Key Change: Emma Straub on ‘69 Love Songs’ by The Magnetic Fields

Key Change: Emma Straub on ‘69 Love Songs’ by The Magnetic Fields

Author: Hrishikesh Hirway May 13, 2026 Duration: 22:35
My guest today is the bestselling author Emma Straub. Her books include 'This Time Tomorrow,'  'Modern Lovers,'  'The Vacationers,'  and more. And with her husband, Michael Fusco, she co-owns the beautiful Brooklyn bookstore Books Are Magic. I'm so thrilled to have her on because, not only is she a wonderful writer, but Key Change is a series about music fandom and identity. And Emma's newest novel 'American Fantasy' is also about music fandom and identity. That story is set on a cruise ship centered around a nineties boy band and their fans. But today, Emma's going to tell me her story about her own relationship with the music of The Magnetic Fields. Stephin Merritt from the Magnetic Fields was just named one of the greatest living American songwriters by the New York Times, and Emma’s introduction to their music was their 1999 triple album, '69 Love Songs.'  For more info, visit songexploder.net/emma-straub.

There’s a moment in every great song where a particular sound or lyric catches you off guard, and you wonder how it ever came to be. Song Exploder turns that moment of curiosity into an entire conversation. Musicians sit down with host and producer Hrishikesh Hirway to dismantle one of their own tracks, isolating individual layers-a drum loop, a synth line, a vocal take-and explaining the sometimes messy, often surprising process behind each one. You’ll hear the isolated stems that built the final mix, paired with stories about lyrical changes, studio accidents, and personal breakthroughs. It’s less an interview and more a guided tour through the creative decisions that shape the music we love. Whether it’s an established icon or an emerging artist, each guest provides a rare, technical yet intimate look at their work. This podcast thrives on specificity, transforming how you listen by revealing the intricate craftsmanship hidden inside a finished song. The result is a deeper appreciation for the art form, one detailed breakdown at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Song Exploder
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