinese American Bear

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Ana Lua Caiano - "Mão na Mão" from the 2023 self-released album Se Dançar É Só Depois

Portuguese multi-disciplinary artist Ana Lua Caiano studied classical music for eight years, and then studied jazz for four years at the prestigious Escola De Jazz Luiz Villas-Boas, the oldest jazz club in Europe. In 2017, she joined the acoustic ensemble Os Vertigem, but when the pandemic hit and she couldn't play music with others anymore, she decided to embark on a solo endeavor. 

Caiano combines traditional Portuguese music with modern electronic sounds, using a synthesizer and a loop station in her live performances. Her second EP, Se Dan​ç​ar É Só Depois, was released earlier this year. 

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Gabriel Teodros - "If They Come for Me in the Morning... (feat. Aisha Fukushima)" from the 2020 self-released album What We Leave Behind.

Seattle artist (and KEXP DJ) Gabriel Teodros celebrates the 20th anniversary of his first solo show at Rainier Valley Cultural Center with this new collection of previously unreleased tracks, "with a few new songs recorded specifically for this project," he adds, continuing, "Wanted to give y'all something special for all the love you've given me these past few decades. There's a completely new album coming this year as well... but for now you can enjoy these lost tapes."

Today's KEXP Song of the Day was originally written and recorded in 2015, inspired by Sandra Bland, letters between Angela Davis and James Baldwin, and the 400+ year legacy of Black freedom fighters. Public speaker, educator, singer, and 'RAPtivist' (rap activist) Aisha Fukushima appears on guest vocals. 

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The Beths - "I'm Not Getting Excited" from the 2020 album Jump Rope Gazers on Carpark Records.

New Zealand pop band The Beths return this month with their sophomore album Jump Rope Gazers, out July 10th via Carpark Records. But frontwoman Elizabeth Stokes is keeping her cool about it. In a press release, she states:

“People always ask ‘are you excited!?’ and it’s a fair question, because exciting things do happen to us sometimes. Support slots, overseas tours, music releases. Stuff we’ve dreamed about for years. So the correct answer is always ‘yes.’ But the truth is that deep down there’s a tiny Liz saying, ‘don’t get excited.’ She is certain that anything good that could happen will most likely not happen, because of a freak accident. Or because somebody finally realises that we aren’t worthy, shouts ‘phony!’ and takes everything away. I wrote ‘I’m Not Getting Excited’ last year, well before everything really did get taken away. From everyone. It feels like the song has a new context, but we don’t know what it is yet. And now we all share a blurry, uncertain future.”

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Fontaines D.C. - "A Hero's Death" from the 2020 album A Hero's Death on Partisan Records.

Don't ask Fontaines D.C. frontman Grian Chatten about the meaning behind today's KEXP Song of the Day. "I'm not sure myself," he confesses to the BBC. "I purposefully keep the things I write open to interpretation, even to myself."

But the track also serves as the title of the Irish post-punk band's forthcoming full-length, out July 31st via Partisan Records. "I found the idea quite funny — because I'm half-expecting people to dislike [the album]," he continued. "So, the idea of calling it A Hero's Death is kind of laughing about that and setting people up for disappointment."

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Gordi - "Sandwiches" from the 2020 album Our Two Skins on Jagjaguwar.

On her latest LP Our Two Skins, Australian folktronica artist Gordi (real name: Sophie Payten) mourns the passing of her beloved grandmother, Alisa, whose spirit fills the gorgeous new album. It was even recorded in her hometown. "Her whole life was in Canowindra, and that's why I wanted to make the record there," Payten explains via a press release. "We made it in a house that's a hundred meters from her house."

The title of today's Song of the Day was derived from a moment during Alisa's last day in the world. Payten explained to ABC that she and her mother were making sandwiches to disperse among those visiting around her grandmother's hospital bed. “It was one of those moments where everyone was finally taking their first breath of the day that she chose to quietly slip away.”

“I’d been wanting to write a song about her and all of it, but I didn’t want it to be this terribly dreary, melancholic song, because it was a celebration of a life. So, I tried to focus on the tiny details.”

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Phoebe Bridgers - "Kyoto" from the 2020 album Punisher on Dead Oceans.

Singer/songwriter Phoebe Bridgers has always brought a vulnerability and candidness to her lyrics, but especially on her highly-anticipated sophomore album Punisher, where she tackles themes of loneliness, disappointment, and feeling like an outsider. And on today's featured track, in particular, Bridgers works through her complicated feelings about her father. 

