1080p is a prolific and highly-respected independent music label based in Vancouver, BC, run by New Zealand-born DJ + curator Richard MacFarlane. Heavy purveyors of fuzzy, off-kilter, leftfield electronic music, 1080p has become a hotbed for underground talent that consistently explores thrilling s…
"Hey, baby, it's the 4th of July!" Digging a little deeper into the lyrics for this X song about fading love - promoted via the giant sticker on this copy of See How We Are - perhaps it's not the most appropriate tune to be cranking in honor of our nation's birthday, but that sort of incongruity di…
Mozambique-born artist Samito moved to Montreal over a decade ago with the intention of pursuing a career in music in the vibrant Montreal scene. He recently released his first full-length self-titled album last May, a very groovy set of African/Tropicalia/Electronic flavored songs with lyrics in P…
Midday Show host Cheryl Waters has her eye on a bunch of great records coming out in early spring. Here's a sneak peek at some songs she knows you will love. 1. M. Ward - Girl From Conejo Valley 2. Hey Marseilles - Eyes on You 3. GEMS - w/o U 4. Lucius - Born Again Teen 5. ANOHNI - 4 Degrees 6. …
Last Friday saw the release of not one, but two albums from local duo Shabazz Palaces. KEXP Music Director Don Yates calls Quazarz: Born On A Gangster Star "an impressive set of adventurous hip hop combining an ominous, shape-shifting sound with often heavily processed and reverbed vocals and dysto…
He was born to raise hell, and he did it his entire life, but sadly,Motörhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister died today. The hard-rocking and hard-living icon had seemed nearly indestructible, living an uncompromising 70 years on his own terms. Unfortunately, an extremely aggressive cancer got the better…
New Zealand-born, NYC-based artist Tamaryn has emerged as one of the most striking artists crafting atmospheric shoegaze/dream-pop over the past five years. Her third and latest album, "Cranekiss", finds her adding more electronic elements into her potent and grandiose sonic mix, yielding some of h…
Hearing his voice, you'd hardly believe that Jake Bugg was born in 1994. His song “Trouble Town” speaks to a world of experience, and the British singer isn’t yet 20 years old. “In this trouble town, troubles I’ve found. In this trouble town, word soon gets ‘round,” he sings. He may be young, but t…
With 9 LPs under his belt as part of the group Matt Pond PA, Matt Pond has dropped the "PA" to undertake a solo career. This East Coast born-and-raised singer/songwriter began playing music during college and eventually scored gigs opening for bands like Bikini Kill and Superchunk. While his debut …
KEXP Variety Mix host Reeves does his first ever Music That Matters podcast, featuring tracks from the end of 2015 and from anticipated releases of 2016. 1. Cymbals Eat Guitars - Aerobed 2. The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die - I Can Be Afraid of Anything 3. DIIV - …
Dream-pop chanteuse Tamaryn shares a video as sweet as the song title for "Sugarfix," a standout from last year's full-length Cranekiss. The self-directed clip captures the atmospheric sound from the New Zealand-born, NYC-based artist. Watch below, and check out the exclusive mix she did for KEXP'…
With a healthy dose of cool Britannia, Oxford’s Swervedriver take the KEXP audience on a melodic joyride through a collection of new spins from their long awaited comeback release, I Wasn't Born To Lose You. Enhancing their legacy seventeen years after their last LP, Sweredriver are still the multi…
Describing the appeal of Mac DeMarco is like trying to explain the funniest joke you've ever heard to someone half your age. Words will only make you seem hopelessly out of touch. For all his goofball antics, the New York based, Canadian born singer-songwriter writes some catchy and melodious tunes…
It's only appropriate that his debut album is titled Tremors, because this beautiful, intimate session from SOHN had us all aquiver. Born in South London as Christopher Taylor, he had an early interest in music, but it was the groundbreaking Radiohead release OK Computer that led him into electroni…
In the liner notes of her latest album, Ivy Tripp, Katie Crutchfield — better known by her recording alias Waxahatchee — has a photo of none other than Dolly Parton. She laughed when KEXP DJ Stevie Zoom asked her about it. "I have Dolly everywhere I go," she smiled. Like Parton, the Alabama-born Cr…
Born in Zimbabwe, Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi came to Seattle for two shows at Jazz Alley, but before those performances, the songwriter stopped by KEXP for a live in-studio with DJ Darek Mazzone. Accompanied by backup singers and an electric bass, Tuku, who also works with Mahube, Southern Africa’s sup…
Born out of the humid Athens, Georgia, southlands, the music of Futurebirds washes over the ears like a welcomed rain. Utilizing pedal steel and a myriad of other instruments on their studio albums - the most recent of which is Baba Yaga, a tight, catchy collection - the band writes songs like acti…
Seattle's own Shabazz Palaces recently released two new albums, Quazarz: Born On A Gangster Star and Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines via Sub Pop. The single "Shine A Light" featuring Thaddillac has gotten the video treatment from director Neil Ferron and it's a little eerie. According to a press r…
When it comes to Mike Krol, it's not three strikes and you're out. For the LA based, Milwaukee born songwriter, the third time's a charm, or rather, a Turkey. His third LP, and recent Merge Records release, avoids incarceration with a liberating blast of hook-filled garage rock, smart self-reflecti…
One song from The Clash is hardly ever enough. That's what DJ John Richards admitted to himself last year on this day when one Clash song became two, and then became the rest of The Morning Show on KEXP, and thus International Clash Day was born. And there's no better band to honor worldwide than t…
