Go with Elmo Lovano

Episode 104: Kamasi Washington

Kamasi Washington is one of the most important voices in modern jazz. A saxophonist, composer, and bandleader from Los Angeles, he has helped shape the sound of contemporary music through his solo work and collaborations with artists like Kendrick Lamar, Thundercat, Dinner Party, Flying Lotus, Andre 3000, Terrace Martin, and Robert Glasper.

In this episode of Go With Elmo, Kamasi sits down for a deep conversation about his journey, from growing up in Los Angeles with the greatest young talents all around him to becoming a central figure in a global movement of jazz, hip-hop, and beyond. The LA music scene, the importance of community, and the foundation of the West Coast Get Down collective all come into focus.

Kamasi breaks down the West Coast Get Down and the musicians involved, including Thundercat, Ronald Bruner Jr., Cameron Graves, Brandon Coleman, Ryan Porter, Patrice Quinn, Miles Mosley, and Tony Austin, and how that group helped define a new sound coming out of Los Angeles. Kamasi explains why he often performs with multiple drummers and multiple bassists, how he builds such powerful live ensembles, and what it takes to lead large groups of musicians on stage and in the studio.

The conversation dives into Kamasi’s work on Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly, the creative energy of those sessions, how he got the call for the Kendrick gig from Terrace, and their continued connection over time. More recent collaborations like “Luther” and “TV Off” are discussed, along with Kendrick referencing him by name in the lyric “keep a horn on me, that Kamasi,” a moment that reflects his influence across genres.

Making his landmark albums The Epic, Heaven and Earth, and Harmony of Difference are explored, along with his approach to jazz saxophone, composition, improvisation, and bandleading.

His broader work as a composer, including Becoming and Lazarus, adds to the scope of his career and creative output.

The conversation goes deep into music philosophy, creativity, and meaning, including Kamasi’s belief that music is bigger than genre and can communicate ideas beyond words. Fatherhood, inspiration, and the evolution of his perspective all play a role in shaping his current work.

This is a wide-ranging talk about music, culture, leadership, and the journey of becoming one of the defining artists of this generation. I hope you enjoy watching my hang with the great, Kamasi Washington!

Big thanks to our friends Ace Studio for supporting the show. Check them out! https://acestudio.ai/

Another huge thanks to our friends at DistroKid! DistroKid is the easiest and fastest way to get your music on over 150 platforms worldwide! Go to https://distrokid.com/vip/elmo to get 20% off your first year!

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Episode 103: Linda Perry

One of the greatest songwriters, producers, and hitmakers of the last 40 years, and a Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee to prove it. In this episode of Go With Elmo Lovano, we go deep with Linda Perry on her journey through the music industry, from her early days to global success, and everything in between.

We talk about her upbringing, her rise to fame with 4 Non Blondes, and how writing the iconic song “What’s Up?” changed her life. Linda opens up about the reality of success, the emotional toll it took, and how she navigated depression, identity, and reinvention to become one of the most respected songwriters and producers in music.

We dive into her work writing and producing massive hits for Christina Aguilera (“Beautiful,” “Hurt”), P!nk (“Get the Party Started”), and Gwen Stefani (“What You Waiting For?”), along with her approach to songwriting, music production, creativity, and artist development. Linda shares how she helps artists find their voice, how she writes hit songs, and the truth about the modern music business.

We also talk about the continued cultural impact of “What’s Up?”, from the 90s MTV era to its resurgence on TikTok, as well as Linda’s current chapter, including her upcoming documentary “Let It Die Here,” her new solo album, and the return of 4 Non Blondes.

Linda is honest, direct, vulnerable, and deeply connected to the craft of songwriting. This is a powerful conversation about music, creativity, success, failure, and finding your voice.

I hope you enjoy my conversation with the incredible Linda Perry.

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.

