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An amateur eye on the tools and tricks music-makers use to make their tunes POP!

Ginger Valentine

  • Nov 18, 2020 LATEST EPISODE
  • monthly NEW EPISODES
  • 12m AVG DURATION
  • 32 EPISODES


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Latest episodes from Key Change

Singles Club Vol 12 – Dreams

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2020 3:09


A classic reinvigorated for a new generation by a cranberry-juice swigging skater.For episode sneak peaks and heated Beyoncé debates, join the Key Change Facebook group.Podcast art by Anthea LeBrocq (@fulltimeangel on Instagram; antheaaaa@gmail.com for enquiries and commissions).Listen to every Singles Club episode complete with songs on the Complete Collection Spotify playlistListen to Key Change on SpotifyListen to Key Change on Apple PodcastsFollow Key Change on Twitter

You Go Low Side 2 feat. Orville Peck

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2020 14:33


In Side 2 of You Go Low, we look at an underrecognised country act from the mid-70s, and how Lavender Country paved the way for Orville.Featuring:– Lavender Country - “Lavender Country”– Orville Peck - “Drive Me, Crazy”Listen to Orville Peck on Spotify or Apple Music, or support him by buying his music and merch at orvillepeck.com.Listen to Lavender Country on Spotify or Apple MusicSupport GingerBFG on Patreon and Ko-FiPodcast art by Anthea LeBrocq (@fulltimeangel on Instagram; antheaaaa@gmail.com for enquiries and commissions).Listen to Key Change on SpotifyListen to Key Change on Apple PodcastsFollow Key Change on Twitter Orville (the one in the mask) with Lavender Country’s Patrick Haggerty

Singles Club Vol 11 – Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2020 6:56


Faster than you could revert to manual, the THPS franchise brought about a third wave – of ska, that is.For episode sneak peaks and heated Beyoncé debates, join the Key Change Facebook group.Podcast art by Anthea LeBrocq (@fulltimeangel on Instagram; antheaaaa@gmail.com for enquiries and commissions).Listen to every Singles Club episode complete with songs on the Complete Collection Spotify playlistListen to Key Change on SpotifyListen to Key Change on Apple PodcastsFollow Key Change on Twitter!

You Go Low feat. Orville Peck

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2020 13:02


From Matt Berninger to Guy Garvey to Paul Banks to Bill Callahan, low, rumbling voices are very much en vogue. So what does that tell us about the way we think about masculinity, and why is Orville Peck the baritone hero we need right now?Support GingerBFG on Patreon and Ko-FiPodcast art by Anthea LeBrocq (@fulltimeangel on Instagram; antheaaaa@gmail.com for enquiries and commissions).Listen to Key Change on SpotifyListen to Key Change on Apple PodcastsFollow Key Change on Twitter!

Singles Club Vol 10 – Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2020 4:24


We know “Running Up That Hill” is good; that much is understood. But what’s the difference between being told that something’s good, and discovering that for yourself?Support GingerBFG on Patreon and Ko-FiFor episode sneak peaks and heated Beyoncé debates, join the Key Change Facebook group.Podcast art by Anthea LeBrocq (@fulltimeangel on Instagram; antheaaaa@gmail.com for enquiries and commissions).Listen to Key Change on SpotifyListen to Key Change on Apple PodcastsFollow Key Change on Twitter!

Singles Club Vol 9 – Heartbeats

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2020 9:31


The Knife, Jose Gonzalez, and the responsibilities of a good cover.Support GingerBFG on Patreon and Ko-FiFor episode sneak peaks and heated Beyoncé debates, join the Key Change Facebook group.Podcast art by Anthea LeBrocq (@fulltimeangel on Instagram; antheaaaa@gmail.com for enquiries and commissions).Listen to Key Change on SpotifyListen to Key Change on Apple PodcastsFollow Key Change on Twitter!

