In this episode of The Track Record, we sit down with Paxton Smith, a pop artist carving her own path and exploring what music can be.

We talk through her creative process, from the first spark of a lyric to shaping a track in the studio, and how she experiments with textures, melodies, and emotions to find her voice. Paxton shares her perspective on joy, growth, and play in music, and gives a peek behind the scenes at her Spotify bio, including her playful Grammy plan with googly eyes.

From her EP But I Love It as a whole to the latest single, we explore the heart, humor, and curiosity driving her music, offering listeners an insider look at an artist defining her own journey. Whether you are a longtime fan from her valedictorian speech or discovering her music for the first time, this episode captures the next chapter in Paxton’s story.

Check out Paxton's new MV that dropped today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oc0ykl4kxbU

Find Paxton on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paxtonasmith/

To follow along with The Track Record, find the podcast on Instagram.

To get connected with Vaish, find her on Instagram.

Please leave a rating, share a comment, and subscribe!

Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram: @bethechangemedianetwork.

If you have any questions, please email Lily Mott at lily@bethechangepodcast.org.

We trace their journey from The Debut: Dream Academy to their bold new EP, "Beautiful Chaos", asking what holds them together, how they balance health with fan pressure, and what their place really is in an industry obsessed with control.

Along the way, Rae and I dig into Manon’s contested narrative, the bigotry around Lara Raj’s queerness and identity, and Katseye’s daring choice to keep a trans-affirming lyric in Mean Girls when others would not.

Are they pioneers of a new kind of global pop, or artists navigating impossible double standards?

Do not forget to check out Rae’s blog on Instagram.

To follow along with The Track Record, find the podcast on Instagram.

To get connected with Vaish, find her on Instagram.

Please leave a rating, share a comment, and subscribe!

Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram: @bethechangemedianetwork.

If you have any questions, please email Lily Mott at lily@bethechangepodcast.org.

In this episode of The Track Record, we sit down with Tom Spare to revisit the rise of Coldplay, a band that has soundtracked heartbreak, revolution, and stadium singalongs for more than two decades.

We trace their journey from the fragile intimacy of Parachutes to the sweeping ambition of Viva La Vida and the technicolor optimism of Mylo Xyloto, unpacking how Chris Martin’s songwriting, the band’s chemistry, and their politics shaped a generation of listeners. We dive into spectacle versus sincerity, the balancing act between art and activism, and what it takes to stay relevant while constantly reinventing yourself.

Where does Viva La Vida stand as a cultural turning point? How does Coldplay hold space for joy and grief at the same time? And what keeps fans like Tom still making heart signs on Zoom calls all these years later?

Don't forget to check out Tom's podcasts:

• Spare a Thought
• The Political Dispatch

To follow along with The Track Record, find the podcast on Instagram.

To get connected with Vaish, find her on Instagram.

Please leave a rating, share a comment, and subscribe!

Follow Be the change. Media Network on Instagram: @bethechangemedianetwork.

If you have any questions, please email Lily Mott at lily@bethechangepodcast.org.