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Artwork for Now and Xen

Now and Xen

Now and Xen
Microtonality
Microtonal Music
Jazz
Just Intonation
Loop 7
Xenharmonic Music
Microtonal Guitars
22 Tone Equal Temperament
Maqiano
Improvisation
Shasavik
Music Composition
Bird Calls
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
Infinitone
Yamaha
Vibraphone
Piano
Piano Tuning
Microtonal Trumpet

The podcast about contemporary microtonal and xenharmonic music, launched by Sevish and led by Stephen Weigel.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes99Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
MusicArts

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Artwork for Now and Xen

Latest Episodes

"Join us for Experi-MAY-ntal music MAY!" We interview Dan and Jason of the 32-year old instrument-building band "Neptune" (minus Mark) about their new album releasing June 5, "Play Some Music," in which they fully commit to microtonality. These legen... more

"Join us for Experi-MAY-ntal music MAY!" Today's episode features Max McCargar, a guitarist, performer, teacher, and polysystemic explorer. In this philosophical episode we touch on what it means to play music live with others, and upon the natural b... more

"April WEATHER… ahem… I mean… April XEN-ther, rain and sunshine all together!" Here we have XENTAR, right after we had XENPILLED! Xentar is a free online tool where you can interact with microtonal guitar tablature, connecting a host of features many... more

YouTube

"April WEATHER… ahem… I mean… April XEN-ther, rain and sunshine all together!" Here we have XENPILLED, and next, XENTAR! Gordon Wery, who runs the YouTube channel "xenpilled," joins us to talk about cool microtonal scales using sharp 5ths and dual fi... more

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Recent Guests

Ben Spies
microtonal extraordinaire, ringleader of the Mercury Tree Circus
Mercury Tree Circus
Episode: 096 - XENTAR (microtonal guitar app)
Gordon Wery
Composer, Xenpilled, streamer
Episode: 095 - XENPILLED (Gordon Wery)
Peter Jung
Software developer and researcher specializing in microtonality
PitchGrid
Episode: 093 - Peter Jung (PitchGrid software)
Genoël von Lilienstern
Berlin-based composer and guest editor for Positionen magazine
Positionen magazine
Episode: 091 - Genoël von Lilienstern
Maddie Ashman
Musician and social media influencer known for her microtonal music
Episode: 090 - Maddie Ashman
Alyssa Aska
Computer musician and composer
Episode: 089 - Alyssa Aska
Kari Ikonen
Pianist, Moog player, and composer
Episode: 088 - Kari Ikonen (Maqiano)
Chris Kline
Microtonal theorist and developer of Projective Tuning Space
Episode: 087 - Chris Kline (Projective Tuning Space)
Julian Woods
Microtonal jazz guitarist, bassist, arranger, and composer.
Episode: 085 - Julian Woods

Host

Stephen Weigel
Host with frequent appearances; lead voice in discussions around microtonality and xenharmonics.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 29 ratings
  • Weird Music & Spirited Chats

    Great podcast. So much weird music and spirited chats!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Chip Alexanders
    United States10 months ago
  • Amazing Podcast

    If you like unusual and complex music, this is seriously a great podcast. The conversation between the hosts and the guests is very informative, and music is spliced in to illustrate what they are talking about. This makes it pretty easy to follow even if you don’t know a lot of music theory.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Trent Wilde
    Canada7 years ago
  • Learning about the hidden notes

    Each episode of "Now & Xen" features discussions of microtonal or xenharmonic music. If you ever wondered about possible musical notes and tunings beyond the ones we know, this podcast might interest you. Several episodes feature interviews with musicians and performers who use microtonal music and working in a variety of idioms, from pop and rock to classical music. A couple of early episodes also address the construction or adaptation of instruments for microtonal scales, software for music pr... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    smallroundEll
    United States7 years ago
  • Thanks + Examples?

    Thank you for doing this! Excited to see where you guys take it. Would be really nice to hear examples of the phenomena that you describe in your talks...!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nonononovh
    United States7 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Overall, a thoughtful, music-nerdy but engaging exploration of niche topics.
Interesting blend of deep theory and practical demos that makes complex tunings approachable.
Guests bring innovative tools and clear workflows for exploring microtonality.
Shows that include instrument and software demos help listeners grasp abstract concepts.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#165
Ireland/Music

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

096 - XENTAR (microtonal guitar app)
Q: How long did it take you to code Xentar and what was the inspiration behind it?
Ben describes a long journey starting in 2016 with experimentation and frustration over finding tunings and hardware, which motivated the creation of a browser-based tool to map fretboard layouts and visualize microtonal tunings, ultimately leading to a broader, collaborative platform.
094 - LAMPLIGHT
Q: What was the process for picking 41 tone equal temperament?
Lamplight created a table of itos showing the differences between Edo notes and just intonation notes seeking best approximations in various dimensions, ultimately settling on 41 Edo for its all-round utility in microtonality.
094 - LAMPLIGHT
Q: How did you first get interested in microtonality initially?
Lamplight always felt there had to be sounds in between the keys and saw creating an original scale as a challenge they wanted to tackle.
092 - Stephen Altoft
Q: Do you make any significant adjustments in technique when you're playing a four valve microtonal trumpet?
The only difference is the coordination needed to use the fourth valve; otherwise, the techniques remain the same.
092 - Stephen Altoft
Q: How did you get the idea to design a four valve microtonal trumpet?
I started the microtonal trumpet with Donald Bousted, and the idea developed further in collaboration with a center for new music instruments in London.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Now and Xen

What is Now and Xen about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A deep-dive into microtonal and xenharmonic music, featuring guests who are composers, instrument designers, and software developers pushing alternative tunings and scales. Conversations span conlangs, synesthesia, audio visualization, and practical workflows for creating and performing in non-standard tunings, with emphasis on instruments, software tools, and community collaboration driving the scene forward. A standout trait is the heavy use of demonstrations, real-world projects, and hands-on explanations that make advanced tuning concepts accessible to listeners who enjoy experimental music and sound design.

Expect thoughtful explorations of how microtonality intersects technology, composition, and performance, plus guests who bring in... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Now and Xen?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Now and Xen:

1. Sticky Notes: The Classical Music Podcast
2. The Ezra Klein Show
3. A Bit Fruity with Matt Bernstein

How many episodes of Now and Xen are there?

Now and Xen launched 7 years ago and published 99 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Now and Xen?

Recent guests on Now and Xen include:

1. Ben Spies
2. Gordon Wery
3. Peter Jung
4. Genoël von Lilienstern
5. Maddie Ashman
6. Alyssa Aska
7. Kari Ikonen
8. Chris Kline

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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