Team Players, feat. Phoebe Bridgers and Adam Schlesinger

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2020 13:57


Forget the once-in-a-lifetime, singular geniuses – even for solo acts, music is a collaborative endeavour, and I think you can pick a good collaborator from how their music sounds.Featuring:– “Graceland Too” by Phoebe Bridgers– “Our Own World” by the Monkees– “What’ll It Be” from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (demo and final version)Support GingerBFG on Patreon and Ko-FiFor episode sneak peaks and heated Beyoncé debates, join the Key Change Facebook group.Podcast art by Anthea LeBrocq (@fulltimeangel on Instagram; antheaaaa@gmail.com for enquiries and commissions).Listen to Key Change on SpotifyListen to Key Change on Apple PodcastsFollow Key Change on Twitter!

The Loudness War

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2020 22:37


A pretty extreme term for something that was ultimately a bunch of producers pushing a slider further and further into the red, the Loudness War still managed to wreck some perfectly good records, and influence the way we hear music more than a decade later.Featuring:– The Stooges - “Search and Destroy”– Red Hot Chili Peppers - “Around the World” and “Californication”– Metallica - “Broken, Beaten and Scarred”– Arctic Monkeys - “I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor”

Singles Club Vol 8 – Running Away

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2020 8:57


It’s like running away with the wind in your face, it’s like flying…Support GingerBFG on Patreon and Ko-FiFor episode sneak peaks and heated Beyoncé debates, join the Key Change Facebook group.Podcast art by Anthea LeBrocq (@fulltimeangel on Instagram; antheaaaa@gmail.com for enquiries and commissions).Listen to Key Change on SpotifyListen to Key Change on Apple PodcastsFollow Key Change on Twitter!

Singles Club Vol 7 – Paper Planes

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2020 2:23


All I wanna do is [bang bang bang bang] [kaching] and miss the point entirelySupport GingerBFG on Patreon and Ko-FiFor episode sneak peaks and heated Beyoncé debates, join the Key Change Facebook group.Podcast art by Anthea LeBrocq (@fulltimeangel on Instagram; antheaaaa@gmail.com for enquiries and commissions).Listen to Key Change on SpotifyListen to Key Change on Apple PodcastsFollow Key Change on Twitter!

When Good Records Sound Bad (feat. Snail Mail)

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2020 13:30


Don’t get me wrong, I love my record collection. But vinyl isn’t a perfect format, and some great albums sound pretty sad on LP. Why is it that records treat women so bad?Featuring:– ‘Stick’, ‘Pristine’, ‘Heatwave’, ‘Anytime’ and ‘Let’s Find An Out’ by Snail Mail – ‘…Familiar Place’ by Lucy DacusSupport GingerBFG on Patreon and Ko-FiFor episode sneak peaks and heated Beyoncé debates, join the Key Change Facebook group.Podcast art by Anthea LeBrocq (@fulltimeangel on Instagram; antheaaaa@gmail.com for enquiries and commissions).Listen to Key Change on SpotifyListen to Key Change on Apple PodcastsFollow Key Change on Twitter!

Singles Club Vol 6 – Cowboy Take Me Away

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2020 2:47


Oh, it sounds good to me…Support GingerBFG on Patreon and Ko-FiFor episode sneak peaks and heated Beyoncé debates, join the Key Change Facebook group.Podcast art by Anthea LeBrocq (@fulltimeangel on Instagram; antheaaaa@gmail.com for enquiries and commissions).Listen to Key Change on SpotifyListen to Key Change on Apple PodcastsFollow Key Change on Twitter!

