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Object Of Sound brings you in tune with the music shaping our culture today. Hosted by poet and critic Hanif Abdurraqib, each episode blends the eclectic curation of freeform radio with artist interviews and textural storytelling, guiding you to a new way of listening.
Produced by work x work for Sonos
The podcast Object Of Sound is created by Sonos. The podcast and the artwork on this page are embedded on this page using the public podcast feed (RSS).
What is the sound of where you come from? Is it a particular song you remember from your childhood? Maybe it’s a collection of remembered sounds from your first home—a train that passed nearby, or the wildlife that would sing at night. Maybe it’s the first song that you ever really connected to, the one that first made you feel like you belonged. In this special episode, we’re exploring this question from many perspectives. Hanif speaks to composer and multi-instrumentalist Angélica Negrón, whose work is deeply invested in these questions of sound, home, and belonging. Plus we hear from Hanif’s friends, and from you, our listeners, about what ‘the sound of where I come from’ means to you. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode, head over to https://www.mixcloud.com/sonos/
Music in this episode:
O-H-I-O - Ohio Players
Letter Home - Defiance, Ohio
Findlay, Ohio 1968 - Indigo Girls
Cuyahoga - R.E.M.
Cleveland Is The City - Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
Look At Miss Ohio - Gillian Welch
Show Notes:
In this episode, you heard: 1) La Nueva Ciudad, by Balún, 2) El Colapso by Angélica Negrón and 3) an excerpt from Sembrar & Pasajero, performed live by Angélica Negrón at The Greene Space as part of her variety show, El Living Room. Check out more of her work at https://www.angelicanegron.com/ and on instagram at @little_miss_echo.
For photos of the Object of Sound Room from On Air: The Podcast Experience, check out experiencepodcasts.com.
Credits:
This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Schuyler Swenson, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.
Imagine walking inside a room that was made for fans of this show. We've teamed up with the first-ever immersive podcast experience happening Feb 23-26 at Wythe Hotel in Williamsburg Brooklyn to make it happen. Flip through original vinyl and artifacts from the show, add your selects to a living playlist, and if you're lucky, run into Hanif in the room! All the details are available at bit.ly/oos-experience
Welcome to our first ever year end special, ‘This Year In Music with Hanif Abdurraqib.’ December is the perfect time to look back on all the incredible music that has been released over the past year: the songs that moved us to dance, and the songs that helped us endure. In this hour-long deep dive, we'll review the musical highlights of 2022 and make predictions about the future of music in 2023 together with special guests Kelela, Sam Sanders, and Santigold.
Credits:
This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Edwin Ochoa and Jason Saldanha and the team at PRX and of course, Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.
In Mali, where Fatoumata Diawara was raised, it is common for women to sing, but much rarer for women to play an instrument. As a result, Fatoumata—who is one of the first, if not the first woman guitarist in all of Mali—has developed a self-taught, intuitive guitar playing style that is entirely her own. “This way of playing, it's me,” says Fatoumata. “It represents my fight as a musician, as an African, and as a lady on stage.” In this episode of Object of Sound, Fatoumata talks to Hanif about how she discovered her calling as a musician, and the exciting ways that she is fusing the traditional music of her homeland with Western influences on her third studio album, out next year. Hanif closes the episode with a selection of blues and folk music from Mali. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode, head over to radio.sonos.com.
Music In This Week’s Episode:
Kalan - Fatoumata Diawara
Bassemory - Mamou Sidibé
Lalla - Tinariwen
Kuma - Salif Keita
Sabali - Amadou & Mariam
Sarama - Oumou Sangaré
Tongo Barra - Vieux Farka Touré, Khruangbin
Credits:
This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.
The night before Thanksgiving, Hanif has a special invented tradition: every year, he makes a batch of cupcakes and watches The Last Waltz—and every year, he finds new things to love about the film. Directed by Martin Scorsese, The Last Waltz is a 1978 concert film documenting the final performance of The Band. To Hanif, the movie is not just a collection of great performances, but a study in exquisite tenderness, and how to say goodbye. Hrishikesh Hirway joins Hanif to discuss the film in this special episode recorded live at On Air Fest LA Annex 2022. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode, head over to radio.sonos.com.
Music In This Week’s Episode:
Sip the Wine - Rick Danko
Don’t Do It - The Band
My Love - Rick Danko and Richard Manuel
Down South in New Orleans - The Band, Bobby Charles
False Hearted Lover Blues - Levon Helm
Tura Lura Lural (That’s an Irish Lullaby) - The Band, Van Morrison
All Our Past Times - Rick Danko
Showdown at Big Sky - Robbie Robertson
Show Notes:
This special episode of Object of Sound was recorded live at On Air LA Annex.
Check out the clips from the Last Waltz that Hanif shared with Hrishi on stage: the Band performing Caravan with Van Morrison, Helpless with Neil Young, The Weight with the Staples Singers. Plus, the clip of Rick Danko’s interview with Martin Scorsese.
Photos from Hanif and Hrishi’s conversation on stage at On Air LA Annex can be found on our instagram, @objectofsound.
The artwork for Music from Big Pink inspired Hanif to pick up the Band’s music at his local library.
Credits:
This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.
“Music is a time machine,” says Ben Gibbard, singer and guitarist of Death Cab for Cutie. Just a few bars of a beloved song can be transportative, an instant reminder of another time and place. “And if you've been that in someone's life, you have a responsibility to keep that material alive.” For Ben, that means continuing to honor and perform work from Death Cab for Cutie’s back catalog—some of which he wrote when he was only twenty years old—while constantly pushing the band to new creative heights. On this episode of Object of Sound, Ben and Hanif talk about what it is like to live alongside the work we produce, and how our relationship to it changes as we grow up. Hanif closes the episode with a playlist of songs about getting older. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode, head over to radio.sonos.com.
Music In This Week’s Episode:
Here to Forever - Death Cab For Cutie
Grandma’s Hands - Bill Withers
When You’re Old And Lonely - The Magnetic Fields
20 Something - SZA
Bitter with the Sweet - Carole King
Introspection - UMI
Those Were The Days - Angel Olsen
The Lights are Going Out - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Show Notes:
Asphalt Meadows is out now.
Ocean Child: the Songs of Yoko Ono is available now for purchase and streaming. A portion of proceeds from the album go to WhyHunger.
If you’re also a fan of OMD, you can get your very own t shirt just like the one Ben was wearing during our interview.
Credits:
This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.
“While I’m alive, I’ll make tiny changes to Earth.” Written by Scott Hutchison, the late frontman of the band Frightened Rabbit, this line has provided comfort, consolation, and inspiration to those who loved Scott’s music. A talented and witty lyricist, Scott’s songs could be devastatingly crushing or funny, visceral or resonant—sometimes all in the same track. But an artist is more than the work they produce, and so, on this episode of Object of Sound, we’re celebrating not only Scott’s music, but also his life and legacy. We speak to Ben Gibbard, Frank Turner, Georgia Maq, and more, who share memories and impressions of the way Scott and his music shaped their lives. We’ll also hear from listeners who called into the Object of Sound hotline to talk about what Scott’s music means to them, and all the changes—both tiny and profound—that he has made to the lives of his listeners. Closing the episode, Hanif walks us through a playlist of some of his top Scott Hutchison songs. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode, head over to radio.sonos.com.
Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of mental illness and suicide that may be upsetting for some listeners. Please take care of yourself. We invite you to listen to this episode if you feel comfortable and able, or to skip out and join us again next week.
If you are in need of support, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in the USA can be reached with the three-digit dialing code 988, or by calling 1-800-273-8255.
Music In This Week’s Episode:
Swim Until You Can’t See Land - Frightened Rabbit
The Twist - Frightened Rabbit
Ten Tons of Silence - Owl John
A Good Reason to Grow Old - Owl John
Bird is Bored of Flying - Mastersystem
Notes on a Life Not Quite Lived - Mastersystem
Show Notes:
Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of mental illness and suicide that may be upsetting for some listeners. Please take care of yourself. We invite you to listen to this episode if you feel comfortable and able, or to skip out and join us again next week.
If you are in need of support, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in the USA can be reached with the three-digit dialing code 988, or by calling 1-800-273-8255.
Ben Gibbard, Craig Finn and Jeff Zeigler all contributed to Tiny Changes: A Celebration of Frightened Rabbit’s ‘The Midnight Organ Fight’, along with previous Object of Sound guests Julien Baker and Aaron Dessner.
Ben Gibbard, Craig Finn, Julien Baker and Aaron Dessner also participated in the Rough Trade Tribute, Tiny Changes: A Celebration Of The Songs Of Scott Hutchison on Dec 5, 2018.
In 2019, Scott Hutchison’s family created Tiny Changes, a non-profit organization that supports efforts to improve mental health in children and young people.
Frank Turner wrote A Wave Across the Bay to honor Scott’s memory.
Credits:
This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.
Before Tegan and Sara sat down to make Crybaby, they had to navigate a series of breakups—with their label, their management, and (almost) with each other. “This is our breakup record,” says Sara Quin, “but we're not going to break up. We’re siblings. We can’t.” In the turmoil that followed, Tegan and Sara rebuilt their professional team, repaired their relationship, and completely reinvented their collaborative songwriting process for Crybaby, one of their most exciting releases yet. In this episode of Object of Sound, Tegan and Sara talk to Hanif about tenderness, tantrums, and the delight of destroying everything so you can make it all over again. To close the episode, Hanif guides us through a selection of breakup songs. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode, head over to radio.sonos.com.
Music In This Week’s Episode:
This Ain’t Going Well - Tegan and Sara
Evergreen (You Didn’t Deserve Me At All) - Omar Apollo
Cherry Blossom - Pom Pom Squad
Self Fulfilling Prophecy - Pretty Sick
We Can’t Be Friends (with R.L.) - Deborah Cox, R.L.
Happy After - Algebra
How Long Do I Have To Wait For You? - Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
Bad Friend - Rina Sawayama
Show Notes:
Crybaby is out now.
Credits:
This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.
Carly Rae Jepsen is a writer’s writer. “I am very excited about the idea of writing it in all directions,” Carly says — and for the making of her latest album, The Loneliest Time, that meant writing literally hundreds of songs. On this episode of Object of Sound, Hanif and Carly Rae Jepsen talk about the unique collaborative process that went into narrowing that collection of songs down to the thirteen tracks on the album. Carly opens up about the challenges and opportunities of songwriting during the pandemic, and her drive to keep challenging the idea of what a pop song can be. Inspired by Carly’s recent experience at a James Taylor concert, Hanif closes the episode with a playlist of great songs to cry to. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode, head over to radio.sonos.com.
