Hearing Things
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Independent music journalism. No algorithms. We promise.
”If people are telling you going on the road is the only way to make money, be very wary about who’s saying it. I’ve never made any money touring.”
Westerman Is Not Dead Yet
After three albums, two near-death experiences, and one global pandemic, the British singer-songwriter knows what he wants.
www.hearingthings.co
November 29, 2025 at 1:00 PM
”If people are telling you going on the road is the only way to make money, be very wary about who’s saying it. I’ve never made any money touring.”
This holiday season give your favorite music obsessive the gift of Hearing Things!
Because no one needs *𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵 𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘦* a cheese board in the shape of a turntable.
Because no one needs *𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵 𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘦* a cheese board in the shape of a turntable.
Give a Gift Subscription
If you ask us, there is no better gift than the gift of independent music journalism! Fill out the form below to send someone special a one-year CD Quality subscription to Hearing Things, so they can access all of our articles and playlists, and comment on the site. Thanks!
www.hearingthings.co
November 28, 2025 at 2:01 PM
This holiday season give your favorite music obsessive the gift of Hearing Things!
Because no one needs *𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵 𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘦* a cheese board in the shape of a turntable.
Because no one needs *𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵 𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘦* a cheese board in the shape of a turntable.
Thrashy punk en español, brolic drum ‘n’ bass, post-punk hip-hop, goth dembow, slinky-cool new wave, and a contender for the shortest punk song ever—two juiced-up seconds of chunk guitar and the crew screaming “NEW YORK”? Yes
The Bronx Duo Bringing Perreo to the Mosh Pit
Plus: A Spider-Man-inspired rapper building his own superhero persona, an exploration in the freaky tunings of nature, and more.
www.hearingthings.co
November 25, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Thrashy punk en español, brolic drum ‘n’ bass, post-punk hip-hop, goth dembow, slinky-cool new wave, and a contender for the shortest punk song ever—two juiced-up seconds of chunk guitar and the crew screaming “NEW YORK”? Yes
I tell Westerman his aching ballad ”Spring“ is the type of song Adele could sing. “That’s what my dad said,” he responds. “Those are good songs. Maybe I should try to give it to Adele.”
Westerman Is Not Dead Yet
After three albums, two near-death experiences, and one global pandemic, the British singer-songwriter knows what he wants.
www.hearingthings.co
November 25, 2025 at 1:01 PM
I tell Westerman his aching ballad ”Spring“ is the type of song Adele could sing. “That’s what my dad said,” he responds. “Those are good songs. Maybe I should try to give it to Adele.”
"What's that thing? The Beatles played it, I'd better check it out."
The Guitar-Bass Hybrid That Gives Tortoise Its Lonesome Sound
Bassist and multi-instrumentalist Douglas McCombs has made the cult-favorite Bass VI a staple of the post-rock legends’ palette.
www.hearingthings.co
November 24, 2025 at 8:00 PM
"What's that thing? The Beatles played it, I'd better check it out."
Chatting with the club DJ/producer about her fiery new music, 10 years of her party and label Magic City, and being one of New York's most reliable partystarters.
Jubilee on Showing Three Generations of New Yorkers How to Dance
Wisdom from one of the city’s most trusted club stalwarts.
www.hearingthings.co
November 24, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Chatting with the club DJ/producer about her fiery new music, 10 years of her party and label Magic City, and being one of New York's most reliable partystarters.
“I’m shredding because I’m trying to be like Jimi Hendrix.”
Sudan Archives Is Pushing the Tempo
An afternoon at the museum with the genre-smashing violinist.
www.hearingthings.co
November 24, 2025 at 1:00 PM
“I’m shredding because I’m trying to be like Jimi Hendrix.”
According to Hiatus Kaiyote bassist Paul Bender, this AI scam problem is “symbolic of how little these tech people give a fuck about actual music and the people who make it.”
Why Is It So Easy to Flood Streaming With AI Slop?
And what the hell is Operation Clown Dump?
www.hearingthings.co
November 23, 2025 at 1:00 PM
According to Hiatus Kaiyote bassist Paul Bender, this AI scam problem is “symbolic of how little these tech people give a fuck about actual music and the people who make it.”
"People can write really emotional songs, but if the production doesn’t match that emotional arc or contribute to it in a major way, it will fall flat."
