Scottish piper Brìghde Chaimbeul has quickly vaulted from the traditional-music scene to an international profile, in part thanks to her recent collaboration with saxophonist/composer Colin Stetson. In this episode, she discusses how music by Allan Macdonald, the Rhodopea Kaba Trio, and Steve Reich guided her own work. She'll appear at the Big Ears Festival in March 2025.

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Gregg Turkington, arguably more widely known from his guise as comedian Neil Hamburger, is possibly best described as a comic himself, but also as a cultural critic and commentator. Having spent his younger years as a zine publisher, a musician in multiple bands, and running a label, he has since risen to greater prominence as a collaborator with Tim Heidecker in On Cinema at the Cinema, a web series put out by Adult Swim, among many other endeavors. Hear how songs by Jimmy Webb, Leonard Cohen, and Frank Sinatra influenced his work, including his newest record, Neil Hamburger Presents: Seasonal Depression Suite, which is out now on Drag City.

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Nate Cross has become a powerful force behind the scenes of contemporary American music, onstage and on record as one of the key members of drone-rock ensemble Water Damage and as the proprietor of the respected creative-music label Astral Spirits. He discusses how music by Oneida, Jim O’Rourke, and The Necks shaped his course. Water Damage will be perform at the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville in March of 2025.

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A household name for many decades amongst those with an interest in challenging, forward-thinking music, Fred Frith initially gained an audience through his work as the guitarist with 60’s group Henry Cow, and has since had a prolific career as a player on many recordings under his own name as well as collaborations with players ranging from Henry Kaiser, to The Residents, to Richard Thompson, to John Zorn. He has appeared on over 400 recordings and continues to push forward artistically with each new release. We spoke to Frith in front of a live audience at the Big Ears Festival in Kn0xville in March of 2024.

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New York City-based underground hip-hop artist Billy Woods might be best known as half of duo Armand Hammer, but is also well known as a solo artist. His 2024 releaseMaps, in which he worked with beatmaker and producer Kenny Segal, earned a “Best New Music” designation from Pitchfork. On this episode, in which Woods was interviewed before a live audience by guest host and former guest of the show Claire Rousay at the 2024 Big Ears Festival, he talks about how songs by Public Enemy, MF Doom, and Juggaknotts paved his way artistically.

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As one half of influential band Gastr del Sol along with David Grubbs, Jim O’Rourke’s work has reached many through that project alone. However, his additional work as an esteemed solo artist and producer as well as a guitarist in Sonic Youth have extended his reach even further, solidifying him as one of the most prominent artists to emerge from the American underground.

On this episode, he talks about how songs by David Ackles, Genesis and Charles Ives informed his development as a musician.

Essential Tremors is produced by Matt Byars and Lee Gardner and distributed by Your Public Studios.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Grubbs, who along with Jim O'Rourke comprised Gastr del Sol, ushered in a new, cerebral strain of post-rock upon their appearance in the 90's. Owing more to modern classical composers than what was being played on college radio, the duo toured extensively and put out eight releases, most of which were on esteemed Chicago label Drag City.

Their newest release is a box set of their work named We Have Dozens of Titles, and was also released by Drag City in May of 2024.

Essential Tremors is produced by Matt Byars and Lee Gardner and distributed by Your Public Studios.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Having co-written many of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' greatest hits as the lead guitarist in the band, Mike Campbell's work has been heard by millions of listeners and still resonates today.

In this episode, hear how songs by Chuck Berry, Bob Dylan and The Beach Boys shaped his musical perspective.

Essential Tremors is produced by Matt Byars and Lee Gardner and distributed by Your Public Studios.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Electronic-music producer Jlin works in the space where beatmaking and modern composition collide.

In this episode, recorded live at the 2024 Big Ears Festival, she discusses how music by Luther Vandross, Missy Elliott and Al Jarreau shaped her work.

Essential Tremors is produced by Matt Byars and Lee Gardner and distributed by Your Public Studios.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DC indie-scene veterans Mark Robinson and Bridget Cross formed the spine of two of the city's finest pop bands, Unrest and the still-undersung Air Miami.

In this episode, they discuss how '70s dance music, musicals, the Shaggs, the Captain and Tennille, and '80s punk and indie shaped their course.

Essential Tremors is produced by Matt Byars and Lee Gardner and distributed by Your Public Studios.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our sixth annual Seventh Stanine Festival is taking place Saturday, June 15 from 1:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. 

This episode previews this year's event and features segments on Water Damage, Geologist of Animal Collective, Tongue Depressor, Susan Alcorn, The Caribbean, Small Sur, Turner Williams, Jr. and Jon Camp.

More information can be found at www.rhizomedc.org or www.essentialpodcast.com.

Essential Tremors is produced by Matt Byars and Lee Gardner and distributed by Your Public Studios.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.