Diksha Sundriyal
Music is one of the absolute best things that humans have perfected. To imagine a world without music is the most deafening things one can think about. The world would be a worse place without the melodies that make our days. But there is so much that we still don’t know about music. Who was the first person to make a musical instrument? How did we come up with the system of sounds? This is whole another branch of science, as essential as any other.
Music also enjoys a rich history. Legendary bands, controversial personalities, inspiring successes, steep downfalls – the stories are as diverse as the music produced by these people. If you love music, not just as a regular person who just listens to music for fun and then moves on with their life; if you love it so much that you spend your days scouring albums, looking for new artists, exploring the classics; if you are moved by the melodies and feel the lyrics resonating with you; if music takes you to another world, if that’s the sort of relationship you have with this art form, then we’ve got something that’ll make your day. Here’s the list of top music podcasts. You can listen to several of these best music podcasts on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify or even YouTube for free.
14. Planet Jarre: The Podcast (2018- present)
‘Planet Jarre: 50 Years of Music’ is an album by Jean-Michael Jarre. He is a French electronic musician and is known for producing EDM, trance, progressive rock and ambient music, among other types. The album was released in commemoration of his fifty years in music. This podcast is an analysis that accompanies the album and breaks down Jarre’s journey to the point of making of the album and what it signifies. If you haven’t yet listened to his music then this is a great opportunity to explore his talent and contribution to music. You can listen to all episodes of this podcast here.
13. Music Business Facts (2013- present)
Being able to sing is not a rare feat amongst humans. Most of us are pretty decent at it and can hum a song or two, even if we don’t have proper knowledge of all the highs and lows that it requires. Obviously, some are better at it, some are more passionate about it than most. These are the people who go on to become prominent figures in the music industry. If you are one such aspiring artist, then ‘Music Business Facts’ is the podcast for you. It tells you everything you need to know about having a career in music. What does it take, how can you plan your career, where will you find opportunities, what labels to go for according to your talents, and what are some harsh realities that you will have to face? This podcast educates you about all these things. You can listen to the podcast here.
12. Someone Who Isn’t Me (2016- present)
This BBC Radio 1 podcast has Daniel P Carter as its host. In every episode, he welcomes some of the most well-known musicians in the world to be a part of his programme. Hour-long discussions take place where the artists discuss their life and career in music. They talk about the history of music and all the artists that came before them and inspired them to pursue this path. The conversations can also get a bit personal where the guests share their quirky habits, some of which might come as a surprise to you. You can listen to all episodes of ‘Someone Who Isn’t Me’ here.
11. Stripped Music Diary (2017- present)
‘Stripped Music Diary’ has two music enthusiasts as its hosts. The episodes range from thirty minutes to one hour depending on how far the hosts can take a particular discussion. The topics are very interesting, which sets this podcast apart from others that discuss music. They take one artist or one genre and discuss the time that it had been on its peak and what it was like to live in that time. And then there are things like “how Iggy Pop is connected to thousands of artists”, the crimes committed in the name of music, the psychology behind songs, how science fiction plays into music, and much more. You can listen to all episodes of ‘Stripped Music Diary’ here.
10. The Classic Rock Podcast (2018- present)
If you love listening to Def Leppard, Rolling Stones, Steve Nicks and such, then this podcast is a must listen for you. With one episode a month, it has very condensed content which focuses entirely on the artist they have chosen for that episode. They discuss the golden time of rock, some of the legendary figures of this music and what’s the new development in the genre. It also features sections where they go back in time to take a look at the music press of that time. You also get to listen to “The Greatest Live Track from a Live Album” and “The Great Undiscovered” where you’ll get to hear some songs that have been buried deep in repositories, unnoticed because some other song stole the thunder at that time. You can listen to all episodes of this podcast here.
9. Ninja Tune Podcast (2009- present)
‘Ninja Tune Podcast’ is a great podcast for you to get to know your favourite artists. Every episode brings a new guest to the show and they engage in a conversation with the hosts where all beans are spilt and some amusing revelations are made. You also get to enter the mind of the artists and get to know what they were thinking while creating a particular song. The podcast has received guests like Bonobo, The Cinematic Orchestra, Louis Cole, Thundercat, Mr Scruff and many more. You can listen to the podcast here.
