On the show this time, it’s New York indie rockers Been Stellar.
Each week, Music Director Chris Sanley and Associate Music Director Alex Ruder share brief insights on new and upcoming releases for KEXP's rotation. See what we added this week, including new releases from Been Stellar, Kehlani, Marcel Wave, and more.
After the release of their stellar debut album, The Shape of Brat Pop to Come its been a year of relative silence, but today, HOLYCHILD is back with a bang. The indie pop duo has impeccable timing. "Rotten Teeth" is perfect summer jam to kick off your Memorial Day weekend. [SPIN]
Seattle's Dave Pezzner, or just Pezzner, has been one of the most respected figures in the local underground electronic music and dance community for the past decade. Beginning as one-half of the beloved duo Jacob London alongside fellow Seattle artist Bob Hansen, Pezzner has forged an exciting sol…
It's impossible to get too much of Charles Bradley. The loveable soul singer has been thrilling KEXP listeners and audiences world wide since his late-in-life discovery by members of The Budos Band and has appeared on KEXP many times. Recently, he's been featured in the acclaimed documentary Soul o…
KEXP broadcast live from KEX Hostel at Iceland Airwaves is Icelandic artist Pétur Ben. He first came into the spotlight following his collaboration with Icelandic virtuoso Mugisonm and the following year he released his debut record, Wine for My Weakness, and won an Icelandic Music Award for best a…
Seattle's dj100proof is the alias of Jeff Lawrence, one of most assured and smoothest DJs in the local music community. Well-known for his vibrant cutting-edge blends and his "Backyard BBQ" mixtape series, he's been a driving force and resident behind a flurry of on-going DJ nights and parties - cu…
Well, Day 1 of Decibel Festival was just about spectacular. The festival has never been short on prestige, but this year, festival organizers have really put time and effort into carefully crafting some brilliant programs for each venue each night. Each night, Decibel fest attendees can hit their f…
For many years, the mantle of "most consistently stellar artist" seemed to be squarely on the shoulders of Spoon, but there's an argument for it to be moved over, if it hasn't already shifted, to Laura Marling. Six very good-to-great albums that each built on its predecessor will do that, though. I…
Ever since moving to Seattle from Lansing, Michigan, in 1989, Shomari Shanks (a.k.a. DJ Sho Nuph (f.k.a. Sho Nuff) has been immersed within the local music community, first connecting with seminal 1990s local hip-hop crew Tribal Music before diving into the electronic music scene in the early 2000…
29-year old Gary Clark Jr. may seem young to be a Grammy-nominated blues artist – and he is – but the Austin, Texas, native has been winning awards for his stellar blues guitar playing for most of his life. After all, how many teenagers have a day named after them by their city's mayor? (May 3, 200…
KEXP's stellar lineup at Bumbershoot continues with festival heavy-hitter Michael Franti & Spearhead live on the Secret Stage. Franti has his fingers in many pots. He’s a poet, rapper, and singer-songwriter, who has been spreading positivity all over the world since 1994 with his current projec…
Whether it be creating a playlist for the long haul over to the Gorge on our Music That Matters Podcast, or keeping you in the know with the inside details, over here at KEXP, we're preparing you to enjoy each and every moment at Sasquatch! Festival as best you can. Sure, there are inevitable glitc…
It’s time again for Friday on My Mind. Our weekly blog post where we look at videos centered around one common theme. This is a collaborative effort between KEXP and King 5 News. If you haven’t already called in sick to work on Friday yet, then do it now and get over to Ballard for Hood-to-Hood Day…
Among all the new releases this week, it's hard to escape the one from Daft Punk. Their new album, Random Access Memories, is the first by the band in eight years. The 13-track record begins with a bang via its track "Give Life Back to Music", a funky, 70's-inspired song with trademark robot-style …
We can finally say it: Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper is here! And yet, now listening to it, it seems like the record wouldn't have been appropriate coming any sooner than it did. The long-anticipated, long dreamed about concept piece from Animal Collective founding member Noah Lennox, a.k.a. Pan…
For nu disco bands, there is no greater home than Italians Do It Better. Johnny Jewel and his cohorts have been driving the genre in daring, exotic directions since 2007. Back then, Jewel released a stellar DJ mix of his signees called After Dark. The collection sparkled with all the glitter and fi…
Al Doyle is a wunderkind. Whether he's hopping between three or four different instrument setups at a Hot Chip show, turning the guitar part on "Losing My Edge" into a rock 'n' roll masterpiece at LCD Soundsystem's last show, or having the time of his life jamming out with fellow Hot Chip member Fe…
So far, it's been a total scorcher this summer, the weather giving outdoor enthusiasts and festival-goers alike strong reasons for enjoying the cloudless skies. Whether it be hiking, biking, or touring the amazing music scene, Seattle, to say the least, is a great place to pass time underneath the …
Fresh off of the release of sixth studio album, Doom Abuse, Nebraska synth and dance punk band The Faint brought one hell of a Friday night to the Neptune. While Doom Abuse is the band's first new record in six years, the band hasn't lost any steam in time away - least of all in their famously fant…
