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Artwork for Soundcheck

Soundcheck

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

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 weeklyEpisodes270Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
MusicPerforming ArtsArtsMusic Interviews

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Artwork for Soundcheck

Latest Episodes

Elizabeth Ziman, who performs as Elizabeth and the Catapult, is a singer-songwriter from Brooklyn. Over the past twenty years, she and a slowly rotating cast of musical friends have released six LPs, full of songs that offer a neat, often unexpected ... more

On this episode of Soundcheck, revisit a special live performance and interview from our archives, recorded in 2019. Multi-instrumentalist, composer, host of the podcast Aria Code, and MacArthur Fellow Rhiannon Giddens collaborated with Italian piani... more

The London-based art rock band, Mary in the Junkyard, is getting ready to release their debut album after four years of trying to make sense of strange things in life through music. “I think that life is very surreal,” says the vocalist of the group,... more

Bassoonist Joy Guidry is a versatile improviser, performance artist, and composer of experimental ambient electronic music, who has founded her own record label, Jaid Records. While she is classically-trained, she has also listened deeply to some of ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Saya Barbaglia
Viola and backing vocals, later bass
Mary in the Junkyard
Episode: Art Rock Trio Mary in the Junkyard Embraces the Light with the Dark, In-Studio
Clari Freeman-Taylor
Singing and playing bass, later guitar
Mary in the Junkyard
Episode: Art Rock Trio Mary in the Junkyard Embraces the Light with the Dark, In-Studio
David Addison
Drums
Mary in the Junkyard
Episode: Art Rock Trio Mary in the Junkyard Embraces the Light with the Dark, In-Studio
Joy Guidry
Composer, electronic musician and bassoonist
Independent artist
Episode: Composer and Bassoonist Joy Guidry Transforms Via Music, In-Studio
Eblis Alvarez
Member of Ruido Tovar, Meridian Brothers
Meridian Brothers
Episode: Latin Dance Duo Ruido Tovar Combines Old Traditions with Modern Sounds, In-Studio
Camilo Lara
Member of Ruido Tovar, Mexican Institute of Sound
Mexican Institute of Sound
Episode: Latin Dance Duo Ruido Tovar Combines Old Traditions with Modern Sounds, In-Studio
Paris Paloma
Singer, songwriter, guitarist
Solo artist promoting The Fatal Flaw
Episode: Paris Paloma Offers Darkly Sharp Pop Songcraft, In-Studio
Tariana Tankball
Lead vocalist of Tank and the Bangas
Tank and the Bangas
Episode: Tank and the Bangas Stay Lifted With Playful Tunes, In-Studio
Jason Williamson
Vocalist for Sleaford Mods
Sleaford Mods
Episode: English Post-Punk Duo Sleaford Mods Spares No Fury, 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 185 ratings
  • Always inspiring!

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ririco007
    France10 months 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.

Latin Dance Duo Ruido Tovar Combines Old Traditions with Modern Sounds, In-Studio
Q: So when you and Camilo started working together, were you able to find a common cumbia, a common approach to the cumbia, or did you just try and mix everything together?
They found common ground in cumbia and tropical music, focusing on analog collaboration and a shared love of the genre, while merging different regional styles.
Composer and Bassoonist Joy Guidry Transforms Via Music, In-Studio
Q: You've got the bassoon here; will we get the bassoon version?
No bassoon version in that particular moment; she explains the piece exists in multiple forms—bassoon with electronics and a synth version—emphasizing flexibility in arrangement based on performance circumstances.
Composer and Bassoonist Joy Guidry Transforms Via Music, In-Studio
Q: So how did you go from being a young, presumably classically trained bassoonist, to making ambient electronic music?
Guidry explains discovering a broader sonic palette through contemporary music, electronic tools like Ableton, and mentors at conservatories, which opened up a space for improvised, spiritually-inflected sound exploration beyond traditional classical performances.
English Post-Punk Duo Sleaford Mods Spares No Fury, In-Studio
Q: Are you freestyling, or is there a set process for lyrics during recording?
They acknowledge a balance between pre-written elements and on-the-spot lyric writing, with both members contributing ideas and improvisation within a structured approach.
English Post-Punk Duo Sleaford Mods Spares No Fury, In-Studio
Q: Do you give collaborators the gist of the song and have them write their own parts?
They generally provide the framework or the parts already written, which collaborators then bring to life, allowing for a mix of pre-planned structure and spontaneous interpretation.

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 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. What Trump Can Teach Us About Con Law
2. Song Exploder
3. World Cafe Words and Music Podcast
4. Alt.Latino
5. Articles of Interest

How many episodes of Soundcheck are there?

Soundcheck launched 21 years ago and published 270 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?

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What guests have appeared on Soundcheck?

Recent guests on Soundcheck include:

1. Saya Barbaglia
2. Clari Freeman-Taylor
3. David Addison
4. Joy Guidry
5. Eblis Alvarez
6. Camilo Lara
7. Paris Paloma
8. Tariana Tankball

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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