Object Of Sound

What is the sound of where you come from? Is it a particular song you remember from your childhood? Maybe it's a collection of remembered sounds from your first home—a train that passed nearby, or the wildlife that would sing at night. Maybe it's the first song that you ever really connected to, the one that first made you feel like you belonged. In this special episode, we're exploring this question from many perspectives. Hanif speaks to composer and multi-instrumentalist Angélica Negrón, whose work is deeply invested in these questions of sound, home, and belonging. Plus we hear from Hanif's friends, and from you, our listeners, about what ‘the sound of where I come from' means to you. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode, head over to https://www.mixcloud.com/sonos/ Music in this episode:O-H-I-O - Ohio PlayersLetter Home - Defiance, OhioFindlay, Ohio 1968 - Indigo GirlsCuyahoga - R.E.M.Cleveland Is The City - Bone Thugs-N-HarmonyLook At Miss Ohio - Gillian Welch Show Notes:In this episode, you heard: 1) La Nueva Ciudad, by Balún, 2) El Colapso by Angélica Negrón and 3) an excerpt from Sembrar & Pasajero, performed live by Angélica Negrón at The Greene Space as part of her variety show, El Living Room. Check out more of her work at https://www.angelicanegron.com/ and on instagram at @little_miss_echo. For photos of the Object of Sound Room from On Air: The Podcast Experience, check out experiencepodcasts.com. Credits:This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Schuyler Swenson, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos. 

Imagine walking inside a room that was made for fans of this show. We've teamed up with the first-ever immersive podcast experience happening Feb 23-26 at Wythe Hotel in Williamsburg Brooklyn to make it happen. Flip through original vinyl and artifacts from the show, add your selects to a living playlist, and if you're lucky, run into Hanif in the room! All the details are available at bit.ly/oos-experience

Welcome to our first ever year end special, ‘This Year In Music with Hanif Abdurraqib.' December is the perfect time to look back on all the incredible music that has been released over the past year: the songs that moved us to dance, and the songs that helped us endure. In this hour-long deep dive, we'll review the musical highlights of 2022 and make predictions about the future of music in 2023 together with special guests Kelela, Sam Sanders, and Santigold.Credits:This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Edwin Ochoa and Jason Saldanha and the team at PRX and of course, Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.

In Mali, where Fatoumata Diawara was raised, it is common for women to sing, but much rarer for women to play an instrument. As a result, Fatoumata—who is one of the first, if not the first woman guitarist in all of Mali—has developed a self-taught, intuitive guitar playing style that is entirely her own. “This way of playing, it's me,” says Fatoumata. “It represents my fight as a musician, as an African, and as a lady on stage.” In this episode of Object of Sound, Fatoumata talks to Hanif about how she discovered her calling as a musician, and the exciting ways that she is fusing the traditional music of her homeland with Western influences on her third studio album, out next year. Hanif closes the episode with a selection of blues and folk music from Mali. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode, head over to radio.sonos.com. Music In This Week's Episode: Kalan - Fatoumata DiawaraBassemory - Mamou SidibéLalla - TinariwenKuma - Salif KeitaSabali - Amadou & MariamSarama - Oumou SangaréTongo Barra - Vieux Farka Touré, Khruangbin Credits:This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.

The night before Thanksgiving, Hanif has a special invented tradition: every year, he makes a batch of cupcakes and watches The Last Waltz—and every year, he finds new things to love about the film. Directed by Martin Scorsese, The Last Waltz is a 1978 concert film documenting the final performance of The Band. To Hanif, the movie is not just a collection of great performances, but a study in exquisite tenderness, and how to say goodbye. Hrishikesh Hirway joins Hanif to discuss the film in this special episode recorded live at On Air Fest LA Annex 2022. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode, head over to radio.sonos.com.  Music In This Week's Episode: Sip the Wine - Rick DankoDon't Do It - The BandMy Love - Rick Danko and Richard ManuelDown South in New Orleans - The Band, Bobby CharlesFalse Hearted Lover Blues - Levon HelmTura Lura Lural (That's an Irish Lullaby) - The Band, Van Morrison All Our Past Times - Rick DankoShowdown at Big Sky - Robbie Robertson Show Notes:This special episode of Object of Sound was recorded live at On Air LA Annex.Check out the clips from the Last Waltz that Hanif shared with Hrishi on stage: the Band performing Caravan with Van Morrison, Helpless with Neil Young, The Weight with the Staples Singers. Plus, the clip of Rick Danko's interview with Martin Scorsese. Photos from Hanif and Hrishi's conversation on stage at On Air LA Annex can be found on our instagram, @objectofsound. The artwork for Music from Big Pink inspired Hanif to pick up the Band's music at his local library. Credits:This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.

“Music is a time machine,” says Ben Gibbard, singer and guitarist of Death Cab for Cutie. Just a few bars of a beloved song can be transportative, an instant reminder of another time and place. “And if you've been that in someone's life, you have a responsibility to keep that material alive.” For Ben, that means continuing to honor and perform work from Death Cab for Cutie's back catalog—some of which he wrote when he was only twenty years old—while constantly pushing the band to new creative heights. On this episode of Object of Sound, Ben and Hanif talk about what it is like to live alongside the work we produce, and how our relationship to it changes as we grow up. Hanif closes the episode with a playlist of songs about getting older. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode, head over to radio.sonos.com.Music In This Week's Episode:  Here to Forever - Death Cab For CutieGrandma's Hands - Bill WithersWhen You're Old And Lonely - The Magnetic Fields20 Something - SZABitter with the Sweet - Carole KingIntrospection - UMIThose Were The Days - Angel OlsenThe Lights are Going Out -  Orchestral Manoeuvres in the DarkShow Notes:Asphalt Meadows is out now.Ocean Child: the Songs of Yoko Ono is available now for purchase and streaming. A portion of proceeds from the album go to WhyHunger.If you're also a fan of OMD, you can get your very own t shirt just like the one Ben was wearing during our interview.Credits:This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.

“While I'm alive, I'll make tiny changes to Earth.” Written by Scott Hutchison, the late frontman of the band Frightened Rabbit, this line has provided comfort, consolation, and inspiration to those who loved Scott's music. A talented and witty lyricist, Scott's songs could be devastatingly crushing or funny, visceral or resonant—sometimes all in the same track. But an artist is more than the work they produce, and so, on this episode of Object of Sound, we're celebrating not only Scott's music, but also his life and legacy. We speak to Ben Gibbard, Frank Turner, Georgia Maq, and more, who share memories and impressions of the way Scott and his music shaped their lives. We'll also hear from listeners who called into the Object of Sound hotline to talk about what Scott's music means to them, and all the changes—both tiny and profound—that he has made to the lives of his listeners. Closing the episode, Hanif walks us through a playlist of some of his top Scott Hutchison songs. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode, head over to radio.sonos.com. Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of mental illness and suicide that may be upsetting for some listeners. Please take care of yourself. We invite you to listen to this episode if you feel comfortable and able, or to skip out and join us again next week. If you are in need of support, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in the USA can be reached with the three-digit dialing code 988, or by calling 1-800-273-8255. Music In This Week's Episode: Swim Until You Can't See Land - Frightened RabbitThe Twist - Frightened RabbitTen Tons of Silence - Owl JohnA Good Reason to Grow Old - Owl JohnBird is Bored of Flying - MastersystemNotes on a Life Not Quite Lived - Mastersystem Show Notes:Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of mental illness and suicide that may be upsetting for some listeners. Please take care of yourself. We invite you to listen to this episode if you feel comfortable and able, or to skip out and join us again next week. If you are in need of support, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in the USA can be reached with the three-digit dialing code 988, or by calling 1-800-273-8255. Ben Gibbard, Craig Finn and Jeff Zeigler all contributed to Tiny Changes: A Celebration of Frightened Rabbit's ‘The Midnight Organ Fight', along with previous Object of Sound guests Julien Baker and Aaron Dessner.Ben Gibbard, Craig Finn, Julien Baker and Aaron Dessner also participated in the Rough Trade Tribute, Tiny Changes: A Celebration Of The Songs Of Scott Hutchison on Dec 5, 2018. In 2019, Scott Hutchison's family created Tiny Changes, a non-profit organization that supports efforts to improve mental health in children and young people. Frank Turner wrote A Wave Across the Bay to honor Scott's memory. Credits:This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.

