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Artwork for Song Exploder

Song Exploder

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

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes359Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Music

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Artwork for Song Exploder

Latest Episodes

My guest today is Baz Luhrmann, the award-winning director whose films include Moulin Rouge!, Strictly Ballroom, The Great Gatsby, Elvis, and Romeo + Juliet.  His newest film is  EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, a critically acclaimed documentary abou... more

Thompson Twins originally formed in 1977 in Sheffield, in the UK. “Hold Me Now,” their iconic hit, came out as a single in November 1983, and eventually on their 1984 album, Into the Gap. That album went to number 1 in the UK and went platinum in the... more

Silvana Estrada is a singer, songwriter, and producer from Veracruz, Mexico. She won the Latin Grammy for Best New Artist in 2022, and she’s been nominated for three others, including for her song “Como Un Pájaro,” which is the song that we talked ab... more

The Marías is a band from Los Angeles, made up of María Zardoya, Josh Conway, Jesse Perlman, and Edward James. They released their first EPs in 2017 and 2018, and their first album in 2021. But then, as you’ll hear, there was a period of a lot of unc... 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.

Recent Guests

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."
Sofia Coppola
Oscar-winning director of The Virgin Suicides
Episode: Air - Playground Love (feat. Gordon Tracks)
Thomas Mars
Lead singer of the band Phoenix
Phoenix
Episode: Air - Playground Love (feat. Gordon Tracks)
Brian Reitzell
Music supervisor for The Virgin Suicides
Episode: Air - Playground Love (feat. Gordon Tracks)
JB Dungle
Member of the band Air
Air
Episode: Air - Playground Love (feat. Gordon Tracks)
Rian Johnson
Acclaimed director known for films such as Brick, Looper, and Knives Out
Episode: Key Change: Rian Johnson on Wagner's 'Das Rheingold'

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
  • Magnificent!

    Super in depth and insightfully intimate. Great concept and execution for any music lover!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    HayloDawn
    United States3 months ago
  • Wonderful podcast

    This is such a great show. Amazing access; wonderful to hear the demo versions of the songs and best of all a host who asks short, intelligent questions and doesn’t get in the way. 🙏🏻

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lifeclearout
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • there’s nothing else like it

    An incredibly immersive podcast about how a song gets made. I recommend it to anyone who likes music.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jo mccall
    United States4 months ago
  • This is my favorite podcast of all time

    Ive always liked this podcast, it has some artists that i really like and most that i dont know, im always exited for new episodes but it takes some time, and i was hoping you’ll interview some more people that YOU listen too ! Because the podcast should be fun for you too ! And i hope this podcast has a great future because i listen to it every night.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    lalalalallallalalalaa roblox.
    Norway4 months ago
  • Stellar podcasting

    This is one of the best and most engaging podcasts out there. I’ve listened to my favourite artists intimately unpack their best songs; I’ve found new faves I may not have stumbled across otherwise; and I’ve developed deep respect for artists I would’ve have imagined liking. 10/10

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nicjj85
    United Kingdom4 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
#26
United States/Music
Apple Podcasts
#11
United States/Music
Spotify
#18
United Kingdom/Music
Apple Podcasts
#3
Canada/Music
Apple Podcasts
#5
United Kingdom/Music
Spotify
#17
Australia/Music

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Silvana Estrada - Como Un Pájaro
Q: Why did you choose to use upright bass and keep the vocal arrangement minimal?
I wanted a folk-like groove and to protect the message, avoiding competing textures so the honesty of the lyrics could breathe.
Silvana Estrada - Como Un Pájaro
Q: As you were writing it, how were you feeling about what you'd come up with?
I was exploring a sense of saudade and a cinematic loneliness, trying to keep the vocals simple to let the words carry the truth.
The Marías - No One Noticed
Q: How did you go from not knowing what the future of the band was going to be to deciding that you are in fact going to keep going?
After undergoing various forms of therapy, including band therapy, they rebuilt their relationships and solidified their commitment to continue as a band.

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?

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?

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. Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond
2. Switched on Pop
3. One Song
4. NPR Music
5. Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia

How many episodes of Song Exploder are there?

Song Exploder launched 12 years ago and published 359 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. Tom Bailey
2. Silvana Estrada Beberido
3. Gianluca Buccellati
4. John Green
5. Sofia Coppola
6. Thomas Mars
7. Brian Reitzell
8. JB Dungle

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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