Tune-Yards Shares The Inspiration Behind 'Sketchy'

XPN | By John Myers,

Published May 10, 2021 at 12:15 PM CDT

When you listen to a song by Tune-Yards, it can be like listening to a beautiful, but abstract painting. There are layers and layers of sound, complex rhythms and melodies, and lots to interpret in the band's often socially conscious lyrics.

In this session, Merrill Garbus and Nate Brenner of Tune-Yards joined me from their home in Oakland, Calif. We had a conversation about the creation of Sketchy, and what has been going through their minds and inspiring them throughout the past two years as they worked on the record.

John Myers

Since 2017, John Myers has been the producer of NPR's World Cafe, which is produced by WXPN at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Previously he spent about eight years working on the other side of Philly at WHYY as a producer on the staff of Fresh Air with Terry Gross. John was also a member of the team of public radio veterans recruited to develop original programming for Audible and has worked extensively as a freelance producer. His portfolio includes work for the Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site, The Association for Public Art and the radio documentary, Going Black: The Legacy of Philly Soul Radio. He's taught radio production to preschoolers and college students and, in the late 90's, spent a couple of years traveling around the country as a roadie for the rock band Huffamoose.

See stories by John Myers

Raina Douris

Raina Douris is the host of World Cafe.

See stories by Raina Douris