How to handle Second Album Syndrome – Arctic Monkeys vs The Strokes

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2020 14:38


It's a trans-Atlantic standoff against public expectation and record label pressure in this episode of Key Change, with a slightly self-pitying look at what comes in Phase 2 of your creative life, especially when all eyes are on you. Iteration vs iteration – it's a battle for the ages! Plus! The fate of Key Change hangs in the balance – what does the future hold for this plucky pop podcast?? Listen and find out!Featuring:– ‘Last Nite’, ‘New York City Cops’ and ‘12:51’ by The Strokes – ‘Brianstorm’ and ‘I Bet That You Look Good On The Dancefloor’ by Arctic Monkeys– ‘The Sprout and The Bean’ and ‘Emily’ by Joanna Newsom– ‘Scentless Apprentice’ by NirvanaSupport GingerBFG on Patreon and Ko-FiFor episode sneak peaks and heated Beyoncé debates, join the Key Change Facebook group.Podcast art by Anthea LeBrocq (@fulltimeangel on Instagram; antheaaaa@gmail.com for enquiries and commissions).Listen to Key Change on SpotifyListen to Key Change on Apple PodcastsFollow Key Change on Twitter!

The Three Esses of 2019

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2019 31:06


Trying to summarise a whole year is an absurd task; trying to summarise a year like 2019, which has felt more like a decade than a mere 12 months, is beyond the scope of mortals. So instead, In this double-sized episode, your intrepid host grapples with the full magnitude of 2019, and ends up in a solipsistic parking lot.Featuring (in no particular order):- Billie Eilish – “xanny”- Taylor Swift – “Soon You’ll Get Better”- Brittany Howard – “He Loves Me”- SACRED PAWS – “The Conversation”- Bon Iver – “Hey, Ma”- Charly Bliss – “Blown to Bits”- Orville Peck – “Dead of Night” and “Winds of Change”- Jay Som – “Nighttime Drive” and “Superbike”- Great Grandpa – “Dark Green Water”- Floating Points – “Falaise”- Lucy Dacus – “Fool’s Gold”, “La Vie En Rose”, “Forever Half Mast” and “My Mother & I”- Vampire Weekend – “Hold You Now”- Lil Nas X – “Old Town Road”- Lizzo’s Tiny Desk concert- Sports Bra – “Sparkle Heart Emoji”- Kishi Bashi – “F Delano”- Weyes Blood – “Andromeda”- Galantis & Dolly Parton – “Faith”- JPEGMAFIA – “Jesus Forgive Me, I Am A Thot”- Sampa The Great – “The Return”- Thelma Plum – “Better in Blak”Support GingerBFG on Patreon and Ko-FiFor episode sneak peaks and heated Beyoncé debates, join the Key Change Facebook group.Podcast art by Anthea LeBrocq (@fulltimeangel on Instagram; antheaaaa@gmail.com for enquiries and commissions).Listen to Key Change on SpotifyListen to Key Change on Apple PodcastsFollow Key Change on Twitter!

Singles Club Vol 5 – Let It Go

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2019 5:13


Like the (very literal) ice queen who sings it, there's a certain magic about Let It Go that's part Disney, part primal scream. Why did this simple song become the massive hit that made Idina Menzel a household name?Support GingerBFG on Patreon and Ko-FiFor episode sneak peaks and heated Beyoncé debates, join the Key Change Facebook group.Podcast art by Anthea LeBrocq (@fulltimeangel on Instagram; antheaaaa@gmail.com for enquiries and commissions).Listen to Key Change on SpotifyListen to Key Change on Apple PodcastsFollow Key Change on Twitter!

Breathtaking – How staccato intros bend your brain

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2019 13:20


On some level, every bit of music is a sustained trick we play on our brains. When a song kicks off with a rigid staccato intro, though, the effect on your body is electrifying. Your breath catches in your chest, and all of a sudden you’re trapped, waiting for that sweet release. On this episode of Key Change, we’re taking a closer look at those metronomic intros, and how they mess with our brains in the most delightful ways.Featuring:- Chvrches – “Make Them Gold”- The Who – “Won’t Get Fooled Again”- Dolly Parton – “9 To 5”- Depeche Mode – “See You”- James Brown – “Get Up I Feel Like Being A Sex Machine Pts 1 & 2”- Pharrell Williams – “Happy”- Kendrick Lamar – “Alright”- Missy Elliott – “WTF (Where They From)”Check out the Genius video on Pharrell’s unofficial producer tag here.Support GingerBFG on Patreon and Ko-FiFor episode sneak peaks and heated Beyoncé debates, join the Key Change Facebook group.Podcast art by Anthea LeBrocq (@fulltimeangel on Instagram; antheaaaa@gmail.com for enquiries and commissions).Listen to Key Change on SpotifyListen to Key Change on Apple PodcastsFollow Key Change on Twitter!

