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Artwork for Soundcheck

Soundcheck

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

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes311Founded21 years ago
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Performing ArtsArtsMusicMusic Interviews

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Artwork for Soundcheck

Latest Episodes

Australian singer Grace Cummings is the kind of songwriter who believes in the spontaneity of the creative process. “I’m a loner. I talk to myself a lot,” she says, and amid those internal conversations, she stumbles upon some mistakes that eventuall... more

Blackstar was David Bowie’s last record, a musical farewell, and it featured the sax player Donny McCaslin. In fact, Bowie ended up using Donny McCaslin’s whole band for that album. The experience led McCaslin to expand his already restless musical p... more

Wendy Eisenberg is a Brooklyn-based guitarist, improviser, and songwriter who uses guitar, pedals, the tenor banjo, the computer, the synthesizer and the voice. They are also a professor of songwriting, and a constant collaborator in many different c... more

The artist known as Everlast was the lead rapper in the group House of Pain, whose single “Jump Around” remains one of hip hop’s most familiar songs. But in the 1990s he began adding bluesy guitars to his songs, creating enormous hits like “Put Your ... more

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Recent Guests

Wendy Eisenberg
Guitarist, singer, and songwriter; self-titled album artist
Darlin; Editrix; Wendy Eisenberg (album)
Episode: Ever-Shifting Guitarist Wendy Eisenberg Dares With Homegrown and Poetic Songs, In-Studio
Sondre Lerche
Norwegian singer-songwriter, guest on Soundcheck
Self, Acrobats album
Episode: Norwegian Chord Progression Artist Sondre Lerche Sings Acrobatic Melodies, In-Studio
Laurie Anderson
Violinist and multimedia artist contributing to the performance and the concluding story for You and Your Dog
Artist
Episode: Indie Rock Band Shearwater Performs Cerebral Songs with Laurie Anderson, In-Studio
Saul Williams
Poet, rapper, musician, author and actor
Artist featured on Leap Life; author of Songs My Mother Taught Me, Why the Artist Must Take Sides
Episode: Recording Artist and Actor Saul Williams Speaks Contemplative Words, In-Studio
Alexandra Sauser-Monnig
Musician, solo artist Daughter of Swords, member of Mountain Man
Daughter of Swords / Mountain Man
Episode: Quiet Reflection in Acoustic Songs by Daughter of Swords (Archives)
Josh Carpe
Artist behind Cautious Clay, discussing The Hours trilogy and live performances
Cautious Clay / The Hours
Episode: Best of Soundcheck: Paris Paloma, Cautious Clay
Arturo Sandoval
Trumpeter, bandleader, Afro-Cuban jazz legend
Self/Arturo Sandoval Band
Episode: Fearless Creative Expression and Lived Experience From Arturo Sandoval Who "Sounds Good", In-Studio
Thomas Tall
Second guitarist, main songwriter; noted as a famous film producer on the show
Ghost Hounds (guest)","contact_info":null,
Episode: Ghost Hounds Conjures Bluesy Roots-Rock In-Studio
Kristen Weber
Fiddler in Ghost Hounds
Ghost Hounds
Episode: Ghost Hounds Conjures Bluesy Roots-Rock In-Studio

Host

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

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 187 ratings
  • A wonderful slice of culture

    Discovered the pod through searching Pierre Bensusan and delighted to find this performance from the guitar festival. Will be working my way through many other episodes. Great work!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Den Of Bears
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • 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

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

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Norwegian Chord Progression Artist Sondre Lerche Sings Acrobatic Melodies, In-Studio
Q: So what inspired the big, bombastic approach to the album's arrangements?
Lerche explains that the musical theater influence and his experience performing in Norway shaped a narrative drive, pushing him toward large-scale, cinematic moments while balancing intimate sections.
Everlast Dishes Out Gritty Humanity in Blues-Rock Style, In-Studio
Q: Do you still rap?
When I'm in the mood. I don't want to get too many of my guys mad when I don't rap excited, but we're trying to figure out how to make a truly grown, thematically, rap record.
Everlast Dishes Out Gritty Humanity in Blues-Rock Style, In-Studio
Q: I'm assuming from that and from the name Everlast that you're a massive sports fan. Would that be?
I've been in my life, yeah.
Ghost Hounds Conjures Bluesy Roots-Rock In-Studio
Q: What is the concept behind the album Justified and its end track?
The album is treated as a visual/story arc that moves from darker conflicts and apocalyptic themes toward a hopeful, grace-filled conclusion with Amazing Grace, signaling resilience and human endurance.
Indie Rock Band Shearwater Performs Cerebral Songs with Laurie Anderson, In-Studio
Q: How do field recordings factor into the songs?
Field recordings are treated as integral parts of the music, not mere background ambiance; they're selected only if the recorder was present, helping to situate listeners in specific places and moments.

Audience Metrics

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Listeners per Episode
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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?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Soundcheck, 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 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. World Cafe Words and Music Podcast
2. Fresh Air
3. This American Life
4. Radiolab
5. Throughline

How many episodes of Soundcheck are there?

Soundcheck launched 21 years ago and published 311 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. Wendy Eisenberg
2. Sondre Lerche
3. Laurie Anderson
4. Saul Williams
5. Alexandra Sauser-Monnig
6. Josh Carpe
7. Arturo Sandoval
8. Thomas Tall

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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