Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT. Hosted by award-winning interviewer and radio host Sofia Loporcaro, Before the Chorus dives into the stories and experiences that shape these artists, and ultimately, the music we hear.
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The Rescues on composing Tony-nominated musical The Lost Boys, & making an immortal work of art
The Rescues are the trio behind the songs for The Lost Boys, 2026's most Tony-nominated musical of the year. The musical reworks the 1987 cult film, injecting its original vampire campiness with tons of heart. We discuss what it looks like to scale your creative vision, placing it in the hands of the cast & crew, & writing songs that are more "spiritually" vampiric than literal. Find the The Lost…
Joseph on 'Closer to Happy', letting people down & letting go of fear
On their 5th LP, Joseph are learning to let go of many fears: the fear of disappointing others, the fear of failure, the fear of not being who you thought you were supposed to be. I sat down with sisters Natalie & Meegan to discuss it all. Find Joseph on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5Wfvw7rDz7HA6gE2z6QhqO?si=2nmMiU89SXOd4x7JdhtXKQ On Apple Music:…
Julianna Zachariou on 'Dreamer Dreamer', recurring dreams, & demanding more than conditional love
On Dreamer Dreamer, Julianna Zachariou wades through dreams of never reaching a destination, deep feelings, and the kind of love that sustains us. Find Julianna on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3MKLoCXEXufW2ldiQtUokO?si=hlMZ2ATKRvOJEsNq5-ij5g On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/madison-cunningham/461080475 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madicunningham/?hl=en…
Madison Cunningham on 'Ace', processing through songwriting, & how the right words bring release
On Ace, Madison Cunningham processes the cycles of heartbreak and falling in love again. For this episode, Madison's second time on the podcast, we sat down at her LA home and discussed the record at length. Find Madison on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3h9TfIgwhovQELlP2jj4xL?si=poBMbSTbT9u4QcNWMO4vvw On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/madison-cunningham/461080475…
Ouri on 'Daisy Cutter', songs predicting the future, & jumping into the void
Ouri's latest album, Daisy Cutter, is a release of control, an excavation of inner truths, & an indulgence of sensuality. As always, we dive into the record's themes in depth, & we make sure to nerd out about Imogen Heap & FKA twigs along the way. Find Ouri on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/41gxyJbzbAaChEyrZ9j3rv?si=RCBJvcV6TeKATOOYCHIB1g On Apple Music:…
Flock of Dimes on 'The Life You Save' & building a safe space to tell difficult stories
Flock of Dimes, aka Jenn Wasner, created an album that is as warm as it is raw. Amidst its perfectly crafted & pared back instrumentation, 'The Life You Save' explores themes of codependency, people pleasing, & letting go. In this episode, we discuss the themes of the album, & what helped her tell these stories on her own terms. Find Flock of Dimes on Spotify:…
Jack Garratt on 'Pillars' & asking for reciprocity
Jack Garratt's latest full-length album, Pillars, wrestles with longing: longing for reciprocity, longing for love, & longing for fulfillment. We discuss everything from the relationship between artists & their audiences, situationships, & navigating an increasingly difficult music industry. Find Jack Garratt on Spotify:…
Kilo Kish on 'Negotiations', & the tension between art & industry
On Kilo Kish's 'Negotiations', robotic soundscapes mirror the transactional, 'churned-out' side of the music industry. She asks "what am I worth?" - not to an unforgiving business model, but to herself. In this interview, we discuss this tension, & the importance of art on one's own terms. Find Kilo Kish on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7lsnwlX6puQ7lcpSEpJbZE?si=LkhaVZsZTs-7Xaky7StGSA…
LIVE: Before the Chorus & Open Folk Present: In These Lines feat. Gaby Moreno, Lily Kershaw & James Spaite
On June 25th 2025, in collaboration with Open Folk, we presented our first ever live interview event in Los Angeles. As Open Folk put it: "In These Lines is a live event where three artists each bring one song — not just to perform, but to explore. They sit down with Sofia Loporcaro, host of Before The Chorus, to talk about where the song came from, what it meant to write it, and what it still…
Benét on 'Make 'Em Laugh', & writing through heartbreak as it's happening
Benét writes songs while in the eye of life's storms. Because of this, his lyrics are raw & visceral, bringing us right to the core of what he's been feeling. 'Make 'Em Laugh' is no exception - through songs of heartbreak & self-examination, we're taken on a journey of healing, & just plain trying to figure life out. Find Benét on Spotify:…