Bridgers has written about her complicated feelings for her dad before, but on today's KEXP Song of the Day, she tackles it from a new perspective. “I feel so much fucking empathy and so much fucking anger toward him,” she told The New Yorker.  She elaborated in an interview with NPR Music:

"This record, in a lot of ways, kind of feels like a graduation, but I feel like I'm trying to be self-aware about my resentments. I feel like I have strong opinions weakly held. So that's what 'Kyoto' is about. There's a lot of just straight up hatred and resentment on the first record — about all kinds of people — and then on this record I'm exploring just how quickly that all goes away with a little bit of examination."

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Deep Sea Diver - "Stop Pretending," a 2020 self-released single.

Seattle's Deep Sea Diver has managed to adapt creatively to the stay-at-home orders. As we reported via our Sound & Vision series in April (listen here), band members Jessica Dobson and Peter Mansen have been doling out "stems" — a drum beat or guitar riff to play with and create a song out of — and then featuring the best songs every weekend via Instagram Live. The project even resulted in today's featured track, “Stop Pretending.”

"We recorded this song, 'Stop Pretending', this week, as we were continuing to stay at home," they explained via their Bandcamp page. "The song was written using a collaboration exercise that we had given to our fans as an outlet to create and find connection in a time of duress & isolation (we called it the "Stay Home Stems" series) — and it ended up also working for us — this song was written, recorded, mixed and mastered in two days at our house, & this what we have to show for it. [I] often write apocalyptic songs as way to enter a new world that juxtaposes despair with hope.. I hope it can bring a little bit of light in a dark season."

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Liv.e - “SirLadyMakemFall “ from the 2020 Bout These Pipedreams / Lessons from My Mistakes.. but I Lost Your Number EP on In Real Life Music / AWAL.

Following a tour with Earl Sweatshirt and appearances on both his and Pink Siifu’s recent albums, Dallas-bred, Los Angeles-based artist Liv.e (pronounced "liv") somehow found time for a forthcoming full-length, titled Couldn't Wait To Tell You, out later this year via In Real Life Records. Today's featured track is a sneak peek at the upcoming release.

On today's Song of the Day, Liv.e taps into her roots for a little Western swing behind the soulful R&B sounds. She gave some insight into the track to The Fader, explaining, "'SirLadyMakemFall' started off as a conversation I was having with myself about how I would view myself from a feminine and masculine stand point. Hence 'sir lady.' Like what them boys gotta say about Liv? And what them girls gotta say?"

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Sibille Attar - “Hurt Me,” a 2020 single on PNKSLM Recordings.

Swedish singer/songwriter Sibille Attar shares a first listen of her forthcoming full-length out this fall via PNKSLM Recordings, a follow-up to her 2013 debut album Sleepyhead. Formerly a member of bands like The Tourettes and Speedmarket Avenue, Sleepyhead was the Scandinavian songstress's first solo effort, and her first on a major label. 

“Sleepyhead was my first attempt [at going solo] and I got signed to a big label and it was kind of overwhelming,” she told BTR Today. “Being told what to do was not my favorite thing, which meant it was a lot of unnecessary struggles, and I realized I should be independent… So I had to recollect myself — I was questioning my entire motive of doing music at all because I thought the industry was so shitty. I kind of lost my confidence. When everyone starts having opinions on what you do… I started questioning myself.”

Since signing with beloved indie label PNK SLM (hear our spotlight on KEXP's Weekly Mix podcast here), her confidence has returned, as evident on today's featured track. Listen below.

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Jake Blount - “Where Did You Sleep Last Night?” covered by Jake Blount from the 2020 album Spider Tales on Free Dirt Records.

The song "Where Did You Sleep Last Night?" has been covered hundreds of times before — the track is often associated with blues musician Lead Belly, but the Nirvana version from their 1993 MTV Unplugged performance is perhaps the best known rendition. And now, banjo player and fiddler Jake Blount has added his own interpretation, influenced by his research into Black and Indigenous cultures, as well as his own experiences as an LGBTQ activist. 

“Connecting with my family history and my father’s childhood history, he’d talk about people disappearing,” he reflected in a press release. “Those lynchings didn’t all happen in broad daylight; my dad talked about people in his community ‘disappearing’ and you’d kind of assume what had happened. For me there was a very direct connection between what I’d gone through in the queer community and this narrative of disappearance and loss that surrounded the Black community in the South throughout much of our nation’s history, and still arguably does.” 