Music In This Week’s Episode:
Surrender My Heart - Carly Rae Jepsen
Northern Sky - Nick Drake
Someday We’ll All Be Free - Donny Hathaway
The Very Thought of You - Nat King Cole
I Don’t Smoke - Mitski
When The Sun Hits - Slowdive
Good Goodbye - Lianne La Havas
Long Ride Home - Patti Griffin
Show Notes:
Carly Rae Jepsen’s The Loneliest Time is out today, October 21.
Check out the full 8.5 hour version of Hanif’s Mega Sad Playlist, crowdsourced on Twitter and collected by Zineb Nour, here.
This episode is part of our mini series, “The Wonders of Songwriting,” three special episodes on Object of Sound devoted to the art of how songs become songs. Hanif talks to artists Ravyn Lenae, Nick Hakim, and Carly Rae Jepsen to understand where their love of language comes from, how words become images become music, where the ideas begin, and how they morph as they move from the page into the intangible space of melody and vibration.
If you’re a writer or maker in need of a creative refuel, check out Hanif’s recent interview on Creative Pep Talk, which also features lessons from artists we’ve interviewed here on Object of Sound.
Credits:
This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.
“One of the most meditative things about writing is that you kind of forget where you are,” says Nick Hakim. “If you're tapped into it, you're not really thinking about anything else.” On this episode of Object of Sound, Nick recalls the spontaneous 5:00am recordings and free writing that went into the making of his new album COMETA, out October 21. Plus, Nick treats us to a special sneak peek of Perfume—one of Hanif’s favorite tracks off COMETA—and shares with us the inspiration behind the song, which beautifully captures the excitement of new love. Building on the album's themes, Hanif curates a playlist of songs all about falling in love to close out the episode. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode, head over to radio.sonos.com.
Music In This Week’s Episode:
Vertigo - Nick Hakim
Shoe In - Secret Stars
Fallingforyou - The 1975
I Like It - DeBarge
Caught Up In The Rapture - Anita Baker
I Couldn’t Love You More - Sade
Kiss Me - Sixpence None The Richer
Darling - Montell Fish
Show Notes:
Nick Hakim’s COMETA is out October 21. The singles, Vertigo and Happen, are available now.
Check out the poetry of Nick and Hanif’s mutual friend Safia Elhillo, and read Dianne Seuss’ “Romantic Poetry” in the New Yorker.
This episode is part of our mini series, “The Wonders of Songwriting,” three special episodes on Object of Sound devoted to the art of how songs become songs. Hanif talks to artists Ravyn Lenae, Nick Hakim, and Carly Rae Jepsen to understand where their love of language comes from, how words become images become music, where the ideas begin, and how they morph as they move from the page into the intangible space of melody and vibration.
If you’re a writer or maker in need of a creative refuel, check out Hanif’s recent interview on Creative Pep Talk, which also features lessons from artists we’ve interviewed here on Object of Sound.
Credits:
This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.
“I came into my own and I was able to find my voice through my writing,” says artist Ravyn Lenae. The making of her album, HYPNOS, was a four-year-long journey of blood, sweat and tears—but the result is a meticulously crafted debut, a collection of songs on which Ravyn herself has curated every element, right down to individual snares and bass lines. In this episode, the first in our three part mini-series, “The Wonders of Songwriting,” Hanif and Ravyn dig into the editing process that produced the many sonic moods and colors on HYPNOS. And, in an Object of Sound exclusive, Ravyn walks Hanif through the earlier mixes of her song, ‘Inside Out,’ and explains why this track in particular needed over 2,000 vocal recordings before it was just right. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode, including ‘Inside Out, head over to radio.sonos.com.
Music In This Week’s Episode:
Inside Out - Ravyn Lenae
We’re So Good - Kids On A Crime Spree
Hold On - The Internet
One For the Griot - J-Live
Don’t Go Near The Water - The Beach Boys
Migratory Birds - Earth From The Moon
Let’s Pretend We’re Not In Love - The Reds, Pinks, and Purples
Tender Falls the Rain - Randy Crawford
Show Notes:
This episode is part of our mini series, “The Wonders of Songwriting,” three special episodes on Object of Sound devoted to the art of how songs become songs. Hanif talks to artists Ravyn Lenae, Nick Hakim, and Carly Rae Jepsen to understand where their love of language comes from, how words become images become music, where the ideas begin, and how they morph as they move from the page into the intangible space of melody and vibration.
Credits:
This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.
“It’s like digging a hole and moving into it, and listening to a lot of bass, and loving it.” So says Björk of the meaning behind the word ‘Fossora’—the title of her tenth studio album, just released today. On this episode, Hanif and Björk break Fossora down concept-by-concept, from the sextet of bass clarinets that shape the album’s grounded, sonic world, to the album’s themes of digging deeply into our ancestral roots, and the pleasures of setting down new ones. To close the show, Hanif riffs on Fossora’s autumnal vibes with a playlist of music for the coming season. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode head over to radio.sonos.com.
Music In This Week’s Episode:
Sorrowful Soil - Björk
God In Wilson - Dijon
let it be me - Joy Oladokun
ACTING NORMAL - BLACKSTARKIDS
I Don’t Know How To Love - The Drums
Longing To Hold You - Black Harmony
Pulling Leaves Off Trees - Wallows
Sowing Seeds - The Jesus and Mary Chain
Show Notes:
Björk’s album Fossora is out now.
Credits:
This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.
“When I'm onstage, it's the happiest I feel. It's the most in love with myself I feel,” says Danielle Ponder. “I know that’s my purpose.” On this episode of Object of Sound, Danielle and Hanif talk about how Danielle left her successful career as a public defender to follow her purpose and become a musician full time—and how Danielle sees storytelling as a vital skill for both professions. Hanif and Danielle dig into the making of her debut album ‘Some Of Us Are Brave,’ and Danielle reveals how connecting with other people through the stories in her songs helps her feel more alive, and less alone. At the end of the episode, Hanif creates a playlist of some of the very first songs he fell in love with. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode head over to radio.sonos.com.
Music In This Week’s Episode:
Some Of Us Are Brave- Danielle Ponder
Pirate Jenny (Live at Carnegie Hall) - Nina Simone
The Good Humor Man He Sees Everything Like This - Love
Rich - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Call the Doctor - Sleater-Kinney
Banquet - Bloc Party
Here Lies the Man That Never Changed - Jacob Banks
Flirted With You All My Life - Vic Chesnutt
Show Notes:
Danielle Ponder’s debut album, Some of Us Are Brave, is out now.
The album takes its title from the book, All the Women are White, All the Blacks are Men, But Some of Us Are Brave, a groundbreaking collection of black feminist scholarship published in 1982.
Catch Danielle Ponder on tour across the US through November.
Credits:
This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.
Welcome to Season Four of Object of Sound! To kick us off, Hanif sits down with Madison Cunningham, who just released her latest album, Revealer. Hanif and Madison dig deep into the songwriting process: the vulnerability and ultimately, the surrender that is required to put a piece of yourself out into the world. Throughout the conversation, Hanif and Madison investigate what it is like to confront our own reflections, and find the balance between who we think we are, and who exists behind that image. Plus, Hanif closes the episode with a playlist of his top road trip tunes. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode head over to www.mixcloud.com/sonos.
Music In This Week’s Episode:
Sunshine Over the Counter - Madison Cunningham
Think Nothing - Sydney Sprague
Frontline - Kelela
Honeycomb - Kadhja Bonet
Warm Winds (feat. Isaiah Rashad) - SZA, Isaiah Rashad
I Think You’re Alright - Jay Som
High Lonesome - The Gaslight Anthem
Hey Jealousy - Gin Blossoms
Show Notes:
Madison Cunningham’s album Revealer is available now.
Madison recorded ‘Life According to Raechel’ at Sonic Ranch in El Paso, Texas.
Credits:
This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.
“I have lived half my life in fear of judgment,” says Margo Price. “I'm so done with it.” In the final episode of this season, recorded from the back lounge of Margo’s tour bus, Margo reveals how the experience of writing her autobiography, Maybe We’ll Make It, empowered her to let go of her fear and tell her personal story. Plus, Margo talks to Hanif about her on-the-road reading list, her upcoming Sonos show Runaway Horses, and what she thinks of the evolving Nashville music scene. Hanif closes the episode with a playlist of autobiographical songs. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode head over to https://bit.ly/oos-margo-price.
/ Music In This Week's Episode: /
This Town Gets Around - Margo Price
Sports, Drugs and Entertainment - Cam’ron
Nutbush City Limits - Tina Turner
Rehab - Amy Winehouse
Coal Miner’s Daughter - Loretta Lynn
Piano Man - Billy Joel
Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy - Elton John
Are You Leaving For The Country - Karen Dalton
Show Notes:
Margo Price’s memoir, Maybe We’ll Make It, is out October 4 on University of Texas Press.
Margo’s bookstack includes a collection of poems by Mark Strand, Kalamazoo Gals: A Story of Extraordinary Women & Gibson's 'Banner' Guitars of WWII, Crying At H Mart, and Citizen Cash.
Hanif previously interviewed Margo’s friend and fellow musician, Adia Victoria, during Season 2 of Object of Sound. He spoke to Allison Russell about Outside Child earlier this year.
Margo’s upcoming Sonos show, Runaway Horses, will be released later this year.
This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. We had wonderful help this week from Columbus producer, Jeremy Steckel. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.
So many coming-of-age stories focus on leaving where you’re from—but what compels someone to come back? Musician PJ Morton returned to his hometown of New Orleans in 2016, and since then, he’s established an independent record label, founded a non-profit organization, and worked to restore the home of jazz pioneer Buddy Bolden. In this episode, Hanif and PJ talk about embracing the strength in your roots, and the making of his just-released album, Watch the Sun, which features appearances from artists like Stevie Wonder, Nas, Jill Scott, and more. To close the episode, Hanif takes us on a musical tour of his home state of Ohio. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode head over to https://bit.ly/oos-pj-morton.
Music In This Week’s Episode:
Be Like Water (feat. Stevie Wonder and Nas) - PJ Morton
Freedom Now - Tracy Chapman
Pride & Vanity - Ohio Players
Don’t Know What To Do - The Edsels
Dead End America - The Pagans
Tunnel Bound - Mood
Heat Night - The Waitresses
We Don’t Have To Take Our Clothes Off - Jermaine Stewart
Show notes:
Watch the Sun is out today.
