
About this episode
The episode discusses MUNA's unique approach to band identity and their new album, highlighting the influence of 80s music production.
A culture that rewards easily consumable individual identities produces plenty of pop stars and almost no bands. A significant exception: MUNA, the trio of Katie Gavin, Josette Maskin, and Naomi McPherson. MUNA treats the band as a structure that grounds identity beyond the ego and makes any success feel shared among the three. Their new album, Dancing on the Wall , wraps that conviction in blaring, unapologetic '80s production: slap bass, brightness pushed to the front, and everything connected in one time and place. Links: Newsletter , YouTube MUNA, "It Gets So Hot" MUNA, "Dancing on the Wall" Lionel Richie, "Dancing on the Ceiling" MUNA, "Eastside Girls" Yello, "Oh Yeah" Dead or Alive, "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" Pet Shop Boys, "West End Girls" Billy Joel, "We Didn't Start the Fire" Charli XCX, "365" MUNA, "Wannabeher" Bikini Kill, "Rebel Girl" Peaches, "Boys Wanna Be Her" Le Tigre, "Deceptacon" MUNA, "Big Stick" MUNA, "Anything But Me" Flobots, "Handlebars" MUNA, "I Know a Place" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
People in this episode
Host: Switched on Pop
Topics covered
- pop music
- band identity
- 80s production
- MUNA
- music culture
Keywords
- MUNA
- Dancing on the Wall
- pop stars
- 80s music
- band identity
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Dancing on the Wall, It Gets So Hot, Eastside Girls, Oh Yeah, You Spin Me Round (Like a Record), West End Girls, We Didn't Start the Fire, 365, Wannabeher, Rebel Girl
More episodes of Switched on Pop
- Paul McCartney went back to Liverpool for something new to say · June 9, 2026 · 43 min
- How a sci-fi dystopia became a personal utopia (ft. Arc Iris) · June 5, 2026 · 13 min
- Drake's Slop Era · May 26, 2026 · 55 min
- Kacey Musgraves walks country’s borderlands · May 19, 2026 · 40 min
- Two countries at war. Rostam’s 'American Stories' belongs to both. · May 15, 2026 · 55 min
- Eurovision is back – but not without controversy · May 12, 2026 · 58 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Switched on Pop podcast page.