Why We Listen Podcast – Why We Listen
Summary: Every day, we discover more music in more places. It’s everywhere. But we are sacrificing quality for quantity. The consequence is that we spend more time hearing music and less time listening to music. I’ve become increasingly interested in other people’s listening habits. How they listen, when they listen, why they listen. Quietly lying on the floor in the middle of the night, in headphones at the airport, in the car on a long road trip. Meaningful moments with the music we love is subjective. I think about that relationship a lot and want to know how it works for other people. In each podcast, I sit with my guests and listen to the music that moves them, and evoke personal histories, production techniques, idiosyncratic preferences, emotional resonance. At worst, these podcasts can sound like two curmudgeons ranting arrogantly about so-called “important” music. At best, I hope that our passion for music is contagious, and that we get to hear a unique side of my guests that we wouldn’t access in a regular Q&A interview. My preference is to record in people’s homes and studios – their preferred listening environments. Consequently, we’re often interrupted by roommates, family background activity, traffic, neighborhood gardening … capturing a bit of how people live with their music. If you enjoy the music you hear on these podcasts, please buy them in the highest quality available as directly from the artists as possible. No excuses. Thanks for listening. Marc Kate.
Podcasts:
Bob Ostertag is my guest for the 10th episode of Why We Listen. We listen to and discuss: Blind Willie Johnson – ‘Take Your Burden to the Lord and Leave It There’ The Ho’opi’i Brothers – ‘Na Pua Ka ‘Ilima’ Pygmy Yodeling – ‘Mebasi’ Bob Ostertag is a musician, composer, activist and Professor of Technocultural Studies […]
When I met with Jill Tracy to record episode 09, we spent a bit of time discussing a new project that she is working on in conjunction with the Mütter Museum. That conversation didn’t fit into the podcast, but I wanted to share it nonetheless as it’s a fascinating project and unique approach to writing […]
Jill Tracy is my guest for the ninth episode of Why We Listen. We listen to and discuss: Pink Floyd – ‘Don’t Leave Me Now’ Peter Gabriel – ‘Intruder’ Japan – ‘Nightporter’ Jill Tracy is a songwriter and performer from San Francisco. http://www.jilltracy.com Listen to the podcast on the player below, or download HERE. You can […]
K.M. Soehnlein is my guest for the eighth episode of Why We Listen. We listen to and discuss: Fleetwood Mac – ‘Dreams’ Madonna – ‘Like a Prayer’ LCD Soundsystem – ‘I Can Change’ K.M. Soehnlein is the author of The World of Normal Boys, You Can Say You Knew Me When and Robin and Ruby. http://www.kmsoehnlein.com Listen [...]
Geeta Dayal is my guest for the seventh episode of Why We Listen. We listen to and discuss: Brian Eno – ‘The Big Ship’ Dieter Moebius, Conny Plank, and Mani Neumeier – ‘Pitch Control’ Nazia Hassan – ‘Boom Boom’ Geeta Dayal writes about music, technology and culture for The Wire, Frieze, the New York Times, [...]
Chris Dixon is my guest for the sixth episode of Why We Listen. We listen to and discuss: Stevie Wonder – Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing Jimi Hendrix – If 6 Was 9 Minor Threat – Salad Days Chris Dixon owns the Explorist International, a record store in San Francisco’s Mission District, DJ’s the [...]
Paul Festa is my guest for the fifth episode of Why We Listen. We listen to and discuss: Olivier Messiaen – Regard du Père (Louise Bessette) Olivier Messiaen – L’échange (Yvonne Loriod) Olivier Messiaen – Par Lui tout a été fait (Roger Muraro) Paul Festa is the filmmaker behind Apparition of the Eternal Church (2006), [...]
