That's a (series one) wrap! In today's ep we’re looking back at the DIY culture, community roots, and genre-bending stories that shaped Many Rivers so far. From Soul II Soul tees to steelpan in UK schools, from Brit Funk to grime, the key stories, lessons, and laughs are all here.

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Email the team at [email protected] | Follow the show on Instagram and BlueSky

Listen to the Spotify playlist here

Lloyd is the co-curator of Black Sound London: The Story of British Black Music, an exhibition currently on at the Barbican Library from 10 Mar to 19 Jul 2025

More information here

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A Warner Music Entertainment podcast, produced by Darkside Media.

Produced by Tom Dark for Darkside Media, and Sorcha Macdonald for Warner Music Entertainment. Edited by Pete Vuckovic.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Educator, musician, and pioneer of the UK steelpan movement Lionel McCalman joins the show this week. Lionel, Rotimi and Lloyd take a seat at our roundtable to trace the roots of steelpan from Trinidad to UK schools, exploring how the instrument evolved from community tradition to national symbol - and how it’s still shaping identity, education, and British Black culture today.

Follow the show and get in touch:

Email the team at [email protected] | Follow the show on Instagram and BlueSky

Listen to the Spotify playlist here

Lloyd is the co-curator of Black Sound London: The Story of British Black Music, an exhibition currently on at the Barbican Library from 10 Mar to 19 Jul 2025

More information here

__________

A Warner Music Entertainment podcast, produced by Darkside Media.

Produced by Tom Dark for Darkside Media, and Sorcha Macdonald for Warner Music Entertainment. Edited by Pete Vuckovic.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Soulful songstress Jaz Karis joins the podcast this week to reflect on her debut album Safe Flight, the challenges of categorising R&B, and how streaming, accent bias, and genre politics affect UK Black artists.

Follow the show and get in touch:

Email the team at [email protected] | Follow the show on Instagram and BlueSky

Listen to the Spotify playlist here

Lloyd is the co-curator of Black Sound London: The Story of British Black Music, an exhibition currently on at the Barbican Library from 10 Mar to 19 Jul 2025

More information here

__________

A Warner Music Entertainment podcast, produced by Darkside Media.

Produced by Tom Dark for Darkside Media, and Sorcha Macdonald for Warner Music Entertainment. Edited by Pete Vuckovic.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Founding members of Light of the World, Kenny Wellington and Breeze McKrieth, join us this week to talk about the origins and legacy of Brit Funk. From their early days forming bands at college, to influencing a generation of UK pop, jazz, and soul artists, the duo take us on a journey of lasting cultural impact. Plus: Tales of legendary club Crackers, and sessions with Spandau Ballet.

Follow the show and get in touch:

Email the team at [email protected] | Follow the show on Instagram and BlueSky

Listen to the Spotify playlist here

Lloyd is the co-curator of Black Sound London: The Story of British Black Music, an exhibition currently on at the Barbican Library from 10 Mar to 19 Jul 2025

More information here

__________

A Warner Music Entertainment podcast, produced by Darkside Media.

Produced by Tom Dark for Darkside Media, and Sorcha Macdonald for Warner Music Entertainment. Edited by Pete Vuckovic.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rotimi and Lloyd sit down with Cookie Pryce of Cookie Crew to trace the rise of British Black hip-hop: from the South London youth clubs of Battersea to the heart of New York’s hip-hop scene in the Bronx. Cookie shares how Cookie Crew carved space for women in rap, and what it meant to build something from scratch - no blueprint, no permission, just passion!

Follow the show and get in touch:

Email the team at [email protected] | Follow the show on Instagram and BlueSky

Listen to the Spotify playlist here

Lloyd is the co-curator of Black Sound London: The Story of British Black Music, an exhibition currently on at the Barbican Library from 10 Mar to 19 Jul 2025

More information here

__________

A Warner Music Entertainment podcast, produced by Darkside Media.

Produced by Tom Dark for Darkside Media, and Sorcha Macdonald for Warner Music Entertainment. Edited by Pete Vuckovic.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Rotimi and Lloyd are joined by the one and only Jazzie B, founder of Soul II Soul. From DIY merch shops, to the evolution of UK club culture, Jazzie shares his experiences of building a musical movement from the ground up. Featuring tales of t-shirts, tea-making, and transforming basements into barbershops. A must-listen for anyone into British soul, street culture, and the roots of UK music history.

Follow the show and get in touch:

Email the team at [email protected] | Follow the show on Instagram and BlueSky

Listen to the Spotify playlist here

Lloyd is the co-curator of Black Sound London: The Story of British Black Music, an exhibition currently on at the Barbican Library from 10 Mar to 19 Jul 2025

More information here

__________

A Warner Music Entertainment podcast, produced by Darkside Media.

Produced by Tom Dark for Darkside Media, and Sorcha Macdonald for Warner Music Entertainment. Edited by Pete Vuckovic.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Lloyd and Rotimi are joined by jazz icon Courtney Pine, as they explore the roots and evolution of jazz in the UK. Together they trace the journey of jazz from African-American community music to a uniquely British sound and expression. They talk culture, gatekeeping, community, and why real jazz is all about live energy. This one’s a deep and vibrant dive into what keeps the genre alive and kicking. A truly leg-endy listen.

Follow the show and get in touch:

Email the team at [email protected] | Follow the show on Instagram and BlueSky

Listen to our Spotify playlist here

Lloyd is the co-curator of Black Sound London: The Story of British Black Music, an exhibition currently on at the Barbican Library from 10 Mar to 19 Jul 2025 - more information here

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__________

A Warner Music Entertainment podcast, produced by Darkside Media.

Produced by Tom Dark for Darkside Media, and Sorcha Macdonald for Warner Music Entertainment. Edited by Pete Vuckovic.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our first episode of Many Rivers is an opportunity to get to know your hosts Lloyd and Rotimi before we bring the guests into the conversation. In this opening ep Lloyd and Ro discuss the motivations and aims behind the series: keeping stories alive, and connecting music to the culture that created it. To kick things off, the roots and growth of Notting Hill Carnival are given some exploration, but it's not long before Rotimi takes us on an unexpected Shirley Bassey tangent. Plus: Lloyd reveals the secrets of sampling in 80s hip-hop... It's many rivers for many conversational curve-balls!

Follow the show and get in touch:

Email the team at [email protected] | Follow the show on Instagram and BlueSky

Listen to the Spotify playlist here

Lloyd is the co-curator of Black Sound London: The Story of British Black Music, an exhibition currently on at the Barbican Library from 10 Mar to 19 Jul 2025

More information here

__________

A Warner Music Entertainment podcast, produced by Darkside Media.

Produced by Tom Dark for Darkside Media, and Sorcha Macdonald for Warner Music Entertainment. Edited by Pete Vuckovic.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.