Music Life

This week, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, former Bjork label mate Brian Christinzio AKA BC Camplight is joined by an eclectic line up of musicians, including: the legendary New Order and Joy Division bassist and co-founder Peter Hook; Pavement frontman and solo artist in his own right Stephen Malkmus; and mentored by Tom Waits, Californian singer and guitarist Jesca Hoop completes the group. Led by Brian they’ll be discussing which part of your personality is the biggest detriment to your creativity/productivity, musical memories, and why you don’t need to be a ‘tortured artist’ in order to make music that people take seriously. Brian aims to get to the bottom of how they all do what they do, and why they do it.

Welcome to Music Life, the weekly series and podcast in which musicians talk to their peers about all aspects of life making music. This week, poet, artist, musician, rapper, model, and visual artist Kojey Radical commands the red sofa and hosts this episode. He is joined by: jazz superstar saxophonist, Sons of Kemet and The Comet Is Coming band leader Shabaka Hutchings; the only jazz artist on a UK major label, the up and coming pianist Ashley Henry; and the person who is “changing jazz” right now, the award winning saxophonist Nubya Garcia. Led by Kojey they’ll be discussing how you write about something you’ve not personally experienced, feeling accepted by your peers, and whether or not you need to be an outsider in order to be original.

It's a country music themed episode of Music Life, coming to you backstage from the Long Road Festival in Leicestershire in the English Midlands. Musician, historian, and activist Rhiannon Giddens is joined by singer Josh Turner from South Carolina; singer and song-writer to the the stars—including Sam Smith and Miley Cyrus—Cam from California; and frontman of the band SUSTO, Justin Osborne. They talk about their public personas, using art to effect change, and spirituality.

This week, Beyonce writer and pop star on-the-up RAYE is joined Jamaican superstar and Damian Marley collaborator Kabaka Pyramid, 19 year old London musician and poet Arlo Parks, and with six albums under his belt, Detroit producer, mixer, musician, singer and Ed Sheeran label-mate JMSN completes the quartet. Led by Raye they’ll be discussing balancing love, friends, school, and a social life with music, trying to find the off button and being able to relax, smiling for pictures, and missing your mum when on tour.

This week Carla Marie Williams returns to host and she’s joined by Niambi and Thandi aka American hip-hop soul duo OSHUN (over 10 million Spotify streams), and Uche from production duo Da Beatfreakz (who worked with Chris Brown, Sean Paul, Usher, Ellie Goulding).Led by Carla they’ll be discussing the importance of their heritage in their music, being independent artists, and the most fun part about writing music. Carla aims to get to the bottom of how they all do what they do, and why they do it.

In this week’s episode of Music Life we hear from Don Letts, Hollie Cook, Josh Rudge of the Skints and Eva Lazarus.Music Life is a weekly series and podcast in which musicians talk to musicians about all aspects of life making music. The host this time is Don Letts (aka the Rebel Dread, film maker, radio broadcaster and DJ). And he’s joined by British/West Indian reggae singer and keyboardist Hollie Cook; founding member of London reggae band The Skints, Josh Rudge; and multi-talented artist Eva Lazarus who has worked with Gentleman’s Dub Club, Mungo’s Hi-Fi and Nextmen to name a few. Led by Don they’ll be discussing why bass is so attractive as a sound, what has inspired them to get where they are today and reggae's place in the modern world. Don aims to get to the bottom of how they all do what they do, and why they do it.

Music Life continues in this weekly series and podcast in which musicians talk to musicians about all aspects of life making music.The host this time is poet, author and musician Benjamin Zephaniah (The Times listed him as one of 50 greatest postwar writers). And he’s joined by rapper Novelist (Mercury nominated), spoken word artist Sophia Thakur (performed live with London Symphony Orchestra, published author), and spoken word performer Hussain Manawer (supported Ed Sheeran, Ellie Goulding, and Cher).Led by Benjamin they’ll be discussing whether there is a place for politics in music, is it more difficult for men to be vulnerable and do they regret anything they have released. Benjamin aims to get to the bottom of how they all do what they do, and why they do it.

In the eighth episode of Music Life, four musicians talk about all aspects of their lives and music making. The host this time is singer Pixie Lott. She’s joined by singer and songwriter Nina Nesbitt who has written for the likes of Jessie Ware and has toured with Ed Sheeran. Fresh from touring, folk pop and blues rock artist Barns Courtney joins the discussion. Also on the show is American soul singer Lee Fields who has been recording for over 50 years. Led by Pixie Lott they’ll be talking about signing and losing deals, how the music industry has changed over time and how they manage to perform the same songs over and over again.

The host this time is arranger and composer Rob Lewis (critically acclaimed latest album ‘Momentum’ out now). And he’s joined by composer and violist Sally Beamish (received 'Award for Inspiration' at the 2018 British Composer Awards), composer and virtuoso cellist Jo Quail (worked with Salif Keita, Airto Moreira and Flora Purim) and composer Robin Haigh (one of the youngest winners of the British Composer Award). Led by Rob Lewis they’ll be discussing where do you start when composing a piece of music, writers block, and how hard is it to be original. Rob aims to get to the bottom of how they all do what they do, and why they do it.

Instrumentalist and music producer Swindle (signed to Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood label) is joined by R&B singer songwriter Joel Culpepper (who's worked with Paloma Faith, Jimmy Hogarth, Roy Davis Jr.), vocalist Lioness (over a million views on YouTube), and multi-instrumentalist composer Ahnanse (runs most popular underground UK jazz night Steam Down).Led by Swindle, they’ll be discussing how the city you grow up in influences your sound, weirdest place they’ve recorded a song and would they still be doing this if there was no financial reward.