PJ Morton is working to save Buddy Bolden’s house. Once restored the house will become a community center, museum, and recording studio, offering music-business education for young performers and celebrating the jazz originator's legacy.
Watch the Sun was recorded at Studio in the Country in Bogalusa, LO.
Credits:
This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.
“I still have every bit of my voice,” says singer and civil rights icon Mavis Staples. “It’s still here, and I’m still here.” Throughout her career, Mavis has used her voice to uplift the truth through song, and after seventy years, she has no interest in slowing down. This year Mavis is on tour throughout the US and Europe, and on May 20th, she will release a new album, Carry Me Home, recorded with The Band’s Levon Helm. On this episode, Hanif speaks to Mavis about the album, why she won’t be retiring anytime soon, and the secrets behind the longevity of her career—including how Mahalia Jackson taught her to take care of her voice. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode head over to https://bit.ly/oos-mavis-staples.
/ Music In This Week’s Episode /
I’ll Take You There - The Staple Singers
The Last Waltz Suite: The Weight (feat. The Staple Singers) - The Band, The Staple Singers
How I Got Over - Live at New Temple Missionary Baptist Church - Aretha Franklin
Summertime / Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child - Mahalia Jackson
Heaven - Mary Mary
Down in My Soul - Ingram Singers
BL3$$3D - Trek Manifest
Show Notes:
Carry Me Home, a collaborative live album from Mavis Staples and Levon Helm, will be released May 20th. The first single, “You Got To Move,” is out now; the music video features footage of Mavis and Levon from the making of the album.
Carry Me Home was recorded at Levon Helm Studios. The Studio is a barn designed and acoustically engineered by Levon himself, and it stands today as a one-of-a-kind musical landmark. Levon Helm Studios welcomes artists for intimate concerts, recording sessions, rehearsals, writing retreats, and private events.
On May 20th, Mavis Staples will perform at Brooklyn Academy of Music, as part of the spring music series curated by Hanif. Amy Helm, Levon Helm’s daughter, will open. You can follow Mavis’ full tour this year on her website.
Every Thanksgiving, Hanif watches the Last Waltz.
The Staple Singers appeared on Soul Train in 1974.
A recent favorite song of Mavis’ is Black Pumas’ Colors.
Credits:
This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.
“Anyone who loves music can karaoke.” So declares Raina Lee, Karaoke Queen and author of Hit Me With Your Best Shot: The Ultimate Guide to Karaoke Domination. In celebration of National Karaoke Week, our new favorite niche holiday, we’re devoting a whole episode to karaoke. We’ll hear tips for picking the perfect song and what it takes to rule the karaoke stage from Raina and 2020 World Karaoke Champion Garvaundo Hamilton. Plus, listeners from across the country call in to perform some of their karaoke favorites. Marianne Chan closes out the episode with a reading of her poem, ‘In Defense of Karaoke.’ For the playlist of songs curated for this episode head over to www.mixcloud.com/sonos.
/ Music In This Week’s Episode: /
I Wanna Dance With Somebody - Whitney Houston
Unwritten - Natasha Bedingfield
U Remind Me - Usher
No Scrubs - TLC
Don’t Stop Believin’ - Journey
Show Notes:
National Karaoke Week is the fourth week of April. Check your local karaoke venues for special events to celebrate the occasion.
Raina Lee is a visual artist and the author of Hit Me With Your Best Shot: The Ultimate Guide To Karaoke Domination. If you’re in the LA area and looking for a local karaoke spot, she recommends the San Franciscan.
Garvaundo Hamilton is the 2020 World Karaoke Champion. He is also the Washington State Director for the 2022 Karaoke World Championships. Qualifying competitions have already begun. Check out the Karaoke World Championship website to find an event near you!
Marianne Chan is the author of In Defense of Karaoke, which is available in her book, All Heathens. Hanif often opens his own readings with the poem, and has previously read it for the 92Y.
Credits:
This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.
What does anger look like? In Yaeji’s case, the answer is simple: a fearsome, bedazzled hammer. At least, that’s the idea behind her forthcoming debut album. “It's a story about me and my anger,” says Yaeji. “My anger is materialized into this hammer that I befriend.” In this episode, Hanif sits down with Yaeji to talk about her songwriting process, her debut album, and the usefulness, the beauty, and the complicated nature of anger. Hanif closes the episode with a final thought: when we stop pushing away our anger and listen to what it is telling us, what greater acts of love, service, and creativity can that anger propel us towards? For the playlist of songs curated for this episode head over to https://bit.ly/oos-yaeji.
Music In This Week’s Episode:
When I Grow Up - Yaeji
Hit ‘Em Up Style - Blue Cantrell
You Oughta Know - Alanis Morissette
Caught Out There - Kelis
Never Again - Kelly Clarkson
Breaking Point - Keri Hilson
What About - Janet Jackson
Show Notes:
Hanif’s essay collection, A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance, was released just over a year ago.
Check out the music video for ‘29,’ Yaeji’s recent single with OHHYUK, where she appears wielding a hammer.
Recently, Yaeji has been reading Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park Hong.
You can see Jiji in all her cuteness on Yaeji’s instagram.
Credits:
This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.
Jack White has won twelve Grammys, founded his own label, and is regularly ranked as one of the top guitarists of all time—but, “I’ve never felt like I’ve arrived or felt satisfied,” he tells Hanif. It’s that restlessness and discomfort with success that keeps pushing Jack into new creative territory. In this episode, we talk to Jack about his two forthcoming albums, Fear Of The Dawn and Entering Heaven Alive, and what it means to consistently return to the challenge of making something new—a daunting and inspiring task that all artists face. Plus, Hanif makes a playlist highlighting his favorite vinyl record purchases so far this year. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode head over to https://bit.ly/oos-jackwhite.
Music in this episode:
Hi-De-Ho - Jack White, Q-Tip
Party Girl - Linda Ronstadt
Lonely, Lonely - Nancy Wilson
Way Out - Steve Arrington’s Hall of Fame
Emotion - Merry Clayton
You’re Just What I Need - Betty Wright
Talk Talk - Talk Talk|
Let the Church Roll On - Mahalia Jackson
Show Notes:
You can check out the final product of Hanif’s reupholstery project on his instagram, @nifmuhammad. Find select Jack White upholstery projects documented here.
Fear of the Dawn is out April 8. Entering Heaven Alive will be released July 22. Catch Jack White on tour across North America and Europe, starting on April 8 and continuing through August.
Check out Cab Calloway’s 1934 short film Hi-De-Ho. Calloway is sampled on Jack White and Q-Tip’s track of the same name.
Jack White previously collaborated with Q-Tip on the A Tribe Called Quest album, We got it from Here... Thank You 4 Your service, where he appeared on several tracks as a guest artist.
Hanif has performed in The Blue Room, a performance venue housed inside Third Man Records in Nashville, Tennessee.
Special thanks to Brett and Amy at Spoonful Records in Columbus, Ohio for their hospitality!
Credits:
This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.
Just in time for the final weeks of March Madness, we’re bringing two of our favorite things together – music and basketball. Hanif heads to a Cleveland Cavaliers v. Detroit Pistons game to take in the sounds courtside. Then, together with sports journalist Haley O’Shaughnessy and former Tommy Boy Records President Monica Lynch, we’ll uncover the stories that explain why you hear what you hear at a game, and dig into 90s nostalgia. Plus, Hanif makes a playlist of his favorite arena hits. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode head over to https://bit.ly/oos-basketball.
Music in this week's episode:
Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now) - C&C Music Factory
Hip Hop Hooray - Naughty By Nature
Thunderstruck - AC/DC
Timber (feat. Ke$ha) - Pitbull, Kesha
Sirius - The Alan Parsons Project
Jump Around - House of Pain
Let’s Get Loud - Jennifer Lopez
Show Notes:
For more 90’s nostalgia, check out Arij’s arena songs pick: Space Jam (Music From and Inspired By the Motion Picture.)
At the game Hanif and Arij attended, the Cavs Dancing Dads performed to Gasolina.
Read more about Victor the Wrestling Bear, who performed in the ABA, in Deadspin.
You can watch John Tesh talk more about the origins of the NBA on NBC theme song here.
Credits:
This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. We had wonderful help this week from Cleveland producer, Nate Kelmes. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.
“I'm just so fascinated by the voice,” says Taja Cheek, the experimentalist and multi-instrumentalist behind L’Rain. “It feels so scary to me, but that's also what kind of draws me closer to it to try to figure it out.” It’s this fascination Taja credits with inspiring the dreamy and ethereal vocal manipulations on Fatigue, L’Rain’s second album. On this episode, Hanif and Taja sit down ahead of L’Rain’s upcoming tour to talk in detail about her process, the power of repetition, and confronting one’s own voice. We’ll also talk about L’Rain’s upcoming show at BAM, where she is performing with Moses Sumney as part of a series of concerts curated by Hanif. Plus, stay tuned at the end of the episode as Hanif and Taja collaborate on a vocal experiment of their own. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode head over to https://bit.ly/oos-repetition.
Music In This Week’s Episode:
Find It - L’Rain
Halo - Beyoncé
I’m Goin’ Down - Bruce Springsteen
Work - Rhianna, Drake
Mr. Brightside - The Killers
Thong Song - Amber Mark
Ain’t No Sunshine - Bill Withers
Show Notes:
You can view the full Spring Music Series at BAM, curated by Hanif, here Tickets are still available for select performances.
To see L’Rain on tour, check out her tour schedule online.
Taja (as L’Rain) is currently a resident host at NTS.
Check out Hanif’s profile of noise artist Dreamcrusher in Fader.
Hanif recommends checking out this article on L’Rain collaborator Jasper Marsalis, who performs under the name Slauson Malone.
Credits:
This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.
“Soundtracks are the unsung heroes of film.” That’s the premise of this special episode of Object of Sound, recorded live at On Air Fest 2022. Hanif and New York Times critic at large Wesley Morris took to the stage in Brooklyn to talk about four of their all-time favorite Black movie soundtracks, from Do the Right Thing (1989) to Love and Basketball (2000), from Boomerang (1992) to Belly (1998). Plus, a playlist of standout hits from soundtracks of the 1990s. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode head over to https://bit.ly/oos-movies.
Music In This Week’s Episode:
Know The Ledge, Eric B. & Rakim
End Of The Road, Boyz II Men
So Good, Davina
For the Love of Money / Living For the City (feat. Queen Latifah), Troop, Levert, Queen Latifah
Days of Our Livez, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
Sittin’ Up In My Room, Brandy
Show Notes:
Hanif remembers watching the music video for Eric B. & Rakim’s Know the Ledge before he was allowed to see Juice, the film for which the song was composed.
