William McCarthy - "Ballad for the Unemployed," a 2020 self-released single.

As the frontman for Pela and Augustines, Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter William McCarthy has never shied away from difficult topics. (Augustine's 2011 album Rise Ye Sunken Ships was influenced by the deaths of his mother and brother.) 

As a solo artist, McCarthy continues to explore darker subjects in his music, like on today's featured track “Ballad for the Unemployed.“

Read the full post on KEXP.org

William McCarthy - "Ballad for the Unemployed," a 2020 self-released single.
As the frontman for Pela and Augustines, Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter William McCarthy has never shied away from difficult topics. (Augustine's 2011 album Rise Ye Sunken Ships was influenced by the deaths of his mother and brother.)&nbsp;
As a solo artist, McCarthy continues to explore darker subjects in his music, like on today's featured track &ldquo;Ballad for the Unemployed.&ldquo;
<a href="https://www.kexp.org/podcasts/song-of-the-day/2020/5/11/william-mccarthy-ballad-unemployed/">Read the full post on KEXP.org</a>

From independent music station KEXP, In Our Headphones brings you the songs DJs, artists, and others just can't get enough of. Join host Evie Stokes and guests as they introduce you to new music, with added insight into the artists behind the records.

From independent music station KEXP, In Our Headphones brings you the songs DJs, artists, and others just can't get enough of. Join host Evie Stokes and guests as they introduce you to new music, with added insight into the artists behind the records.

A never-ending journey of music discovery from KEXP.

In Our Headphones

From independent music station KEXP, In Our Headphones brings you the songs DJs, artists, listeners and others just can't stop listening to. Join host Evie Stokes and guests as they help you find new music, with added insight into the artists behind the records.

From independent music station KEXP, In Our Headphones brings you the songs DJs, artists, listeners and others just can't stop listening to. Join host Evie Stokes and guests as they help you find new music, with added insight into the artists behind the records.

William McCarthy - Ballad for the Unemployed

Host Evie Stokes sits down again with Arlo Parks to talk about the music that’s moving her. This time she’s embracing her underground dance influences with a song from London-based artist Oscar Farrell and how dance influence influenced her own recent album, Ambiguous Desire.

“There’s something so beautiful about these textures,” Parks says of Farrell’s song “Don’t Play With Me.” “I feel like I’m a sucker for these UK garage influences that are made a little bit wonky and weird.”

“Don’t Play With Me” comes from Farrell’s 2026 album, Birds Fly In, out now via dh2.

Produced by Dusty Henry
Mastered by: William Myers
Production support: Serafima Healy

Listen to the full songs on KEXP's "In Our Headphones" playlist on Spotify or the “What's In Our Headphones” playlist on YouTube.

Support the podcast: kexp.org/headphones 
Contact us at headphones@kexp.org.

Photo by Pablo Gallegos

Host Evie Stokes sits down again with Arlo Parks to talk about the music that&rsquo;s moving her. This time she&rsquo;s embracing her underground dance influences with a song from London-based artist Oscar Farrell and how dance influence influenced her own recent album, Ambiguous Desire.
&ldquo;There&rsquo;s something so beautiful about these textures,&rdquo; Parks says of Farrell&rsquo;s song &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t Play With Me.&rdquo; &ldquo;I feel like I&rsquo;m a sucker for these UK garage influences that are made a little bit wonky and weird.&rdquo;
&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t Play With Me&rdquo; comes from Farrell&rsquo;s 2026 album, Birds Fly In, out now via dh2.
Produced by Dusty Henry Mastered by: William Myers Production support: Serafima Healy
Listen to the full songs on KEXP's "In Our Headphones" playlist on Spotify or the &ldquo;What's In Our Headphones&rdquo; playlist on YouTube.
Support the podcast: kexp.org/headphones&nbsp; Contact us at <a href="mailto:headphones@kexp.org">headphones@kexp.org</a>.
Photo by Pablo Gallegos

Arlo Parks on Oscar Farrell’s Beautiful Approach to UK Garage

Host Evie Stokes sits down with Arlo Parks to talk about the music that’s moving her. First up, she talks about her admiration for Chanel Beads’ Shane Lavers and how she first fell in love with his music after seeing him live. She shares how much she particularly adores his song, “The Coward Forgets His Nightmare.”

