Essential Tremors
A show in which musicians and other creators talk about the songs that shaped who they are. Distributed by WYPR, Baltimore's NPR affiliate, and hosted by Matthew Byars and Lee Gardner.
Essential Tremors is produced by Matt Byars and Lee Gardner and distributed by Your Public Studios.
Latest Episodes
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Jim O’Rourke of Gastr del Sol talks about how songs by David Ackles, Genesis and Charles Ives informed his development as a musician. -
The newest release from Gastr del Sol is a box set of their work named We Have Dozens of Titles, and was also released by Drag City in May of 2024. -
Hear how songs by Chuck Berry, Bob Dylan and The Beach Boys shaped his musical perspective. -
Electronic-music producer Jlin discusses how music by Luther Vandross, Missy Elliott and Al Jarreau shaped her work. -
DC indie-scene veterans Mark Robinson and Bridget Cross of Unrest and Air Miami discuss how '70s dance music, musicals, the Shaggs, the Captain and Tennille, and '80s punk and indie shaped their course. -
This episode previews this year's event and features segments on Water Damage, Geologist of Animal Collective, Tongue Depressor, Susan Alcorn, The Caribbean, Small Sur, Turner Williams, Jr. and Jon Camp. -
Los Angeles-based folk troubadour Jessica Pratt talks about how songs by The Slits, Laura Nyro and Sly and the Family Stone helped her forge her musical path. -
Singer/songwriter Bruce Hornsby discusses how songs by Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and Paul Brady shaped his own work. -
Composer Arnold Dreyblatt discusses how Mexican folk music, Tony Conrad and Robert Ashley shaped his work. -
Guitarist/singer/songwriter Beth Orton talks about how songs by Sinead O'Connor, Sons of Kemet and Father John Misty shaped her own work.
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"Tremors" creators and co-hosts Matt Byars and Lee Gardner talk about the genesis and continuing joys of WYPR's long-running muse-of-the-music podcast. -
On the latest episode, Low frontman Alan Sparhawk talks about how the music of Roberta Flack, The Clash, and Pere Ubu shaped his work. -
In this episode of Essential Tremors, composer Ellen Fullman discusses the influence of traditional Ainu music, Central African polyphony, and composer Pauline Oliveros. -
Suzanne Vega has spanned four decades with her deceptively cool singing voice and urbane songwriting. On this episode, she discusses how the music of Bob Dylan, Philip Glass, and Lou Reed guided her path. -
Stephen Morris drove the shift from punk to postpunk as the drummer for Joy Division and New Order, and helped further open postpunk to new sounds. On this episode, he discusses how the music of Can, Terry Riley, and Grandmaster Flash shaped his course. -
Tricky has created his own sound world over the past 25 years, built from broken hip-hop beats, forlorn chanteuses, and shadowy mutters. In this episode, he talks about the impact of Nirvana, Billie Holiday, and T. Rex on his life. -
Singer/guitarist Mdou Moctar has blazed a trail for electrified Tuareg music from his native Niger through the music venues of Europe and the U.S. In this… -
Kristin Hersh has built a devoted following with her one-of-a-kind singing and songwriting, as a solo artist and as leader of the bands Throwing Muses and… -
Brandon Soderberg has worked as a music critic, an altweekly editor, and a reporter on the frontlines of protest. He’s now the co-author of I Got a… -
Amanda Shires has made her mark on American music as a singer, songwriter, and fiddle player, both solo and a member of Jason Isbell’s 400 Unit. On this… -
Thurston Moore's name and work have been ever-present in the last 40 years of underground culture, from his years in Sonic Youth and his solo career, his… -
Bob Mould has turned out decades worth of impassioned singing and songwriting as leader of Husker Du and Sugar and a longstanding solo artist. In this…