You can follow along with the scene from Boomerang (1992) featuring Eddie Murphy and Halle Berry here.
Watch the opening credits from Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing, featuring Public Enemy’s Fight the Power, here.
To follow along with the dance scene from Love and Basketball, see here.
Ahead of the scene from Belly, Hanif read from his piece On Warnings in the Paris Review.
The opening scene of Belly was in part inspired by the music video for Ja Rule’s Kill Them All.
Credits:
This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.
“The journey to self-love is not quick, or easy, or ever over,” says musician Allison Russell, whose solo album Outside Child was released to widespread acclaim last year. In this episode, Allison and Hanif sit down to talk about healing and moving towards self-love through trauma—and the rollercoaster of emotions that often comes along with that work. How can we embrace the totality of our past, comfortably inhabit our contradictions, and love who we are in this moment—whether we feel shameless, ashamed, or both? This week, our playlist features songs about loving oneself. Plus, Allison and Hanif swap poem and book recommendations—check the show notes for links! For the playlist of songs curated for this episode head over to https://bit.ly/oos-self-love.
Music In This Week’s Episode:
Poison Arrow, Allison Russell
Feelins, Betty Davis
Deliverance, Sa-Roc
There She Goes, The La’s
Tomorrow Is My Turn, Nina Simone
Baby Can I Hold You, Tracy Chapman
Queendom, Girlhood
Nobody Knows, Pastor T.L. Barrett and the Youth for Christ Choir
Lost In The Paradise, Gal Costa
Show Notes:
Our Native Daughters is a collaboration between Rhiannon Giddens, Amethyst Kiya, Leyla McCalla and Allison Russell. Together, they reinterpret and create new works from old ones, shining light on African-American women’s stories of struggle, resistance, and hope.
Allison Russell has been reading Hanif’s collection of poems, A Fortune For Your Disaster, and giving away copies of the book as gifts.
Allison Russell’s song Nightflyer was inspired by the gnostic poem, The Thunder, Perfect Mind.
Allison read the proposal for Hanif’s book, Go Ahead in the Rain: Notes to A Tribe Called Quest, as well as reading Tarana Burke’s Unbound: My Story of Liberation and the Birth of Me Too as part of preparation for writing her own forthcoming memoir
Allison works to raise money for organizations that prevent child abuse, such as the National Children’s Alliance and Little Warriors. Before the Me Too movement, she had experienced pushback when inviting advocacy groups such as RAINN to be present at events.
Check out Sa Roc and Mumu Fresh’s Tiny Desk concerts.
Credits:
This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.
“For a very long time, people knew of techno as a genre, but never placed it in Detroit,” says writer and cultural producer Imani Mixon. In this episode, we’re digging deep into the origins of that Detroit techno sound. Hanif and Imani are joined by “godfather & originator” of Detroit techno himself, Eddie Fowlkes, to guide us through the evolution of techno, from the basements of Detroit to the airwaves of Europe, and beyond. Plus, Hanif guides us through a playlist of his top Detroit techno tracks. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode head over to https://bit.ly/oos-detroit.
Music In This Week’s Episode:
Black Man Orchestra, Eddie Fowlkes
Alleys of Your Mind, Cybotron
Do It All Night, DJ Minx
Epilogue, Octave One
Good Life, Inner City
OBX-A, X-102
Urban Rains, Never On Sunday
Show Notes:
Look out for Eddie Fowlkes’ forthcoming releases this year—two EPs and a full-length album—on Detroit Wax.
Check out more of Imani Mixon’s work at her website.
Credits:
This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.
Welcome back to Object of Sound. In the debut episode of our third season, we’re talking about the power of music to heal, inspire, and invite magic into our lives. “When we sing, we are deathless” says Lisa-Kaindé Diaz, one half of the duo Ibeyi describing her relationship with twin sister and collaborator, Naomi Diaz. That connection creates a special kind of magic, which is woven throughout the tracks of their forthcoming album, Spell 31. In this episode, Hanif sits down with Lisa and Naomi to talk about how they’ve grown through making music together, learning from past selves, and we’re giving you a preview of Ibeyi’s best album yet. On our playlist this week, songs that are a celebration of sisterhood. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode head over to https://bit.ly/ibeyi-magic.
Music In This Week’s Episode:
Sister 2 Sister - Ibeyi
Runaway - Nina Sky
Crazy On You - Heart
Cannonball - The Breeders
Ungodly Hour - Chloe x Halle
Now I’m In It - Haim
The Con - Tegan and Sara
Emmylou - First Aid Kit
Show Notes:
Some of Hanif’s recently listening at the beginning of the year has included Shamir’s Heterosexuality, Summer at Land's End by The Reds, Pinks and Purples, and Crown the King’s Groundhog Day EP.
Ibeyi’s forthcoming album, Spell 31, will be out May 6 on XL Records. The music video for Sister 2 Sister is out now.
Heart’s performance of Crazy On You Live in 1978 is one of Hanif’s favorite live performances of all time.
Credits:
This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.
Welcome to our first ever holiday special, ‘Christmas At Home with Hanif Abdurraqib’ an hour long deep dive into the world of Christmas Music. Whether you’re flooded with warm nostalgia at the first beat of Jingle Bells, or like Hanif didn’t grow up with the holiday but are nonetheless enchanted by the aesthetics of it, this episode is for you. We’ve invited special guests Hrishikesh Hirway and the duo She & Him on the show to talk about Christmas standards, eggnog, and lay praise at the feet of Mariah Carey. Plus we hear from listeners from across the country who’ve called in to share their non-traditional Christmas traditions.
For the Hanif and Hrishi's Christmas song bracket, running 12/18-12/23, head over to @objectofsound.
Show Notes:
She & Him’s first Christmas album, A Very She & Him Christmas, is being re-released in special edition this year on the occasion of its 10th anniversary. Both A Very She & Him Christmas and She & Him’s second Christmas album, Christmas Party, are available now.
Hrishikesh Hirway is the host of Song Exploder and Home Cooking. He is also a composer. Recently, he composed the soundtrack for The Red Lantern, a dog-sledding survival game from Epic Games.
Mariah Carey announced “It’s Time” for Christmas on Nov. 1, 2021. She has been welcoming the Christmas season this way for the past several years.
Hrishikesh Hirway and Hanif Abdurraqib will be running their Christmas song bracket on Twitter (@nifmuhammad, @hrishihirway, @objectofsound).
Hanif’s holiday tradition usually involves watching the 2003 classic, Love Actually.
Credits:
This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Emily Shaw and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Ian Fox, Sean Nesbit, Jason Saldanha and the team at PRX and of course, Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.
“Collaboration—that's the easiest way to grow” says Aaron Dessner, member of the National and Big Red Machine, and a prolific collaborator with artists from Taylor Swift to Kanye West. In our final episode of Season two, we’re talking to Aaron about what it’s like to learn and experiment alongside other musicians, and how valuable that can be for breaking through into new creative frontiers. To close out this season, Hanif leaves us with an expression of gratitude, and a final thought on music as a communal experience. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode head over to https://bit.ly/oos-aaron-dessner.
Music In This Week's Episode:
Big Red Machine, Magnolia
Aaron Dessner and Lauren Mayberry, Who’d You Kill Now?
Taylor Swift and Bon Iver, exile (feat. Bon Iver)
Aaron Dessner, Big Red Machine
Richard Reed Perry, In A Moment
Hiss Golden Messenger, Terms of Surrender
Hannah Georgas, Easy
Big Red Machine and Sharon Van Etten, A Crime
Show Notes:
Big Red Machine’s latest album, How Long Do You Think It's Gonna Last? is out now.
You can watch Julien Baker’s performance of “Claws In Your Back” at Eaux Claires IV, featuring Hanif’s poetry performance, here. The Eaux Claires Festival is expected to return, reimagined, in 2022.
Credits:
This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Mayari Sherina Ong, Kathleen Ottinger and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair.
It’s been 20 years since Aaliyah’s passing, and for most of those years, her music has been largely inaccessible. Kept off streaming platforms, hidden from the internet. That is, until now. With nearly all of Aaliyah’s catalog freshly released into the world, we’re celebrating by devoting our full show in praise of Aaliyah. With a deep dive into her influence on fashion, music and culture and a playlist of tracks that feel like the summer of 2001... And still hit today. Joining Hanif are journalists Kathy Iandoli and Kiana Fitzgerald to rejoice in the (re)discovery of her work. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode head over to https://bit.ly/oos-aaliyah.
Music In This Week’s Episode:
Aaliyah, If Your Girl Only Knew
Aaliyah, I Can Be
Aaliyah, Loose Rap (ft. Static Major)
Aaliyah, Hot Like Fire (Timbaland Groove Mix feat. Missy Elliott & Timbaland)
Aaliyah, 4 Page Letter
Timbaland & Magoo, We At It Again
Aaliyah, U Got Nerve
Aaliyah, Rock the Boat
Show Notes:
I Care 4 U and Ultimate Aaliyah come to Spotify on October 8th, completing her catalog on that platform. You can stream her self-titled album and One In A Million now.
Kathy Iandoli’s book, Baby Girl: Better Known as Aaliyah is available now from Simon & Schuster. The Queen Bee, her forthcoming biography of Lil Kim, will be available in early 2022 from Hachette Books.
Aaliyah’s aesthetic was as visually powerful as it was sonic. Check out some of the music videos recommended by Hanif and our guests: 4 Page Letter; We At It Again; Crush On You; Are You That Somebody?
You can check out Hanif’s recent article on the Meters in Pitchfork.
Credits:
This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Mayari Sherina Ong, Kathleen Ottinger and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair.
What do you do when you revisit a beloved movie from your childhood, only to find out it's not quite what you remember? If you’re Sufjan Stevens and Angelo De Augustine, you write a song about it. Their forthcoming album, A Beginner’s Mind, is a journey back into childhood nostalgia and perspectives, shaped by films the pair watched while recording together. Through their songwriting process, Sufjan and Angelo strip away what was dark or violent in their source material, transforming it and reflecting back something that, in their words, is pure and good. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode head over to https://bit.ly/oos-source-material.
Music In This Week’s Episode:
Sufjan Stevens and Angelo De Augustine, Fictional California
Pixies, Debaser
The Ataris, So Long, Astoria
Fugazi, Walken’s Syndrome
Dolly Parton, 9 to 5
Regina Spektor, Fidelity
Roxy Music, 2HB
Deep Blue Something, Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Show Notes:
A Beginner’s Mind, by Sufjan Stevens and Angelo De Augustine, is out one week from today, on September 24. The first six tracks of the album are available for preview now on Bandcamp.
