PODCAST · music
Before The Chorus
by Sofia Loporcaro
Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT. Hosted by award-winning interviewer and radio host Sofia Loporcaro, Before the Chorus dives into the stories and experiences that shape these artists, and ultimately, the music we hear.
Episodes
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The Rescues on composing Tony-nominated musical The Lost Boys, & making an immortal work of art
The Rescues are the trio behind the songs for The Lost Boys, 2026's most Tony-nominated musical of the year. The musical reworks the 1987 cult film, injecting its original vampire campiness with tons of heart. We discuss what it looks like to scale your creative vision, placing it in the hands of...
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Joseph on 'Closer to Happy', letting people down & letting go of fear
On their 5th LP, Joseph are learning to let go of many fears: the fear of disappointing others, the fear of failure, the fear of not being who you thought you were supposed to be. I sat down with sisters Natalie & Meegan to discuss it all. Find Joseph on Spotify:...
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Julianna Zachariou on 'Dreamer Dreamer', recurring dreams, & demanding more than conditional love
On Dreamer Dreamer, Julianna Zachariou wades through dreams of never reaching a destination, deep feelings, and the kind of love that sustains us. Find Julianna on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3MKLoCXEXufW2ldiQtUokO?si=hlMZ2ATKRvOJEsNq5-ij5g On Apple Music:...
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Madison Cunningham on 'Ace', processing through songwriting, & how the right words bring release
On Ace, Madison Cunningham processes the cycles of heartbreak and falling in love again. For this episode, Madison's second time on the podcast, we sat down at her LA home and discussed the record at length. Find Madison on Spotify:...
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Ouri on 'Daisy Cutter', songs predicting the future, & jumping into the void
Ouri's latest album, Daisy Cutter, is a release of control, an excavation of inner truths, & an indulgence of sensuality. As always, we dive into the record's themes in depth, & we make sure to nerd out about Imogen Heap & FKA twigs along the way. Find Ouri on Spotify:...
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Flock of Dimes on 'The Life You Save' & building a safe space to tell difficult stories
Flock of Dimes, aka Jenn Wasner, created an album that is as warm as it is raw. Amidst its perfectly crafted & pared back instrumentation, 'The Life You Save' explores themes of codependency, people pleasing, & letting go. In this episode, we discuss the themes of the album, & what helped her…
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Jack Garratt on 'Pillars' & asking for reciprocity
Jack Garratt's latest full-length album, Pillars, wrestles with longing: longing for reciprocity, longing for love, & longing for fulfillment. We discuss everything from the relationship between artists & their audiences, situationships, & navigating an increasingly difficult music industry. Find...
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Kilo Kish on 'Negotiations', & the tension between art & industry
On Kilo Kish's 'Negotiations', robotic soundscapes mirror the transactional, 'churned-out' side of the music industry. She asks "what am I worth?" - not to an unforgiving business model, but to herself. In this interview, we discuss this tension, & the importance of art on one's own terms. Find...
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LIVE: Before the Chorus & Open Folk Present: In These Lines feat. Gaby Moreno, Lily Kershaw & James Spaite
On June 25th 2025, in collaboration with Open Folk, we presented our first ever live interview event in Los Angeles. As Open Folk put it: "In These Lines is a live event where three artists each bring one song — not just to perform, but to explore. They sit down with Sofia Loporcaro, host of…
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Benét on 'Make 'Em Laugh', & writing through heartbreak as it's happening
Benét writes songs while in the eye of life's storms. Because of this, his lyrics are raw & visceral, bringing us right to the core of what he's been feeling. 'Make 'Em Laugh' is no exception - through songs of heartbreak & self-examination, we're taken on a journey of healing, & just plain…
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Daisy The Great on 'The Rubber Teeth Talk' & making songs out of dreams
Daisy The Great's 'The Rubber Teeth Talk' takes us on a winding road through dream states. Amongst these dreams, real questions occur: "Have I accomplished enough?" "Am I behind?" "Will everything be okay in the end?" Dreams, as they often do, become a vessel for processing reality. In this...
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MRCY on 'VOLUME 2', the spirituality of soul, & dancing through darkness
MRCY's ' VOLUME 2' is a celebration of life that never gets preachy. Rooted in soul music, it sanctifies the human experience in all of its good & bad. In this interview, we speak about the power of soul, life's unanswered questions, & so much more. Find MRCY on Spotify:...
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Adam Melchor on 'The Diary of Living' & finding optimism in upheaval
Adam Melchor's latest album, 'The Diary of Living', balances honesty with levity. He talks about friends who passed away too young, missed connections, & trying to find meaning among all of it. In the end, the record encourages us to forgive ourselves & live life to the fullest Find Adam on...
