Best N Sloan Podcasts (2024)

1
Where are all the scary songs? 33:09

3d ago33:09

33:09

It’s the spookiest time of the year; Halloween is right around the corner. But unlike the winter holidays like Christmas and Hanukkah, Halloween seems to lack a defining canon of scary music. There’s, of course, “Monster Mash,” and “Ghostbusters,” but those songs aren’t actually bone-chilling. Is there a way to make music scary? In a live show from…

1
The virtuosity of Stevie Wonder 1:07:51

10d ago1:07:51

1:07:51

Stevie Wonder may be our modern day Mozart. A child prodigy, he joined Motown as a preadolescent where he was marketed as “Little” Stevie Wonder. He wowed audiences with his virtuosic command of the piano, harmonica, drums and of course, vocals. At just 13, he had his first number one hit “Fingertips Part II.” It was an unusual chart topper, featur…

1
The last decade of pop explained 54:47

17d ago54:47

54:47

We celebrate Switched On Pop's 10th anniversary by taking a deep dive into the last decade of pop music. From bubblegum pop to EDM, trap, and K-pop, we explore how the sound of pop has continually evolved—even when it feels like it’s all the same. Plus, we pull back the curtain on the show with a special interview: Sean Rameswaram, host of Vox's To…

1
Learning to love: Coldplay 49:45

23d ago49:45

49:45

Coldplay is one of the biggest musical acts in the world, ranking #6 on Spotify and boasting one of the highest-grossing tours of all time. Yet, despite their global success, they've often been a critical punching bag. The New York Times once branded them “the most insufferable band of the decade.” The Independent described them as “pompous, mawkis…

1
Fall Out Boy and the worst earworm ever 41:51

29d ago41:51

41:51

Marianne Eloise has had the same Fall Out Boy song stuck in her head for over three years. "It’s Hard to Say 'I Do,' When I Don’t," an relatively obscure cut from the band's 2007 album Infinity on High has taken up permanent residence in her brain as the ultimate earworm. Everybody has had a riff or a melody stuck in their head, but not at this . E…

1
Mexican pop is bigger than you think 44:36

1M ago44:36

44:36

Last month, our producer Reanna Cruz had the opportunity to attend Baja Beach Fest in Rosarito, Mexico, a three-day Latin music festival set on the Mexican coastline. While they were there, they got the chance to tap into what's happening in the world of Mexican music – from romantic tumbados and lovesick R&B to multi-language crossovers and genre …

1
How Megan Thee Stallion brought Japanese hip hop to the Hot 100 42:30

1M ago42:30

42:30

"Mamushi," the fourth single from Megan the Stallion’s album Megan, was not supposed to be a huge hit. But thanks to a viral dance, the song has become the first song on the Billboard Hot 100 to feature Japanese lyrics since 1963. With a feature from rapper Yuki Chiba and a beat from producer Koshy, "Mamushi" creates the kind of cross-cultural musi…

1
Learning to love: Oasis 53:18

2M ago53:18

53:18

Oasis, the Manchester band led by brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher, conquered the charts in the 1990s with rock anthems like "Wonderwall." This month, they did something no one saw coming: Announced a reunion. In 2025, the band will play 19 dates in five cities across the UK and Ireland, their first shows with both brothers in the lineup since brea…

1
Newcomers: Porter Robinson 34:47

2M ago34:47

34:47

Porter Robinson has a unique relationship with being famous. With his new record SMILE! :D, the 32 year old producer and DJ steps front and center into the spotlight for the first time in his career, working through his thoughts on fame in the process — something he says he’s “addicted” to. The first track on the record, “Knock Yourself Out XD,” is…

1
Sabrina Carpenter is more than Short n' Sweet 40:23

2M ago40:23

40:23

On her sixth studio album, Short n' Sweet, Sabrina Carpenter moves seemlessly between pop, country, folk and R&B. For Carpenter, genre is merely a musical tool to help construct a song. Listen to how she bends genre to her will. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesBy Vulture

