The 2025 Public Song Project Recap!

Summary

All Of It – Episode Summary: "The 2025 Public Song Project Recap!"

Release Date: July 28, 2025
Host: Alison Stewart
Produced by: Simon Close

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Introduction

In this engaging episode of All Of It, hosted by Alison Stewart, listeners are taken through a vibrant recap of the 2025 Public Song Project—a creative initiative by WNYC that invites individuals to reinterpret works from the public domain through music. The episode not only announces the contest winners but also delves into the diverse inspirations and creative processes behind each submission.

Overview of the Public Song Project

Alison Stewart introduces the Public Song Project, explaining its core concept: participants are encouraged to submit songs based on material in the public domain. The initiative aims to blend classical literature and compositions with contemporary musical expression, fostering a unique cultural conversation.

Alison Stewart [00:09]:

"That's our project where we invite anyone to send in a song based on something in the public domain."

The project culminated in a radio special aired over the weekend, hosted by All Of It producer Simon Close, where the top submissions were unveiled.

Announcing the Winners

Simon Close provides an overview of the six winners, each bringing a distinct flavor to their adaptations:

1. Annie Rossi – Presents a punk-inspired cover of Marianne Moore's 1909 poem, A Jellyfish.
2. Devin Press (of Kangaroo) – Creates Moonlight, based on Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, infused with elements of pachinero.
3. Devin Yesberger and Mark Dover – Offer a classical rendition of Camille Saint-Saëns' The Swan through synth and clarinet.
4. Dream Glow – A Boston-based experimental group that adapts Shakespeare's Sonnet 43.
5. Raleigh Boo – Reimagines the legend of John Henry into a heartfelt song dedicated to his daughter.
6. Britton Ashford – Reinvents Hush Little Baby with new lyrics and melody.

Simon Close [02:14]:

"Annie Rossi... was one of six winners this year."

Diverse Creative Processes

The episode highlights the varied inspirations behind the submissions. For instance, Raleigh Boo shares a personal connection to the story of John Henry, emphasizing themes of persistence and determination, which he aims to pass on to his daughter through his music.

Raleigh Boo [06:45]:

"It's the story of the railroad worker who goes up against a steam drill and then manages to drill further... it always taught me about persistence and being determined and never giving up."

This personal storytelling exemplifies how participants intertwine their lives with the public domain works they choose to adapt.

Special Features: Immersive Radio Special

Simon Close discusses the innovative format of the radio special, which weaves interviews with the artists seamlessly into their musical pieces, creating an immersive experience for listeners.

Simon Close [05:07]:

"We could sort of break apart the conversations I had and layer them on top of the songs and kind of experience the song and the creative process of making the song from the artists themselves."

An example provided is Britton Ashford's Hush Little Darlin', showcasing the stark contrast between different submission styles and the project's breadth.

Insights on the Public Domain and Modern Relevance

The conversation shifts to the significance of the public domain, particularly how it intersects with contemporary issues like artificial intelligence (AI). Simon Close elaborates on how AI-generated art is challenging traditional notions of copyright and the public domain.

Simon Close [09:43]:

"Artificial intelligence is like, totally flipping the way that we think about copyright in public domain... more new art is entering the public domain now than old art is."

This insight underscores the evolving landscape of cultural creation and intellectual property, making the Public Song Project a timely and relevant endeavor.

Upcoming Concert Details

Looking ahead, Simon Close announces a live concert featuring the winners and other notable submissions. Scheduled for the upcoming Saturday at the Brooklyn Public Library's Grand Army Plaza, the event promises a celebration of diverse musical interpretations and community engagement.

Simon Close [12:48]:

"It'll be a live concert on the steps of the Brooklyn Public Library in Grand Army Plaza... you can stop by the farmer's market while you're there too."

Spotlight on Dream Glow

Before concluding, the episode spotlights Dream Glow's adaptation of Shakespeare's Sonnet 43. Their experimental approach combines layered vocals and driving percussion to evoke the subconscious journey described in the sonnet.

