Wildflowers: Saturday, May 14 | 9pm

by Maggie Molloy
Namaqualand in South Africa is known for its super blooms. Photo by Martin Heigan.

April showers bring May flowers—and we’re celebrating the new blooms this weekend on Second Inversion!

On this Saturday’s episode: Wildflowers. Join us for a musical bouquet, as we forage our way through music inspired by rare blooms, exotic bulbs, and vibrant blossoms. From the delicate gardens of Pennsylvania to the super blooms of South Africa, we’ll hear musical flowers from all around the globe.

To listen, tune in to KING FM on Saturday, May 14 at 9pm PT.

Sonic Art Museum: Saturday, May 7 | 9pm

by Maggie Molloy
The artwork of Jean-Michel Basquiat, Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollock, and Běla Kolářová inspired the music on this week’s episode.

Have you ever looked at a piece of art and wondered: What would this painting sound like?

Well, so have a lot of composers! On this Saturday’s episode of Second Inversion, we’ll hear music inspired by famous works of art. We’re taking a stroll through a sonic art museum—from the splatter-painted canvases of Jackson Pollock to the meditative hues of Mark Rothko and the visceral street art of Jean-Michel Basquiat.

To listen, tune in to KING FM on Saturday, May 7 at 9pm PT.

Sonic Textiles: Saturday, April 30 | 9pm

by Maggie Molloy
The vibrant woven textiles of Ghana inspired the title of pianist William Chapman Nyaho’s album Kete. Photo by Lee D. Baker.

Like any great work of art, a piece of music comes together one stitch at a time.

This Saturday on Second Inversion: Sonic Textiles. Join us for music threaded with vibrant color, texture, and pattern. From quilts to needlework and woven tapestries, we’ll hear from artists who explore the very fabric of music. Composer Gabriela Lena Frank traces the vivid threads of her Peruvian heritage, Ghanaian-American pianist William Chapman Nyaho explores the mesmerizing rhythm of the loom, and Caroline Shaw stitches together a musical patchwork quilt.

To listen, tune in to KING FM on Saturday, April 30 at 9pm PT.

Music from William Chapman Nyaho’s album “Kete” is included in this week’s episode.

Music of Mother Nature: Saturday, April 23 | 9pm

by Maggie Molloy
Photo by Erin Anderson.

From ocean to desert, forest to tundra, composers have always found music in nature. The rhythm of waves, the rustling of leaves, the song of the mountain—or the colors of the wind.

On this Saturday’s episode of Second Inversion: Music of Mother Nature. From the pulse of the Amazon River to the lava fields of Iceland, a duet with the desert—and even some music made from living plants. Plus, field recordings from the Pacific Crest Trail!

To listen, tune in to KING FM on Saturday, April 23 at 9pm PT.

New Music Noir: Saturday, April 16 | 9pm

by Maggie Molloy
Music from Bernard Herrmann’s score for the 1958 Hitchcock film Vertigo is included in this episode.

Love, betrayal, corruption, murder—all crucial ingredients in any great film noir. And so is a swingin’ soundtrack.

On this Saturday’s episode of Second Inversion: New Music Noir! We’ll hear cinematic sounds that beckon us to a world of black and white. From the dizzying twists and turns of Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo to the smoky streets of Aaron Copland’s Quiet City, we’ll hear music that embodies the ominous world of film noir. Plus, music from a black and white movie that’s all about color—and an imaginary film score that invites you to be the director. Settle in for an evening of moody strings, soulful trumpets, and the sultry swing of the city streets.

To listen, tune in to KING FM on Saturday, April 16 at 9pm PT.