1
Newcomers: Jhayco 22:46

2M ago22:46

22:46

Jhayco, the artist formerly known as Jhay Cortez, feels different from the rest of the Latin music machine. He considers himself a “melody freak,” has a wide variety of influences – “Alternative music, indie music, deep house, rap, trap, salsa, bachata, scores for music” – and is intimately involved in every step of the creative process, writing, p…

1
Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars bring back the duet 46:57

2M ago46:57

46:57

It seemingly a terrible time to launch an over-the-top sentimental duet. This style of production peaked in the 80s and has had few chart topping success since. But as a sort of counter programming, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars' duet "Die With A Smile" is an unexpected smash. This oddity from two beloved legacy artists may be more than a stand alone hi…

1
Newcomers: Magdalena Bay 23:02

2M ago23:02

23:02

Few pop groups are making music as imaginative as Magdalena Bay. The Los Angeles-based duo of singer Mica Tenenbaum and multi-instrumentalist Matthew Lewin, have been steadily releasing music since 2016, eventually breaking out with their viral hit “Killshot,” four years later. In the last four years, their work has dabbled in everything from 70’s …

1
Tinashe’s “Nasty” takes on Janet and Beyoncé + Are songs getting simpler? 46:15

2M ago46:15

46:15

If you've spent any time on the internet this summer, you may have encountered a certain refrain accompanying particularly fierce dance videos—"I've been a nasty girl. Nasty, nasty, nasty." This track, "Nasty" by the R&B singer and songwriter Tinashe, is a jam in its own right. Far from just a piece of viral content, "Nasty" is one of the songs of …

1
Kesha v Katy + Tayla Parx on pop’s obsession with eras 44:25

3M ago44:25

44:25

On June 17 the pop world was rocked by three letters: LOL. Kesha tweeted the acronym immediately after Katy Perry announced her new single "Woman's World," which was co-written by Dr. Luke. Since Kesha had accused Dr. Luke of sexual assault a decade earlier, many read her "LOL" as directed at her one-time friend Perry. Kesha, meanwhile, released he…

1
Introducing One Song 1:14:08

3M ago1:14:08

1:14:08

If you like how Switched On Pop breaks down songs, you’re going to love the show One Song hosted by Diallo Riddle and Luxxury. They play you the stems of iconic recordings to see how they were made. To give you a taste today we’re sharing with you an episode of One Song about Blondie’s “Call Me.” Listen to One Song on SiriusXM on Wednesdays or subs…

1
brat but it's a podcast about the album by CharliXCX 41:18

3M ago41:18

41:18

CharliXCX's latest album, brat, has created an internet fever dream. This club record celebrating messiness, partying, and brutal honesty has created its own color (brat green), a viral meme generator, and even an unlikely political platform. When CharliXCX endorsed Kamala Harris for president, saying "Kamala IS brat", the album took on a larger cu…

1
Why Chappell Roan is the sound of 2024 34:36

3M ago34:36

34:36

For months, listeners have been peppering us with the same question: “When are you going to cover Chappell Roan?” We genuflect, then respond, “We interviewed her back in 2023!" The people don’t care. They want breakdowns of Chappell Roan’s musical wizardry, and who are we to deny them? After all, Chappell is having a moment, with five songs on the …

1
Is country the new hip hop? 35:39

3M ago35:39

35:39

For decades, hip hop has been the most successful genre on the charts. Then, in 2023, a shift occurred. For the first time, the country songs outnumbered hip hop songs on the year end charts. Last year, country’s boom was led by hyper-partisan hits like Jason Aldean’s “Try That In A Small Town” and Oliver Anthony’s “Rich Men North of Richmond.” In …

1
The music industry's AI fight 49:04

3M ago49:04

49:04

The Verge's Nilay Patel and David Pierce chat with Switched on Pop's Charlie Harding about the RIAA lawsuit against Al music startups Udio and Suno. Later, Nilay and David discuss the rest of this week's tech and gadget news. Subscribe to Vergecast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

1
Switched-On Wendy Carlos 37:36

4M ago37:36

37:36

The synthesizer was invented in the 1890s. But for people to really start using it, it took half a century, a musician named Wendy Carlos, and an album called Switched-On Bach. Charlie Harding and Nate Sloan of Switched On Pop tell Phoebe why Wendy Carlos is “the most significant figure in 20th century music that the least people know about.” Subsc…