Nathan from Dream Glow [13:34]:

"You can hear it in the layering of the vocals as well... just me and just Nathan."

Simon Close [14:11]:

"There's one section of the song that really jumps out to me... building to this explosion of light."

Conclusion and Upcoming Events

Alison Stewart wraps up the episode by reiterating the details of the upcoming concert and encouraging listeners to explore the full range of submissions online. Simon Close extends congratulations and invites the community to partake in the live celebration of artistic creativity.

Alison Stewart [15:16]:

"That is Public Song Project producer Simon Close. Congratulations, Simon."

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Join the Celebration

Don't miss the opportunity to experience the rich tapestry of the Public Song Project's 2025 winners live. Head to the Brooklyn Public Library's Grand Army Plaza this Saturday at 1 PM for a free concert featuring performances from Annie Rossi, Devin Press, Dream Glow, and more. Explore the full collection of submissions and discover the creative stories behind each piece at wnyc.org/publicsongproject.

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This summary captures the essence of the "The 2025 Public Song Project Recap!" episode of All Of It, highlighting the project's goals, the creativity of its participants, and the cultural significance of engaging with the public domain through music.

Transcript

[Annie Rossi]

Foreign.

[Alison Stewart]

This is all of it on wnyc. I'm Alison Stewart. Over the weekend, WNYC aired a radio special for the Public Song Project. That's our project where we invite anyone to send in a song based on something in the public domain. On Saturday, we revealed the winners of this year's contest in a radio show hosted by all of it producer Simon Close. All of the submissions are now online in a big playlist. You can also listen to interviews with the winners and their songs, like this one from Annie Rossi.

[Annie Rossi]

Visible, invisible, fluctuating charm. An amber colored amethyst inhabits it on the arm, approaches and it opens and it closes. It approaches and it opens and it closes.

[Simon Close]

You have meant.

[Annie Rossi]

To catch it in a channel. You made it. You're in time.

[Alison Stewart]

This coming weekend, you'll get to hear Annie and other winners perform their songs live on stage in front of the Brooklyn Public Library at Grand Army Plaza that Saturday afternoon. But joining me right now with a preview of the concert and and a recap of the special is all of it producer Simon Close. Hi, Simon.

[Simon Close]

Hi, Alison.

[Alison Stewart]

So the Public Song Project is wrapped for 2025.

[Simon Close]

Yay. Yay.

[Alison Stewart]

All right, who were the winners and what did they cover?

[Simon Close]

So there was Annie Rossi and that was a kind of punk cover of a 1909 poem by Marianne Moore called a Jellyfish. And you can hear that sort of jellyfish slinkiness in the way that Annie plays that song. Another winner from this year. There are six total. So that was one of six. Devin Press, who, who's in lives in Chicago, plays in a band called Kangaroo. He sent in a song called moonlight, which is based on Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata. And also Habanero a little bit thrown in there. We also got, let's see, a cover of the Swan, the Camille saint sans classical composition that was covered on Juno synth and clarinet by Devin Yesberger and Mark Dover. We also got a cover of or an adaptation of a Shakespeare poem Sonnet 43 from a band called Dream Glow, who are based in Boston. And let's see, Raleigh Boo, local songwriter, singer, songwriter. He covered. He sort of wrote a new song based on the story of John Henry. And our final winner for this year was a singer songwriter named Britton Ashford, who did a sort of new take on Hush Little Baby. She rewrote the lyrics and switched up the melody and the. I'm gonna play a clip of that. Now. The reason I wanna play this is cause it's pretty different from the Annie Rossi cover you just heard. And I think that the two of them, side by side show sort of the variety and, like, breadth of submissions we got. So if we wanna just throw to it now, this is Britton Ashford's new adaptation of Hush little Baby.

[Annie Rossi]

And if I'm not really what you want I still hope that you find the one so hush little darling, let me sing. You know I only live to love you more each day so while you're drifting off to sleep Cross my heart, my soul to keep.

