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
-
On this episode, the RZA discusses how Isaac Hayes, the theme from Love Story, and a famous hip-hop break shaped his work. -
In this episode, singer/songwriter Will Oldham discusses how songs by Susanna and the Magical Orchestra, Al Jarreau, and the Mekons influenced his music. -
Black Midi vocalist Geordie Greep discusses how songs by Warren Zevon, Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, and Frank Zappa influenced his music. -
Electronic musician Jon Hopkins discusses the effect songs by Brian Eno and Harold Budd, Ozric Tentacles, and Orbital had on him. -
Brooklyn-based jazz trumpeter Jaimie Branch talks about how songs by Nirvana, Sun Ra, and Eric Dolphy made her the artist she is today. -
Sleaford Mods frontman Jason Williamson talks about how second-wave UK punk, Raekwon, and Two Lone Swordsmen shaped his music. -
Guitarist Steve Gunn discusses the music of Richard Thompson, Mary Margaret O’Hara, and Solange. -
Jazz pianist Vijay Iyer discusses Jimi Hendrix, the woman who was his mentor, and trying to make his piano scream. -
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.
-
Writer Hanif Abdurraqib has risen to prominence in recent years thanks to They Can't Kill Us Til They Kill Us, a collection of essays, and Go Ahead in the… -
Robert Forster spent decades, off and on, as one of the singer/songwriters behind beloved Australian indie-pop band the Go-Betweens, along with his late… -
Marin Alsop has spent her life surrounded by music—as the child of professional musicians, as a violinist, and as the acclaimed music director for the… -
Juana Molina won an audience far beyond the borders of her native Argentina by crossing the streams of singer/songwriter reflection, pop tunefulness, and… -
Guy Picciotto was a founding member of numerous DC bands of the 80's that made an impact on the direction of American rock music, but none more so than… -
Experimental composer Sarah Davachi has constructed her own soundworld out of sustained tones and drones, using instruments both electronic and medieval.… -
Baltimore duo Wume draws on the motorik pulse and cosmic synths of vintage Krautrock, but update them with mesmerizing patterns of complex rhythm and a… -
Steve Reich long ago transcended the "minimalist" tag to stand as one of America's greatest and most influential living composers. In this episode, he… -
For 25 years, Mimi Parker’s minimalist drumming and angelic voice have helped provide the spine, and the soul, of Low, the brooding trio from Duluth,… -
Colin Newman rewrote the rules of punk with London-based band Wire, and went on to push back the boundaries on creativity and relevance for decades-long… -
Though he emerged from Washington, D.C.’s post punk scene with the band Smart Went Crazy, Chad Clark has expanded his musical palette with Beauty Pill, an… -
Emily Flake went from running her Lulu Eightball comic in altweeklies to drawing cartoons for The New Yorker and publishing books about her experiences…
