This episode is a conversation with the writer, Matt Marble on the composer Arthur Russell, who was active in the ‘70s and ‘80s music scene in New York. Marble’s book Buddhist Bubblegum is a study of Russell’s life and music, which spanned many styles and invoked esoteric practices such as Tantra and Shingon Buddhism. On the podcast, Marble discusses Russell’s philosophical perspectives on such divergent topics as non-dualism and disco music, and how Russell worked with his Buddhist teacher to create what he believed would be the pop music of the future.

Photo: Tom Lee; courtesy Audika Records

Ross Simonini

Produced by ArtReview and Ross Simonini