Sadie Dupuis of Speedy Ortiz, Sad13 shouts out Tierra Whack, Ted Leo, Mothermary more for Ears We Trust

Sadie Dupuis a favorite here at WXPN, and she just added to her discography with the release of 1331, a new DIY mixtape under her Sad13 project. The release features 13 “1 minute long-ish songs” that helped her through “mini nervous breakdown” and a bike accident that nearly ended her guitar playing.

When we asked Dupuis to participate on this week’s Ears We Trust, she shared what inspired her to drop such a unique release.

See her selections below:

Tierra Whack — “Two Fifteen“

My favorite Philly celebrity and the foremost influence on my 1331 project. One of the reasons we mixed Speedy Ortiz’s Rabbit Rabbit at Germantown’s Retro City Sound was Tierra Whack’s long history recording there, and I’m forever hoping she and I circle back on our brief 2018 DM exchange in which I offered her “a guitar solo sometime.” Tierra’s visual language and sonic versatility can morph wildly but is always recognizable within the Whack World. If we’re in the business of changing up its name, why not the Philadelphia Whack’s Museum of Art? 

Ted Leo — “Mourning In America“

Performances I’ve seen Ted give in the last 12-ish months: guitarist for Gang of Four; in the round with other Sing Us Home artists; Pharmacists, duh; covers band at Brickbat for the Rick Froberg book launch; solo jawns ranging from a cappella protest to shredding unaccompanied electric solos; his and Aimee’s classic Christmas show; a WXPN DJ set when we both participated in the all-vinyl broadcast (very good ska collection, that Ted Leo). He really can do it all and we should all be so lucky as to have a 10th of the energy Ted brings to the things and people he cares about. He and I became friends in 2014 when he was touring with The Both, and Sad13 had the immense privilege of opening for The Hanged Man tour. How lucky am I to have him as a bud when I consider him a guiding influence in so many regards — sense of melody and production, dedication to learning new things as a listener and performer, and always showing up for the cause and speaking up for what’s right.

Tunde Adebimpe — “Blue“

TV On The Radio are one of my most-seen bands, if not the most, and easily my favorite of the NYC 2000s scene (Meet Me In the Bathroom for Strokes-ambivalents, when?). I consider them a huge influence on both Sad13 and Speedy (with which I’ve covered “Young Liars”) and I loved Tunde’s solo debut in 2025, which I returned to often in working on 1331. I’m always excited by late-career solo debuts (see also: Greg Saunier) — Thee Black Boltz isn’t drastically outside the world of what Tunde’s band does, but reveals a lot about his taste and visions and what he’s bringing to the collaborative group. And the songs rock, as I got to see firsthand at NON-COMM in 2025. I actually waited up front and center between acts so I could have the best possible view, something I haven’t done since…. probably some TV On The Radio show in the unfortunately distant past. 

Mothermary — “Catch Fire“

I’m a latecomer to Mothermary and only caught wind of them after their project name and aesthetic curation were ripped off HARD by the recent A24 movie of the same name. Really awesome, well-produced and thematically incisive dark wave electro pop made by twin sisters unpacking their religious trauma. Great music, AND an IP story that reminds me (and you) to support independent artists who are fighting for their rights against the powers that be. 

Spacemoth — “North Star“

Maryam is my hero in the studio (the Bay Area’s Tiny Telephone, where she is an in-demand engineer and producer), on tour together (as we did in 2023 after Rabbit Rabbit came out), and onstage when I get to see her perform in La Luz or her own wonderful project, Spacemoth. She is a synth and sounds wizard and another one of these magical musicians with unerring artistic vision that affects the words she writes, the way she sings them, how she dresses to present them, and the psychedelic imagery she uses to broadcast her transmissions. I had the privilege of releasing her first record on my semi-defunct label Wax Nine, and the newest record Inward Eye is incredible — much recommend seeing Spacemoth if she tours through Philly soon and I promise I’ll be there when she does.