Episode 285 with The Philharmonik, Winner of 2024's NPR Tiny Desk Contest for "What's It All Mean?" and Master Arranger, Producer, and Reflective Lyricist

Notes and Links to The Philharmonik’s Work

 

 

 

   The Philharmonik, who was an Episode 58 guest, is a vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, lyricist, music producer and genre defining artist. Recently, he has been nationally and globally recognized after winning the 2023 American Song writer contest and NPR’s 2024 Tiny Desk Contest for his song “What’s It All Mean?” 

NPR Announcement of Tiny Desk Winner: “What’s It All Mean?”

 

The Philharmonik's Website

 

NPR Tiny Desk Concert

 

“What’s It All Mean?” Video

 

The Philharmonik on Spotify

At about 1:35, Christian talks about the year since he won NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest, and his “shift[ing] perspective” 

At about 2:50, Christian discusses the importance of his victory in the American Songwriters’ Contest, and the important “domino effect”

At about 5:50, Christian talks about his vision board and manifesting for his NPR victory

At about 7:30, Christian talked about the waiting period between submission for NPR and his victory, and “starting to lose faith”

At about 9:30, Christian talks about his views on competition 

At about 10:30, Usher: “Watch this!”

At about 11:10, Christian shares his memories-he mentions being “in disbelief”-of getting the call 

At about 13:40, Christian talks about his initial entry in Tiny Desk in 2018 and his philosophy in entering

At about 15:00, Christian responds to Pete’s questions about the logistics and vision for the video for “What’s It All Mean?”

At about 17:40, Pete asks Christian about his interest in music videos and expressing himself through the videos

At about 19:00, The two discuss Office Space, The Office, and other parallels to the working world and Christian’s video

At about 20:00, Chrsitian expands on his band/video mates as “the final piece”

At about 21:45, Christian shouts out the venue and benefactors for his video shoot-shout out the Machados and All-City Homes in Oak Park, Sacramento

At about 23:20, Christian talks about the wonderful feedback from fans

At about 24:00, Pete shares praise from NPR about the song and video

At about 24:50, Christian expands upon the truly “tiny” Tiny Desk and the logistics of the Tiny Desk Concert itself 

At about 27:15, Christian discusses the post Tiny Desk Concert tour arranged by NPR

At about 29:10, Christian breaks down “in the pocket” and “dry[ing] out the mix” as he gets his music professor on

At about 30:05, Christian calls Stevie Wonder “the godfather” of “What’s It All Mean” and expands on how he likes the ways Beatles used guitars and connections to amps and reverb

At about 31:50, Christian responds to Pete’s questions about the arrangement of the winning song, especially the opening crescendo

At about 34:10, Christian answers Pete’s question about how the winning song’s meaning ahs evolved over time

At about 36:00, Pete homes in on some meaningful lines from the winning song as the two reflect on the unknowns of life 

At about 38:40, Pete mentions Severance and “No Surprises” by Radiohead as reminiscent of the winning song

At about 40:20, Christian reflects on the “ups and downs of the creative process” and the (mostly) special time “in the lab”

At about 41:30, Christian talks about listener data and questioning his music career at times

At about 43:30, Christian shares the exciting news about his upcoming world tour

 

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    Please tune in for Episode 286 with Hannah Pittard, winner of the Amanda Davis Highwire Fiction Award and a MacDowell fellow. She is the author of six books, including the memoir WE ARE TOO MANY and the forthcoming novel IF YOU LOVE IT, LET IT KILL YOU, whose Pub Day is July 15, the day this episode drops.