Keyboardist, songwriter, and founding member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Benmont Tench has been a cornerstone of one of the most beloved and commercially successful rock bands of the last four and a half decades. Known for his signature organ and piano work, Benmont has played on countless classic tracks not just with Petty, but also as a session musician for artists like Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Bonnie Raitt, and the Rolling Stones. A classically trained pianist, he’s built a reputation over decades as one of the most respected musicians in rock and Americana. In addition to his extensive studio and live work, he’s also a solo artist, and he has a brand new record out now titled The Melancholy Season.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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35:01
Haley Fohr (Circuit des Yeux)
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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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22:52
Colin Greenwood (Radiohead, Nick Cave)
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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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40:04
Darius Jones
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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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37:58
Ikue Mori (Big Ears Festival performer)
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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ireland