Singles Club Vol 4 – 'Boys' by Charli XCX

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2019 5:47


There's lots to love about Charli XCX's 2017 single, 'Boys', but this episode looks at one bit and one bit alone – the way Charli sings the word "boys".Support GingerBFG on Patreon and Ko-FiFor episode sneak peaks and heated Beyoncé debates, join the Key Change Facebook group.Podcast art by Anthea LeBrocq (@fulltimeangel on Instagram; antheaaaa@gmail.com for enquiries and commissions).Listen to Key Change on SpotifyListen to Key Change on Apple PodcastsFollow Key Change on Twitter!

The Strong Mixed Feelings of the Sad Banger

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2019 17:19


Mark Ronson made the term famous, and Robyn is their undisputed queen, but the sad banger has a sob story all its own.Featuring:- Robyn – “Dancing On My Own”- Smokey Robinson & the Miracles – “Tears of a Clown”- Donna Summer – “Heaven Knows”- Frankie Knuckles – “Your Love”- ABBA – “Gimme Gimme Gimme (A Man After Midnight)”- Lykke Li – “Sadness Is A Blessing”- Lady Gaga – “Alejandro”- Mark Ronson ft Miley Cyrus – “Nothing Breaks Like A HeartSupport GingerBFG on Patreon and Ko-FiFor episode sneak peaks and heated Beyoncé debates, join the Key Change Facebook group.Podcast art by Anthea LeBrocq (@fulltimeangel on Instagram; antheaaaa@gmail.com for enquiries and commissions).Listen to Key Change on SpotifyListen to Key Change on Apple PodcastsFollow Key Change on Twitter!

Singles Club Vol 3 – 3 Small Words (Josie and the Pussycats)

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2019 7:12


An iconic song off the soundtrack for an underrated teen movie, ‘3 Small Words’ is a perfect gem for pop connoisseurs. Support GingerBFG on Patreon and Ko-FiFor episode sneak peaks and heated Beyoncé debates, join the Key Change Facebook group.Podcast art by Anthea LeBrocq (@fulltimeangel on Instagram; antheaaaa@gmail.com for enquiries and commissions).Listen to Key Change on SpotifyListen to Key Change on Apple PodcastsFollow Key Change on Twitter!

The Yeehaw Agenda – Is Old Town Road a novelty song?

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2019 15:46


A record-breaking chart-topper. A viral sensation on TikTok. A bold fusion of country flavours and trap rhythms. We know all that. But seriously…. what the hell kind of song is Old Town Road?Support GingerBFG on Patreon and Ko-FiHow Lil Nas X Took ‘Old Town Road’ from TikTok Meme to No. 1 | Diary of a Song [YouTube]For episode sneak peaks and heated Beyoncé debates, join the Key Change Facebook group.Podcast art by Anthea LeBrocq (@fulltimeangel on Instagram; antheaaaa@gmail.com for enquiries and commissions).Listen to Key Change on SpotifyListen to Key Change on Apple PodcastsFollow Key Change on Twitter!

Singles Club Vol 2 – Juice by Lizzo

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2019 5:11


In one of those working-for-years-first overnight success stories, Lizzo burst into our lives late in 2018 with the irresistible glitterbomb that is “Juice”, the lead single off her 2019 album Cuz I Love You. It’s tough to remember a time pre-Lizzo’s rule, such is the force of her incredibly timely brand of self-love and genre-hopping grooves. If she doesn’t do a sideshow when she visits Australia in early 2020, I may cry.For episode sneak peaks and heated Beyoncé debates, join the Key Change Facebook group.Podcast art by Anthea LeBrocq (@fulltimeangel on Instagram; antheaaaa@gmail.com for enquiries and commissions).