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Rose Betts on 'There Is No Ship', looking to the past & running towards adventure
On 'There Is No Ship', Rose Betts uses her Irish heritage as a vehicle for storytelling. It documents the life of an artist in her thirties: what it means to choose a different path than your peers, moving countries, the vices we use to escape our troubles, even modern dating. Find Rose on…
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Alisa Xayalith on 'Slow Crush', the power of healthy love, & finding her own creative voice
On 'Slow Crush', her debut LP, Alisa Xayalith takes us through a scrapbook of love stories. Some are about infatuation, toxic relationships & heartbreak. Others are about the kind of love that makes you feel seen & wholeheartedly loved. And after yers of being in a band, Alisa finally gets to…
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Motherhood - Five artists on the often-overlooked parts of pregnancy & motherhood, & putting those stories to music
Despite being an often-overlooked topic in music, motherhood has come up in several of my interviews, & has served as inspiration for several albums. Though I’m not a mother myself, these women’s diverse stories have been so inspiring to me - they challenge tropes of motherhood, & get honest…
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RE-ISSUE: Julien Baker on ‘Little Oblivions’, relapse, sobriety, & not externalizing God
It’s been a busy spring for Julien Baker: she just released a collaborative album with Torres, ‘Send A Prayer My Way’ & announced her relationship with boygenius bandmate Lucy Dacus. Given all that, it seemed like a great time to re-issue my conversation with her from back in 2021. We talked…
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Wet on ‘Two Lives’, anticipating motherhood, & singing from the subconscious
The writing process of ‘Two Lives’ began right as Kelly Zutrau, aka Wet, discovered that she was pregnant. As she processed the news, she let her subconscious to the talking, not filtering or polishing the words she found herself singing. Because of this, ‘Two Lives’ is an incredibly cerebral…
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SYML on 'Nobody Lives Here', life's transient nature & loving yourself through it
On 'Nobody Lives Here', SYML sings about the transience of life with solemn acceptance. Things end, and we have to pick up and begin again. But the album also reminds us: even through endings, we can learn to love ourselves again. Be sure to listen to 'Nobody Lives Here' wherever you stream or…
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Yukimi on 'For You', feeling your feelings, & imagining better futures as a first step towards change
Yukimi Nagano, long known as the frontperson of Little Dragon, came on the podcast to discuss her debut solo album 'For You'. The album is a beacon of both hope and acceptance, reminding us to hold onto our inner light, but that needing a good cry is okay too. Be sure to listen to 'For You'...
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About You on 'The Lighthouse, The Storm', a debut record six years in the making, & sharing different people's stories, including his own
About You's 'The Lighthouse, The Storm' is an album of stories. Some were sent to him by friends, fans & strangers. Others are his own. In all of them, we get a vivid glimpse into deep human emotions, & the universal experience of longing for connection. Be sure to listen to 'The Lighthouse, The...
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TOKiMONSTA on 'Eternal Reverie', finding her love of music again & honouring her friend after their passing
'Eternal Reverie''s is the fruit of TOKiMONSTA changing her creative process & healing from burnout. Its 14 tracks are both a journal of joy & of grief; they serve as a tribute to her best friend, who passed away from cancer last year, & who, in many ways, is woven into them. Be sure to listen to...
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Divorce on ‘Drive to Goldenhammer’, earnestness in songwriting, & finding comfort on the road
Divorce blend the earnestness of country & folk with off-kilter headiness of indie rock. On their debut record 'Drive to Goldenhammer', they reflect on life on the road, long-distance relationships, queer identity, & the ways we care for others. Be sure to listen to 'Drive to Goldenhammer'…
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RE-ISSUE: Self Esteem on relationship & band breakups, queerness, & finding freedom in pop music
With her third album, 'A Complicated Woman', coming out next month, I wanted to revisit my first interview with Self Esteem from 2020. It was pretty clear from the get-go that she was going to bulldoze the rules of pop, & she has - her unfiltered lyrics about female pleasure, queerness…
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The February 2025 Recap: Sofia shares the music & the moments
Sofia takes you through her month in the Los Angeles music scene, concert highlights, emerging artists & more. Events & Artists mentioned: Fine Folk: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6rVpawKdyzxZh9ZAPJbamg?si=7kna4es1S6u6R0fiCM_j7A Rocko Wheeler:...
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Michi on 'Dirty Talk', embracing the "messiness & dirtiness of life", & standing in your own light
Michi's debut LP 'Dirty Talk' is all about healing from past relationships, giving both yourself & former partners grace, & getting agency back. Most importantly, it reminds that this process is imperfect. Be sure to listen to 'Dirty Talk', out February 28th 2025, wherever you stream or buy your...
