What does one of Martin's favorite '90s cartoons have in common with a creative genius in the world of sound art? What's the shared link between Frasier, Philip Glass, and the Counting Crows? Is John Mayer a shameless pre-chorus thief?

In the latest episode of Themes and Variation, we dig into all these questions and more. Join me (your humble podcast host, Mahea Lee), Jeremy Young, and Martin Fowler as we embark upon a journey to the center of the theme: "Songs About Science."

This episode is centered around track selections from the catalogs of Peter Lurye, Tristan Perich, and the Counting Crows, with a special shout out to the work of celebrated composer Philip Glass and acclaimed pianist Vicky Chow. As ever, the discussion touches on topics like theory, production, and music history — along with opinions and anecdotes from the panel here and there.

If you're looking for your next small step in the direction of musical knowledge and entertainment, join us for the episode "Songs About Science."

Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and consider leaving us a 5-star review to help us spread the word and keep the the show in motion! It would mean a lot to us. 

Want more? Go ahead and explore the back catalog of our previous episodes, and subscribe to hear every one of our episodes right when they come out, on your preferred platform: 

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• iHeart Radio
• or anywhere else you get your podcasts.

We'll see you in a couple weeks with a new theme, new guests, and some new songs to break down. If you have any comments, questions, or theme suggestions, drops us a line at podcast@soundfly.com or find us on Twitter.

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In the latest episode of Themes and Variation, I (your stalwart podcast shepherd, Mahea Lee) am joined by magnificent musician and occasional co-host Jeremy Young as well as singer, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and all-around treasure of the Soundfly community, Lana Cenčić to discuss "Cathartic Songs."

This episode features selections from the catalogs of Baby Huey & the Babysitters, Michael Jackson, and Simon Dawes. What's the maximum amount of emotion that can be carried by a single human voice? If you ask nicely, will the man in the mirror ever change his ways? Is it possible for a music school graduate to love a song for nearly two decades without realizing it contains more than one time change?

Follow us on X (Twitter) @ThemesVariation for news about the show including upcoming episodes and more!

Learn more about Lana here.

And be sure to check out the new Soundfly Shop where you can find some sweet Themes and Variation merch — including a mug that's perfect for holding everything from coffee to... tea.

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In the latest episode of Themes and Variation, our podcast panelists share their takes on the theme "Songs With Limitations." 

This time around, I (your humble host, Mahea Lee) am joined by co-host Martin Fowler and special guest, Lora-Faye Åshuvud of the band Arthur Moon to chat about musical constraints and the creativity they sometimes inspire.

This episode features selections from the catalogs of Dawn of Midi, Björk, and The Shaggs. How does a track sound when the instrumentalists are really listening? What makes the human voice so magical and appealing? And what does it truly mean to understand music?

By the way, don't forget to subscribe to the show and please consider leaving us a 5-star review to help us spread the word and keep the lights on! It would mean a lot to us.

Want more? Go ahead and explore the back catalog of our previous episodes, and subscribe to hear every one of our episodes right when they come out, on your preferred platform: 

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• iHeart Radio
• or anywhere else you get your podcasts.

We'll see you in a couple weeks with a new theme and some new songs to break down. If you have any comments, questions, or theme suggestions, drops us a line at podcast@soundfly.com or find us on Twitter.

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An aptly named number from a bombastic legend of the upright bass… A rage filled rallying cry echoing the emotions of the masses… And an orchestral tapestry filled with elaborate symbolism, in spite of being loathed by its creator…

In the latest episode of Themes and Variation, our podcast panelists unpack their interpretations of the term "fight songs."

This time around, I (your humble host, Mahea Lee) am joined by co-host Martin Fowler and special guest and Soundfly Founder and CEO, Ian Temple to discuss musical selections full of unrelenting angst, righteous indignation, and fiery determination.

This time around, we've highlighted songs by Charles Mingus, Rage Against the Machine, and Pyotr Illyich Tchaikovsky. The conversation touches on topics like mob mentality, the jazz world's rumor mill, and orchestrated gunfire.

Could Mingus swing? Is there a reason for the seemingly unfinished name of a particular '90s hit? And why does the "1812 Overture" sound so familiar? Check out the latest episode of Themes and Variation for answers to these questions and more.

By the way, don't forget to subscribe to the show and please consider leaving us a 5-star review to help us spread the word and keep the lights on! It would mean a lot to us.

Want more? Go ahead and explore the back catalog of our previous episodes, and subscribe to hear every one of our episodes right when they come out, on your preferred platform:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• iHeart Radio
• or anywhere else you get your podcasts.

Find Themes and Variation's "Fight Songs" playlist here.

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The long-awaited return of one of the most legendary names in neo soul… The reflective resurrection of a beloved rock god… And the redemption remix of an artist who rose like a phoenix from the ashes of musical virality…

Themes and Variation is back with our first episode of the new season: "Comeback Songs."

It's been ages since I wrote an article to tease out some key details about an episode of Soundfly's podcast and compel you all to have a listen. In the past, I filled the role of companion to Carter Lee, the show's former host (and, as it happens, my very own past, current, and future spouse).

Well, as of now, I'm stepping into the driver's seat. Our new navigators are Soundfly team members and show favorites, Martin Fowler and Jeremy Young.

To usher in the big return, the three of us each brought in a musical selection befitting the theme "Comeback Songs." Armed with little more than research notes, three mics, and the company Zoom account, we dug deep into our track choices. Along the way, we discussed things like the time Questlove leaked someone else's demo on Australian radio, the hardest working musician in all the goblin realm, and a surprising connection between cyberbullying and early cinema.

*Warning: Spoilers ahead. If you'd prefer to be surprised, you better start listening to the episode before it's too late!

The episode, "Comeback Songs" is anchored by musical selections from the catalogs of D'Angelo, David Bowie, and Rebecca Black.

Be sure to visit soundfly.com for all your music learning needs.

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Hey folks, Mahea Lee here and I'm excited to let you know that Themes and Variation will be returning on Wednesday, August 30th, but this time around I'll be playing host.

Just like always, each episode will be centered around a theme, like "Songs You Know By Heart" or "Apocalypse Songs." Each episode will feature a three person panel, the members of which will bring in songs they've selected based on how they choose to interpret the theme of that episode.

Those song selections can lead the conversation everywhere from harmonic theory to music industry lore, to unexpected production tips, and even embarrassing childhood memories.

Joining me throughout the season will be show favorites Martin Fowler and Jeremy Young, as well as some new friends and familiar faces.

New episodes will be available via Spotify, Apple, and just about anywhere else you go for podcasts. We'll be releasing the next episode, "Comeback Songs" on August 30th, but go ahead and subscribe to the show now and you'll have one less thing to remember later. Happy listening, and we'll see you soon.