[Alison Stewart]

That's Britt Nashford with Hush little Darlin'. Okay, so in the special that aired over the weekend, you featured each of the winners that mixed together their songs in an interview with them. First of all, why did that make sense to you?

[Simon Close]

Well, so Luke Green and I worked on this special together, Luke, who's a producer on all of it also. And we came up with this concept for the special where it was kind of like an immersive journey through the public domain. As we were thinking about the best way to present these interviews that we did with the artists and their songs, that kind of immersive feel made sense to us. So once we'd spoken to them, we realized that we could sort of break apart the conversations I had and layer them on top of the songs and kind of experience the song and the creative process of making the song from the artists themselves.

[Alison Stewart]

Can we hear one of those?

[Simon Close]

Yeah, definitely. So I mentioned Raleigh Bu before, who's a locally based singer songwriter. Also his day job is he works as a stager and he told me that he clean sites of, like, plastics that you would find in the water to sort of make them more environmentally and aesthetically pleasing. And yeah, his submission was like a new version of the John Henry ballad. So you've probably heard a version of that before. It's been covered by so many people over time. And it's the story of the railroad worker who goes up against a steam drill and then manages to drill further than the steam drill does. And it's a very, like, humidous story.

[Annie Rossi]

And.

[Simon Close]

And Raleighboo told us that he was introduced to that story as a kid by his mom, and it's stuck with him ever since. He has a tattoo based on the story.

[Alison Stewart]

Oh, really? Wow.

[Simon Close]

And he wrote this song for his daughter, as he'll explain in this montage. So this is a clip of the montage that we played in the special over the weekend.

[Raleigh Boo]

My mother, she used to read it to me. And so that was my first introduction to. It was just bedtime stories. His character in the end, like, when the Story is over. He winds up ending his story in Virginia, and that's where my family is from. So I always felt like he was my uncle or my godfather or my father or something like that, my grandfather. So I always felt that connection to him with my mom. Reading the story to me, it always taught me about persistence and being determined and never giving up. So that's definitely a moral I want to share with my daughter, you know, just to keep on striving for things that you believe in. So I want to share that with her, too. And she responds to music well, so I knew that through the music, I'd be able to get that point across. Each and every day, I'm faced with the choice of if I want to persist or not, and I choose to because I'm always thinking about John Henry. You know, like, even on my right forearm, I got a tattoo of a sledgehammer that would have been, like, one that he used.

[Alison Stewart]

I'm speaking to all of it. Producer and Public Song Project producer Simon Close. He just hosted a special over the weekend celebrating this year's Public Song Project and its winners. And this Saturday, he'll be hosting at the Brooklyn Public Library for a free concert. What were some of your takeaways from this past year?

[Simon Close]

We got all sorts of submissions. So I think Ra's is a good example of one kind of submission from. It's a cover or an adaptation of something that means something to the person who covered it. So, you know, other people are musicians who found a song and thought, oh, I can do something creative with this. But then in RA's case, it's a story that's been with him for his whole life, basically. And there were some other submissions, like that one from Carl Banks, I think was the submitter's name was a poem that his father used to say to him, and now he tells his poem to his kids, too. And he wrote a song based on that poem for his kids as well. So those are really beautiful stories. And one type of submission we got, we got a lot of covers of Ain't Misbehavin by Fats Waller this year, which is a great song. So that was wonderful to hear. And if you go to the website, you can hear all the different versions of them. Lots of, like, very different takes on that song. It entered the public domain this year, I think, is the reason that people wanted to cover it. And then, yeah, another very common type of submission we got is a song based on a poem. So you can take the lyrics or the text of a Poem and write original music for it and make your own song out of it.

[Alison Stewart]

Can people listen to the songs that didn't win?

[Simon Close]

Yes, you can. Yeah. There's a public songbook on our page, so if you go to wnyc.org publicsongproject you can hear the interviews and the songs from all the winners. There's also a playlist of the judges, sort of personal favorites as a way to shout out more than just the winners and also the judges who helped me sift through all these songs. But then you can listen to all. I think it's 123 songs that we received this year, along with the 200 or so that we received in the last couple years.

