Flow State with Harry Mack

In Episode 12 of Flow State, Harry sits down with actor, podcaster, and author of the New York Times Bestselling book Soul Boom, Rainn Wilson. Harry and Rainn connect on their shared PNW origin stories, views of spirituality beyond religion, and learning to reject the internal voice of self-doubt. Rainn talks about improv vs. scripted acting in his fan-favorite role of Dwight Schrute on The Office, and explains how both zonkeys and dead cats are like mullets in their own unique ways. Finally, Harry finds freestyle inspiration in Rainn’s challenging vocabulary while Rainn beatboxes for the very first time…

Timestamps

0:00 Intro

Harry’s back with Flow State Episode 11. In this solo episode, Harry gets real about the undesired effects of algorithm-fueled social media scrolling and how he started reclaiming that time in his day. He answers questions about what he’s currently reading, who inspires him, and who could take on the role of Harry Mack when it’s time to film the story of his life. Harry also talks about getting lost in flow state and what’s happening when he closes his eyes during a freestyle. After reacting to his viral Move Ya Body collaboration with Marc Rebillet, Harry sums up the episode in a freestyle so fast it outpaces the studio’s wi-fi.

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Show Notes

I made my smartphone into a dumbphone - How and why

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00:00:00 Introduction

The tenth installment of Flow State Podcast is here and this time Harry is joined in the studio by rising stars in the hip-hop world, Coast Contra. Comprised of rappers Rio Loz, Eric Jamal, Ras Austin, and Taj Austin, Coast Contra is best known for their viral video Never Freestyle. Gaining notoriety for their debut album, Apt. 505, and The Old Way Mixtape, Coast Contra has opened for Dave Chappelle at the Hollywood Bowl, appeared on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, and traveled through North America on their own headlining tour. In this episode they talk to Harry about their journey as a brotherhood, the methods they use to create, and why staying independent means so much to them. After discussing the nuances of freestyle and off-top rapping, Coast Contra and Harry close the episode out with a cypher session.

Coast Contra -AYO (Official Video)

https://youtu.be/fDsmk7u8EQg?si=PbMuFpIB2zTUlDe8

https://youtu.be/IdNxeepSpuk?si=rO_wBvm9iKHVx9X6

https://coastcontra.lnk.to/apt505

https://www.even.biz/releases/the-old-way

https://youtu.be/XW1HNWqdVbk?si=GVYaj9t4t8ysmIgZ

https://ajampdx.com/

https://www.sonyclassics.com/whiplash/

https://bookshop.org/a/102858/9780143110163

https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-magic-of-thinking-big-the-true-secret-of-success-david-j-schwartz/20264087?ean=9780593713235

https://youtu.be/A12Q43RqP7s?si=AbyItPk0brZbCRTe

https://coltureplaybook.com/

Show Notes

00:00:00 Introduction

00:01:20 Who is Coast Contra?

00:03:15 Evolved Nostalgia

00:04:52 First Influences in Music

00:07:48 Choosing a Career in Music

00:13:18 Rio Loz’s Colombian Origins and Bilingual Rapping

00:17:24 Apt. 505

00:31:29 Never Freestyle

00:40:42 Freestyling and Off The Top

00:47:11 Staying Independent

00:55:12 Striking A Balance

01:00:22 Closing Rap

It’s time for a brand new installment of Flow State with Harry Mack! In this solo episode, Harry talks about his goals for musical growth through more collaborations with other artists. He answers questions about getting started in music and how to push past the difficulties of a low energy audience. He also addresses the difference between copying from your favorite musicians’ style and using them as an influence to help you grow. After reacting to a freestyle submission and a classic clip — Prom Night in DC — Harry recaps this episode’s journey in freestyle.

Show Notes:

Search by Lyric with Genius

https://genius.com/

Atomic Habits by James Clear

https://bookshop.org/a/102858/9780735211292

Kind of Blue by Miles Davis

https://www.milesdavis.com/albums/kind-of-blue-legacy-edition/

Prom Night in DC (Guerrilla Bars 25)

00:00:00 Introduction

00:01:53 Creative Collaboration for Musical Growth

00:12:34 Question 1: How do you navigate the fear of unintentionally copying someone?

00:25:11 Question 2: How do you get started making beats and music?

00:34:21 Question 3: How do you keep the energy flowing when people are closed off?

00:41:28 Question 4: What catches your ear in a beat for a freestyle or written?

