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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
22 Tone Equal Temperament
Microtonal Guitars
Maqiano
Improvisation
Shasavik
Music Composition
Yamaha
Vibraphone
Piano
Infinitone
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
Bird Calls
Piano Tuning
Microtonal Trumpet

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

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes100Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsMusic

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Artwork for Now and Xen

Latest Episodes

"Here we are in J.I. July!" Owen Garnder, guitarist of the iconic experimental rock band Horse Lords, gives us a rundown of the band's philosophical and aesthetic visions, influences over time, and a first-person account of what playing polymetricall... more

"Here we are in J.I. July!" We sat down for a talk with esteemed composer-performer Catherine Lamb about navigating justly tuned systems, writing in high-limit systems using low-numbered concordances, her 10 Hertz system, and individual approaches to... more

In this historic 100th public episode, we celebrate and catalogue the creation of Christopher Bailey's monumental choral work "Lost and Found Things" in 17-TET. In the first conversation, Stephen Weigel, Thomas Scheurich, Jacob Barton, and Christophe... more

In this episode we talk about UnTwelve Microtonal Recording Retreat (formerly known as "praxis sumer camp") with Jacob Barton, Vito Sicurella, and Ian Blaylock (phlub) in an initial conversation, and then with Thomas Scheurich in a secondary conversa... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

The Ezra Klein Show
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Recent Guests

Christopher Bailey
Composer of Lost and Found Things, subject of the episode
Self, Christopher Bailey
Episode: 100 - Lost and Found Things
Thomas Schuerich
Essential voice in UnTwelve practice camp matters
UnTwelve
Episode: 099 - jUNe-TWELVEing
Max McCargar
Musician behind Sononym; polysystemic microtonal guitarist
Sononym
Episode: 097 - Sononym (Max McCargar)
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

Hosts

Stephen Weigel
Host of Now and Xen, central figure in the microtonal music scene and driving voice of the show.
Thomas Schuerich
Co-host with deep involvement in UnTwelve practice camp and microtonal music projects.
Stephen Altoft
Trumpeter and educator focused on microtonal trumpet design and performance.

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 Statesa year 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.

The podcast is valued for practical workflows and instrument/software discussions.
Guests are often described as knowledgeable and passionate about microtonality.
Listeners praise the show for deep technical detail and accessible demonstrations.
Audience appreciates the community feel and collaboration-focused conversations.

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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

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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?

The show centers on microtonal and xenharmonic music, featuring deep-dive conversations with composers, performers, software developers, and instrument designers who push tuning systems beyond 12-tone equal temperament. Across episodes, topics include instrument construction for unusual tunings, live performance practices, Tuning theory (eji, Just Intonation, 19 and 22edo), software tools for microtonality, and collaborative music-making in DIY and academic contexts. Notable strengths include hands-on discussions of practical workflows (editing, notation, live setup), demonstrations of innovative instruments and software, and a strong community focus that bridges experimental and contemporary scenes. Potential listeners will likely be drawn... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Now and Xen?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Now and Xen:

1. The Ezra Klein Show

How many episodes of Now and Xen are there?

Now and Xen launched 8 years ago and published 100 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. Christopher Bailey
2. Thomas Schuerich
3. Max McCargar
4. Ben Spies
5. Gordon Wery
6. Peter Jung
7. Genoël von Lilienstern
8. Maddie Ashman

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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