On the Song Exploder podcast, host Hrishikesh Hirway talks to musicians who take apart their songs and, piece by piece, tell the stories of how they were made. Listen below.

Band of Horses released their fifth album, Why Are You OK in June 2016. In this episode, the band’s frontman, Ben Bridwell breaks down the song "Solemn Oath," and how in the process of writing it he confronted writer's block. Bridwell also discusses picking a strange guitar tuning for the main rhythm line of the song, borrowing a White Zombie drum beat, and how a studio in Stinson Beach provided a unique space for the vocal reverb.

Buy Why Are You OK on the Band of Horses website.

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