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Artwork for Essential Tremors

Essential Tremors

WUOT-FM 91.9 Knoxville
Electronic Music
Big Ears Festival
Chicago Footwork Movement
Kurt Vile
Arnold Dreyblatt
Luther Vandross
Missy Elliott
Al Jarreau
Music Production
Sinead O'connor
Stockholm Monsters
Digital Underground
Joy Division
Beth Orton
Music Influences
If You Want Me To Stay
Eli's Coming
Seventh Stanine Festival
The Beach Boys
God Only Knows

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
ArtsMusicPerforming Arts

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Artwork for Essential Tremors

Latest Episodes

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

Listing Joe Boyd’s most significant accomplishments as a producer, label owner, and music historian is a tall order. A short list of artists he’s worked with includes Nick Drake (heard here), Pink Floyd, Fairport Convention, Sandy Denny, Richard Thom... more

Bristol, UK’s Tara Clerkin Trio first came to our attention last year when they received an invitation from the Big Ears Festival to play its 2025 edition, and, upon listening to their 2023 EP On the Turning Ground as a means of introduction, we were... more

While to the casual observer it might seem as if New Zealand’s The Beths appeared seemingly out of nowhere in or around the summer of 2023, they’ve in fact been making their extremely catchy brand of indie pop for almost ten years now. The Auckland-b... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

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)
Victoria Shen
San Francisco-based sound artist and experimental music performer known for her innovative work with sound and performance.
Episode: Victoria Shen (Live at Big Ears Festival)
William Tyler
American guitarist and composer known for his unique blend of fingerstyle guitar and post-rock influences.
Episode: William Tyler (Live at Big Ears Festival 2025)

Hosts

Lee Gardner
Producer and host with Essential Tremors
Matt Byars
Producer and host of Essential Tremors

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 88 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 States9 months ago
  • :)

    Jonny Greenwood

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    cripencio
    Mexicoa year 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 Kingdom6 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.

Positive reception of interview quality and guest lineup, noting engaging conversations and authentic storytelling.
Some reviewers criticize the show for perceived niche subject matter and limited appeal to broader audiences.
Gold mine for music geeks: listeners praise deep dives and top-tier guests, with frequent discovery of new music through the show.

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The Almanac of Rap
The Almanac of RapDonwill/Okayplayer
Joe and Jada
Joe and JadaiHeartPodcasts and The Volume
Afrobeats Intelligence
Afrobeats IntelligenceJoey Akan/OkayAfrica

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Adrian Sherwood (Big Ears Festival performer)
Q: Why do you think Mark Stewart wanted to work with you?
He was interested in creating innovative music after the pop group split, and I had impressed him with early works.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Essential Tremors

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

A thoughtful conversations-heavy show where musicians and other creators discuss the songs that shaped their creative paths. Episodes typically center on formative tracks, personal memory, and the evolution of a guest's sound, often tying in live festival moments or collaborations with other artists. Listeners can expect deep-dive storytelling, genre-spanning picks, and insights into the creative process, improvisation, and authenticity in art. Noteworthy strengths include a strong roster of influential guests across indie, experimental, and traditional scenes, and a consistent focus on how songs become life-shaping touchstones. The format and guest mix make it appealing to music fans who love backstory, process, and the context behind icon... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Essential Tremors?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Essential Tremors:

1. Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso
2. Song Exploder
3. Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond
4. 60 Songs That Explain the '90s
5. Know Your Enemy

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?

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What guests have appeared on Essential Tremors?

Recent guests on Essential Tremors include:

1. Mary Lattimore
2. Tara Clerkin Trio
3. Melvin Gibbs
4. Adrian Sherwood
5. Brian Weitz
6. Dean Wareham
7. Ian Lynch
8. Victoria Shen

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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