[Alison Stewart]

So when people think of the public domain, they probably think of things from the 1920s or much older. Is that true?

[Simon Close]

Definitely, that is true. So January 1st is a big day in the public domain, because that's when copyrights expire and new things enter the public domain. And this year it was 1929. So basically, more or less, everything from 1929 and older is in the public domain. But the public domain is also a pretty contemporary, you know, relevant right now idea as well. So there are other ways that things can enter the public domain. One, for example, is a government employee or someone who's working for the government in their capacity. So like you think of the Works Progress Administration, those artists, even though technically those works of art aren't old enough to be in the public domain. If you. If you make something as a. As a government employee, it enters the public domain automatically. So that's one way that something can just be free of copyright as soon as it's made. Another reason that the public domain and copyright are important issues right now is that artificial intelligence is like, totally flipping the way that we think about copyright in public domain. So there's the kind of common issue that most people who know about how copyright intersects with public or copyright intersects with artificial intelligence are probably aware of is AI uses old art to generate new art, basically. And often it doesn't have. Whoever is using the AI doesn't have the right to that original artwork to sort of take it and, you know, instruct the generative AI with that. But the other flip side of this is that only humans can own copyrights, basically. But the law hasn't really caught up with, like, what AI is. So when someone generates something with AI, it is not owned by anybody. So for the first time kind of in at least the modern history of the idea of copyright in the public domain. More stuff that is new. More new art. If you want to call AI generated art art. More new art is entering the public domain now than old art is. Because every time you generate something with AI, it's in the public domain, which is like an extremely confusing thing that lawyers in the government sort of don't know what to do yet as we're all figuring out what to do with AI. But so for that reason copyright and public domain are very current and kind of increasingly urgent issues, even though there's also a lot of old stuff in there too.

[Alison Stewart]

I want to get to this Saturday's concert at 1pm at the Brooklyn Public Library. What is going to happen?

[Simon Close]

So we'll hear from a few of the winners this year, plus a couple other submissions that stood out to me. One of them is from a band called Bargainland who are a local. They were parents that met in a kindergarten co op and now they play like musical saw and accordion together. That'll be really fun. So it'll be a live concert on the steps of the Brooklyn Public Library in Grand Army Plaza and I'll be hosting and you'll see hear from some of the winners and submitters this year. And there may be a group song at the end too.

[Alison Stewart]

Tell me a little about Dream Glow. We're going to hear a little bit of that before we end the show.

[Simon Close]

Sure. This is going to be a clip of their montage. Dreamglow are a Boston based kind of vocal experimental group and they did an adaptation of Shakespeare's Sonnet 43.

[Nathan]

To find this sound for this dream world doesn't necessarily call for operatic singing, dare I say. At least I don't listen to opera singing when I'm trying to go to sleep. But also I wanted that feeling and you can hear it in the layering of the vocals as well. Of this sort of the rise and fall of breaths and the rise and fall of your own subconscious. At least that's how I interpret the layering of the vocals because it's all just me and just Nathan.

[Simon Close]

There's one section of the song that really jumps out to me. The rest of the instruments drop out and then it's just voices and percussion, that driving percussion and the driving vocals as well. In that moment I felt as just building to this explosion of light. That's my laundry basket. Very heavily featured in that moment.

[Alison Stewart]

That was Dream Glow. Okay, give me the pitch for this weekend.

[Simon Close]

This weekend, Brooklyn Public Library collaboration on the steps of the main branch in Grand Army Plaza. It'll be a free concert at 1pm so you can stop by the farmer's market while you're there too. Get a snack and then stay for a show. And yeah, you can go to wnyc.org publicsongproject to find out how to RSVP and find out more about the project and listen to more of the submitters and the winners from this year.

[Alison Stewart]

That is Public Song Project producer Simon Close. Congratulations, Simon.

[Simon Close]

Thank you very much, Alison.

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