Haley Fohr, who performs as Circuit des Yeux, is known for her hauntingly powerful voice and immersive, genre-defying sound. As Pitchfork put it, her voice is “a force of nature” that “pulses with raw emotion.” Her album -io, was hailed by The New York Times as “a deeply evocative exploration of loss, identity, and the self.” With a career marked by boundary-pushing work, Haley continues to redefine what it means to create music that is both deeply personal and universally resonant. Her newest record, Halo on the Inside, was commended by The Quietus for its "immaculately crafted" tracks, particularly "Truth," which "recalls the rave from The Matrix in its endearing camp and undeniable swagger." In this episode, she talks about how songs by The Stooges, Sly and the Family Stone, and Joni Mitchell shaped her sensibilities. Halo on the Inside was released by Matador on March 14, 2025.

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As a member of Radiohead since its inception over 30 years ago, Colin Greenwood’s contributions to the group, both through his bass playing and songwriting, have helped them reach ever-higher levels of artistic and commercial prominence. A soulful, clever, and inventive bass player, his parts are always noticeable due to being highly composed and carefully considered, but never intrude on the song or call attention to themselves unnecessarily. While Radiohead’s been on hiatus, Greenwood has toured with Nick Cave and more recently released a book of behind-the-scenes photos of Radiohead over the past several decades entitled How to Disappear: A Portrait of Radiohead. In this episode, he discusses how works performed by Jonas Nordberg, Lal and Mike Waterson, and Vincent Lhermet influenced his own artistic development.

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Critically-acclaimed composer and saxophonist Darius Jones’s playing has been described using adjectives such as “fearless,” “riveting” and “breath-taking” from publications ranging from Pitchfork, to The Wire, to the New York Times, and has received superlatives from many other publications, as well. Currently an Assistant Professor of Music at Wesleyan University, Jones has previously been awarded the Van Lier Fellowship, Jerome Foundation Artist-in-Residence and commission, Western Front residency and commission, French-American Jazz Exchange Award, Robert D. Bielecki Foundation Award, and Fromm Music Foundation commission from Harvard University. Hear how music by Kim Burrell, Max Roach, and MF Doom helped form his artistic viewpoint. His newest album–Legend of e’Boi (The Hypervigilant Eye)--was released in December of 2024.

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Haley Fohr, who performs as Circuit des Yeux, is known for her hauntingly powerful voice and immersive, genre-defying sound. As Pitchfork put it, her voice is “a force of nature” that “pulses with raw emotion.” Her album -io, was hailed by The New York Times as “a deeply evocative exploration of loss, identity, and the self.” With a career marked by boundary-pushing work, Haley continues to redefine what it means to create music that is both deeply personal and universally resonant. Her newest record, Halo on the Inside, was commended by The Quietus for its "immaculately crafted" tracks, particularly "Truth," which "recalls the rave from The Matrix in its endearing camp and undeniable swagger." In this episode, she talks about how songs by The Stooges, Sly and the Family Stone, and Joni Mitchell shaped her sensibilities. Halo on the Inside was released by Matador on March 14, 2025.

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Japanese musician and composer Ikue Mori is widely known for her innovative work in experimental electronic music. Having initially gained recognition as a drummer for the avant-garde rock band DNA with Arto Lindsay in the late 1970s, she helped define the band's distinct sound. As her career evolved, Mori transitioned to using electronics and computers, exploring sound manipulation and producing intricate soundscapes that blend noise, rhythm, and melody. Her solo projects and collaborations with artists across genres have earned her a reputation as a pioneering force in the world of experimental music. In this episode, she discusses how songs by Ennio Morricone, Les Baxter, and Masuru Sato formed her sensibilities. Mori will perform at this year’s Big Ears Festival in Knoxville in March in her project with Zeena Parkins, Phantom Orchard.

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As close to indie rock royalty as may exist, Ira Kaplan of Yo La Tengo–a band nearing its 40th year in existence that he founded with his partner, drummer Georgia Hubley in the mid-1980’s–has recorded 17 records under that name and influenced more bands than could be named here. Simultaneously considered critics’ darlings but also having established a wide, loyal, and sustaining fanbase, the band–anchored by bass player James McNew–will perform with the Sun Ra Arkestra at the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville in March. In this episode, he discusses how songs by Half Japanese, the Grateful Dead, and The Tremeloes guided his development.

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As a member of Radiohead since its inception over 30 years ago, Colin Greenwood’s contributions to the group, both through his bass playing and songwriting, have helped them reach ever-higher levels of artistic and commercial prominence. A soulful, clever, and inventive bass player, his parts are always noticeable due to being highly composed and carefully considered, but never intrude on the song or call attention to themselves unnecessarily. While Radiohead’s been on hiatus, Greenwood has toured with Nick Cave and more recently released a book of behind-the-scenes photos of Radiohead over the past several decades entitled How to Disappear: A Portrait of Radiohead. In this episode, he discusses how works performed by Jonas Nordberg, Lal and Mike Waterson, and Vincent Lhermet influenced his own artistic development.

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First coming to international attention after Brian Eno heard him playing in Washington Square Park in New York City in 1979, Laraaji’s calm, meditative, and deeply spiritual work was widely heard for the first time when his Ambient 3: Day of Radiance, record was released by Eno in 1980 as the third in his “Ambient” series. A collection of his early, previously unreleased work, Segue to Infinity, was released by Numero Group in October of 2023. Laraaji will perform at the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville in March of 2025, and in this episode talks about how songs by Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers, Frank Sinatra, and Pharrell Williams were formative for him.

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Berlin-based avant-guitarist Jules Reidy is known for creating elaborate, beautiful textures with their instrument, often in large washes of disorienting sound. As evidenced in several collaborations with previous guest of the show Oren Ambarchi, Reidy’s heavily-layered and highly-spiritual work–particularly on their newest release, Ghost/Spirit, which is out soon on Thrill Jockey–is also transfixing, particularly upon close and repeated listens. In this episode, they talk about how compositions by Catherine Lamb, Talk Talk, and Dean Roberts shaped their creative sensibilities. Reidy will perform at the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, TN in March of 2025.

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Norwegian singer Susanna, whose full name is Susanna Karolina Wallumrød, first grew to fame for her work in her group Susanna and the Magical Orchestra. Her warm, soulful, and at times ethereal voice lends both her original compositions and beautifully-rendered covers a deep source of vulnerability and humanity. First recommended to us by previous guest, and guest host, Will Oldham, Susanna’s album Sonata Mix Dwarf Cosmos was featured in a deeply moving Selector Series event hosted by Oldham last year here in Baltimore. In this episode, she talks about how songs by Nina Simone, Bjork, and Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru have guided her artistically.

Join us at the Big Ears Festival 2025! 

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