A Deeper Listen

By KEXPMusic Music Interviews

A Deeper Listen episodes

June 16, 2020 Toki Wright on Minneapolis, Racism and Music
Toki Wright is a musician, MC, producer, writer, radio DJ and community organizer from Minneapolis. He recently moved to Boston and is now chair of Berklee’s Professional Music Department. He’s been making music that addresses systemic racism, oppression and police violence for years. “I don’t sit around all day thinking about race,” Wright says. “I have a lot of things I really love to do. The problem is that race impacts all of them.”
Wright tells the stories behind some of his songs that address racism and police violence and discusses how those issues play out in Minneapolis.
Wright also talks about the white superiority complex within the Twin Cities’ music scene.
“Imagine what it's like standing on stage and looking out into the crowd and not seeing your people there. Your people want to be there, but they feel uncomfortable coming into that room because they're not being represented,” Wright says. “How this all kind of relates to George Floyd and the murdering cop that killed him is they both worked at a couple of music venues in town doing security. And it came out recently that they knew each other for years and that they had altercations and a lot of those altercations were based on how the officers would treat black patrons on nights when there were black crowds—there’s a heightened sense of security. There is a more intense treatment of people.”
Songs discussed:
“Nezhno feat. Toki Wright” by Sleep Sinatra
“Gatekeepers” by Toki Wright & Big Cats
“Time Bomb” by Toki Wright & Big Cats
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35 min
June 11, 2020 The Grammys Scrap Term “Urban”
The Grammy Awards, as well as Republic Records, have announced they will no longer use the term “urban” in their award categories and music departments. Writer Jeremy Helligar discusses this welcome shift in language as a first step. He wrote a column in Variety titled, Down with Urban: It’s Time to Stop Categorizing Music by Race.

“How does ‘urban' equal Black?” Helligar says. “I think [the word] has been most harmful because it’s really corporate segregation. It’s putting Blacks in one box and Whites in another.”
Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
10 min
June 11, 2020 The Grammys Scrap Term “Urban”
The Grammy Awards, as well as Republic Records, have announced they will no longer use the term “urban” in their award categories and music departments. Writer Jeremy Helligar discusses this welcome shift in language as a first step. He wrote a column in Variety titled, Down with Urban: It’s Time to Stop Categorizing Music by Race.
“How does ‘urban' equal Black?” Helligar says. “I think [the word] has been most harmful because it’s really corporate segregation. It’s putting Blacks in one box and Whites in another.”
Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
10 min
June 09, 2020 Celebrating Black Lives Through Music and Protest
Today’s podcast is co-hosted by musician, community organizer and KEXP DJ, Gabriel Teodros. It celebrates the music of Black artists, some of whom are on the frontlines of the protests against police brutality, calling for long overdue systemic change.

We hear from Minneapolis musician, Nikki Jean, who’s been volunteering as a medic during the Minneapolis protests. She recounts seeing police fire rubber bullets and more into medic tents.

Teodros then shares some songs that reflect on systemic racism and the police killings of black folks.

Songs discussed:

“Hands Up” by Nikki Jean

“Greeny Jungle feat. Shakiah” by Gabriel Teodros & SoulChef

“Let Go” by D Smoke & SiR

“Say My Name” by Maimouna Youssef & DJ Dummy

“A Tree Never Grown” by Mos Def
Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
28 min
June 09, 2020 Celebrating Black Lives Through Music and Protest
Today’s podcast is co-hosted by musician, community organizer and KEXP DJ, Gabriel Teodros. It celebrates the music of Black artists, some of whom are on the frontlines of the protests against police brutality, calling for long overdue systemic change.
We hear from Minneapolis musician, Nikki Jean, who’s been volunteering as a medic during the Minneapolis protests. She recounts seeing police fire rubber bullets and more into medic tents.
Teodros then shares some songs that reflect on systemic racism and the police killings of black folks.
Songs discussed:
“Hands Up” by Nikki Jean
“Greeny Jungle feat. Shakiah” by Gabriel Teodros & SoulChef
“Let Go” by D Smoke & SiR
“Say My Name” by Maimouna Youssef & DJ Dummy
“A Tree Never Grown” by Mos Def
Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
28 min
June 05, 2020 Larry Mizell, Jr. on the Music of Resistance
Following the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police, Seattle has seen night after night of protests and KEXP DJs have responded by playing music by Black artists—music with a message. One of those DJs is Larry Mizell, Jr., host of Friday night’s "Street Sounds." He reflects on yet another death in the Black community, discusses the power of music to spread a message and shares the songs he turns to during these times.

