PBS North Carolina Unveils “Shaped By Sound” – A February Premiere!

This February, PBS North Carolina is introducing “Shaped By Sound,” a fresh series that showcases musicians from North Carolina through discussions and performances. Each episode of the series was filmed in PBS North Carolina’s RTP studio and includes a corresponding video podcast that explores even further into the highlighted artist. The inaugural season of “Shaped By Sound” features performances from Superchunk, Nnenna Freelon, Blue Cactus, and Reuben Vincent.

Every week, WUNC Music’s Brian Burns will underline segments of the episode that had a profound effect on him in the weekly WUNC Music newsletter. He will assist in familiarizing you with the artists spotlighted, so you can approach each episode ready to discover more about them and their influence on North Carolina’s musical landscape.

Burns also recently connected with “Shaped By Sound” host and producer James Mieczkowski to discuss the series’ launch.

This is a portion of an edited transcript of that discussion. You can listen to the entire interview by clicking the LISTEN button at the top of this post.

“Shaped By Sound” combines a live performance showcase and a video podcast. Can you explain that further?

Each week, we invite an artist from North Carolina to perform a set, followed by a conversation with them. We then intertwine both elements and create a concept akin to a VH1 Storytellers format, but for PBS.

 
I sense that North Carolina possesses an exceptionally vibrant and diverse music scene. Why do you think this is? What’s so special about this place?

I believe that’s something we’ve been contemplating during the production of the show. I’ve posed that question to numerous artists as well, and it seems the most common response is that North Carolina has evolved into a destination where people can relocate, plug in a great deal of loud instruments, and have the space to develop creatively and experiment. This notion extends beyond just loud connections; it symbolizes a creative zone where individuals could feel like they are members of an artistic community.

 
I understand that each episode of “Shaped By Sound” has its distinct atmosphere. Can you tell us about the set design for the show?

That aspect of the show has been incredibly enjoyable. We approached the artists before starting production and asked, “If we were to create a world centered around you and your narrative, what would that look like?” We constructed the sets with those ideas in mind. For instance, while collaborating with the band Sluice, one recurring theme in their music is the juxtaposition of the natural environment against human-created industrial elements. Hence, that’s the world we aimed to create for them. We integrated a lot of trees, branches, and vines, wrapping them around their equipment, and incorporated some metal grates and other industrial items, and suddenly we were immersed in the Sluice universe.

“Shaped By Sound” premieres on February 6 with Iron & Wine.
 
You can find more information about the series and view the complete schedule here.