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There was no shortage of excellent new music in 2022 and given how quickly the year's gone by, many of us have some serious catching up to do. Luckily, the latest episode of our podcast has arrived to help out.

For this one, Carter and Mahea were joined by not one, not two, not three, but FOUR members of the Soundfly team to discuss "Songs of the Year 2022." Breaking slightly from our standard show format, this episode shorter discussions around six unique song selections as well as a few rounds of music release trivia questions designed by Mahea.

So sit back and relax, or if you're commuting, stay focused and reach your destination while enjoying our final episode of the year!

Subscribe to all of Soundfly's courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

Listen to every episode from this episode here.

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com or reach out on Twitter.

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There's something wonderful and maybe even a little mystifying about a good theme song. A few familiar notes can serve as a cue to sit back, break from ordinary life, and enter new worlds and realities through the stories that splash across our screens. An iconic theme may even become a sort of character itself — bearing a personality of its own and possibly even evolving over time.

For episode 58 of our podcast, Themes and Variation, Carter and Mahea sat down with composer, Tangelene Bolton to chat about some of our all-time favorite "Theme Songs." 

The episode centers around musical pieces that serve as themes for the shows What We Do In the Shadows, Westworld, and Doctor Who. The selections that feature in the discussion were created by Norma Tenega, Ramin Djawadi, Ron Grainer, and Delia Derbyshire.

Subscribe to all of Soundfly's premium course content here.

Check out each song mentioned on this episode with this handy Spotify playlist!

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com or reach out on Twitter.

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We had a tough time settling on the exact wording for this theme.

Personally, we think that has a lot to do with the fact that, as babies of the late '80s, the members of our podcast team have listened to music via many different means. When compared to tape decks, Walkmans (Walkmen?), CD drives, and record players, there's something about the idea of phones as primary sources of media that's still a little strange.

On the other hand, one convenience offered at this audio technology juncture is the ease with which we can learn about our listening habits.

From rhapsodies we use to wind down to commuter karaoke favorites, the latest episode of our podcast addresses tracks that fit the theme, "The Most Played Song on My Phone." For this discussion, Carter and Mahea were delighted to be joined by singer, songwriter, and music consultant, Dominique Marie.

Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

Listen to this episode's playlist here!

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com or reach out on Twitter.

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Do you remember the first time you were really aware of the music in a movie or TV show? Maybe you heard a swell of strings or an eerie synth line and looked down to see that the hairs on your arm were standing on end. Maybe you noticed that a certain character kept appearing right after a particular melody started.

In the newest episode of our podcast, Themes and Variation, Carter sat down with composers Sofia Hultquist (Drum & Lace) and Ian Hultquist to talk about the songs that first got them into film scoring.

Themes and Variation is presented by Soundfly, a music education website changing the way we build our creative skills. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

Check out each song mentioned on the episode with this playlist!

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com or reach out on Twitter.

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One of the things I love most about music is its seemingly mystical ability to articulate things that cannot be expressed through words alone. There are times when the combination of poetry and melody forms a unique and powerful language audiences can immediately comprehend.

In other cases, an instrumental part may communicate an idea or emotion so perfectly, it encapsulates a profound piece of the human experience even without the presence of lyrics.

For the most recent episode of the Soundfly podcast, Themes and Variation, Carter and Mahea sat down with vocalist and songwriter, Laura Lizcano to discuss "Songs That Say So Much."

Subscribe to all of Soundfly's courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

Check out Laura's new record Daughter of the Sea here!

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com or reach out on Twitter.

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"A good theme — like the 'Pink Panther' or 'Baby Elephant Walk' — can work all the way through the picture, which is what I did with them. So, for me, a good melody is not just a pretty tune." – Henry Mancini

Music's presence in a film or television show can completely transform the audience experience. It can set the scene, heighten emotions, provide context clues, and so much more. Every now and then, a piece of music can even take on a life of its own, creating a legacy beyond its cinematic origins.

To celebrate some pieces from the pictures and Soundfly's newest course, Intro to Scoring for Film and TV, Carter and Mahea sat down with composer, pianist, and Soundfly CEO, Ian Temple to discuss "Songs That Lived Beyond The Film."

Themes and Variation is presented by Soundfly, a music education website changing the way we build our creative skills. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

Check out each song mentioned on the episode with this playlist!

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com or reach out on Twitter.

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There's something pretty wonderful about a piece of music that says everything it means to in under two minutes — a piece that somehow satisfies its listeners while managing to leave them wanting more. There's also something great about a highly-recognizable song that addresses a specific category of leisure attire. If that has you scratching your head, you'll definitely want to either read on or jump right to the episode.

For Episode 53 of our podcast, Themes and Variation, Carter and Mahea sat down with New York-based singer, songwriter, and incredible person we're glad to call friend, Tasha Solomita to discuss "Short Songs" (or as one of us chose to hear it, "Shorts Songs").

The episode is anchored by selections from the catalogs of a chamber ensemble group called the Pixies, an experimental woodwind orchestra known as the Beatles, and an avant-garde electronic jazz quartet that goes by the Royal Teens. No, we're just kidding. It's an all rock episode.

Check out all of our courses including Kiefer: Keys, Chords, & Beats here. Subscribe to all of Soundfly's premium course content here.

Check out each song mentioned on this episode with this handy Spotify playlist!

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com or reach out on Twitter.

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In this episode of Themes and Variation, Carter and Mahea are joined by artist, songwriter, and producer, Redah to discuss "Songs That Are Impossible to Cover."

Check out all of our courses including RJD2: From Samples to Songs, here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com or reach out on Twitter.

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They each come with expectations — 3/4 is often indicative of something waltz-like, 12/8 usually implies a shuffle, 2/2 a march, and of course, good ol' 4/4 is where many listeners and performers feel most at home. But what about those time signatures that stray from the familiar simple and compound varieties?

In episode 51 of our podcast, Themes and Variation, Carter and Mahea are joined by Joey Lefitz, beloved friend, Soundfly Mentor, and superb drummer to discuss "Odd Time Songs."

Check out all of our courses including Beat Making in Ableton Live, here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

Dig into each track from this episode with this Spotify playlist!

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com or reach out on Twitter.

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Our panelists have included old friends and new acquaintances. We've spoken to music teachers, instrumentalists, composers, producers, songwriters, students, and several of our Soundfly course instructors — each of whom brought an interesting and passionate perspective to the table.

That said, this ain't no clip show folks. You may have been expecting a highlight reel, but we decided to take things in a different direction, centering the episode around what may very well be our vaguest theme to date: "50." That's it. Just the number 50.

For this one, our panel of regulars had the freedom to select any song in the world, provided they could find a way to relate it to the number 50.

Themes and Variation is presented by Soundfly, a music education website changing the way we build our creative skills :

Check out all of our courses including Com Truise: Mid-fi Synthwave Slow-motion Funk here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

Dig deeper into Songs to Escape Into with this episodes playlist!

