Song Exploder

5,541
Music #11

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.

Recent Episodes
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Recent Reviews
  • DSa234
    Getting Weirder
    I can’t identify with a lot of the guests that are on the show. Wraith into the Mist and Key Change were just weird. Please have on some people that write songs about real life.
  • greek so good
    Slay
    🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈
  • Cinnamonroll@.com
    Go singer
    Go guys are the best
  • Major Stones
    The perfect podcast reset
    As a behind the scenes junkie, I love hearing the from the creators of songs I know and new-to-me songs. It’s a quick and easy way to discover new music and dive deeper into songs and artists I already love.
  • 69420reviewer
    Great podcast
    Don’t know most of these creators but how they explain the creation of their music and their feelings about is really cool and great
  • cs106a
    How It’s Made, but for music
    I love the deep dives
  • TazChaz
    Outstanding
    Possibly the most important music podcast.
  • Sassysusan58
    Excellent!!
    I just recently came across this podcast which is excellent. One of my fav musicians Jon Batiste was on it & it was incredible! Thank you🩵
  • BQBecky
    Soooo good
    That Jon Batiste episode was extraordinary! All the episodes are really
  • lilcinnamoroll
    Kinda
    It’s kinda good.
  • Barry21210
    Love, love, love this show
    Gorgeous! Thank you!
  • 🫠😵‍💫🫥
    Harry Styles
    Add Harry Styles and five stars is yours. (After his break…) If needed there can be further payment. *cough* You know where to find me. 💵 Other than that though this seems pretty good. There just need to be better songs. You could also do Ed Sheeran. Mainly we need more Harry. Ask any of his 61 million fans (at the time I put this) and they’d agree.
  • alex4u.764817
    Pls pick good songs
    Jesus Christ
  • DonnaHanchett
    Great!
    So well done!
  • Johnson 80027
    Great show
    So refreshing to hear from artists and their creative process. And I discover artists I wouldn’t normally come across. Highly recommend!
  • AlexDaHunter
    Love this Show
    Big fan! Producers do such a good job at picking songs from a wide variety of artists and the format is so engaging.
  • Cupcakemaster
    very cool show, but a little too pop-leaning
    I enjoyed the few episodes about the songs I liked, like slowdive and liz phair, but I find myself rarely listening to this podcast because it's very pop-centric and honestly isn't super diverse in the kind of stuff explored... when I say "pop" I use the term loosely- I mostly mean that all these are very "safe".... these aren't very boundary-pushing artists. like idc about laufey and panic at the disco can we talk about TAGABOW or lightning bolt or other bands that do weird stuff pls 😂 there are a few cool songs covered in here but not enough (considering music nerds are the ones listening to this show, right?) otherwise it's a sick podcast. I just think the potential of a show like this is a little wasted when most of the songs chosen for it are pretty formulaic, frankly kinda boring songs.
  • this stupidity
    Please More!
    I love this a lot and y’all are REALLY good, like better than my favorite artist! Keep it up👍👍👍👍👍
  • Smart at greek things
    AJR
    I want AJR and Taylor Swift
  • The Vegan Trucker
    I Got More Than Just A T-Shirt!
    I am deeply in love with this podcast. I lead a solitary life and podcasts fill some of the void of not being part of the world. The presentation format is perfect. I enjoy hearing how each song came to be and often cry at the sweetness the artists express. Thank you for enriching our lives with these masterpieces. ❤️
  • JCJ326
    Pure Delight!!
    Thank you for this magnificent podcast. It brings back all my nostalgia from being a music major and sitting in classes breaking down operas, sonatas, and symphonies. Pure gold!
  • nik khadeeja
    I need help
    I don't know how to download any music at all can someone help me??
  • Mama Z kids
    Creativity is so cool.
    It’s incredible to hear about how artists creat a musical experience. This show inspires me every time I listen to it.
  • Cereal
    interviewee way too loud
    could you do my a favor, and make sure the interviewee isn’t ten times louder than the music clips pretty please. I know there’s going to be a difference with voice memos and such, I’m not asking for perfection, but that episode was terrible.
  • Edouardo Pistol
    Great concept
    I love this podcast although I prefer it when it features someone I’ve heard of
  • jrhuber
    The GOAT
    This podcast makes me feel things and that’s the pinnacle, isn’t it? You feel like the artist is talking directly to you, you get exposed to cool new artists, and it’s just a joy to listen to
  • i❤️podcast
    Thumbs up
    I love it as well as Rishikesh’s other podcast home cooking, and I’m not even interested in music
  • SteventheThorn
    Great breakdown of creativity and songwriting
    I’ve been listening to this podcast for years and find so many creative, inspiring, and poignant moments in it. I recommend it often to friends. It’s well-produced; it’s a good length; the stems and artist interviews are great to hear. One of my favorite podcasts. I wish Book Exploder was its own podcast and didn’t appear on this feed; I’m not interested in Book Exploder.
  • j.michael.j
    Brilliant
    Each episode is done so well and even when I’m not that into the artist/genre/song, I still find myself enjoying every bit of it and finding a new appreciation. Absolutely loved the Iron and Wine episode.
  • rhetmob