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SPECSWIZARD - “Floyd,” a 2020 self-released single.

Michael Hall is a long-time fixture of Seattle's hip-hop scene, recording under the names Specs One and Specs Wizard. (Seattle's bi-weekly alt-paper The Stranger dubbed him "the Holy Ghost of Northwest Hiphop.") He began rapping and making beats while growing up in the High Point neighborhood of West Seattle in 1979, began releasing albums in the late '80s, and made waves with his crew The Elevators throughout the '90s. 

Today's Song of the Day is a powerful reflection on the murder of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. "And if you Black, you know that this is nothing new," he raps solemnly against a wistful piano loop. Hear his musical memorial below.

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Panthervision - "Wish You Were Here (Baby it's Christmas)" a 2023 single on Fetish Pop

This week, we are continuing a long-held tradition of featuring Christmas-themed Songs of the Day, selected by Brian Foss, one of the hosts of KEXP’s punk show Sonic Reducer. He will be hosting his 20th annual Punk Rock Xmess on Saturday, December 23rd from 9 PM to midnight PT, and then tune in on Monday, December 25th from 7 AM - 4 PM PT, for No Standards Christmas. You won't hear a single "holiday standard," but instead get a mix of soul, rock, blues, hip-hop, and more!

Portland power-pop quartet Panthervision first formed in 2019, but its members have been active in the local music scene for fifteen years, playing in bands like Beyond Veronica, Spiral Electric, and Spy Device. Their concept with the new project was "The Muffs meets Sweet, but The Yardbirds are in there somewhere, and some pre-'Walk Like An Egyptian' Bangles … and most of all, their own style and enthusiasm."

It's a goal they achieve on their debut album, Now In 3​-​D, released back in January 2023, and on today's Song of the Day, a rollicking holiday track. 

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Danny Denial - "I'm Not Your Type (feat. DoNormaal)" from the 2020 album fuck danny denial on Cruisin' Records.

On his third solo album, "goth-punk auteur" Danny Denial teams up with The Black Tones’ Eva Walker, Rat Queen, Razor Clam, and, on today's Song of the Day, DoNormaal. When KEXP premiered this track late last year, Denial told our writer Martin Douglas: 

"I approached this solo record mainly wanting to experiment with genre and work with artists and bands I admire, and 'I'm not your type' felt like the right song to push the envelope. I created the foundation for the beat cutting up pieces of Courtney Love's breathing and screaming, and worked with a producer called Bibz in New York, and then took it to DoNormaal in Seattle to write and record the rest of the song, so its journey has been a very unique one. And, honestly, I think it's the first song I've ever made that I'd describe as 'fun.'"

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Baronhawk Poitier - "Temperado Tornado" from the 2020 Temperado Tornado EP on Honey Soundsystem.

Baronhawk Poitier is a busy man: not only is he a long-running DJ/producer, but he's also a professional dancer and co-founder of the NeedlExchange crew and club night in his hometown of Washington, D.C.

When Honey Soundsystem Records asked Baronhawk Poitier to make them an EP "he would want to dance to", he replied, "Oh Honey, I have never made any that I didn’t." Check out the title track from his latest dancefloor soundtrack. 

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Princess Nokia - "Gemini" from the 2020 self-released album Everything Is Beautiful.

Earlier this year, New York-born Puerto Rican MC Princess Nokia (real name: Destiny Nicole Frasqueri) released not one, but two albums: the perfectly-titled Everything Sucks and Everything is Beautiful. In a press release, Everything Sucks is described as “a brash, ruthless and insistent collection,” and Everything is Beautiful as “a representation of the sensitive, feminine side of the gender fluid artist.”

Today's Song of the Day reflects that duality as Frasqueri reflects on their astrological sign, the twins of the zodiac. “I am Gemini / Like Pac, André, Lauren / and Kanye, Boy George, and Anne Frank,” they rap. “And all the famous rappers got a sign like me / And all the famous rappers got a heart like me / But I know that I’m different and they’re not quite me.”

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Zebra Katz - IN IN IN - from the 2020 album LESS IS MOOR on ZFK Records.

Following a worldwide tour with Gorillaz in support of their 2017 album Humanz, Jamaican-American artist Zebra Katz returns in a big way with his long-awaited debut solo album Less Is Moor. In an interview with PAPER, Katz talks about KEXP's featured track:

"This single is very much a re-introduction to the music sphere. 'IN IN IN' is a sonic reflection to how I see the world. I'm taking ownership of my narrative. While doing so, I want to explore social issues surrounding race, sexuality, and the black experience. I wanted to stay true to the minimalistic style that introduced me to the world while also taking a sonic risk and evolving as an individual and musician.

