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Artwork for Song Exploder

Song Exploder

Hrishikesh Hirway
Songwriting
Deceptacon
Waxahatchee
Fire
Sadness As a Gift
Grammy Awards
Los Angeles
Tenderness
Big Thief
Elliott Smith
Climate Change
Anak Ko
Music Production
Stay With Me
Heartbreak
Mohabbat
You Louisiana Man
Waltz No. 1
Four Degrees
We Are

Song Exploder is a podcast where musicians take apart their songs, and piece by piece, tell the story of how they were made. Each episode features an artist discussing a song of theirs, breaking down the sounds and ideas that went into the writing and recording. Hosted and produced by Hrishikesh Hirway.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes363Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Music

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Artwork for Song Exploder

Latest Episodes

The legendary singer/songwriter Yusuf / Cat Stevens released his first album in 1967. He’s a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and his albums have sold millions. In 2020, he released Tea for the Tillerman², a re-imagining of his hit 1970 album ... more

Today, we're sharing an episode of Nate DiMeo's wonderful podcast, The Memory Palace, which helped inspire both Song Exploder, and a song on my upcoming album. So today, I want to present a kind of two-part story. The first part: "The Thundering Herd... more

Alynda Segarra is a singer songwriter from the Bronx. They formed Hurray for the Riff Raff in 2007, and since then, they’ve released 8 albums. Their most recent is The Past Is Still Alive, which came out in 2024. It was named one of the best albums o... more

Jack Harlow is from Louisville, Kentucky, and started performing and releasing music in 2015, when he was in high school. In 2020, he released his first album, which went double platinum. He was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rap Performance. He’s h... more

Key Facts

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

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Recent Guests

Yusuf Cat Stevens
Legendary singer-songwriter featured on the episode
Self
Episode: Yusuf / Cat Stevens - Father and Son
Nate DiMeo
Host of The Memory Palace
The Memory Palace
Episode: The Memory Palace: The Thundering Herd, The Vanishing American
Alynda Segarra
Singer and songwriter from the Bronx, founder of Hurray for the Riff Raff
Hurray for the Riff Raff
Episode: Hurray for the Riff Raff - Alibi
Jack Harlow
Rapper and musician discussing Say Hello from Monica
Monica (album)
Episode: Jack Harlow - Say Hello
Baz Luhrmann
Award-winning director of Moulin Rouge, Strictly Ballroom, The Great Gatsby, Elvis and Romeo and Juliet
Episode: Key Change: Baz Luhrmann on "Time After Time."
Tom Bailey
Founding member of Thompson Twins, discussed the making of Hold Me Now
Thompson Twins
Episode: Thompson Twins - Hold Me Now
Silvana Estrada Beberido
Singer, songwriter and producer from Veracruz, Mexico
Musician
Episode: Silvana Estrada - Como Un Pájaro
Gianluca Buccellati
Producer and collaborator with The Marías
Episode: The Marías - No One Noticed
John Green
Novelist and YouTuber, known for books like The Fault in Our Stars
Self
Episode: Key Change: John Green on "You'll Never Walk Alone."

Host

Hrishikesh Hirway
Hrishikesh Hirway is the host and producer known for his engaging interviews with artists where they explore the creation of their songs. He possesses a unique ability to ask thoughtful and concise questions that invite guests to share deep insights about their creative processes.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 12.6k ratings
  • Pls KATSEYE

    I love this podcast

    Can you please do an Episode with KATSEYE and one with Billie Eilish or Taylor Swift♥️

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Te. ka13
    Germany19 days ago
  • 👍

    Verry Good !!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TomSno
    Germanya month ago
  • Great Podcast!

    The entire backlog of this podcast got me through studying (and passing each section first-time) the ARE (Architect Registration Exam) a couple of years ago. Just hearing the intro music takes me instantly back to that day & age.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    KMonk821
    United Statesa month ago
  • Great diary of glorious songs

    Very inspiring to see how all these hits were made. Also, it brings so many memories.

    Great podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JimmyJoeJames
    Germanya month ago
  • Amazing!

    This is great, wouldn’t change a thing! Imagine dragons though if you can

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Amazing!!!!!!!!👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

The host's interviewing style is frequently mentioned as intelligent and unobtrusive, allowing guests to share their stories freely.
The podcast is noted for providing deep emotional engagement and discovery of new music for fans.
Listeners appreciate the in-depth exploration of music creation, praising the unique insights from artists about their songs.
Some listeners suggest that the selection of songs could be more varied or aligned with personal preferences.

Chart Rankings

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

Spotify
#18
United States/Music
Apple Podcasts
#17
United States/Music
Spotify
#17
United Kingdom/Music
Apple Podcasts
#6
Canada/Music
Apple Podcasts
#16
United Kingdom/Music
Spotify
#11
Australia/Music

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Jack Harlow - Say Hello
Q: What sparked the shift in how you approached Say Hello?
He aimed for a distinctive direction, favoring melody, minimalism, and live instruments to create something timeless rather than flashy, after recognizing the need to avoid ego and braggadocio.
Key Change: Baz Luhrmann on "Time After Time."
Q: How did you decide Tara Marie should sing the lead on the recorded version, and what drove that choice?
Tara was in my ensemble company and demonstrated strong singing ability; her presence in the project evolved through auditions and collaboration, aligning with the film's needs for a vocal pairing that voiced the relationship at the heart of the sequence.
Key Change: Baz Luhrmann on "Time After Time."
Q: Did Time After Time stay in all those different versions as you took it from NIDA onward? Was it always in the mix?
The song remained a throughline; we used it as a device for a montage, and then later created a cover and a duet to reflect the evolving relationship and the film's narrative needs.
Thompson Twins - Hold Me Now
Q: How did you go from that argument to material that became a song?
Bailey recalls it wasn't a conscious decision but the atmosphere and timing of being in a focused writing session, which allowed emotional themes from the moment to translate into the music.
Silvana Estrada - Como Un Pájaro
Q: What shifted between the initial version and the final recording?
The shift involved adding orchestral sweetness to face demons and pain, and transforming the mood from pure heartbreak to contemplative solitude.

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 Song Exploder

What is Song Exploder about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show features musicians who share the intricate processes behind their songs, offering listeners a unique glimpse into the creative journey of acclaimed and emerging artists alike. By breaking down their work piece by piece, guests vividly illustrate the sounds, emotions, and ideas associated with each track. This immersive experience not only showcases diverse musical styles but also creates a platform for personal storytelling as artists reflect on the challenges and triumphs encountered during the songwriting process. Notably, the show's format encourages deep connections between music, artists, and audiences, making it a compelling listen for both music enthusiasts and professionals in the industry.

Where can I find podcast stats for Song Exploder?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Song Exploder. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Song Exploder and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Song Exploder get?

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What are the audience demographics for Song Exploder?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Song Exploder, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Song Exploder have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Song Exploder 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 Song Exploder?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Song Exploder:

1. Switched on Pop
2. Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond
3. 99% Invisible
4. NPR Music
5. Search Engine

How many episodes of Song Exploder are there?

Song Exploder launched 12 years ago and published 363 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 Song Exploder?

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 Song Exploder?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Song Exploder from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Song Exploder?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Song Exploder. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Song Exploder?

Recent guests on Song Exploder include:

1. Yusuf Cat Stevens
2. Nate DiMeo
3. Alynda Segarra
4. Jack Harlow
5. Baz Luhrmann
6. Tom Bailey
7. Silvana Estrada Beberido
8. Gianluca Buccellati

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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