NC musical artists share the stories behind their songs in an intimate conversation with host James Mieczkowski. They discuss their creative journey and process, plus what makes the North Carolina music scene so special. The podcast and accompanying studio performances are filmed at PBS North Carolina’s studios in Research Triangle Park.
Made possible through support from Come Hear NC, a program of the N.C. Music Office within the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
Reuben Vincent’s dream to be a rapper became a reality when he was discovered by producer 9th Wonder at the age of 13. In this conversation, the Charlotte native discusses his family’s Liberian heritage, the hip-hop renaissance in the Queen City and what it’s like to work with 9th Wonder.
Shaped by Sound
This PBS NC original series, which spotlights North Carolina’s thriving music scene, features artists from a broad range of genres, including indie rock, hip-hop, R&B, alt-country, jazz, bluegrass and folk. Each episode weaves a visually stunning live studio performance by an NC artist or band with an intimate conversation about their creative journey. Watch Thursdays, 9:30 PM on PBS NC and the free PBS app.
21 Apr 2025
Fancy Gap
Fancy Gap, created by Raleigh natives Stuart McLamb and Charles Crossingham, aims to capture pop-rock bliss that’s perfect for radio and an arena. In this conversation, they discuss making a record in Crossingham’s log cabin, looking for seeds of magic in music and writing songs that feel universal.
Shaped by Sound
This PBS NC original series, which spotlights North Carolina’s thriving music scene, features artists from a broad range of genres, including indie rock, hip-hop, R&B, alt-country, jazz, bluegrass and folk. Each episode weaves a visually stunning live studio performance by an NC artist or band with an intimate conversation about their creative journey. Watch Thursdays, 9:30 PM on PBS NC and the free PBS app.
14 Apr 2025
Blue Footed Boobies
Logan Chaucer and Sam Baker love surfing, classic rock and being in a band. Together, they’re Blue Footed Boobies, a psychedelic blues-rock duo from Wilmington, North Carolina. In this conversation, they discuss their love for live performance, overcoming obstacles through writing music and their soul-searching van conversations.
Shaped by Sound
This PBS NC original series, which spotlights North Carolina’s thriving music scene, features artists from a broad range of genres, including indie rock, hip-hop, R&B, alt-country, jazz, bluegrass and folk. Each episode weaves a visually stunning live studio performance by an NC artist or band with an intimate conversation about their creative journey. Watch Thursdays, 9:30 PM on PBS NC and the free PBS app.
7 Apr 2025
Town Mountain
If you were to search for Blue Ridge bluegrass mixed with Tennessee honky-tonk, you’ll probably discover Asheville’s own Town Mountain. Members Phil Barker and Robert Greer discuss how the band’s sound has evolved over the years, its blue-collar grit and its deep love for Asheville.
Shaped by Sound
This PBS NC original series, which spotlights North Carolina’s thriving music scene, features artists from a broad range of genres, including indie rock, hip-hop, R&B, alt-country, jazz, bluegrass and folk. Each episode weaves a visually stunning live studio performance by an NC artist or band with an intimate conversation about their creative journey. Watch Thursdays, 9:30 PM on PBS NC and the free PBS app.
31 Mar 2025
Shirlette Ammons
Shirlette Ammons, a Peabody Award-winning producer, poet and hip-hop artist based in Durham, delves into the inspirations behind her music. She shares how her work draws from her eastern NC heritage, local community and family, and how her latest album, “Spectacles,” explores sight and perception.
Shaped by Sound
This PBS NC original series, which spotlights North Carolina’s thriving music scene, features artists from a broad range of genres, including indie rock, hip-hop, R&B, alt-country, jazz, bluegrass and folk. Each episode weaves a visually stunning live studio performance by an NC artist or band with an intimate conversation about their creative journey. Watch Thursdays, 9:30 PM on PBS NC and the free PBS app.
24 Mar 2025
Blue Cactus
Steph Stewart and Mario Arnez of Chapel Hill-based country outfit Blue Cactus discuss their dreamy country rock music along with their fascination with western wear, their appreciation for “Weird Al” Yankovic and why it’s important to look for silver linings.
Shaped by Sound
This PBS NC original series, which spotlights North Carolina’s thriving music scene, features artists from a broad range of genres, including indie rock, hip-hop, R&B, alt-country, jazz, bluegrass and folk. Each episode weaves a visually stunning live studio performance by an NC artist or band with an intimate conversation about their creative journey. Watch Thursdays, 9:30 PM on PBS NC and the free PBS app.
17 Mar 2025
Mipso
Joseph Terrell and Jacob Sharp, one half of the bluegrass and folk-rock outfit Mipso, discuss growing as musicians on the road with bandmates Libby Rodenbough and Wood Robinson, crafting their first live record and the Japanese origins of their band’s unique name.