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com or reach out on Twitter.

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In the most recent episode of the Soundfly podcast, Themes and Variation, Carter and Mahea are joined by pop artist and multi-instrumentalist, Sulene van der Walt to discuss the theme "Songs I Wish I'd Written."

This time around, the discussion is anchored by selections from the catalogs of Andy Shauf, Rufus Wainwright, and Irving Berlin. Said selections cover topics like social anxiety, youthful infatuation, and nostalgic longing.

Themes and Variation is presented by Soundfly, a music education website changing the way we build our creative skills :

Check out all of our courses including Songwriting for Producers here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

If you'd like to hear every track mentioned on this episode you can find them on this episode's playlist.

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com or reach out on Twitter!

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Because of years of conditioning and generations of artistic traditions, we tend to make a lot of assumptions as listeners. We can't help but expect songs to more or less adhere to certain forms, chord progressions, instrumentations, and countless other patterns.

Overall, that's not necessarily a bad thing. As writers, producers, and performers, we can use those instincts to create specific atmospheres, invoke complex emotions, and otherwise understand and connect with anyone who listens to the music we make.

Of course, there's quite a bit to be said for surprise and delight — the big ideas and tiny details that stray from what's standard, drawing us in by defying that which we've come to expect.

In the latest episode of Soundfly's podcast, Themes and Variation, Carter and Mahea are joined by composer, producer, and the artist featured in Soundfly's newest course, Ryan Lott to discuss "Songs That Defy Expectations."

Themes and Variation is presented by Soundfly, a music education website changing the way we build our creative skills :

Check out all of our courses including Ryan Lott: Designing Virtual Instruments here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

Listen to Son Lux here.

Check out each song discussed on the pod and more songs that defy expectations with this episode's playlist.

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com or reach out on Twitter.

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In the latest episode of Soundfly's podcast, Themes and Variation, Carter and Mahea are joined by voice actor, podcast host, and self-proclaimed non-musician (we'll agree to disagree on that last point), Adam Claus to discuss "Songs You Prefer Listening to Alone." The episode is anchored by selections from profound jazz pianist Bill Evans, instrumentally emotive post-rock group Explosions in the Sky, and Oasis, a band that really knew how to straddle the line between fame and infamy.

Check out all of our courses including RJD2: From Samples to Songs, here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

Check out Adam's podcast, So, You Work In Entertainment here.

Listen to this episode's playlist here!

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com or reach out on Twitter.

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In the latest episode of Themes, our panel digs deep into three songs that epitomize the term "air guitar". And we have the perfect guest in Dre DiMura, an extremely talented guitarist (real, not air) producer, and content creator. So grab your pretend axe and get ready to rip through some of our favorite air guitar songs!

Themes and Variation is presented by Soundfly, a music education website changing the way we build our creative skills :

Check out all of our courses including Kimbra: Vocal Creativity, Arranging, & Production here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

Want more Air Guitar songs? Check out this episode's playlist here.

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com or reach out on Twitter.

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For the latest episode of our podcast, Carter and Mahea sat down with Max Alper (composer, sound artist, educator) to discuss "Songs That Offer Bad Advice." How did Polaroid's marketing team capitalize on a musician's misconception? What piece of music had a powerful influence on a particular hit around the turn of the millennium? And why did one of the nation's greatest songwriters take lyrical shots at a whole host of respectable professions?

For answers to those questions and much more, be sure to check out this episode of Themes and Variation.

Themes and Variation is presented by Soundfly, a music education website changing the way we build our creative skills. Check out all of our courses including The Creative Power of Advanced Harmony, here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

Check out each song discussed on the pod and more songs that offer bad advice with this episode's playlist.

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com or reach out on Twitter.

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For the latest episode of Soundfly's podcast, Themes and Variation, the home panel (Carter Lee, Mahea Lee, and Martin Fowler) sat down to reminisce, complain, share, and speculate about the theme, "Songs You've Heard Too Many Times." The episode is built around selected songs by Journey, Europe, and Francisco Tárrega and covers topics like shredding guitar solos, the gravitational pull of the planet Venus, and musical communication in the mid to late '90s.

Check out all of our courses including RJD2: From Samples to Songs, here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

Listen to this episodes playlist here!

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com or reach out on Twitter.

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For the most recent episode of our podcast, Themes and Variation, Carter Lee and Mahea Lee sat down with electronic musician, inventor of the genre mid-fi synthwave slow-motion funk, and recent Soundfly course instructor, Seth Haley (a.k.a. Com Truise) to chat about "Songs to Escape Into."

Themes and Variation is presented by Soundfly, a music education website changing the way we build our creative skills :

Check out all of our courses including Com Truise: Mid-fi Synthwave Slow-motion Funk here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

Dig deeper into Songs to Escape Into with this episodes playlist!

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com or reach out on Twitter.

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Rhythm, groove, beat, tempo... So many musical ideas are intrinsically linked to the way we perceive time. A part locked tightly to an eighth-note grid has an entirely different feel than one that lays just a bit behind the beat. Music's relationship to time can impact the way we physically move to it as well as the way it moves us emotionally.

For the latest episode of our podcast, Themes and Variation, Carter Lee and Martin Fowler sat down with pioneering producer and composer, Jlin to talk about "Songs That Redefined Our Sense of Time." The episode features tracks by The Pharcyde and J Dilla, Youssou N'Dour, and Curtis Mayfield.

Check out all of our courses including Jlin:Rhythm, Variation, & Vulnerability here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com or reach out on Twitter.

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At first glance, "Songs That Define an Experience" seems simple and almost straightforward when compared to some of the more intentionally ambiguous themes we've used on the Soundfly podcast (like "Epic Songs" or "Mysterious Songs"). However, it ended up being trickier than expected, with every interpretation eliciting a different kind of vulnerability from the members of the episode's panel.

To discuss songs related to everything from early music school experiences to humanity's most looming and unanswerable question, Carter and Mahea were joined by the brilliant, Jessi Lee, who is as delightful as she is insightful. Song selections for the episode included pieces by J.S. Bach, Radiohead, and Death Cab for Cutie.

Themes and Variation is presented by Soundfly, a music education website changing the way we build our creative skills. Check out all of our courses including The Creative Power of Advanced Harmony, here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

Follow Jessi Lee on IG at @jessileemusic

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com or reach out on Twitter.

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The latest episode of T&V is all about "Songs That Aren't for the Faint of Heart." This theme almost immediately became one of our favorites, but what does it mean to you? And what would you add to a community playlist that isn't for the faint of heart?

Maybe your pick would be the sort of angsty number that comes with a parental warning. Then again, it could be something that seems innocuous, until you consider its dramatic backstory. Of course, it might also be a song that's notoriously difficult — or better yet, apparently impossible to perform.