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Michigander on 'Michigander', experiencing anxiety in his thirties & not wanting to be a person who resists change
On his debut, self-titled record, Michigander runs through a gamut of questions. It reckons with the existential qualms around turning 30, how to let the people we love be imperfect, & speaking up for what you believe in, regardless of who it might alienate. Be sure to listen to 'Michigander'...
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Nilüfer Yanya on 'My Method Actor', whether art has to be authentic to be valid, & listening to your inner guide
Nilüfer Yanya's 'My Method Actor' gets existential over angular grooves. Each song asks a multitude of questions, often using the concept of method acting as a lens to explore them. We discuss the connections between reality & art, setting new boundaries, & learning to trust your inner voice. Be...
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The January 2025 Recap: Sofia shares the music & the moments that got her through the month
It's no secret that January 2025 has been rough for Los Angeles (And the US as a whole), but there were a few good moments that kept me going. I'm sharing a few of them here! Events & Artists mentioned: Open Folk LA: https://www.instagram.com/openfolkla/?hl=en Gilbert Louie Ray:...
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Victoria Canal on ‘Slowly, It Dawns’, the poison of validation, & unraveling in your twenties
Victoria Canal’s debut record ‘Slowly, It Dawns’ is a tale of unraveling in your twenties. Moving from stories of puppy love to existential spirals, it lets us sit with the early adulthood’s turbulence. Be sure to listen to 'Slowly, It Dawns' wherever you stream or buy your music! And get tickets...
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Niambi on 'Taboo', challenging tropes about motherhood, womanhood, & more
On 'Taboo', Niambi (who you may know as one half of the duo OSHUN) asks the uncomfortable questions out loud. She challenges our society's rigid views of motherhood, womanhood, relationships, friendships, & so much more. The EP forces us to look within ourselves &, just maybe, break free from...
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Mon Rovîa on 'Act 4: Atonement', the crooked road of healing, & combatting apathy
On the final EP of a four-part set, 'Act Four: Atonement', Mon Rovîa is atoning, letting go & finding footing. He describes the four EPs as a hero's journey of sorts. This last chapter reminds us that love truly is our greatest healer, a salve for guilt, apathy & trauma. Be sure to listen to 'Act...
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Sofia Shares the Albums She's Excited for in 2025
Over a four-part episode series, Sofia will be looking back on the music & memories of 2024, & looking forward to what 2025 has in store. On this episode, Sofia's shares the albums she's excited for in 2025. Albums mentioned: Ethel Cain - Perverts (Jan 8) Mon Rovia - Act 4: Atonement EP (Jan 10)...
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Sofia Shares Her Artists To Watch in 2025
Over a four-part episode series, Sofia will be looking back on the music & memories of 2024, & looking forward to what 2025 has in store. On this episode, we turn our eyes to the new year with Sofia's Artists To Watch In 2025. Links to artists mentioned: Tin Angel Apple:...
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Local Natives on 'Time Will Wait For No One But I'll Wait For You' & the unwavering brotherhood of the five original band members
Local Natives have been on this podcast many times, & it is an honour to have them as the final guests of 2024. This is also a pivotal time for them: they have just released their final album with founding member Kelcey Ayer. We discuss the double (nay, triple) record, the unchanging love between...
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Sofia Shares Her Favourite Music Memories From 2024
Over a four-part episode series, Sofia will be looking back on the music & memories of 2024, & looking forward to what 2025 has in store. On this episode, she shares her favourite music memories from the past year. Links to events & artists mentioned: Nu School Jamzz Open Folk LA The Beatle Jam...
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Sofia Shares Her Top 10 Albums of 2024
Over a four-part episode series, Sofia will be looking back on the music & memories of 2024, & looking forward to what 2025 has in store. On this episode, she shares her eclectic AoTY list, & tells you why you should be listening to these incredible albums. Links to albums: Empress Of - For Your...
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Georgia Parker on 'Same Time Tomorrow', & writing songs people can relate to whether they want to or not
Georgia Parker's debut record 'Same Time Tomorrow' examines relationships gained & lost with honesty - even when it's uncomfortable. In our conversation, she reflects on learning to speak up for herself, her love of nuance, & not letting a sad song shy away from truth. Be sure to listen to 'Same...
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Lucky Kilmartin on 'Borders, Baby', moving forwards & finding solace in positive writing
Lucky Kilmartin's debut record 'Borders, Baby' is an ode to letting go & letting in. It's also a love letter to the people that he cares for most: his friends, his partner & his father. Be sure to listen to 'Borders, Baby', wherever you stream or buy your music! Find Lucky on Spotify:...
