Crate Dig

"There was this magic of putting together chords and notes and rhymes with the storytelling. It was a privilege... It's making a film for the ears and I thought, 'This is a magical profession.' And I still think so." - Keren Ann

"We would drive around in my parents' GMC Savannah van and listen to the CD of 'Stand by Me.' ...When I think of bubblegum '50s pop, just bright, golden days when everyone was optimistic, I think of late '90s San Francisco as a very happy, golden time." - Patton Magee

"The one that really, forever, sticks with me is meeting Elliott Smith. It was '95 or '96. Jon Brion...had been introduced to Elliott and went out and filled a shopping bag with Elliott Smith albums and distributed them to his friends. I was fortunate that I was among them." - Grant-Lee Phillips

"I tend to not be drawn to rhyming poems because it plays into the sing-songy part of my brain. So I really enjoy poets like Mary [Oliver] that create their own rhythm in other ways. And it's not usually in that classic structure, but in the way ideas build and form." - Caroline Spence

"People don't understand about production: It's one thing to be a person who writes songs and has their vibe; it's another thing to take those songs and deliver them to a finished product that's on a piece of vinyl that listeners can hold in their hand. That is a journey." - Lawrence Rothman

Just back from a tour of Europe in support of her wonderful new From Newman Street album, Kassi Valazza pops into Crate Dig to talk about the classic albums that help her create her instant-classic sound. Crate Dig Kassi Valazza0:00/588.9378121×

Every now and then, the algorithms and ads on social media land a win. Discovering William Wild that way definitely counts, because his brand-new Touchy album is well worth a click and a listen. Crate Dig William Wild0:00/650.6885941×

For the past 22 years, Kris Delmhorst has been one of my absolute go-to listens when I just need to crawl inside a vibe and stay there for a little bit, and her gorgeous new Ghosts in the Garden release is no exception to that rule. Crate Dig Kris Delmhorst0:00/716.0141871×