PBS North Carolina has announced the highly anticipated launch of its original music performance series, “Shaped by Sound,” set to premiere on Thursday, February 6.
This new program highlights North Carolina’s musical history and influences across various genres, including bluegrass, alt-country, jazz, folk, and hip-hop.
The premiere episode will feature the acclaimed singer-songwriter Iron & Wine, known for his introspective lyrics and country folk sound.

Viewers of the new PBS North Carolina program “Shaped by Sound” can expect a compelling full-band performance in the premiere episode. The episode will also explore Iron & Wine’s songwriting process, offering an intimate look at the artist’s creative journey.
Earlier this month, PBS North Carolina released a recording of the Grammy-nominated song “All in Good Time” featuring a full band and shadow puppeteer collective Manual Cinema.
Watch Iron & Wine perform “All In Good Time” on “Shaped by Sound”
“I like using words as a color palette,” Beam shares in an interview segment with series host and producer James Mieczkowski. The episode is expected to resonate with audiences, especially as Beam tours to promote his latest album, “Light Verse,” which was released in April on Sub Pop.

The first season of “Shaped by Sound” will also feature an impressive lineup of artists, including Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist Nnenna Freelon and rising hip-hop star Reuben Vincent.
Presented as a 13-part series, each 30-minute episode will combine breathtaking live performances with personal narratives about the artists’ creative paths.
The series aims to provide viewers with an exclusive look at the artists and stories that have shaped North Carolina’s dynamic music scene. In addition to broadcast episodes, a longer-form video podcast and various digital extras will enhance the viewing experience.
Mieczkowski expressed his excitement for the series: “North Carolina has a tremendously vibrant music scene. Music helps shape who we are as people and as a community. We hope viewers are inspired by the series and the artists’ profound connections to our state and its culture.”
The program is made possible through support from Come Hear NC, a new initiative under the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Launched by Governor Roy Cooper in 2024, the N.C. Music Office aims to enhance economic development driven by creative economies while increasing awareness of North Carolina’s rich music heritage.
Iron & Wine’s frontman, Samuel Beam, his wife Kim, and their five daughters reside in Durham, North Carolina. Beam grew up outside Columbia, South Carolina, where his father worked in land management, and his mother was a schoolteacher.
Beam graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University and earned an MFA from the Florida State University Film School. Before releasing his debut album, “The Creek Drank the Cradle,” in 2002, he primarily worked as a film and cinematography professor. His musical journey began in earnest when a friend introduced him to a four-track recorder, leading to demos that caught the attention of Sub Pop Records in Seattle, Washington.
Beam independently wrote, recorded, and produced his debut album, which showcased a blend of acoustic instruments and earned comparisons to renowned artists like Nick Drake and Neil Young.
After his successful debut, Beam continued to evolve as an artist with releases such as the 2003 EP “The Sea & The Rhythm” and his sophomore album, “Our Endless Numbered Days,” in 2004, which featured a fuller band sound recorded in a professional studio.
He further expanded his music catalog with the 2005 EP “Woman King” and the “In the Reins” collaborative project alongside Calexico. His fourth studio album, “Kiss Each Other Clean,” released in 2011, demonstrated a transition towards a more refined, pop-oriented sound, incorporating influences from early to mid-1970s radio-friendly music.
Viewers outside North Carolina can tune in and explore the remarkable journeys of North Carolina’s talented musicians through “Shaped by Sound,” which is available on PBS North Carolina and streaming on pbsnc.org, the free PBS app, and YouTube.
A curated playlist of songs featured in the series will also be available for listeners.