Credits:
This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Mayari Sherina Ong, Kathleen Ottinger and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair.
“What about the Black woman who does not care to save you?” asks Adia Victoria. “How about the Black woman who is trying to look after her own skin, because you're not looking out for her?” Adia’s forthcoming album, A Southern Gothic, is rich with these questions and the characters who ask them, moving between romanticizing the South and interrogating it, all while embracing the complexity of Adia’s Southern identity. On this week’s episode, Adia and Hanif dig into the widespread influence of Black Southern culture, and the legacy of the blues as an artistic gesture towards freedom—one that is still alive to this day, and remains as vital to American music as ever before. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode head over to https://bit.ly/southern-identity.
Music In This Week’s Episode:
Adia Victoria, Magnolia Blues
Big Mama Thornton, Your Love Is Where It Ought To Be
Memphis Minnie, New Dirty Dozen
Shirley Brown, Woman to Woman
Shemekia Copeland, Salt In My Wounds
Ida Cox, Wild Women Don’t Have The Blues
Alberta Hunter, My Handy Man Ain’t Handy No More
Bessie Smith, Devil’s Gonna Git You
Show Notes:
Adia Victoria’s third studio album, A Southern Gothic, is out September 17. Spotify & Apple Music users can pre-save/pre-add the album via Adia’s website. The first single, Magnolia Blues, is out now. You can listen to her Sonos Radio Hour on mixcloud and read her open letter to Spotify on her instagram, here.
Adia hosts Call & Response, a podcast that draws upon the blues tradition of communal music making and listening. Call & Response has just entered its second season. The first episode, featuring Lucy Dacus, is available now.
To pass the time during quarantine, Adia read: Subduing Satan by Ted Ownby, There Goes the Neighborhood by William Julius Wilson and Richard P. Taub, One Writer’s Beginning and The Eye of the Story by Eudora Welty.
Check out this video of Chaka Khan leading an ensemble performance of “I’m Every Woman” at Newport Folk. The performance was curated by Allison Russell, whose debut record, Outside Child, is out now.
Credits:
This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Mayari Sherina Ong, Kathleen Ottinger and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair.
DJ Screw changed hip hop forever. You’ve heard his signature sound, even if you don’t know his name. On this episode, co-hosted by Mogul’s Brandon ‘Jinx’ Jenkins, we sit down with Lil Keke to talk about the warbly, slowed-down style of mixing called Chopped and Screwed born out of Houston in the ‘90s, and how this sound spilled out from car stereos and into the culture at large. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode head over to https://bit.ly/screwed-up-sound.
Music In This Week’s Episode:
DJ Screw, Lil Keke - Pimp Tha Pen
DJ Screw, UGK - Tell Me Something Good
DJ Screw, Screwed Up Click - Shine and Recline
DJ Screw, Botany Boyz - Smokin And Leanin
Trae Tha Truth, DJ Screw - Screw Tha World (feat. DJ Screw)
DJ Screw - Elbows Swangin
DJ Screw, Al-D - Why You Hatin Me
Show Notes:
Season Three of Mogul, hosted by Brandon Jinx Jenkins and featuring DJ Screw and the Screwed Up Click, is out now on Spotify.
Lil Keke’s forthcoming album, LGND, is out later this month. His previous album, Slfmade 3, is available now.
Chopped and Screwed music is featured in the soundtracks of many cinematic works by Barry Jenkins, such as: Moonlight, If Beale Street Could Talk, and the Underground Railroad.
Credits:
This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Mayari Sherina Ong, Kathleen Ottinger and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair.
“The way I look at music is it's all mine” says Bartees Strange. “I can do whatever I want with whatever I hear, period.” When Bartees approaches a song—whether he’s reimagining or remixing another artist, or writing for himself—he doesn’t hold back. In this episode, Hanif and Bartees talk about making their art into their career, and the journey they each took to get there. Plus, Hanif and Bartees explain how living well and fully engaged with the world and people around them is an essential part of their creative processes. Plus Hanif curates a playlist of his favorite remixes. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode head over to https://bit.ly/oos-bartees-strange.
Music in this week's episode:
Phoebe Bridgers and Bartees Strange, Kyoto (Bartees Strange Remix)
Le Tigre, Deceptacon (DFA Remix)
Florence and the Machine, You’ve Got The Love (Jamie xx rework)
Robyn, Baby Forgive Me (Floorplan Remix)?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Aaliyah, Hot Like Fire (Timbaland’ Groove Mix feat. Missy Elliott & Timbaland)
SWV, Anything
Show Notes:
Bartees Stranges’ Live Forever is out now. Catch his latest remixes of Phoebe Bridgers’ Kyoto and Illuminati Hotties’ Pool Hopping.
Bartees’ tour kicks off on September 3 at the Pageant in St. Louis, MO and winds all across the country from there. For tickets and more tour dates, see Bartees’ website.
The beloved limited edition Kelly Rowland sweater can be viewed here.
Credits:
This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Mayari Sherina Ong, Kathleen Ottinger and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair.
“All I need to be inspired is to be alive,” says Joan Armatrading. Throughout a career spanning over 50 years, Joan credits her singular songwriting to a relentless fascination with other people: how they love and live. This week on Object of Sound, listen in as Joan and Hanif talk about the process of bringing to life everyday observations, and transforming them into evocative, vivid stories through song. Plus, Joan reveals what it takes to be constantly evolving as an artist, while staying true to your own rhythm. This week’s show comes with a playlist curated by Hanif of songs from Joan Armatrading's expansive career. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode, visit https://bit.ly/ode-to-joan
/ Music In This Week’s Episode: /
Joan Armatrading, Glorious Madness
Joan Armatrading, The Weakness In Me
Joan Armatrading, Peace In Mind
Joan Armatrading, Cover My Eyes
Joan Armatrading, Sometimes I Don’t Wanna Go Home
Joan Armatrading, You Rope You Tie Me
Joan Armatrading, The Shouting Stage
Joan Armatrading, Love and Affection
/ Show Notes: /
Joan Armatrading’s 22nd studio album, Consequences, is out now.
You can view Joan’s performance of Love and Affection on The Old Grey Whistle test here.
/ Credits: /
This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Mayari Sherina Ong, Kathleen Ottinger and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair.
We’re breaking format to create something completely new: a collaborative performance of music, poetry and ideas between Hanif, artist Thao Nguyen (Thao & The Get Down Stay Down) and scholar Josh Kun. Named after the tool that mixes tracks on a DJ controller, Josh has been organizing an event series called ‘Crossfade Lab’ where he brings artists together to ‘mix without erasing, combine without destroying’ and find new places of connection between their work. In this episode, Hanif and Thao share poems and songs as they commune over how they use their respective practices as a way to expel and transform grief. Let’s crossfade!
Show Notes
Josh Kun’s ongoing project is Art of The Crossfade.
If you’re in Phoenix, join Josh and artists Teresita Fernández and San Cha for a live Crossfade Lab. Information here.
Hanif read his poem It Is Maybe Time To Admit that Jordan Definitely Pushed Off, published in A Fortune For Your Disaster; and an excerpt from ‘On Going Home As Performance,’ featured in his most recent book is A Little Devil In America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance.
Thao performed the songs “Marrow” and “Temple” off her most recent album, Temple, and “Age of Ice,” off her album We the Common.
Credits
This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Mayari Sherina Ong, Kathleen Ottinger and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair.
Hanif and Grammy award winning artist H.E.R. sit down to talk all about the guitar: H.E.R.’s relationship to the instrument, her many inspirations and the long lineage of Black women who’ve defined popular music and culture before her. They discuss how H.E.R. intuitively found her voice on her latest album Back Of Mind, and they explore what it means to redefine R&B music in the present moment. This week’s show comes with a playlist curated by Hanif of songs by Black women guitar players, and an ode to Sister Rosetta Tharpe. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode, visit https://bit.ly/oos-guitarsheroes.
/Music In This Week's Episode/
H.E.R., Hard To Love
Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Strange Things Happening Every Day
Etta Baker, I Get The Blues When It Rains
Brittany Howard, 13th Century Metal
Carline Ray, Lazarus
Elizabeth Cotten, I’m Going Away
Barbara Lynn, Maybe We Can Slip Away
Klymaxx, Fab Attack
/Show Notes/
H.E.R.’s latest album is Back of My Mind.
Check out Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s page in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, here.
Her Instagram show featuring female guitar players, Girls With Guitars, is available to rewatch on Youtube.
She is the first black woman to have a signature guitar, a Fender Stratocaster.
Lyrics from I Can’t Breathe were taken directly from a conversation between H.E.R. and her friend, GRAMMY-award winning singer-songwriter Tiara Thomas.
/Credits/
This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Babette Thomas, Mayari Sherina Ong and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair.
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“His fingerprints are all over the culture.” On this week’s episode, we pay tribute to the great Biz Markie, the legendary rapper, deejay, sampler, and emcee who passed away earlier this month. Hanif invites hip hop experts, Dart Adams and DJ Lynnée Denise onto the show, to celebrate the fullness of Markie’s legacy-- someone who masterfully used humor to create a persona that could always get a crowd roaring. We explore how Biz Markie was so much more than the clown prince or his hit song “Just A Friend,” but rather, a musician whose legacy continues to touch all of hip hop. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode, head over to https://bit.ly/oos-biz-markie.
/ Music In This Week's Episode /
Biz Markie, Make The Music With Your Mouth Biz
Biz Markie, Pickin' Boogers
Biz Markie, Biz In Harmony
Biz Markie, Spring Again
Biz Markie, Groovin
Biz Markie, Bad By Myself
Biz Markie, Nobody Beats The Biz
/ Show Notes /
Dart Adams is the voice behind the blog Poisonous Paragraphs. Lynnée Denise runs the School of Thought blog.
You can read Dart Adams’ work in his 2019 essay collection, “Best Damn Hip Hop Writing: The Book of Dart.”
The cultural and commercial history of sampling is explored in greater detail in the 2009 documentary film, Copyright Criminals, referenced here by DJ Lynnée Denise.
Hanif mentions the photo of Chuck D holding up the names of rappers who have passed in recent months.
/Credits/
This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Babette Thomas, Mayari Sherina Ong and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair.
