A Deeper Listen

This is the final episode of A Deeper Listen. After seven years on air as the Sound & Vision radio show and more than 500 episodes in this podcast feed, Emily Fox and contributors share their favorite moments from a story or interview they’ve done for this show.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Electronic artist SHIMA fuses dance beats with Japanese sounds on her debut album, Welcome to SHIMAJIMA. She talks with Emily Fox about how the history of Kamikaze pilots, and how a dancing hallucinogenic mushroom trip centuries ago inspired some tracks on her record. She also talks about creating an album for the culturally homeless and shares her journey from being a J-pop star, to a computer engineer to an indie DJ/producer.  Photo credit: Maxine BowenSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For decades, Beverly Glenn-Copeland’s music went virtually unnoticed. Beginning in 1970, he released records that crossed folk, R&B, electronic music, and other genres, always seeking new territory. That changed in 2017, when his 1986 album Keyboard Fantasies was rediscovered, ushering in renewed interest in his work. Since then, Glenn—who came out as a trans man in 2002—has toured and released new music for a growing, devoted audience. In 2024, however, he was diagnosed with dementia. While at first they thought this would be the end of his performing career, Glenn and his wife, Elizabeth Copeland, are returning to play a short run of Canadian dates and releasing a new album, Laughter in Summer, on Feb. 6 via Transgressive Records. KEXP’s Dusty Henry speaks with the couple about returning to music in the face of Glenn’s diagnosis, the purpose and power of their work, and the love that binds them together. “I always considered that the music that I ‘wrote’ was sent to me from a higher source,” Glenn says. “You can't do that if you don't work at your craft, whatever it is. But if you do, and there's something special about what you're doing, then you're going to get sent some amazing stuff.” Photo credit: Wade MuirSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Toronto-based artist Kadhja Bonet recently released a short but powerful EP called Battlewear. Written just after Trump's re-election, it's a politically charged project that takes aim at tech giants, corporate greed, and streaming culture. Isabel Khalili speaks with Bonet about the rage and urgency behind the release, why she chose to leave Spotify and part ways with her label, her thoughts on social media, AI, and motherhood, and how stripping back her sound helped sharpen her message. “They really want us to think that we are beholden to the system,” Bonet says. “But we are not. We actually have this capacity to break free of this and start our own organic communities.”Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian act, SELVE is the first Aboriginal-led band to record at Abbey Road Studios in London. The band recently released their second record, Breaking Into Heaven. KEXP Contributor, Celine Teo-Blockey spoke to frontman Loki Liddle about the strong Indigenous themes on the album and how returning to Country and speaking to his elders helped shape the writing process for this expansive pop-rock album. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fela Kuti: Fear No Man is a 12-part podcast honoring the life and legacy of the inventor of Afrobeat, Fela Kuti. The show spotlights stories and perspectives from people highly influenced by Fela Kuti’s art and politics, including David Byrne, Brian Eno, Santigold, Questlove, Paul McCartney, and so many others. KEXP’s Roddy Nikpour spoke with the host of the podcast — someone with a very distinct flavor of storytelling — Jad Abumrad. He’s best known as the founder and original host of the public radio show, Radiolab, as well as other music-oriented podcasts like Dolly Parton's America. Abumrad is also a composer himself. “It's a really clever thing he's doing,” Abumrad says in the interview. “He moves you into a trance, wakes you up, then into politics — and then you're dancing at that point. So, your body's already in action. It's taking this political message and turning it into movement that then actually makes you want to do something.” The story of Fela Kuti goes beyond his lifetime, though. “The power of music is it'll outlive us,” Jad continues. “I think that's what Fela meant when he said ‘music is the weapon of the future.’ It's going to outlive the enemies. It will do something beyond us. And I hope he's right.” Support the show: kexp.org/deeperPhoto by: Leon MorrisSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

KEXP DJ and Sounds of Survivance co-host Kevin Sur gives a history lesson on the Native Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders who influenced the genres of jazz, blues and rock. photo by Carlos CruzSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emily Fox and KEXP DJs Larry Mizell Jr. and Evie Stokes share their personal favorite albums of the year and break down KEXP’s top played albums of 2025. KEXP’s top played albums were:   Tunde Adebimpe - Thee Black Boltz  Wet Leg- moisturizer  Deep Sea Diver- Billboard Heart Say She She- Cut & Rewind Turnstile - NEVER ENOUGH Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gina Birch is a founding member of the legendary UK punk band, the Raincoats. Martin Douglas spoke with Birch about the themes behind the songs on her solo album, Trouble, her career, longtime connection to the Pacific Northwest, and more. photo by Dean ChalkeySupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Australian group Cut Copy released their first album in five years in September — it’s called Moments. KEXP’s Roddy Nikpour spoke with frontman Dan Whitford about Cut Copy’s ongoing journey to blend synthesizers with indie guitars — all in the spirit of creating something danceable. photo by Carlos CruzSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.