To try to list all the projects, both solo and group, that Shahzad Ismaily has been a part of would take much more time than we have available, even in this notoriously long-winded medium. Instead, it might be better to offer a small sampling of those with whom he’s collaborated (Sam Smith, Mike Doughty; Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, and Marc Ribot), and then offer the description of him as a bass player and multi-instrumentalist who’s equally comfortable in the jazz, pop, and experimental idioms, as well as a soulful, generous player and collaborator. Hear him discuss how pieces by U2, Thomas Koner, and Ida change his creative course. Special guest host and previous guest Fred Frith conducted this interview of Ismaily at the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, TN in March of 2026.

More on Seventh Stanine here.

More on festival sponsor Art Sound Language here.

To try to list all the projects, both solo and group, that Shahzad Ismaily has been a part of would take much more time than we have available, even in this notoriously long-winded medium. Instead, it might be better to offer a small sampling of those with whom he&rsquo;s collaborated (Sam Smith, Mike Doughty; Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, and Marc Ribot), and then offer the description of him as a bass player and multi-instrumentalist who&rsquo;s equally comfortable in the jazz, pop, and experimental idioms, as well as a soulful, generous player and collaborator. Hear him discuss how pieces by U2, Thomas Koner, and Ida change his creative course. Special guest host and previous guest Fred Frith conducted this interview of Ismaily at the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, TN in March of 2026.
More on Seventh Stanine <a href="https://www.seventhstanine.com">here</a>.
More on festival sponsor Art Sound Language <a href="https://artsoundlanguage.com/">here</a>.

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.

Shahzad Ismaily (w/guest host Fred Frith) (Live at Big Ears 2026)

For most of his career, Bonner Kramer has been known in underground music circles by only his surname, as his imprint has been deep and wide enough that only that sobriquet has been necessary. Starting in New York City in the late 70’s and into the 80’s, he was a member of several seminal bands of the era including New York Gong and Bongwater, and played in the Butthole Surfers, Ween, Half Japanese, The Fugs, and with John Zorn. As a producer, he has worked with Galaxie 500 (whose entire catalog he produced), Low, Half Japanese, Gwar, Will Oldham, Daniel Johnston, and Urge Overkill, and founded the Shimmy Disc label. He’ll perform at this year’s Big Ears Festival both by himself, as well as with Thurston Moore and Mark Nelson of Pan-American, respectively, in March of 2026. On this episode, hear how songs sung by Billie Holliday, Gavin Bryars, and Robert Wyatt informed his work.

For most of his career, Bonner Kramer has been known in underground music circles by only his surname, as his imprint has been deep and wide enough that only that sobriquet has been necessary. Starting in New York City in the late 70&rsquo;s and into the 80&rsquo;s, he was a member of several seminal bands of the era including New York Gong and Bongwater, and played in the Butthole Surfers, Ween, Half Japanese, The Fugs, and with John Zorn. As a producer, he has worked with Galaxie 500 (whose entire catalog he produced), Low, Half Japanese, Gwar, Will Oldham, Daniel Johnston, and Urge Overkill, and founded the Shimmy Disc label. He&rsquo;ll perform at this year&rsquo;s Big Ears Festival both by himself, as well as with Thurston Moore and Mark Nelson of Pan-American, respectively, in March of 2026. On this episode, hear how songs sung by Billie Holliday, Gavin Bryars, and Robert Wyatt informed his work.

Kramer (Big Ears Festival performer)

A harpist since childhood–as well as the daughter of one–Mary Lattimore’s choice of instrument reveals the simple beauty it contains, transcending the stereotype of it being strictly for use in classical music or as flourishes in movie soundtracks. Her ability to cut straight to the heart in her compositions works the same trick, not relying on the standard glissandos often employed by traditional players, but simply reducing the instrument to its essence. Her most recent release is a duet with Julianna Barwick, Tragic Magic, and came out in January of 2026. The duo will perform at this year’s Big Ears Festival in Knoxville in March of 2026. Hear how songs by Debussy, The Cure, and Sonic Youth guided her musical path.

A harpist since childhood&ndash;as well as the daughter of one&ndash;Mary Lattimore&rsquo;s choice of instrument reveals the simple beauty it contains, transcending the stereotype of it being strictly for use in classical music or as flourishes in movie soundtracks. Her ability to cut straight to the heart in her compositions works the same trick, not relying on the standard glissandos often employed by traditional players, but simply reducing the instrument to its essence. Her most recent release is a duet with Julianna Barwick, Tragic Magic, and came out in January of 2026. The duo will perform at this year&rsquo;s Big Ears Festival in Knoxville in March of 2026. Hear how songs by Debussy, The Cure, and Sonic Youth guided her musical path.

Mary Lattimore (Big Ears Festival performer)

Listing Joe Boyd’s most significant accomplishments as a producer, label owner, and music historian is a tall order. A short list of artists he’s worked with includes Nick Drake (heard here), Pink Floyd, Fairport Convention, Sandy Denny, Richard Thompson, The Incredible String Band, R.E.M., Vashti Bunyan, Billy Bragg, and 10,000 Maniacs. Additionally, he was the founder of Hannibal Records, the label responsible for bringing the term “world music” into the lexicon, as well as serving as a music producer for Warner Bros., where he collaborated with Stanley Kubrick on the soundtrack of  A Clockwork Orange and 1972’s Deliverance. His most recent work is as the author of White Bicycles: Making Music in the 1960s, as well as And the Roots of Rhythm Remain: A Journey Through Global Music, which came out in 2024. On this episode, hear how songs by Fats Domino, Fairport Convention, and Carlos Gardel shaped his sensibilities. Boyd will be a part of this year’s Big Ears Festival taking place in Knoxville, TN in March of 2026.

Listing Joe Boyd&rsquo;s most significant accomplishments as a producer, label owner, and music historian is a tall order. A short list of artists he&rsquo;s worked with includes&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Drake" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Drake&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1769368332219000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3f1LYSu1puD2tKEDFukIaK">Nick Drake</a>&nbsp;(heard here),&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink_Floyd" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink_Floyd&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1769368332219000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3Nw-b4_DXVB98OnddxBzzh">Pink Floyd</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairport_Convention" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairport_Convention&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1769368332219000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3QmWeq4D9Rv--MMd7x0b5M">Fairport Convention</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandy_Denny" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandy_Denny&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1769368332219000&amp;usg=AOvVaw09HQoHEhLucoINtx4wbVGf">Sandy Denny</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Thompson_%28musician%29" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Thompson_%2528musician%2529&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1769368332219000&amp;usg=AOvVaw39q6qjjpMtZvcSIZOkIwBD">Richard Thompson</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Incredible_String_Band" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Incredible_String_Band&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1769368332219000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1BbwQUY5YMeSbgOIlT0Xyf">The Incredible String Band</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R.E.M." data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R.E.M.&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1769368332220000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2ablVHJrS3lAZf9JuVb9Qz">R.E.M.</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vashti_Bunyan" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vashti_Bunyan&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1769368332220000&amp;usg=AOvVaw24r12zLoaskTnKUq_89dEN">Vashti Bunyan</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Bragg" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Bragg&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1769368332220000&amp;usg=AOvVaw25miSePf0pPbTANbcNZZh5">Billy Bragg</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10,000_Maniacs" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10,000_Maniacs&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1769368332220000&amp;usg=AOvVaw38MDkslkVVNtdKIn2vRbtd">10,000 Maniacs</a>. Additionally, he was the founder of Hannibal Records, the label responsible for bringing the term &ldquo;world music&rdquo; into the lexicon, as well as serving as a music producer for&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warner_Bros." data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warner_Bros.&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1769368332220000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1jHLlMalQGu_-77hBle-Cp">Warner Bros.</a>, where he collaborated with&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Kubrick" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Kubrick&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1769368332220000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0JcZvoveJnBzGSuFXgWOwS">Stanley Kubrick</a>&nbsp;on the&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Clockwork_Orange_%28soundtrack%29" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Clockwork_Orange_%2528soundtrack%2529&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1769368332220000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3o8rCanlmtSdrDoBRi6a_O">soundtrack</a>&nbsp;of&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Clockwork_Orange_%28film%29" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Clockwork_Orange_%2528film%2529&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1769368332220000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3MEbEhJVjdc1OaZYhUCbrK">A Clockwork Orange</a>&nbsp;and 1972&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deliverance_%281972_film%29" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deliverance_%25281972_film%2529&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1769368332220000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0zNIB_DhsXOJlkjCy-DSkm">Deliverance</a>. His most recent work is as the author of White Bicycles: Making Music in the 1960s, as well as And the Roots of Rhythm Remain: A Journey Through Global Music, which came out in 2024. On this episode, hear how songs by Fats Domino, Fairport Convention, and Carlos Gardel shaped his sensibilities. Boyd will be a part of this year&rsquo;s Big Ears Festival taking place in Knoxville, TN in March of 2026.

Shahzad Ismaily (w/guest host Fred Frith) (Live at Big Ears 2026)

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