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Artwork for Essential Tremors

Essential Tremors

WUOT-FM 91.9 Knoxville
Big Ears Festival
Electronic Music
Baltimore
Jazz
Music
Yo La Tengo
Knoxville, Tennessee
Chicago Footwork Movement
Half Japanese
Grateful Dead
The Tremeloes
Lankum
Bob Dylan
Luther Vandross
Missy Elliott
Punk Music
Arnold Dreyblatt
Paul Simon
Kurt Vile
Radiohead

A show in which musicians and other creators talk about the songs that shaped who they are. Produced by Matt Byars and Lee Gardner.

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes105Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
MusicPerforming ArtsArts

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Artwork for Essential Tremors

Latest Episodes

In his work with Sons of Kemet, and then in The Smile with Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood, and as a sought after jazz and session drummer, Tom Skinner is very much a known quantity in music circles in the UK and internationally. Also a solo artist, h... more

To try to list all the projects, both solo and group, that Shahzad Ismaily has been a part of would take much more time than we have available, even in this notoriously long-winded medium. Instead, it might be better to offer a small sampling of thos... more

For most of his career, Bonner Kramer has been known in underground music circles by only his surname, as his imprint has been deep and wide enough that only that sobriquet has been necessary. Starting in New York City in the late 70’s and into the 8... more

A harpist since childhood–as well as the daughter of one–Mary Lattimore’s choice of instrument reveals the simple beauty it contains, transcending the stereotype of it being strictly for use in classical music or as flourishes in movie soundtracks. H... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Tom Skinner
Drummer with Sons of Kemet and The Smile; solo artist
The Smile, Sons of Kemet
Episode: Tom Skinner (The Smile, Sons of Kemet) (Live at Big Ears 2026)
Shahzad Ismaily
Musician and multi-instrumentalist featured on the episode
Episode: Shahzad Ismaily (w/guest host Fred Frith) (Live at Big Ears 2026)
Mary Lattimore
A harpist and performer at Big Ears Festival
Episode: Mary Lattimore (Big Ears Festival performer)
Tara Clerkin Trio
A Bristol UK music group comprising Tara Clerkin, Pat Benjamin, and Sunny-Joe Paradisos
Independent musicians
Episode: Tara Clerkin Trio (Big Ears Festival performer)
Melvin Gibbs
Bassist known for his work with Ronald Shannon Jackson, Sonny Sharrock, Rollins Band, and others
Episode: Melvin Gibbs (Big Ears Festival Performer)
Adrian Sherwood
Known for his work as a producer heavily informed by dub music.
Episode: Adrian Sherwood (Big Ears Festival performer)
Brian Weitz
Geologist from Animal Collective
Animal Collective
Episode: Brian Weitz (Geologist of Animal Collective)
Dean Wareham
Founding member and lead singer of Galaxie 500, formerly of Luna and founder of Dean & Britta
Dean & Britta
Episode: Dean Wareham (Galaxie 500, Luna, Dean & Britta)
Ian Lynch
Founding member of Lankum and creator of the Fire Drawn Near podcast
Lankum
Episode: Ian Lynch (Lankum) (Live at Big Ears Festival)

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 93 ratings
  • Pro genocide.

    This hipster music podcast may appear apolitical, but prospective listeners— who may assume a podcaster who interviewed Fugazi members would not favor global campaigns of mass murder by apartheid nation-states— may be interested to know that the pod has made a special point in recent years of featuring artists affiliated with the military of Israel, such as Dudu Tassa, who performed concerts for IDF troops as they prepared to enter Gaza and massacre children— concerts that were organized by Dudu... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    melodie-c
    United Statesa year ago
  • :)

    Jonny Greenwood

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    cripencio
    Mexico2 years ago
  • Stephen Morris Joy Division

    Always love this show, but Hachette is pronounced haSHETT not Hatchet.

    (bookseller peeve ;-) )

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Gharp53
    United States5 years ago
  • Poor choice of subjects

    I’ve got a wide taste in music (rock, punk, dance, ambient etc etc) but I find the subjects of these podcasts really third rate & dull too. No longer subscribed!

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    pablobrad
    United Kingdom7 years ago
  • Gold mine for music geeks

    I've always enjoyed going down that rabbit hole of listening to what those I listen to listened to. And this is essentially that. Matt and Lee are engaging interviewers, get interesting and top-tier musicians, and I regularly discover new music or think of familiar music differently as a result. Bravo!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JRCinMD
    United States7 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

High-quality guest lineup and thoughtful conversations are common positives.
A community of listeners loves the deep-dive into songs and influences, with engaging hosts.
Some listeners crave more variety beyond certain subgenres, but still praise the show's depth and host rapport.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#131
New Zealand/Music

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Tom Skinner (The Smile, Sons of Kemet) (Live at Big Ears 2026)
Q: How did learning music before the internet influence your process of discovery and education?
The guest elaborates on going to record stores, reading liner notes, and actively seeking information, which fostered a patient, investigative approach rather than instant gratification.
Joe Boyd (Big Ears Festival participant)
Q: Can you talk a little about the specifics of what you heard in that track that made that connection for you?
Boyd explained that the lyrics tied Fats Domino to New Orleans, helping him realize that music is a continuum, and this influenced his perspective on music production.
Joe Boyd (Big Ears Festival participant)
Q: What was the first work you chose as being formative for you?
The first work Boyd chose as being formative for him was Walking to New Orleans by Fats Domino, which helped him understand the connection between different musical styles.
Melvin Gibbs (Big Ears Festival Performer)
Q: Do you feel like that you are arriving at that vision or is it still under development?
Gibbs confirms that his vision has been developing over time and reflects his musical identity.
Melvin Gibbs (Big Ears Festival Performer)
Q: Is that what you're talking about?
Gibbs explains that he is focused on adding something unique through his experience rather than just playing parts.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Essential Tremors

What is Essential Tremors about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A music-focused interview series that centers on the songs and artists who shaped each guest's creative path. Conversations tend to trace formative tracks, working methods, and cross-genre influences, often weaving in live performance anecdotes and festival moments. Notable is the long-running emphasis on listening as a craft, texture in arrangement, and personal storytelling, with guests ranging from indie rock to experimental and improvised music. The format and guests suggest a deep-dive vibe that appeals to listeners who love exploring the musical zeitgeist through first-hand artist perspectives and sound design details.

Where can I find podcast stats for Essential Tremors?

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How many listeners does Essential Tremors get?

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How many subscribers and views does Essential Tremors have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Essential Tremors has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Essential Tremors?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Essential Tremors:

1. Transmissions
2. Kreative Kontrol
3. Life of the Record
4. hanging out with audiophiles
5. The Vinyl Guide - Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds

How many episodes of Essential Tremors are there?

Essential Tremors launched 8 years ago and published 105 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Essential Tremors?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on Essential Tremors?

Recent guests on Essential Tremors include:

1. Tom Skinner
2. Shahzad Ismaily
3. Mary Lattimore
4. Tara Clerkin Trio
5. Melvin Gibbs
6. Adrian Sherwood
7. Brian Weitz
8. Dean Wareham

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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