This Song

December 21, 2016

This Song: Thundercat

Stephen Bruner aka Thundercat describes how Stanley Clarke’s “School Days” and Jaco Pastorius’ self titled album expanded his view of what it means to play bass.

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December 14, 2016

This Song: Flock of Dimes // Lucy Dacus

Jenn Wasner of Flock of Dimes and Wye Oak takes you through why Joni Mitchell’s “Amelia” both comforts and terrifies her. And Lucy Dacus explains how the Cure’s “Just Like Heaven” is a friendly ghost in her life, and how Prince’s “I Would Die 4 You,” helped expand her idea of how cool a song about God could be.

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December 7, 2016

This Song: Tegan and Sara

Tegan and Sara give you insight into Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream, Phil Collins melodies, teenage bedrooms, finding self-identity, how to be the change and (for all of you songwriters) the secret to writing a hit pop song.

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November 30, 2016

This Song: Run the Jewels // Belcurve

El-P and Killer Mike from Run the Jewels start out talking about early influences (Prince’s “Beautiful Ones” and Ice-T’s “6 In The Morning”) and end up expressing their love and respect for Southern Rock, The Clash, Outlaw Country and early hip hop and rap. Then Sarah Castro and Matt Parmenter of the Austin-based Belcurve explain how Kathleen Edwards, PJ Harvey and Tom Waits helped them create their shared musical vocabulary.

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November 23, 2016

This Song: Alex Trimble of Two Door Cinema Club // Big Thief

Alex Trimble of the Irish indie rock trio Two Door Cinema Club explains how Beck’s “Midnight Vultures” album illustrated the concept of music-making without rules. Then Adrianne Lenker and Buck Meek of the Brooklyn-based band Big Thief describe how “The Leanover” from Life Without Buildings and the work of Michael Hurley inspired them and lead them to approach their songwriting and musical performances from completely new directions.

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November 16, 2016

This Song: Banks and Steelz // Lizzo

Paul Banks and RZA, aka Banks and Steelz, describe their shared love of the music of Leonard Cohen. Then Lizzo explains the powerful impact Lauryn Hill’s “Zion”, Radiohead’s “Subterranean Homesick Blues,” and the city of Minneapolis had on her music.

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November 2, 2016

This Song Season 2 Preview featuring Lizzo

The new season of This Song starts Wednesday, November 16th and it’s going to be a good one! Tegan and Sara, Andrew Bird, Paul Banks and RZA, Nathaniel Ratliff, Andrew WK and lots of other artists will talk about the songs that changed their lives and give you insight into their artistic process.

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September 28, 2016

This Song: Eric Earley & Brian Koch of Blitzen Trapper

Blitzen Trapper’s Eric Early describes how his musical trajectory was permanently altered by R.E.M. and their breakout album “Out Of Time.” Then bandmate/drummer/actor Brian Koch tells a tale of his family who did very little to encourage his music and how he was inspired by hidden radios, friends with guitars and a young singer-songwriter with whom he now shares a stage.

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