Host Evie Stokes sits down with DJ Sharlese from Mechanical Breakdown to talk all things dark wave, synth, and “wavy” music. Sharlese  brings in a fresh find from the Netherlands – Dutch band Desinteresse. She shares their song “Zwart Wit” from their 2025 album, Onschuld, out now via Fabrika Records.

Produced by Dusty Henry
Mastered by: William Myers
Production support: Serafima Healy

Listen to the full songs on KEXP's "In Our Headphones" playlist on Spotify or the “What's In Our Headphones” playlist on YouTube.

Support the podcast: kexp.org/headphones
Contact us at [email protected].

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Host Evie Stokes sits down again with Seattle band Plash to get nerdy about some of their favorite math rock. This time the band brings in a song from the band Totorro (no, not the Ghibli character) and their song “Matthew’s Bridge.” The band talks about being labeled a “math rock” band themselves and talk about the future of the group. “Matthew’s Bridge” is from Totorro’s 2025 album, Sofa So Good, out now via Recreation Center.

Produced by Dusty Henry
Mastered by: William Myers
Production support: Serafima Healy

Listen to the full songs on KEXP's "In Our Headphones" playlist on Spotify or the “What's In Our Headphones” playlist on YouTube.

Support the podcast: kexp.org/headphones
Contact us at [email protected].

Photo credit: Mickaël Auffret

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Host Evie Stokes sits down with emerging Seattle math rock band Plash to talk about their latest album i live alone and the music that inspires them. The band talks about their origins in the Seattle scene, playing drums with coathangers, and their method of writing in both English and Korean. They share “Dermis,” a beautiful expansive song by Carlos Giffoni featuring Mabbe Fratti. They dig into track and getting inspiration from music outside their own genre. “Dermis” comes from Giffoni’s 2026 album Pendulum, out now via Room40.

Produced by Dusty Henry
Mastered by: William Myers
Production support: Serafima Healy

Listen to the full songs on KEXP's "In Our Headphones" playlist on Spotify or the “What's In Our Headphones” playlist on YouTube.

Support the podcast: kexp.org/headphones
Contact us at [email protected].

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Larry Mizell Jr. fills in for host Evie Stokes to talk with Seattle band Chinese American Bear. The duo bonds with Larry about their mutual love of breakbeats with shoegaze guitars. All perfectly embodied in their song choice this week, Melody’s Echo Chamber’s song with El Michels Affair, “Daisy,” from her 2025 album Unclouded – out now on Domino Records.

Produced by Dusty Henry
Mastered by: William Myers
Production support: Serafima Healy

Listen to the full songs on KEXP's "In Our Headphones" playlist on Spotify or the “What's In Our Headphones” playlist on YouTube.

Support the podcast: kexp.org/headphones
Contact us at [email protected].

Photo Credit: Diane Sagnier

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Larry Mizell Jr. fills in for host Evie Stokes to talk with Seattle band Chinese American Bear. The three get into the husband and wife duo’s origins, embracing pop, and writing songs in two languages. They also share a recent favorite of there’s, the song “you and forever” by Bleachers” and dig into the brilliance of Jack Antonoff.

Produced by Dusty Henry
Mastered by: William Myers
Production support: Serafima Healy

Listen to the full songs on KEXP's "In Our Headphones" playlist on Spotify or the “What's In Our Headphones” playlist on YouTube.

Support the podcast: kexp.org/headphones
Contact us at [email protected].

Photo Credit: Alex Lockett

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Host Evie Stokes talks with songwriter Liz Cooper. The two dig more into the creation of Cooper’s latest album, New Day, and the life of a touring musicians. They also dig into Cooper’s bandmates band Robber Robber. Cooper shares “The Sound it Made” from Robber Robber’s latest album Two Wheels Move the Soul, out now via Fire Talk Records. 

Produced by Dusty Henry
Mastered by: William Myers
Production support: Serafima Healy

Listen to the full songs on KEXP's "In Our Headphones" playlist on Spotify or the “What's In Our Headphones” playlist on YouTube.

Support the podcast: kexp.org/headphones
Contact us at [email protected].

Photo credit: Jackie Freeman

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Host Evie Stokes talks with songwriter Liz Cooper. The two dig into life on the road, Cooper’s latest album New Day, and the music that’s moving her right now. Cooper shares one of her favorite new discoveries, New York-based rapper Salimata, and shares her song “Cake Up.” The song comes from Salimata’s 2025 album, The Happening, out now via 10k.

Produced by Dusty Henry
Mastered by: William Myers
Production support: Serafima Healy

Listen to the full songs on KEXP's "In Our Headphones" playlist on Spotify or the “What's In Our Headphones” playlist on YouTube.

Support the podcast: kexp.org/headphones
Contact us at [email protected].

Photo credit: Ryosuke Tanzawa

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Host Evie Stokes talks with KEXP video producer Carlos Cruz to get more stories from the video team’s time in Rennes, France at Trans Musicales. This time they’re talking about the now famous session with Quebec-based micro-tonal masked math rock group Angine de Poitrine. Carlos talks about editing the band’s session, the experience seeing it live, and what the video crew gets excited when recording bands. He also shares the live version of the band’s song “Sherpa.” 

Listen to the full songs on KEXP's "In Our Headphones" playlist on Spotify or the “What's In Our Headphones” playlist on YouTube.

Support the podcast: kexp.org/headphones
Contact us at [email protected].

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Host Evie Stokes talks with KEXP video producer Carlos Cruz to get the inside scoop of what it’s like to work with our Live on KEXP sessions. Carlos reflects on KEXP’s recent trip to film sessions in Rennes, France for the Trans Musicales Festival. He shares a song from one of his favorite performances this last year, “Premières lueurs” by the French band Photons. 

Produced by Dusty Henry
Mastered by: William Myers
Production support: Serafima Healy

Listen to the full songs on KEXP's "In Our Headphones" playlist on Spotify or the “What's In Our Headphones” playlist on YouTube.

Support the podcast: kexp.org/headphones
Contact us at [email protected].

Photo Credit: Carlos Cruz

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Host Evie Stokes talks again with Dr. West, one of the rotating hosts on KEXP’s punk show Sonic Reducer. Evie gets the good doctor talk about his newfound appreciation for pop music and digs into the efficiency of punk music. The two talk about Citric Dummies’ blazing “I Dropped Out of Punk” and the band’s tongue-in-cheek nods to Turnstile. “I Dropped Out of Punk” comes from the band’s 2025 album Split with Turnstile, out now via Feel It Records. 

Produced by Dusty Henry
Mastered by: William Myers
Production support: Serafima Healy

Listen to the full songs on KEXP's "In Our Headphones" playlist on Spotify or the “What's In Our Headphones” playlist on YouTube.

Support the podcast: kexp.org/headphones
Contact us at [email protected].

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Host Evie Stokes talks with Dr. West, one of the rotating hosts on KEXP’s punk show Sonic Reducer. The two discuss the origins of Sonic Reducer, the greatness of punk labels, and talk about one of Dr. West’s favorite new punk bands, HARAM. “Until the Last Breath – ل آخر نفس” comes from HARAM’s 2025 album ليش الجنة بيتبلش في الجهنم؟ Why Does Paradise Begin in Hell, out now via Toxic State Records. 

Produced by Dusty Henry
Mastered by: William Myers
Production support: Serafima Healy

Listen to the full songs on KEXP's "In Our Headphones" playlist on Spotify or the “What's In Our Headphones” playlist on YouTube.

Support the podcast: kexp.org/headphones
Contact us at [email protected].

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.