For this episode, Carter and Mahea were joined by our good friend, the immensely talented songwriter and guitarist, Christina Apostolopoulos.

Themes and Variation is presented by Soundfly, a music education website changing the way we build our creative skills. Check out all of our courses including Songwriting for Producers  here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

And check out our free Themes and Variation companion course for writing prompts and additional resources.

We want to hear the songs that made you practice! Add them to the community playlist for this episode.

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com!

Check out this live performance of "Faerie's Aire and Death Waltz."

And check out Christina's music here!

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Imagine for a moment that you're on your own, but in a crowd. Maybe you're seated on a bus alongside others who are also making the journey from work to home. Perhaps you're walking down a busy street, and you find an unexpected moment of tranquility as you bend down to tie the laces of a well-worn shoe. Then again, you could be one in an audience of hundreds, eagerly waiting for your favorite DJ to take the stage. Now, imagine yourself pulling a pair of headphones from the pocket of your coat and sliding them into place. Press play. What song do you hear?

There's something surreal about the experience of being alone in a crowd. Some of us find a sense of calm in the anonymity. Others struggle with the sudden self-awareness that comes from being but one small scene in life's elaborate tapestry.

In the newest episode of our podcast, Themes and Variation, the panelists discuss songs that capture exactly these sorts of sensations. This theme (which may very well be one of our favorites) was selected by our guest for the episode, Fadi Tabbal (sound artist, producer, engineer), who joined Carter and Mahea to talk about "Songs to Listen to When You're Alone in a Crowd."

Themes and Variation is presented by Soundfly, a music education website changing the way we build our creative skills. Check out all of our courses including The Creative Power of Advanced Harmony, here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

We want to hear your favorite songs to listen to when you're alone in a crowd! Add them to the community playlist for this episode.

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com or reach out on Twitter.

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Whether facing the aftermath of a flash in the pan fling or the desolation that follows the the ending of a lifetime's truest love, there are certain songs worth turning to when in need of emotional catharsis. While it won't necessarily heal all wounds, music can reinvigorate a sense of hopeful determination and remind us that we're not alone. From the somber to the wistful, the trite to the profound, there's something remarkable about a really good breakup song.

To discuss the ballads of the broken hearted, Carter and Mahea sat down with Marcela Rada (audio engineer, producer, educator, and Soundfly Mentor). The conversation covered everything from the presence of emotion in an excellent mix to band dynamics and the tumultuous relationships that helped fuel one of music's greatest groups.

Check out all of our courses including Faders Up I: Modern Mix Techniques here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

We want to hear your favorite boy band hits! Add them to the community playlist for this episode.

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com or reach out on Twitter.

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A clever way to credit one of the most joyful giants of jazz, a legendary hip-hop alias inspired by The Art of War, and a mind-bending backstory to go with a country star's pseudonym — these are some of the things covered by the podcast panel in the latest episode of Themes and Variation.

For this one, Mahea and Carter sat down with the always entertaining and ever-insightful Flypaper Editor-in-Chief himself, Mr. Jeremy Young to discuss "Alter Ego Songs." As usual, the episode's theme stirred up a range ideas in each member of the panel, leading to three very different song selections.

Themes and Variation is presented by Soundfly, a music education website changing the way we build our creative skills. Check out all of our courses including RJD2: From Samples to Songs, here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

We want to hear your favorite alter ego songs! Add them to the community playlist for this episode.

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com or reach out on Twitter.

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The oxymoronic theme "Songs From the Imminent Past" was first suggested as a bit of a joke, but the more we thought about it, the more we succumbed to it, and well, here we are! For our podcast's first episode of 2022, we dove into a set of songs that has us thinking hard about the both the recent past and not-so-distant future.

To kick the year off, our panel for the episode was comprised of three podcast regulars: Carter Lee, Mahea Lee, and Martin Fowler. The conversation covered topics ranging from songwriting with someone else in mind to Guinness World Records, from musical symbiosis to the world of performance royalties — all while discussing recent tracks by Japanese Breakfast, Dijon, and Taylor Swift.

Themes and Variation is presented by Soundfly, a music education website changing the way we build our creative skills. Check out all of our courses including Kimbra: Vocal Creativity, Arranging, & Production here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code POCAST to take 20% off!

We want to hear the songs that made you want to study music! Add them to the community playlist for this episode.

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com or reach out on Twitter.

Mentioned in this episode:

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In 2021, our podcast released 24 episodes, each of which was centered around a musical theme. Some of the themes were pretty clear cut (like "Songs That Used Found Sounds" or "Dilla Songs"), while others were more abstract (like "Whimsical Songs" or "Mysterious Songs"), but they were all up for interpretation.

We heard insights and ideas from 30 different panelists, each of whom brought a unique musical perspective to the show. This year's guests included performers, producers, video game music composers, songwriters, educators, students, theorists, vocalists, and instrumentalists. We talked to some of our favorite Soundfly course instructors, as well as some amazing Soundfly Mentors. What all of these people had in common was their love for music and readiness to discuss the things that jump out to them about songs they find, in some way, meaningful.

For the final episode of the year, Carter and Mahea looked back on the last 12 months of the show, revisiting some noteworthy moments along the way. They chatted about how Themes and Variation has impacted their listening habits, and Mahea put Carter's memory to the test via some trivia questions.

On behalf of Carter, Mahea, and the rest of the Soundfly team, happy holidays and thank you for a wonderful year of Themes and Variation.

Check out all of our courses including Kiefer: Keys, Chords, & Beats here. Subscribe to all of Soundfly's premium course content here. Be sure to use the code PODCAST for 20% off at checkout.

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com or reach out on Twitter.

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The term "one-hit wonder" evokes a certain notion of failure. It implies that the artists that get slapped with that label could never follow up the song that made them global sensations. The truth is, getting even just a single hit is a monumental achievement, and these hits were so big that they took on a life of their own.

For the latest episode of T&V, Carter and Mahea sat down with songwriter/vocalist Lina Farah (aka Naheli) to dissect some of these songs turned phenomena.

Themes and Variation is presented by Soundfly, a music education website changing the way we build our creative skills.

Check out all of our courses including Intro to Music Production in Ableton Live,  here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

We want to hear the songs you love that use found sounds! Add them to the community playlist for this episode.

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com!

Mentioned in this episode:

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Whether you consider yourself a morning person or not, the first thing you listen to can sometimes set the tone for the rest of your day. So what kind of song do you prefer to wake up to — something with a strong backbeat to shake you from your slumber or a tune with a gentle build to ease the way between dreams and reality?

For the latest episode of Themes and Variation, Mahea and Carter sat down with Sarah Galdes, an incredible drummer and musical artist to discuss some songs that are perfect ways to start the day.

Check out Soundfly's courses, including Kiefer: Keys, Chords, & Beats here. Subscribe to all of our premium course content here.

