Episode 62: George Clinton. Step into the Mothership as we welcome the legendary George Clinton, the godfather of funk and mastermind behind Parliament-Funkadelic, on this week’s episode of Go With Elmo Lovano!! From shaping genres to leading a musical revolution, George reflects on his 7 decade career, the stories behind his iconic hits, and the vision that has kept him evolving until today.

We go back to the early days with Parliament and Funkadelic, sharing the origins of hits like "I Wanna Testify" and how he’s constantly pivoted with time, embracing changes in music and culture. He opens up about the impact of sampling, why he decided to lean into it and how. We get into the magic behind iconic recording sessions like Flashlight, Atomic Dog, Give Up the Funk and One Nation Under A Groove, unearthing how those tracks came to life. We talk about building community, his dedication to getting his people paid, what it means to be a leader with vision, and quitting drugs.

We touch on Prince inducting him into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and their unique relationship. And of course, we get George's thoughts on aliens, artificial intelligence and where the world is headed. This is an unforgettable conversation with a true legend who’s still shaping the sound of tomorrow. Let’s funk it up!

‘Go with Elmo Lovano’ is a weekly podcast where Elmo interviews creatives and entrepreneurs in music on HOW they push forward every day, got where they are in their careers, manage their personal lives, and share lessons learned and their most important insights.

Please SUBSCRIBE / FOLLOW this podcast to catch new episodes as soon as they drop! Your likes, comments and shares are much appreciated!

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Alissia Benveniste, aka Alissia, quickly makes an unforgettable impression on people. Her bass playing first caught the attention of Prince, Quincy Jones, and Bootsy Collins, even though she had only been playing for a few years. While at Berklee College of Music, Alissia created a wave that has only grown bigger, with her bass videos going viral on YouTube and Instagram.Her tone, sound, style and talent captivate instantly.

Now, Alissia is nominated for PRODUCER OF THE YEAR at this year's GRAMMYs, having spent the last handful of years writing and producing with Anderson .Paak (on nearly all of his projects), Kaytranada, Bruno Mars, Mary J. Blige, BJ The Chicago Kid, NxWorries, Rae Khalil, Bootsy Collins, and more. Alissia, is kind, down to earth, and a truly talent multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer. We dive deep with Alissia on how she got where she is today and what is next. Here's the conversation with our dear friend, Alissia!

‘Go with Elmo Lovano’ is a weekly podcast where Elmo interviews creatives and entrepreneurs in music on HOW they push forward every day, got where they are in their careers, manage their personal lives, and share lessons learned and their most important insights.

Please SUBSCRIBE / FOLLOW this podcast to catch new episodes as soon as they drop! Your likes, comments and shares are much appreciated!

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#Alissia #Grammys #Producer

Episode 60: Zedd. Joining us today is one of the biggest artists and DJs in the world, Zedd. Fresh off a GRAMMY nomination for Best Electronic Album for his latest masterpiece, TELOS, Zedd dives into the nine-year journey behind the album, sharing how timeless chord progressions, creative isolation, and a relentless pursuit of perfection shaped this epic project.

We explore the incredible collaborations with Muse, John Mayer, Jeff Buckley, and Remi Wolf, uncovering how each artist brought their unique energy to the album. We also dive into how he conceptualizes creating drops, programs his drums, and how he made billion stream hits like "Stay" and "The Middle." Zedd reflects on his early days touring with Skrillex and how far he’s come all the way to headlining Coachella this year.

Beyond the music, we talk about his life. world-building in his work, and our mutual love for Formula 1 and watches. From his friendship with Lando Norris to cataloging synth patches, this episode is a deep dive into the mind of one of the most brilliant humans in the game. He shares his process, his passion, and the incredible highs and challenges that come with creating something this monumental. Let’s go!!

‘Go with Elmo Lovano’ is a weekly podcast where Elmo interviews creatives and entrepreneurs in music on HOW they push forward every day, got where they are in their careers, manage their personal lives, and share lessons learned and their most important insights.

Please SUBSCRIBE / FOLLOW this podcast to catch new episodes as soon as they drop! Your likes, comments and shares are much appreciated!

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Episode 59: Jacob Collier. Today, I’m hyped to have one of my favorite artists on the podcast—Jacob Collier. Jacob is one of the brightest lights on Earth, and I always treasure our conversations. This time, you get to watch us! Jacob is nominated for 3 GRAMMYs this year, including Album of the Year, Best Arrangement, and Best Global Music Performance. With 6 GRAMMY wins and an incredible 15 nominations to his name, he’s set a remarkable standard, being nominated for Best Arrangement for the past 6 consecutive years—winning both Arrangement GRAMMYs in two of those years.

