It should be no surprise that several of the artists topping this week's list of new releases were making appearances at SXSW last week, but two of them were also previewing their new songs live on KEXP during our broadcast from Mellow Johnny's Bike Shop. Billy Bragg and Palma Violets both gave mem…
It's that magical time of year again -- Sufjan Stevens has been releasing and presenting his usual barrage of bizarrely sweet Christmas cheer, and there have been plenty of other excellent holidays-themed releases and performances. For your holiday listening pleasure, we've compiled a list of the b…
From September 15 to October 15, KEXP will center voices from some of our favorite Latinx and Latinx-American artists.
Closing out another unbelievable night of music at KEX Hostel was English rapper and poet Kate Tempest. A “wayward youth” in her early teens, she was later inspired by an english teacher who got her into poetry, and at age 16 began her career as a poet, playwright, rapper, and spoken word artist. S…
Seattle electronic producer Kayla Waldorf creates immersive, propulsive techno under the Aos moniker. Her debut EP, 90 East, was released on the stellar underground label Blankstairs and formally introduced a blossoming new artist within the electronic community. Also a dedicated and active member …
Today, legendary singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen celebrates his 82nd birthday, and we're the ones who get a present. Check out the title track from his upcoming release, You Want It Darker, out October 21st via Sony. A press release explains, "Cohen created this hypnotic groove with the addition o…
Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJ’s think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on the Mor…
Noga Erez is a Tel Aviv-based singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer creating smart, catchy, colorful global electro-pop packed with vibrant instrumentation and politically-charged lyrics. Her debut album Off The Radar was released earlier this year on City Slang Records, introducing…
Singer-songwriter Jenny Mae Leffel passed away over the weekend at the age of 49, from "complications due to alcoholism." The Columbus, Ohio-based artist started out in the band Vibralux before branching out for a solo career as "Jenny Mae." She released two albums -- her now tragically-titled 19…
Raica is the alias of Seattle-based artist Chloe Harris, a lifelong passionate music lover, record store employee, and veteran DJ with 20 years of experience behind the decks. She was involved in the early days of Groovetech, one of Seattle's first online radio stations, right at the turn of the mi…
UK artist East India Youth (aka William Doyle) shares a new digital EP today, remixing highlights from his sophomore full-length Culture of Volume, out earlier this year on XL. Blanck Mass and Yosi Horikawa each remix the track "Manner of Words" and Truss Total XTC remixes "Montage Resolution." St…
The thrill is gone. Yesterday, B.B. King passed away at age 89. Born Riley B. King in 1925 in Itta Bena, Mississippi, the legendary guitarist and songwriter became known worldwide for his distinctive voice and nimble finger picking, particularly on his constant companion, the Gibson guitar he named…
It all started with four lads from London with a brash attitude and a bone to pick with the system... oh wait, that's what got us started on International Clash Day, a theme show based on a whim that became an annual event for KEXP DJs. As we thought about ongoing impact of The Clash and how their …
One might have thought that after the wild party thrown by FM Belfast, Kex would have calmed down a bit. But the beer fueled buzz continued and the room stayed full. We closed out an amazing second day of our Iceland Airwaves broadcast live at Kex Hostel in downtown Reykjavik with yet another dose …
It's another jam-packed week of new releases! Highlights include the latest from London-based artist Adam Bainbridge (aka Kindness). KEXP Music Director Don Yates notes the relase "finds him toning down the disco influences of his promising debut album in favor of an often-gorgeous set of ‘80s R&am…
While his previous release, Temple Beautiful, looked backwards, particularly at the storied past of San Francisco, Chuck Prophet's latest, Night Surfer (out today!), looks brazenly forward. But even if the future isn't always bright on this, his 13th album, the songs are characteristically punchy, …
With his eighth album, Infinity, on store shelves, international sensation Yann Tiersen, with his current collaborative outfit and a dazzling array of multicolored bells, toy pianos, and obscure woodwinds, cleverly crammed themselves into the studio for a cinematic live set, bringing the highly-acc…
Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. This week, all Song of the Day podcas…