We want to hear the songs you wake up to! Add them to the community playlist for this episode. You can find the examples discussed in the episode there too.

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com or reach out on Twitter.

Mentioned in this episode:

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The concept of "groove" can be hard to pin down. That single word alludes to the rhythmic character of a composition, the feeling with which performers play their parts, and a certain ineffable something that catches the ear and sinks right into a listener's core. Creating something that sits right in the pocket requires both swagger and comprehension.

For the latest episode of Themes and Variation, Mahea and Carter sat down with the ever estimable drummer and producer, Efa Etoroma, Jr. to try to define the indefinable. Our conversation about runs the gamut of all things groove — from legendary virtuosity to beats that just feel good, this one's all about "Songs That Groove."

Check out all of Soundfly's courses including Beat Making in Ableton Live, here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST for 20% off at checkout!

We want to hear your favorite songs that groove! Add them to the community playlist for this episode.

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com or reach out on Twitter.

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While we may not believe anyone should truly be ashamed of their taste in music, most of us have been in a situation where we felt the need to explain why a particular song was part of our music collection. Call it shame or guilty pleasure, but there are tracks we quietly enjoy, while convincing ourselves they're outliers that say nothing about who we are as listeners.

Sometimes, that stems from a fear of what our peers might think. Sometimes, it has more to do with an internal voice that says we "should know better" than to like that song. Sometimes, it comes from the realization that our response to a certain song or style reveals something about ourselves that makes us uncomfortable.

In the latest episode of the T&V, Mahea and Carter sat down with composer, producer, and Soundfly Mentor, Lavender Looi to discuss "Songs I'm Embarrassed to Admit I Love."

Check out all of our courses including The Music of Boy Bands, here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com or reach out on Twitter.

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As an art form, jazz can be passionate or mesmerizing, spontaneous or calculated, inviting or intimidating. It's a unique genre of music, in that it is somehow perceived to be both inclusive and exclusive. For some, it is little more than the soundtrack of their holiday shopping trips, but for others, it's something powerful that relentlessly beckons to their very souls.

In the latest episode of our podcast, we sat down with Peter Martin, a phenomenal pianist, podcast host, and music educator to discuss "Gateway Jazz Songs."

Themes and Variation is presented by Soundfly, a music education website changing the way we build our creative skills.

Check out all of our courses including Kimbra: Vocal Creativity, Arranging, & Production here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com or reach out on Twitter.

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There are certain songs we recognize almost instantly. Sometimes it's because of a particular lick in the intro. Then again, it could be the use of an incredibly unique sound or instrument. And, of course, there are some songs that quickly ring a bell because of our personal connections to them.

For the most recent episode of our podcast, Mahea and Carter sat down with Brian Funk (musician, educator, and podcast host) to discuss "Songs You Can Recognize in the First Five Seconds." We also explored some of the reasons the first few bars of each of our selections left such major imprints on our minds.

Themes and Variation is presented by Soundfly, a music education website changing the way we build our creative skills.

Check out all of our courses including Songwriting for Producers  here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

And check out our free Themes and Variation companion course for writing prompts and additional resources.

We want to hear the songs that made you practice! Add them to the community playlist for this episode.

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com!

Check out these awesome links from Brian:

• Website: https://brianfunk.com
• Ableton Live Packs: https://brianfunk.com/packs
• Free Ableton Live Packs: https://brianfunk.com/free-ableton-live-packs
• Music Production Podcast: https://brianfunk.com/podcast

Mentioned in this episode:

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Some of the best moments in music are the ones that defy expectations, breaking from conventional "rules" in pursuit of something unique or unpredictable. These are often the instances that catch our ears, leaving us wondering what just happened and how those artists got away with something you just don't do.

That irregular something can be an abnormal chord progression, an unanticipated instrument choice, or a way of using an effect with little or no precedent. Of course, the quest to break free from mediocrity and presumption can sometimes result in work that is somewhat polarizing, but there's a lot to admire about an artist, writer, or producer who took that chance.

For this episode, we sat down with favorite-of-the-show, Martin Fowler and the astounding artist, Lora-Faye Åshuvud (of Arthur Moon) to celebrate some tracks that take risks and color outside the lines.

Themes and Variation is presented by Soundfly, a music education website changing the way we build our creative skills.

Check out all of Soundfly's courses, including Kimbra: Vocal Creativity, Arranging, & Production here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com or reach out on Twitter.

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There are so many ways to "study music." You can do it by sitting down to practice your instrument, enrolling in a course online or in-person, or even breaking down a piece that you love in the context of a podcast you just so happen to host.

For our first-ever livestreamed taping, Mahea and Carter sat down with author, educator, and doctoral fellow, Ethan Hein to discuss "Songs That Made Me Want to Study Music."

In the episode, we talk about how great instrumentalists know how and when to play supporting roles, what discovering music was like in a world before the internet, how the world's highest earning musician made my co-host who she is today, and so much more.

Themes and Variation is presented by Soundfly, a music education website changing the way we build our creative skills.

Check out all of our courses including The Creative Power of Advanced Harmony, here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

Check out Ethan's new book Electronic Music School: A Contemporary Approach to Teaching Musical Creativity here!

We want to hear the songs that made you want to study music! Add them to the community playlist for this episode.

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com or reach out on Twitter.

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Most music can heighten moods and toy with feelings, but what does it take for a song to truly send a listener on an emotional journey?

Does it have to do with the instrumentation? What about the form, or the harmony? Does said journey need to feel like a rollercoaster of ups and downs, or can it be more subtle than that?

To answer these questions, Carter sat down with his frequent podcast companion, Mahea Lee, as well as songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Max Swan. They discussed music by Simon Dawes, Armando Young, Laura Marling, and more in our quest to better understand "Songs That Are an Emotional Journey."

Themes and Variation is presented by Soundfly, a music education website changing the way we build our creative skills :

Check out all of our courses including RJD2: From Samples to Songs, here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

We want to hear your favorite sample fodder songs! Add them to the community playlist for this episode.

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com or reach out on Twitter.

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So what does it mean to do something truly amazing with a snippet of sound you've pulled from an existing song? And why have certain songs been sampled so many times? We dig into these questions and more in the latest episode of Themes and Variation, "Sample Fodder Songs."

For the 25th episode of the show, Carter sat down with one of the greatest musical minds around, legendary composer and producer, Ramble Jon Krohn (who you may know under the moniker "RJD2") and his exceptionally talented and knowledgeable colleague, Martin Fowler (whose voice you may recognize from the episodes "Songs From The First Album I Ever Bought" and "Boy Band Songs").

Themes and Variation is presented by Soundfly, a music education website changing the way we build our creative skills.

Check out all of our courses including the RJD2: From Samples to Songs, here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

We want to hear your favorite sample fodder songs! Add them to the community playlist for this episode.

