Core Integrity Podcasts with Cat Woods Cat Woods

On their third album Dreamachine, Brooklyn band Habibi combine disco, soul, post-punk, psychedelic Middle Eastern rock and their own magic. It's been just over a decade since Rahill and Lenny formed the band, and the duo join me to discuss their influences, Bali, Bob Dylan and the Velvet Underground (and a touch of Throbbing Gristle).

Legendary Sonic Youth founding member Lee Ranaldo joins journalist and music addict Cat Woods to discuss Sonic Youth's most recent release "In/Out/In" (Three Lobed Records), his solo career, looking forward, gamelan music and the nature of creativity. 

Dami Im first garnered public attention as the winner of The X Factor in 2013. She went on to represent Australia at Eurovision in 2016. She's been a reality TV staple since 2013 on various shows, including Master Chef this year. She has just released her sixth album "My Reality" and we discuss the album, making music, reality and navigating how others perceive us, as well as racism and the media industry.

Sam Barbera and Steph Barker form half of the four-piece L.A. Exes. Their debut album "Get Some" came out on August 20th 2021 and it is gorgeous, catchy, surfy and melancholic all at once. Recalling The Shangri-Las, The Ronettes, The Beach Boys with a splash of The Slits, it's a whole lot of fun. We talk about gender and sexuality, music, Los Angeles, and their cover of The Cranberries' "Linger". Theme music is by Mr Smith "Big Sky Spy". Photo of the band by Molly Adams.

Laura Stevenson's sixth album, self-titled, is out this month. It's candid, confessional and frankly, a contender for Best Album of 2021. We discuss the making of it, and Laura's life lately.

Liz Phair's latest album, Soberish investigates the grey area that exists between what is clear-cut and what is ephemeral in this world