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Jonah Yano on 'Jonah Yano & the Heavy Loop' & looking for a sense of belonging
Jonah Yano & the Heavy Loop is is a reflection on Jonah's most recent experiences. But even with its stream of consciousness-style writing, when we look closer, themes like desire, assimilation, & a need to belong emerge. Be sure to listen to 'Jonah Yano & the Heavy Loop', wherever you stream or...
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Jake Isaac on 'BENJAMIN', & music that is "raw, real & warm"
Jake Isaac's new record BENJAMIN takes us through all of life's highs & lows. From both celebrating & questioning one's faith, to sharing the stories of his Caribbean immigrant ancestors, Jake invites us into his world with open arms. Be sure to listen to 'BENJAMIN', wherever you stream or buy…
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100TH EPISODE - Spencer Sutherland on 'The Drama' & the power of a little delusion
Spencer Sutherland's sophomore album, The Drama, is a rock opera centred around the highs and lows of the fame game. For the 100th episode of this podcast, Spencer & I spoke about ego deaths, the art of high camp, and the fact that, sometimes, a little bit of delusion is healthy. Be sure to…
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Ep. 99: St. Lundi on 'The Island' & learning to love home again
St. Lundi's debut album 'The Island' celebrates both the artist's journey away from home, & the home that was left behind. It recognizes that we can honour the place that we came from & the people that we love, while still pursuing our own path. Be sure to listen to 'The Island', wherever you...
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Ep. 98: MICHELLE on 'Songs About You Specifically' & creating space for each others' stories
MICHELLE's infectious brand of pop yearning is in full force on 'Songs About You Specifically', but comes with a slight change to their process: the bulk of the record was written in Ojai, California instead of their hometown of New York City. We spoke about songwriting as a discipline, holding...
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Ep. 97: Nina Nesbitt on 'Mountain Music' & learning to tell the stories only she can tell
I spoke with Nina Nesbitt about her latest record 'Mountain Music', which is all about re-connecting with home. We often look forward to leaving home when we're young, but later come to cherish it. Nina explores this journey on 'Mountain Music', & much more. Be sure to listen to 'Mountain Music',...
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Ep. 96: Lutalo on 'The Academy' & not hiding the messy parts of life in their songwriting
I spoke with Lutalo about their new record The Academy, which chronicles the artists early life in Vermont. They detail their many experiences, life lessons, & the points of view they adopted from them. The resulting record is an unvarnished look at race, class, oppressive systems in the United...
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Ep. 95: Chewing on 'Songs For Linnéa' & making a sonic scrapbook of his daughter's infancy
Chewing, aka Local Natives' Nik Ewing, wanted to create a sonic scrapbook of sorts for his daughter Linnéa. When she was an infant, he would hold her in one arm, & play the piano with the other. The improvised melodies soon became full songs, & those songs in turn became an album: Songs For…
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Ep. 94: Winnetka Bowling League on 'Sha La La', "This Is Life", & the balance between nostalgia & honest retrospection
I spoke with Matthew Koma of Winnetka Bowling League, on the heels of their first LP 'Sha La La' & the standalone single "This Is Life", featuring Medium Build & Dawes. Both the album & the single share a healthy mix of nostalgia & unfiltered honesty - two things that are rarely seen together.…
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Ep. 93: Paris Paloma on 'Cacophony', "Labour", & a hero's journey through trauma, sisterhood, & healing
Paris Paloma's debut record, "Cacophony", is a 15-song hero's journey. It puts into question the patriarchal structures that hold women down, & proves that we can rebuild ourselves without them. Paris & I spoke over Zoom, discussing the themes that resonated with so many people on her viral…
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The July Recap!
It's time for another one-on-one catchup! Sofia looks back on July's music news & personal highlights. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT. Hosted by award-winning interviewer and radio host Sofia Loporcaro, Before the Chorus dives into the stories and experiences that shape these artists, and ultimately, the music we hear.
HOSTED BY
Sofia Loporcaro
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Before The Chorus have?
Before The Chorus currently has 153 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Before The Chorus about?
Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT. Hosted by award-winning interviewer and radio host Sofia Loporcaro, Before the Chorus dives into the stories and experiences that shape these...
How often does Before The Chorus release new episodes?
Before The Chorus publishes regularly with 153 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Before The Chorus?
You can listen to Before The Chorus on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Before The Chorus?
Before The Chorus is created and hosted by Sofia Loporcaro.
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