00:47:01 Freestyle Submission

00:53:29 Reacting to Prom Night in DC

01:09:19 Closing Freestyle

In this episode of Flow State, Harry welcomes two-time Grammy winner Daru Jones to the podcast. Best known for his genre-bending drumming and unique drum setup, Daru has performed, recorded, and toured with legendary musicians including Jack White, Pete Rock, Gloria Gaynor, Slum Village, Talib Kweli, Black Milk, and more. Daru tells stories about coming up in gospel music and discovering jazz and hip-hop through drumming. They discuss creating your own style in music, forging a path that transcends genre, and becoming anointed by the flow state. Bookended by studio jam sessions, this episode of Flow State is not to be missed.

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Show Notes

NAMM

https://www.namm.org/

Daru Jones with Jack White - Ball and Biscuit/Don’t Hurt Yourself/Jesus Is Coming Soon (Live on SNL)

https://youtu.be/Ai9b2IO5Ncs?si=nlzw9A2QcT5AS4__

Daru Jones with Jack White - Lazaretto (Live on SNL)

https://youtu.be/hwNM-PSBeCY?si=kxsOA1N6JBcSZUjw

0:00:00 Intro Jam Session

0:03:31 Harry Introduces Daru Jones

0:08:53 Daru’s Origins with the Drums

0:12:59 Musical Memory

0:15:39 First Listening to Hip-Hop

0:21:29 Touring with Slum Village and the J Dilla influence

0:31:15 Playing Different Styles of Music

0:35:20 Daru’s Drum Setup

0:45:47 Flow State and Being Anointed

0:52:53 When Harry and Daru First Met

0:56:48 Closing Jam Session

In this episode, Harry explores some of the lessons he’s learned about sticking to goals, staying on track, and addressing what - if anything - he would change about his freestyle career. Harry also dives into his roots as a jazz musician with stories about coming up as a young jazz improviser, learning about how to really listen to the musical conversation, and offering recommendations for some of his favorite classic jazz musicians and albums. After fresh reactions to a multi-lingual freestyle submission and a classic Guerrilla Bars moment, Harry closes out the episode in his traditional way — through freestyle.

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Show Notes:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:01:09 Kobe Bryant and the Non-Negotiable Contract

00:09:49 Self-Compassion and Getting Back On Track

00:23:06 Question #1: If I could start over…

00:29:18 Question #2: Jazz Artist Recommendations

00:39:26 Question #3: The Jazz - Freestyle Connection

00:45:25 Freestyle Submission

01:00:01 Reacting to Guerrilla Bars 7

01:10:42 Closing Freestyle

Alright y’all— after 2 exhilarating improvisational explorations on his acclaimed podcast Take Your Shoes Off, it was time to bring the incomparable Rick Glassman into Flow State I knew it’d be a great pod, but I had no idea I’d get to reap the benefits of Rick’s PCS (Podcast Consulting Service) free of charge! I just genuinely love hanging out with this guy so much. It was awesome to hear about the parallels between my approach to doing improvised concerts and Rick’s approach to editing and animating his podcast. Also the narrative freestyle toward the end of this ep had my adrenaline soaring!!!! I think y’all are gonna dig this one— thanks so much for being here and enjoy

SHOW NOTES:

New Music OUT NOW:

Timestamps:

What's going on, y'all? Welcome to another episode of Flow State. In this episode, I express my love for David Copperfield, we react to episode one of my Guerrilla Bars series, I answer some questions from the community, talk about my morning routine, react to a dope freestyle submitted from one of y'all, and close it out with the bars like we always do- Let's go!

0:00 Intro

Josh Harmon is one of the most unique and entertaining content creators out there today and it was a pleasure to have him as a guest on Flow State! Josh is best known for his Rhythms of Comedy series and for creating live sound effects for scenes from some of your favorite cartoons, TV episodes, and movies. Part of what was so cool about getting to meet him in person and learning about his story was seeing how many parallels we share! From a childhood passion for drumming to forging his own path in online content creation during lockdown, this is definitely a man after my own heart. Hope y’all enjoy and be sure to check out his amazing work!

Timestamps:

1:51 What Does Josh Do?

What’s goin on y’all? We’re back with another episode of Flow State. You probably noticed by now that I’ve been going in hard on new written tracks, and I wanted to take the chance to talk a bit about where that creative impulse came from and how it’s been going. Y’all keep submitting fantastic questions, so this episode we’re also talking about meditation, overcoming self doubt, and how exactly I remember all those random words during freestyles — including during one of the most exciting, high-pressure freestyles of my life… when I got to spit a flow for Ice Cube and the cast of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover, so pop in those ear buds and LET’S GOOOOO!

0:55 Releasing Music