All Songs Considered

Andrew Bird on ‘The Pitt,’ Gia Margaret and more of the best new songs

February 17, 2026

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  • The episode features a discussion and playback of five new songs, highlighting Draag's shoegaze sound, Mandy, Indiana's glitchy industrial style, Andrew Bird's score for 'The Pitt,' Ratboys' strong album opener, and Gia Margaret's layered vocals. 
  • The hosts express enthusiasm for a current resurgence in shoegaze music, citing bands like Draag, They're Gutting a Body of Water, Nothing, and Just Mustard as examples. 
  • Andrew Bird's song "Need Someone," written specifically for 'The Pitt,' is praised for its poignant beauty and the creative challenge of writing music to fit a specific narrative scene. 

Segments

Intro and Tiny Desk Updates
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(00:00:00)
  • Key Takeaway: Recent Tiny Desk concerts from Jill Scott and Sarah McLachlan were highlighted alongside the announcement of New Music Friday releases.
  • Summary: The episode opened with sponsor messages and host Robin Hilton mentioning recent Tiny Desk performances by Jill Scott and Sarah McLachlan. Dora Levite joined the host to discuss the best new songs of the week. The entry window for the Tiny Desk contest recently closed, having received 6,000 submissions.
Draag’s Shoegaze Sound
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(00:02:10)
  • Key Takeaway: Draag’s song “Finding Fear” from the EP ‘Miracle Drug’ exemplifies a modern, cathartic shoegaze sound characterized by loud, crunchy, yet drifting guitars.
  • Summary: Dora introduced the LA band Draag (pronounced ‘Drag’), noting their sound leans heavily into shoegaze, though not exclusively. The track “Finding Fear” was selected for its ability to process feelings like grief and anxiety through roaring guitars. The hosts noted a positive trend of hearing modern, sometimes electronic or metal-tinged, shoegaze influences in new music.
Mandy, Indiana’s Glitchy Style
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(00:09:49)
  • Key Takeaway: Mandy, Indiana’s track “Try Saying” from the album ‘Urgh’ uses DJ Shadow samples and explores themes of power and authority in a dystopian context.
  • Summary: The band Mandy, Indiana (French-German) released the album ‘Urgh’ (spelled U-R-G-H). The featured song, “Try Saying,” incorporates a parental authority figure’s voice and reflects on the desire to be a certain type of person. The track features twitchy, glitchy sounds and repetitive elements reminiscent of CD skipping.
Andrew Bird’s ‘The Pitt’ Song
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(00:16:30)
  • Key Takeaway: Andrew Bird wrote the beautiful, short, poignant song “Need Someone” specifically for a scene in the graphic HBO show ‘The Pitt,’ which the hosts praised for its emotional resonance.
  • Summary: The hosts confirmed watching the graphic medical drama ‘The Pitt,’ noting its high accuracy reported by medical professionals. Andrew Bird was commissioned to write “Need Someone” for the February 12th episode, and the song beautifully captures themes of final moments and the need for remembrance. The host noted that being tasked with writing for a specific scene can create unexpected musical turns.
Ratboys’ Album Opener
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(00:22:15)
  • Key Takeaway: Ratboys’ song “Open Up” is highlighted as an exceptional album opener from ‘Singing To An Empty Chair,’ featuring a satisfying build combining crisp vocals with heavy instrumentation.
  • Summary: The importance of album sequencing was emphasized, leading to the selection of Ratboys’ “Open Up” as a prime example of a great opening track. The song features a juxtaposition of honky-tonk country elements with metal guitars, building tension around the theme of emotional vulnerability and preparation for difficult conversations.
Gia Margaret’s Ambient Vocals
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(00:30:50)
  • Key Takeaway: Gia Margaret’s song “Everyone Around Me Dancing” from the upcoming album ‘Singing’ uses layered, ambient vocals and horn sounds to convey feelings of dissociation and being on the outside.
  • Summary: Gia Margaret, a Chicago-based ambient artist, is releasing the album ‘Singing’ in April. The track features poetic vocal layering and a prominent horn sound, capturing the feeling of being disconnected from a joyful scene. Margaret previously lost her voice and recovered, influencing her current exploration of vocal textures within her music.
By Storm’s Loss and Growth
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(00:37:50)
  • Key Takeaway: By Storm, the new project from former Injury Reserve members Richie and Corey Parker following the death of Stepa J. Groggs, opens with the gorgeous, improvisational track “Can I Have You For Myself.”
  • Summary: By Storm’s debut album, ‘My Ghost Go Ghost,’ addresses themes of loss and growing family. The host expressed a preference for the track “Can I Have You For Myself” over other album cuts, while noting a general trend in modern music toward intentionally overblown or ‘broken’ recordings to create sounds that resist easy capture.