“There’s something magical about the way he combines organic and synthetic instruments,” Parks says of the song. “It feels really rich and alive and unique.”

The song comes from Chanel Beads’ latest album, Your Day Will Come, out now via Jagjaguwar.

Produced by Dusty Henry
Mastered by: William Myers
Production support: Serafima Healy

Listen to the full songs on KEXP's "In Our Headphones" playlist on Spotify or the “What's In Our Headphones” playlist on YouTube.

Support the podcast: kexp.org/headphones
Contact us at headphones@kexp.org.

Host Evie Stokes sits down with Arlo Parks to talk about the music that&rsquo;s moving her. First up, she talks about her admiration for Chanel Beads&rsquo; Shane Lavers and how she first fell in love with his music after seeing him live. She shares how much she particularly adores his song, &ldquo;The Coward Forgets His Nightmare.&rdquo; &ldquo;There&rsquo;s something magical about the way he combines organic and synthetic instruments,&rdquo; Parks says of the song. &ldquo;It feels really rich and alive and unique.&rdquo; The song comes from Chanel Beads&rsquo; latest album, Your Day Will Come, out now via Jagjaguwar. Produced by Dusty Henry Mastered by: William Myers Production support: Serafima Healy Listen to the full songs on KEXP's "<a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2rv9ZZY3SfbkvugQkC1QY2">In Our Headphones</a>" playlist on Spotify or the &ldquo;<a href="https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4bZLwyPT01b-QQ6lhw5T0BnVUYQbSUvm&amp;feature=shared">What's In Our Headphones</a>&rdquo; playlist on YouTube. Support the podcast: <a href="http://kexp.org/headphones">kexp.org/headphones</a> Contact us at <a href="mailto:headphones@kexp.org" aria-haspopup="menu">headphones@kexp.org</a>.

Arlo Parks on the Magic of Chanel Beads

Host Evie Stokes sits down again with Seattle and Colorado-based band Packaging to talk about the music that’s moving them. This time they’re paying tribute to their peers in the Denver project Cindygod. The two bandmates discuss working with Cindygod on their own music, but also the inspiration they take from their friend and their songwriting/production wizardry. 

Produced by Dusty Henry
Mastered by: William Myers
Production support: Serafima Healy

Listen to the full songs on KEXP's "In Our Headphones" playlist on Spotify or the “What's In Our Headphones” playlist on YouTube.

Support the podcast: kexp.org/headphones
Contact us at headphones@kexp.org.

Host Evie Stokes sits down again with Seattle and Colorado-based band Packaging to talk about the music that&rsquo;s moving them. This time they&rsquo;re paying tribute to their peers in the Denver project Cindygod. The two bandmates discuss working with Cindygod on their own music, but also the inspiration they take from their friend and their songwriting/production wizardry.&nbsp;
Produced by Dusty Henry Mastered by: William Myers Production support: Serafima Healy
Listen to the full songs on KEXP's "<a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2rv9ZZY3SfbkvugQkC1QY2">In Our Headphones</a>" playlist on Spotify or the &ldquo;<a href="https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4bZLwyPT01b-QQ6lhw5T0BnVUYQbSUvm&amp;feature=shared">What's In Our Headphones</a>&rdquo; playlist on YouTube.
Support the podcast: <a href="http://kexp.org/headphones">kexp.org/headphones </a>Contact us at <a href="mailto:headphones@kexp.org">headphones@kexp.org</a>.

William McCarthy - Ballad for the Unemployed

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