Naomi Weisman is a Canadian-Australian and mother of three who loves to ramble with her dog, cook for family and friends, and laugh whenever possible.
I am a lover of art in all its forms. Growing up, my parents made sure to expose me to a wide variety—ballet, symphonies, art galleries, concerts, and plays. My mom, a creative writer herself, was passionate about taking us on trips to the library and attending book readings. My favorite part was when the storyteller would change their voice and accent for each character—it brought the story to life in such a magical way.
I’ve always been fascinated—and a little envious—of creative people and their ability to move others. It’s such a rare gift to be able to translate one’s thoughts, feelings, and emotions into something that lives in the minds, lives, and memories of people, both in big and small ways.
Music plays a large role in my life. Folk, country, pop, rock, classical, and even a little rap or punk if the mood strikes. There are so many songs in my brain, and it would be impossible to recount them all. They are embedded there for different reasons and for different moods.
I often wonder what drives an artist to share what’s on their mind with complete strangers. So many of the songs you hear are about deeply personal experiences in a person’s life. I feel grateful to the songwriter for sharing and allowing me to make it part of my own experience.
All of this is to say that I recently stumbled upon the perfect podcast—Song Exploder, hosted by Hrishikesh Hirway. The show features musicians talking about the creative process behind one particular song, breaking it down into its individual components. Some episodes are absolutely mesmerizing to listen to.
Each episode begins with the host introducing the featured musician(s) and offering a brief history of the artist or the project they’re associated with. The artist then dives into the creative process behind a specific song, touching on everything from songwriting to recording to post-production.
The discussion is interwoven with short clips of isolated tracks from the song to illustrate the points being made—like, for example, breaking down the drum track to highlight how a certain beat fits into the overall song. The episode closes with a full playthrough of the song in its entirety.
I’ve only listened to a handful of episodes so far, and there are so many more to explore, given that the podcast has been running since 2014! My favorites so far have been Don’t Dream It’s Over by Crowded House and Our House with Graham Nash from CSNY—both of which are deeply tied to my life as a 20-something.
The show has also introduced me to new artists, and it’s been fascinating to hear from young singer-songwriters who are just starting to make their mark in the music world.
If you’re a music lover and curious about an artist’s creative process, this podcast is a must-listen! We just returned from a long road trip, and Song Exploder made the time on the highway fly by in the best way. Enjoy!
READ MORE > Nomi's Pics, Rambler Cafe Blog
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