Before Tegan and Sara sat down to make Crybaby, they had to navigate a series of breakups—with their label, their management, and (almost) with each other. “This is our breakup record,” says Sara Quin, “but we're not going to break up. We're siblings. We can't.” In the turmoil that followed, Tegan and Sara rebuilt their professional team, repaired their relationship, and completely reinvented their collaborative songwriting process for Crybaby, one of their most exciting releases yet. In this episode of Object of Sound, Tegan and Sara talk to Hanif about tenderness, tantrums, and the delight of destroying everything so you can make it all over again. To close the episode, Hanif guides us through a selection of breakup songs. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode, head over to radio.sonos.com.Music In This Week's Episode: This Ain't Going Well - Tegan and SaraEvergreen (You Didn't Deserve Me At All) - Omar ApolloCherry Blossom - Pom Pom SquadSelf Fulfilling Prophecy - Pretty SickWe Can't Be Friends (with R.L.) - Deborah Cox, R.L.Happy After - AlgebraHow Long Do I Have To Wait For You? - Sharon Jones & The Dap-KingsBad Friend - Rina Sawayama Show Notes:Crybaby is out now. Credits:This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos. 

Carly Rae Jepsen is a writer's writer. “I am very excited about the idea of writing it in all directions,” Carly says — and for the making of her latest album, The Loneliest Time, that meant writing literally hundreds of songs. On this episode of Object of Sound, Hanif and Carly Rae Jepsen talk about the unique collaborative process that went into narrowing that collection of songs down to the thirteen tracks on the album. Carly opens up about the challenges and opportunities of songwriting during the pandemic, and her drive to keep challenging the idea of what a pop song can be. Inspired by Carly's recent experience at a James Taylor concert, Hanif closes the episode with a playlist of great songs to cry to. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode, head over to radio.sonos.com. Music In This Week's Episode: Surrender My Heart - Carly Rae JepsenNorthern Sky - Nick DrakeSomeday We'll All Be Free - Donny HathawayThe Very Thought of You - Nat King ColeI Don't Smoke - MitskiWhen The Sun Hits - SlowdiveGood Goodbye - Lianne La HavasLong Ride Home - Patti GriffinShow Notes:Carly Rae Jepsen's The Loneliest Time is out today, October 21. Check out the full 8.5 hour version of Hanif's Mega Sad Playlist, crowdsourced on Twitter and collected by Zineb Nour, here. This episode is part of our mini series, “The Wonders of Songwriting,” three special episodes on Object of Sound devoted to the art of how songs become songs. Hanif talks to artists Ravyn Lenae, Nick Hakim, and Carly Rae Jepsen to understand where their love of language comes from, how words become images become music, where the ideas begin, and how they morph as they move from the page into the intangible space of melody and vibration.If you're a writer or maker in need of a creative refuel, check out Hanif's recent interview on Creative Pep Talk, which also features lessons from artists we've interviewed here on Object of Sound.Credits:This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.  

“One of the most meditative things about writing is that you kind of forget where you are,” says Nick Hakim. “If you're tapped into it, you're not really thinking about anything else.” On this episode of Object of Sound, Nick recalls the spontaneous 5:00am recordings and free writing that went into the making of his new album COMETA, out October 21. Plus, Nick treats us to a special sneak peek of Perfume—one of Hanif's favorite tracks off COMETA—and shares with us the inspiration behind the song, which beautifully captures the excitement of new love. Building on the album's themes, Hanif curates a playlist of songs all about falling in love to close out the episode. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode, head over to radio.sonos.com. Music In This Week's Episode: Vertigo - Nick HakimShoe In - Secret StarsFallingforyou - The 1975I Like It - DeBargeCaught Up In The Rapture - Anita BakerI Couldn't Love You More - SadeKiss Me - Sixpence None The RicherDarling - Montell Fish Show Notes:Nick Hakim's COMETA is out October 21. The singles, Vertigo and Happen, are available now. Check out the poetry of Nick and Hanif's mutual friend Safia Elhillo, and read Dianne Seuss' “Romantic Poetry” in the New Yorker. This episode is part of our mini series, “The Wonders of Songwriting,” three special episodes on Object of Sound devoted to the art of how songs become songs. Hanif talks to artists Ravyn Lenae, Nick Hakim, and Carly Rae Jepsen to understand where their love of language comes from, how words become images become music, where the ideas begin, and how they morph as they move from the page into the intangible space of melody and vibration.If you're a writer or maker in need of a creative refuel, check out Hanif's recent interview on Creative Pep Talk, which also features lessons from artists we've interviewed here on Object of Sound. Credits:This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.

“I came into my own and I was able to find my voice through my writing,” says artist Ravyn Lenae. The making of her album, HYPNOS, was a four-year-long journey of blood, sweat and tears—but the result is a meticulously crafted debut, a collection of songs on which Ravyn herself has curated every element, right down to individual snares and bass lines. In this episode, the first in our three part mini-series, “The Wonders of Songwriting,” Hanif and Ravyn dig into the editing process that produced the many sonic moods and colors on HYPNOS. And, in an Object of Sound exclusive, Ravyn walks Hanif through the earlier mixes of her song, ‘Inside Out,' and explains why this track in particular needed over 2,000 vocal recordings before it was just right. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode, including ‘Inside Out, head over to radio.sonos.com. Music In This Week's Episode: Inside Out - Ravyn LenaeWe're So Good - Kids On A Crime SpreeHold On - The InternetOne For the Griot - J-LiveDon't Go Near The Water - The Beach BoysMigratory Birds - Earth From The MoonLet's Pretend We're Not In Love - The Reds, Pinks, and PurplesTender Falls the Rain - Randy Crawford Show Notes: This episode is part of our mini series, “The Wonders of Songwriting,” three special episodes on Object of Sound devoted to the art of how songs become songs. Hanif talks to artists Ravyn Lenae, Nick Hakim, and Carly Rae Jepsen to understand where their love of language comes from, how words become images become music, where the ideas begin, and how they morph as they move from the page into the intangible space of melody and vibration. Credits:This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.

“It's like digging a hole and moving into it, and listening to a lot of bass, and loving it.” So says Björk of the meaning behind the word ‘Fossora'—the title of her tenth studio album, just released today. On this episode, Hanif and Björk break Fossora down concept-by-concept, from the sextet of bass clarinets that shape the album's grounded, sonic world, to the album's themes of digging deeply into our ancestral roots, and the pleasures of setting down new ones. To close the show, Hanif riffs on Fossora's autumnal vibes with a playlist of music for the coming season. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode head over to radio.sonos.com. Music In This Week's Episode: Sorrowful Soil - BjörkGod In Wilson - Dijonlet it be me - Joy OladokunACTING NORMAL - BLACKSTARKIDSI Don't Know How To Love - The DrumsLonging To Hold You - Black HarmonyPulling Leaves Off Trees - WallowsSowing Seeds - The Jesus and Mary Chain Show Notes: Björk's album Fossora is out now. Credits:This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.

“When I'm onstage, it's the happiest I feel. It's the most in love with myself I feel,” says Danielle Ponder. “I know that's my purpose.” On this episode of Object of Sound, Danielle and Hanif talk about how Danielle left her successful career as a public defender to follow her purpose and become a musician full time—and how Danielle sees storytelling as a vital skill for both professions. Hanif and Danielle dig into the making of her debut album ‘Some Of Us Are Brave,' and Danielle reveals how connecting with other people through the stories in her songs helps her feel more alive, and less alone. At the end of the episode, Hanif creates a playlist of some of the very first songs he fell in love with. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode head over to radio.sonos.com. Music In This Week's Episode: Some Of Us Are Brave- Danielle PonderPirate Jenny (Live at Carnegie Hall) - Nina SimoneThe Good Humor Man He Sees Everything Like This - LoveRich - Yeah Yeah YeahsCall the Doctor - Sleater-KinneyBanquet - Bloc PartyHere Lies the Man That Never Changed - Jacob BanksFlirted With You All My Life - Vic Chesnutt Show Notes: Danielle Ponder's debut album, Some of Us Are Brave, is out now.The album takes its title from the book, All the Women are White, All the Blacks are Men, But Some of Us Are Brave, a groundbreaking collection of black feminist scholarship published in 1982.Catch Danielle Ponder on tour across the US through November.Credits:This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.Hey Jealousy - Gin Blossoms 

Welcome to Season Four of Object of Sound! To kick us off, Hanif sits down with Madison Cunningham, who just released her latest album, Revealer. Hanif and Madison dig deep into the songwriting process: the vulnerability and ultimately, the surrender that is required to put a piece of yourself out into the world. Throughout the conversation, Hanif and Madison investigate what it is like to confront our own reflections, and find the balance between who we think we are, and who exists behind that image. Plus, Hanif closes the episode with a playlist of his top road trip tunes. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode head over to www.mixcloud.com/sonos. Music In This Week's Episode: Sunshine Over the Counter - Madison CunninghamThink Nothing - Sydney SpragueFrontline - KelelaHoneycomb - Kadhja BonetWarm Winds (feat. Isaiah Rashad) - SZA, Isaiah RashadI Think You're Alright - Jay SomHigh Lonesome - The Gaslight Anthem Credits:This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.Hey Jealousy - Gin Blossoms Show Notes: Madison Cunningham's album Revealer is available now. Madison recorded ‘Life According to Raechel' at Sonic Ranch in El Paso, Texas.   

