You're listening to Song Exploder, where musicians take apart their songs, and piece by piece tell the story of how they were made.

I'm Rishi Kesh Hirway.

This is Key Change, where I talk to fascinating people about the music that changed their lives.

And my guest today is the best-selling 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. 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 90s 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. Stephen 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 the 1999 triple album, 69 Love Songs.

Thank you so much for being here, Emma.

I cannot believe it,

because I have listened to every episode.

I am your number one fan. And so it is very

surreal for me to be here and I am honored and thank you. Do you remember the first time that you

heard the magnetic fields? So I was a sophomore in college at Oberlin in 1999. And more than I remember actually hearing them for the first time, I remember hearing their name. Like, you couldn't walk six steps in Oberlin, Ohio, in 1999 and not have someone talk about the magnetic fields.

And what were people saying?

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