Hrishikesh Hirway: Song Exploder / Paper Explorer

Episode 164

15th April 2026

Out of all the podcasts in the world, and there are dozens, Song Exploder is one of the best and totally unique. Hrishikesh Hirway, well, more deconstructs rather than explodes songs and is joined by the musicians who created the song in the first place. And the guests! How about Madonna! U2! Sabrina Carpenter! And so many more. Hrishi is a musician as well with a new album, In The Last Hour of Light, dropping on April 24th. He’s here to talk about music, sure, but also paper. As a former graphic designer, he has many thoughts and details about weight, finish, stock, and coating. How about unbleached cardboard for a CD case? He has thoughts. Paper conversation is a sort of lullaby, you’ll find and Hrishi’s gentle voice will soon have you dreaming of that room in the back of the office where they keep the paper for the copier.

Episode notes

Out of all the podcasts in the world, and there are dozens, Song Exploder is one of the best and totally unique. Hrishikesh Hirway, well, more deconstructs rather than explodes songs and is joined by the musicians who created the song in the first place. And the guests! How about Madonna! U2! Sabrina Carpenter! And so many more. Hrishi is a musician as well with a new album, In The Last Hour of Light, dropping on April 24th. He’s here to talk about music, sure, but also paper. As a former graphic designer, he has many thoughts and details about weight, finish, stock, and coating. How about unbleached cardboard for a CD case? He has thoughts. Paper conversation is a sort of lullaby, you’ll find and Hrishi’s gentle voice will soon have you dreaming of that room in the back of the office where they keep the paper for the copier.

Listen to Hrishikesh Hirway’s new album In the Last Hour of Light, dropping Friday, April 24th, on the streaming service of your choice. Listen to the Song Exploder podcast on all podcatchers and the Song Exploder television program on Netflix.

Hey Sleepy Heads, is there anyone whose voice you’d like to drift off to, or do you have suggestions on things we could do to aid your slumber?

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In this episode...

Host
Senior Producer
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Guests

  • Hrishikesh Hirway

About the show

Getting to sleep can be difficult sometimes. Now you can achieve that urgently needed rest by taking advantage of our most precious natural resource: celebrities. Each week on the slyly humorous and reassuring Sleeping With Celebrities, host John Moe talks with a different guest from the world of entertainment about something they know a lot about. The conversation is guaranteed to be just interesting enough to draw your attention away from your own swirling anxieties but never interesting enough to keep you awake. No startling revelations, no dramatic screaming confrontations, but plenty of low-key dialogue, intricately laced deadpan comedy, and a ticket to dreamland.

Podcast art by Stefan Lawrence.

People

Host

Senior Producer

Producer

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