For the first time in more than 30 years, KEXP got a new Music Director. They listen to all the music coming into the station each week and suggest which songs and albums should be played more often on-air.

Emily Fox caught up with KEXP’s new Music Director, Chris Sanley, to learn about her through music.  

For the first time in more than 30 years, KEXP got a new Music Director. They listen to all the music coming into the station each week and suggest which songs and albums should be played more often on-air.
Emily Fox caught up with KEXP’s new Music Director, Chris Sanley, to learn about her through music.

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

Meet KEXP’s New Music Director

Fela Kuti: Fear No Man is a 12-part podcast honoring the life and legacy of the inventor of Afrobeat, Fela Kuti. The show spotlights stories and perspectives from people highly influenced by Fela Kuti’s art and politics, including David Byrne, Brian Eno, Santigold, Questlove, Paul McCartney, and so many others.

KEXP’s Roddy Nikpour spoke with the host of the podcast — someone with a very distinct flavor of storytelling — Jad Abumrad. He’s best known as the founder and original host of the public radio show, Radiolab, as well as other music-oriented podcasts like Dolly Parton's America. Abumrad is also a composer himself.

“It's a really clever thing he's doing,” Abumrad says in the interview. “He moves you into a trance, wakes you up, then into politics — and then you're dancing at that point. So, your body's already in action. It's taking this political message and turning it into movement that then actually makes you want to do something.”

The story of Fela Kuti goes beyond his lifetime, though.

“The power of music is it'll outlive us,” Jad continues. “I think that's what Fela meant when he said ‘music is the weapon of the future.’ It's going to outlive the enemies. It will do something beyond us. And I hope he's right.”

Support the show: kexp.org/deeper
Photo by: Leon Morris

<a href="https://lnk.to/felakutiPR" data-stringify-link="https://lnk.to/felakutiPR" data-sk="tooltip_parent" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-16967">Fela Kuti: Fear No Man</a>&nbsp;is a 12-part podcast honoring the life and legacy of the inventor of Afrobeat, Fela Kuti. The show spotlights stories and perspectives from people highly influenced by Fela Kuti&rsquo;s art and politics, including David Byrne, Brian Eno, Santigold, Questlove, Paul McCartney, and so many others.
KEXP&rsquo;s Roddy Nikpour spoke with the host of the podcast &mdash; someone with a very distinct flavor of storytelling &mdash; Jad Abumrad. He&rsquo;s best known as the founder and original host of the public radio show, <a href="https://radiolab.org/" data-stringify-link="https://radiolab.org/" data-sk="tooltip_parent">Radiolab</a>, as well as other music-oriented podcasts like&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/dolly-partons-america" data-stringify-link="https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/dolly-partons-america" data-sk="tooltip_parent">Dolly Parton's America</a>.&nbsp;<a href="https://soundcloud.com/jadabumrad" data-stringify-link="https://soundcloud.com/jadabumrad" data-sk="tooltip_parent">Abumrad is also a composer himself</a>.
&ldquo;It's a really clever thing he's doing,&rdquo; Abumrad says in the interview. &ldquo;He moves you into a trance, wakes you up, then into politics &mdash; and then you're dancing at that point. So, your body's already in action. It's taking this political message and turning it into movement that then actually makes you want to do something.&rdquo;
The story of Fela Kuti goes beyond his lifetime, though.
&ldquo;The power of music is it'll outlive us,&rdquo; Jad continues. &ldquo;I think that's what Fela meant when he said &lsquo;music is the weapon of the future.&rsquo; It's going to outlive the enemies. It will do something beyond us. And I hope he's right.&rdquo;
Support the show: <a href="http://kexp.org/deeper" data-stringify-link="http://kexp.org/deeper" data-sk="tooltip_parent">kexp.org/deeper</a> Photo by: Leon Morris

Fela Kuti’s Legacy Honored in New Podcast by Jad Abumrad

KEXP DJ and Sounds of Survivance co-host Kevin Sur gives a history lesson on the Native Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders who influenced the genres of jazz, blues and rock.

photo by Carlos Cruz

KEXP DJ and Sounds of Survivance co-host Kevin Sur gives a history lesson on the Native Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders who influenced the genres of jazz, blues and rock.
photo by Carlos Cruz

The Indigenous Influence in Jazz, Blues and Rock

Emily Fox and KEXP DJs Larry Mizell Jr. and Evie Stokes share their personal favorite albums of the year and break down KEXP’s top played albums of 2025. KEXP’s top played albums were:  
Tunde Adebimpe - Thee Black Boltz
 Wet Leg- moisturizer 
Deep Sea Diver- Billboard Heart
Say She She- Cut & Rewind
Turnstile - NEVER ENOUGH

Emily Fox and KEXP DJs Larry Mizell Jr. and Evie Stokes share their personal favorite albums of the year and break down KEXP&rsquo;s top played albums of 2025. KEXP&rsquo;s top played albums were: &nbsp;
<ol data-editing-info="{&quot;orderedStyleType&quot;:1}">
<li>Tunde Adebimpe - Thee Black Boltz</li>
<li>&nbsp;Wet Leg- moisturizer&nbsp;</li>
<li>Deep Sea Diver- Billboard Heart</li>
<li>Say She She- Cut &amp; Rewind</li>
<li>Turnstile - NEVER ENOUGH</li>
</ol>

Meet KEXP’s New Music Director

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