In this episode, we dive into Jacob’s world-building approach to music and life. We discuss his album Djesse Vol. 4, which is up for Album of the Year, and how he brought the project to life. Jacob shares what it feels like to complete the ambitious Djesse series and the magic of conducting massive audiences on his current tour.

We talk about his unmatched talent for arranging, crafting mind blowing versions of classics like "Bridge Over Troubled Water" with Tori Kelly and John Legend, to how he creates intricate layers that evolve from a single idea to a masterpiece.

Jacob opens up about life, fame, and staying grounded while still living at home with his mom. We even touch on reincarnation, our dearly treasured Quincy Jones (which is how Jacob and I got connected) and his friendship with Herbie Hancock. Stick around to the end to hear Jacob’s message to our homie, Zedd.

There’s so much to love in this episode—humor, depth, and the genius of one of the most inspiring musicians of our time.

We hope you love our conversation! Please like, comment, and subscribe for more amazing stories from the world’s most fascinating artists. Dropping new episodes weekly. Let’s go!!

#JacobCollier #GoWithElmoLovano #Podcast

‘Go with Elmo Lovano’ is a weekly podcast where Elmo interviews creatives and entrepreneurs in music on HOW they push forward every day, got where they are in their careers, manage their personal lives, and share lessons learned and their most important insights.

Please SUBSCRIBE / FOLLOW this podcast to catch new episodes as soon as they drop! Your likes, comments and shares are much appreciated!

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It’s that time of year when Walter Afanasieff takes over the charts. Walter is the writer and producer of “All I Want for Christmas Is You”—the biggest Christmas song of all time—and he also produced “My Heart Will Go On.” But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. From writing and producing with Mariah Carey to working with Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, and Barbra Streisand, Walter has been behind some of the most unforgettable songs in music history.

He co-wrote dozens of hits with Mariah Carey, including “Hero” and “One Sweet Day”—the record-breaking duet with Boyz II Men that held the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for 16 weeks. And let’s not forget “My Heart Will Go On”—yes, the Titanic theme with Celine Dion—which earned him a GRAMMY for Record of the Year. Walter also won the Producer of the Year GRAMMY in 2000.

This year, he’s nominated for Best Song Written for Visual Media for his song "Love Will Survive" with Barbra Streisand from the miniseries The Tattooist of Auschwitz. Walter co-wrote the piece with Hans Zimmer, Charlie Midnight, and Kara Talve, and produced it alongside Peter Asher.

In this episode, we dig into Walter’s incredible journey through the music world. From his early days working with Narada Michael Walden (fun fact: Walter played synths on “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”) to collaborating with some of the biggest voices in history, Walter is an absolute legend. He’s also a dear friend, and I’m so excited to share our conversation with you today. Let’s go!

Episode 57 - Elena Pinderhughes is one of the most sought-after musicians in today’s vibrant jazz scene. From touring with legends like Herbie Hancock, Common, and Chief Adjuah to performing the iconic “Mask Off” with Future on the Coachella Main Stage, Elena has already brought the flute to a new level. She’s a prominent figure in this wave of brilliant young musicians rising within the new jazz world.

The first time I heard her play flute, it was alongside the jazz world’s GOAT, Herbie Hancock, and I immediately knew she was different. Her sound didn’t just complement something already iconic—she elevated it. Since then, I’ve seen her perform with Terrace Martin, Lalah Hathaway, Snarky Puppy, and so many more. I wanted to understand how she’s achieved so much at such a young age.

I’d boil it down to these things: Intention, mind set, dedication, and a strong support system with her brother, Samora Pinderhughes.

Elena talks about her journey—from being a teenage jazz star to becoming a first-call collaborator across genres. She shares stories about working with Herbie Hancock, Chief Adjuah, Esperanza Spalding, Robert Glasper, and Josh Groban, diving into the lessons she’s learned and how she’s crafted her unique sound. We explore the modern jazz scene, how she’s making her mark, and how she balances artistry with building a thriving career.

Elena Pinderhughes is a trailblazer in both jazz and pop culture, and there’s no question—her career is only going up from here.

‘Go with Elmo Lovano’ is a weekly podcast where Elmo interviews creatives and entrepreneurs in music on HOW they push forward every day, got where they are in their careers, manage their personal lives, and share lessons learned and their most important insights.