Love it or hate it, every summer has a song you just can’t escape from. It’s playing out of every car window, at every bodega, in every club and in your head on repeat. “We are all unknowingly entering into a contract to declare one song as a song of the summer” says Hanif. But in a time when there’s less communal listening than ever before, will there be just one song that defines these months of 2021? This week on the show, we’re analyzing the song of the summer from all angles with writer Wesley Morris and the Switched on Pop co-hosts Nate Sloan and Charlie Harding. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode, visit https://bit.ly/oos-contract
/Music In This Week's Episode/
Right Back, Khalid
Warm Blood, Carly Rae Jepsen
Brat Pack, The Rocket Summer
Heart Skipped a Beat, The xx
How Will I know, Whitney Houston
Get In The Sun, Joan Armatrading
1 Thing, Amerie
/Show Notes/
Nate Sloan and Charlie Harding are the hosts of the Switched on Pop podcast.
Listen to Hanif’s extended playlist of 68 ‘songs for summer nights’ here.
Wesley Morris is the host of the podcast Still Processing. Nate and Charlie are the hosts of the podcast Switched on Pop.
Hanif says the emblematic songs of summer of 2016 are One Dance by Drake feat. Wiz Kid and Kyla, Work From Home by Fifth Harmony, and This is What You Came For by Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris
Wesley says Blue by Joni Mitchell and Spinnin’ by Jerry Jam and Terry Lewis feat. Mary J. Blige, are the nostalgic songs people are listening to today.
Standout songs of summer according to Wesley and Hanif include Bootylicious by Destiny's Child, Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen, Trap Queen by Fetty Wap, Despacito by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber, De Museo by Bad Bunny, Need To Know by Doja Cat and Bad Habits by Ed Sheeran.
Charlie and Nate argue that Sympathy For The Devil by The Rolling Stones was a precedent for Lorde’s Solar Power.
/Credits/
This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Babette Thomas, Mayari Sherina Ong and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair.
“I care about words more than music,” says musician Lucy Dacus. Lucy recently released her third album, Home Video is a compilation of stories and vignettes pulled directly from her journals, dating back to her childhood. For Lucy, deep honesty in the form of song lyrics is almost compulsive. On this week’s show, Lucy and Hanif each unpack what it means to be a confessional writer, and together explore what honesty can offer an artist, or how it can hurt them. Plus, a reading list from Lucy on the books that offer her inspiration.
/Music In This Week's Episode/
Thumbs, Lucy Dacus
I Love You, Mary J. Blige
All That You Have Is Your Soul, Tracy Chapman
Bad Religion, Frank Ocean
You Must Love Me, JAY-Z
It Hurts Me Too, Karen Dalton
Give My Love To Rose, Johnny Cash
It Hurts Me So Much, Etta James
/Show Notes/
Lucy Dacus’ newest album is Home Video.
Lucy’s song Please Stay is inspired by Hanif’s essay “Brief Notes on Staying.”
Lucy’s often pulls inspiration for literature. The books she’s been reading are:
The Committed by Viet Thanh Nguyen
The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Play It As It Lays by Joan Didion
Gathering Moss by Robin Wall Kimmerer
A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance by Hanif Abdurraqib
Girlhood by Melissa Febos
/Credits/
This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Babette Thomas, Mayari Sherina Ong and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair.
For 50 years, footage of the Harlem Cultural Festival – a summer-long fête featuring the likes of Nina Simone, Sly and The Family Stone, and Stevie Wonder – was buried in the archives. And the story of the Harlem Cultural Festival was buried along with it. Finally, the footage is being brought to light by Questlove in the new film ‘Summer of Soul’ a powerful testament to the artists of that era, and an energetic ride into the styles, sounds and politics of 1969. In this episode, our exclusive interview with Questlove on what it takes to correct the historical record, and why we need this film now in 2021. For this episode's custom playlist curated by Hanif, visit https://bit.ly/oos-questlove
/Music In This Week's Episode/
You Caught Me (Smilin’), Sly and the Family Stone
Black Woman, Sonny Sharrock
The Weight, The Staple Singers
My Bed of Thorns, Gladys Knight and The Pips
To Love Somebody, Nina Simone
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, Mahalia Jackson
Almost Seedless, Hugh Masakela
Love’s In Need Of Love Today, Stevie Wonder
/Show Notes/
Questlove’s directorial debut is Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised). You can find a list of the festival’s full lineup here.
Hanif and Questlove reference the documentary Amazing Grace, on Aretha Franklin.
The art festival in Columbus was called Holler and organized by the poet and cultural worker Scott Woods.
/Credits/
This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Babette Thomas, Mayari Sherina Ong and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair.
We’re in an unprecedented moment of emergence: long-shuttered venues are reopening their doors, artists are hitting the road again, and you’re probably thinking about what concerts you’ll be heading to in this new world. We’re looking ahead to a summer full of live music, and what it means to listen together -- again. Hanif speaks with GRAMMY Award winning artist, Esperanza Spalding on creating ‘Songwrights Apothecary Lab’ and how live music can help rebuild our communities. And journalist Cherie Hu shares her predictions for the future of live music. Plus, listeners call in and share reflections from their favorite festival moments,
/Show Notes/
Cherie Hu’s newsletter is Water and Music.
Esperanza Spalding’s latest project is the Songwrights Apothecary Lab. She has also released music that she worked on at the residency.
Hanif and Cherie bring up Verzuz and Mark Rebillet’s improvised performances.
Hanif tells a story about performing at the Eaux Claire’s Festival with Julien Baker in 2018.
/Credits/
This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Babette Thomas, Mayari Sherina Ong and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair.
After a long year apart, there’s something particularly comforting about listening to a duet. In this week’s episode, we talk to Sharon Van Etten, who recently released ‘Like I Used To’ a duet with Angel Olsen. Hanif and Sharon dig into the interpersonal stories behind some of their favorite duet collaborators, unpack what makes for a great pairing of voices, and make a playlist of their top duet songs. To listen to the playlist of songs curated for this week's episode visit www.mixcloud.com/sonos.
/Music In This Week's Episode/
Like I Used To - Sharon Van Etten and Angel Olsen
The Boy Is Mine, Brandy and Monica
Streets of Paradise, Richard and Linda Thompson
Waves, Miguel (feat. Kacey Musgraves)
Oh, What A Good Thing We Had, Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash
Perfect Combination, Johnny Gill and Stacey Lattisaw
Da Rockwilder, Method Man and Redman
/Show Notes/
“All I Need” by Mary J. Blige and Method Man and “Dilemma” by Nelly and Kelly Rowland are two of the iconic duets that Hanif remembers from the 90’s.
Hanif cites Fleetwood Mac and Dolly Parton as artists with varying duet styles.
Some of Sharon’s favorite duets include, “Nobody Gets What They Want Anymore,” by Marlon Williams and Aldous Harding, “Streets of Paradise” by Richard and Linda Thompson and “Under Pressure” by Queen and David Bowie.
Hanif gives his praises to Tony Bennett’s albums Duets I, and Duets II.
/Credits/
This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Babette Thomas, Mayari Sherina Ong and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair.
Welcome to season two of Object of Sound! As the world opens back up, we’re entering a moment of collective renewal and return, so it feels right to speak with an artist who is versed in reinvention: Mykki Blanco. Hanif sits down with Mykki to talk about the release of their new album ‘Broken Hearts and Beauty Sleep’ coming out today, and the two enter into a layered conversation about what it means for an artist to be labeled as ‘ahead of their time.’ Visit https://bit.ly/oos-mykki to check out the playlist of songs curated for this episode.
/Show Notes/
Mykki Blanco’s newest album is Broken Hearts and Beauty Sleep.
Mykki brings up their previous projects, Betty Rubble: The Initiation and Gay Dog Food as examples of their evolution as an artist.
Mykki Blanco cites Big Freedia, Madonna, Prince and David Bowie as legends who inspire them.
/Music in This Week's Playlist/
Love Me, Mykki Blanco
Cruel Cruel World, Jackie Shane
Rent, Big Freedia
Koi, Le1f
Queen Of This Shit, Quay Dash
Coytada, Linn de Quebrada
Don’t Despair, Beverly Glenn-Copeland
Adore, Dreamcrusher
/Credits/
This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Babette Thomas, Mayari Sherina Ong and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair.
For the season finale of Object of Sound, a reminder that you are an artist, regardless of what you do for work. Before Brittany Howard became a striking soloist and lead singer of Alabama Shakes, she worked at Cracker Barrel, sold cars, and even delivered mail in rural Alabama. In this episode, Hanif and Brittany reflect on how they preserved their creative lives and taught themselves writing and music while on the job. They dive into a shared love of funk and Brittany reveals how she learned to play guitar as a kid from reading magazines. Plus, a playlist of songs to soundtrack your work day. After this episode, we’re going to take a break. Season Two of Object of Sound picks up June 18th! Stay tuned. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode, visit http://bit.ly/oos-work
/Show Notes/
Brittany Howard’s most recent album is Jaime.
Hanif and Brittany talk about Bill Withers and Brittany’s cover of Parliament Funkadelic’s “You and Your Folks.”
Brittany cites Vulfpeck and BadBadNotGood as the bands with funk rhythm sections that she admires.
Brittany adds “Ain’t It Hard” by Sharon Jones,“Cold Sweat” by James Brown, “Oh Marie”
by Louis Prima and “The Prophet’s Song” by Queen to a playlist of songs for the work day.
/Music In This Week's Playlist/
You and Your Folks, Me and My Folks, Brittany Howard covering Funkadelic
The Prophet’s Song, Queen
Pressure, Paramore
Ain’t it Hard, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings
Tears of Rage, The Band
People Everyday, Arrested Development
Time’s a Wastin, Erykah Badu
/ Credits /
Object of Sound is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, and Babette Thomas. The show is additionally produced by Hanif Abdurraqib. Our engineers are Sam Bair and Josh Hahn of The Relic Room.
What does it mean to be a curator of songs? The one friend who recommends new records, specifically with your tastes in mind. Hanif speaks with Hrishikesh Hirway, the creator and host of Song Exploder and a fellow music enthusiast. In this episode, Hanif and Hrishikesh discuss the communal and emotive nature of music sharing. They reflect on the experience of often being the only person of color at punk shows and what it means to, now, be in a position to evaluate music, while moving beyond the role of “tastemaker.” Plus, they collaborate on a playlist of musical underdogs who give you the most bang for your buck. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode, visit http://bit.ly/oos-hrishikesh
/ Show Notes /
Hrishikesh Hirway is the creator and host of the Song Exploder, a music podcast from Radiotopia and Netflix show. His podcast credits also include Partners, West Wing Weekly and Home Cooking.
