Superchunk’s Laura Ballance: “My Hearing Problems Have Ruined My Life As A Musician”

Sound & Vision
Hosted by Emily Fox

Laura Ballance, bassist for Superchunk and co-founder of Merge Records, talks about how her hearing issues have impacted her career in music.

Subscribe Here:

Apple PodcastsGoogle Podcasts Overcast Podcasts  Pocket Casts  Stitcher  Spotify

superchunk // photo by Brett Villena

Laura Ballance is the bassist of the band Superchunk as well as a co-founder of Merge Records. Nearly 10 years ago, she stopped touring with Superchunk because of a hearing condition she developed from being exposed to loud sounds and music. Ballance talks about how her hearing issues have impacted her career in music.  

“If I’m around loud noises, which can be as minor as people talking too loudly when there’s more than a few people in a room, it hurts my ear. I get sort of a staticky feedback thing going on in my right ear. Being around drums or guitar amps is intolerable,” Ballance says.  

More From Sound & Vision

KEXP’s Morgan Chosnyk talks us through this year’s Trans Musicales festival in France and shares five of her favorite live sessions KEXP captured while at the …

The Eurosonic Festival features emerging artists from Europe. DJ Kevin Cole talks about some of his favorite performances. Subscribe Here:   &n…

KEXP’s Meerah Powell has the story on musicians from smaller record labels who are pushing to get back their masters. Subscribe Here:    &…