PBS North Carolina has announced the launch of Shaped by Sound, a 13-part original music performance series debuting Thursday, February 6. The series highlights North Carolina’s profound contributions to American music, spanning genres such as bluegrass, folk, alt-country, indie rock, R&B, jazz, and hip-hop.
The premiere episode features a full-band performance by renowned singer-songwriter Sam Beam, better known as Iron & Wine. The performance is paired with a custom visual presentation by Manual Cinema, an Emmy-winning collective led by Julia Miller and Lizi Breit. The episode also delves into Iron & Wine’s creative process, with artist Sam Beam sharing insights like his approach to songwriting: “I like using words as a color palette.” Beam is currently touring to promote his latest album, Light Verse, released in April on Sub Pop Records.
Fans can preview the episode, including a performance of “All In Good Time” on YouTube:
Future episodes will present a diverse lineup of North Carolina artists, including Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist Nnenna Freelon, pioneering folk musician Alice Gerrard, and indie rock legends Superchunk, co-founders of Merge Records, a cornerstone of the state’s indie pop music scene.
Each 30-minute episode of Shaped by Sound combines immersive live performances with candid artist interviews, offering an exclusive window into the stories that define North Carolina’s eclectic music culture. Additional content, including a longer video podcast and digital extras, will accompany the series.
Viewers can watch Shaped by Sound on PBS North Carolina, pbsnc.org, the free PBS app and YouTube.
“North Carolina has a tremendously vibrant music scene,” says James Mieczkowski (host/producer). “Music helps shape who we are as people and as a community. Through working on this series with such a diverse group of North Carolina musicians, I’ve come to understand we all can find common ground within sounds that offer a sense of place and belonging. We hope viewers are inspired by the series and the artists’ profound connections to our state and its culture.”
“This exciting program showcases our state’s incredibly talented musicians,” said Pamela B. Cashwell, Secretary of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. “Shaped by Sound enables viewers to discover some of our state’s top artists from the comfort of their home. We’re thrilled to help celebrate North Carolina music, one of our most treasured assets.”
Broadcast Schedule:
New episodes of Shaped by Sound premiere Thursday nights at 9:30 PM on PBS North Carolina through May 1. Visit pbsnc.org/schedule for the latest scheduling information.
Episode 1: Iron & Wine
Premieres Thursday, February 6, 9:30 PM
Singer-songwriter Iron & Wine (aka Sam Beam) has multiple Grammy nominations, and his songs have been included in numerous film, TV and commercial productions. Despite this exposure, he lives a quiet family life in North Carolina. In this episode, he performs his introspective songs, including the Grammy-nominated “All in Good Time,” with a full band and shadow puppeteers from the collective Manual Cinema.
Episode 2: Sluice
Premieres Thursday, February 13, 9:30 PM
Sluice’s Justin Morris and Avery Sullivan perform songs from their latest record, Radial Gate, named one of 2023’s best albums by The Guardian, as well as new unreleased tracks. They also discuss how their atmospheric music is inspired by the “beauty of living” and our deeply complex relationship with nature.
Episode 3: Superchunk
Premieres Thursday, February 20, 9:30 PM
The *Triangle-based indie rock band Superchunk harnesses the frenetic energy they’ve developed over decades of touring in a performance for the ages. They also discuss how their DIY mentality generated the iconic label Merge Records, and share what it’s like to see both young and old fans sing their hearts out to their songs.
Episode 4: Nnenna Freelon
Premieres Thursday, February 27, 9:30 PM
Jazz legend Nnenna Freelon has seven Grammy nominations and has performed in the most prestigious venues on the planet. But for the first time in her 40-year career, she’s releasing an album of original songs. In this episode, she performs her new material and discusses how experimenting with music besides jazz standards allowed her to get “underneath the skin.”
Episode 5: Sonny Miles
Premieres Thursday, March 6, 9:30 PM
Gospel, soul, jazz, R&B, and hip-hop forms the musical universe of Winston-Salem native Sonny Miles. In 2019, one of his musical collaborations caught the ear of President Barack Obama, who included the song on his popular playlist. In this episode, Sonny discusses Afrofuturism, being inspired by the sounds of his Nana’s house and what it’s like to be “in the pocket.”
Episode 6: Alice Gerrard
Premieres Thursday, March 13, 9:30 PM
For 80 years, Alice Gerrard has studied, played and preserved American folk music, influencing countless musicians, including Emmylou Harris and Rhiannon Giddens. In addition to being one of the foremost historians of the genre, she’s a Grammy nominee and a musical legend. Alice is joined on stage by Rebecca Branson Jones (pedal steel), Reed Stutz (mandolin) and Tatiana Hargreaves (fiddle).
Episode 7: Mipso
Premieres Thursday, March 20, 9:30 PM
On the surface, the quartet Mipso may seem like a traditional folk-bluegrass band with its exquisite harmonies, melodies, and instrumentation. However, you’ll also hear layers of modern sounds and influences. In this episode, band members Jacob Sharp and Joseph Terrell discuss coming back to North Carolina to play together, crafting a live record and the Japanese origin of the band’s unique name.
Episode 8: Blue Cactus
Premieres Thursday, March 27, 9:30 PM
The cosmic country of Blue Cactus’ Steph Stewart and Mario Arnez has been likened to artists as diverse as Fleetwood Mac, Bobbie Gentry and David Bowie.
Episode 9: Shirlette Ammons
Premieres Thursday, April 3, 9:30 PM
Shirlette Ammons is a Peabody Award-winning producer, poet, and hip-hop artist based in Durham, NC. On her latest album, Spectacles, she blends aspects of her eastern North Carolina roots with her love for her *Triangle-based community to explore the concept of spectacle: how we see, what we see and how we’re seen. Shirlette is joined on stage by a full band and Raleigh’s Rissi Palmer.
Episode 10: Town Mountain
Premieres Thursday, April 10, 9:30 PM
More Asheville than Nashville, this country-rock outfit combines bluegrass with honky-tonk to create a rollicking sound all its own. The band’s Phil Barker and Robert Greer discuss the Asheville music scene in the wake of Hurricane Helene, “working man’s vintage” and “frying pan tunes” and the evolution of their distinctive style.
Episode 11: Blue Footed Boobies
Premieres Thursday, April 17, 9:30 PM
The Wilmington duo brings their raw and bombastic guitars and drums to the Shaped by Sound stage. They also discuss the electric feeling of a live show, van conversations and the importance of being in a band with your best friend.
Episode 12: Fancy Gap
Premieres Thursday, April 24, 9:30 PM
The indie duo Fancy Gap, a new musical collaboration by Raleigh natives Stuart McLamb (of The Love Language) and Charles Crossingham, aims for a pure pop-rock sound. They discuss the Golden Age of Radio, how music can create a sense of place, and how creating well-crafted songs is like making a juicy cheeseburger.
Episode 13: Reuben Vincent
Premieres Thursday, May 1, 9:30 PM
Charlotte-based rapper Reuben Vincent started with a laptop and a dream. That dream became a reality when he was discovered by hip-hop producer 9th Wonder at the age of 13. Reuben discusses his family’s Liberian heritage, the hip-hop scene in Charlotte and what it’s like to work with 9th Wonder.
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*The Triangle is a region in central North Carolina that includes Durham, Raleigh, and Chapel Hill.
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central