New Zealand has been relatively free of COVID-19 since June 2020. It’s a rare spot in the world where live music thrived this past year. Ayisha Jaffer reports on how New Zealand focused on it’s local music scene in a way they never have before, and sees music as a key pillar to recovery once the global pandemic is over.  
 
We also hear from Amanda Palmer who’s been living in New Zealand since the last stop of an international tour that landed her in the country in mid-March of 2020. She shares her journey and take on the country’s music scene from an outside perspective.  

New Zealand has been relatively free of COVID-19 since June 2020. It&rsquo;s a rare spot in the world where live music thrived this past year. Ayisha Jaffer reports on how New Zealand focused on it&rsquo;s local music scene in a way they never have before, and sees music as a key pillar to recovery once the global pandemic is over. &nbsp; &nbsp; We also hear from Amanda Palmer who&rsquo;s been living in New Zealand since the last stop of an international tour that landed her in the country in mid-March of 2020. She shares her journey and take on the country&rsquo;s music scene from an outside perspective. &nbsp;

On A Deeper Listen, host Emily Fox and other storytellers from KEXP talk with artists about the stories behind their songs and the experiences that inform their work. Through each conversation, we uncover the humanity behind the music, allowing us to hear it in a whole new way.

On A Deeper Listen, host Emily Fox and other storytellers from KEXP talk with artists about the stories behind their songs and the experiences that inform their work. Through each conversation, we uncover the humanity behind the music, allowing us to hear it in a whole new way.

A Deeper Listen

How New Zealand’s Music Scene Got Stronger During COVID-19

Say She She’s album, Cut & Rewind is one of the most played albums on KEXP in 2025. Emily Fox speaks with the trio about how they met sharing a wall in a New York apartment building, their reflections on women’s rights in their song She Who Dares and about the racist history of Chicago’s 1979 Disco Demolition Night that shows up in their song, Disco Life.

“Let's take what happened at Comiskey Park where people were really just finding an excuse to burn black records, black musicians' records. Got nothing to do with disco, nothing to with genre,” Piya Malik says.

Say She She&rsquo;s album, Cut &amp; Rewind is one of the most played albums on KEXP in 2025. Emily Fox speaks with the trio about how they met sharing a wall in a New York apartment building, their reflections on women&rsquo;s rights in their song She Who Dares and about the racist history of Chicago&rsquo;s 1979 Disco Demolition Night that shows up in their song, Disco Life.
&ldquo;Let's take what happened at Comiskey Park where people were really just finding an excuse to burn black records, black musicians' records. Got nothing to do with disco, nothing to with genre,&rdquo; Piya Malik says.

Say She She Shares Disco Demolition Night's Racist History

The Montreal based and Anishinaabe-led band, Ribbon Skirt talks about their album, Bite Down and new EP, PENSACOLA. Frontwoman Tashiina Buswa talks with Emily Fox about how indigeneity comes up in her music, especially the song “Off Rez” and shares stories about her life and family, including how her mother was saved from the mass adoption of indigenous children known as the “Sixties Scoop.”

“You’re never really free, even if you're told you're free as an Indigenous person,” Buswa says. “It's why we are always saying land back. There’s been so much that has been stripped away and so much that won't ever be given back, but all we can do is just keep demanding and keep fighting for that freedom or that to have our rights to exist in this land is like that's the only thing that we can keep fighting for.”

photo credit: Ani Harroch

The Montreal based and Anishinaabe-led band, Ribbon Skirt talks about their album, Bite Down and new EP, PENSACOLA. Frontwoman Tashiina Buswa talks with Emily Fox about how indigeneity comes up in her music, especially the song &ldquo;Off Rez&rdquo; and shares stories about her life and family, including how her mother was saved from the mass adoption of indigenous children known as the &ldquo;Sixties Scoop.&rdquo;
&ldquo;You&rsquo;re never really free, even if you're told you're free as an Indigenous person,&rdquo; Buswa says. &ldquo;It's why we are always saying land back. There&rsquo;s been so much that has been stripped away and so much that won't ever be given back, but all we can do is just keep demanding and keep fighting for that freedom or that to have our rights to exist in this land is like that's the only thing that we can keep fighting for.&rdquo; photo credit: Ani Harroch

Ribbon Skirt Reconnects with Anishinaabe Roots Through Music

Portugal. The Man is out with a new album called SHISH. Emily Fox caught up with the band’s singer, songwriter and founder, John Gourley at Seattle’s Showbox SoDo to hear how his off-the-grid childhood in Alaska as well as his daughter’s genetic conduction influenced the album. “My mom and dad both became Iditarod mushers and finishers, and it took us off grid. We didn’t have power until I was 16, 17,” Gourley said.

photo by Nathan Perkel

Portugal. The Man is out with a new album called SHISH. Emily Fox caught up with the band&rsquo;s singer, songwriter and founder, John Gourley at Seattle&rsquo;s Showbox SoDo to hear how his off-the-grid childhood in Alaska as well as his daughter&rsquo;s genetic conduction influenced the album.&nbsp;&ldquo;My mom and dad both became Iditarod mushers and finishers, and it took us off grid. We didn&rsquo;t have power until I was 16, 17,&rdquo; Gourley said.
photo by Nathan Perkel

How New Zealand’s Music Scene Got Stronger During COVID-19

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