Black Musicians in the PNW Reclaiming Rock & Roll

Black rockers in Seattle speak with contributor Mia Imani about navigating a music scene that has historically excluded them and about reclaiming a genre that many notable Black musicians helped create. 

Magic AL Finds Joy and 'Good Grief' on Debut Album

Magic AL is the alias of Alex Bingham– a producer and bass player who has played with a lot of indie/folk bands from North Carolina including Hiss Golden Messenger. He’s out with his first solo album called 'Good Grief.' Bingham talks with Emily Fox about how the death of four loved ones in the sa…

Andre 3000’s Ambient Flute Record and Finding Solace in 2023

Since iconic rap duo Outkast went on hiatus in 2006, fans have been clamoring for a solo album from Andre 3000. Now, 17 years later, he’s finally delivered with a new record called New Blue Sun… only, instead of rapping he’s playing the flute. KEXP’s Dusty Henry shares his reflections on why the a…

Live Music’s Accessibility Problem

Many venues in Seattle and beyond aren’t equipped to get wheelchair users inside or on stage, pointing to a broader issue of accessibility in live music. Emily Fox speaks with venues, performers, and concertgoers about this issue, including:  Seattle musician Mindie Lind who wrote the article, “I S…

Sudan Tapes Archive: Preserving Memory

Sudan Tapes Archive is a DIY project started by Haneen Sidhamed where she digitizes and makes Sudanese music cassette tapes available to stream online. This project is important amid ongoing war in Sudan, the closure of recording and publishing companies, and the physical burning and destruction of…

The Halluci Nation’s Wrestling-Inspired EP

The First Nations electronic duo The Halluci Nation is out with the first part of a two-part EP inspired by wrestling. It's called 'Path of The Heel' and it features Damian Abraham of the Canadian hardcore band, Fucked Up. Bear Witness and 2oolman of The Halluci Nation talk with Emily Fox about th…

Duff McKagan Talks Addiction, Recovery, and New Solo Album

Seattle's Duff McKagan is best known for being the bassist of Guns N' Roses. He’s now out with his third solo album, 'Lighthouse.' Emily Fox speaks with McKagan about the new record and how his sensei and martial arts practice inspired one of his new songs. He also shares his story of addiction, r…

The Beatles' Last New Song

The Beatles released their so-called “last new song,” titled “Now and Then” on November 2nd. The song involves all four members of The Beatles — thanks to the help of artificial intelligence. For a quick breakdown of the song and how it happened, KEXP’s Roddy Nikpour speaks with KEXP’s Music Direct…

Meet KEXP’s New Music Director

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 throug…

SXSW Sydney Performers on Fair Pay

SXSW recently increased payments to performers from $250 to $350 but performers still have to choose between getting paid or getting access to a free wristband to attend the festival. This change happened as SXSW expanded its global footprint and just put on SXSW Sydney. Contributor Celine Teo-Bloc…