Shaped by Sound
This PBS NC original series, which spotlights North Carolina’s thriving music scene, features artists from a broad range of genres, including indie rock, hip-hop, R&B, alt-country, jazz, bluegrass and folk. Each episode weaves a visually stunning live studio performance by an NC artist or band with an intimate conversation about their creative journey. Watch Thursdays, 9:30 PM on PBS NC and the free PBS app.
10 Mar 2025
Alice Gerrard
Folk music legend Alice Gerrard is one of the foremost historians and archivists of the genre. In this conversation, she discusses her love for the landmark 1952 compilation “Anthology of American Folk Music,” her career documenting and performing traditional folk music in the South and what it’s like to preserve songs for future generations.
Shaped by Sound This PBS NC original series, which spotlights North Carolina’s thriving music scene, features artists from a broad range of genres, including indie rock, hip-hop, R&B, alt-country, jazz, bluegrass and folk. Each episode weaves a visually stunning live studio performance by an NC artist or band with an intimate conversation about their creative journey. Watch Thursdays, 9:30 PM on PBS NC and the free PBS app.
3 Mar 2025
Sonny Miles
Sonny Miles gained recognition in 2019 when President Obama included one of the Winston-Salem native’s musical collaborations on his popular playlist. In this conversation, Sonny discusses his influences, including George Clinton and Miles Davis; what it’s like to be “in the pocket”; and collaborating on his 2024 record, “Gamma,” with bassist Daniel “Slim Hurk” Maxwell.
Shaped by Sound
This PBS NC original series, which spotlights North Carolina’s thriving music scene, features artists from a broad range of genres, including indie rock, hip-hop, R&B, alt-country, jazz, bluegrass and folk. Each episode weaves a visually stunning live studio performance by an NC artist or band with an intimate conversation about their creative journey. Watch Thursdays, 9:30 PM on PBS NC and the free PBS app.
24 Feb 2025
Nnenna Freelon
Jazz legend Nnenna Freelon has multiple Grammy nominations and has performed in prestigious venues across the globe. In this intimate conversation, she talks about her first album of original tunes, “Beneath the Skin,” her journey of self-discovery through music in the wake of the death of her husband, renowned architect Phil Freelon, and the beauty of living an improvised life.
Shaped by Sound
This PBS NC original series, which spotlights North Carolina’s thriving music scene, features artists from a broad range of genres, including indie rock, hip-hop, R&B, alt-country, jazz, bluegrass and folk. Each episode weaves a visually stunning live studio performance by an NC artist or band with an intimate conversation about their creative journey. Watch Thursdays, 9:30 PM on PBS NC and the free PBS app.
17 Feb 2025
Superchunk
Indie rock group Superchunk was at the forefront of the Chapel Hill, NC music scene of the early ’90s and a major part of the rise of independent record production through its seminal label, Merge Records. Mac McCaughan and guitarist Jim Wilbur discuss why they chose Chapel Hill, how Merge Records came to be and what it’s like to see their music connect with new audiences.
Shaped by Sound
This PBS NC original series, which spotlights North Carolina’s thriving music scene, features artists from a broad range of genres, including indie rock, hip-hop, R&B, alt-country, jazz, bluegrass and folk. Each episode weaves a visually stunning live studio performance by an NC artist or band with an intimate conversation about their creative journey. Watch Thursdays, 9:30 PM on PBS NC and the free PBS app.
10 Feb 2025
Sluice
Justin Morris and Avery Sullivan of the Durham, NC-based indie rock outfit Sluice discuss how their music is inspired by the hidden world of history and our futile attempts to control nature. Plus, they share why they leaned into the surreal world of David Lynch’s “Twin Peaks” for the production design of their “Shaped by Sound” performance.
Shaped by Sound
This PBS NC original series, which spotlights North Carolina’s thriving music scene, features artists from a broad range of genres, including indie rock, hip-hop, R&B, alt-country, jazz, bluegrass and folk. Each episode weaves a visually stunning live studio performance by an NC artist or band with an intimate conversation about their creative journey. Watch Thursdays, 9:30 PM on PBS NC and the free PBS app.
3 Feb 2025
Iron & Wine
NC-based singer-songwriter Sam Beam of Iron & Wine shares the stories behind his music and his approach to songwriting. He also discusses the connection between his music and his visual art, his book “Love and Some Verses” and how he balances his career with his family life. Plus, he opens up about what it’s like to go from small venues to larger ones and why he believes vampires have souls.
Shaped by Sound
This PBS NC original series, which spotlights North Carolina’s thriving music scene, features artists from a broad range of genres, including indie rock, hip-hop, R&B, alt-country, jazz, bluegrass and folk. Each episode weaves a visually stunning live studio performance by an NC artist or band with an intimate conversation about their creative journey. Watch Thursdays, 9:30 PM on PBS NC and the free PBS app.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 32 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
52
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
Contact Shaped by Sound
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