Podcast Summary: All Songs Considered – The Contenders, Vol. 25: Robyn, Rosalía, Nothing, Snocaps, More
Host: Robin Hilton
Guest: Hazel Sills (NPR Music)
Date: November 18, 2025
Episode Overview
In this milestone 25th “Contenders” episode—the final one of 2025—host Robin Hilton and NPR Music’s Hazel Sills share their top song picks from the year so far. They discuss standout new tracks from innovative artists, reflecting on the breadth, emotion, and energy in recent music releases. The featured tracks represent contenders for NPR’s final “Best of 2025” list and highlight both returning icons and exciting emerging talents.
Key Discussion Points
1. The Flood of New Music Releases
- Robin opens with a candid look into the chaos of Fridays, when he receives hundreds of emails about new music drops.
- “By 10:30 this morning, I had almost 400 emails… telling me about a new release.” (00:19)
- Hazel confesses to a massive unread inbox and her strategy for managing it, setting a relatable, informal tone.
- “I have 21,679 unread emails. But to me, it doesn’t feel like I’m failing at anything.” (00:49)
- Discussion on the industry’s “everything releases on Fridays” focus leading to both discovery and overwhelm.
2. Robyn’s Triumphant Return – “Dopamine”
[Start: 02:30]
- Hazel lights up introducing Robyn’s new single, “Dopamine,” marking Robyn’s energetic return after years of relative quiet.
- “As soon as I heard it, I feel like I played it seven times in a row.” (02:40)
- Comparison between “Dopamine” and Robyn’s earlier “Body Talk” era—returning to dance-pop power after the mellow “Honey” album (2018):
- “She is in ‘Body Talk’ mode on this song… a return to the fembot pop powerhouse.” (06:18)
- Robin reflects on dance music’s usual physicality versus Robyn’s ability to inject deep emotion:
- “There’s so much dance music that really just exists in the body for me… But something in Robyn’s music does [invite deep feeling].” (06:55)
- Hazel credits Robyn with setting a new bar for combining vulnerability and euphoria in pop:
- “…Using dance and pop music as a vessel to explore her insecurities and humanity… I don’t want to take her contributions for granted.” (07:22)
3. The Artistry of Rosalía – “Divinize” & the Album Lux
[Start: 10:30]
- Robin introduces Rosalía’s ambitious new album “Lux,” calling it his personal album of the year and labeling it “a masterpiece.”
- “It is full of multiple songs that could be song of the year for me…” (09:30)
- Track played: “Divinize.” Hazel hears “epic and expensive” in its huge production, packed with choir and orchestra.
- “This album is so unbelievably epic and expensive…” (13:58)
- Discussion of Rosalía’s artistic influences—drawing on Baroque Catholic imagery and the intensity of saints, inspired by her interview with Alt Latino co-host Ana Maria Sayre:
- “So much of the song is about, like, ‘I was born to divinize’… She calls upon people to pray upon her spine like it’s a rosary.” (14:35)
- Hazel likens the intensity to Bernini’s sculpture, “The Ecstasy of St. Teresa,” appreciating Rosalía’s drama and ambition.
- “I hear the same Catholic intensity in this song as… the ecstasy of St. Teresa.” (15:14)
- Robin plays a medley (“Mio Cristo Piange Diamanti” into “Bergain”) to demonstrate the album’s wild stylistic range:
- “There is a universe of music in this album. I genuinely think it’s a masterpiece.” (16:59)
4. The Crutchfield Sisters as Snow Caps – “Over Our Heads”
[Start: 19:08]
- Hazel spotlights Katie and Allison Crutchfield (of Swearin’ and Waxahatchee) and their Halloween-surprise indie band, Snow Caps.
- The song “Over Our Heads” is celebrated for its personal and rebellious theme.
- “There’s such a conspiratorial streak to this song, like they’re kind of describing themselves as outlaws.” (21:51)
- Notable lyric:
- “Don’t bother chasing us boys, we’ll see ourselves out.”
- Robin and Hazel agree the song’s joy and fun reflect the sisters’ freewheeling musical partnership.
