Talkhouse Podcast

Sexuality, violence, gender, anger, technology, love. Singer/actress/writer Jehnny Beth (Savages) and Norwegian experimental pop musician and author Jenny Hval are both aesthetically very dark artists who brilliantly dissect these topics in their respective music and erotic novels. On this week's show, we introduce the mutual fans for the very first time; what follows is a powerful, deep dive conversation. Zola Jesus joins me as special guest host. I recently woke up at 5:30AM to set up this conversation between Jehnny's home in Paris, and Jenny's in Oslo. A couple hours later, my almost-three-year-old daughter Conwy woke up just after the talk ended; I took her out of her crib and told her "Dada just listened to a fantastic conversation between two very strong and talented women!" And it really is a fantastic conversation. With Jehnny Beth's debut solo LP To Live Is To Love out just last week, and her book of erotic fiction and photography, Crimes Against Love Memories dropping in early July, and Jenny's new single "Bonus Material" out now and second novel Girls Against God coming later this year, they had a lot to talk about. The two chop it up on their complex relationships with their countries of origin, and the powerful role of language in self-identity; their reasons for functioning primarily outside of the mainstream; and the artist's necessary freedom to express the darker sides of their humanity. Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast, including upcoming shows featuring Black Belt Eagle Scout with Sasami, Fusilier with Bartees Strange, and Julien Baker with Katie Harkin. —Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer This week’s show was recorded by Jehnny Beth, Jenny Hval, Zola Jesus, and myself at our respective #stayhome studios. The Talkhouse Podcast’s co-producer is Mark Yoshizumi. Our theme song was composed and performed by The Range. Research assistance was provided by Samantha Small. Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol, and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com.

Did you catch the first of our two podcasts this week? It featured Yrsa Daley-Ward reading her powerful new poem "Making The End," and Helado Negro in convo with Buscabulla. Check it out on talkhouse.com Today's show sees The Avett Brothers' Scott Avett chop it up with Eef Barzelay of Clem Snide. The friends and collaborators cover a lot, including: the role of faith in their music; being true to their art even when it hurts; and some amazing stories about Jason Molina and David Berman. Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast, including upcoming shows featuring Black Belt Eagle Scout with Sasami, Jehnny Beth with Jenny Hval, and Julien Baker with Katie Harkin. —Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer This week’s show was recorded by Scott, Eef, Talkhouse’s Executive Editor Josh Modell, and myself at our respective #stayhome studios. The Talkhouse Podcast’s co-producer is Mark Yoshizumi. Our theme song was composed and performed by The Range. Research assistance was provided by Samantha Small. Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol, and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com.

Today's show opens with poet Yrsa Daley-Ward reading her new work "Making The End." Helado Negro and Buscabulla kicked off the Talkhouse Podcast Live on Insta series last month with this warm, thoughtful conversation. The old friends and regular collaborators each have wonderful new music out: Helado Negro recently dropped the single "I Fell In Love" featuring Xenia Rubinos, while Puerto Rican art-poppers Buscabulla just released their hotly tipped debut LP Regressa. As flags from across Latin America and beyond were posted in the comments, they chopped it up on a lot: The experience of releasing music during quarantine; the tight community of “everybody in New York that makes weird music in Spanish”; why Nick Hakim is really Neo from The Matrix; and lots more. Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast, including upcoming shows featuring Black Belt Eagle Scout with Sasami, Jehnny Beth with Jenny Hval, and Julien Baker with Katie Harkin. —Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer This week’s show was recorded by Buscabulla in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, Helado Negro in Marfa, Texas, Talkhouse’s Executive Editor Josh Modell in Chicago, and myself in Philadelphia. The Talkhouse Podcast's co-producer is Mark Yoshizumi. Our theme song was composed and performed by The Range. Research assistance was provided by Samantha Small. Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol, and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com.

This week's show is a bit different from usual Talkhouse Podcast episodes. While it's nominally hosted by the legendary Alan McGee of Creation Records — the man who signed The Jesus and Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine, and a lil ol' band called Oasis — it's not at all a two-person conversation. Instead, this episode features Joe Talbot, frontman of the incredible post-punk group Idles, in one of the funniest, most viscerally honest live audience Q&A's I've ever witnessed. Both Joe and the attendees are willing to go to deep and often uncomfortable areas: Buckle up for a discussion of toxic masculinity, the role of violence in Idles' music, and the difficult process of developing one’s own artistic language. We also hear about Joe collabing with Mike Skinner of The Streets, turning Sleaford Mods’ taunts into a song, putting human ashes into vinyl records, and... we even get an unexpected lesson on mindfulness. This Q&A was recorded at the wonderful Barras Art & Design in Glasgow. Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast, including upcoming talks like Helado Negro with Buscabulla, Julien Baker and Katie Harkin (Harkin, Sleater-Kinney), Black Belt Eagle Scout with Sasami, and Scott Avett (The Avett Brothers) with Eef Barzelay (Clem Snide). — Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer Today’s show was recorded in Glasgow by Nadar Shahzad of Blue Audio (thx Nadar!), and in Philadelphia and Chicago by Elia Einhorn and Josh Modell. Our co-producer is Mark Yoshizumi. Thanks so much to Matt Sadowski of Alt Waves Records and to Barras Art & Design for allowing us to share this event. The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range. Research assistance was provided by Samantha Small. Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol, and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com.

