
Bandsplain
Bandsplain is a show where host Yasi Salek invites experts to explain cult bands and iconic artists - and why people love them - using a curated playlist to help you understand the hype.
Latest episodes

Apr 24, 2025 • 2h 42min
Suede: Part 2 with Miranda Sawyer
In the last episode, we were Introducing the Band and exploring the question: did Suede kickstart Britpop? This episode, Yasi keeps making her case alongside longtime British music journalist Miranda Sawyer. Listen along as they unpack the band’s imperial phase at the height of the Britpop era — from Dog Man Star (1994) to their dispirited split, until they eventually decide to Stay Together. EPISODE PLAYLIST:Listen to the songs we talk about HERE.CREDITS:Host: Yasi Salek @yasisalekGuest: Miranda Sawyer @msmirandasawyer Producer: Liz Sánchez Audio Editor: Adrian BridgesAdditional Production Supervision: Justin SaylesTheme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 17, 2025 • 3h 48min
Did Suede Start Britpop? Part 1 with Miranda Sawyer
This season, we’ve covered two of the biggest bands in Britpop, but did Oasis and Blur actually kickstart the genre? With the release of their first two singles in the early 90s, Suede may have lit the very fuse. In this episode, Yasi and Miranda Sawyer, British music journalist and author of Uncommon People: Britpop and Beyond in 20 Songs talk about how Suede – including Justine Frischmann – came together and unintentionally created the genre by, according to frontman Brett Anderson, “trying to play songs about little twisted English lives to rooms full of people obsessed with Pearl Jam.” Listen along, and just maybe Suede – and Brett’s slutty little blouses – will open your ears to British music.EPISODE PLAYLIST:Listen to the songs we talk about HERE.CREDITS:Host: Yasi Salek @yasisalekGuest: Miranda Sawyer @msmirandasawyer Producer: Liz Sánchez Audio Editor: Adrian BridgesAdditional Production Supervision: Justin SaylesTheme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 13, 2025 • 1h 19min
Perfect Song: "A Girl Like You" by Edwyn Collins with Rob Harvilla
This episode, we’ve asked our podfather Rob Harvilla to pick his perfect 90s British Rock song: “A Girl Like You” by Edwyn Collins. Listen along as Yasi and Rob cover the birth of indie pop, Edwyn Collins’ Orange Juice days, and his earlier solo career, right up to the release of his third album Gorgeous George as well as the Empire Records soundtrack, which helped launch this song into the rock stratosphere. CREDITS:Host: Yasi Salek @yasisalekGuest: Rob Harvilla @robharvillaProducer: Liz Sánchez Audio Editor: Adrian BridgesAdditional Production Supervision: Justin SaylesTheme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 6, 2025 • 1h 23min
MOVIE NIGHT: ‘24 Hour Party People’ and ‘Creation Stories’ with Sean Fennessey
Yasi is joined by Big Picture host Sean Fennessey to talk abou music biopics, specifically diving into two films that deal with key figures in the British music landscape, Tony Wilson of Factory Records in 24 Hour Party People (2002), and Alan McGee of Creation Records in Creation Stories (2021). CREDITS:Host: Yasi Salek @yasisalekGuest: Sean Fennessey IG: @seanfennessey, X: @SeanFennesseyProducer: Liz Sánchez Audio Editor: Adrian BridgesAdditional Production Supervision: Justin SaylesTheme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 27, 2025 • 2h 2min
The La's with Ben Gibbard
Ben Gibbard, renowned musician from Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service, dives into the enigmatic world of The La's, the band behind the timeless hit 'There She Goes.' He discusses their cultural impact and the mythical status they hold in music history. The conversation reveals the complexities of their songwriting process, studio struggles, and the unique sound that has influenced countless artists. Gibbard also reflects on the band's tumultuous journey and the broader implications of creativity in the music industry.

Feb 20, 2025 • 1h 31min
Listener Mailbag with Matt Helders
Matt Helders, the iconic drummer from Arctic Monkeys, joins Yasi to tackle listener questions and share insights on British music. They reminisce about the glory days of Britpop and discuss childhood musical aspirations, along with the genre's historical impact. The duo lightheartedly debates Oasis's musical classification and emphasizes the importance of hearing health for musicians. With anecdotes and listener engagement, their conversation offers a delightful fusion of nostalgia and humor in the landscape of British rock.

Feb 5, 2025 • 1h 44min
The LIVE Soundtrack Draft with Rob Harvilla, Sean Fennessey, and Chris Ryan
Hi, we have a lot to talk about. Yasi shares how she’s been, and appreciates everyone’s kind words and gifts. <3 This 60 Songs That Explain The 90s: The 2000s x Bandsplain crossover episode was recorded live at the Lodge Room in Los Angeles on 1/29. Listen along as Yasi Salek, Rob Harvilla, and everybody’s best friends Sean Fennessey and Chris Ryan draft their favorite movie soundtracks. EPISODE PLAYLIST:Listen to songs we detail in the episode HERE.CREDITS:Host: Yasi Salek @yasisalekGuests: Rob Harvilla @robharvilla, Chris Ryan @crashactivated, Sean Fennessey @seanfennesseyProducer: Liz Sánchez Audio Editor: Adrian BridgesAdditional Production Supervision: Justin SaylesTheme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 16, 2025 • 2min
A Message From Bandsplain
The host shares a heartfelt update following a devastating wildfire that took her home. A community rallying around her showcases the power of support and resilience. Listeners are encouraged to contribute to a GoFundMe, emphasizing the crucial role of collective help in hard times. This message resonates, encouraging kindness and advocacy for those affected by tragedy.

Dec 26, 2024 • 1h 49min
Bandsplain’s *Favourite* Albums of 2024
Rob Harvilla, the witty host of '60 Songs That Explain the 90s (colon the 2000s)', and Justin Sayles, a keen producer with a pulse on contemporary music, dive into their favorite albums of 2024. They discuss emerging artists like Sabrina Carpenter and share engaging anecdotes about the evolving music scene. Highlights include a deep analysis of Father John Misty’s 'Mahash Mashana' and the emotional weight of Mannequin Pussy’s latest release. Expect lively debates and reflections on how modern music connects with personal experiences.

Dec 19, 2024 • 3h 1min
Oasis: Part 2 with Rob Harvilla
You can have it all, but how much do you want it, babe? Once again, we slip inside the eye of Oasis’ mind for part two. Last episode, Yasi and Rob Harvilla talked about the band’s formation, their debut album Definitely Maybe, and the lead-up to the 1995 Britpop chart battle. Who wins the battle? Who wins the war? We’ll get into the “Oasis quo” and “Chaz and Dave Chimney Sweep Music” of it all. Plus, listen along as we dissect how Noel and Liam Gallagher created one of the greatest British albums of all-time: (What’s the Story) Morning Glory, and their infamous Wibbling Rivalry that led to the band’s eventual demise. SKIP AHEAD:26:28 – (What’s the Story?) Morning Glory1:14:52 – Knebworth1:44:13 – Be Here Now2:12:34 – Bonehead and Gwigs leave2:41:28 – Oasis breaks upEPISODE PLAYLIST:Listen to songs we detail in the episode HERECREDITS:Host: Yasi Salek @yasisalekGuest: Rob Harvilla @robharvillaProducer: Liz Sánchez Audio Editor: Adrian BridgesAdditional Production Supervision: Justin SaylesTheme Song: Bethany Cosentino Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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