Skip to Content
Talkhouse home
Talkhouse home
Podcast

Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth) Talks with Ian Williams (Battles) for the Talkhouse Podcast

The experimental guitar legends talk avant-garde recording sessions, NYC music scenes through the years, and Wilco's instrument collection.

Last month, Ian Williams (Battles) and Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth) chopped it up in front of a fully packed house at the grand opening of Everlane's flagship store in Williamsburg for a live taping of the Talkhouse Podcast.

The experimental guitar legends shared the unusual processes of making their new LPs (Battles' Juice B. Crypts came out last week, and Lee's drops early next year). Their talk also takes in Sonic Youth's versus Wilco's insane touring guitar collections; how a chance encounter with Les Savy Fav led to the first ever Battles show; the cross-genre pollination of 1980s New York; and their thoughts on recently departed icons Ric Ocasek of The Cars and Daniel Johnston.

Stay tuned after the talk for an audience Q&A with Lee, Ian, and myself.

Links galore: If you enjoy this episode, keep an eye peeled for the wonderful Consequence of Sound podcast This Must Be The Gig's upcoming show featuring Lee Renaldo and his collaborator Raül Refree; I attended the live taping in New York and just loved it. You can also check out past Talkhouse Podcast episodes featuring Battles' Juice B. Crypts collaborators Xenia Rubinos, Tune-Yards, and Shabazz Palaces. And finally, here's Lee and Ian's first meeting on the show from back in 2016.

Today's show was recorded by Stephan Kimbel Olson and Mark Yoshizumi at Everlane, and at Hook and Fade Studios in Brooklyn by our co-producer Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast’s theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Podcast

Explore Podcast

Will Johnson

June 10, 2026

Hannah Frances

Hannah and Dylan discuss musician towns versus band towns, longing for the shire, loose pants, her career paths of healer vs. astrologer vs. musician, a Saturn return analysis, Hejira as a musical compass, the connection between EMDR therapy and guitar, and family.

June 10, 2026

All One Song :: Matt Valentine on “Berlin”

June 10, 2026

955. – Jeremy Sisto

June 10, 2026

Nobody’s Ever Asked Me That: Charles Lane

The genius behind the indie classic Sidewalk Stories opens up about everything from crushing it at Cannes to nearly burning down his family's apartment (twice!).