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Episode 102: Jimmy Chamberlin

Today is the greatest day I’ve ever known, because one of my favorite drummers is here in my home. Jimmy Chamberlin changed the sound of rock music, MTV, and radio in the 90s when his drums were heard around the world. His approach to jazz, fusion, and rock all coming together helped create the unique sound of Smashing Pumpkins that no one had ever heard before.

In this interview, we go deep on how Jimmy developed that sound, his approach to drumming, and his philosophies on music and life. We talk about how The Smashing Pumpkins became a band, and how they made their iconic albums Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, Siamese Dream, and Gish, while double clicking into Bullet with Butterfly Wings, 1979, Tonight, Tonight, Today, Cherub Rock, Jellybelly, and so much more. We also discuss the incredible scene that was the 90's, his drummer friends, what that magical moment in time felt like to him, and a whole lotta drum and music talk.

Jimmy is an incredibly intelligent human with profound thoughts that will really make you stop and think. He also shares a ton of great stories from his 40+ year career.
I hope you enjoy my conversation with a true drumming legend, Jimmy Chamberlin.

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Episode 101: Ilan Rubin.

Ilan Rubin is the new drummer for Foo Fighters and one of the most respected musicians in modern music. He and I go way back to our early teen and even pre-teen drumming years, so this is an extra fun one for me.

He spent 17 years with Nine Inch Nails as their longest-running drummer, earning a reputation for precision, versatility, and the ability to step into any musical environment at the highest level. From there, he has continued to evolve, now joining Foo Fighters and stepping into one of the most iconic bands in music. Alongside that, Ilan has been a core part of Angels & Airwaves, working closely with Tom DeLonge not just as a drummer, but as a collaborator, multi-instrumentalist, and creative partner. Their relationship goes beyond just playing live. It is about building songs, shaping sound, and pushing ideas forward together.

In this conversation, we talk about Ilan’s journey as a musician, how he built his career starting at just 9 years old, how he has landed some of the biggest gigs in music, and how he has kept those gigs for years. We dive into how he got the gig with Foo Fighters, how much fun he's having with them, and the positive vibe they all have together. We get into what he learned from working with Trent Reznor, all sorts of stories from playing with Nine Inch Nails, his open handed drumming technique, being the frontman of his own band The New Regime, fun stories with Tom DeLonge, and some great stories of him and I over the years. We also dive into how he approaches his role inside elite bands, his work ethic, how he thinks about growth, his approach to music, and what it takes to stay consistently at the top for two decades.

This is a fun conversation about discipline, evolution, and becoming someone artists trust at the top of the game. I hope you enjoy my conversation with the great Ilan Rubin! 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.

Big thanks to our friends Moises for supporting the show! If you need stems, they’re the best in the game. Check them out! https://moises.ai/

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 100: Miguel Gandelman.

This man is the Musical Director behind Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show, one of the biggest and most complex live television performances in the world. Miguel Gandelman aka "Miga" is a Berklee graduate and longtime force in live TV and touring. He has worked with some of the biggest artists on the planet including Christina Aguilera, Stevie Wonder, Usher, Shakira, Lady Gaga, Janet Jackson, Jonat Brothers, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Babyface, John Mayer, Aretha Franklin, served as Music Director for The Masked Singer, and was a member of The Tonight Show Band with Rickey Minor.

In this episode, he breaks down how the Super Bowl Halftime Show was built from the ground up in just one month. From getting the call to stepping onto the biggest stage in entertainment, we talk about how you prepare a 15 minute performance seen by over 100 million people. What goes into building a show at that level? What does music direction actually mean on a production of this scale?

We discuss arranging for stadiums, working with an artist who had never used a musical director before, leading world class musicians, handling live TV pressure, and translating an artist’s vision into a global moment.

We also dive into his journey from growing up in a musical family in Brazil to becoming one of the most trusted Musical Directors in the industry, and the mindset required to operate at the highest level of live performance.

If you have ever wondered how massive live shows and television actually come together, this conversation is a masterclass.

Hope you enjoy my conversation with the great saxophonist, programmer, musical director, and human, Miga.