Singles Club Vol 1 – Night Shift by Lucy Dacus

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2019


The Singles Club takes a close-up look at individual songs and what makes them tick. First up, a personal favourite – the opening track from Lucy Dacus’s 2018 album Historian, “Night Shift”. With a six and a half minute runtime, it’s a bold way to kick off an album by any standard, but “Night Shift” manages to be both challenging and familiar, all while packing a massive emotional punch.For episode sneak peaks and heated Beyoncé debates, join the Key Change Facebook group.Podcast art by Anthea LeBrocq (@fulltimeangel on Instagram; antheaaaa@gmail.com for enquiries and commissions).

Kind of Blue – How Joni Mitchell's Influence Lives On

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2019 13:28


It’s a no-brainer to say that Joni Mitchell has had a massive influence across her career, but how did her album Blue come to define the sound of 2019?Featuring:- Joni Mitchell – “All I Want”, “River” and “A Case of You”- Weyes Blood – “Andromeda”- Julia Jacklin – “Body”- Phoebe Bridgers – “Motion Sickness”- Stella Donnelly – “Boys Will Be Boys”- Lucy Dacus – “Night Shift”- Angel Olsen – “Not Gonna Kill You”- Laura Jean – “Girl On The TV”- Julia Holter – “Marienbad”- Cate Le Bon – “The Light”Listen to the BBC doco on Joni MitchellCheck out the full playlist and add your picks on Apple Music and Spotify. For episode sneak peaks and heated Beyoncé debates, join the Key Change Facebook group.Podcast art by Anthea LeBrocq (@fulltimeangel on Instagram; antheaaaa@gmail.com for enquiries and commissions).Listen to Key Change on SpotifyListen to Key Change on Apple Podcasts

Why Meg White is better than you think

Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2019 9:26


She cops a lot of grief, but is the White Stripes drummer better than you remember?Featuring:– Fell In Love With A Girl, Hotel Yorba, The Hardest Button to Button and Icky Thump by the White StripesCheck out the full playlist and add your picks on Apple Music and Spotify. For episode sneak peaks and heated Beyoncé debates, join the Key Change Facebook group.Podcast art by Anthea LeBrocq (@fulltimeangel on Instagram; antheaaaa@gmail.com for enquiries and commissions).

Over and Over – How repetition gets a hook stuck in your head

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2019 15:53


Unless you’re one of the lucky ones, even seeing the words Baby Shark is enough to get your brain singing “doo doo doo-doo do-doo” on a short, maddening loop. For me, though, it got me thinking about how repetitive hooks mess with your brain, and how that power can be used for good (or evil, depending on how you feel about Baby Shark).Repetition is a MASSIVE subject, so I’ve focused on repetitive lyrics, and what they do to us. After I’d recorded this episode, I realised that Vox has already done a terrific video on this phenomenon. Thankfully I had gone down a very different path, but you should watch all of the Vox Earworm videos because they’re great. I actually referenced one in the episode! Watch their video on triplet flow, and see what I dream about Key Change becoming one day (

The Untouched Power of Undead Strings

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2019 9:54


Not quite real, not quite fake, but more powerful than both. Undead strings are pure power; like a litch in music form. Sharp and merciless, undead strings were once sounds made by musical instruments, but they underwent strange torment to become unstoppable!

Taylor Swift Can't Say "Off"

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2019 12:50


Sorry for the clickbait title — OBVIOUSLY Taylor Swift can and does say the word “off”. But she doesn't say it in the chorus of her 2014 hit, " Shake It Off”, and I had to know why.Featuring:— Taylor Swift - Shake It Off— Hall & Oates - You Make My Dreams— N*Sync - It's Gonna Be MeFor episode sneak peaks and heated Beyoncé debates, join the Key Change Facebook group.Podcast art by Anthea LeBrocq (@fulltimeangel on Instagram; antheaaaa@gmail.com for enquiries and commissions)Check out (and add to!) this episode’s playlist!Apple MusicSpotify

How does a Hype Lift help Carly Rae Jepsen cut to the feeling?

