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
Podcast Episodes
Buckingham Nicks - Frozen Love [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:19
On September 5, 1973, the first and only Buckingham Nicks album was released. It wasn’t a huge hit, but it was how the world was first introduced to the music of Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham, before they went on t…
Fleetwood Mac - Go Your Own Way [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:42
Next week, I’m going to be publishing an episode with Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham about the making of the song “Frozen Love,” from their only album as the duo Buckingham Nicks. That song is what eventually led to…
A-ha - Take On Me [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:54
"Take On Me" by A-ha is an iconic hit of the 1980s. It came out in October 1985 with an equally iconic music video that helped define the age of MTV. It hit #1 in the US and in countries all over the world. And it's stil…
Lady Gaga - Abracadabra [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:00
Lady Gaga is a singer, songwriter, producer, and actress from New York. She’s one of the biggest artists in the world. She’s also won 14 Grammys, 2 Golden Globes, and an Oscar. And in March 2025, she released her sixth a…
Key Change: David Chang on "I See a Darkness" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:02
My guest today is Chef David Chang. He founded Momofuku Noodle Bar in 2004. That was just the start of his incredible career – he’s opened several restaurants, winning awards and Michelin stars along the way, and becomin…
Ethel Cain - Nettles [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:17
Hayden Anhedönia has been making music under the name Ethel Cain since 2019. But it’s not just a band name or a moniker; Ethel Cain is a fictional character, a sort of alter ego that Hayden’s been creating and world buil…
Sam Fender - People Watching [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:36
Sam Fender is a singer and songwriter from the town of North Shields in England. He won the Brit Award for Best Rock/Alternative Act twice. His most recent album is called People Watching, and just like his first two alb…
Key Change: Jia Tolentino on "I Love You Always Forever" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:16
My guest today is Jia Tolentino. Jia is the author of the essay collection Trick Mirror, which was named one of the best books of 2019 by The New York Times Book Review, NPR, The Paris Review, and more. She won a Nationa…
Jay Som - Tenderness [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:27
Melina Duterte goes by the name Jay Som. She’s a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. She’s released three albums as Jay Som, and has produced, engineered, and mixed each one. Her third album, Anak Ko, came out…
Fall Out Boy - Sugar, We're Goin Down [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:22
Fall Out Boy is a band from Chicago that formed in 2001. Their first album, Take This To Your Grave, was a hit, especially in the punk rock world. When they put out their second album, though, in 2005, that was on a whol…