Yoko Ono, Beyoncé, Fiona Apple, and more: hear essay-based conversations about female musicians this month on NPR’s ‘All Songs Considered’
NPR’s “All Songs Considered” is honoring pioneering women in the pop music canon and female writers with a mini-series called “Turning the Tables.” Last year, NPR published essays by 12 women and non-binary writers about female artists and albums that impacted their lives and shaped their world views. The influential records they chose to write about span genres, styles, and eras, and we learn how this series also challenges sexism in the industry with what’s considered “great.” In this podcast mini-series, the essay writers will be paired together for discussions about their work and investigate the greater cultural impact their selected artists and albums had on the world at-large.
Stay tuned on Wednesdays this month for five episodes hosted by Ann Powers and Marissa Lorusso. Stream the mini-series from the first episode with NPR’s hosts discussing their essays on Kate Bush’s The Dreaming, Yoko Ono‘s Plastic Ono Band, and creating a personal canon.
In episode 2, Julianne Escobedo Shepherd (Jezebel’s former editor-in-chief), Lindsay Zoladz (contributor to NPR Music, Pitchfork, NYT), and LaTesha Harris (NPR Music) chatted about their formative years, identity, and feminism. They spoke about their essays on Salt-N-Pepa’s Blacks’ Magic, Fiona Apple’s Tidal, and Beyoncé’s 4.
Episode 3 explores the notion of defining your own success with writers Dawnie Walton (author of The Final Revival of Opal & Nev; former deputy managing editor, Essence) and Christina Lee (NPR Music contributor; co-host of Bottom of the Map). They canvassed their essays on Santigold’s self-titled album and bbymutha’s Muthaland.
Maria Sherman (author of Larger Than Life: A History of Boy Bands from NKOTB to BTS; NPR Music contributor) and Laura Snapes (The Guardian) explored finding taste as a music critic and finding your own path. They talked about Tiger Trap’s Tiger Trap and PJ Harvey’s Uh Huh Her. Episode 5 featured Francesca Royster (professor of English at DePaul University) and Alex Ramos (former NPR Music intern/PA) to discuss moving away from tradition, coming out, Tracy Chapman’s self-titled release, and Paramore’s Brand New Eyes.
So far, the episodes are less than 30 minutes each. Tune in on Wednesdays this Women’s History Month for new episodes of this mini-series on “All Songs Considered.”
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