The Ocean Child: Songs of Yoko Ono podcast tells the story of the making of the compilation tribute album of the same name. Conceived and curated by Benjamin Gibbard (lead singer, guitarist and songwriter of Death Cab for Cutie), the LP celebrates the extraordinary work of multimedia artist, singer, songwriter and activist Yoko Ono with inspired new renditions of her songs by an array of brilliant artists - Sharon Van Etten, David Byrne, Sudan Archives, Death Cab for Cutie, Thao, U.S. Girls, Jaysom, Stephin Merritt (of Magnetic Fields), Deerhoof, We Are King, the Flaming Lips, Japanese Breakfast, Yo La Tengo and Amber Coffman. These re-interpretations of her work accentuate Ono’s powerful artistic impact, lasting cultural relevance, and utterly unique approach to songcraft.
Hosted by Gibbard and music journalist Jenny Eliscu, The Ocean Child Podcast features interviews with several of the album's contributors about their own meaningful connections to Ono’s music and art:
- Ben Gibbard discusses his own relationship with Ono's music, what first inspired the idea for the album, and why misconceptions about Ono's catalog need to be set straight once and for all.
- David Byrne highlights the influence of Ono’s book Grapefruit on his Broadway show American Utopia, and talks about adding some new lyrics to his version of the song "Who Has Seen The Wind?," and how he wrangled Yo La Tengo to join him on the track.
- Thao examines the barriers that kept her from delving into Ono's music earlier, and explains why recording her version of "Yellow Girl (Stand By For Life)" was so cathartic.
- Deerhoof's Greg Saunier reminisces about dancing alongside Ono in a video for one of her songs, and reveling in the sense of freedom she brings to every artistic endeavor.
- The Flaming Lips' Wayne Coyne describes what it's like to record with Ono ("She is one of the only people that you just don't get to figure out," he says), and remembers his early encounters with her music -- listening to the early Plastic Ono Band stuff while his older brothers drove him to school, "smoking 4 or 5 joints in the fifteen minutes it took to get there."
- Japanese Breakfast's Michelle Zauner talks about how her Asian identity informed her early perceptions of Ono, and how pandemic life influenced her choice to perform her version of "Nobody Sees Me Like You Do" on piano.
- Amber Coffman comments on the concept behind her beautiful cover of "Run, Run, Run" and the inspiration she draws from Ono's "incredible sense of personal freedom and peacefulness."
Find the Music + Talk version of this show on Spotify HERE