I wanted to tell a story in a fun, energetic way while still touching on issues of everyday life. To me, it's a grandiose dark dance anthem with elements of house, ballroom, and Qgom. I hope it leads my listeners back into the Zebra zone."

We'll meet you there.

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Shamir - "On My Own," a 2020 self-released single.

I don't mind to live all on my own

and I never did...

I don't care to feel like I belong

But you always did… 

Following the release of his sixth full-length album Cataclysm, Shamir returns with the appropriately-titled stand-alone single "On My Own," where the Philadelphia-based artist asserts his independence against a '90s-influenced guitar-pop melody. It's a sneak peek at another forthcoming full-length slated to come out this Fall. 

The song was inspired by a recent break-up. He told Rolling Stone magazine, “I wrote ‘On My Own’ last summer after a breakup as a way to remind myself that while it sucked to lose someone I was getting used to, at least I’m an introvert. But considering the pandemic, it’s also morphed into an accidental quarantine anthem, especially for the people who live alone like me.”

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Shabazz Palaces - "Chocolate Souffle" from the 2020 album The Don of Diamond Dreams on Sub Pop.

With each new Shabazz Palaces release, it feels like we’re given a glimpse into a distant future, or maybe a far off galaxy, or possibly a parallel universe similar but maybe just a bit better than our own. Whichever theory you subscribe to, it goes without saying that the Seattle group’s music exists within a world of its own.

Their latest album, The Don of Diamond Dreams, is another mind-bending trip guided by Ishamel Butler’s cool, prophetic rhymes. On “Chocolate Souffle” he claims himself to be at the “zenith of slick demeanors” while synthesizers blurt and thump beneath. He swipes at phones for being “not that smart,” proclaiming himself an explorer instead of a scroller. Butler’s lyrics often look at the world from a million miles away but still cut with vindication from someone who has lived on and seen the mental traps of planet Earth.

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Read KEXP writer Martin Douglas’ review of ‘The Don of Diamond Dreams’

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Bee Bee Sea - "Daily Jobs," a 2020 single on Wild Honey Records.

Italian garage punk act Bee Bee Sea abide by a succinct mantra: “When there's no good shit around, you better form a band.” That spirit exudes through the ramshackle, PA system shaking riffs the band has been churning out since releasing their self-titled debut in 2015.

Their latest single, “Daily Jobs,” shrieks and howls like a sugar-rushed younger sibling demanding you give up the controller and give them their turn on the Super Nintendo. Jagged riffs mutate into wobbly, brain-twisters, and stabbing rhythms akin to the visceral tones of bands like Oh Sees and Together Pangea. In the frantic fury of the song are endless melodic hooks that will rattle in your skull and fuel your own rebellious spirit.

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Tropea - "Technicolor" from the 2020 self-released Might Delete Later EP.

Tropea describes their music as "pajama music for pajama people," a fitting description for their dreamy '80s-inspired synth-pop sound. Formed in Milan, Italy in 2017, the band self-produced their forthcoming EP, Might Delete Later, while on lockdown during the COVID-19 crisis. 

"This song is loud and fun to play. In our live shows people go insane, dancing '80s or 2010s style or whatever they like," the band said via a press release. "It’s a very bonding moment and it gives a sense of community with our audience. We wanted to capture the same live energy, but also give it a new meaning since we are facing tough times: it’s a song for dreaming, dancing, or just exercising and taking care of oneself, for burning with love and taking care of each other even in the midst of the difficulties of this absurd world. It’s a tribute to those who help others see the magic, despite our illusions and the lies we tell ourselves”.

Might Delete Later was released on June 12th via Butik and peermusicITALY.

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Joensuu 1685 - "Light in the Heart of Our Town" from the 2020 album ÖB on Gems Records.

Formed in 2007 in Helsinki, Finland, Joensuu 1685 — a project of brothers Markus and Mikko Joensuu and non-related bassist Risto Joensuu — have been dormant for over a decade, but a 2018 reunion performance at the Flow Festival ignited the spark for them to complete an unfinished album.

Today's featured track was inspired by "an image of a dying town," Mikko explained. “About a person in front of a gas station right at the edge of town, seeing the town and seeing oneself, what was, what is and what will be. It’s an image of the hope that runs deep in our bones…” 

The long-awaited sophomore release, titled ÖB, will be released October 9th via Gems Records. 