Please SUBSCRIBE / FOLLOW this podcast to catch new episodes as soon as they drop! Your likes, comments and shares are much appreciated!

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Episode 56 - Dave King of The Bad Plus.

The Bad Plus is one of the world’s most exciting and innovative ensembles. Over the past 20 years, they’ve created a groundbreaking sound that blends jazz and avant-garde music in a way that’s uniquely their own—beautifully melodic, dark, twisted, soft, loud, simple, and incredibly complex, all in one.

Their drummer, Dave King, is one of my all-time favorite drummers. Creating a distinctive and instantly recognizable voice on an instrument is rare, but Dave achieved that right from their debut album.

Dave joined me in the studio to discuss the story of The Bad Plus—their beginnings, the feelings of success, their mindset and approach to writing music, and the process of creating their now-iconic cover songs. We talked about meeting artists like Aphex Twin and Black Sabbath, whose music they’ve covered, and hearing their reactions. We also dove into performing on Jools Holland, touring with The Pixies as a jazz trio, their new album Complex Emotions, Dave’s hilarious web series Rational Funk, and much more.

We hope you enjoy this fun and insightful conversation with the incredible Dave King!

‘Go with Elmo Lovano’ is a weekly podcast where Elmo interviews creatives and entrepreneurs in music on HOW they push forward every day, got where they are in their careers, manage their personal lives, and share lessons learned and their most important insights.

Please SUBSCRIBE / FOLLOW this podcast to catch new episodes as soon as they drop! Your likes, comments and shares are much appreciated!

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Episode 55 - Quincy Jones was one of the most important humans in the history of music. At 91 years of age, we sadly lost the legend this week. Quincy touched us all in so many ways. Beyond his music and boundary-breaking life, Quincy was a friend, advisor, and investor to Jammcard. His support meant the world, changed our lives, and inspired us beyond explanation.

We’d like to take a moment to honor Quincy and share stories from the podcast of friends and collaborators of his, in hopes that it makes you smile, reflect, feel good, and learn even more about the amazing man he was. In this episode, we have stories from John JR Robinson, Michael Bearden, Ibrahim Maalouf, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Daru Jones, Jason White, Jeff Gitty, and our host, Elmo Lovano.

We hope you enjoy. We love you, Q.

‘Go with Elmo Lovano’ is a weekly podcast where Elmo interviews creatives and entrepreneurs in music on HOW they push forward every day, got where they are in their careers, manage their personal lives, and share lessons learned and their most important insights.

Please SUBSCRIBE / FOLLOW this podcast to catch new episodes as soon as they drop! Your likes, comments and shares are much appreciated!

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"12 Notes - On Life and Creativity" by Quincy Jones:

https://www.abramsbooks.com/product/12-notes_9781419752568/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAabynaDtNUdXOBOaXDtDkkSt0teqebahWgJli3HCok8V23uRuDxzZyribBw_aem_JuCN7S9ncDfRjordzqqphQ

Watch "Trap Jazz" Featuring Quincy Jones on Hulu:

https://www.hulu.com/movie/trap-jazz-8e800478-3707-47ae-b39f-2838d33b6d00

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Episode 54 - Jason White is one of the greatest choir directors, vocal producers, and contractors in the world. He's best known as the leader of Kanye West's Sunday Service Choir, which took the world by storm in 2019, and he's worked with so many other legends as well. He worked with Beyoncé on her GRAMMY-winning "Break My Soul" (and we talk about that session in this episode), Will Smith on his first new music in years and re-emerging in the public eye (which we also talk about), Harry Styles, Elton John, T.I., Jennifer Hudson, Whitney Houston, Kurt Carr, and countless others. We talk about how Kanye's Sunday Service started, how he built it with Phil Cornish, Ye, and other key people; its rapid growth; employing hundreds of people; and the high-stakes preparation for their iconic Coachella performance, and so much more.

Jason dives into what it takes to blend spiritual roots with mainstream appeal, sharing stories from Sunday Service's beginnings and growth, understanding Ye and his own language, his unique role in the industry as a vocal contractor and his experiences with high-profile artists, from behind-the-scenes studio sessions with Beyoncé to Elton John and Andrew Watt. Jason also reflects on the power of choirs in music production, what it means to be a true leader, and how faith influences his work in the mainstream music industry. We have a great time, share valuable insights, fun stories and more. We hope you love the show. Let's go!!!