1
The song of the summer is DEAD with Today Explained 26:22

4M ago26:22

26:22

Long live the song of the summer with Today Explained. But wait! Switched on Pop's Charlie Harding disagrees. And Rolling Stone's Brittany Spanos says maybe it never existed at all. This episode was produced by Amanda Lewellyn, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Patrick Boyd and Andrea Kristinsdottir, and hosted b…

1
Lawrence: the kick-ass eight-piece family band reshaping the music business 49:11

4M ago49:11

49:11

In today’s volatile music industry, many artists struggle to navigate the pitfalls of touring, the whims of social media, and the inequity of exploitative contracts. But Lawrence, an eight-piece band led by siblings Clyde and Gracie Lawrence, provide a beacon of hope. Combining exceptional talent, savvy business acumen, and a familial bond, they've…

1
The Imperfect Feminine: Camila, Charli, and Sabrina 46:07

4M ago46:07

46:07

The first half of 2024 has been for the “pop girlie.” It seems like every major artist who’s dominated the discourse this year has been a woman, ostensibly making music about what it means to be a woman. There’s Camila Cabello's "Chanel no.5,” Lorde and Charli XCX working out the labyrinth of emotions that come with female friendship on the “Girl, …

1
Empress Of asks for your consideration (with Empress Of) 37:05

4M ago37:05

37:05

There’s many things to love about Los Angeles: low-rider cars, roadside taco stands, and, come awards season, the omnipresent “For Your Consideration” billboard. Nobody knows this better than lifelong L.A. resident Lorely Rodriguez, also known as Empress Of. The indie-pop darling’s latest record, aptly titled For Your Consideration, is her take on …

1
TRB EPI 27: 4 Simple Ways to Activate Your Wellness Within 30:56

4M ago30:56

30:56

Today's Reframed Brain episode highlights understanding and exercising your wellness within featuring Holistic Health and Wellness Curator, Dr. Kathryn Tapper, MD. Please subscribe and like @The Reframed Brain Podcast YouTube channel and preorder your copy of The Fight To Fly at TheReframedBrain.com today! Dr. Kathryn Tapper aka Dr. KTap is a Mayo …

1
Bootsy Collins is gonna funk you up (with Bootsy Collins) 40:09

4M ago40:09

40:09

Bootsy Collins is, perhaps, the funkiest man of all time. Over the course of his nearly six decade career, Collins has given up the funk in the iconic Parliament Funkadelic, helmed Bootsy’s Rubber Band, and lended his slaparific talents to songs from everybody from James Brown to Dee-Lite to Fatboy Slim. His new album, aptly titled Album of the Yea…

1
Freaking out about songwriting with Nile Rodgers 35:06

5M ago35:06

35:06

There is no contemporary pop music without Nile Rodgers. Born in 1952, Rodgers grew up playing classical music on flute and clarinet before picking up jazz guitar. And at age 20, alongside bass player Bernard Edwards, Rodgers formed the band Chic. They wrote the biggest disco hits of the 70s, like: “Dance Dance Dance,” “Everybody Dance,” “Le Freak,…

1
Begging songs and basketball's musicality (with Hanif Abdurraqib) 29:46

5M ago29:46

29:46

There's no music writer like the essayist and poet Hanif Abdurraqib: whether he's narrating the beautiful awkwardness of a Carly Rae Jepsen concert or talking jazz and eastern spirituality with Andre 3000, he manages to coax stories and insights out of songs in a way that never fails to surprise. His latest book, There's Always This Year, is a free…

1
Charlie Puth should be a bigger artist (with Charlie Puth) 39:03

5M ago39:03

39:03

On her latest album, Taylor Swift “declared Charlie Puth should be a bigger artist.” No one was more surprised by this than Charlie Puth himself: the singer, pianist, and songwriter whose career has always straddled pop stardom and behind the scenes anonymity. After three albums, billions of streams, and numerous songwriting credits – including one…

