Hrishikesh Hirway’s Song Exploder (Live from Vulture Festival)
Jan 23, 2024
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The host interviews Hrishikesh Hirway, the host/producer of the podcast Song Exploder. They discuss re-contextualizing familiar songs, interviewing guests, the impact of a song on an artist's career, lessons from Dan Harmon, exploring vocal loops and samples, breaking down jokes and songs, and reflections on the evolution of the podcast.
Good One podcast was heavily influenced by the format of Song Exploder, a podcast that delves into the creation of songs.
Song Exploder provides a fresh perspective on familiar songs by uncovering hidden details about their creation and showcasing the decision-making processes involved.
Song Exploder inspires listeners by highlighting the messy and imperfect journey of creating music, encouraging them to embrace their own unique creative endeavors.
Deep dives
Exploring the Origins of Good One Podcast Format
The podcast host discusses how the format of Good One was inspired by Song Exploder, another favorite podcast. Good One focuses on jokes, while Song Exploder delves into the creation of songs. The host talks about the similarities and differences between the two shows and expresses admiration for Song Exploder's rich, in-depth interviews. In celebration of Song Exploder's 10th anniversary, the host interviews Rishikesh Herway, the creator of Song Exploder, discussing their respective podcasts and the art of deconstructing creative works.
Rishikesh Herway Shares Insights on Song Exploder
Rishikesh Herway, the creator of Song Exploder, discusses the process behind his podcast and offers insights on how episodes come together. He explains how reaching out to artists can sometimes be challenging, but often publicists approach him due to anniversaries or new releases. Rishikesh describes his excitement when working on episodes about songs that are universally known, as it allows listeners to gain a deeper understanding of a song that has already become part of their lives. He also shares his approach to interviewing artists, allowing them to share their personal stories and creativity, rather than leading them with pre-determined questions.
Uncovering the Hidden Stories Behind Popular Songs
Song Exploder shines a light on the hidden stories behind popular songs. By dissecting well-known tracks, the podcast uncovers intriguing details about their creation that listeners would not typically be aware of. In episodes like the one featuring the song 'Closing Time' by Semisonic, the podcast reveals the double meanings and personal stories behind the lyrics. The show's unique format allows listeners to hear isolated stems and tracks from the songs, uncovering the layers and decision-making processes that contributed to their final sound. This approach brings a fresh perspective to familiar songs and provides a deeper appreciation for the artistry involved in their creation.
The Intimacy of Song Exploder Interviews
The podcast delves into the intimate process of creating music and explores the raw emotions artists experience while making their songs. The host emphasizes the importance of showcasing the messy and imperfect journey of creating a song, as it helps aspiring artists understand that even the most successful songs start off in a rough state. By highlighting the vulnerability and insecurities artists face, Song Exploder aims to inspire listeners to keep pushing forward with their own creative endeavors.
Adapting Song Exploder for Visual Medium
The podcast was adapted into a Netflix show, and the host discusses the challenges of translating the audio format to a visual medium. They initially resisted the idea of being in the show, preferring to maintain a sense of intimate storytelling without the presence of the interviewer. However, they eventually realized the power of capturing expressions and nonverbal cues in visual storytelling. They also highlight the importance of showing the messy and imperfect aspects of creating music, as it helps artists understand that perfection is not the starting point and encourages them to embrace their own unique journeys.
This week on Good One, host Jesse David Fox brings you a conversation he had with Hrishikesh Hirway, the host/producer of the podcast Song Exploder, live at Vulture Festival 2023. Song Exploder, a podcast in which a musician walks through the process of making a song, was the single biggest influence on Good One, so the two hosts had a fun time deconstructing the art of deconstructing art.
Song Exploder is celebrating its 10th anniversary this month! Stream wherever you listen to podcasts.