This week Lex is joined by Kalpee. Kalpee’s a part of a group of West Indian musicians from the Caribbean who are reviving acknowledgement of a sound known as ‘Island Pop’. A talented artist but also a super grateful, humble, just generally sound guy. We’re gonna talk about how he came to music from growing up in Trinidad and Tobago and what he’s learnt about how to get that music heard.  

Kalpee Handles

@kalpee

Lex Handles

@lexonthedecks

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Despite being killed in a tragic accident aged 22, Aaliyah had been creating impactful music for over 6years and so left behind a legacy that artists would work a lifetime to try and come close to.  

Drake said that Aaliyah was the artist who’s had the biggest impact on his music, and Missy Elliott reflected recently on how the singer continued to inspire generations every day. As well as the huge amount of respect and adoration towards her music Aaliyah was also linked to scandal after it was revealed that she was an early victim of R Kelly and married him illegally aged 15 years old. 

I’ll touch a bit on that and how she was always sort of ahead of her age, and also about how she achieved so much in such a short amount of time and what she embraced to leave behind what she did. It feels maybe quite poignant that I’d been working on this episode and then the sad news of DMX passing came and people were sharing photos of them saying they’re together again. 

This is a lesson in legacy, by Aaliyah.

Lex Handles:

@lexonthedecks

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This week Lex is joined by NINJA, fresh off the back of her interview with the legend Carl Cox. They chat about music as a healing space for Farah, how she built her international network and bringing together different hobbies and worlds.

NINJA Handles

@dj.n1nja

Lex Handles

@lexonthedecks

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This week I’m looking at an artist who I personally wonder if she’s slightly overlooked when it comes to the great divas. Because in my mind she’s there. At 5ft 2inches tall, Anastacia had a voice which was alarmingly big for her teeny stature. Her story is jam packed with lessons about humanity, femininity and super stardom. From being plagued with physical health challenges, she was extremely resilient and positive. With an incredibly distinctive sound her music definitely defined a period of time in my growing up and is such an inspirational woman. 

This is a lesson in control by Anastacia.

@lexonthedecks

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This week, Lex is boosted by the focus of a star on the rise. Having grown up obsessed with music, when most of her friend’s went to college, Morgan went on tour and began a whole different kind of education. 

With releases through 2020 showing her breadth as an artist, from the ultra smooth 'Sanctuary', to the announcement single 'My Year' to the huge rudimental track ‘Be The One’, it’s been a really interesting year for her creatively. 

Intro Track: Mulholland Drive - MORGAN

MORGAN Handles:

IG - @morganconniesmith

Twitter - @knownasmorgan

Lex Handles:

@lexonthedecks

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This week, I’m doing something a little different, and taking a look at the musical journey of not just one woman, but three. Destiny’s Child were a super group who achieved super success. Three magical talents, which together formed a group of rare longevity and icon stature. Rather than centre on the individuals, in this episode I’ll walk you through their career as a group. The foundation, the dynamics, the failures and the methods which meant those failures weren’t the end point. 

This is a lesson in focus, by Destiny’s Child

@lexonthedecks

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This week Lex is joined by Shingai Shoniwa. Shingai rose to prominence as the lead singer and bassist for The Noisettes. After a really incredible journey in that band she is now releasing music as a solo artist under her own label. She is the most magical spirit and an entertainer in every sense of the word. Through this conversation we cover so many of the things which have influenced and shaped her career.

It's a conversation, both hilarious and insightful.

Shingai Handles:

@shingai

Lex Handles:

@lexonthedecks

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Later on this year a biographical film is being released starring Jennifer Hudson which will attempt to tell the story of one of the most remarkable artists of all time. Aretha Franklin died in August 2018 having released nearly 40 albums, had multiple number one singles, multiple grammy awards. But more than her musical legacy, Aretha’s voice and songs soundtracked a revolution and became a huge part of the civil rights movement in America. Perhaps this journey and the hope embedded deep in her voice is why she has a tendency to bring Barack Obama to tears in public places. 

The nuances and complexities of Aretha’s journey are part of what sits behind that incredible voice. She is a soul campaigner who sang from her core and moved communities and particularly black communities and made audiences feel they were experiencing divine magic when they watched her. 

This is an episode about power as taught by Aretha Franklin

@lexonthedecks

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This week, Lex is joined by Linden Jay. A multi-faceted musician who's refused to pick a lane when it comes to the type of music he puts out or the genre of artist he works with. From Born Dirty, to Farr, to his work with Erick the Architect he's a producer who continues to excite himself creatively. Through this conversation, Linden Jay shares what he's learnt about forging a professional career in music, and shares some brilliant advice applicable to all creatives and self-employed people.

Linden Handles:

@lindenjay

Lex Handles

@lexonthedecks

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This week I’m looking at an artist, who, I knew very little about before deciding deliberately to look into her. She’s one of the best rappers of all time, one of the highest charting females and in her prime was undeniable, but yet I’m sure lots of people now don’t know her music well.

She rose alongside Nas and Jay-Z. She was famous at the age of 16 and by the time she was 18 she’d sold over 2million copies of her records. She’s also the one artist Nicki Minaj credits above all others as an influence.

This is an episode about talent. As told via the journey of Foxy Brown.

Foxy Brown Handles:

@foxybrown

Lex Handles:

@lexonthedecks

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