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com or reach out on Twitter.

Mentioned in this episode:

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Have you ever found yourself singing along to a hit song at the top of your lungs, thinking "that can't be the line, can it?" It's a pretty common experience — one that typically ends with a shrug of the shoulders as you take in a deep breath in preparation for the next verse.

If the melody's good and the groove is solid, somewhere between our thoughts of Sue Lawley and Jason Waterfalls, we just accept that Gene Simmons may have wanted to "rock and roll all night and part of every day," while longing for the kind of affection Elton John apparently felt for "Tony Danza."

In the newest episode of Themes and Variation, Mahea and I sat down with Joseph Capalbo (composer, producer, and Soundfly Mentor) to discuss "Songs With Commonly Misheard Lyrics."

Themes and Variation is presented by Soundfly, a music education website changing the way we build our creative skills.

Check out all of our courses including the The New Songwriter's Workshop, here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

We want to hear your favorite songs with misheard lyrics! Add them to the community playlist for this episode.

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com or reach out on Twitter.

Links related to "Louie Louie:"

• FBI song investigation records
• Smithsonian article

Mentioned in this episode:

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What comes to mind when you hear the words "video game music?" Is it a vibrant series of retro-sounding bloops and bleeps a la our favorite princess-saving plumber, or a rich, orchestral landscape that might accompany an assassin exploring an open world?

Making music for video games presents an interesting challenge. The composer must create something that fits a narrative as well as an aesthetic, in addition to providing a soundtrack that will keep the player motivated to work toward each target.

In the latest episode of Themes and Variation, I'm joined by two brilliant minds from the world of video game music: Chase Bethea (composer) and Zac Zinger (composer, arranger, performer).

Themes and Variation is presented by Soundfly, a music education website changing the way we build our creative skills.

Check out all of our courses including the Chiptune Crash Course series, here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com or reach out on Twitter.

Mentioned in this episode:

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There are certain songs that seem perfectly suited for stormy skies and drizzly days. In some cases, this can be attributed to sentimental lyrics, while in others, it's more about an incessant rhythmic figure or the presence of an instrument with a particularly delicate sound. Whatever the reason, it's as though you simply have to sit back and hit play to feel the raindrops dance across your skin.

In the latest episode of our podcast Themes and Variation, Carter is joined by my frequent co-host, Mahea Lee and songwriter/producer/educator, Euan Gray. This time around, we're discussing "Rainy Day Songs."

Themes and Variation is presented by Soundfly, a music education website changing the way we build our creative skills.

Check out all of our courses including Unlocking the Emotional Power of Chords, here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

We want to hear your favorite rainy day songs! Add them to the community playlist for this episode.

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com or reach out on Twitter.

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In celebration of our new course, The Music of Boy Bands, we dedicated an entire episode of the podcast to some of music history’s favorite heartthrobs. After all, despite the inarguable commercial success of groups like *NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys, boy band music has rarely been given the academic and analytical attention we feel it deserves.

In addition to Mahea Lee (Carter's frequent co-host and the guiding voice of The Music of Boy Bands), he was joined by estimable producer, composer, and fellow bassist, Martin Fowler — returning to the show for the first time since he appeared in our inaugural episode.

Themes and Variation is presented by Soundfly, a music education website changing the way we build our creative skills.

Check out all of our courses including The Music of Boy Bands here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

We want to hear your favorite boy band hits! Add them to the community playlist for this episode.

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com or reach out on Twitter.

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The one where Carter shares some exciting news...

• Check out all of our courses including Modern Pop Vocal Production here.
• Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!
• And check out our free Themes and Variation companion course for writing prompts and additional resources.

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com or reach out on Twitter.

Mentioned in this episode:

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It's our 20th episode! And to celebrate, we're taking a deep dive into three very fun, very playful, Whimsical Songs.

Joining Carter on this episode filled with whimsy are his frequent podcast co-pilot Mahea Lee, and Soundfly Founder/CEO, Ian Temple. The three of them discuss the seriousness of Hall and Oates, the DIY mastery of the band Vulfpeck, and much more!

Themes and Variation is presented by Soundfly, a music education website changing the way we build our creative skills.

Check out all of our courses including Unlocking The Emotional Power Of Chords, here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

And check out our free Themes and Variation companion course for writing prompts and additional resources.

We want to hear the songs that you find whimsical! Add them to the community playlist for this episode.

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com or reach out on Twitter.

Mentioned in this episode:

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This week’s of Themes and Variation is full of intrigue, excitement, and unanswered questions. What else would you expect from a theme like "Mysterious Songs?"

For this one, Carter was joined by his co-producer and frequent co-host, Mahea Lee (composer, arranger, music educator) and one of our favorite people on the face of the planet, the inimitably wonderful trumpet player, singer, and songwriter, Rhys Tivey.

Together we discussed the music and mystery of a timeless jazz ballad, a transcendent indie rock song, and a track responsible for countless internet conspiracies.

Themes and Variation is presented by Soundfly, a music education website changing the way we build our creative skills.

Check out all of our courses including Songwriting for Producers here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

We want to hear the songs you find mysterious! Add them to the community playlist for this episode.

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com or reach out on Twitter.

Mysterious resources and links we mentioned during the episode:

• r/TheMysteriousSong
• Part 1 of Justin Whang's YouTube series on the Most Mysterious Song on the Internet

Cover versions featured in the medley:

• Tomi Malinen
• Mike Mills
• pois alt homo
• Megaraptor
• W&N Covers

Mentioned in this episode:

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Music can affect us in so many interesting ways. It can toy with our perception of time when someone on the other end of a phone line puts us on hold. It can motivate us to keep up the pace and push through the last leg of an early morning run. It can even say everything we've been failing to articulate, providing something that makes sense in the midst of a mind boggling year.

In the newest episode of Themes and Variation,  Carter is joined by two marvelous members of the Soundfly community, Carrie Herbert (composer, doctoral candidate, singer/songwriter) and returning guest Sırma Munyar (artist, producer, course instructor) to discuss the theme "Songs That Got Us Through the Last Year."

Themes and Variation is presented by Soundfly, a music education website changing the way we build our creative skills.

Check out all of our courses including Modern Pop Vocal Production here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

And check out our free Themes and Variation companion course for writing prompts and additional resources.

We want to hear about the songs that got you through the last year! Add them to the community playlist for this episode.

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com!

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J Dilla (aka James Dewitt Yancey) was, without a doubt, one of the most creative and influential musicians of his or really, any era of music. He was a true producer, possessing not only the technical skills required to make incredible music, but also the taste and artistry needed to create the kind of work that will forever be imitated, but never replicated.