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Orion Sun - "Ne Me Quitte Pas (Don't Leave Me)" from the 2020 album Hold Space For Me on Mom + Pop Records.

Philadelphia’s Orion Sun – aka songwriter Tiffany Majette – made her official full-length debut earlier this year with Hold Space For Me, but she’s been honing her craft for years with multi-instrumentalist expertise. Bringing in sounds of R&B, soul, and pop together, she tells her story with enthralling prose and dazzling production. 

Her single “Ne Me Quitte Passe (Don’t Leave Me)” takes inspiration from Nina Simone’s rendition of Jacques Brel’s song of the same name. Yet Majette opts to flip the feeling of sadness in Simone’s song and seek joy. Majette describes her song as being about “falling in love unexpectedly & feeling like its too good to be true but actually it’s good and true. This feeling was proof to me that good things can happen to people that feel ugly inside.” 

You can feel it in the lift of her voice as she sings “It feels so good know” you over sparse beats and plucks of guitar. It’s a song for getting lost in hopeless romance, embracing tenderness and living in the bliss of the moment.  

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Problem Patterns - "Christmas Number One" a 2020 self-released single

This week, we are continuing a long-held tradition of featuring Christmas-themed Songs of the Day, selected by Brian Foss, one of the hosts of KEXP’s punk show Sonic Reducer. He will be hosting his 20th annual Punk Rock Xmess on Saturday, December 23rd from 9 PM to midnight PT, and then tune in on Monday, December 25th from 7 AM - 4 PM PT, for No Standards Christmas. You won't hear a single "holiday standard," but instead get a mix of soul, rock, blues, hip-hop, and more!

Problem Patterns — self-described as Belfast's pre-eminent DIY feminist queerpunk quartet — released their highly-anticipated debut album back in October, titled Blouse Club. But today's Song of the Day takes us back to 2020, when they released this single during a tumultuous season. As they wrote at the time:

This year, many of us will be spending Christmas alone for the first time ever, and for a few of us, that is the norm. The holiday season can be an incredibly isolating time in general. We wrote this song in an effort to try and look on the bright side of an otherwise tough situation. For the video, we wanted to collaborate and connect with a few friendly faces. We may not be able to be together right now, but stay hopeful. 

Whatever your plans are, we hope that you are safe and sound.
Sending love to anyone who needs it.
Merry Christmas,
Bev, Beth, Ciara and Alanah 
xxxx

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A message from Kevin Cole, Afternoon Show host and Chief Content Officer, on behalf of KEXP.

We urge anyone who is looking to learn more about and support ongoing racial justice to visit our page with Anti-Racist and Social Justice Resources. There you will find organizations and funds for donations, online petitions, and resources for education and allyship.

Thank you.

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Chicano Batman - "I know It" from the 2020 album Invisible People on ATO.

On their fourth LP Invisible People, Los Angeles-based band Chicano Batman return with their unique fusion of funk, psych-pop, R&B, and more, fine-tuned by GRAMMY-award winning engineer Shawn Everett (Alabama Shakes, The War on Drugs) and producer Leon Michels (Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Lee Fields & The Expressions).

“This album is an evolution from our last one in that we put much more thought in our approach to the songwriting and production before hitting record,” guitarist Carlos Arévalo said via a press release. “We went in with a plan that helped guide the musical direction. We demoed songs for over a year before going into the studio as well. In the past, we’d pool some songs together, rehearse them for a few weeks and go in and simply record them. This time we had a much more elaborate MO; replace organs with synthesizers, make the guitars funkier, and have the drums and bass play beats that make your head bob up and down."

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Hollis - "Heavy Hands" from the 2020 half-life EP on Hollis.

Throughout the month of May, KEXP has been celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. We’re putting an extra spotlight this week on API artists with this week’s Song of the Day picks, capping off with Hollis’ “Heavy Hands.”

The Seattle local, whom you might recognize from her other project The Flavr Blue, is at her most soulful on the track. Waxing poetic on her inner struggles, Hollis finds self-realization that she can no longer wait for existential answers and finding power in the fact that there’s “no escaping myself.” Though it may read as a ballad, there’s empowerment to be found in Hollis’ words and her smooth, emotional vocal performance. — Dusty Henry

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K!MMORTAL - "Breathe," a 2020 self-released single.

Throughout the month of May, KEXP has been celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. We’re putting an extra spotlight this week on API artists with this week’s Song of the Day picks, continuing with K!MMORTAL’s “Breathe.”

