Portrait Interview of the American composer Alex Temple, currently based in Tempe, Arizona. We talked about her childhood, her beginnings in composition, discovering her gender, and her amazing music, including a tribute to Frank Zappa titled The Man Who Hated Everything.

Visit Alex’s website to hear her work and see what she’s up to now.

The music played during this episode is: 

1. This Changes Everything – first version, for synth

2. This Changes Everything – second version, for saxophone and electronics. Performance by John Seaton.

3. Willingly – for flute, piano, and electronics. Performance by Lily Floeter and David Chavannes.

4. Viola Joke – for two vaudevillian violists + electronic studio audience. Performance by Chris Fischer-Lochhead and Doyle Armbrust.

5. World – for two keyboards and percussion. Performance by members of the Stony Brook Contemporary Chamber Players: Michael Smith (piano), Annie Brooks (synthesizer), Chris Clarino (marimba and djembe), and Kelsey Adams (Xylosynths and maracas).

6. The Man Who Hated Everything – for ensemble. Performance by wild Up.