‘Go with Elmo Lovano’ is a weekly podcast where Elmo interviews creatives and entrepreneurs in music on HOW they push forward every day, got where they are in their careers, manage their personal lives, and share lessons learned and their most important insights.

Please SUBSCRIBE / FOLLOW this podcast to catch new episodes as soon as they drop! Your likes, comments and shares are much appreciated!

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Episode 53: Kris Pooley is one of the most successful musical directors in the game, known for his long relationship as MD for Katy Perry, music directing American Idol for the last 8 seasons (going on 9), and working with Gwen Stefani, Kesha, Demi Lovato, Pink, Smashing Pumpkins, Morrisey, Jane's Addiction and so much more. We dive deep into his career, how he landed these gigs, his creative process behind directing major performances like Katy Perry’s Super Bowl Halftime Show, and his unique perspective of balancing these live shows all while working as the music director for American Idol (which is an intense 7 day a week gig when in season).

Kris gives advice on the importance of fostering strong relationships and reflects on the valuable lessons he’s learned while working in the industry. We talk about his future ambitions, what it’s like running his business day-to-day, and how he can stay home while still music directing these big acts. We also love that Kris is a fan of metal and listens to Meshuggah (daily). This was most important to Elmo. We hope you enjoy the conversation as much as we did. Let’s go with the incredible Kris Pooley!

0:00:00 - INTRO

0:03:29 - DETROIT

0:03:57 - WORKING WITH GWEN STEFANI, KATY PERRY, DEMI LOVATO, P!NK, KE$HA

0:05:38 - GETTING THE GWEN STEFANI GIG

0:10:05 - NIN - KRIS’ NINE INCH NAILS AUDITION

0:11:42 - GWEN STEFANI, BARRY SQUIRE, FILM COMPOSING

0:14:38 - BECOMING A MUSIC DIRECTOR

0:15:59 - GETTING THE GIG WITH KATY PERRY

0:17:51 - WORKING WITH CREATIVE DIRECTOR BAZ HALPIN, SILENT HOUSE

0:21:08 - CHANGING SETS FOR ONE-OFF SHOWS

0:22:02 - TOURING, GLEE TV SHOW

0:23:10 - PAUL MCCARTNEY STORIES

0:25:30 - MUSIC DIRECTING WITHOUT TOURING, KESHA

0:26:53 - SUPERBOWL WITH KATY PERRY

0:31:46 - GREATEST LESSON LEARNED FROM KATY PERRY

0:33:40 - TONY ROYSTER JR.

0:36:47 - ARRANGING FOR P!NK

0:38:12 - HOW HE GOT THE AMERICAN IDOL MD GIG

0:40:38 - WHAT IT’S LIKE TO MUSIC DIRECT AMERICAN IDOL

0:44:21 - AMERICAN IDOL BAND, RELATIONSHIP WITH CONTESTANTS

0:48:40 - FIGURING OUT WHAT TO PLAY WITH CONTESTANTS

0:49:53 - WORKING ON TV VS. ARENA TOURS

0:51:03 - CHALLENGING MOMENTS WORKING WITH OTHER DIRECTORS

0:52:12 - BUILDING A BUSINESS, KRIS POOLEY’S TEAM

0:56:22 - KRIS’ 5 YEAR PLAN

0:57:28 - SMASHING PUMPKINS, MEETING HIS WIFE GINGER POOLEY

1:00:21 - BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND CONNECTIONS

1:01:22 - KRIS AND KATY PERRY USING JAMMCARD FOR HIRING

1:02:58 - WHAT KRIS LOOKS FOR WHEN HIRING SOMEONE

1:04:06 - LESSONS LEARNED FROM WORKING WITH STARS

1:07:08 - METAL TALK…GOJIRA, MESHUGGAH, KNOCKED LOOSE, SLIPKNOT

1:10:01 - KRIS POOLEY’S UNRELEASED ALBUMS, RULE FOLLOWER PROJECT

1:11:48 - METAL MUSIC

‘Go with Elmo Lovano’ is a weekly podcast where Elmo interviews creatives and entrepreneurs in music on HOW they push forward every day, got where they are in their careers, manage their personal lives, and share lessons learned and their most important insights.

Please SUBSCRIBE / FOLLOW this podcast to catch new episodes as soon as they drop! Your likes, comments and shares are much appreciated!

Listen to the audio form of this podcast wherever you get your podcasts: https://rss.com/podcasts/gowithelmo

Follow Kris:

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