ADULT. for nearly 20 years, consistently evolving their sound over six studio albums released on revered labels Mute, Ghostly International, Thrill Jockey, as well as their own imprint, Ersatz Audio. Currently in the midst of a stacked US tour in support of their new collaborative-heavy studio albu…
Local duo Chimurenga Renaissance (aka Tendai Maraire of Shabazz Palaces and Hussein Kalonji) debut a new track today titled "Girls With Gunz," a song they say was inspired by African assassin Grace Maseva, a woman who fought in the Second Chimurenga, the war that ended white rule in Zimbabwe. Loca…
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 …
San Francisco's Nick Monaco brings his deep experience within his city's DJ/nightlife culture into his own carefree, cosmic experimental pop sound, recently found on his album Half Naked for Soul Clap's Crew Love label. With his teenage years spent throwing all-night parties and diving deep into tu…
The New Year has its own special meaning in the world of music. While most of the world is looking forward, it's a time for many audiophiles to luxuriously look back as they compile lists of their favorite records, concerts and memorable moments from the year past. In this sense, Shabazz Palaces ma…
Join the host of the very first and the 500th Music That Matters podcast for a mix of new music from all over the world including Greece, Sydney, London, NYC, Copenhagen, Seattle and more! 1. ADKOB - Lung Capacity 2. Fews - The Zoo 3. Sulk - Black Infinity (Upside Down) 4. The Callas - It's Sun…
Street Sounds is Seattle's longest running mixshow. You'll hear the hottest hip hop first along with classics and local music. We're known for breaking the new music first. Street Sounds plays all kinds of hip hop and appeals to a wide audience. Fast forward to 2008 and you have one of the best hip…
Nada Surf have made a career out of finding their place in the world. When they were just kids, they wrote the teenage guide to popularity, navigating a close proximity between love and lust and insecurity. When they grew up and into real relationship, they found the inside of love, discovering tha…
Local duo Shabazz Palaces have announced a new album on the way, Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star out July 14th via Sub Pop. Check out the first single "Shine a Light (feat. Thaddillac)" below, via a lyric video directed by Cristina T. Bercovitz and Jonathan Snipes of clipping. In addition to Thad…
This week's short list of new releases sees some old names returning with fresh new sounds. 80's electronic alternative icons Depeche Mode return with their thirteenth studio album, perhaps their strongest effort yet in this post Y2K world. Delta Machine contains the familiar tropes: dark eroticism…
New York duo Phantogram continue to tease out singles from their forthcoming full-length Three, out September 16th via Republic. We've already heard "You Don't Get Me High Anymore" and "Run Run Blood," and now we've got the track "Cruel World," which the twosome shared on Zane Lowe's Beats 1 Radio…
Coinciding with the rise in popularity and influence of American roots music, a new generation of songwriters has cropped up to transcend the stories and culture that inspired their predecessors and paint pictures of modern American life. At the forefront of this new chapter is Hurray For The Riff …
In sad news, drummer Scott Asheton, a.k.a. "Rock Action" Asheton, of The Stooges passed away over the weekend at the age of 64. Along with his brother, guitarist Ron Asheton, he helped form the influential punk band in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1967. In a statement on the band's Facebook page, front…
It's the end of the year, alright, but I don't know how fine you're feeling. R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe joined Stephen Colbert and actor James Franco for a spirited, updated rendition of the 1987 single "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" last night on CBS' The Late Show with S…
John Bradbury, drummer of the English 2 Tone band The Specials, has passed away at the age of 62. The band made the announcement on their twitter: "It is with deep regret that we say goodbye to our great friend, the world's greatest drummer, our beloved Brad. RIP." Bradbury joined the band in 1979…
Brooklyn’s brassy big band Red Baraat stopped by on their way across the country on a national tour to bring their infectious world music into the KEXP live room. Led by percussionist Sunny Jain, the eight members draw on a Bhangra blend of North Indian rhythms mixed with hip-hop, funk and New Orle…
Our third Iceland Airwaves performance at Kex Hostel was Uni Stefson, who shortened his name Unnsteinn Manuel Stefánsson for his first solo outing earlier this year. This solo project is a marked departure from his past eight years fronting electro pop band Retro Stefson. His new album, Enginn Græt…
Gainesville, Florida trio Hundred Waters debuted in 2012 with their mesmerizing self-titled album, introducing listeners to their evocative and mysterious dream-pop sound, distinguished by a masterful fusion of electronic and acoustic instrumentation as well as the stunning vocals of lead singer Ni…
Anika is the stage name of British-born, frequently Berlin-based singer, songwriter, and political journalist Annika Henderson, a magnetic vocalist and writer that emerged as a solo artist in 2010 with releases on Portishead member Geoff Barrow's Invada Records as well as the highly revered Stones …
Simic is the alias of Ben Block, a Seattle-based DJ, electronic producer, and core member of the local secondnature collective. With musical interests weaving from classic house and techno to krautrock and 80’s sonic experiments, his sets reflect an immersive and dynamic quality that comes from a s…
