Song Exploder

Hrishikesh Hirway

Song Exploder is a podcast where musicians take apart their songs, and piece by piece, tell the story of how they were made. Each episode features an artist discussing a song of theirs, breaking down the sounds and ideas that went into the writing and recording. Hosted and produced by Hrishikesh Hirway.

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29 episodes
fortnightly
Avg 24 min
English

Episodes 29

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November 4 · 43 min
Jason Mantzoukas & Hrishikesh Hirway on 'In the Last Hour of Light'
On stage with Jason Mantzoukas, discussing my own album from April 2026, 'In the Last Hour of Light.'
#323
October 21 · 22 min
Allison Russell - The Returner
Allison Russell tells the story behind her song "The Returner."
October 14 · 16 min
DJ Shadow - Mutual Slump
DJ Shadow tells the story behind his song "Mutual Slump." (from 2016)
#322
October 7 · 27 min
Elvis Costello - Alison
Elvis Costello tells the story behind his song "Alison."
#321
September 23 · 26 min
Olivia Rodrigo - The Cure
Olivia Rodrigo tells the story behind her song "The Cure."
September 16 · 25 min
Natalie Merchant - Sister Tilly
Natalie Merchant tells the story behind her song "Sister Tilly." (Originally published June 28, 2023.)
#320
September 9 · 29 min
Paula Cole - I Don't Want to Wait
Paula Cole tells the story behind her song "I Don't Want to Wait."
#319
August 19 · 23 min
Charli XCX - Camera
Charli XCX tells the story behind her song "Camera."
#83
August 5 · 14 min
Mitski - Your Best American Girl
Mitski and Patrick Hyland break down "Your Best American Girl." (Originally published September 7, 2016.)
#318
July 22 · 23 min
Suki Waterhouse - Back in Love
Suki Waterhouse tells the story behind her song "Back in Love."
#15
July 15 · 25 min
Key Change: Questlove on Prince
Drummer and filmmaker Questlove on the impact the extended dance remix of Prince's song "Little Red Corvette" had on his life.
#317
July 8 · 22 min
Metric - Victim of Luck
Emily Haines and Jimmy Shaw of Metric tell the story behind their song "Victim of Luck."
#316
June 24 · 26 min
Hayley Kiyoko - Girls Like Girls
Hayley Kiyoko tells the story behind her song "Girls Like Girls."
#14
June 17 · 19 min
Key Change: Tatiana Maslany on "Faceshopping" by Sophie
Actor Tatiana Maslany on the impact the song "Faceshopping" had on her life.
#315
June 10 · 24 min
Paul McCartney - Ripples in a Pond
Paul McCartney tells the story behind his song "Ripples in a Pond."
#314
May 20 · 26 min
Hot Chip - Boy From School
Alexis Taylor and Joe Goddard of Hot Chip tell the story behind their song "Boy from School".
May 13 · 22 min
Key Change: Emma Straub on ‘69 Love Songs’ by The Magnetic Fields
Author and bookstore owner Emma Straub on the impact the Magnetic Fields album ‘69 Love Songs’ had on her life.
#313
May 6 · 25 min
The xx - Crystalised
Romy Croft, Oliver Sim, and Jamie xx of The xx take apart their song "Crystalised."
#200
April 22 · 19 min
Yusuf / Cat Stevens - Father and Son
Yusuf / Cat Stevens tells the story of creating and re-creating his song "Father and Son." (Originally published January 13, 2021.)
April 15 · 24 min
The Memory Palace: The Thundering Herd, The Vanishing American
A story from The Memory Palace, and a story about its impact on me.

Showing 1–20 of 29 episodes