- “That could kind of describe their whole career.” (22:47)
5. Discovering Bass Victim – “Mr. President”
[Start: 23:16]
- Robin credits Dora Levitt for the tip on Bass Victim, a raw, experimental duo from London.
- “I see the word messy used to describe their music a lot. I think that’s pretty fair.” (27:32)
- Hazel relates their sound to the “sweaty party music” of her adolescence in the late 2000s, evoking bands like Animal Collective and Sleigh Bells.
- “It’s like party music… supposed to be listened to in a dark basement with a fog machine.” (27:43)
- “If this song had come out in 2006, I wouldn’t have been surprised.” (28:32)
- Robin calls the song “raw and ragged and cathartic and chaotic but also just super catchy.” (28:46)
6. Underrated Gem: Lola Young – “Spiders”
[Start: 29:51]
- Hazel’s pick for most underrated song of the year: “Spiders” by Lola Young.
- “One of the best vocal performances I’ve heard on a song this year.” (34:31)
- Discussion of the song’s raw honesty and vivid imagery—everyday care (“kill all the spiders in our room”) transformed into emotional necessity.
- “She takes that little act of care and blows it up into this life-or-death necessity.” (35:31)
- Robin and Hazel reflect on the universality of the lyric and the coming-of-age emotions embedded in the song.
- “There’s something in it that took me back to that time when you’re younger and you’re just sad and angry all the time…” (35:42)
- “It has this kind of almost grungy… I was like, oh, you are kind of a rock star.” (36:17)
- Both hosts admit “Spiders” now deserves a spot on their personal ‘Best Of’ lists.
7. The Comeback of Nothing – “Cannibal World”
[Start: 37:00]
- Robin hails the return of Philly shoegaze band Nothing after a six-year hiatus.
- “It’s been six years since we heard from the band Nothing... But they just announced a new album… the first song is called ‘Cannibal World’.” (37:51)
- Robin runs through their catalog—highlighting the bleak, candid titles (“The Great Dismal,” “Tired of Tomorrow,” “Downward Years to Come”)—but insists the music is ultimately “roaring, alive, and inspiring.”
- “There is resilience and power in this music… I don’t find it bleak at all. I find it very inspiring.” (37:53)
- The episode closes with “Cannibal World” and Robin’s gratitude to Hazel.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On Robyn’s return:
- “She is in ‘Body Talk’ mode… a return to the fembot pop powerhouse.” — Hazel Sills (06:18)
- On dance music’s emotional depth:
- “There’s so much dance music that really just exists in the body… But something in Robyn’s music does [invite deep feeling].” — Robin Hilton (06:55)
- On Rosalía’s “Lux”:
- “There is a universe of music in this album. I genuinely think it’s a masterpiece.” — Robin Hilton (16:59)
- “She calls upon people to pray upon her spine like it’s a rosary.” — Hazel Sills (15:14)
- On Snow Caps’ outlaw spirit:
- “Don’t bother chasing us boys. We’ll see ourselves out.” (21:51)
- On Lola Young’s “Spiders”:
- “One of the best vocal performances I’ve heard on a song this year.” — Hazel Sills (34:31)
- “She takes that little act of care and blows it up into this life-or-death necessity.” — Hazel Sills (35:31)
- On Nothing’s defiant energy:
- “There is resilience and power in this music… it is roaring even when life is at its lowest point.” — Robin Hilton (37:53)
Timestamps for Key Segments
| Segment | Timestamp | |-----------------------------|------------| | Robyn’s “Dopamine” | 02:30–08:26| | Rosalía’s “Divinize” & Lux | 10:30–17:10| | Snow Caps’ “Over Our Heads” | 19:08–23:05| | Bass Victim “Mr. President” | 23:16–29:08| | Lola Young’s “Spiders” | 29:51–36:44| | Nothing “Cannibal World” | 37:00–41:33|
Conclusion
This episode spotlights a spectrum of music—iconic returns, experimental new voices, and emotional breakthroughs. Robin and Hazel’s discussions are rich with admiration, nostalgia, and excitement, offering a roadmap for any listener eager to discover the music that moved NPR’s team in 2025.
For further listening:
Search “All Songs Considered: The Contenders, Vol. 25” on your favorite podcast platform for the full musical journey with Robin Hilton and Hazel Sills.