1
Billie Eilish hits both hard and soft 43:07

5M ago43:07

43:07

On Billie Eilish’s third album, Hit Me Hard and Soft, Eilish finally graduates from her signature anti-pop persona into full blown pop stardom. This record finds Eilish experimenting on the themes from her earlier records, while crafting an economic ten tracks that position themselves for mainstream radio consumption. There’s “L’amour de ma vie,” h…

1
Gastropod: Why are restaurants so loud? Plus the science behind the perfect playlist 44:03

6M ago44:03

44:03

When you go out for a meal, it’s not just what's on your plate that matters, it's what's in your eardrums, too. From dining rooms so loud you have to shout to be heard, to playlists that sound like a generic Millennial Spotify account, it's not surprising that sound is the single most complained about aspect of restaurants. A few years ago, Charlie…

1
Is pop music just fast food? (with Gastropod) 39:24

6M ago39:24

39:24

Where were you when you learned that the McDonald's jingle "I'm lovin' it" was originally part of a full-fledged pop song by Justin Timberlake and Pharrell that flopped on the charts but found staying power as a slogan? For us, it was recording our live episode about sponsored content in pop back in March 2024, and we have not been the same since. …

1
Rosie Tucker's unending bliss 23:41

6M ago23:41

23:41

Tongue twisters that mock techno-optimism and cite critical theory don’t usually make for catchy song lyrics. But indie rocker Rosie Tucker’s Utopia Now! finds beauty in the dross of late capitalism. Over 13 songs backed by distorted guitars and blazing drum fills, Tucker’s searing vocals bemoan the inherent dislocation of our modern world while se…

1
Eurovision 2024: from Baby Lasagna to Windows95Man 33:22

6M ago33:22

33:22

It’s that time of year again when the entirety of Europe (and a few other countries) come together to celebrate kitschy, bombastic songwriting through the Eurovision Song Contest! This year’s competition, held in Malmo, Sweden, features everything from rave-pop on behalf of the Netherlands, to folk-rapping hybrids courtesy of Ukraine – and Charlie …

1
TRB EPI 26: May The Reframed Be With YOU!! 25:50

6M ago25:50

25:50

Today's Reframed Brain episode highlights the intersection of food and wellness while lifting forward two critical awareness campaigns: Maternal Mental Health and Mental Health Month. We also share resoures for help and important numbers to share! Please leave a 5-star review, subscribe and like @The Reframed Brain Podcast YouTube channel and conne…

1
Justice is never-ending 41:34

6M ago41:34

41:34

Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay of the French electronic duo Justice speak with cohost Charlie Harding about their new album Hyperdrama. Song Discussed Justice - Phantom Pt II, D.A.N.C.E., Neveender, New Jack, Genesis, Horsepower, Civilization, One Night-All Night, Dear Alan, Incognito, Moonlight Rendez-vous, Audio Video Disco, Afterimage, The En…

1
Best of 2024 so far: hip hop feuds, Hozier’s pop surprise and espresso shots 53:38

6M ago53:38

53:38

The beginning of 2024 has brought new music aplenty. Some big releases are in the form of big-ticket albums by the world’s biggest superstars (shoutout Taylor and Beyoncé); some are in the form of soon-to-be radio-friendly staples (we love you, "Espresso"); and some are in the form of personal earworms (Justice! Rosie Tucker! Dua!). This episode of…

1
Taylor Swift's Literary Era 46:19

6M ago46:19

46:19

The Tortured Poets Department, Taylor Swift's 11th studio album, finds the songwriter in the world of literature. She interweaves personal romance with mythical creation and quotations from high and low culture: Genesis, Peter Pan and even Playstation. Despite calling herself a "modern idiot," less-than-subtle nods to Sylvia Plath, Samuel Taylor Co…

1
Lost Notes: How Fela Kuti Found Afrobeat in LA 32:10

6M ago32:10

32:10

Lost Notes by KCRW explores how Fela Kuti’s time in LA in 1969 was instrumental in the creation of his legendary Afrobeat sound. Hosted by Michael Barnes and Novena Carmel. Find a full transcript of Lost Notes at KCRW. And subscribe to the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