"Breathe” was released for the current moment of uncertainty during the global pandemic but actually has its roots in much earlier. The Vancouver B.C. rapper wrote and recorded the song back in 2016 but recently released the track on Bandcamp, feeling it made sense for the these “highly fraught times.” K!MMORTAL dazzles with immaculate flow over glossy, dripping beats, culminating in a reminder to breathe and a reminder that we’ll be alright. Take a deep inhale, put on this song, and allow yourself the same moment of clarity K!MMORTAL exudes on this track. — Dusty Henry

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Lightning Bug - "The Onely Ones," a 2020 single on Fat Possum.

Throughout the month of May, KEXP has been celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. We’re putting an extra spotlight this week on API artists with this week’s Song of the Day picks, continuing with Lightning Bug’s “The Only Ones.”

Helmed by songwriter Audrey Kang, Lightning Bug has been making hazy, swooning music since arriving on the scene in 2015 with her project’s self-titled debut and continuing through last year’s excellent October Song LP. But if you’re just learning about Lightning Bug, her latest single “The Onely Ones” offers a spectacular entry point, with washes of guitar static and Kang’s effervescent vocal performance. It’s a beautiful sonic fog, one you won’t mind losing yourself in. — Dusty Henry

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MYXA - "Carrion" from the 2019 self-released album Mosca 蠅.

Throughout the month of May, KEXP has been celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. We’re putting an extra spotlight this week on API artists with this week’s Song of the Day picks, continuing with MYXA’s “Carrion.”

The Seattle trip-hop duo emerged last year with their dark and vibey debut MOSCA EP. The murky atmosphere is all consuming, heightened by Irene Fan’s haunting vocals coming in and out of the ghostly beats. “Carrion” also features lyrics contributed by South African author Ian S. Thomas, adding to the heady and immersive experience. — Dusty Henry

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MAITA - "Someone's Lost Their Wallet" from the 2020 album Best Wishes on Kill Rock Stars.

Throughout the month of May, KEXP has been celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. We’re putting an extra spotlight this week on API artists with this week’s Song of the Day picks, starting off with MAITA’s excellent “Someone’s Lost Their Wallet.” 

Read an excerpt from KEXP writer Martin Douglas’ previous debut on the track:

“[MAITA’s] ‘Someone's Lost Their Goddamn Wallet,’ setting the pace as the second track on Best Wishes (out May 15th on Kill Rock Stars), is steeped in the songwriting tradition of jaunty, lighthearted folk-rock being used as a Trojan Horse for the creeping dread of existentialism. It's 3 AM and the party is still moving through the night presumably without incident or noise complaints, both the front and back door are being used, bodies are moving around in the enjoyably predictable way they always move around at parties.”

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We’ve finally reached World Goth Day and DJ Abbie is going out with a bang – or rather a “Ravebomb.” This alternate mix from the Vancouver B.C. techno outfit lives up to its name. It’s a haunted eruption of sound, shrieking against the clamoring of drums. Bold, unrelenting, and even a bit frightening, it hits all the hallmarks of goth music.

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Oakland’s Houses of Heaven takes us into the homestretch of DJ Abbie’s Song of the Day pics leading into World Goth Day on May 22. The center piece of the group’s debut LP, “A Place Between” is quintessential goth with sharp, spelling-binding and dissonant percussion and whirls of cryptic drones and vocals. Playing the track loudly invokes the feeling of sweatily dancing in an underground club moments before stepping outside for the breath of invigorating fresh air.

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Continuing with her week of goth song of the day picks, DJ Abbie brings us the industrial banger that is Fee Lion’s “Blood Sisters.” The moniker of Justina Kairyte, she’s described the EP and titular song as themed around self-love. 

“I was experiencing a deep disconnect with myself and had to begin the journey of re-learning how to love myself, which can be so daunting,” she told Paper Mag. “There were many, many days where I just didn't leave my bed, didn't leave the house and most definitely did not work on music. This wouldn't be the first time; I am actively working on finding the balance in my process.” 

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Ricardo Autobahn - "Christmas Isn't Halloween," a 2020 single on Banoffee Sound

Today's Song of the Day isn't Ricardo Autobahn's first Christmas hit, not by a long shot. Under his birth name of John Matthews, he had a smash single with his band Cuban Boys in 1999, with the track "Cognoscenti vs. Intelligentsia" reaching #4 on the UK charts on Christmas week, and topping the infamous John Peel's Festive Fifty that year. 