We here at the Talkhouse Podcast have been nominated by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences for a Webby Award! Woo hoo! It’s in the "Best Live Podcast Recording” category, and we got the nod for our musical episode with Snail Mail, Fred Armisen, and Mary Lynn Rajskub. The show took place last summer at FORM Fest in Arcosanti, Arizona, and the three of them play, sing, and talk… at the same time. In case you missed it the first time around, or are in the mood to crack up again, check it out! BREAKING NEWS! Indie rock it-band Snail Mail has an all-new lineup! Don't worry, Lindsey Jordan is still there — only now, so is Fred Armisen and comedian Mary Lynn Rajskub (24, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia). On our second Talkhouse Podcast episode recorded backstage at the wonderful FORM Fest, the three form a group on the spot, then, with instruments in hand, improvise songs about: How they’re actually the new Snail Mail lineup; Chef Boyardee; Neil Young; "lemon squares that Mommy made"; Jesus’ selective saving tendencies (that one's titled called “Here Comes The Son”), and loads more. We also witness spoofs of Queen and Beyonce; hear thoughts on fergiepeepants.jpg; learn about foot fetishists and Wikifeet; take in some sarcastic breakdancing; consider gentle piss modulators; and find out why Mary Lynn is convinced Lindsey needs to get pregnant immediately. This Talkhouse Podcast and video was recorded in the Conservatory backstage at FORM Fest in Arcosanti, Arizona. Pulp Arts and Patreon teamed up to co-present The Conservatory, a rad backstage visual arts installation and recording studio. Talkhouse recorded six episodes there throughout the weekend, so subscribe to make sure to catch upcoming shows, including: Kelsey Lu & Yrsa Daley-Ward Julianna Barwick & Mary Lattimore American Football & Pelican L’Rain & Melanie Faye You can also check out the just-released first episode from the fest, featuring jazz and hip hop legend Robert Glasper with a giant of African music, Malian guitarist Vieux Farka Touré, plus an appearance by Lonnie Holley. —Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer  Today’s episode was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi. It was recorded at FORM Festival in Arcosanti, Arizona, and at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn by Mark Yoshizumi, Danny Clifton and Ian Jones.  Research assistance was provided by Madalyn Feltus.  The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

On this week's show, we pair two of the greatest living songwriters, artists who've reimagined what the form can look like, and what it can accomplish. The Magnetic Fields' Stephin Merritt and ex-Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker each have great new music in the world; when I heard the latter was coming to NYC, I instantly knew I had to try to get these two together in person for a Talkhouse Podcast convo. Thankfully, when presented with the idea, both were psyched! Over cups of tea at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn (before the pandemic), the guys sat down for a delightfully freewheeling conversation about songwriting — and how they both love to subvert its norms in different ways — as well as the vastly different approaches they took to making their new LPs. But of course with these two, there's so much more here, including (but not limited to!): a moving discussion of reunions with their showbiz fathers who had abandoned them; the bad omen that nearly caused Jarvis to quit music in the year 2000; why Stephin’s new sexual fetish might be a “one time only” experience; and their shared love of that "hippy writer" Richard Brautigan. This episode is dedicated to all you "mis-shapes, mistakes, misfits" — enjoy! Pick up The Magnetic Fields' Quickies here, and Jarvis's Beyond The Pale here. Subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast, including upcoming talks like Helado Negro with Buscabulla, Black Belt Eagle Scout with Sasami, and comedian Chris D'Elia with filmmaker Amanda Kramer. Make sure to revisit Stephin Merritt and Daniel Handler (aka the author Lemony Snicket)'s 2019 look back on 69 Love Songs on its 20th anniversary. —Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer  This week’s show was recorded by the Talkhouse Podcast's producer Mark Yoshizumi. Josh Modell and I recorded ourselves in our respective #stayhome studios. Our theme song was composed and performed by The Range. Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol, and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com.

This week on the show, we celebrate the wonderful Other Music documentary with two Grammy-winning artists: singer-songwriter Aimee Mann and the National's Matt Berninger. The two discuss the iconic record store and the creative importance of having physical spaces dedicated to musical community, plus we hear how they're managing to work during the pandemic, and Matt reveals that he's both writing a musical and launching a label imprint. The Other Music doc features many wonderful artists that have appeared on our show — TV on the Radio, the Magnetic Fields, Superchunk, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Jason Schwartzman, Animal Collective, William Basinski, Frankie Cosmos and more — this is truly a #talkhousecore film! Other Music is currently being screened via a "virtual theatrical release," with more than 200 independent record shops and movie theaters offering it to rent, and splitting the profits 50/50. This is a wonderful chance to support your local purveyor of brilliant art, and catch one of the must-see music films of the year. Click here to find your local favorite store or theater that's screening it! (Our producer Mark Yoshizumi rented it from his alma mater Reckless Records in Chicago; Talkhouse Film's Editor-in-Chief Nick Dawson supported Permanent Records in L.A., and I went with Record Grouch in Brooklyn, where I've spent many and many a happy hour amongst the hallowed racks.) Enjoy today's show, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast, including upcoming talks like Jarvis Cocker (Pulp) with the Magnetic Fields’ Stephin Merritt, and Black Belt Eagle Scout with Sasami. —Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer This week’s show was recorded by Aimee Mann, Matt Berninger, Nick Dawson, and myself in our respective #stayhome studios. The Talkhouse Podcast's co-producer is Mark Yoshizumi. Our theme song was composed and performed by The Range. Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com.

