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Switched on Pop

The Sound of Sapphism

Switched on Pop

Vox Media Podcast Network

Music Interviews, Music History, Music, Music Commentary

4.62.7K Ratings

🗓️ 8 November 2022

⏱️ 33 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Tegan & Sara and King Princess have found themselves placed under the banner, "sapphic pop," a term recently coined referring to music by and/or for sapphics (a.k.a. women or femme folks attracted to other femme folks). Journalist Emma Madden defines the folk-inspired sound as having a “soft tactile approach” that’s “more sensual than it is sexual.” This umbrella folds in everyone from indie pop veterans Tegan & Sara to nonbinary artists like King Princess; even artists like Hozier and Sufjan Stevens are, improbably, considered sapphic pop, with their music having the same sonic qualities of other songs dedicated to feminine yearning. From articles popping up in multiple news outlets to the majority of Taylor Swift’s openers for this upcoming tour (looking at MUNA, girl in red, and Phoebe Bridgers, specifically), the terminology of “sapphic pop” has come to define a scene almost out of nowhere. This week on Switched On Pop, we explore exactly what sapphic pop is, where it came from, and how artists feel about it – even asking Tegan & Sara and King Princess directly. You can listen wherever you get podcasts. Songs discussed Clairo – Sofia King Princess – Talia girl in red – i wanna be your girlfriend Hozier – Cherry Wine (live) Alex G – Sarah The Velvet Underground – I Found A Reason Sufjan Stevens – To Be Alone With You Cris Williamson – Shine On Straight Arrow Jaylib, Madlib, J Dilla – The Red Taylor Swift – betty Brittany Howard – Georgia MUNA, Phoebe Bridgers – Silk Chiffon Tegan & Sara – Call It Off Tegan & Sara – Smoking Weed Alone King Princess – 1950 King Princess – I Hate Myself, I Want To Party King Princess – Pussy is God Kate Bush – Why Should I Love You? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

Tis the season of giving and the season of stressing

0:03.8

Shop Amazon is holiday for decompressing

0:07.3

Save on silk robes and bath bombs they're refreshing

0:10.5

When your parents in-laws just aren't really matching

0:13.8

Or when your kid brother won't pass the red stressing

0:17.1

And the thought of dry turkey gets way too distressing

0:20.7

Whatever holiday nerves you're repressing

0:23.9

Amazon's holiday deals are never depressing

0:28.6

I'm fine!

0:42.6

Welcome switched on pop I'm producer Rianne Cruz

0:45.4

And I'm songwriter Charlie Harding

0:47.1

A few weeks ago we spoke with Katie Gavin of the band Muna

0:51.0

Yeah

0:51.6

And there was a specific quote that stuck with me

0:54.6

I would rather come up with what the box is

0:57.8

Then have somebody else come up with what the box is

1:00.5

Like if we say queer joy, they're gonna say queer joy, you know?

1:06.0

I love that quote

1:07.2

I was really wowed by Katie because I feel like Muna is having

1:10.8

This sudden major success

1:14.0

And she really has control over the message

1:17.6

What she wants to be communicating

...

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