Norwegian singer-songwriter Sondre Lerche has shared his cover of Sia's "Chandelier."His mellow, melancholy approach adds a depth and stark contrast to the original. Lerche said he chose this song because he “was curious what might happen if a male singer sang those words of desperation and self-a…
After a blistering in-studio session at KEXP, young Benjamin Booker has released his self-titled debut album, which KEXP's Music Director Don Yates calls "a powerful blend of energetic garage rock and postpunk with gritty blues and soul, featuring a variety of visceral songs with explosive guitar r…
The National has finally officially released "Demons" - a track from their upcoming album Trouble Will Find Me. Where the album artwork suggests a kind of duality of the self - a girls head looks at itself in a mirror - the song is similarly moody and heavy like much of their previous material. "I …
Even though the clouds are moving in, it's always beautiful blue skies with all the great music on KEXP! 1. Cloud Cult - No Hell 2. Mercury Rev - The Queen of Swans 3. Natasha Kmeto - Grind (Feat. Tunde Adebimpe) 4. John Grant - Down Here 5. Low - No Comprende 6. Ought - Beautiful Blue Sky 7. Ma…
How often have you heard about this idea of the "Seattle Freeze?" It's a concept that suggests that Seattle and the people in it have trouble connecting. People who transplant to the city are most often to point it out and quickly complain about how hard it is to make friends in a city where people…
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. Today’s song, featured on the Midday …
The National debuted several new songs at their first concert of 2013 last night in Berlin. Each of these three new tracks will be featured on their new album Trouble Will Find Me that will be out May 21. Thanks to a brilliant YouTube user, we are able to live vicariously through the fans in Germa…
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…
Brooklyn band The National have quietly shared a new track: stream the single "Sunshine on My Back" below, featuring guest vocals from Sharon Van Etten. The track was recorded during the sessions for their 2013 release Trouble Will Find Me, and comes free with every rental or purchase of the Mista…
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 Aft…
The National have a whole lot of new stuff on their plate - the release of their sixth studio album, Trouble Will Find Me, a new documentary, and a MOMA exhibit - just to name a few. Last night, to promote all of these ventures, they went on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and debuted two new songs. T…
Rejoice! Indie rock legends The National have announced a new album! Their first since 2013's excellent Trouble Will Find Me, the new album will be called Sleep Well Beast and will be released just in time for the post-summer bummers on Sept 8th via 4AD. Check out the first single "The System Only…
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 Mid…
KEX Hostel, our friendly hosts for KEXP's Iceland Airwaves broadcast each year, are throwing a party tomorrow honoring our ongoing collaboration. The aptly named KEXPort features a marathon set of 12 bands in 12 hours, barely scratching the surface of the available talent in Reykjavik, and includes…
Twins Kim and Kelley Deal celebrate their 54th birthday today, which got us thinking about twins in bands. It's no wonder it works so well: researchers have found that twin babies interact in the womb, so they're collaborating from even before birth. Twins have also been known to exhibit a sensitiv…
Back in 1989, The Replacements covered the song "Another Girl Another Planet," originally by late '70s UK power-punk band The Only Ones, and it never would've happened if not for their former manager Peter Jesperson, who put the song on a mix tape for the tour van. Jesperson will be familiar to KEX…
Greg Vandy reaffirms the inherent greatness and depth of American music with 15 tracks from today's song makers of cosmic Americana, psych pickers, hill country blues, low-down soul, folk ramblin', and plain hard country, proving that this generation often looks back to go forward. 1. Daniel …
Prepare for liftoff with London duo Simian Mobile Disco's kosmische influenced electronic beats. While their array of sequencers, keys, colorful wires, and a mixer might call the duo's namesake mobility into question, they've had no trouble traveling with their equipment (or "mobile studio"). Their…
The National have shared Track 3 from the upcoming Trouble Will Find Me online. "Don't Swallow the Cap" is the second song they've shared from the new LP, along with "Demons", and it proves that loyal fans will be very happy with the new album. "Don't Swallow the Cap" is much more in the vein of …
This week, KEXP is broadcasting for the third year in a row, during Iceland Airwaves Music Festival. Now through Friday, November 1, we're bringing you five bands a day performing live at KEX Hostel in Reykjavik, including Emilíana Torrini, Moses Hightower, Petúr Ben, John Grant, Ásgeir and many ot…
