Song Exploder

Publisher:
Hrishikesh Hirway, Radiotopia

Song Exploder

5.0/5

Critic Rating

4.5/5

Listener Rating

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.


Critic Reviews

Score: 5

Ximena Smith • Stuff NZ Jan 21, 2023

"...the nearly 250-episode archive is an absolute treasure trove of auditory delight. You don’t have to be a musician to appreciate the artistry presented in each episode, which is probably why Song Exploder is such a great show – it’s accessible, riveting and undoubtedly one of the all-time best music podcasts."

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Score: 5

Ashley Lusk • Bello Collective Dec 2, 2020

"Thanks to the eponymous Netflix series, 2020 may be the year when the rest of the world discovered Song Exploder. From those of us who have been here all along, welcome, the water is fine."

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Score: 4.8

Chelsea Omel • Quill Inc. Jan 15, 2020

"Slick production values and a tight format make this a podcast that deserves your focused attention and your best headphones."

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Score: 5

Andy Hermann • LA Times Sep 28, 2018

"What makes “Song Exploder” stand out is the unique way in which Hirway presents them. Instead of playing each track straight through, he uses snippets of them as narrative devices, weaving them in and out of his guests’ commentary to illustrate how they serve as the song’s building blocks."

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Listener Reviews

Score: 4.5

Imran A. Nov 11, 2020

"I didn't really think I wanted to hear inspo on a song based off of suicide. But I did. It was a great listen to to hear a teenage perspective of their mental health and siblings being there, but also an artist being able to translate that into music. "


Score: 4.5

Imran A. Nov 11, 2020

"Love the band. Love the podcast. Love the breakdown. "


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