Song Exploder is a podcast where musicians take apart their songs, and piece by piece, tell the story of how they were made. Each episode features an artist discussing a song of theirs, breaking down the sounds and ideas that went into the writing and recording. Hosted and produced by Hrishikesh Hirway.
What this show covers
songwritingMusic productionrecording processElvis CostelloMy Aim Is TrueAlisonOlivia RodrigoDan NigroThe CureSister TillyactivismNatalie MerchantKeep Your CourageDawson's CreekI Don't Want to Wait
What listeners will find here
Elvis Costello unpacks “Alison” and the beginnings of his career
Elvis Costello discusses the making of “Alison,” the standout song from his 1977 debut album My Aim Is True. The episode also includes isolated tracks, unused parts from the original recording, and a conversation that expands into Costello’s own origin story.
Olivia Rodrigo and Dan Nigro trace how “The Cure” came together
Olivia Rodrigo’s song “The Cure” gets a start-to-finish origin story, from the first voice memo to the finished track. The episode also brings in producer and co-writer Dan Nigro as he and Rodrigo walk through how they made it.
Natalie Merchant reflects on “Sister Tilly” and the women who shaped her
Natalie Merchant discusses “Sister Tilly,” a song from Keep Your Courage that serves as a eulogy for a fictional woman representing a generation of activist women. The episode takes on added weight as it revisits loss, influence, and the legacy of women who changed the culture around her.
Paula Cole revisits the making of her enduring hit “I Don’t Want to Wait”
Paula Cole digs into how she wrote and produced “I Don’t Want to Wait,” the breakthrough song from This Fire that became a massive hit and the theme to Dawson’s Creek. The episode also connects that history to her recent re-recording and an upcoming archival demos collection.
Charli XCX unpacks how film and fame shaped “Camera”
Charli XCX talks about the making of “Camera,” a song inspired by her recent experiences acting in films and balancing life in front of the lens. The episode also looks at how she and producer Finn Keane translated those ideas into the track.
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