“I have lived half my life in fear of judgment,” says Margo Price. “I'm so done with it.” In the final episode of this season, recorded from the back lounge of Margo's tour bus, Margo reveals how the experience of writing her autobiography, Maybe We'll Make It, empowered her to let go of her fear and tell her personal story. Plus, Margo talks to Hanif about her on-the-road reading list, her upcoming Sonos show Runaway Horses, and what she thinks of the evolving Nashville music scene. Hanif closes the episode with a playlist of autobiographical songs. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode head over to https://bit.ly/oos-margo-price./ Music In This Week's Episode: /This Town Gets Around - Margo PriceSports, Drugs and Entertainment - Cam'ronNutbush City Limits - Tina TurnerRehab - Amy WinehouseCoal Miner's Daughter - Loretta LynnPiano Man - Billy JoelCaptain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy - Elton JohnAre You Leaving For The Country - Karen DaltonShow Notes: Margo Price's memoir, Maybe We'll Make It, is out October 4 on University of Texas Press.Margo's bookstack includes a collection of poems by Mark Strand, Kalamazoo Gals: A Story of Extraordinary Women & Gibson's 'Banner' Guitars of WWII, Crying At H Mart, and Citizen Cash.Hanif previously interviewed Margo's friend and fellow musician, Adia Victoria, during Season 2 of Object of Sound. He spoke to Allison Russell about Outside Child earlier this year. Margo's upcoming Sonos show, Runaway Horses, will be released later this year. This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. We had wonderful help this week from Columbus producer, Jeremy Steckel. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.

So many coming-of-age stories focus on leaving where you're from—but what compels someone to come back? Musician PJ Morton returned to his hometown of New Orleans in 2016, and since then, he's established an independent record label, founded a non-profit organization, and worked to restore the home of jazz pioneer Buddy Bolden. In this episode, Hanif and PJ talk about embracing the strength in your roots, and the making of his just-released album, Watch the Sun, which features appearances from artists like Stevie Wonder, Nas, Jill Scott, and more. To close the episode, Hanif takes us on a musical tour of his home state of Ohio. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode head over to www.mixcloud.com/sonos. Music In This Week's Episode:Be Like Water (feat. Stevie Wonder and Nas) - PJ MortonFreedom Now - Tracy ChapmanPride & Vanity - Ohio PlayersDon't Know What To Do - The EdselsDead End America - The PagansTunnel Bound - MoodHeat Night - The WaitressesWe Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off - Jermaine Stewart  Show notes:Watch the Sun is out today.PJ Morton is working to save Buddy Bolden's house. Once restored the house will become a community center, museum, and recording studio, offering music-business education for young performers and celebrating the jazz originator's legacy.Watch the Sun was recorded at Studio in the Country in Bogalusa, LO. Credits:This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos. 

“I still have every bit of my voice,” says singer and civil rights icon Mavis Staples. “It's still here, and I'm still here.” Throughout her career, Mavis has used her voice to uplift the truth through song, and after seventy years, she has no interest in slowing down. This year Mavis is on tour throughout the US and Europe, and on May 20th, she will release a new album, Carry Me Home, recorded with The Band's Levon Helm. On this episode, Hanif speaks to Mavis about the album, why she won't be retiring anytime soon, and the secrets behind the longevity of her career—including how Mahalia Jackson taught her to take care of her voice. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode head over to www.mixcloud.com/sonos. / Music In This Week's Episode /I'll Take You There - The Staple SingersThe Last Waltz Suite: The Weight (feat. The Staple Singers) - The Band, The Staple SingersHow I Got Over - Live at New Temple Missionary Baptist Church - Aretha FranklinSummertime / Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child - Mahalia JacksonHeaven - Mary MaryDown in My Soul - Ingram SingersBL3$$3D - Trek Manifest Show Notes: Carry Me Home, a collaborative live album from Mavis Staples and Levon Helm, will be released May 20th. The first single, “You Got To Move,” is out now; the music video features footage of Mavis and Levon from the making of the album.Carry Me Home was recorded at Levon Helm Studios. The Studio is a barn designed and acoustically engineered by Levon himself, and it stands today as a one-of-a-kind musical landmark. Levon Helm Studios welcomes artists for intimate concerts, recording sessions, rehearsals, writing retreats, and private events.On May 20th, Mavis Staples will perform at Brooklyn Academy of Music, as part of the spring music series curated by Hanif. Amy Helm, Levon Helm's daughter, will open. You can follow Mavis' full tour this year on her website.  Every Thanksgiving, Hanif watches the Last Waltz. The Staple Singers appeared on Soul Train in 1974.A recent favorite song of Mavis' is Black Pumas' Colors. Credits:This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.

“Anyone who loves music can karaoke.” So declares Raina Lee, Karaoke Queen and author of Hit Me With Your Best Shot: The Ultimate Guide to Karaoke Domination. In celebration of National Karaoke Week, our new favorite niche holiday, we're devoting a whole episode to karaoke. We'll hear tips for picking the perfect song and what it takes to rule the karaoke stage from Raina and 2020 World Karaoke Champion Garvaundo Hamilton. Plus, listeners from across the country call in to perform some of their karaoke favorites. Marianne Chan closes out the episode with a reading of her poem, ‘In Defense of Karaoke.' For the playlist of songs curated for this episode head over to www.mixcloud.com/sonos. / Music In This Week's Episode: /I Wanna Dance With Somebody - Whitney HoustonUnwritten - Natasha BedingfieldU Remind Me - UsherNo Scrubs - TLCDon't Stop Believin' - Journey Show Notes: National Karaoke Week is the fourth week of April. Check your local karaoke venues for special events to celebrate the occasion.Raina Lee is a visual artist and the author of Hit Me With Your Best Shot: The Ultimate Guide To Karaoke Domination.  If you're in the LA area and looking for a local karaoke spot, she recommends the San Franciscan. Garvaundo Hamilton is the 2020 World Karaoke Champion. He is also the Washington State Director for the 2022 Karaoke World Championships. Qualifying competitions have already begun. Check out the Karaoke World Championship website to find an event near you!Marianne Chan is the author of In Defense of Karaoke, which is available in her book, All Heathens. Hanif often opens his own readings with the poem, and has previously read it for the 92Y. Credits:This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos. 

What does anger look like? In Yaeji's case, the answer is simple: a fearsome, bedazzled hammer. At least, that's the idea behind her forthcoming debut album. “It's a story about me and my anger,” says Yaeji. “My anger is materialized into this hammer that I befriend.” In this episode, Hanif sits down with Yaeji to talk about her songwriting process, her debut album, and the usefulness, the beauty, and the complicated nature of anger. Hanif closes the episode with a final thought: when we stop pushing away our anger and listen to what it is telling us, what greater acts of love, service, and creativity can that anger propel us towards? For the playlist of songs curated for this episode head over to www.mixcloud.com/sonos.Music In This Week's Episode:When I Grow Up - YaejiHit ‘Em Up Style - Blue CantrellYou Oughta Know - Alanis MorissetteCaught Out There - KelisNever Again - Kelly ClarksonBreaking Point - Keri HilsonWhat About - Janet Jackson Show Notes: Hanif's essay collection, A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance, was released just over a year ago. Check out the music video for ‘29,' Yaeji's recent single with OHHYUK, where she appears wielding a hammer. Recently, Yaeji has been reading Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park Hong.You can see Jiji in all her cuteness on Yaeji's instagram.Credits:This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.

Jack White has won twelve Grammys, founded his own label, and is regularly ranked as one of the top guitarists of all time—but, “I've never felt like I've arrived or felt satisfied,” he tells Hanif. It's that restlessness and discomfort with success that keeps pushing Jack into new creative territory. In this episode, we talk to Jack about his two forthcoming albums, Fear Of The Dawn and Entering Heaven Alive, and what it means to consistently return to the challenge of making something new—a daunting and inspiring task that all artists face. Plus, Hanif makes a playlist highlighting his favorite vinyl record purchases so far this year. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode head over to https://bit.ly/oos-jackwhite. Music in this episode:Hi-De-Ho - Jack White, Q-TipParty Girl - Linda RonstadtLonely, Lonely - Nancy WilsonWay Out - Steve Arrington's Hall of FameEmotion - Merry ClaytonYou're Just What I Need - Betty WrightTalk Talk - Talk Talk|Let the Church Roll On - Mahalia Jackson Show Notes:You can check out the final product of Hanif's reupholstery project on his instagram, @nifmuhammad. Find select Jack White upholstery projects documented here.Fear of the Dawn is out April 8. Entering Heaven Alive will be released July 22. Catch Jack White on tour across North America and Europe, starting on April 8 and continuing through August. Check out Cab Calloway's 1934 short film Hi-De-Ho. Calloway is sampled on Jack White and Q-Tip's track of the same name. Jack White previously collaborated with Q-Tip on the A Tribe Called Quest album, We got it from Here... Thank You 4 Your service, where he appeared on several tracks as a guest artist.Hanif has performed in The Blue Room, a performance venue housed inside Third Man Records in Nashville, Tennessee.Special thanks to Brett and Amy at Spoonful Records in Columbus, Ohio for their hospitality! Credits:This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.

Just in time for the final weeks of March Madness, we're bringing two of our favorite things together – music and basketball. Hanif heads to a Cleveland Cavaliers v. Detroit Pistons game to take in the sounds courtside. Then, together with sports journalist Haley O'Shaughnessy and former Tommy Records President Monica Lynch, we'll uncover the stories that explain why you hear what you hear at a game, and dig into 90s nostalgia. Plus, Hanif makes a playlist of his favorite arena hits. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode head over to www.mixcloud.com/sonos.Music in this week's episode:Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now) - C&C Music FactoryHip Hop Hooray - Naughty By NatureThunderstruck - AC/DCTimber (feat. Ke$ha) - Pitbull, KeshaSirius - The Alan Parsons ProjectJump Around - House of PainLet's Get Loud - Jennifer LopezShow Notes: For more 90's nostalgia, check out Arij's arena songs pick: Space Jam (Music From and Inspired By the Motion Picture.) At the game Hanif and Arij attended, the Cavs Dancing Dads performed to Gasolina.Read more about Victor the Wrestling Bear, who performed in the ABA, in Deadspin.You can watch John Tesh talk more about the origins of the NBA on NBC theme song here. Credits:This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. We had wonderful help this week from Cleveland producer, Nate Kelmes. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.

“I'm just so fascinated by the voice,” says Taja Cheek, the experimentalist and multi-instrumentalist behind L'Rain. “It feels so scary to me, but that's also what kind of draws me closer to it to try to figure it out.” It's this fascination Taja credits with inspiring the dreamy and ethereal vocal manipulations on Fatigue, L'Rain's second album. On this episode, Hanif and Taja sit down ahead of L'Rain's upcoming tour to talk in detail about her process, the power of repetition, and confronting one's own voice.  We'll also talk about L'Rain's upcoming show at BAM, where she is performing with Moses Sumney as part of a series of concerts curated by Hanif. Plus, stay tuned at the end of the episode as Hanif and Taja collaborate on a vocal experiment of their own. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode head over to www.mixcloud.com/sonos. Music In This Week's Episode:Find It - L'RainHalo - BeyoncéI'm Goin' Down - Bruce SpringsteenWork - Rhianna, DrakeMr. Brightside - The KillersThong Song - Amber MarkAin't No Sunshine - Bill WithersShow Notes: You can view the full Spring Music Series at BAM, curated by Hanif, here Tickets are still available for select performances.To see L'Rain on tour, check out her tour schedule online. Taja (as L'Rain) is currently a resident host at NTS.Check out Hanif's profile of noise artist Dreamcrusher in Fader.Hanif recommends checking out this article on L'Rain collaborator Jasper Marsalis, who performs under the name Slauson Malone.Credits:This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.

“Soundtracks are the unsung heroes of film.” That's the premise of this special episode of Object of Sound, recorded live at On Air Fest 2022. Hanif and New York Times critic at large Wesley Morris took to the stage in Brooklyn to talk about four of their all-time favorite Black movie soundtracks, from Do the Right Thing (1989) to Love and Basketball (2000), from Boomerang (1992) to Belly (1998). Plus, a playlist of standout hits from soundtracks of the 1990s. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode head over to www.mixcloud.com/sonos.Music In This Week's Episode: Know The Ledge, Eric B. & RakimEnd Of The Road, Boyz II MenSo Good, DavinaFor the Love of Money / Living For the City (feat. Queen Latifah), Troop, Levert, Queen LatifahDays of Our Livez, Bone Thugs-N-HarmonySittin' Up In My Room, BrandyShow Notes: Hanif remembers watching the music video for Eric B. & Rakim's Know the Ledge before he was allowed to see Juice, the film for which the song was composed.You can follow along with the scene from Boomerang (1992) featuring Eddie Murphy and Halle Berry here.Watch the opening credits from Spike Lee's Do The Right Thing, featuring Public Enemy's Fight the Power, here. To follow along with the dance scene from Love and Basketball, see here.Ahead of the scene from Belly, Hanif read from his piece On Warnings in the Paris Review.The opening scene of Belly was in part inspired by the music video for Ja Rule's Kill Them All.Credits:This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.

“The journey to self-love is not quick, or easy, or ever over,” says musician Allison Russell, whose solo album Outside Child was released to widespread acclaim last year. In this episode, Allison and Hanif sit down to talk about healing and moving towards self-love through trauma—and the rollercoaster of emotions that often comes along with that work. How can we embrace the totality of our past, comfortably inhabit our contradictions, and love who we are in this moment—whether we feel shameless, ashamed, or both? This week, our playlist features songs about loving oneself. Plus, Allison and Hanif swap poem and book recommendations—check the show notes for links! For the playlist of songs curated for this episode head over to www.mixcloud.com/sonos.Music In This Week's Episode:Poison Arrow, Allison RussellFeelins, Betty DavisDeliverance, Sa-RocThere She Goes, The La'sTomorrow Is My Turn, Nina SimoneBaby Can I Hold You, Tracy ChapmanQueendom, GirlhoodNobody Knows, Pastor T.L. Barrett and the Youth for Christ ChoirLost In The Paradise, Gal CostaShow Notes: Our Native Daughters is a collaboration between Rhiannon Giddens, Amethyst Kiya, Leyla McCalla and Allison Russell. Together, they reinterpret and create new works from old ones, shining light on African-American women's stories of struggle, resistance, and hope.Allison Russell has been reading Hanif's collection of poems, A Fortune For Your Disaster, and giving away copies of the book as gifts.Allison Russell's song Nightflyer was inspired by the gnostic poem, The Thunder, Perfect Mind.Allison read the proposal for Hanif's book, Go Ahead in the Rain: Notes to A Tribe Called Quest, as well as reading Tarana Burke's Unbound: My Story of Liberation and the Birth of Me Too as part of preparation for writing her own forthcoming memoirAllison works to raise money for organizations that prevent child abuse, such as the National Children's Alliance and Little Warriors. Before the Me Too movement, she had experienced pushback when inviting advocacy groups such as RAINN to be present at events.Check out Sa Roc and Mumu Fresh's Tiny Desk concerts. Credits:This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.

“For a very long time, people knew of techno as a genre, but never placed it in Detroit,” says writer and cultural producer Imani Mixon. In this episode, we're digging deep into the origins of that Detroit techno sound. Hanif and Imani are joined by “godfather & originator” of Detroit techno himself, Eddie Fowlkes, to guide us through the evolution of techno, from the basements of Detroit to the airwaves of Europe, and beyond. Plus, Hanif guides us through a playlist of his top Detroit techno tracks.Music In This Week's Episode:Black Man Orchestra, Eddie FowlkesAlleys of Your Mind, CybotronDo It All Night, DJ MinxEpilogue, Octave OneGood Life, Inner CityOBX-A, X-102Urban Rains, Never On SundayShow Notes: Look out for Eddie Fowlkes' forthcoming releases this year—two EPs and a full-length album—on Detroit Wax.Check out more of Imani Mixon's work at her website. Credits:This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.

Welcome back to Object of Sound. In the debut episode of our third season, we're talking about the power of music to heal, inspire, and invite magic into our lives. “When we sing, we are deathless” says Lisa-Kaindé Diaz, one half of the duo Ibeyi describing her relationship with twin sister and collaborator, Naomi Diaz. That connection creates a special kind of magic, which is woven throughout the tracks of their forthcoming album, Spell 31. In this episode, Hanif sits down with Lisa and Naomi to talk about how they've grown through making music together, learning from past selves, and we're giving you a preview of Ibeyi's best album yet. On our playlist this week, songs that are a celebration of sisterhood. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode head over to www.mixcloud.com/sonos. Music In This Week's Episode: Sister 2 Sister - IbeyiRunaway - Nina SkyCrazy On You - HeartCannonball - The BreedersUngodly Hour - Chloe x HalleNow I'm In It - HaimThe Con - Tegan and SaraEmmylou - First Aid KitShow Notes:Some of Hanif's recently listening at the beginning of the year has included Shamir's Heterosexuality, Summer at Land's End by The Reds, Pinks and Purples, and Crown the King's Groundhog Day EP.Ibeyi's forthcoming album, Spell 31, will be out May 6 on XL Records. The music video for Sister 2 Sister is out now. Heart's performance of Crazy On You Live in 1978 is one of Hanif's favorite live performances of all time. Credits:This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.

Welcome to our first ever holiday special, ‘Christmas At Home with Hanif Abdurraqib' an hour long deep dive into the world of Christmas Music. Whether you're flooded with warm nostalgia at the first beat of Jingle Bells, or like Hanif didn't grow up with the holiday but are nonetheless enchanted by the aesthetics of it, this episode is for you. We've invited special guests Hrishikesh Hirway and the duo She & Him on the show to talk about Christmas standards, eggnog, and lay praise at the feet of Mariah Carey. Plus we hear from listeners from across the country who've called in to share their non-traditional Christmas traditions. For the Hanif and Hrishi's Christmas song bracket, running 12/18-12/23, head over to @objectofsound. Show Notes: She & Him's first Christmas album, A Very She & Him Christmas, is being re-released in special edition this year on the occasion of its 10th anniversary. Both A Very She & Him Christmas and She & Him's second Christmas album, Christmas Party, are available now. Hrishikesh Hirway is the host of Song Exploder and Home Cooking. He is also a composer. Recently, he composed the soundtrack for The Red Lantern, a dog-sledding survival game from Epic Games. Mariah Carey announced “It's Time” for Christmas on Nov. 1, 2021. She has been welcoming the Christmas season this way for the past several years. Hrishikesh Hirway and Hanif Abdurraqib will be running their Christmas song bracket on Twitter (@nifmuhammad, @hrishihirway, @objectofsound). Hanif's holiday tradition usually involves watching the 2003 classic, Love Actually.  Credits:This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Emily Shaw and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Ian Fox, Sean Nesbit, Jason Saldanha and the team at PRX and of course, Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.

“Collaboration—that's the easiest way to grow” says Aaron Dessner, member of the National and Big Red Machine, and a prolific collaborator with artists from Taylor Swift to Kanye West. In our final episode of Season two, we're talking to Aaron about what it's like to learn and experiment alongside other musicians, and how valuable that can be for breaking through into new creative frontiers. To close out this season, Hanif leaves us with an expression of gratitude, and a final thought on music as a communal experience. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode head over to https://bit.ly/oos-aaron-dessner. Music In This Week's Episode:Big Red Machine, MagnoliaAaron Dessner and Lauren Mayberry, Who'd You Kill Now?Taylor Swift and Bon Iver, exile (feat. Bon Iver)Aaron Dessner, Big Red MachineRichard Reed Perry, In A MomentHiss Golden Messenger, Terms of SurrenderHannah Georgas, EasyBig Red Machine and Sharon Van Etten, A Crime Show Notes: Big Red Machine's latest album, How Long Do You Think It's Gonna Last? is out now.You can watch Julien Baker's performance of “Claws In Your Back” at Eaux Claires IV, featuring Hanif's poetry performance, here. The Eaux Claires Festival is expected to return, reimagined, in 2022.  Credits:This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Mayari Sherina Ong, Kathleen Ottinger and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair.  

It's been 20 years since Aaliyah's passing, and for most of those years, her music has been largely inaccessible. Kept off streaming platforms, hidden from the internet. That is, until now. With nearly all of Aaliyah's catalog freshly released into the world, we're celebrating by devoting our full show in praise of Aaliyah. With a deep dive into her influence on fashion, music and culture and a playlist of tracks that feel like the summer of 2001... And still hit today. Joining Hanif are journalists Kathy Iandoli and Kiana Fitzgerald to rejoice in the (re)discovery of her work. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode head over to https://bit.ly/oos-aaliyah. Music In This Week's Episode:Aaliyah, If Your Girl Only KnewAaliyah, I Can BeAaliyah, Loose Rap (ft. Static Major)Aaliyah, Hot Like Fire (Timbaland Groove Mix feat. Missy Elliott & Timbaland)Aaliyah, 4 Page LetterTimbaland & Magoo, We At It AgainAaliyah, U Got NerveAaliyah, Rock the Boat Show Notes:I Care 4 U and Ultimate Aaliyah come to Spotify on October 8th, completing her catalog on that platform. You can stream her self-titled album and One In A Million now.Kathy Iandoli's book, Baby Girl: Better Known as Aaliyah is available now from Simon & Schuster. The Queen Bee, her forthcoming biography of Lil Kim, will be available in early 2022 from Hachette Books.Aaliyah's aesthetic was as visually powerful as it was sonic. Check out some of the music videos recommended by Hanif and our guests: 4 Page Letter; We At It Again; Crush On You; Are You That Somebody?You can check out Hanif's recent article on the Meters in Pitchfork.  Credits:This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Mayari Sherina Ong, Kathleen Ottinger and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair.  

What do you do when you revisit a beloved movie from your childhood, only to find out it's not quite what you remember? If you're Sufjan Stevens and Angelo De Augustine, you write a song about it. Their forthcoming album, A Beginner's Mind, is a journey back into childhood nostalgia and perspectives, shaped by films the pair watched while recording together. Through their songwriting process, Sufjan and Angelo strip away what was dark or violent in their source material, transforming it and reflecting back something that, in their words, is pure and good. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode head over to https://bit.ly/oos-source-material. Music In This Week's Episode: Sufjan Stevens and Angelo De Augustine, Fictional CaliforniaPixies, DebaserThe Ataris, So Long, AstoriaFugazi, Walken's SyndromeDolly Parton, 9 to 5Regina Spektor, FidelityRoxy Music, 2HBDeep Blue Something, Breakfast at Tiffany's Show Notes: A Beginner's Mind, by Sufjan Stevens and Angelo De Augustine, is out one week from today, on September 24. The first six tracks of the album are available for preview now on Bandcamp.  Credits:This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Mayari Sherina Ong, Kathleen Ottinger and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair.  

 “What about the Black woman who does not care to save you?” asks Adia Victoria. “How about the Black woman who is trying to look after her own skin, because you're not looking out for her?” Adia's forthcoming album, A Southern Gothic, is rich with these questions and the characters who ask them, moving between romanticizing the South and interrogating it, all while embracing the complexity of Adia's Southern identity. On this week's episode, Adia and Hanif dig into the widespread influence of Black Southern culture, and the legacy of the blues as an artistic gesture towards freedom—one that is still alive to this day, and remains as vital to American music as ever before. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode head over to https://bit.ly/southern-identity. Music In This Week's Episode: Adia Victoria, Magnolia BluesBig Mama Thornton, Your Love Is Where It Ought To BeMemphis Minnie, New Dirty DozenShirley Brown, Woman to WomanShemekia Copeland, Salt In My WoundsIda Cox, Wild Women Don't Have The BluesAlberta Hunter, My Handy Man Ain't Handy No MoreBessie Smith, Devil's Gonna Git You Show Notes: Adia Victoria's third studio album, A Southern Gothic, is out September 17. Spotify & Apple Music users can pre-save/pre-add the album via Adia's website. The first single, Magnolia Blues, is out now. You can listen to her Sonos Radio Hour on mixcloud and read her open letter to Spotify on her instagram, here.Adia hosts Call & Response, a podcast that draws upon the blues tradition of communal music making and listening. Call & Response has just entered its second season. The first episode, featuring Lucy Dacus, is available now. To pass the time during quarantine, Adia read: Subduing Satan by Ted Ownby, There Goes the Neighborhood by William Julius Wilson and Richard P. Taub, One Writer's Beginning and The Eye of the Story by Eudora Welty.Check out this video of Chaka Khan leading an ensemble performance of “I'm Every Woman” at Newport Folk. The performance was curated by Allison Russell, whose debut record, Outside Child, is out now. Credits:This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Mayari Sherina Ong, Kathleen Ottinger and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair.  

DJ Screw changed hip hop forever. You've heard his signature sound, even if you don't know his name. On this episode, co-hosted by Mogul's Brandon ‘Jinx' Jenkins, we sit down with Lil Keke to talk about the warbly, slowed-down style of mixing called Chopped and Screwed born out of Houston in the ‘90s, and how this sound spilled out from car stereos and into the culture at large.  For the playlist of songs curated for this episode head over to https://bit.ly/screwed-up-sound. Music In This Week's Episode: DJ Screw, Lil Keke - Pimp Tha PenDJ Screw, UGK - Tell Me Something GoodDJ Screw, Screwed Up Click - Shine and ReclineDJ Screw, Botany Boyz - Smokin And LeaninTrae Tha Truth, DJ Screw - Screw Tha World (feat. DJ Screw)DJ Screw - Elbows SwanginDJ Screw, Al-D - Why You Hatin Me Show Notes: Season Three of Mogul, hosted by Brandon Jinx Jenkins and featuring DJ Screw and the Screwed Up Click, is out now on Spotify.Lil Keke's forthcoming album, LGND, is out later this month. His previous album, Slfmade 3, is available now.Chopped and Screwed music is featured in the soundtracks of many cinematic works by Barry Jenkins, such as: Moonlight, If Beale Street Could Talk, and the Underground Railroad. Credits:This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Mayari Sherina Ong, Kathleen Ottinger and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. 

“The way I look at music is it's all mine” says Bartees Strange. “I can do whatever I want with whatever I hear, period.” When Bartees approaches a song—whether he's reimagining or remixing another artist, or writing for himself—he doesn't hold back. In this episode, Hanif and Bartees talk about making their art into their career, and the journey they each took to get there. Plus, Hanif and Bartees explain how living well and fully engaged with the world and people around them is an essential part of their creative processes. Plus Hanif curates a playlist of his favorite remixes. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode head over to https://bit.ly/oos-bartees-strange.Music in this week's episode: Phoebe Bridgers and Bartees Strange, Kyoto (Bartees Strange Remix)Le Tigre, Deceptacon (DFA Remix)Florence and the Machine, You've Got The Love (Jamie xx rework)Robyn, Baby Forgive Me (Floorplan Remix)?utm_source=ig_web_copy_linkAaliyah, Hot Like Fire (Timbaland' Groove Mix feat. Missy Elliott & Timbaland)SWV, AnythingShow Notes: Bartees Stranges' Live Forever is out now. Catch his latest remixes of Phoebe Bridgers' Kyoto and Illuminati Hotties' Pool Hopping.Bartees' tour kicks off on September 3 at the Pageant in St. Louis, MO and winds all across the country from there. For tickets and more tour dates, see Bartees' website.The beloved limited edition Kelly Rowland sweater can be viewed here.Credits:This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Mayari Sherina Ong, Kathleen Ottinger and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair.  

“All I need to be inspired is to be alive,” says Joan Armatrading. Throughout a career spanning over 50 years, Joan credits her singular songwriting to a relentless fascination with other people: how they love and live. This week on Object of Sound, listen in as Joan and Hanif talk about the process of bringing to life everyday observations, and transforming them into evocative, vivid stories through song. Plus, Joan reveals what it takes to be constantly evolving as an artist, while staying true to your own rhythm. This week's show comes with a playlist curated by Hanif of songs from Joan Armatrading's expansive career. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode, visit https://bit.ly/ode-to-joan/ Music In This Week's Episode: /Joan Armatrading, Glorious MadnessJoan Armatrading, The Weakness In MeJoan Armatrading, Peace In MindJoan Armatrading, Cover My EyesJoan Armatrading, Sometimes I Don't Wanna Go HomeJoan Armatrading, You Rope You Tie MeJoan Armatrading, The Shouting StageJoan Armatrading, Love and Affection/ Show Notes:  /Joan Armatrading's 22nd studio album, Consequences, is out now. You can view Joan's performance of Love and Affection on The Old Grey Whistle test here./ Credits: /This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Mayari Sherina Ong, Kathleen Ottinger and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. 

We're breaking format to create something completely new: a collaborative performance of music, poetry and ideas between Hanif, artist Thao Nguyen (Thao & The Get Down Stay Down) and scholar Josh Kun. Named after the tool that mixes tracks on a DJ controller, Josh has been organizing an event series called ‘Crossfade Lab' where he brings artists together to ‘mix without erasing, combine without destroying' and find new places of connection between their work. In this episode, Hanif and Thao share poems and songs as they commune over how they use their respective practices as a way to expel and transform grief. Let's crossfade!Show NotesJosh Kun's ongoing project is Art of The Crossfade. If you're in Phoenix, join Josh and artists Teresita Fernández and San Cha for a live Crossfade Lab. Information here. Hanif read his poem It Is Maybe Time To Admit that Jordan Definitely Pushed Off, published in A Fortune For Your Disaster; and an excerpt from ‘On Going Home As Performance,' featured in his most recent book is A Little Devil In America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance.Thao performed the songs “Marrow” and “Temple” off her most recent album, Temple, and “Age of Ice,” off her album We the Common.CreditsThis show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Mayari Sherina Ong, Kathleen Ottinger and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. 

Hanif and Grammy award winning artist H.E.R. sit down to talk all about the guitar: H.E.R.'s relationship to the instrument, her many inspirations and the long lineage of Black women who've defined popular music and culture before her. They discuss how H.E.R. intuitively found her voice on her latest album Back Of Mind, and they explore what it means to redefine R&B music in the present moment. This week's show comes with a playlist curated by Hanif of songs by Black women guitar players, and an ode to Sister Rosetta Tharpe. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode, visit https://bit.ly/oos-guitarsheroes./Music In This Week's Episode/H.E.R., Hard To LoveSister Rosetta Tharpe, Strange Things Happening Every DayEtta Baker, I Get The Blues When It RainsBrittany Howard, 13th Century MetalCarline Ray, LazarusElizabeth Cotten, I'm Going AwayBarbara Lynn, Maybe We Can Slip AwayKlymaxx, Fab Attack /Show Notes/H.E.R.'s latest album is Back of My Mind.Check out Sister Rosetta Tharpe's page in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, here. Her Instagram show featuring female guitar players, Girls With Guitars, is available to rewatch on Youtube.She is the first black woman to have a signature guitar, a Fender Stratocaster. Lyrics from I Can't Breathe were taken directly from a conversation between H.E.R. and her friend, GRAMMY-award winning singer-songwriter Tiara Thomas. /Credits/ This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Babette Thomas, Mayari Sherina Ong and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. .

“His fingerprints are all over the culture.” On this week's episode, we pay tribute to the great Biz Markie, the legendary rapper, deejay, sampler, and emcee who passed away earlier this month. Hanif invites hip hop experts, Dart Adams and DJ Lynnée Denise onto the show, to celebrate the fullness of Markie's legacy-- someone who masterfully used humor to create a persona that could always get a crowd roaring. We explore how Biz Markie was so much more than the clown prince or his hit song “Just A Friend,” but rather, a musician whose legacy continues to touch all of hip hop. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode, head over to https://bit.ly/oos-biz-markie./ Music In This Week's Episode /Biz Markie, Make The Music With Your Mouth BizBiz Markie, Pickin' BoogersBiz Markie, Biz In HarmonyBiz Markie, Spring AgainBiz Markie, GroovinBiz Markie, Bad By MyselfBiz Markie, Nobody Beats The Biz/ Show Notes /Dart Adams is the voice behind the blog Poisonous Paragraphs. Lynnée Denise runs the School of Thought blog. You can read Dart Adams' work in his 2019 essay collection, “Best Damn Hip Hop Writing: The Book of Dart.”The cultural and commercial history of sampling is explored in greater detail in the 2009 documentary film, Copyright Criminals, referenced here by DJ Lynnée Denise.Hanif mentions the photo of Chuck D holding up the names of rappers who have passed in recent months./Credits/ This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Babette Thomas, Mayari Sherina Ong and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair.  

Love it or hate it, every summer has a song you just can't escape from. It's playing out of every car window, at every bodega, in every club and in your head on repeat. “We are all unknowingly entering into a contract to declare one song as a song of the summer” says Hanif. But in a time when there's less communal listening than ever before, will there be just one song that defines these months of 2021? This week on the show, we're analyzing the song of the summer from all angles with writer Wesley Morris and the Switched on Pop co-hosts Nate Sloan and Charlie Harding. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode, visit https://bit.ly/oos-contract/Music In This Week's Episode/Right Back, KhalidWarm Blood, Carly Rae JepsenBrat Pack, The Rocket SummerHeart Skipped a Beat, The xxHow Will I know, Whitney HoustonGet In The Sun, Joan Armatrading1 Thing, Amerie/Show Notes/ Nate Sloan and Charlie Harding are the hosts of the Switched on Pop podcast. Listen to Hanif's extended playlist of 68 ‘songs for summer nights' here. Wesley Morris is the host of the podcast Still Processing. Nate and Charlie are the hosts of the podcast Switched on Pop.Hanif says the emblematic songs of summer of 2016 are One Dance by Drake feat. Wiz Kid and Kyla, Work From Home by Fifth Harmony, and This is What You Came For by Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris Wesley says Blue by Joni Mitchell and Spinnin' by Jerry Jam and Terry Lewis feat. Mary J. Blige, are the nostalgic songs people are listening to today. Standout songs of summer according to Wesley and Hanif include Bootylicious by Destiny's Child, Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen, Trap Queen by Fetty Wap, Despacito by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber, De Museo by Bad Bunny, Need To Know by Doja Cat and Bad Habits by Ed Sheeran. Charlie and Nate argue that Sympathy For The Devil by The Rolling Stones was a precedent for Lorde's Solar Power./Credits/ This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Babette Thomas, Mayari Sherina Ong and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. 

 “I care about words more than music,” says musician Lucy Dacus. Lucy recently released her third album, Home Video is a compilation of stories and vignettes pulled directly from her journals, dating back to her childhood. For Lucy, deep honesty in the form of song lyrics is almost compulsive. On this week's show, Lucy and Hanif each unpack what it means to be a confessional writer, and together explore what honesty can offer an artist, or how it can hurt them. Plus, a reading list from Lucy on the books that offer her inspiration.  /Music In This Week's Episode/Thumbs, Lucy DacusI Love You, Mary J. BligeAll That You Have Is Your Soul, Tracy ChapmanBad Religion, Frank OceanYou Must Love Me, JAY-ZIt Hurts Me Too, Karen DaltonGive My Love To Rose, Johnny CashIt Hurts Me So Much, Etta James/Show Notes/Lucy Dacus' newest album is Home Video.Lucy's song Please Stay is inspired by Hanif's essay “Brief Notes on Staying.” Lucy's often pulls inspiration for literature. The books she's been reading are: The Committed  by Viet Thanh Nguyen The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen Crime and Punishment by Fyodor DostoyevskyPlay It As It Lays by Joan DidionGathering Moss by Robin Wall KimmererA Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance by Hanif Abdurraqib Girlhood by Melissa Febos/Credits/ This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Babette Thomas, Mayari Sherina Ong and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. 

For 50 years, footage of the Harlem Cultural Festival – a summer-long fête featuring the likes of Nina Simone, Sly and The Family Stone, and Stevie Wonder – was buried in the archives. And the story of the Harlem Cultural Festival was buried along with it. Finally, the footage is being brought to light by Questlove in the new film ‘Summer of Soul' a powerful testament to the artists of that era, and an energetic ride into the styles, sounds and politics of 1969. In this episode, our exclusive interview with Questlove on what it takes to correct the historical record, and why we need this film now in 2021. For this episode's custom playlist curated by Hanif, visit https://bit.ly/oos-questlove/Music In This Week's Episode/You Caught Me (Smilin'), Sly and the Family StoneBlack Woman, Sonny SharrockThe Weight, The Staple SingersMy Bed of Thorns, Gladys Knight and The PipsTo Love Somebody, Nina SimoneA Mighty Fortress Is Our God, Mahalia JacksonAlmost Seedless, Hugh MasakelaLove's In Need Of Love Today, Stevie Wonder/Show Notes/Questlove's directorial debut is Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised). You can find a list of the festival's full lineup here. Hanif and Questlove reference the documentary Amazing Grace, on Aretha Franklin. The art festival in Columbus was called Holler and organized by the poet and cultural worker Scott Woods./Credits/ This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Babette Thomas, Mayari Sherina Ong and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair.   

We're in an unprecedented moment of emergence: long-shuttered venues are reopening their doors, artists are hitting the road again, and you're probably thinking about what concerts you'll be heading to in this new world. We're looking ahead to a summer full of live music, and what it means to listen together -- again. Hanif speaks with GRAMMY Award winning artist, Esperanza Spalding on creating ‘Songwrights Apothecary Lab' and how live music can help rebuild our communities. And journalist Cherie Hu shares her predictions for the future of live music. Plus, listeners call in and share reflections from their favorite festival moments,/Show Notes/ Cherie Hu's newsletter is Water and Music.Esperanza Spalding's latest project is the Songwrights Apothecary Lab. She has also released music that she worked on at the residency.  Hanif and Cherie bring up Verzuz and Mark Rebillet's improvised performances. Hanif tells a story about performing at the Eaux Claire's Festival with Julien Baker in 2018. /Credits/This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Babette Thomas, Mayari Sherina Ong and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair.  

After a long year apart, there's something particularly comforting about listening to a duet. In this week's episode, we talk to Sharon Van Etten, who recently released ‘Like I Used To' a duet with Angel Olsen. Hanif and Sharon dig into the interpersonal stories behind some of their favorite duet collaborators, unpack what makes for a great pairing of voices, and make a playlist of their top duet songs. To listen to the playlist of songs curated for this week's episode visit www.mixcloud.com/sonos. /Music In This Week's Episode/Like I Used To - Sharon Van Etten and Angel OlsenThe Boy Is Mine, Brandy and MonicaStreets of Paradise, Richard and Linda ThompsonWaves, Miguel (feat. Kacey Musgraves)Oh, What A Good Thing We Had, Johnny Cash and June Carter CashPerfect Combination, Johnny Gill and Stacey LattisawDa Rockwilder, Method Man and Redman/Show Notes/ “All I Need” by Mary J. Blige and Method Man and “Dilemma” by Nelly and Kelly Rowland are two of the iconic duets that Hanif remembers from the 90's. Hanif cites Fleetwood Mac and Dolly Parton as artists with varying duet styles. Some of Sharon's favorite duets include, “Nobody Gets What They Want Anymore,” by Marlon Williams and Aldous Harding, “Streets of Paradise” by Richard and Linda Thompson and “Under Pressure” by Queen and David Bowie. Hanif gives his praises to Tony Bennett's albums Duets I, and Duets II. /Credits/ This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Babette Thomas, Mayari Sherina Ong and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair.   

Welcome to season two of Object of Sound! As the world opens back up, we're entering a moment of collective renewal and return, so it feels right to speak with an artist who is versed in reinvention: Mykki Blanco. Hanif sits down with Mykki to talk about the release of their new album ‘Broken Hearts and Beauty Sleep' coming out today, and the two enter into a layered conversation about what it means for an artist to be labeled as ‘ahead of their time.' Visit https://bit.ly/oos-mykki to check out the playlist of songs curated for this episode./Show Notes/Mykki Blanco's newest album is Broken Hearts and Beauty Sleep. Mykki brings up their previous projects, Betty Rubble: The Initiation and Gay Dog Food as examples of their evolution as an artist.Mykki Blanco cites Big Freedia, Madonna, Prince and David Bowie as legends who inspire them. /Music in This Week's Playlist/Love Me, Mykki BlancoCruel Cruel World, Jackie ShaneRent, Big FreediaKoi, Le1fQueen Of This Shit, Quay DashCoytada, Linn de QuebradaDon't Despair, Beverly Glenn-CopelandAdore, Dreamcrusher/Credits/ This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Babette Thomas, Mayari Sherina Ong and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair.  

For the season finale of Object of Sound, a reminder that you are an artist, regardless of what you do for work. Before Brittany Howard became a striking soloist and lead singer of Alabama Shakes, she worked at Cracker Barrel, sold cars, and even delivered mail in rural Alabama. In this episode, Hanif and Brittany reflect on how they preserved their creative lives and taught themselves writing and music while on the job. They dive into a shared love of funk and Brittany reveals how she learned to play guitar as a kid from reading magazines. Plus, a playlist of songs to soundtrack your work day. After this episode, we're going to take a break. Season Two of Object of Sound picks up June 18th! Stay tuned. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode, visit http://bit.ly/oos-work/Show Notes/Brittany Howard's most recent album is Jaime. Hanif and Brittany talk about Bill Withers and Brittany's cover of Parliament Funkadelic's “You and Your Folks.”Brittany cites Vulfpeck and BadBadNotGood as the bands with funk rhythm sections that she admires. Brittany adds “Ain't It Hard” by Sharon Jones,“Cold Sweat” by James Brown, “Oh Marie”by Louis Prima and “The Prophet's Song” by Queen to a playlist of songs for the work day./Music In This Week's Playlist/You and Your Folks, Me and My Folks, Brittany Howard covering FunkadelicThe Prophet's Song, QueenPressure, ParamoreAin't it Hard, Sharon Jones & The Dap KingsTears of Rage, The BandPeople Everyday, Arrested DevelopmentTime's a Wastin, Erykah Badu/ Credits / Object of Sound is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, and Babette Thomas. The show is additionally produced by Hanif Abdurraqib. Our engineers are Sam Bair and Josh Hahn of The Relic Room. 

 What does it mean to be a curator of songs? The one friend who recommends new records, specifically with your tastes in mind. Hanif speaks with Hrishikesh Hirway, the creator and host of Song Exploder and a fellow music enthusiast. In this episode, Hanif and Hrishikesh discuss the communal and emotive nature of music sharing. They reflect on the experience of often being the only person of color at punk shows and what it means to, now, be in a position to evaluate music, while moving beyond the role of “tastemaker.” Plus, they collaborate on a playlist of musical underdogs who give you the most bang for your buck. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode, visit http://bit.ly/oos-hrishikesh/ Show Notes /Hrishikesh Hirway is the creator and host of the Song Exploder, a music podcast from Radiotopia and  Netflix show. His podcast credits also include Partners, West Wing Weekly and Home Cooking. Hanif and Hrishikesh reference Moneyball, in their playlist creation. And Hanif brings up the punk band Racetraitor./ Music In This Week's Playlist /I'd Like to Walk Around in Your Mind, Vashti BunyanSour Times, PortisheadMachine Gun, SlowdiveFor Want Of, Rites of SpringToo Much Information, The PoliceThe Sun, Alice ColtraneSound and the Fury, FannySuper Duper Love Parts 1&2, Sugar Billy/ Credits / Object of Sound is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, and Babette Thomas. The show is additionally produced by Hanif Abdurraqib. Our engineers are Sam Bair and Josh Hahn of The Relic Room.

