As a founding member and lead singer of Galaxie 500, it could be said Dean Wareham was present at the Big Bang of American indie/alternative/college rock in the 80’s. The band spawned both a large fanbase as well as a nascent movement that embraced the same sensibilities of atmospheric-yet-stripped down, heartfelt-but-self-aware, Velvet Underground-inspired music that shaped underground music for the next two-plus decades. He then moved on to found Luna, a slightly more musically accomplished successor to Galaxie 500 that carried those same sensibilities into the 21st century. Dean and Britta, the band he founded with wife and long-time collaborator Britta Phillips, released a Christmas-themed record with former Spaceman 3 frontman Sonic Boom entitled A Peace of Us in late 2024. Hear how songs by Beat Rhythm Fashion, The Feelies, and Francoise Hardy helped shape his sensibilities.

As a founding member and lead singer of Galaxie 500, it could be said Dean Wareham was present at the Big Bang of American indie/alternative/college rock in the 80&rsquo;s. The band spawned both a large fanbase as well as a nascent movement that embraced the same sensibilities of atmospheric-yet-stripped down, heartfelt-but-self-aware, Velvet Underground-inspired music that shaped underground music for the next two-plus decades. He then moved on to found Luna, a slightly more musically accomplished successor to Galaxie 500 that carried those same sensibilities into the 21st century. Dean and Britta, the band he founded with wife and long-time collaborator Britta Phillips, released a Christmas-themed record with former Spaceman 3 frontman Sonic Boom entitled A Peace of Us in late 2024. Hear how songs by Beat Rhythm Fashion, The Feelies, and Francoise Hardy helped shape his sensibilities.

A show in which musicians and other creators talk about the songs that shaped who they are. Produced by Matt Byars and Lee Gardner.

A show in which musicians and other creators talk about the songs that shaped who they are. Produced by Matt Byars and Lee Gardner.

Essential Tremors

A show in which musicians and other creators talk about the songs that shaped who they are.

Dean Wareham (Galaxie 500, Luna, Dean & Britta)

While to the casual observer it might seem as if New Zealand’s The Beths appeared seemingly out of nowhere in or around the summer of 2023, they’ve in fact been making their extremely catchy brand of indie pop for almost ten years now. The Auckland-based quartet’s most recent album, Straight Line is a Lie, was released last year by Anti-. We spoke to founding members Liz Stokes and Jonathan Pearce for this episode in which they talk about how songs by Rilo Kiley, Ben Folds Five, and The Shins--among others--were formative for them.

While to the casual observer it might seem as if New Zealand&rsquo;s The Beths appeared seemingly out of nowhere in or around the summer of 2023, they&rsquo;ve in fact been making their extremely catchy brand of indie pop for almost ten years now. The Auckland-based quartet&rsquo;s most recent album, Straight Line is a Lie, was released last year by Anti-. We spoke to founding members Liz Stokes and Jonathan Pearce for this episode in which they talk about how songs by Rilo Kiley, Ben Folds Five, and The Shins--among others--were formative for them.

The Beths

Colombia-born singer and musician Lucrecia Dalt began her musical career seemingly suddenly, at least when observed from a distance as a simple biographical factoid: as a civil engineer, she worked in a geotechnical company until giving it up to become a musician. While the exact details of that situation are likely considerably more nuanced, it nevertheless serves as a metaphor for her ambitious and ever-forward artistic inclinations. This is particularly true in her 2021 collaboration with Aaron Dilloway, Lucy & Aaron, which took her work deeper into more fragmented, abstract territory. She continues on this path with her newest release, A Danger to Ourselves, which was released in late 2025. On this episode, she talks about how songs by Rocio Durcal, PJ Harvey, and David Sylvian informed her sensibilities. Dalt will perform at the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, TN in March of 2026.

Colombia-born singer and musician Lucrecia Dalt began her musical career seemingly suddenly, at least when observed from a distance as a simple biographical factoid: as a civil engineer, she worked in a geotechnical company until giving it up to become a musician. While the exact details of that situation are likely considerably more nuanced, it nevertheless serves as a metaphor for her ambitious and ever-forward artistic inclinations. This is particularly true in her 2021 collaboration with Aaron Dilloway, Lucy &amp; Aaron, which took her work deeper into more fragmented, abstract territory. She continues on this path with her newest release, A Danger to Ourselves, which was released in late 2025. On this episode, she talks about how songs by Rocio Durcal, PJ Harvey, and David Sylvian informed her sensibilities. Dalt will perform at the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, TN in March of 2026.

Lucrecia Dalt (Big Ears Festival Performer)

Bassist Melvin Gibbs has played on many seminal records you’re very familiar with, and likely many you aren’t, almost 200 in total. Some of his better-known work includes playing with drummer Ronald Shannon Jackson, guitarist Sonny Sharrock, as well as Rollins Band, and Arto Lindsay. Although having played in stylistically varied projects, there is one constant among all them, which is Gibbs’ palpable presence, as he’s not a typical “session” player or one to recede into the background. Regardless of the project, his passion, precision, and distinctive, extremely musical playing stand out. Gibbs will appear as part of the Electrical Field of Love project featuring his group Harriet Tubman & Georgia Anne Muldrow at the 2026 Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, TN. On this episode, he talks about how songs by Undine Smith Moore, Les Tambours de Brazza, and 67 guided his musical course.

Bassist Melvin Gibbs has played on many seminal records you&rsquo;re very familiar with, and likely many you aren&rsquo;t, almost 200 in total. Some of his better-known work includes playing with drummer Ronald Shannon Jackson, guitarist Sonny Sharrock, as well as Rollins Band, and Arto Lindsay. Although having played in stylistically varied projects, there is one constant among all them, which is Gibbs&rsquo; palpable presence, as he&rsquo;s not a typical &ldquo;session&rdquo; player or one to recede into the background. Regardless of the project, his passion, precision, and distinctive, extremely musical playing stand out. Gibbs will appear as part of the Electrical Field of Love project featuring his group Harriet Tubman &amp; Georgia Anne Muldrow at the 2026 Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, TN. On this episode, he talks about how songs by Undine Smith Moore, Les Tambours de Brazza, and 67 guided his musical course.

Dean Wareham (Galaxie 500, Luna, Dean & Britta)

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