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Artwork for Song Exploder

Song Exploder

Hrishikesh Hirway
You Louisiana Man
Mohabbat
Escapism
Arooj Aftab
Staying
Spirit 2.0
Raye
070 Shake
Music Industry
Basket Case
London
Independent Artists
My 21st Century Blues
Mental Health
Black Dog
Shania Twain
Grammy Awards
Do You Realize?
Los Angeles
Love

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.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes342Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Music

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Artwork for Song Exploder

Latest Episodes

My guest today is Chef David Chang. He founded Momofuku Noodle Bar in 2004. That was just the start of his incredible career – he’s opened several restaurants, winning awards and Michelin stars along the way, and becoming a fixture in the upper echel... more

Hayden Anhedönia has been making music under the name Ethel Cain since 2019. But it’s not just a band name or a moniker; Ethel Cain is a fictional character, a sort of alter ego that Hayden’s been creating and world building around throughout her alb... more

Sam Fender is a singer and songwriter from the town of North Shields in England. He won the Brit Award for Best Rock/Alternative Act twice. His most recent album is called People Watching, and just like his first two albums, it went to #1 on the UK a... more

My guest today is Jia Tolentino. Jia is the author of the essay collection Trick Mirror, which was named one of the best books of 2019 by The New York Times Book Review, NPR, The Paris Review, and more. She won a National Magazine Award for her work ... 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

Jia Tolentino
Author of the essay collection Trick Mirror and staff writer at The New Yorker.
The New Yorker
Episode: Key Change: Jia Tolentino on "I Love You Always Forever"
Melina Duterte
Singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist known as Jay Som.
Jay Som
Episode: Jay Som - Tenderness
Gigi Perez
A singer and songwriter from Florida, known for her viral song 'Sailor Song.'
Independent Artist
Episode: Gigi Perez - Sailor Song
Jason Schwartzman
An actor, writer, and musician known for roles in films such as Rushmore and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.
Coconut Records
Episode: Key Change: Jason Schwartzman on the ‘Rushmore’ soundtrack
John Rzeznik
Lead singer and guitarist of Goo Goo Dolls
Goo Goo Dolls
Episode: Goo Goo Dolls - Iris
Shirley Manson
Lead singer of Garbage and rock icon.
Garbage
Episode: Key Change: Shirley Manson on Siouxsie and the Banshees
Ross Hudson Mohawk
Producer and musician known for his work in electronic music.
Episode: Anohni - 4 Degrees
Jeff Tweedy
Lead singer of Wilco and author
Wilco
Episode: Jeff Tweedy - How to Write One Song
James Acaster
Comedian, author, and musician
Musical project Temps
Episode: Key Change: James Acaster on OutKast

Host

Hrishikesh Hirway
Host and producer, known for his unique storytelling and deep engagement with musical topics.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 12.3k ratings
  • Talk to much

    I like it but it’s to talkative. I don’t really like talk talk talk talk talk talk talk.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Natural history museum
    United States11 days ago
  • Why you wanna make me cry?

    I’m not sure why I’ve waited so long to leave a review for your podcast, especially considering how much I love it. I appreciate your willingness to explode songs from every genre and from artists of every ilk. I cannot express how much I enjoy this podcast. I learned of its existence through your podcast with Joshua Molina, The West Wing Weekly. The West Wing being my favorite TV show of all time. So, it seems I was destined to be a fan one way or another. Music has played a huge role in my lif... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Omac247
    United States15 days ago
  • Love!

    My go-to way to find new music!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    parsleysage28
    United States21 days ago
  • Incredible

    This is probably my all time favourite show. What an incredible way to engage with artists. Such insightful questions and breakdowns of iconic songs. Makes you appreciate music in a whole new way.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    electrumempousa
    United Kingdom22 days ago
  • Original

    So unique, so well produced. The perfect host to probe everything you want to know about the nuances of a particular song.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    celkn89
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the show's unique approach to dissecting songs and the emotional depth that musicians share during episodes.
Many find the exploration of creativity and storytelling refreshing, often leading them to discover new music or gain a deeper appreciation for artists.
Some feedback suggests that while the in-depth conversations are compelling, a minor audience feels the format could benefit from more focus on the music itself rather than the extensive discussions.

Chart Rankings

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

Spotify
#7
United States/Music
Apple Podcasts
#12
United States/Music
Spotify
#6
United Kingdom/Music
Apple Podcasts
#6
Canada/Music
Apple Podcasts
#8
United Kingdom/Music
Spotify
#7
Australia/Music

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ethel Cain - Nettles
Q: Can you tell me about that lyric, to love me is to suffer me?
Hayden explained it reflects her self-critical view of love, expressing vulnerability while exploring deeper emotions within relationships.
Ethel Cain - Nettles
Q: Why did you think it needed to be devastating, especially for a love song?
She felt her music needed to reflect the insecurity and depth of her emotions during a challenging time in her life.
Ethel Cain - Nettles
Q: And how did you start? What was your first step for that?
Hayden started by trying to create a soft indie rock version of the song after being influenced by her festival experience.
Ethel Cain - Nettles
Q: What do you remember about the first day that you started working on Nettles?
Hayden recalled moving into her new house in Alabama and stepping on a spiky plant that inspired the song metaphor.
Sam Fender - People Watching
Q: Did you know how much Annie meant to Sam?
Yes, but unfortunately, I'd never met Annie in my life, but Sam would always fondly talk about her.

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?

A unique exploration of the creative process behind music, showcasing musicians as they dissect their own songs. Each episode offers an in-depth look into the intricacies of songwriting, recording, and personal anecdotes, providing listeners a deeper appreciation for the music they love. Notable episodes feature artists reflecting on emotional experiences, industry challenges, and collaborative dynamics, catering to both music enthusiasts and budding artists seeking inspiration.

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?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Song Exploder, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Song Exploder?

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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. Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond
2. Switched on Pop
3. All Songs Considered
4. 99% Invisible
5. Sound Opinions

How many episodes of Song Exploder are there?

Song Exploder launched 12 years ago and published 342 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.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

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. Jia Tolentino
2. Melina Duterte
3. Gigi Perez
4. Jason Schwartzman
5. John Rzeznik
6. Shirley Manson
7. Ross Hudson Mohawk
8. Jeff Tweedy

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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