Hanif and Hrishikesh reference Moneyball, in their playlist creation. And Hanif brings up the punk band Racetraitor.
/ Music In This Week's Playlist /
I’d Like to Walk Around in Your Mind, Vashti Bunyan
Sour Times, Portishead
Machine Gun, Slowdive
For Want Of, Rites of Spring
Too Much Information, The Police
The Sun, Alice Coltrane
Sound and the Fury, Fanny
Super Duper Love Parts 1&2, Sugar Billy
/ Credits /
Object of Sound is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, and Babette Thomas. The show is additionally produced by Hanif Abdurraqib. Our engineers are Sam Bair and Josh Hahn of The Relic Room.
What makes a home? Is it where you create? Where you feel seen? And for a musician like Rhiannon Giddens, how does the idea of home shape the sound of her music? This week, Hanif sits down with North-Carolinian multi-instrumentalist Rhiannon Giddens from her new homebase in Dublin. They talk about how Ireland has seeped into her music, muse on the banjo as a weapon and a tool of archiving Black histories, and how Rhiannon is able to masterfully draw influences -- wherever she finds herself. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode, go to www.mixcloud.com/sonos.
/Show Notes/
Rhiannon Giddens’ recent release is They’re Calling Me Home.
Hanif references his book, Little Devil In America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance and brings up the performer, Bert Williams.
Rhiannon talks about learning to play the akonting in Gambia and her first solo album Tomorrow is My Turn.
This interview was originally recorded at On Air Fest.
/Music In This Week's Playlist/
Waterbound, Rhiannon Giddens and Francesco Turrisi
Carry Me Ohio, Sun Kil Moon
Dishes, Pulp
Baby Can I Hold You, Tracy Chapman
A Piece of Ground, Miriam Makeba
Midwest, Midsummer, Used Kids
My City Was Gone, Pretenders
Domestica, Björk
/ Credits /
Object of Sound is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, and Babette Thomas. The show is additionally produced by Hanif Abdurraqib. Our engineers are Sam Bair and Josh Hahn of The Relic Room.
When you think of protest music, you might think of the rock anthems of the 1960’s, or rap that turns frustration into elegantly poignant lyrics. For pianist Vijay Iyer, music without lyrics—has always been political music. This week, we talk with Vijay about the release of his new album 'Uneasy,' which in many ways is a protest album. We delve into the political history of jazz, the role of music in protest movements today. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode visit http://bit.ly/oos-vijay
/ Show Notes /
Vijay Iyer’s new album is Uneasy, with collaborators Tyshawn Sorey and Linda May Han Oh.
Vijay shared Billie Holiday’s Strange Fruit and John Coltrane’s 1968 performance at The Newport Jazz festival as examples of performances of protest.
Vijay cites Miles Davis’ performance of “Ah-Leu Cha” at the Newport Jazz Festival and Jimi Hendrix’s “Machine Gun” as examples of powerful political music.
Vijay references Cruel Optimism by Lauren Berlant.
In his final thought, Hanif discusses Nina Simone’s songs “Pirate Jenny” and “Black Is The Color Of My True Love’s Hair.”
/ Music In This Week's Playlist /
Children of Flint, Vijay Iyer, Linda May Han Oh, Tyshawn Sorey
Song of the United Front, Charlie Haden
Volunteered Slavery, Rahsaan Roland Kirk
Pirate Jenny, Nina Simone
Transcendence, Alice Coltrane and Pharoh Sanders
Ah-Leu-Cha, Miles at Newport
/ Credits /
Object of Sound is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, and Babette Thomas. The show is additionally produced by Hanif Abdurraqib. Our engineers are Sam Bair and Josh Hahn of The Relic Room.
When Julien Baker and Hanif first met, they felt pulled by the orbit of each other’s work—work that is emotionally layered and complex. This week on the show, Hanif and Julien catch up. Of course, they talk about Julien’s recent album release, Little Oblivions —which Hanif wrote the liner notes for— but they also get into ideas of self-redemption, digesting emotions through music, and missing the miraculous feeling of live music. Plus, Hanif and Julien collaborate on a playlist of their personal praise songs; the music they would play in their own respective churches. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode visit http://bit.ly/oos-julien
/ Show Notes /
Julien Baker’s new album is Little Oblivions. The songs that Julien Baker would play at her church are “The River” by Manchester Orchestra, “The Joke” by Brandi Carlile, and “Love Theory” by Kirk Franklin.
/ Music In This Week's Playlist /
Bloodshot , Julien Baker
The Joke, Brandi Carlile
When I Was Young, Tina Turner
Blown a Wish, My Bloody Valentine
How I Got Over, Aretha Franklin
Lived In Bars, Cat Power
The River, Manchester Orchestra
The Ocean Grew Hands to Hold Me, The Wonder Years
/ Credits /
Object of Sound is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, and Babette Thomas. The show is additionally produced by Hanif Abdurraqib. Our engineers are Sam Bair and Josh Hahn of The Relic Room.
This week marks the release of Hanif’s new book, A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance, and the opening chapter dives into the colorful world of Soul Train. Bell bottoms, the Soul Train line, afro’s as high as the sky. Hanif and journalist Ericka Blount Danois talk through how the show forever changed fashion, dance, and carved out a path for the all-Black media empires we see today. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode visit http://bit.ly/oos-soultrain
/ Show Notes /
Hanif’s new book is A Little Devil in America: Notes In Praise of Black Performance.
Erica’s book on Soul Train is Love, Peace and Soul: Behind the Scenes of America's Favorite Dance Show Soul Train: Classic Moments.
/ Music In This Week's Playlist /
Some Kind of Lover - Dance Remix , Jody Watley
Let It Whip, Dazz Band
He’s The Greatest Dancer, Sister Sledge
Love Come Down, Evelyn Champagne King
Family Affair, Sly & The Family Stone
September, Earth, Wind & Fire
Do Wa Ditty (Blow That Thing), Zapp
Love Train, The O’Jays
/ Credits /
Object of Sound is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, and Babette Thomas. The show is additionally produced by Hanif Abdurraqib. Our engineers are Sam Bair and Josh Hahn of The Relic Room.
For Hanif, music that some folks would consider ‘dark’ like emo, doom metal, and goth, have helped him find illumination. In this episode, Hanif talks to a master of darkly humorous lyrics, Sydney Sprague, about her debut album, ‘maybe I will see you at the end of the world’ and what it takes to make music at a time when survival feels like a question mark. Plus, Hanif and Sydney make a playlist of songs that’d be the perfect soundtrack to the apocalypse. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode visit http://bit.ly/oos-apocalypse
/ Show Notes /
Sydney Sprague’s debut album is maybe I will see you at the end of the world.
Hanif references Sydney’s music videos for “I refuse to die” and “object permanence.”
The book Hanif wrote while living in Provincetown was They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us.
/ Music In This Week's Playlist /
Object Permanence, Sydney Sprague (feat. Danielle Durrack)
Bird is Bored of Flying, Mastersystem
We No Who U R, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Gimme Shelter, Merry Clayton
Some Velvet Morning, Slowdive
Meet You In The Light, With Our Arms To The Sun
What’s Mine Is Yours, Sleater-Kinney
Hell on Earth (Front Lines), Mobb Deep
/ Credits /
Object of Sound is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, and Babette Thomas. The show is additionally produced by Hanif Abdurraqib. Our engineers are Sam Bair and Josh Hahn of The Relic Room.
This week on the show, we're taking a critical look at The GRAMMYs. We bring on NPR’s Sidney Madden and Rodney Carmichael to talk through the systemic inequities of an event that each year decides which musician can be called the “best.” Why do we still care about awards that trail seemingly years behind the culture? Plus, Hanif, Sidney and Rodney share which artists they think should be recognized, whether or not they take home an award this weekend. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode visit http://bit.ly/oos-grammys
/ Show Notes /
Sidney and Rodney are the co-hosts of NPR’s Louder Than A Riot.
Sidney says Beyoncé’s 2017 Grammy performance, good kid m.A.A.d. city, Lemonade and My Dark Twisted Fantasy have changed the trajectory of music.
Rodney cites Kendrick Lamar’s 2016 GRAMMYs performance, a 2008 Sly Stone Tribute and Little Richard’s speech at the 1988 GRAMMYs as iconic moments in awards show history.
Sidney is excited for Kaytranda and Jhené Aiko. Rodney is pulling for Lil Baby and The Box by Roddie Rich.
/ Music in This Week's Playlist /
Shoegaze, Alabama Shakes
Sky Full Of Song, Florence + The Machine
Leave the Door Open, Silk Sonic (Anderson .Paak & Bruno Mars)
Blue Lights, Jorja Smith
River, Margo Price
Shady Grove, Yola
Swimming Pools (Drank), Kendrick Lamar
Right Back, Khalid
/ Credits /
Object of Sound is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, and Babette Thomas. The show is additionally produced by Hanif Abdurraqib. Our engineers are Sam Bair and Josh Hahn of The Relic Room.
For the first month of the pandemic, Hanif couldn’t listen to music. Then KeiyaA dropped her album Forever Ya Girl! and the idea that new music could be made, in this moment, shook him. This week on Object of Sound, we're thinking back on the exhausting, scary, revelatory year we’ve just lived through, and how the pandemic has changed the need for music in our lives. We talk to KeiyaA about crystals, writing scene-rich lyrics and the music that carried her through these last 12 months. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode visit http://bit.ly/oos-keiyaa
/ Show Notes /
KeiyaA’s most recent album is Forever Ya Girl. Her zine is titled, On Returning My Quikest Language Back To My Mouth.
Hanif’s book A Little Devil In America: Notes in Praise Of Black Performance, is set to release March 30th.
KeiyaA mentions Slauson Malone’s catalog for his exhibition ‘A star like any other’— at Midway Contemporary Art.
KeiyaA’s selects for music made in the last 12 months include “Use It” by Demae, “White Double Consciousness” by Nelson Bandela, and “Clock In-Out” by Cleo Reed.
KeiyaA mentions shows thrown by her friends AmaniFela and Maassai.
Hanif gives a shout out to Brown Recluse Zine Distro.
/ Music In This Week's Playlist /
I Want My Things, KeiyaA
I Refuse To Die, Sydney Sprague
Queendom, Girlhood
Other Side, Shamir
I Finally Understand, Charli XCX
Body, Megan Thee Stallion
White Double Consciousness, Nelson Bandela
Weird Fishes, Lianne La Havas
/ Credits /
Object of Sound is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, and Babette Thomas. The show is additionally produced by Hanif Abdurraqib. Our engineers are Sam Bair and Josh Hahn of The Relic Room.