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2019 23:34


It's not ALL about the chorus (only mostly). A huge part of why Cut To The Feeling is such a banger is the way it sets you up before the chorus, building hype so the chorus goes off like fireworks.Most of what we're talking about here is the pre-chorus, but songs like Cut To The Feeling do something very specific; something I'm calling the Hype Lift.So what exactly is a hype lift, and how did Metallica and David Bowie do that makes this shimmery, sugary pop song explode into colour? Well I guess you'll have to listen to find out!As always, you can find playlists for this episode on Apple Music and Spotify. These seasonal varieties feature some of the least-agonising carols that bring up bells, and come with a Bublé-free guarantee.*If you’re a keen bean where music is concerned, why not join the Key Change Facebook group? Add to a conversation, or start one! There’s no entry requirements or gatekeeping; just be enthusiastic, respectful, and a good listener, and you’ll be welcome.

Why does Christmas sound like bells?

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2018 8:32


Nothing summons misty-eyed nostalgic visions of sugarplum fairies and snow-dappled fir trees like the soft jingling of sleigh bells. Every tune with even a passing connection to Christmas busts out the tinkling percussion to get you in the seasonal spirit, but why are bells the indisputable sound of Christmas? How did our brains get rewired to associate sleigh bells with holly-decked halls?In this brief, festive episode, I won’t really answer that question (not satisfactorily, anyway — I don’t have the research team to make this happen), but let’s ponder it together in this bite-sized treat that you can call on when the Christmas Day conversation turns to politics. Astound Aunty Doris with your moderately-researched ideas rather than have to listen to talk about “those people” for the millionth time. You’re a retiree, Doris; no one’s taking your job.As always, you can find playlists for this episode on Apple Music and Spotify. These seasonal varieties feature some of the least-agonising carols that bring up bells, and come with a Bublé-free guarantee.*If you’re a keen bean where music is concerned, why not join the Key Change Facebook group? Add to a conversation, or start one! There’s no entry requirements or gatekeeping; just be enthusiastic, respectful, and a good listener, and you’ll be welcome.*if you like Bublé, more power to you — I, for one, have spent enough time with his Christmas album during my time in retail to sustain me for this life.

Your Best American Girl's Big Dynamic Energy

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2018 30:11


Brace yourself — it's gonna get loud! We go inside the quietLOUDquiet shifts that make music so viscerally thrilling, and ask why I want to keep listening to Your Best American Girl long after my eardrums are left in tatters.Featuring:Mitski — Your Best American GirlCarl Orff — Carmina Burana: O FortunaThe Pixies — GiganticNirvana — Smells Like Teen SpiritMiley Cyrus — Wrecking BallMogwai — Mogwai Fear Satan (live)Yeah Yeah Yeahs — MapsCheck out this episode’s playlist on Apple Music and Spotify. You can join (or start!) the conversation on the Key Change Facebook group.

"Since U Been Gone" and the Wind Machine Chorus

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2018 17:55


Since U Been Gone is an iconic tune, not least for its gargantuan chorus. But how did British heavy metal influence the sound of Kelly Clarkson's breakout hit? Let's talk Iron Maiden, Swedish super-producers, and Alicia Keys' sequel to 'Empire State of Mind'.Featuring:Kelly Clarkson - Since U Been GoneIron Maiden - Run to the HillsThe Veronicas - 4everJay-Z - Empire State of MindAlicia Keys - Empire State of Mind Pt IIFountains of Wayne - Stacy's MomVisit gingerbfg.com/keychange for complete show notes, links to playlists, and transcripts. For episode sneak peaks and heated Beyoncé debates, join the Key Change Facebook group.Podcast art by Anthea LeBrocq (@fulltimeangel on Instagram; antheaaaa@gmail.com for enquiries and commissions)Check out (and add to!) this episode’s playlist!Apple MusicSpotify

Get ready for Key Change!

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2018 1:46


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