You may also recognize Autobahn's talents in the projects Barndance Boys and Spray, or in his collaborations with Daz Sampson as Rikki & Daz. 

Today's featured track takes us back to his 2020 Banoffee Sound Singles Club release. Stay tuned for new music from Autobahn in January, including, what he calls, "assorted variations including the hyper hyper Helen Love remix."

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We’re continuing DJ Abbie’s week of songs leading up to World Goth Day on May 22. Despite what the name may imply, Glasgow band The Ninth Wave’s “Happy Days!” is not a happy affair. This is ‘Goth Day,’ we’re talking about here – what did you expect? 

“’Happy Days!’ is a song of ups and downs,” the band told DIY Mag earlier this month. “At its core, the lyrics shine a torchlight on the murky highs and lows of life.” 

You can feel this in the driving pulse of the record. Waves of dark synthesizer rumbles under vocalist/guitarist Hadyn Park-Patterson’s guttural growl. The sputtering drums and spacious pauses make the climactic moments feel mammoth in size. All to say, it’s a happy day for goths with this incendiary track. 

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Leading up to World Goth Day, DJ Abbie is giving you a dose of variations of goth every day this week. She’s kicking things off with an essential cut from The Birthday Party’s own Rowland S. Howard. 

While often associated with post-punk, there’s an unmistakable goth-ness to the landmark Australian musician’s work. “Autoluminescent,” a standout track from Howard’s debut Teenage Snuff Film, contorts and twists in a bluesy haze. It’s a highlight of the tender, personal side of goth. Howard’s voice shakes as he sings “Into the dark darkness, I gave away myself.”  

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Smokey Brights - "I Love You But Damn" from the 2020 album I Love You But Damn on Freakout Records.

Seattle's own Smokey Brights — led by husband and wife duo Kim West and Ryan Devlin — return this summer with a new album titled I Love You But Damn, out in July via Freakout Records. Via their Facebook page, the band describe the song as "a love song for times of distance. Written about the early months of our relationship, we hope it serves as an audial salve for tired hearts in these strange times." Listen to the title track here. 

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Coriky - "Clean Kill" from the 2020 album Coriky on Dischord Records.

Combine the melodic energy of the Evens and the gruff bark of Fugazi and you've got Coriky, not surprisingly, 'cause they feature members of both those bands. The trio of guitarist Ian MacKaye (Fugazi, Evens), bassist Joe Lally (Fugazi), and drummer Amy Farina (Evens) played their first show in late 2018, at St. Stephen and the Incarnation Episcopal Church in Washington D.C., but hadn't officially released anything 'til now. Their self-titled debut was recorded last year by Don Zientara at Inner Ear Studios, a name you've probably seen in the liner notes of most of your Dischord Records albums. Due to the coronavirus and the resulting closure of distributors and shops, they've postponed the release of the LP for now, but you can enjoy today's Song of the Day here. 

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DJ Python - "ADMSDP (feat. LA Warman)" from the 2020 album Mas Amable on Incienso.

New York-based producer Brian Piñeyro records under many names: Deejay Xanax, DJ Wey, Luis; but, it's under the moniker DJ Python that he takes things to a hypnotic level. On his sophomore full-length Mas Amable, released last month on Incienso, he combines ambient techno and what he calls "deep reggaeton" into a mesmerizing blend. There are no breaks between the eight tracks on the album, creating a dreamy vibe for almost an hour. On today's featured track, he teams up with Brooklyn writer and poet LA Warman, where her hushed verses echo against tribal beats. 

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Holy Esque - "Reverence Falls" from the 2020 CPH EP on Beyond the Frequency.

Scottish post-punk band Holy Esque are projecting a third album will be out in 2021, but until then, they've released their third EP, CPH, a collection of rarities, to tide us over in the meantime. The tracks on CPH were recorded back in 2014 at STC Studios, Copenhagen.

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William McCarthy - "Ballad for the Unemployed," a 2020 self-released single.

As the frontman for Pela and Augustines, Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter William McCarthy has never shied away from difficult topics. (Augustine's 2011 album Rise Ye Sunken Ships was influenced by the deaths of his mother and brother.) 

As a solo artist, McCarthy continues to explore darker subjects in his music, like on today's featured track “Ballad for the Unemployed.“

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DJ Houseplants - "Just Don't Know," a 2020 self-released single.

Seattle's own DJ Houseplants (aka DJ, producer, designer, and aspiring botanist Justin Av) says he's "driven by the vibrancy of the community there is at house & techno shows and wants everyone to thrive to the music." He certainly accomplishes that on today's Song of the Day.