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.

Big thanks to our friends Moises for supporting the show! If you need stems, they’re the best in the game. Check them out! https://moises.ai/

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

Become a Patreon Member to stay in the loop as we post Patreon-only exclusive content, Zoom hangs, invite only events, and discussions about music and music careers. https://www.patreon.com/gowithelmo 

Listen to the audio form of this podcast wherever you get your podcasts: https://elmolovano.komi.io/

Follow Miga:

https://www.instagram.com/miguelgandelman/

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Episode 99: Ty Dolla $ign.

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Episode 98: Lawrence.

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Episode 97: Robert Glasper.

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Episode 96: Terrace Martin joins me for one of the deepest conversations we have ever had about musicianship, professionalism, creativity, community, and what it truly takes to build a lasting career in music.

We break down the do’s and don’ts every musician needs to know. Showing up early, respecting the room, keeping the gig, getting hired, reading the temperature, avoiding the gigging mentality, how to negotiate, emotional maturity, and how to think long term in an industry that can appear to reward short term wins.

We also dive into the people who shaped Terrace and his main collaborators: Snoop Dogg. Kendrick Lamar. Herbie Hancock. Kamasi Washington. Thundercat. Robert Glasper. and more. Terrace shares stories from his early days with Snoop, his evolution with Kendrick through Section.80, good kid, m.A.A.d city, To Pimp a Butterfly, DAMN., and the collaborations that changed him forever.

We go deep on Herbie Hancock. His mentorship. His spiritual guidance. His approach to curiosity, humility, listening, and paying attention to the moment. Terrace talks about the conversations that shifted his life and the principles he carries into every studio session.

We talk mentorship, jazz, hip hop, emotional intelligence, studio culture, the art of listening, vulnerability, protecting your spirit, community, and what it means to serve the music first. This episode is a masterclass for musicians, producers, artists, and anyone who wants to grow. We hope you enjoy it. Lets 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.

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Episode 95: Simon Phillips.

This is the definitive deep dive into the legendary career of Simon Phillips, one of the most influential drummers in the world. In this long form conversation, Simon talks about his work with Toto, The Who, Judas Priest, Hiromi, Protocol, Jeff Beck, Jack Bruce, Pete Townshend, Big Country, Stanley Clarke, Brian Eno, Phil Manzanera, and goes all the way back to his teenage session years in the UK with his dad. This episode covers his technique, sound, gear, studio approach, compositions, touring stories, engineering background, and the experiences that shaped his career.

Simon tells the story of stepping into Toto after the passing of Jeff Porcaro and what it took to honor Jeff’s legacy while still bringing his own sound, groove, and musical identity to the band. He breaks down his years touring and recording with The Who, including the 1989 anniversary tour and his approach to Keith Moon’s parts. We also go deep into his early session years with Judas Priest and the making of Sin After Sin, including the double bass drumming that influenced an entire generation of metal drummers. Simon talks about his long running musical connection with Hiromi and the creation of Hiromi’s Trio Project, the interplay that developed between them, and stories of his brotherhood with contrabass guitar legend Anthony Jackson.

Simon shares the evolution of his writing and bandleading with Protocol, including how he builds compositions from drum ideas and how he made the project happen. We go into how he records drums and stories of so many of his ensembles. We explore his open handed and ambidextrous technique, his approach to tom and cymbal layouts, drum tuning, how he builds his drum tones in the studio, and his engineering background from his early years working in studios.

This episode is ideal for drummers, musicians, audio engineers, producers, and fans of Toto, Jeff Porcaro, The Who, Keith Moon, Judas Priest, heavy metal drumming, Mike Oldfield, progressive rock, fusion, Hiromi, Anthony Jackson, and anyone who wants to understand how a legendary drummer built a world class career. Simon also talks about rebuilding after losing his home and studio in the Thomas Fire, what inspires him today, and how he continues to grow as a drummer and composer.

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.

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