Matt Berninger started out as the frontman of The National, but recently he’s taken off on his own artistic path. With the re-issue of the National’s early albums out today, we speak with Matt about revisiting past selves, his collaboration with Booker T. Jones, and take a broader look at artists who have reinvented their sound after going solo. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode visit http://bit.ly/oos-solo
/ Show Notes /
Matt Berninger says Willie Nelson’s Stardust was a large inspiration for his most recent album, Serpentine Prison.
Matt cites “Sunny” by Booker T and the MG’s as an example of a record where you can “hear musicians look at each other.”
Matt calls Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly With His Song” and Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” as, what he calls, “direct, on your knees, love songs”.
Matt says “Collar Of Your Shirt,” is the song on his album where he feels he really hit the mark.
Matt says “Even Here We Are” by Paul Westerberg and “When She Walks In The Room” by Bryan Ferry as his favorite song by front people who went solo.
/ Music In This Week's Playlist /
Collar of Your Shirt, Matt Berninger
Adam Lives in Theory, Ms. Lauryn Hill
Even Here We Are, Paul Westerberg
Mall Music, Nice As Fuck
Love, Selfish Love, Patrick Stump
Lazaretto, Jack White
Comes the Night, Karen O
Jòga, Björk
/ Credits /
Object of Sound is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, and Babette Thomas. The show is additionally produced by Hanif Abdurraqib. Our engineers are Sam Bair and Josh Hahn of The Relic Room.
When Grammy nominated bassist Meshell Ndegeocello read James Baldwin for the first time, her world shifted on its axis. Like many before her, Baldwin’s words reverberated into her creative process. In this episode, we speak with Ndegeocello about the literary ancestors who inform her music, the arc of her decades-long career, and Hanif shares a playlist of songs inspired by poetry and literature. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode visit http://bit.ly/oos-meshell
/ Show Notes /
Meshell Ndegeocello’s most recent project is Chapter and Verse, The Gospel of James Baldwin.
Meshell cites The Fire Next Time and Another Country as the texts that introduced her to Baldwin.
Meshell says the writers whose work she'd most love to put to music are Kiese Laymon, Joan Didion's The White Album and Sheila Heti.
/ Music In This Week's Playlist /
Mary Magdalene, Meshell Ndegeocello
The Sensual World, Kate Bush
Popular, Nada Surf
When I Can See The Valley, Leyla MCcalla
Samson, Regina Spektor
The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, Iron Maiden
Guantanamera, Celia Cruz
Baldwin, Jamila Woods
/ Credits /
Object of Sound is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, and Babette Thomas. The show is additionally produced by Hanif Abdurraqib. Our engineers are Sam Bair and Josh Hahn of The Relic Room.
Sylvan Esso’s Nick Sanborn and Amelia Meath are tired of your typical love song. They’re more interested in the music that flows from an argument, singing about heartbreak, and falling back in love with yourself. As Valentine’s day approaches, we talk to the duo about what it takes to make art together as romantic partners, crack open what a love song can be, and Hanif reads a poem by Nicole Sealey. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode visit http://bit.ly/oos-love
/ Show Notes /
Hanif references “God Only Knows” by The Beach Boys.
Amelia references the song “Free” from Sylvan Esso’s recent release, Free Love.
Amelia references “Juke Box Hero” by Foreigner as her first favorite love song.
Nick references “They Might Be Giants” by Ana Ng as his first favorite love song.
Amelia and Nick reference Robyn’s “Dancing On My Own” and Adele’s “Send My Love” as redemptive self-love songs.
/ Music In This Week's Playlist /
Sylvan Esso, Rooftop Dancing
Roxy Music, In Every Dream Home A Heartache
Whitney Houston & Cece Winans, Count On Me
Ghostface Killah, The Sun (feat. Slick Rick, Raekwon & Rza)
Bill Withers, Lean on Me
Robyn, Dancing On My Own
Nina Simone, Feeling Good
LCD Soundsystem, All My Friends
The National, Bloodbuzz Ohio
/ Credits /
Object of Sound is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, and Babette Thomas. The show is additionally produced by Hanif Abdurraqib. Our engineers are Sam Bair and Josh Hahn of The Relic Room.
It’s Super Bowl weekend, and we’ve invited critic Wesley Morris on to talk about Whitney Houston’s jaw-dropping rendition of the Star Spangled banner. On the 30th anniversary of her performance, we explore the beauty and complexity the national anthem holds for Black Americans and ask: how should we be listening to the National Anthem today? For the playlist of songs curated for this episode visit http://bit.ly/oos-wesley
/ Show Notes /
Wesley and Hanif reference Whitney Houston, Marvin Gaye, and Jimi Hendrix’s versions of the National Anthem.
Wesley and Hanif cite Lady Gaga and Beyonce’s inauguration performances of the National Anthem.
Wesley Morris is the host of the podcast Still Processing, with former Object of Sound guest, Jenna Wortham.
Jahja Ling is the conductor laureate of the San Diego symphony.
John Clayton a jazz musician and composer, set to perform on a Jazz Cruise, in 2022.
/ Music In This Week's Playlist /
Whitney Houston, I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)
Sophie, It’s Okay to Cry
Craig David, 7 Days
Fireworks, Oh, Why Can't We Start Old & Get Younger
Shame, March Day
CHIKA, Crown
Jay-Z, Public Service Announcement
People Under the Stairs, Mid-City Fiesta
mxmtoon, All Star (by Smash Mouth)
/ Credits /
Object of Sound is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, and Babette Thomas. The show is additionally produced by Hanif Abdurraqib. Our engineers are Sam Bair and Josh Hahn of The Relic Room.
The strength of Black women as storytellers stands out on arguably the most celebrated album of this year, Heaux Tales, from Jazmine Sullivan. Through stories told by Jazmine’s close circle of women, the album explores themes of love, sex and Black womanhood. In this episode, we talk with Jazmine about her writing process, taking breaks from music and her upcoming performance at the Super Bowl.
/ Show Notes /
For the playlist of songs curated for this episode visit http://bit.ly/oos-jazmines-tale.
Hanif says that Jazmine’s album reminds him of the Waiting To Exhale soundtrack.
Jazmine cites Cardi B and Lizzo has some of her inspirations.
Jazmine says Whitney Houston’s Super Bowl rendition of the Star Spangled Banner is her favorite take on the song.
Jazmine Sullivan’s album is Heaux Tales.
/ Credits /
Object of Sound is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, and Babette Thomas. The show is additionally produced by Hanif Abdurraqib. Our engineers are Sam Bair and Josh Hahn of The Relic Room.
From the late MF Doom to Grace Jones and Orville Peck, we take a look at musicians who have worn masks to protect their identities at a time when we’re all masking up to protect one another. In this episode, we talk with writers Sasha Geffen and Harmony Holiday about the different ways artists choose to mask up, and how covering one part of who we are can also uncover creative freedom.
/ Show Notes /
For the playlist of songs curated for this episode visit http://bit.ly/oos-masks
Read Harmony Holiday’s elegy to MF Doom for Frieze
Sasha’s book which Hanif ‘pushes’ on everyone is Glitter Up the Dark How Pop Music Broke the Binary
Watch the 'Slime' video by Shygirl and Mequetrefe by Arca to see how these two artists play with ‘real’ and ‘fake’ images
Hanif referenced when SIA performed ‘Wolves’ with Kanye West on SNL.
/ Credits /
Object of Sound is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, and Babette Thomas. The show is additionally produced by Hanif Abdurraqib. Our engineers are Sam Bair and Josh Hahn of The Relic Room.
When one song sits next to another, a new story is told. We talk with Moses Sumney about composing the arc of his album græ, making playlists, and how he honors his own work by refusing to define it. Welcome to Object Of Sound.
/ Show Notes /
For the playlist of songs curated for this episode visit here.
Moses referenced the album Speaker Box and The Love Below by Outkast.
Hanif and Moses recommend cleaning your house to Future Nostalgia by Dua Lipa.
Moses says the albums Forever, Ya Girl by KeiyaA and Hannah by Lomelda are the music that'll be his archive of this moment in time.
Moses' two-part album is græ.
/ Credits /
Object of Sound is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, and Babette Thomas. The show is additionally produced by Hanif Abdurraqib. Our engineers are Sam Bair and Josh Hahn of The Relic Room.
2020 was arguably the year of the cover song. Listening to a familiar song spun a new way can be grounding or groundbreaking. We talk to the often covered and prolific performer of covers, Jeff Tweedy, about what goes into a great cover, and what it’s like to hear his own songs re-translated by other musicians.
/ Show Notes /
For the playlist of cover songs curated for this episode visit http://bit.ly/oos-covers,
Jeff Tweedy’s book is How to Write One Song,
Watch episodes of The Tweedy Show created by the Tweedy family during lockdown,
Jeff Tweedy’s cover of Billie Eilish’s song, ‘I Love You’,
Fans create a 70 song cover tribute album to Jeff Tweedy on Bandcamp,
The song Head Rolls Off is by Frightened Rabbit ,
Listen to Tiny Changes: A Celebration of Frightened Rabbit's 'The Midnight Organ Fight'
/ Credits /
Object of Sound is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Brown, Babette Thomas. The show is additionally produced by Hanif Abdurraqib. Our engineers are Sam Bair and Josh Hahn of The Relic Room.
Following a year like no other, stepping into a future of unknowns, the time to envision liberation is now. In this episode, we speak with vocalist and violinist Sudan Archives who spins the ideas and sounds of afrofuturism into her work, as well as co-editors of the book Black Futures, Kimberly Drew and Jenna Wortham. We track the evolution of afrofuturism from outer space to inner space in a dynamic playlist, and discuss how music has helped us create the world we want to inhabit.
/ Show Notes /
For the playlist of songs curated for this episode visit https://bit.ly/oos-afrofutirism.
Kimberly Drew and Jenna Wortham's book Black Futures is available now from One World.
Alisha B. Wormsley’s billboard, There Are Black People In The Future,
Jenna referenced books by the author Ytasha Womack,
The instrument Sudan played is called the goje,
Jamila Woods album is LEGACY! LEGACY!
/ Credits /
Object of Sound is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Brown, Babette Thomas. The show is additionally produced by Hanif Abdurraqib. Our engineers are Sam Bair and Josh Hahn of The Relic Room.
En liten tjänst av I'm With Friends. Finns även på engelska.
