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Artwork for Relevant Tones
Contemporary Classical Music
Chicago
Classical Music
Jazz
Songs About Buildings and Moods
Covid-19
Access Contemporary Music
Robert Black
Architecture
Feedback
Contemporary Music
Mexico City
Improvisation
Electronic Music
Thirsty Ears Festival
Hart School
Splice Institute
Graham Reynolds
Ki Mounouye
Beers and Flutes

A podcast about the most fascinating time in classical music history: right now. Relevant Tones features interviews with and music by some of the most creative figures in contemporary classical music, themed shows exploring new trends in classical music and frequent live streamed shows featuring conversations and music performances. Hosted and produced by Seth Boustead, Austin Williams, Stephen An... more

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes428Founded6 years ago
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Artwork for Relevant Tones

Latest Episodes

The voice is our oldest and most familiar instrument, yet composers continue to discover astonishing new possibilities within it. Music for the voice alone invites us to listen differently. Without harmony or accompaniment to guide our ears, every co... more

The Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival is an ambitious summer program that brings together young string players to work intensively with leading professionals while performing throughout Colchester and the surrounding communities.

For the past f... more

Best known for her acclaimed work with ballet companies across the country, Cristina Spinei has developed a distinctive musical language built on melodic cells, propulsive rhythms and subtle repetition which she affectionately describes as "minimalis... more

On this episode of Relevant Tones we highlight Ann Arbor, Michigan’s Third Place [MusicFest] as they celebrate their 7th year. Third Place curates an annual, four day performing arts festival comprised of multiple concerts in local spaces. They are f... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Cristina Spinei
Composer
Self-published/Independent artist
Episode: Cristina Spinei - Moved by An Interior Impulse
Wesley Hornpetrie
Co-director of the Third Place Music Festival
Third Place Music Festival (Ann Arbor)
Episode: Third Place Music Festival
Peter Askim
Conductor, composer, and producer discussed in-depth in the episode
Raleigh Civic Orchestra / NEXT Festival of Emerging Artists / Wilmington Symphony Orchestra
Episode: Peter Askim and the NEXT Festival of Emerging Artists Part II
Nahre Sol
Composer/performer introducing her pieces
Independent musician/performer
Episode: Peter Askim and the NEXT Festival of Emerging Artists Part I
Brent Michael Davids
Composer of Native American and contemporary classical works
Self-described; Lenape Center collaborator
Episode: Brent Michael Davids - American Requiem
Bernard Rands
Pulitzer Prize-winning composer
Self/Independent
Episode: In Memorium: Bernard Rands
Neil Quigley
A composer known for his work in speculative history and electroacoustic music.
Kilkenny Electroacoustic Research Laboratory
Episode: Neil Quigley
Drew Whiting
Baritone saxophonist in Coalescent Quartet
Episode: Coalescent Quartet
Nick Zoulek
Tenor saxophonist in Coalescent Quartet
Episode: Coalescent Quartet

Host

Seth Boustead
Host of Relevant Tones

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 36 ratings
  • Essential

    Essential guide to the new world of classical music

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Julien_Sorel
    United States2 years ago
  • Used to be better

    I used to listen with interest to every episode. But now there’s too much talk. I’m more interested in the music, and less in long chatty interviews. With just short extracts, the talk lacks context and doesn’t really work unless you’re already interested in the musicians. The content has become less interesting also. I try to be broad-minded, but some episodes seem to feature endless random sounds I struggle to understand as music.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Optimist runner
    United States2 years ago
  • Wonderful!

    I loved this interview. It was thoughtful, insightful, and very meaningful. Thank you.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tina Davidson
    United States3 years ago
  • No b.s.! All goodness

    This is such a great show. The composer features are the composers talking interspersed with clips of their music, nothing else! Seth’s explanations of the music are always on point. There’s no extra chatter. Just tremendous material, every episode. I’m especially enjoying the CMA conference review! If you are looking for a place to listen to the Venn Diagram of classical music without any pretentious b.s., this is the podcast to visit!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Grandma Melby
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the clear music-focused framing and insightful commentary
Audience values depth and context behind contemporary pieces and composers
Some listeners wish for shorter interview segments and more music clips

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival
Q: Give me a sense of the community here. How has the community embraced this festival and are there still people discovering you for the first time?
Chang describes the Quartet Hop and other outreach efforts that bring chamber music into shops, libraries, and public spaces, actively engaging residents and creating a visible connection between the festival and the local business community.
Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival
Q: Was supporting contemporary composers part of the mission of the festival from the beginning or is that something that grew out of it?
Chang responds that there has always been an effort to program contemporary composers, but it has become much more institutionalized over time, with two new works by composers under 30 each year and ongoing commissions.
Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival
Q: Well, yeah, tell me about the Green Mountain Festival. I mean, what was the original intention? How has it changed over time? You know, tell me more about the festival.
Elizabeth Chang explains that the festival began as a place for teachers to bring students to work intensively, modeled after Meadowmount, and has evolved into a more community-facing program that still features contemporary works and a strong emphasis on young composers and pre-professional performers through fellowships and commissions.
Peter Askim and the NEXT Festival of Emerging Artists Part I
Q: What's the goal behind the 10-Year World Premier Project?
The project aims to broaden the orchestral repertoire by commissioning world premieres from diverse voices, creating opportunities for emerging artists, and building a sustainable pipeline that partners universities, orchestras, and communities.
Peter Askim and the NEXT Festival of Emerging Artists Part I
Q: How do audiences respond to new music within these concert programs?
Audiences often bring curiosity and sometimes skepticism, but the approach of thematic framing and the presence of the composers helps them connect; even if they don't love every piece, many leave with something to think about and a new openness to future new music.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Relevant Tones

What is Relevant Tones about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Listens are drawn to contemporary classical music, with a strong emphasis on living composers, festival initiatives, and cross-genre collaboration. Episodes center on world premieres, programming strategies, and the people shaping today's new-music scene, often weaving in live performances and practical processes behind creation. The show stands out for in-depth conversations with composers, performers, and festival organizers, balanced with thoughtful context and audio examples, making it a valuable resource for professionals in music administration, production, and academia, as well as passionate listeners interested in cutting-edge classical work.

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How many listeners does Relevant Tones get?

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What are the audience demographics for Relevant Tones?

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How many subscribers and views does Relevant Tones have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Relevant Tones 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 Relevant Tones?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Relevant Tones:

1. Sticky Notes: The Classical Music Podcast
2. The Ezra Klein Show
3. The New Yorker Radio Hour
4. Fresh Air
5. The Science of Birds

How many episodes of Relevant Tones are there?

Relevant Tones launched 6 years ago and published 428 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 Relevant Tones?

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.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Relevant Tones?

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What guests have appeared on Relevant Tones?

Recent guests on Relevant Tones include:

1. Cristina Spinei
2. Wesley Hornpetrie
3. Peter Askim
4. Nahre Sol
5. Brent Michael Davids
6. Bernard Rands
7. Neil Quigley
8. Drew Whiting

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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