The Tapes Podcast

In this episode: The twins are finally back on track, continuing the story of The Tapes. As they catch up on the last few tumultuous months, they run through the tracks Kenya chose for Hozier’s fifth mixtape in the set, “Driving Down Black Pavement: Magic Hour.” The twins are pleased to also welcome a special guest to the show, poet, YouTuber, and fellow Hozier stan, Sher the Truth, for an interview about discovering the amazing story-telling on display in every note of Wasteland, Baby!

In our next episode: Right on time for Valentine’s Day, the twins will be going through the tracks of the sixth tape in the set, titled “Imagine Love”.

Let's bring back #MusicMonday!

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In this episode, the twins take a further detour from the main road trip to talk about the idea of Revolution: peaceful protest; good trouble; participation in the democratic process, and the music behind a movement in motion since the Jim Crow era. They dive into a special, curated set of mixes entitled The Revolution Vols. 1-4, spanning generations of protest music from the 60s to the early aughts, up to now, the volatile year 2020. And, later in the show, they ask what does the future of protest, and protest music even look like? They’ll attempt to read the tea leaves both in the music itself, and from the words of the leader of the movement.

In this episode, the twins ask “What do white and non-black artists that benefit from the historical contribution and influence of Black artists on popular music owe to Black people?” And we answer: “Nothing less than to pay forward what they have reaped from their success.” We’ll discuss Hozier’s role as a white activist artist, go through the music of and highlight the black artists on Driving Through Back Woods: The Hour of Power mixtape, and, later in the show, we discuss growing up on gospel, blues, and jazz in the South. 

This episode finds the twins gushing on … and ON about witnessing Hozier live for the first time at the Greek Theatre in LA last October. Kenya explains how that particular immersive musical experience injected new life back into The Tapes project. They also reminisce about their first brushes with going to see live music during their sheltered adolescence. Later in the show, the twins dive into tracks from the third tape in the set - the referentially titled "Grow Up and Blow Away", and dissect its theme and song arrangement. Let's bring back #musicmonday!

The twins kick off the show by examining the beginning of Kenya’s personal journey with The Tapes project. They discuss (or, OK, shamelessly fangirl over) the inspiration and intended recipient of The Tapes, one phenomenal singer-songwriter: the very Irish, and very talented, Andrew John Hozier-Byrne. Today, one day before his birthday, during the month of the one-year anniversary of the release of his sophomore album "Wasteland, Baby!", Kenya reveals what the hell she was thinking when the impact of that record compelled her to make The Tapes. And, later in the show, the twins reminisce on their own past history with making mixtapes, dive into tracks from the first tape in the set - "Driving Down Dusty Terrain - Day Cruise",  and discuss its theme and song arrangement. Let's bring back #musicmonday!

Join hosts Kenya and Kendra on a journey through genres and memories as we discuss the lost art of curating, recording and gifting mixtapes. Tune in to the first episode on Monday, March 16th! Let's bring back #musicmonday!