Claire Rousay Breaks Down 7 Perfectly Produced Songs
The ambient experimentalist dissects records by faves including Elliott Smith and Charli XCX, and details the process behind her twilit new album, ‘A Little Death.’
www.hearingthings.co
November 22, 2025 at 1:00 PM
"People can write really emotional songs, but if the production doesn’t match that emotional arc or contribute to it in a major way, it will fall flat."
"I don’t know why, but there is something about that instrument that makes you want to play slow, melancholic music on it."
The Guitar-Bass Hybrid That Gives Tortoise Its Lonesome Sound
Bassist and multi-instrumentalist Douglas McCombs has made the cult-favorite Bass VI a staple of the post-rock legends’ palette.
www.hearingthings.co
November 21, 2025 at 5:26 PM
"I don’t know why, but there is something about that instrument that makes you want to play slow, melancholic music on it."
Ambling freedom suits Westerman—𝘈 𝘑𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘢𝘭’𝘴 𝘞𝘦𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 is easily his most engrossing album to date
Westerman Is Not Dead Yet
After three albums, two near-death experiences, and one global pandemic, the British singer-songwriter knows what he wants.
www.hearingthings.co
November 21, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Ambling freedom suits Westerman—𝘈 𝘑𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘢𝘭’𝘴 𝘞𝘦𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 is easily his most engrossing album to date
Just when we thought we'd make it through the year without the one anthemic pop song that unites everyone in either love or disdain, Ice Spice has swept in.
Put on Your Big Guy Pants
Plus Skrillex remixing Caroline Polachek, an actually good viral TikTok indie-folk hit, and more.
www.hearingthings.co
November 20, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Just when we thought we'd make it through the year without the one anthemic pop song that unites everyone in either love or disdain, Ice Spice has swept in.
Art-pop innovator Sophie and country cult hero Blaze Foley both had suspiciously AI-sounding new material posted to their pages recently—odd choices of artists to target for a scam, considering that Sophie died in 2021 and Foley in 1989
Why Is It So Easy to Flood Streaming With AI Slop?
And what the hell is Operation Clown Dump?
www.hearingthings.co
November 20, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Art-pop innovator Sophie and country cult hero Blaze Foley both had suspiciously AI-sounding new material posted to their pages recently—odd choices of artists to target for a scam, considering that Sophie died in 2021 and Foley in 1989
"Charli XCX's 𝘗𝘰𝘱 𝟤 and the 𝘕𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝟣 𝘈𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘭 mixtape are some of the best pop music ever—crazy shit, especially at that time"
Claire Rousay Breaks Down 7 Perfectly Produced Songs
The ambient experimentalist dissects records by faves including Elliott Smith and Charli XCX, and details the process behind her twilit new album, ‘A Little Death.’
www.hearingthings.co
November 19, 2025 at 1:01 PM
"Charli XCX's 𝘗𝘰𝘱 𝟤 and the 𝘕𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝟣 𝘈𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘭 mixtape are some of the best pop music ever—crazy shit, especially at that time"
Ceebo's 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘉𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘦𝘴 includes some of the most tremendous world-building I’ve heard in years, on a gloomy, gleaming slate of beats by producers like Jim Legxacy and afrosurrealist
Raps About Tony Blair, Synths About Vikings
Plus two more intimate hip-hop albums and a high-energy new DJ-Kicks mix.
www.hearingthings.co
November 18, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Ceebo's 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘉𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘦𝘴 includes some of the most tremendous world-building I’ve heard in years, on a gloomy, gleaming slate of beats by producers like Jim Legxacy and afrosurrealist
“I could feel my windpipe starting to close, so I made my peace with the fact that I was probably going to die.”
Westerman Is Not Dead Yet
After three albums, two near-death experiences, and one global pandemic, the British singer-songwriter knows what he wants.
www.hearingthings.co
November 18, 2025 at 1:01 PM
“I could feel my windpipe starting to close, so I made my peace with the fact that I was probably going to die.”
Max B is free. We're all excited to see what's next for the New York icon, but after being in prison for 16 years, let's also consider giving him some room to breathe.
Max B and the Plight of the Post-Prison Rapper
The New York icon is free. Let’s let him figure out what’s next on his own time.
www.hearingthings.co
November 17, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Max B is free. We're all excited to see what's next for the New York icon, but after being in prison for 16 years, let's also consider giving him some room to breathe.
