Soundcheck
Soundcheck
WNYC Studios
WNYC, New York Public Radio, brings you Soundcheck, the arts and culture program hosted by John Schaefer, who engages guests and listeners in lively, inquisitive conversations with established and rising figures in New York City's creative arts scene. Guests come from all disciplines, including pop, indie rock, jazz, urban, world and classical music, technology, cultural affairs, TV and film. Recent episodes have included features on Michael Jackson,Crosby Stills & Nash, the Assad Brothers, Rackett, The Replacements, and James Brown.
The Messthetics With Marc Ribot Leave Space For Play and Crunch, From the New York Guitar Festival 2026
Hear a set from the Messthetics with Marc Ribot with shred, melodies, and space from the 2026 New York Guitar Festival, recorded live at Bryant Park.
Oct 12
31 min
Best of Soundcheck: Humbe, The Lone Bellow
Mexican singer-songwriter Humbe and the Nashville-based folk-rock trio The Lone Bellow share stripped-down, heartfelt renditions of their songs for this episode of Soundcheck.
Oct 11
51 min
Mexican Alternative R&B/Pop Artist Girl Ultra Reinvents Her Musical History, In-Studio
Mexican Alternative R&B/Pop artist Girl Ultra’s new album RRRomeo, which is out today, took five years to finalize. Hear the story behind it, alongside exclusive live performances, on this episode of Soundcheck.
Oct 8
31 min
Adventurous Harpist Lara Somogyi Weaves Time Patterns, In-Studio
Hawaii-born, California-based experimental harpist Lara Somogyi performs in-studio with her time-bending effects pedals and a string quartet for the latest episode of the Soundcheck podcast.
Oct 5
35 min
Best of Soundcheck: Steve Earle, Anjimile
Hardships take time to overcome, and some songwriters turn to music to process their emotions as they move from one battle to the next. Two of those songwriters are Steve Earle and Anjimile, who come from very different walks of life.
Oct 2
51 min
Song-Maker Somi Refuses to Fit Inside Any Artistic Box, Plays In-Studio
The singer, actor, playwright, composer, and songmaker Somi's "New African Soul" explores the many facets of self-discovery – questions of becoming and of identity – and navigates uncertainty, loss, and change. She plays in-studio.
Oct 1
34 min
Australian Singer-Songwriter Grace Cummings Brings a Visceral Twist to Pretty Melodies, In-Studio
Australian singer-songwriter Grace Cummings puts on a powerfully raw solo performance for the latest edition of Soundcheck.
Sep 28
34 min
Best of Soundcheck: Guitarricadelafuente, Donnie McCaslin
Next time on Soundcheck, John Schaefer welcomes sax player Donny McCaslin, who led David Bowie’s final band. And Guitarricadelafuente has done high profile duets with Troye Sivan and had two hit singles in Spain; he plays live as well.
Sep 27
51 min
Ever-Shifting Guitarist Wendy Eisenberg Dares With Homegrown and Poetic Songs, In-Studio
The versatile Brooklyn-based guitarist, improviser, and songwriter Wendy Eisenberg plays homegrown and ambitious songs that address the sweep of their life in a solo set, in-studio.
Sep 24
36 min
Everlast Dishes Out Gritty Humanity in Blues-Rock Style, In-Studio
The artist known as Everlast was the lead rapper in the group House of Pain, whose single “Jump Around” remains one of hip hop’s most familiar songs. But in the 1990s he began adding bluesy guitars to his songs - which continues with his latest, "Embers To Ashes". Everlast plays in-studio.
Sep 21
37 min
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