“I think there’s nothing older, more central to music than delivering a message. That’s what it’s always been,” Mizell says. “Whether it is being used in a spiritual dimension, or it’s used, as it was early employed in the African American experience, by slaves in the fields who literally communicate plans, news that their overseers couldn’t decipher.”

Songs discussed:

“Fuck the Police” by NWA

“Fuck the Police” by J Dilla

“Burn” by Killer Mike
Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
19 min
June 05, 2020 Larry Mizell, Jr. on the Music of Resistance
Following the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police, Seattle has seen night after night of protests and KEXP DJs have responded by playing music by Black artists—music with a message. One of those DJs is Larry Mizell, Jr., host of Friday night’s "Street Sounds." He reflects on yet another death in the Black community, discusses the power of music to spread a message and shares the songs he turns to during these times.
“I think there’s nothing older, more central to music than delivering a message. That’s what it’s always been,” Mizell says. “Whether it is being used in a spiritual dimension, or it’s used, as it was early employed in the African American experience, by slaves in the fields who literally communicate plans, news that their overseers couldn’t decipher.”
Songs discussed:
“Fuck the Police” by NWA
“Fuck the Police” by J Dilla
“Burn” by Killer Mike
Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
19 min
May 28, 2020 Joy Division's Legacy
This month marks the 40th anniversary of the death of Joy Division frontman, Ian Curtis. In just two years, Joy Division recorded three albums worth of material and performed 120 shows. Curtis tragically died by suicide at the age of 23, the night before Joy Division's U.S. tour, leaving behind a wife and a child. Curtis had struggled with epilepsy and depression. KEXP DJ Kevin Cole says Joy Division pioneered the post punk genre. In today’s episode, he discusses Joy Division’s legacy with Jon Savage, author of “This Searing Light, the Sun and Everything Else: Joy Division: The Oral History.”
Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
16 min
May 28, 2020 Joy Division's Legacy
This month marks the 40th anniversary of the death of Joy Division frontman, Ian Curtis. In just two years, Joy Division recorded three albums worth of material and performed 120 shows. Curtis tragically died by suicide at the age of 23, the night before Joy Division's U.S. tour, leaving behind a wife and a child. Curtis had struggled with epilepsy and depression. KEXP DJ Kevin Cole says Joy Division pioneered the post punk genre. In today’s episode, he discusses Joy Division’s legacy with Jon Savage, author of “This Searing Light, the Sun and Everything Else: Joy Division: The Oral History.”
Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
16 min
May 26, 2020 Seattle Musicians Remember Filmmaker Lynn Shelton
Seattle Filmmaker, Lynn Shelton died May 16th at the age of 54 from a previously undiagnosed blood disorder. Her breakout movie, 'Humpday' won an award at Sundance Film Festival. She also directed for TV on the shows 'Mad Men,' 'New Girl' and 'Fresh Off the Boat' among others.

Even after national acclaim, Shelton stayed in Seattle. Tomo Nakayama is a Seattle musician who appeared in Shelton’s 2013 film 'Touchy Feely.'

“Her images are so expressive and so distinctively Northwest. The scenes of Seattle and Nature. There’s just something about her that you could recognize,” Nakayama says.

Shelton rarely, if ever built a set for a movie, she instead filmed her movies in Washington State. Even when she began taking trips to work in L.A, she kept her permanent residence 1,100 miles to the north in Seattle.

Nakayama remembers Shelton for this and her warm and open demeanor. How she would throw her head back and laugh at a joke. Her embrace of others.

“She changed me forever,” Nakayama says. “And in talking with her friends and stuff, we keep saying the same thing—that she made us better.”
Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/sound/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
6 min

About A Deeper Listen

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On A Deeper Listen, host Emily Fox and other storytellers from KEXP talk with artists about the stories behind their songs and the experiences that inform their work. Through each conversation, we…