KEXP's own Alex Ruder tells us: "He first made a splash on the local music scene as HansmJustin, spinning rap at festivals and clubs around town, co-hosting the beloved monthly rap party FR FR, and creating his own trap-leaning rap songs. Now using the DJ Houseplants alias, Justin makes addictive lo-fi house tunes with an introspective touch, and he recently dropped his label debut EP titled Root Bound on Melbourne's clipp.art Records."

Be sure to check out his exclusive mix for KEXP's Midnight in a Perfect World here.

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Black Flowers Cafe - "Who" from the 2020 album Flow on La Lumaca Dischi.

Keen-eared listeners of the Afternoon Show with Kevin Cole may recognize this song from when it had its global debut on the KEXP airwaves in late April. 

Italian indie rock quartet Black Flowers Cafe craft what they call "flower pop," mixing influences from Bombay Bicycle Club to Caribbean folk to Afrobeat. Formed in 2010, band members Angelo Zicca (guitar), Antonio Nicoletti (drums, percussion), Gaetano Lidonnici (bass), and Fernando Rennis (vocals, guitar, synth) imagine the "Black Flowers Cafe" as a physical place.

"Who" will be out on the band's second full-length album, Flow, out May 29th.   

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ALTA - "Figured Out" from the 2019 album Reasons on Soothsayer.

On their debut album Reasons, Melbourne-based duo ALTA strived to create what they call "emotional dance music."

Vocalist Hannah Lesser and producer Julius Dowson spent ten months at home recording the album themselves. "We get a little obsessive and care a lot about the feel of the vocal take, and when we’ve tried we can’t recreate that feel later in a better environment, even though it’s a better recording," they explained in an interview with Wonderland Magazine.

Their D.I.Y. spirit got them the results they wanted, as reflected in the intimate, emotional resonance on today's Song of the Day. "We really poured a lot of ourselves into the album, we’ve definitely come out of the process different people. We hope that it resonates with some people like it did with us when we were writing it."

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Longboat - "Christmas Socking" from the 2018 self-released album Come and Get Your Christmas

This week, we are continuing a long-held tradition of featuring Christmas-themed Songs of the Day, selected by Brian Foss, one of the hosts of KEXP’s punk show Sonic Reducer. He will be hosting his 20th annual Punk Rock Xmess on Saturday, December 23rd from 9 PM to midnight PT, and then tune in on Monday, December 25th from 7 AM - 4 PM PT, for No Standards Christmas. You won't hear a single "holiday standard," but instead get a mix of soul, rock, blues, hip-hop, and more!

Self-proclaimed "Seattle's least favorite band" Longboat have been releasing music for over a decade now, with three new albums this year alone, and, as they write on their website, "just as many to be released in 2024. Just try and stop us. You can’t. So don’t try, OK?"

A project of Belltown-based musician Igor Keller, Longboat released an entire Christmas album back in 2018 titled Come and Get Your Christmas. So, if you like this track, check out 11 more here.

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Daníel Hjálmtýsson - "Birds," a 2020 self-released single.

Icelandic singer/songwriter Daníel Hjálmtýsson kicked off 2020 in a big way: by releasing his debut solo single "Birds" back on January 3rd. 

Hjálmtýsson may be better known as half of the experimental duo HYOWLP, a project with producer and multi-instrumentalist Hjalti Steinn Sigurðarson (and a KEXP podcast alumni)! On his own, he continues to produce dark, emotional music in the vein of Nick Cave or Mark Lanegan.

He explains online that "Birds" is "inspired by the tragic, personal and familiar, struggles of being yet the glory of overcoming and acceptance," adding, it's "a homage to all the friends and fellow travelers that have gone too soon."

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Lee Fields & The Expressions - "Don't Give Up," a 2019 single on Big Crown Records.

Plainfield, NJ-based artist Lee Fields just celebrated his 70th birthday last week, and he's spent 50 of those years performing old-school soul, funk, and R&B. His first single was released in 1969, and he went on to work with artists like B.B. King, Clarence Carter, Kool & The Gang, and more.

Last year, he released his seventh full-length (and fifth with his power-house backing band The Expressions) titled It Rains Love. Today's featured track was recorded during those sessions, but was unreleased until late 2019, when it was shared as a digital single. While the passionate ballad most likely reflects a love gone wrong, it bears a message of hope and solidarity that's perfect for these times.

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