Comedian Joe Pera (Joe Pera Talks With You) and singer-songwriter David Bazan (Pedro The Lion) have elevated self-aware open-heartedness and detailed observation of humanity into, well, art. When David discovered Joe's show, he fell for it hard, and reached out to Talkhouse to see if we could arrange a convo. We loved the idea, and think you'll really enjoy the result. Joe and David discuss a lot, including: their granular writing techniques; appreciating the gentle joys of life, like wearing green hats on St. Patrick’s day; how some performers only achieve their maximum authenticity onstage; and why live performers must be doms. Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast, including upcoming shows featuring Jarvis Cocker (Pulp) with the Magnetic Fields’ Stephin Merritt, and Black Belt Eagle Scout with Sasami. —Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer This week's show was recorded by Joe Pera, David Bazan, Talkhouse's Executive Editor Josh Modell, and myself in our respective #stayhome studios. The Talkhouse Podcast's co-producer is Mark Yoshizumi. Our theme song was composed and performed by The Range. Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol, and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com.

Today’s episode is produced in collaboration with Murmrr Ballroom and Community Bookstore. We are so pleased to, for the first time on the Talkhouse Podcast, present two authors in conversation. And what authors! To celebrate George Saunders’ new short story in the New Yorker, his appearance on Cheryl Strayed’s new podcast Sugar Calling, and many of us having a little more time to read now, we wanted to share from our digital vault his wonderful 2018 talk with Dana Spiotta. George and Dana share quite a bit in their conversation, including: why it’s important to read fiction right now; trying to write in the style of '90s chat rooms; Jesus the Temple-trashing tough guy; and… dreaming of goiters. This show includes great readings by both authors, and kicks off with a live intro from Michael Miller of Bookforum. It closes with an audience q and a. Check it out. Huge thanks to Brian Kelly and all at Murmrr. Also to Community Bookstore in Park Slope, Brooklyn; they’re one of the greats here in New York, and during this time of social isolation, are still open for deliveries, with free media mail. Regular listeners might remember we collaborated with these great folks on previous episodes including Jeff Tweedy with Abbi Jacobson and Judd Apatow with David Duchovny. Today’s show was recorded in Brooklyn by Justin Hrabvosky, Eric Lemke and our co-producer Mark Yoshizumi. The Talkhouse Podcast theme song was composed and performed by The Range. Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com or @eliaeinhorn on Twitter.

This harrowing virus and quarantine have brought infinite terrible things with them. Still, I want to take a moment to celebrate a ray of sunshine — some truly incredible live-from-their-home sets from brilliant artists. “The Tweedy Show,” the nightly show that Wilco‘s Jeff Tweedy and his family stream on Instagram each weeknight is not to be missed. Jeff, his wife Susie, and their sons Spencer (The Blisters, Tweedy… um, the band, that is) and Sammy broadcast whatever they feel like: impromptu live versions of Wilco songs, Jeff’s from-a-dream lyrics for a song called “Grandma’s A Cyborg Now,” or a chat with Curb Your Enthusiasm‘s Jeff Garlin. So this week, we’re re-airing a wonderful live talk between Jeff Tweedy and genius comedian Abbi Jacobson (Broad City, Disenchantment). After you listen, make sure to check out the new Mavis Staples song “All In It Together” that Jeff produced and sang on, as well as Spencer Tweedy‘s past Talkhouse Podcast episodes with NE-HI (RIP) and Whitney.  Until catching this talk live last month, it would never have occurred to me that there could be a deep similarity between Jeff Tweedy’s songs and Abbi Jacobson’s Broad City character, but—there is! Jeff (Wilco, Tweedy) and Abbi (Broad City, Disenchantment) sat down at the beautiful Murmrr Theater in Brooklyn to celebrate the release of Jeff’s memoir Let’s Go (So We Can Get Back): A Memoir of Recording and Discording with Wilco, Etc. and his new solo album Warm. Their thoughtful and funny conversation took in a lot, including the difficulties they each had writing books after focusing their careers on other types of writing; opening up about mental health and addiction; Jeff breaking into comedy; and so much more. Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast. Feel free to DM me to let me know which artist(s) you’d love to see appear on a future episode. —Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer This episode was recorded by Mark Yoshizumi with Eric Lemke and Justin Hrabovski at Murmrr Theater, and at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn. It was co-produced by Mark Yoshizumi. Big thanks to Brian Kelly at Murmrr. The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range. Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol, and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com.