WXPN asked Philadelphia artists one simple question

What does independence mean today?

The answers became Philly Anthems—twelve original songs commissioned from established artists and seven emerging musicians, each offering a different perspective on freedom, identity, belonging, and hope.

Philly Anthems artwork over the Philadelphia skyline

This summer and fall, WXPN will premiere each song, tell the story behind it, and introduce the artist who made it.

Summer Releases

Eric Bazilian Eliza Hardy Jones Lady Alma Christian McBride Devon Gilfillian

The project concludes on Record Store Day in April 2027 with a Philly Anthems album collecting all the songs, WXPN’s annual vinyl release.

Fall Releases

Grace Gardner Sug Daniels Black Buttafly The Bul Bey JR Everhart Moustapha Noumbissi The 24 Hour Song Challenge Winner

Eric Bazilian | “Better Times”

Better Times

Music and lyrics by Eric Bazilian

Listen to the song

Bob Bumbera interviews Eric

Eric on the song

“Better Times” started with five words,
over and over.

I’d like to be able to say that “Better Times” came to me in a dream. It came, in fact, in the shower. Five words, over and over. Better times better come soon. I chased the idea in my head as I dried off, got dressed, followed it out of the house and into the studio, where I tried a bunch of things that didn’t work.

Then I sat down at the piano, started playing some chords, then a few more chords, until the idea decided to let me catch it. Several versions later, I’ve got a song in a style I’d never done before that I thought I could never sing. With some encouragement I proved myself wrong.

Don’t you just hate it when a writer says, “I’d rather let the song speak for itself”? Well, I’m here to tell you that I’m going to let the song speak for itself, hope somebody likes it and it makes them think kind thoughts.

“So, usually I start with a musical idea, but in this case it was a lyric phrase, something about better times. Yeah, better times, better times, better come soon. Kind of like early Dylan or Jesse Welles vibe.”
Eric Bazilian, in conversation with Bob Bumbera

Philly Anthems has been supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage.