Mia Berrin makes powerfully cathartic indie rock that’s just as biting as it is heartwrenching as Pom Pom Squad. The Brooklyn-based band recently stopped by KEXP to play songs off their 2021 debut Death of a Cheerleader, and Troy Nelson chatted with the frontwoman about learning to engineer music, Nada Surf’s influence on the band, as well as a very niche indie videogame called Cuphead. 

Tying in the Nada Surf influence, listeners get a two-for-one in today’s episode, featuring songs from Nada Surf’s 2018 KEXP in-studio.

Recorded 05/04/2022.
Head Cheerleader
Cake
Second That
Forever

Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube

Mia Berrin makes powerfully cathartic indie rock that’s just as biting as it is heartwrenching as Pom Pom Squad. The Brooklyn-based band recently stopped by KEXP to play songs off their 2021 debut Death of a Cheerleader, and Troy Nelson chatted with the frontwoman about learning to engineer music, Nada Surf’s influence on the band, as well as a very niche indie videogame called Cuphead. 
Tying in the Nada Surf influence, listeners get a two-for-one in today’s episode, featuring songs from Nada Surf’s 2018 KEXP in-studio.
Recorded 05/04/2022.
<ol>
<li>Head Cheerleader</li>
<li>Cake</li>
<li>Second That</li>
<li>Forever</li>
</ol>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVZle2Ip8aQ">Watch the full Live on KEXP session on YouTube</a>

Live on KEXP brings you the very best of KEXP’s world-renowned live in-studio and remote performances. Each week, we’ll bring you a new live session, from emerging artists to well-established acts, spanning styles, genres and cultures. Full video of all Live on KEXP performances available at youtube.com/kexp.

Live on KEXP brings you the very best of KEXP’s world-renowned live in-studio and remote performances. Each week, we’ll bring you a new live session, from emerging artists to well-established acts, spanning styles, genres and cultures. Full video of all Live on KEXP performances available at youtube.com/kexp.

Live on KEXP

Pom Pom Squad

KEXP presents Gaia Banfi performing live at ESMA in Rennes, France, during Trans Musicales 2025. Recorded December 2, 2025.
Il Lungoriva di Genova
Amar
Piazza Centrale
Seia

Gaia Banfi - Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Electronics

Photo by: Carlos Cruz

https://trovarobato.bandcamp.com/album/la-maccaia
https://www.lestrans.com/
https://www.esma-artistique.com
https://www.tourisme-rennes.com
http://kexp.org

Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3I2GFN_F8WudD_2jUZbojA/join

KEXP presents Gaia Banfi performing live at ESMA in Rennes, France, during Trans Musicales 2025. Recorded December 2, 2025.
<ol>
<li>Il Lungoriva di Genova</li>
<li>Amar</li>
<li>Piazza Centrale</li>
<li>Seia</li>
</ol>
Gaia Banfi - Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Electronics Photo by: Carlos Cruz
<a href="https://trovarobato.bandcamp.com/album/la-maccaia" data-stringify-link="https://trovarobato.bandcamp.com/album/la-maccaia" data-sk="tooltip_parent">https://trovarobato.bandcamp.com/album/la-maccaia</a> <a href="https://www.lestrans.com/" data-stringify-link="https://www.lestrans.com/" data-sk="tooltip_parent">https://www.lestrans.com/</a> <a href="https://www.esma-artistique.com/" data-stringify-link="https://www.esma-artistique.com" data-sk="tooltip_parent">https://www.esma-artistique.com</a> <a href="https://www.tourisme-rennes.com/" data-stringify-link="https://www.tourisme-rennes.com" data-sk="tooltip_parent">https://www.tourisme-rennes.com</a> <a href="http://kexp.org/" data-stringify-link="http://kexp.org" data-sk="tooltip_parent">http://kexp.org</a>
Join this channel to get access to perks: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3I2GFN_F8WudD_2jUZbojA/join">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3I2GFN_F8WudD_2jUZbojA/join</a>

 Gaia Banfi (Live on KEXP)

KEXP presents Sextile performing live in the KEXP studio. Recorded November 7, 2025.Songs:
Kids
Freak Eyes
Women Respond To Bass
Soggy Newports

Brady Keehn - Vocals, Synths
Melissa Scaduto - Vocals, Synths, Guitar

Host: Abbie Gobeli
Audio Engineer: Kevin Suggs
Mastering Engineer: Matt Ogaz
Photo by: Carlos Cruz

https://sextile.music
http://kexp.org

Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3I2GFN_F8WudD_2jUZbojA/join

KEXP presents Sextile performing live in the KEXP studio. Recorded November 7, 2025.Songs:
<ol data-stringify-type="ordered-list" data-list-tree="true" data-indent="0" data-border="0">
<li data-stringify-indent="0" data-stringify-border="0">Kids</li>
<li data-stringify-indent="0" data-stringify-border="0">Freak Eyes</li>
<li data-stringify-indent="0" data-stringify-border="0">Women Respond To Bass</li>
<li data-stringify-indent="0" data-stringify-border="0">Soggy Newports</li>
</ol>
Brady Keehn - Vocals, Synths Melissa Scaduto - Vocals, Synths, Guitar
Host: Abbie Gobeli Audio Engineer: Kevin Suggs Mastering Engineer: Matt Ogaz Photo by: Carlos Cruz
<a href="https://sextile.music/" data-stringify-link="https://sextile.music" data-sk="tooltip_parent">https://sextile.music</a> <a href="http://kexp.org/" data-stringify-link="http://kexp.org" data-sk="tooltip_parent">http://kexp.org</a>
Join this channel to get access to perks: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3I2GFN_F8WudD_2jUZbojA/join" data-stringify-link="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3I2GFN_F8WudD_2jUZbojA/join" data-sk="tooltip_parent">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3I2GFN_F8WudD_2jUZbojA/join</a>

Sextile (Live on KEXP)

KEXP presents Rocket performing live in the KEXP studio. Recorded November 18, 2025.

Songs:
Pretending
One Million
Wide Awake
Number One Fan
R Is For Rocket

Alithea Tuttle - Vocals, Bass
Desi Scaglione - Guitar
Baron Rinzler - Guitar, Keys
Cooper Ladomade - Drums

Host: Larry Mizell, Jr.
Audio Engineer: Kevin Suggs
Mastering Engineer: Matt Ogaz
Photo by: Carlos Cruz

Cameras: Jim Beckmann, Carlos Cruz, Scott Holpainen & Luke Knecht
Editor: Carlos Cruz

https://rockettheband.com
https://kexp.org

Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3I2GFN_F8WudD_2jUZbojA/join

KEXP presents Rocket performing live in the KEXP studio. Recorded November 18, 2025.
Songs:
<ol>
<li>Pretending</li>
<li>One Million</li>
<li>Wide Awake</li>
<li>Number One Fan</li>
<li>R Is For Rocket</li>
</ol>
Alithea Tuttle - Vocals, Bass Desi Scaglione - Guitar Baron Rinzler - Guitar, Keys Cooper Ladomade - Drums
Host: Larry Mizell, Jr. Audio Engineer: Kevin Suggs Mastering Engineer: Matt Ogaz Photo by: Carlos Cruz
Cameras: Jim Beckmann, Carlos Cruz, Scott Holpainen &amp; Luke Knecht Editor: Carlos Cruz
<a href="https://rockettheband.com/">https://rockettheband.com</a> <a href="https://www.kexp.org/">https://kexp.org</a>
Join this channel to get access to perks: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3I2GFN_F8WudD_2jUZbojA/join">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3I2GFN_F8WudD_2jUZbojA/join</a>

Pom Pom Squad

In 1 playlist(s)

Live on KEXP

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips