It's difficult to imagine something Steve Earle hasn't done yet, but, believe it or not, until recently, the Texas-raised singer, songwriter, performer, actor, writer and teacher had yet to sing the blues. On his new LP, Earle pays overdue tribute to those who preceded and inspired him, and like th…
From heartfelt harmonies to tranquil flirtations, Seattle’s Smokey Brights drop by the KEXP live room to unveil a decadent collection of tracks from their new rhythmically red rummed release, Taste for Blood. Duo vocalists Ryan Devlin and Kim West produce hypnotic results - tender chants that sound…
Over 10 years as an artist, Honduras' Aurelio Martinez again graced the KEXP live room to share his unique blend of Caribbean folk pop and cultural activism and showcase tracks from his recently released album, Lándini. Aurelio’s musical heart beats with very personal, complexly simple tales that d…
For every country music star who seems to pop out of nowhere with a new mega-hit single, too many other talented artists struggle to reach even half the audiences they deserve. It's a sad fact for musicians of all genres, but the ethics of "hard work for little pay" seem particularly true for count…
Seattle’s own Nightmare Fortress crash the KEXP live room with their stronghold of sound to unveil a handful of unheard harmonics from their upcoming full length, ‘The Wanting’. Drowning in their heralded Grave Rave otics - guitar strings of tension are mixed with dark, sublime computer manipulatio…
Over the past few years, we've tried to make KEXP videos not only fun to watch but also instantly recognizable. But when artists and other guests visit our actual studio space and see the dark and starry walls, they almost always say, "Wow, this is much smaller than it looks!" Charming as it may be…
Even within its own darkness, Moonlight shines bright. LA rocker Hanni El Khatib improves upon his Dan Auerbach-helmed second album with his latest, and self-produced, LP. This time, Hanni El Khatib pulls just about everything he can find off the shelf to add to his garage-rock riffs, including psy…
Today marks the birthday of James Yancey, better known as J Dilla, one of the most influential hip-hop artists of this century. Just days after his 32nd birthday, back in 2006, the Detroit-based DJ and producer passed away, leaving an enduring legacy for others to follow. Above the nine albums he p…
Portland composer and vocalist Natasha Kmeto dropped by and dropped jaws with her magnificent multitasking performance for KEXP's Audioasis. Surreal and vocally symphonic, Kmeto's songs stretch the boundaries of both contemporary pop, IDM and EDM with percussively intriguing compositions that slide…
In 2018, KEXP celebrated the 30th anniversary of local record label Sub Pop with a four-month retrospective, "counting up" every catalog number in their vast discography of over 1,200 releases. Dig into the archives of our catalog coverage, featuring in-depth coverage on the history of their releases.