    Who’s dead?!
    Love the show but I just listened to the intro to King Princess, where I thought I heard that Alanis Morissette died earlier this year. I had to check the transcript and realized you were talking about Taylor Hawkins. It works okay in text but not the audio. Whew.
  • PodFan032021
    The best!
    This is what podcasts were made for - great audio, enlightening perspectives - makes me love music I’ve never considered before!
  • Hammi1!
    One of the best podcasts
    Absolutely love this podcast! It’s perfection. And the new addition of book exploder episodes is genius. Love love love what this team brings listeners.
  • the creater of Deady
    Ophelia “The Lumineers” podcast is great!!!
    I love The Lumineers so much and can’t believe how they made all their music so great! This podcast is so interesting and helps you to learn more about your favorite artists. I love that in this podcast you can listen to how they make their stuff and what techniques they have to make it so well.
  • miesvan
    A long-running favorite
    This podcast is one of a half-dozen where I have listened to every episode. It continues to delight. Sometimes I learn more about an artist I love, and other times I discover new artists to explore more deeply. I love how it almost always focuses around a single song. It’s a great length for a walk.
  • derrikdavid
    Not that good
    This podcast is not that good. Says a lot of bologna.
  • Mickeyguitarwes
    Pop music isn’t that interesting
    But this podcast is beautifully designed and executed. I’m not sure that the producers see pop music as an industrial commodity, but that’s my takeaway nonetheless. Very entertaining!
  • mel_foust
    Favorite podcast
    This is by far my favorite podcast. Definitely don’t love all of the songs selected but getting to hear the artist talk through their processes and thoughts is so fun to listen to. If you like music at all, you will love this.
  • VaughnyLo
    Musicians are magicians
    I've always wanted to get into making music, but never understood enough about the process. This podcast is a dream come true. Truly inspiring. Thank you.
  • Reensings
    A peek behind the creative curtain
    This podcast is brilliant. I found Rishikesh through the West Wing Weekly podcast, and I absolutely love his style. Not every song is my cuppa tea, but hearing the artists talk about the origins of their music always help me see their music “in color”, rather than in black and white. Bite-size length, always fascinating!
  • R Mall Lins Hart
    Obsession!
    I love this podcast more than any other. I am constantly recommending it to other people, bordering evangelism! As a musician/music lover, it fills every craving I hope to know about the songs it covers. As a creator, it opens up the creative process and makes me think of my work in so many new ways. It gives me permission to consider myself a songwriter and my ideas of value. The fact that most episodes are ~20 minutes also helps keep it bite sized and accessible. Thank you so much for your work!
  • JayJay in LA
    Danny Elfman episode - amazing
    What a great podcast. Love the Danny Elfman episode. Song Exploder is on another level of care and production. I can listen to the episodes of songs I love over and over again. Great job
  • Karlos Littos
    A little late to the SE party…
    … but love it top to bottom. I just heard the Cheap Trick episode and I was so praying you were going to break construct at the end and try to hit the post like a 70s FM jock when introducing the song (with the weather and time, of course).
  • Steh#1
    Songs exploded!
    Best music podcast!
  • Tyler Durden 99
    Awesome
    This kind of behind the scenes, how it’s made, method behind the madness stuff is awesome! Some songs I’ve never heard of and others I’ve been listening to for years all highlighted brilliantly and given more depth and texture here. Keep it up!
  • nicole.l.z
    Game changer
    Best podcast ever made about how music is made
  • mseam18
    LOVE Song Exploder, But...
    Please stop mentioning your "new" podcast Partners. Or actually make new episodes of it. Thanks.
  • Solitaire Gal
    Song Exploder: run or walk? Doesn’t matter, but listen to this podcast!
    I enjoy this podcast so much. There is such a wide array of music and musicians. I even enjoy learning about the stories behind songs that don’t speak to my musical interests or preferences. Hrishikesh Hirway creates such wonderful connections with the musicians. I think his program is so creating and unique. Absolutely do not miss the NETFLIX series by the same name. It’s just as phenomenal. Special request for Mr. Hirway: Neil Diamond, any song, just think that interview would be phenomenally interesting. Also, Joan Jett and LL Cool J. Also any song they want to share. Thanks for the fabulous and fun Song Exploder podcast. (P.S. I enjoyed the TED Talk extra!)
  • ProfessionalCritic1243
    An incredible podcast
    Hrishikesh is a beautiful soul. His passion for music, coupled with the dive into musical creativity and production, makes for a wonderful listening experience. I am filled with awe and inspiration after every episode.
  • freak for fun
    Amazing
    I love this podcast, I’m obsessed with it. I was wondering if maybe you could do another Billie eilish on about her new song happier than ever.
  • Klm7875
    Excellent podcast!
    This show offers something unique in the music podcast genre. Hirway does an amazing job of allowing the voices of the musicians to come through in an intimate and revealing way as they describe their creative processes.
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