8. The Popcast with Knox and Jamie (2015- present)
This weekly podcast is a celebration of music. The episodes are one hour long and contain discussions about everything related to music. They discuss the history of various genres, and the rise and fall of some of the best-known music figures. They discuss the stories surrounding mysterious artists and ponder on some what-ifs that could have changed the course of history. They present some trivia and inform you about some significant events in music. The future of pop culture is also one of their topics. What music are we leaning towards more and what form can it take in the years to come. You can listen to all these chats in ‘The Popcast with Knox and Jamie’. Listen to all its episodes here.
7. Light in the Attics Podcast: Stories Behind the Music (2015- present)
The thing with art is that it depends on your mood. If you are in your space, you can easily come up with something. But days might pass and you might not even want to pick up a pen and write something. An artist’s mood also shows in the work they produce while in that mindset. But after a song has been written, a lot of work goes in turning it into proper music. This is where record labels come in. If you want to know how music is produced, professionally, then this is the podcast you should listen to. You can find all the episodes of ‘Light in the Attic’ here.
6. Kinda Neat (2013- present)
‘Kinda Neat’ is a podcast hosted by Lee Shaner. You might know him as Intuition, the rapper. He has released multiple studio albums and EPs. In this podcast, he invites other artists to come to chat with him about everything. From music to life to live shows and making a new album, he and his guests delve into some really fascinating topics. It is such fun to listen to them and you get to know about some behind the scenes secrets of the music industry. The guests then also perform live in the studio, so that’s another bonus. You can catch all episodes of ‘Kinda Neat’ here.
5. Dissect (2016- present)
Art is meaningful. It represents something, it tells a story, it hides a meaning that can only be noticed by those who really look into it. With the introduction of social media platforms, it has become easier for people to access content, and while this has given the artists a great way to reach out to the worldwide audience, it has also affected them adversely. With the decreased attention span of people, artists have to whip up more content in less amount of time. Some say that this has led to a fall in the quality of music. However, there are artists who stick to their schedule and really focus on making art rather than producing content. Thus, it is a responsibility of the fans to analyse it from every angle, to find all the meanings behind it. This is what happens in ‘Dissect’. In every season, the host, Cole Cuchna, picks one album of an artist and dissects one song at a time. In the past seasons, the albums of Frank Ocean, Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar have been analysed. You can listen to the podcast here.
4. And the Writer Is… with Ross Golan (2017- present)
Do you know what I like most about a song? The lyrics. If the music is decent, but the lyrics are impeccable, I fall head over heels for the song. Strong lyrics have the power to resonate with the listeners as much as the music does. This makes the job of a songwriter very, very important. The words of a song decide its tone, which is further accentuated through the musical instruments. But as much as the singers are appreciated, the songwriters remain in the shadows. This podcast is an appreciation of their work. Discussing the work that goes behind drawing the soul of a song and turning it into something that the whole world can experience, ‘And the Writer Is…’ is an essential podcast for any music lover. You can listen to all its episodes here.
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3. Records Revisited (2018- present)
Countless musicians have produced multitudes of albums, so there are infinite songs in existence. Out of these, there are some handful artists who have not just enjoyed popularity in their life, but have become monumental figures in music history and are revered even now. There are songs about love, about loss, family, heartbreak, hate, and every emotion that humans have ever felt. In ‘Records Revisited, hosts, Ben and Wayne, discuss all the iconic artists and music. From Guns N’ Roses to Fleetwood Mac to Taylor Swift, they discuss the influence of the artists on music and how they have evolved with time. You can listen to all episodes of this podcast here.
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2. Don Letts and Turtle Bay Present Reggae 45 (2017- present)
Is reggae your choice of the genre when it comes to music? Do artists like Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff and Ruth Brown rule your days? If yes, then this is the podcast that you must listen to. Here, Don Letts discusses classic rock, starting from early days to how it has evolved over the years and where it is now as compared to other popular music styles. What sets it apart and who are some of the revolutionaries who popularised it so much? ‘Reggae 45’ is for every fan who wants to know the roots of their favourite type of music. You can listen to all its episodes here.
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1. Soundography (2016- present)
With so many artists around and the myriad of albums released every year, it is impossible for anyone to check out all the music. Usually, we stick to the artists that we already know and stay on a lookout for their next albums. However, it is equally important to explore other artists. If you are overwhelmed by the choices, then allow us to help you out. I would recommend you listen to ‘Soundography’. This podcast features the discussion of one artist in each episode. From the latest artists to the ones who are already revered in the music industry, it presents a wide range of options. If you like a certain artist, you can check out their songs later. It narrows down your options and helps you have a deeper understanding and appreciation of music. You can catch all episodes of this podcast here.
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