1
Berlin's Hottest Club is Rico Nasty & Boys Noize 44:49

7M ago44:49

44:49

There are few artists pushing the boundaries of their respective genres like Maryland rapper Rico Nasty and German-Iraqi electronic producer Boys Noize. The two have run in the same circles for over half a decade, but their joint collaboration has reached an apex with their three song EP, HARDC0RE DR3AMZ, a dance-floor ready project that owes as mu…

1
Chasing old sounds: Djo's "End of Beginning" with Joe Keery 39:11

7M ago39:11

39:11

Joe Keery is best known for his acting roles, such as the reformed jock Steve Harrington in "Stranger Things" and his chilling performance in season 5 of "Fargo." But he's also a spectacular musician. Rising through the Chicago music scene in college, he has self-released two albums under the moniker 'Djo.' His latest work, "Decide" from 2022, serv…

1
Cowboy Carter: This Ain't Country 39:27

7M ago39:27

39:27

Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter is her foray into country music, but this isn't just dirt roads, blue jeans and whiskey. Her country music distills all of American pop: blues, gospel, R&B, soul, house, hip-hop and yes, country. If this ain't country, what is? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

1
Hip-hop's Sea Change at Rolling Loud 42:47

7M ago42:47

42:47

Hip-hop is in a weird place right now. Research says that the genre, in both streaming and chart performance, has declined over the last decade. And while rap artists can still get number one songs on the Hot 100, it’s a far cry from the peak of trap circa 2017, when Nielsen data named hip-hop as the most popular genre in the U.S. So what does that…

1
Rhapsody in Blue, Reimagined 30:28

7M ago30:28

30:28

What do Duke Ellington, United Airlines, and the K Pop group Red Velvet share in common? They've all covered George Gershwin's piano concerto, Rhapsody in Blue. First premiered in 1924, the piece became an immediate hit for the way it blended American jazz with the European symphonic tradition. Gershwin had a number of successes as a composer in hi…

1
Eternal Sunshine of Ariana Grande's Mind 44:52

8M ago44:52

44:52

Sidestep the gossip and focus on the music in Ariana Grande’s latest album Eternal Sunshine. The music is an exercise in nostalgia: 70s Disco, 90s R&B, and 00s pop and dance music. As she moves through the musical past, her lyrics tear through past relationship. But its the way her lyrics interweave with the deft melodies and harmonies that reveal …

1
How to DIY a Music Career (with Amelia Meath and David Gray at SXSW) 37:03

8M ago37:03

37:03

In a landscape where the music industry seems designed to stifle creativity and independence, Amelia Meath stands as a beacon of resistance. Through her involvement in bands like Sylvan Esso, Mountain Man, and The A's, and as a founder of label Psychic Hotline, Meath defies the narratives that label success in music. This conversation dives into th…

1
Is Beyoncé's music #sponcon? And other mysteries LIVE in Brooklyn 44:47

8M ago44:47

44:47

Live from On-Air Fest in Brooklyn, Nate and Charlie investigate listeners’ burning musical mysteries, such as: Is Beyoncé’s reference to Lexus in “Texas Hold ’Em” product placement? And, could we be tuning all our music the wrong way? These stories have twists, turns, and a live parody performance that no asked for. Thanks to Steve Stoute, Lucas Ke…

1
Jacob Collier unites the world 1:00:25

8M ago1:00:25

1:00:25

One of the most inventive and gifted musicians working today is none other than Jacob Collier. Maybe you know him from his YouTube videos, or co-writing SZA’s “Good Days,” or even performing alongside Joni Mitchell at this year’s Grammys. Jacob is a musician with thunderous chops, proficient on multiple instruments and with a voice that ranges from…

1
Beyoncé's Country 44:00

8M ago44:00

44:00

Renaissance Act II truthers, your time has come: There’s new music from Beyoncé, and boy, is it country. Her two new singles dropped two weeks ago, and in the time since, they’ve both climbed up the chart and taken the internet by storm. There’s the barnstorming stomp and holler ditty “TEXAS HOLD 'EM,” which just notched the top spot on the Billboa…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

N Sloan Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

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