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Artwork for Soundcheck

Soundcheck

WNYC Studios
Jazz
Music
New York City
Ambient Music
New York
Electronic Music
Horsegirl
Blues
New York Guitar Festival
Improvisation
Classical Music
Nature
WNYC
New Sounds
Folk Music
Phonetics On and On
Rodney Crowell
R&B
Songwriting
Samora Pinderhughes

WNYC, New York Public Radio, brings you Soundcheck, the arts and culture program hosted by John Schaefer, who engages guests and listeners in lively, inquisitive conversations with established and rising figures in New York City's creative arts scene. Guests come from all disciplines, including pop, indie rock, jazz, urban, world and classical music, technology, cultural affairs, TV and film. Rece... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes301Founded21 years ago
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Performing ArtsArtsMusicMusic Interviews

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Artwork for Soundcheck

Latest Episodes

Some musicians make ambitious records that dig into the depths of meaning behind art, mythology, time, or life itself. Two of those musicians are the British singer-songwriter Paris Paloma and the American alternative R&B producer Cautious Clay. Both... more

Trumpeter and bandleader Arturo Sandoval is a Latin music legend who began his career as a co-founder of the essential Cuban band Irakere and since moving to the States has incorporated the sounds of soul, jazz, funk, and Afrobeat into his music. Bar... more

Ghost Hounds is a Pittsburgh-based blues-rock band with a sound that may remind you of classic early 70s bands like The Rolling Stones. In fact, they’ve opened for the Stones and do a cover of that band’s song “Gimme Shelter” on the new Ghost Hounds ... more

For this episode of Soundcheck, the rapper, singer, and author Dessa gets political, and Syrian-American rapper Omar Offendum gets historical. Minneapolis-raised singer and rapper known as Dessa has found a way to reflect modern society with scathing... more

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Recent Guests

Ziggy Johnston
Australian guitarist, part of the duo Ziggy and Miles
Ziggy and Miles Johnston duo
Episode: From the 2026 New York Guitar Festival: Gyan Riley; Ziggy & Miles
Gyan Riley
Guitarist and composer, son of Terry Riley
Solo artist; collaborator with Paul Simon; NY Guitar Festival performer
Episode: From the 2026 New York Guitar Festival: Gyan Riley; Ziggy & Miles
Miles Johnston
Australian guitarist, part of the duo Ziggy and Miles
Ziggy and Miles Johnston duo
Episode: From the 2026 New York Guitar Festival: Gyan Riley; Ziggy & Miles
Kate Stables
Musician known as This Is The Kit; contributed vocals on a PSB track
This Is The Kit
Episode: Best of Soundcheck: Public Service Broadcasting; Em Spel
Public Service Broadcasting
British band featured in this episode; trio known for integrating archival samples with rock instrumentation
Public Service Broadcasting
Episode: Best of Soundcheck: Public Service Broadcasting; Em Spel
Dan Deacon
Composer and performer
Baltimore-based Mind On Fire Collective; Bergamot Quartet (collaborators)
Episode: Dan Deacon's Joyous Electro-Acoustic Orchestra Ascends a Mountain, In-Studio
Hannah Jadagu
Singer-songwriter, Describe
Self-released / Describe era
Episode: Best of Soundcheck: Orquesta Akokán, Hannah Jadagu
Kiko Ruiz
Lead singer of Orquesta Akokán
Orquesta Akokán
Episode: Best of Soundcheck: Orquesta Akokán, Hannah Jadagu
Terri Lyne Carrington
Grammy-winning drummer and bandleader, leading Social Science
Terri Lyne Carrington and Social Science
Episode: Jazz / R&B Ensemble Terri Lyne Carrington + Social Science Amplify Progressive Issues, In-Studio

Host

John Schaefer
Host of the show, guiding conversations and in-studio performances.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 186 ratings
  • Always inspiring!

    I find so many fabulous music here . Years of fabulous!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ririco007
    Francea year ago
  • Fantastic

    Love the music and the enlightening interviews in between!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Seton Notes
    United States2 years ago
  • Some good finds, but the fact the hosts says "brings his/her band back..." shows the major limitations and narrowness explored...just like All Songs did. Lots of "meh"

    Podcast Addict
    3
    Steve Johnson
    2 years ago
  • Find new favorites here

    I love this wide ranging show and the contribution it makes to my ongoing music explorations. John and his team obviously love what they do, and the artists sound happy to be there.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JLSpring
    United States2 years ago
  • A great show

    This is a great way to explore and discover new artists. A broad array of styles, genres, flavors, philosophies and stories, from people that care deeply about creating music.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nucleargetaway
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests bring fresh perspectives across genres and cultures.
Live sessions are a strong draw but interviews anchor the show's value.
In-depth conversations balance music history with current practice.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

From the 2026 New York Guitar Festival: Gyan Riley; Ziggy & Miles
Q: So let me ask you a technical question. I mean, you're such a virtuoso guitarist. When you know you're going to be singing at the same time, do you write yourself an easier guitar part?
Riley says he tries to simplify guitar parts for singing but isn't very good at it, implying that he often plays more complex lines even when singing.
Best of Soundcheck: Dessa, Omar Offendum
Q: What inspired the title Camelot as a symbol in your work?
Dessa describes Camelot as shorthand for a utopian national image and uses it to challenge the gap between the ideal and the real, especially in a political era where social contradictions are pronounced.
Dominican-Italian Singer-Songwriter YENDRY Weaves Delicate Melodies, In-Studio
Q: How did you start in music?
I began in English because I loved the sound, learned from watching performances on YouTube, and gradually discovered that singing helps me be present—it's where I feel most like myself and where my family began supporting my dream.
Dominican-Italian Singer-Songwriter YENDRY Weaves Delicate Melodies, In-Studio
Q: So, what does Amapolas mean?
Amapolas are poppy flowers, a symbol tied to springtime fields and resilience, which I carry with me as a motif from my time in Northern Italy.
Experimental Jazz Artist Zoh Amba Presents Their Brand of Gritty Folk-Rock Music, In-Studio
Q: How did you get into making music in the first place?
Amba talks about a lifelong call to music, seeing it as a blessed gift and recognizing the daily gratitude for being able to make music instead of working a different job, which framed the early development of their craft.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Soundcheck

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

Listeners tune in for in-depth conversations with a wide array of contemporary artists, scholars, and performers, often paired with intimate live studio performances. Episodes emphasize artistic process, lineage, and cultural context across jazz, world, indie, Latin, and experimental scenes, with a notable focus on the interplay between tradition and innovation. Guests frequently discuss heritage, collaboration, and the evolving music industry, making it a prime listening choice for industry professionals, musicians, and culture enthusiasts seeking thoughtful, well-researched conversations and performances.

Where can I find podcast stats for Soundcheck?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Soundcheck. 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 Soundcheck and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Soundcheck get?

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What are the audience demographics for Soundcheck?

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How many subscribers and views does Soundcheck have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Soundcheck 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 Soundcheck?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Soundcheck:

1. NPR Music
2. World Cafe Words and Music Podcast
3. Radiolab
4. The New Yorker Radio Hour
5. Classical Music Happy Hour

How many episodes of Soundcheck are there?

Soundcheck launched 21 years ago and published 301 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 Soundcheck?

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 Soundcheck?

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

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Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Soundcheck. 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 Soundcheck?

Recent guests on Soundcheck include:

1. Ziggy Johnston
2. Gyan Riley
3. Miles Johnston
4. Kate Stables
5. Public Service Broadcasting
6. Dan Deacon
7. Hannah Jadagu
8. Kiko Ruiz

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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