"The violin is an instrument that used to bring the party. Even the white people in 𝘚𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴, they got their little jig they do. The violin is not a color. It’s just a vibe to bring people together.”
Sudan Archives Is Pushing the Tempo
An afternoon at the museum with the genre-smashing violinist.
www.hearingthings.co
November 17, 2025 at 1:01 PM
"The violin is an instrument that used to bring the party. Even the white people in 𝘚𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴, they got their little jig they do. The violin is not a color. It’s just a vibe to bring people together.”
Anyone willing to shell out a few dollars per month for online music distributors like DistroKid or CD Baby is welcome to set up an account—and, if they so desire, to start flooding their favorite bands’ profiles with the shittiest music imaginable
Why Is It So Easy to Flood Streaming With AI Slop?
And what the hell is Operation Clown Dump?
www.hearingthings.co
November 15, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Anyone willing to shell out a few dollars per month for online music distributors like DistroKid or CD Baby is welcome to set up an account—and, if they so desire, to start flooding their favorite bands’ profiles with the shittiest music imaginable
Will Westerman is perched atop a grassy burial mound dotted with more than a dozen gravestones as he recounts the time a bowl of noodles nearly killed him...
Westerman Is Not Dead Yet
After three albums, two near-death experiences, and one global pandemic, the British singer-songwriter knows what he wants.
www.hearingthings.co
November 14, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Will Westerman is perched atop a grassy burial mound dotted with more than a dozen gravestones as he recounts the time a bowl of noodles nearly killed him...
Claire Rousay emphasizes that a piece of music is only as good as the person making it—regardless of what equipment they own. It’s an increasingly relevant point amid our era of AI slop, when anyone can pump out a constant stream of robot drivel.
Claire Rousay Breaks Down 7 Perfectly Produced Songs
The ambient experimentalist dissects records by faves including Elliott Smith and Charli XCX, and details the process behind her twilit new album, ‘A Little Death.’
www.hearingthings.co
November 14, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Claire Rousay emphasizes that a piece of music is only as good as the person making it—regardless of what equipment they own. It’s an increasingly relevant point amid our era of AI slop, when anyone can pump out a constant stream of robot drivel.
Instead of engaging in a stream-bait war following “Actually Romantic,” Charli XCX is releasing a chamber-goth jump scare of a song that features the voice of 83-year-old art-rock legend John Cale more than her own. www.hearingthings.co/brat-summer-...
Brat Summer to Wraith Winter
Plus psych-pop homage, delirious club music, slo-mo folk, and mystical Atlanta rap that would have the 'Game of Thrones' crew throwing bows.
www.hearingthings.co
November 13, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Instead of engaging in a stream-bait war following “Actually Romantic,” Charli XCX is releasing a chamber-goth jump scare of a song that features the voice of 83-year-old art-rock legend John Cale more than her own. www.hearingthings.co/brat-summer-...
"White people telling us what to do again, like actually: No. This is hip-hop, because it’s me.”
Sudan Archives Is Pushing the Tempo
An afternoon at the museum with the genre-smashing violinist.
www.hearingthings.co
November 13, 2025 at 1:01 PM
"White people telling us what to do again, like actually: No. This is hip-hop, because it’s me.”
“This feels like the only transaction that you can do on the internet that doesn’t involve a password or some kind of authentication, and it’s a really important one, and it’s across the entire music streaming ecosystem.”
Why Is It So Easy to Flood Streaming With AI Slop?
And what the hell is Operation Clown Dump?
www.hearingthings.co
November 12, 2025 at 1:02 PM
“This feels like the only transaction that you can do on the internet that doesn’t involve a password or some kind of authentication, and it’s a really important one, and it’s across the entire music streaming ecosystem.”
Rosalía is going for the rafters, as though she went to confession and her penance was to spend it in the dusty library of Gaudí’s Basílica de la Sagrada Família, paging through ancient texts as God peered at her soul through a portal on a stone spire
Rosalía's Orchestral Benediction
Plus: a must-hear album from a virtuosic avant-rock quartet, the fiery return of an essential Chicago rap collective, and more.
www.hearingthings.co
November 11, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Rosalía is going for the rafters, as though she went to confession and her penance was to spend it in the dusty library of Gaudí’s Basílica de la Sagrada Família, paging through ancient texts as God peered at her soul through a portal on a stone spire