In the latest episode of Themes and Variation, Carter is joined by returning guests Julian "JSWISS" Caldwell and Charles Burchell, who you may recognize from last year's "Songs That Use the Same Sample," The Art of Hip-Hop Production, or their own incredible musical projects.

Themes and Variation is presented by Soundfly, a music education website changing the way we build our creative skills.

Check out all of our courses including The Art of Hip-Hop Production here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

And check out our free Themes and Variation companion course for writing prompts and additional resources.

We want to hear your favorite Dilla songs. Add them to the community playlist for this episode.

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com!

Mentioned in this episode:

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Vocals are often the component of a song listeners most naturally seek out, sometimes without even realizing we're doing it. It's as though our instinctive connection with the sound of another human helps it cut through all the other noise — so much so that we expect the voice to be a focal point.

How is it then, that some tracks manage to surprise, delight, and move us through the inspired ways they use and treat their vocals?

In this episode of Themes and Variation, Mahea and I are joined by the extraordinary singer, songwriter, producer, and exceptional artist, Kimbra, to discuss "Songs Dominated by Vocals."

Themes and Variation is presented by Soundfly, a music education website changing the way we build our creative skills.

Check out all of our courses including Kimbra: Vocal Creativity, Arranging, and Production  here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

We want to hear your favorite songs dominated by vocals! Add them to the community playlist for this episode.

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com!

Mentioned in this episode:

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Cleverness can be demonstrated through the use of acrobatic word play, or through the specific ways someone might pair music and lyrics. We see it at work in the profound musings of writers who are introspective and empathetic.

In the newest episode of Themes and Variation, the panelists discuss songs they feel exemplify the word "clever." In addition to my colleague and frequent co-host, Mahea Lee, I’m joined by Chris Lindsey, a Grammy-Nominated songwriter and extremely insightful individual who hosts the Pitch List podcast.

Themes and Variation is presented by Soundfly, a music education website changing the way we build our creative skills.

Check out all of our courses including Intro to Music Production in Ableton Live,  here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

We want to hear the songs you think are incredibly clever! Add them to the community playlist for this episode.

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com!

Mentioned in this episode:

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Whether you're familiar with the term "found sound" or not, it refers to a concept you've almost definitely had some experience with during your music listening lifetime, possibly in one of these tracks!

In the latest episode of Themes and Variation, Carter and Mahea are joined by Soundfly Mentor and incredible producer, Sam Friedman. The panel breaks down three of their favorite found sound-laden tracks for a truly immersive listening experience.

Themes and Variation is presented by Soundfly, a music education website changing the way we build our creative skills.

Check out all of our courses including Intro to Music Production in Ableton Live  here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

We want to hear the songs you love that use found sounds! Add them to the community playlist for this episode.

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com!

Mentioned in this episode:

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Music can fill so many important and unique roles in society. It can provide entertainment or emotional catharsis. It can help us preserve history or keep up with the times. It can be a means of self-expression or a way to unite strangers around the issues that matter most.

In the newest episode of Themes and Variation, the panel contemplates "Songs to Inspire Change." For this one, I was joined by two talented artists and profound individuals: Speech Thomas and Keenan the First. We discussed some crucial subjects in this episode, making it perhaps the most important one we've released yet.

Themes and Variation is presented by Soundfly, a music education website changing the way we build our creative skills.

Check out all of our courses including Songwriting for Producers  here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

We want to hear the songs that you feel inspire change! Add them to the community playlist for this episode.

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com!

Check out Speech's film, 16 Bars here!

Mentioned in this episode:

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It's time to hit the woodshed!

On the latest episode of Themes and Variation, Carter and Mahea are joined by their good friend Ian Barnett to break down some tracks that made them want to get better.

Ian is the touring drummer for both Betty Who and Marlon Craft and he makes his own music under the name Mallow.

Themes and Variation is presented by Soundfly, a music education website changing the way we build our creative skills.

Check out all of our courses including Songwriting for Producers  here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

And check out our free Themes and Variation companion course for writing prompts and additional resources.

We want to hear the songs that made you practice! Add them to the community playlist for this episode.

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com!

Check out these resources on the incredible genre known as Footwork:

https://pitchfork.com/features/starter/9444-footwork/

https://www.passionweiss.com/2016/06/21/i-still-have-so-much-to-learn-and-digest-an-interview-with-cakedog/

https://www.redbull.com/gb-en/footwork-music-guide-and-history

Chicago's Footwork Music And Dance Get A Transatlantic Lift

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/jun/30/fancy-footwork-how-chicagos-juke-scene-found-its-feet-again

Mentioned in this episode:

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New year, new themes!

We've got a special one for our first episode of 2021. On this episode of T&V, Carter and Mahea tackle Songs Defined By Their Solos.

And they have the perfect guest for this deep dive into some incredible solos and the songs they defined in Kirk Hamilton. Kirk is a writer, musician, and the host of one of our all time favorite music podcasts, Strong Songs. Be sure to check out his podcast as he's probably uncovered something even you didn't know about your favorite song.

Themes and Variation is presented by Soundfly, a music education website changing the way we build our creative skills.

Check out all of our courses including Songwriting for Producers  here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

And check out our free Themes and Variation companion course for writing prompts and additional resources.

We want to hear the songs you feel are defined by their solos! Add them to the community playlist for this episode.

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com!

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It's here again — that time of year when the charm and nostalgia of our favorite holiday songs have just about worn off even though the lights are still twinkling brightly and at least a few gifts have yet to be wrapped. It's hard to appreciate the comfortable familiarity of a wintry carol when it’s been worming its way into your ears for weeks.

Fortunately,  we've got an episode to shake you out of the musical monotony of the holiday season.

This time around, our panel includes the ever-astute and equally entertaining, Zoë Young, as well as my colleague and collaborator in both business and married life, Mahea Lee. Together, we attempt to make sense of three incredibly… "Unexpected Holiday Tracks."

Themes and Variation is presented by Soundfly, a music education website changing the way we build our creative skills.

Check out all of our courses including Songwriting for Producers  here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

And check out our free Themes and Variation companion course for writing prompts and additional resources.

We want to hear your favorite unexpected holiday songs! Add them to the community playlist for this episode.

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com!

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What kind of music did your parents listen to when you were growing up? Did they listen to yacht rock classics? What about something a little more uplifting? Or maybe they listened to... the most popular band of all time.

In this episode, our panel dusts off some heirloom LPs and takes a deep dive into their parent’s record collections to uncover some gems that have impacted their own musical tastes. And today, I'm joined by producer, songwriter, keyboardist and good buddy, Hughie Stone Fish. Hughie is an incredible talent that you may know from his own music and his work as 1/3 of the comedy supergroup Lewberger!

Themes and Variation is presented by Soundfly, a music education website changing the way we build our creative skills.

Check out all of our courses including The New Songwriter's Workshop  here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

And check out our free Themes and Variation companion course for writing prompts and additional resources.