What makes a home? Is it where you create? Where you feel seen? And for a musician like Rhiannon Giddens, how does the idea of home shape the sound of her music? This week, Hanif sits down with North-Carolinian multi-instrumentalist Rhiannon Giddens from her new homebase in Dublin. They talk about how Ireland has seeped into her music, muse on the banjo as a weapon and a tool of archiving Black histories, and how Rhiannon is able to masterfully draw influences -- wherever she finds herself. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode, go to www.mixcloud.com/sonos./Show Notes/ Rhiannon Giddens' recent release is They're Calling Me Home. Hanif references his book, Little Devil In America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance  and brings up the performer, Bert Williams. Rhiannon talks about learning to play the akonting in Gambia and her first solo album Tomorrow is My Turn. This interview was originally recorded at On Air Fest. /Music In This Week's Playlist/ Waterbound, Rhiannon Giddens and Francesco TurrisiCarry Me Ohio, Sun Kil MoonDishes, PulpBaby Can I Hold You, Tracy ChapmanA Piece of Ground, Miriam MakebaMidwest, Midsummer, Used KidsMy City Was Gone, PretendersDomestica, Björk/ Credits / Object of Sound is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, and Babette Thomas. The show is additionally produced by Hanif Abdurraqib. Our engineers are Sam Bair and Josh Hahn of The Relic Room.

When you think of protest music, you might think of the rock anthems of the 1960's, or rap that turns frustration into elegantly poignant lyrics. For pianist Vijay Iyer, music without lyrics—has always been political music. This week, we talk with Vijay about the release of his new album 'Uneasy,' which in many ways is a protest album. We delve into the political history of jazz, the role of music in protest movements today. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode visit http://bit.ly/oos-vijay/ Show Notes /Vijay Iyer's new album is Uneasy, with collaborators Tyshawn Sorey and Linda May Han Oh. Vijay shared Billie Holiday's Strange Fruit and John Coltrane's 1968 performance at The Newport Jazz festival as examples of performances of protest.Vijay cites Miles Davis' performance of “Ah-Leu Cha” at the Newport Jazz Festival and Jimi Hendrix's “Machine Gun” as examples of powerful political music. Vijay references Cruel Optimism by Lauren Berlant. In his final thought, Hanif discusses Nina Simone's songs “Pirate Jenny” and “Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair.” / Music In This Week's Playlist /Children of Flint, Vijay Iyer, Linda May Han Oh, Tyshawn SoreySong of the United Front, Charlie HadenVolunteered Slavery, Rahsaan Roland KirkPirate Jenny, Nina SimoneTranscendence, Alice Coltrane and Pharoh SandersAh-Leu-Cha, Miles at Newport/ Credits / Object of Sound is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, and Babette Thomas. The show is additionally produced by Hanif Abdurraqib. Our engineers are Sam Bair and Josh Hahn of The Relic Room.

When Julien Baker and Hanif first met, they felt pulled by the orbit of each other's work—work that is emotionally layered and complex. This week on the show, Hanif and Julien catch up. Of course, they talk about Julien's recent album release, Little Oblivions —which Hanif wrote the liner notes for— but they also get into ideas of self-redemption, digesting emotions through music, and missing the miraculous feeling of live music. Plus, Hanif and Julien collaborate on a playlist of their personal praise songs; the music they would play in their own respective churches. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode visit http://bit.ly/oos-julien/ Show Notes / Julien Baker's new album is Little Oblivions. The songs that Julien Baker would play at her church are “The River” by Manchester Orchestra, “The Joke” by Brandi Carlile, and “Love Theory” by Kirk Franklin./ Music In This Week's Playlist / Bloodshot , Julien BakerThe Joke, Brandi CarlileWhen I Was Young, Tina TurnerBlown a Wish, My Bloody ValentineHow I Got Over, Aretha FranklinLived In Bars, Cat Power The River, Manchester Orchestra The Ocean Grew Hands to Hold Me, The Wonder Years/ Credits / Object of Sound is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, and Babette Thomas. The show is additionally produced by Hanif Abdurraqib. Our engineers are Sam Bair and Josh Hahn of The Relic Room.

This week marks the release of Hanif's new book, A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance, and the opening chapter dives into the colorful world of Soul Train. Bell bottoms, the Soul Train line, afro's as high as the sky. Hanif and journalist Ericka Blount Danois talk through how the show forever changed fashion, dance, and carved out a path for the all-Black media empires we see today. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode visit http://bit.ly/oos-soultrain/ Show Notes / Hanif's new book is A Little Devil in America: Notes In Praise of Black Performance. Erica's book on Soul Train is Love, Peace and Soul: Behind the Scenes of America's Favorite Dance Show Soul Train: Classic Moments./ Music In This Week's Playlist / Some Kind of Lover - Dance Remix , Jody Watley Let It Whip, Dazz BandHe's The Greatest Dancer, Sister SledgeLove Come Down, Evelyn Champagne KingFamily Affair, Sly & The Family StoneSeptember, Earth, Wind & Fire Do Wa Ditty (Blow That Thing), ZappLove Train, The O'Jays/ Credits / Object of Sound is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, and Babette Thomas. The show is additionally produced by Hanif Abdurraqib. Our engineers are Sam Bair and Josh Hahn of The Relic Room.

 For Hanif, music that some folks would consider ‘dark' like emo, doom metal, and goth, have helped him find illumination. In this episode, Hanif talks to a master of darkly humorous lyrics, Sydney Sprague, about her debut album, ‘maybe I will see you at the end of the world' and what it takes to make music at a time when survival feels like a question mark. Plus, Hanif and Sydney make a playlist of songs that'd be the perfect soundtrack to the apocalypse.  For the playlist of songs curated for this episode visit http://bit.ly/oos-apocalypse/ Show Notes / Sydney Sprague's debut album is maybe I will see you at the end of the world. Hanif references Sydney's music videos for “I refuse to die” and “object permanence.”The book Hanif wrote while living in Provincetown was They Can't Kill Us Until They Kill Us./ Music In This Week's Playlist / Object Permanence, Sydney Sprague (feat. Danielle Durrack)  Bird is Bored of Flying, MastersystemWe No Who U R, Nick Cave & The Bad SeedsGimme Shelter, Merry ClaytonSome Velvet Morning, Slowdive Meet You In The Light, With Our Arms To The Sun What's Mine Is Yours, Sleater-Kinney Hell on Earth (Front Lines), Mobb Deep/ Credits / Object of Sound is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, and Babette Thomas. The show is additionally produced by Hanif Abdurraqib. Our engineers are Sam Bair and Josh Hahn of The Relic Room.

This week on the show, we're taking a critical look at The GRAMMYs. We bring on NPR's Sidney Madden and Rodney Carmichael to talk through the systemic inequities of an event that each year decides which musician can be called the “best.” Why do we still care about awards that trail seemingly years behind the culture? Plus, Hanif, Sidney and Rodney share which artists they think should be recognized, whether or not they take home an award this weekend. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode visit http://bit.ly/oos-grammys/ Show Notes / Sidney and Rodney are the co-hosts of NPR's Louder Than A Riot. Sidney says Beyoncé's 2017 Grammy performance, good kid m.A.A.d. city, Lemonade and My Dark Twisted Fantasy have changed the trajectory of music. Rodney cites Kendrick Lamar's 2016 GRAMMYs performance, a 2008 Sly Stone Tribute and Little Richard's speech at the 1988 GRAMMYs as iconic moments in awards show history.Sidney is excited for Kaytranda and Jhené Aiko. Rodney is pulling for Lil Baby and The Box by Roddie Rich./ Music in This Week's Playlist / Shoegaze, Alabama ShakesSky Full Of Song, Florence + The Machine Leave the Door Open, Silk Sonic (Anderson .Paak & Bruno Mars)Blue Lights, Jorja Smith River, Margo Price Shady Grove, YolaSwimming Pools (Drank), Kendrick Lamar Right Back, Khalid/ Credits / Object of Sound is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, and Babette Thomas. The show is additionally produced by Hanif Abdurraqib. Our engineers are Sam Bair and Josh Hahn of The Relic Room.