Rob Harvilla, host of '60 Songs That Explain the 90's', talks with Joshua Topolsky about choosing songs for the podcast, the frustration of leaving out certain songs, and the significance of 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'. They also discuss their musical tastes during the 90s, the possibility of continuing the show, and end with reflections and well-wishes for the listeners.
The podcast explores the emotional connection people have to the music they grew up with in the 90s, marking it as a distinct period in cultural history before the dominance of the internet.
The host meticulously scripts each episode, conducting extensive research and incorporating guest interviews to strike a balance between personal nostalgia and objective analysis of the 90s music scene.
Deep dives
The 90s as a defining era of music and cultural history
The podcast episode explores the significance of the 90s as a distinct period of time in music and cultural history. The host reflects on the emotional connection people have to the music they grew up with, acknowledging the bias that comes with it. The 90s marked the end of an era before the dominance of the internet, allowing for a more limited and personal music experience. The show aims to capture the essence of the 90s by discussing the music, politics, and societal shifts that occurred during that time.
The process of creating the podcast
The podcast episode discusses the process behind creating each episode. It reveals that the host meticulously scripts each episode, word by word, even accounting for inflection. The host conducts extensive research and reads books and articles to provide an informed perspective on each topic. Additionally, the show features guest interviews to bring personal connections and experiences to the conversation. The aim is to strike a balance between personal nostalgia and objective analysis of the 90s music scene.
The upcoming book and its distinct approach
The host announces the release of a book that complements the podcast. The book takes selected sections from the podcast scripts, combining them in new and interesting ways to explore different micro eras and themes within the 90s music scene. The book incorporates illustrations by a talented artist. It aims to provide a fresh perspective and delve into lesser-known songs and artists, while also acknowledging the personal biases and connections that come with discussing music from a specific era.
Today's episode of What Future is an extreme delight. Not only does Josh speak to "60 Songs That Explain the 90's" host and absolute genius Rob Harvilla, but Zelda (Josh's daughter) joins in to ask the hard hitting questions all true Rob fans want the answers to. If you're a fan of music from any era (though particularly the completely radical decade of the 1990s), you will love, like, or totally hate this show. Discussed: 1989, getting cancelled, Killer Klowns From Outer Space.