We want to hear your favorite songs from a parent's record collection! Add them to the community playlist for this episode.

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com!

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Is it necessary for elements of its composition to defy musical convention? Should it incorporate ideas and technologies in ways listeners are unlikely to expect? Could it instead be largely a musical symbol of artistic independence and creative empowerment?

 In the latest episode of our podcast, "Themes and Variation," our three-person panel discusses some examples of how Taylor Swift, T-Pain, and Radiohead have contributed to the world of pop music. For this episode, I was joined by Switched on Pop's Charlie Harding, a musician and music lover who has an astounding grasp on the ins and outs of popular songs and songwriting (he quite literally wrote the book on it not too long ago), as well as my co-producer and frequent episode companion, the ever-insightful, Mahea Lee.

Themes and Variation is presented by Soundfly, a music education website changing the way we build our creative skills.

Check out all of our courses including Modern Pop Vocal Production here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

And check out our free Themes and Variation companion course for writing prompts and additional resources.

We want to hear which songs you feel changed pop! Add them to the community playlist for this episode.

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com!

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In the latest episode of Themes and Variation, our three-person panel discusses a trio of songs that feature vocal performances deemed "memorable" for a variety of reasons.

For this conversation, Carter sits down with the astoundingly talented and highly accomplished artist, Sırma Munyar (vocalist and songwriter) and his frequent podcast companion, Mahea Lee (composer, arranger, educator).

They talk about groundbreaking artists, arguably the most incredible vocal arranger of all time, an interesting treatment of the human voice, and so much more.

Themes and Variation is presented by Soundfly, a music education website changing the way we build our creative skills.

Check out all of our courses including Modern Pop Vocal Production here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

And check out our free Themes and Variation companion course for writing prompts and additional resources.

We want to hear the songs you feel feature memorable vocal performances! Add them to the community playlist for this episode.

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com!

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We decided this year somehow wasn't quite scary enough. This spooktacular episode is sure to be spine-tingling and chill-inducing, just in time for Halloween!

Joining Carter for this deep dive into some spooky tracks are his frequent co-host Mahea Lee and their friend, Actor/Producer/Musician, Ari Stidham. You may know Ari from his work as Sylvester on the CBS series "Scorpion" or from the music he releases as Dr. Television.  They dive deep into three terrifying tracks and even decide on which Halloween treat best accompanies each song. 

Themes and Variation is presented by Soundfly, a music education website changing the way we build our creative skills.

Check out all of our courses here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

And check out our free Themes and Variation companion course for writing prompts and additional resources.

We want to hear the songs that give you the chills! Add them to the community playlist for this episode.

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com!

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What makes a great cover song? Is it playing every note as close to the original as possible? Or does a great cover require a reimagining of the source material? Whatever your feeling is, this episode will dig deep into some of our favorite covers and unearth what makes a great cover so special.

In this episode, Carter sits down with frequent co-host and co-producer Mahea Lee and their co-worker and Flypaper editor-in-chief, Jeremy Young to listen to and break down some of their favorite covers!

Themes and Variation is presented by Soundfly, a music education website changing the way we build our creative skills.

Check out all of our courses including The Creative Power of Advanced Harmony, here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

And check out our free Themes and Variation companion course for writing prompts and additional resources.

We want to hear your favorite cover songs! Add them to the community playlist for this episode.

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com!

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What songs come to mind when you think of iconic or memorable synth sounds? Do you think of massive dance hits? What about reverb-drenched dream pop? Maybe something edgier?

In this episode, Carter sits down with Neara Russell and John Hull, two incredible musicians and experts in the world of synths and music synthesis. 

Themes and Variation is presented by Soundfly, a music education website changing the way we build our creative skills.

Check out all of our courses including The Art of Hip-Hop Production here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

And check out our free Themes and Variation companion course for writing prompts and additional resources.

We want to hear the songs you feel feature the most iconic synth sounds! Add them to the community playlist for this episode.

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com!

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What comes to mind when you think of an epic song? Is it virtuosic guitar shredding? Ear-piercing vocal performances? Maybe it's simply the sheer length of the track that invokes a certain epic quality. Whatever your criteria, we've got you covered with this episode.

For this episode, Soundfly team member Carter Lee is joined by Soundfly's CEO and Founder, Ian Temple, as well as Soundfly's VP of Curriculum/Composer, Mahea Lee. We dive into everything from what might be the first effective use of a vocoder, to how using masterful orchestration can stretch a single melody to the brink. We also learn a lot about each other and our tastes in music, oh boy...

Themes and Variation is presented by Soundfly, a music education website changing the way we build our creative skills.

Check out all of our courses including The Art of Hip-Hop Production here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

And check out our free Themes and Variation companion course for writing prompts and additional resources.

We want to hear the songs you consider epic! Add them to the community playlist for this episode.

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com!

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Whether you think sampling is the highest form of creativity or something more akin to audio theft, you have to admit it's had a big impact on how music is made today. It has been a tool for producers in many genres, but is particularly woven into the legacy of hip-hop. No matter where you stand when it comes to sampling, we'd like to open your minds and ears to the creative possibilities available through the use of this powerful technique.

For this episode, Soundfly team member, Carter Lee sits down with MC/lyricist, JSWISS and bandleader/producer, Charles Burchell to break down some of their favorite songs that sample The Isley Brothers mega hit, "Footsteps in the Dark."

Themes and Variation is presented by Soundfly, a music education website changing the way we build our creative skills.

Check out all of our courses including The Art of Hip-Hop Production here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

And check out our free Themes and Variation companion course for writing prompts and additional resources.

We want to hear your favorite songs that use the same sample! Add them to the community playlist for this episode.

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com!

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Do you remember trying to peel away the cellophane wrapper of a CD, or dropping the needle on your first vinyl album? If you're younger than that, perhaps the only music you've bought didn't come in a tangible form. Whatever the shape of your first record, this episode will help you rediscover the joy you had purchasing music for the first time.

For our very first episode, Soundfly team member Carter Lee sits down with producer/SF team member Martin Fowler and songwriter/V.P. of Curriculum at Soundfly, Mahea Lee. The three of them rediscover and break down songs from the first albums they ever bought.

Themes and Variation is presented by Soundfly, a music education website changing the way we build our creative skills.

Check out all of our courses including Unlocking The Emotional Power of Chords here. Subscribe to all of our courses here and use the discount code PODCAST to take 20% off!

And check out our free Themes and Variation companion course for writing prompts and additional resources.

We want to hear what songs were on the first record you ever bought! Add them to the community playlist for this episode.

Have questions or comments? Want to suggest a theme for a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@soundfly.com!

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Have you ever wondered what the best song for a cross country drive is? Or, how Thom Yorke knows exactly how you feel? Enter Themes and Variation, a podcast about music and perspectives presented by Soundfly!