The Tonearm
The people and ideas moving culture forward. With host Lawrence Peryer.
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Latest Episode
Bajune Tobeta: Ambient Piano Backed by Sleep Science
The Tokyo composer and acoustic researcher joins us through an interpreter to discuss ‘Anechoic,’ his EP in the lineage of Ryuichi Sakamoto’s late work, and the ambient music for airlines and resorts that he backs with medical evidence.
Play Latest EpisodeGreatest Hits
Wondering where to start or where to go next? Check out some of our most popular episodes.
314
July 19, 2026
Suzanne Ciani: The Buchla's Orchestral Homecoming
The electronic music pioneer joins the podcast to discuss 'CIANI/ORKEST,' her live album pairing the Buchla synthesizer with the 50-piece Metropole Orkest, and why she has always heard the instrument as orchestral.
322
Sept. 13, 2026
David Katz: Chasing Dub Beyond the Soundsystem
The reggae historian joins us to discuss 'Dub Revolution,' his account of how King Tubby, Prince Jammy, and Scientist pulled reggae records apart at the mixing desk and sent the pieces back out.
310
June 21, 2026
Ora Cogan: Hard Hearted Is How You Survive
Ora Cogan on the politics of 'Hard Hearted Woman,' the hollowing-out of folk tradition, and why her forties have been the best time of her life to be playing music.
328
Oct. 25, 2026
Wadada Leo Smith: A Trumpeter Composing in Light
The AACM veteran joins us to discuss 'Constellations and Hemispheres,' a record he built like a dub producer from four ensembles, and the color research he asks of every player, kept secret from the rest of the band.
323
Sept. 20, 2026
Bob Ezrin: Holding Artists to Their Own Best Work
From Alice Cooper to the Jayhawks, Bob Ezrin explains why artists keep coming back to him and why he asks permission to hold them to the best work they have ever done.
321
Sept. 6, 2026
Fling ii: Modular Synths, Pedal Steel, and Michigan Motorik
Seven players, four cities, and no rehearsals: Fling ii's Brad Gowland and Richard Murphy describe a recording method that turns a weekend of continuous tape into a six-track album.
Recent Episodes
331
Nov. 15, 2026
Bajune Tobeta: Ambient Piano Backed by Sleep Science
The Tokyo composer and acoustic researcher joins us through an interpreter to discuss ‘Anechoic,’ his EP in the lineage of Ryuichi Sakamoto’s late work, and the ambient music for airlines and resorts that he backs with medical evidence.
330
Nov. 8, 2026
Steven E. Jones: Tom Wilson’s Radically Eclectic Pop of 1966
The literary historian joins us to discuss ‘Everything Is Everything,’ his book on how the Waco-born producer Tom Wilson took Bob Dylan electric, signed Frank Zappa, and stood by Nico through her exit from the Velvet Underground.
329
Nov. 1, 2026
Koen Holtkamp: Modular Plucks, Drums, and Horns After Dark
Koen Holtkamp set aside the loops of his work with Mountains, spent a year and a half coaxing plucked strings from his modular synth, and gave every player on ‘Nightlife’ a space of their own.
328
Oct. 25, 2026
Wadada Leo Smith: A Trumpeter Composing in Light
The AACM veteran joins us to discuss 'Constellations and Hemispheres,' a record he built like a dub producer from four ensembles, and the color research he asks of every player, kept secret from the rest of the band.
327
Oct. 18, 2026
Midori Hirano: Piano and Synth That Know When to Stop
The Berlin composer and pianist joins us to discuss ‘The Juniper Tree,’ her new score for Nietzchka Keene’s 1990 film starring Björk, written without the original soundtrack in her ears and pared back by the Japanese idea of ma.
326
Oct. 11, 2026
Charlotte Greve: Everything She Loves, Under Her Own Name
The Brooklyn saxophonist, composer, and singer joins us to discuss 'Waterbodies,' her tenth album, which brings '80s power ballads, an orchestra, and a choir back to the one long saxophone tone where all her music starts.
About the Host
Lawrence Peryer
Executive Producer & Host
LP is a lifelong music fan turned industry innovator who has spent his career helping artists forge meaningful connections with their audiences. From pioneering early digital communities to producing Grammy-nominated box sets and award-winning retail experiences, his work lives at the intersection of creativity, technology and fandom. He's hosted The Tonearm since it initially launched as Spotlight On in February 2020.