Ear Expansion Podcast is a multi-part series of recorded, long form conversations between host LaMont Hamilton and various artists of color working in all aspects of sound. This podcast aims to highlight artists who are invested in the idea of making art that extends the listening experience. Traditionally this has been described as “sound art” or “experimental” work. Ear Expansion Podcast; however, hopes to advocate for a new descriptive language- aural art. Aural Art is a move away from less defined terms such as ambient or experimental in order to specify art made for the hearing body- both the act of listening and its somatic extension.
All content for Ear Expansion Podcast is the property of LaMont Hamilton and is served directly from their servers
with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
Ear Expansion Podcast is a multi-part series of recorded, long form conversations between host LaMont Hamilton and various artists of color working in all aspects of sound. This podcast aims to highlight artists who are invested in the idea of making art that extends the listening experience. Traditionally this has been described as “sound art” or “experimental” work. Ear Expansion Podcast; however, hopes to advocate for a new descriptive language- aural art. Aural Art is a move away from less defined terms such as ambient or experimental in order to specify art made for the hearing body- both the act of listening and its somatic extension.
In this episode of Ear Expansion, host LaMont Hamilton is joined by composer and pianist Vijay Iyer. Together, they reflect on music as a relational practice—shaped through presence, exchange, and the enduring trace of those we’ve moved with. Iyer recalls an early memory of shared soundmaking with his sister—an ecstatic moment of vibration and discovery that continues to echo through his relationship to the piano.
He speaks about his early studies in physics and cognitive science, not as a foundation for his music, but as a critical lens through which to question Eurocentric assumptions about sound and knowledge. Through conversation, Iyer shares how music—especially in ensemble settings—becomes a site of collective cognition, shaped by listening, response, and shared breath. He reflects on the many scales of time that shape musical experience, and the ways in which attention and sensation are entangled in the act of listening.
Toward the close, he reflects on the enduring influence of figures like Thelonious Monk, Amiri Baraka, Roscoe Mitchell, Wadada Leo Smith, and many others—each leaving a trace that still shapes how he listens, creates, and moves forward.
Ear Expansion Podcast
Ear Expansion Podcast is a multi-part series of recorded, long form conversations between host LaMont Hamilton and various artists of color working in all aspects of sound. This podcast aims to highlight artists who are invested in the idea of making art that extends the listening experience. Traditionally this has been described as “sound art” or “experimental” work. Ear Expansion Podcast; however, hopes to advocate for a new descriptive language- aural art. Aural Art is a move away from less defined terms such as ambient or experimental in order to specify art made for the hearing body- both the act of listening and its somatic extension.
