Spotlight On: Merrill Garbus of Tune-Yards

ABOUT THIS WEEK’S SHERO IN THE SPOTLIGHT:

Listening to Tune-Yards, one might be surprised to learn that Merrill Garbus was raised surrounded by a mixture of classical, bluegrass, and early renaissance music, and her own musical journey began with English country dance, and piano lessons. But soon there was also 80’s pop and New York hip hop coming in to Merrill’s budding ears, and after a period of exploring folk music, acapella singing, theater, and even puppeteering in college, she founded the sonically innovative and lyrically insightful indie band Tune-Yards in Montreal with Nate Brenner, who has become Merrill’s long-time collaborator and partner. Now based in Oakland, California, with a successful decade+ long career and four albums to their names, Tune-Yards is about to return with their fifth album, sketchy. It’s also the tenth anniversary of their breakthrough album, whokill. Merrill Garbus joins us to talk about the ongoing journey of self-examination she has been on in recent years, while growing her confidence as a producer, a performer, and as a woman, and how that has manifested in her work. 

Our playlist features new music from Grammy nominee CHIKA, history-making Grammy winner Beyonce, and a new song from Australian trio Middle Kids

This week’s SHERO birthdays include Chaka Khan (3/23), and Aretha Franklin (3/25).

And our Radio SHERO of the week, Mel Fisher from WFPK in Louisville, Kentucky closes the hour with her guest DJ pick: Nina Simone’s “Mississippi Goddam” covered by Kelsey Waldon with Adia Victoria and Kyshona Armstrong.