Podcast Summary: The Daily – "Where ‘The Daily’ Gets Its Music"

Date: October 25, 2025
Host: The New York Times (Michael Simon Johnson, guest-hosting; Natalie Kitroeff intro/outro)
Guests: Dan Powell (Creative Technical Manager & Composer), Marian Lozano (Composer)

Overview

In this bonus, behind-the-scenes episode for The Daily's subscribers, producer Michael Simon Johnson hosts a conversation with the show's two in-house composers, Dan Powell and Marian Lozano. The episode explores how the distinct music of The Daily is crafted, how musical decisions shape the show's tone, and what it means to compose for news podcasts. The discussion touches on creative processes, the show's internal music library, the blurry line between music and storytelling, as well as playful musical experimentation outside The Daily's typical "sound."

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Role and Philosophy of Music in The Daily

• The Daily is unusual in having its own in-house composers, forming an ever-growing internal library of tracks from which episode producers pull music as needed.
  • “The Daily is by far the largest library of any of our shows and it's probably the one we've spent the net total greatest amount of time writing music for.” – Dan Powell (02:43)
• Music selection is as vital to The Daily’s tone and identity as its journalistic content:
  • “Does this sound like a Daily episode to us? Does this story feel like a Daily episode?” – Michael Simon Johnson (02:57)

2. Defining 'The Daily' Sound

• The iconic theme (“primordial soup”) by Wonderly determines the show's musical DNA—propulsive, string-heavy, anchored in the present.
  • “There’s a certain amount of momentum and propulsiveness... It feels like breaking news. It feels like current events. It feels like the now that is happening.” – Dan Powell (03:35)
• Instrumentation is notably minimalist and string-based, with selective use of elements like marimba and piano.

3. Dissecting Popular Tracks

• “Looking for Answers” (by Marian Lozano) [04:19–05:36]
  • Originally written for an unaired episode; instantly became a staple.
  • Minimal instrumentation: plucky strings, marimba, piano.
  • The marimba is “cliché” for podcasts, but beloved internally.
    • “Sometimes I like to throw it in there as like a...see, you love it.” – Marian Lozano (04:37)
• “The Unmaking” (by Dan Powell) [05:54–07:24]
  • A frequent “ender” cue: sparse, reflective, designed for the episode’s contemplative closing minute.
  • Features pizzicato strings, electric bass, and a gentle drone.
    • “You’re sort of meant to just digest what's happened, what you've just heard, and maybe provoke some thoughts or ruminations about the episode.” – Dan Powell (06:09)
• “Middle Distance” (by Dan Powell) [07:24–08:33]
  • Defined by a warm, unobtrusive tongue drum, electric bass, and soft synths/woodwinds.
  • Crafted to be present, supportive, but never intrusive to dialogue.

4. Producer vs. Composer Perspectives

• There's an unscripted trust between composers and producers for how cues are used—often with little explicit instruction or explanation.
  • “We haven’t talked to each other about what those ideas are. We’re just trusting that we have a similar idea…” – Michael Simon Johnson (08:33)
  • “It’s cool when you don’t have the same idea.” – Marian Lozano (09:24)

5. Experimenting Beyond "The Daily" Sound

• The composers sometimes create tracks outside the customary style, adding diversity to the music library.
  • “45 Hydra” (by Dan Powell) [09:53–12:19]
    • Techno/psychedelic club track, used for an episode on WeWork founder Adam Neumann's excesses.
    • “There was a lot of experimentation of just, well, let me just make whatever. Maybe the Daily will use this at some point.” – Dan Powell (09:53)
    • Dance music and podcast cues fulfill similar functions—repetitive, minimal, with subtle variation to catch the listener's attention without disruption.
      • “Everything I learned about podcast music I learned from club music. And I'm only half kidding...” – Dan Powell (12:14)
  • “Bed Stuy 90s Hip Hop” (by Marian Lozano) [13:40–15:17]
    • Hip-hop track with classic “boom bap” sound, gritty guitar and bass loops, created for an unaired episode on 50 Years of Hip Hop.
    • Reflects both personal passion and genre experimentation:
      • “Hip hop and R and B are my favorite genres of music. So any excuse to write in that vein, I'm all over.” – Marian Lozano (14:20)

6. Making 'Invisible' Music, Yet Essential

• The goal: Compose music that subtly shapes mood, keeping listeners engaged without overpowering conversation.
  • “I like to think of music in podcast as highlighter, especially in moments that are very explanary.” – Marian Lozano (16:01)
  • The music is “essential to the show,” even as it remains in the background.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [03:35] Dan Powell: “The DNA of all Daily music comes from one place, which is the theme song written by Wonderly… I think it’s kind of the primordial soup from which all of our cues have spawned.”
• [05:17] Michael Simon Johnson: “Marimba has a kind of…cliché podcast music instrument...But the reason it’s cliché is because we love it.”
• [06:09] Dan Powell: “'The Unmaking' is a type of cue that we...label as an ender...meant to just digest what's happened, what you've just heard, and maybe provoke some thoughts or ruminations about the episode.”
• [12:14] Dan Powell: “I mean, I'm mainly just proud I could provide the soundtrack to Michael learning what hotboxing is for the first time.”
• [12:34] Dan Powell: “Podcast music has to be repetitive and minimal...but there also needs to be just the right amount of variation because if it's too repetitive, it...will feel very, very stale.”
• [16:01] Marian Lozano: “I like to think of music in podcast as highlighter...to highlight a section and...keep it interesting but not distracting at the same time.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:32 – Episode intro and purpose: Natalie Kitroeff
• 01:29 – Introductions: Michael Simon Johnson, Dan Powell, Marian Lozano
• 03:35 – Origins and signature sound of The Daily
• 04:19 – Listening to and dissecting “Looking for Answers”
• 05:54 – “The Unmaking”: the prototypical ender
• 07:24 – “Middle Distance”: gentle, meditative track
• 09:53 – Composing outside the typical Daily sound; “45 Hydra” and club/dance influences
• 13:40 – Experimentation: “Bed Stuy 90s Hip Hop”
• 16:01 – Reflections on the role and aspiration of podcast music
• 16:35–17:28 – Gratitude and camaraderie between producers and composers

Tone & Language

The conversation is candid, collegial, and infused with humor, gratitude, and professional curiosity. Both composers and producers speak with pride in their collaborative process, their willingness to experiment, and their commitment to a sound that is both distinctive and supportive of The Daily's journalism.

Summary Takeaway

This episode offers an engaging look into the meticulous—and underappreciated—craft of podcast music-making at The Daily. The in-house composers’ creative philosophies and playful experimentation ensure The Daily’s music is as thoughtfully crafted as its journalism, quietly but powerfully shaping the listener’s experience in ways most will never consciously notice. For fans and aspiring podcast creators alike, it’s a rare window into the subtle storytelling power of sound.