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Artwork for Soundcheck

Soundcheck

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

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

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes287Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Music InterviewsMusicPerforming ArtsArts

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Artwork for Soundcheck

Latest Episodes

The late South African pianist and composer Abdullah Ibrahim (aka "Dollar Brand") had a notable career, helped early on by Duke Ellington, and  acknowledged later by Nelson Mandela, who called Ibrahim “our Mozart.” In 2019, Abdullah Ibrahim became a ... more

On this episode of Soundcheck, a great band bids farewell after a monumental career that lasted more than a quarter of a century. American avant-garde group The Bad Plus spent long years fusing instrumental jazz with rock music, with each member play... more

After almost a decade-long wait, the Grammy-nominated alt-country artist Tift Merritt returns with her new record Sugar, in which she sings, “I didn’t really want to be here tonight / I don’t need you looking at me / I don’t like the light bright.” I... more

Chamber pop duo Gracie and Rachel, formed by keyboardist Gracie Coates and violinist Rachel Ruggles, spent many years playing music together, living together, and even growing up together during their high school years. But when time came to work on ... more

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Recent Guests

Gracie Coates
Musician, half of Gracie and Rachel
Gracie and Rachel
Episode: Chamber Pop Duo Gracie and Rachel Sing New Introspective Songs, In-Studio
Rachel Ruggles
Musician, half of Gracie and Rachel
Gracie and Rachel
Episode: Chamber Pop Duo Gracie and Rachel Sing New Introspective Songs, In-Studio
Fabi Reyna
Reyna Tropical, part of Helado Tropical
Helado Tropical/Reyna Tropical
Episode: Helado Tropical Feels Like 'Summer's Warmth on a Sunday', In-Studio
Roberto Carlos Lange
Helado Negro, part of Helado Tropical
Helado Tropical/Helado Negro
Episode: Helado Tropical Feels Like 'Summer's Warmth on a Sunday', In-Studio
Michael Winograd
Clarinetist and klezmer musician
Klezmer/Winograd ensemble
Episode: Best of Soundcheck: O'Farrill Family Band; Michael Winograd's TANZ
Arturo O'Farrill
Six-time Grammy-winning founder and artistic director of the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra
Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra
Episode: Best of Soundcheck: O'Farrill Family Band; Michael Winograd's TANZ
Miles Francis
Drummer, composer and leader of Emefe
Emefe
Episode: Funky Afrobeat Brass Band EMEFE Rekindles Old Songs, In-Studio
Emel Mathlouthi
Tunisian-born singer and artist
Emel (artist)
Episode: Tunisian-American Artist and Activist Emel, In-Studio
Isaiah Collier
Jazz saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, composer, arranger and bandleader
Independent artist
Episode: Multi-instrumentalist Isaiah Collier Discovers New Creative Avenues, In-Studio

Host

John Schaefer
Host of in-depth music and arts conversations; lead interviewer and session host.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 184 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.

Listeners appreciate the variety across genres and the quality of performances.
Audience notes: some listeners miss broader arts criticism segments; others praise the focus on live music.
Live sessions plus thoughtful context make discovery effortless.
Loved the breadth of artists and the depth of conversations.
The host's knowledge and interview depth are consistently praised.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Best of Soundcheck: Horsegirl; Sullivan Fortner
Q: What's notable about Fortner's approach to a piece like It's A Game?
Fortner treats the composition as a texture-rich exploration where strict orchestration still leaves room for improvisation and sonically varied textures, especially in a live setting.
Best of Soundcheck: Horsegirl; Sullivan Fortner
Q: What was the idea behind Phonetics On and On and the use of phonetics in the songs?
The title and approach reflect a playful, language-based songwriting philosophy that emphasizes the building blocks of music and open chords, with intentional repetition and phonetic textures.
Best of Soundcheck: Horsegirl; Sullivan Fortner
Q: How did the three Horsegirl members first come together and start making music?
They met through a music program and warehouse show, then found common ground in writing and performing together, with Gigi joining as the drummer as the group evolved.
Multi-instrumentalist Isaiah Collier Discovers New Creative Avenues, In-Studio
Q: So Isaiah, are you in the band?
Yes, Collier is actively performing with his band in the studio, contributing as a pianist, saxophonist, and vocalist, while the rest of the ensemble provides bass, drums, and keyboard support.
Multi-instrumentalist Isaiah Collier Discovers New Creative Avenues, In-Studio
Q: Is this the one that has that kind of rubbery, funk bass keyboard bass line?
The discussion confirms a distinctive synth bass texture in the live arrangements, with attention to how it complements the instrumental textures and the overall sound of the performance.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About Soundcheck

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

Consistently features in-studio performances paired with thoughtful conversations with a wide spectrum of musicians and artists. Episodes often blend live sessions, deep dives into creative processes, and practical details about recording, collaboration, and touring, with a focus on how place, memory, and culture shape contemporary music. Noteworthy for showcasing intimate, hands-on looks at songwriting, arranging, and performance across genres—from indie to Latin fusion to folk and classical–electronic hybrids—often revealing how artists fuse tradition with modern technology. This mix of live music, behind-the-scenes storytelling, and genre-crossing collaborations is particularly helpful for listeners who want both fresh sounds and insight... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Soundcheck?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Soundcheck:

1. World Cafe Words and Music Podcast
2. Song Exploder
3. NPR Music
4. The New Yorker Radio Hour
5. Fresh Air

How many episodes of Soundcheck are there?

Soundcheck launched 21 years ago and published 287 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.

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What guests have appeared on Soundcheck?

Recent guests on Soundcheck include:

1. Gracie Coates
2. Rachel Ruggles
3. Fabi Reyna
4. Roberto Carlos Lange
5. Michael Winograd
6. Arturo O'Farrill
7. Miles Francis
8. Emel Mathlouthi

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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