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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20 episodes
Updated July 22

Episodes20

Newest first

Suki Waterhouse - Back in Love
Suki Waterhouse tells the story behind her song "Back in Love."
July 22 · 23 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.
July 15 · 25 min
Metric - Victim of Luck
Emily Haines and Jimmy Shaw of Metric tell the story behind their song "Victim of Luck."
July 8 · 22 min
Hayley Kiyoko - Girls Like Girls
Hayley Kiyoko tells the story behind her song "Girls Like Girls."
June 24 · 26 min
Key Change: Tatiana Maslany on "Faceshopping" by Sophie
Actor Tatiana Maslany on the impact the song "Faceshopping" had on her life.
June 17 · 19 min
Paul McCartney - Ripples in a Pond
Paul McCartney tells the story behind his song "Ripples in a Pond."
June 10 · 24 min
Hot Chip - Boy From School
Alexis Taylor and Joe Goddard of Hot Chip tell the story behind their song "Boy from School".
May 20 · 26 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.
May 13 · 22 min
The xx - Crystalised
Romy Croft, Oliver Sim, and Jamie xx of The xx take apart their song "Crystalised."
May 6 · 25 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 22 · 19 min
The Memory Palace: The Thundering Herd, The Vanishing American
A story from The Memory Palace, and a story about its impact on me.
April 15 · 24 min
Hurray for the Riff Raff - Alibi
Alynda Segarra of Hurray For The Riff Raff tells the story behind their song "Alibi."
April 8 · 22 min
Jack Harlow - Say Hello
Jack Harlow tells the story behind his song "Say Hello."
March 25 · 25 min
Key Change: Baz Luhrmann on "Time After Time"
Director Baz Luhrmann on the impact "Time After Time" had on his life.
March 18 · 22 min
Thompson Twins - Hold Me Now
Tom Bailey of Thompson Twins tells the story behind the song "Hold Me Now."
March 11 · 24 min
Silvana Estrada - Como Un Pájaro
Silvana Estrada tells the story behind her song "Como Un Pájaro."
February 25 · 25 min
Iron & Wine - Flightless Bird, American Mouth
Sam Beam of Iron & Wine breaks down "Flightless Bird, American Mouth." (Originally published November 2, 2022.)
February 18 · 28 min
The Marías - No One Noticed
María Zardoya of The Marías breaks down the song "No One Noticed."
February 11 · 25 min
Leon Thomas - Mutt
Leon Thomas tells the story behind his song "Mutt."
January 28 · 24 min
Key Change: John Green on "You'll Never Walk Alone"
Author and YouTuber John Green on the impact "You'll Never Walk Alone" had on his life.
January 21 · 26 min

Song Exploder

Suki Waterhouse - Back in Love

Key Change: Questlove on Prince

Metric - Victim of Luck

Hayley Kiyoko - Girls Like Girls

Key Change: Tatiana Maslany on "Faceshopping" by Sophie

Paul McCartney - Ripples in a Pond

Hot Chip - Boy From School

Key Change: Emma Straub on ‘69 Love Songs’ by The Magnetic Fields

The xx - Crystalised

Yusuf / Cat Stevens - Father and Son

The Memory Palace: The Thundering Herd, The Vanishing American

Hurray for the Riff Raff - Alibi

Jack Harlow - Say Hello

Key Change: Baz Luhrmann on "Time After Time"

Thompson Twins - Hold Me Now

Silvana Estrada - Como Un Pájaro

Iron & Wine - Flightless Bird, American Mouth

The Marías - No One Noticed

Leon Thomas - Mutt

Key Change: John Green on "You'll Never Walk Alone"