Reuben Vincent’s dream to be a rapper became a reality when he was discovered by producer 9th Wonder at the age of 13. In this conversation, the Charlotte native discusses his family’s Liberian heritage, the hip-hop renaissance in the Queen City and what it’s like to work with 9th Wonder.

Shaped by Sound

This PBS NC original series, which spotlights North Carolina’s thriving music scene, features artists from a broad range of genres, including indie rock, hip-hop, R&B, alt-country, jazz, bluegrass and folk. Each episode weaves a visually stunning live studio performance by an NC artist or band with an intimate conversation about their creative journey. Watch Thursdays, 9:30 PM on PBS NC and the free PBS app.

Fancy Gap, created by Raleigh natives Stuart McLamb and Charles Crossingham, aims to capture pop-rock bliss that’s perfect for radio and an arena. In this conversation, they discuss making a record in Crossingham’s log cabin, looking for seeds of magic in music and writing songs that feel universal.

Shaped by Sound

This PBS NC original series, which spotlights North Carolina’s thriving music scene, features artists from a broad range of genres, including indie rock, hip-hop, R&B, alt-country, jazz, bluegrass and folk. Each episode weaves a visually stunning live studio performance by an NC artist or band with an intimate conversation about their creative journey. Watch Thursdays, 9:30 PM on PBS NC and the free PBS app.

Logan Chaucer and Sam Baker love surfing, classic rock and being in a band. Together, they’re Blue Footed Boobies, a psychedelic blues-rock duo from Wilmington, North Carolina. In this conversation, they discuss their love for live performance, overcoming obstacles through writing music and their soul-searching van conversations.

Shaped by Sound

This PBS NC original series, which spotlights North Carolina’s thriving music scene, features artists from a broad range of genres, including indie rock, hip-hop, R&B, alt-country, jazz, bluegrass and folk. Each episode weaves a visually stunning live studio performance by an NC artist or band with an intimate conversation about their creative journey. Watch Thursdays, 9:30 PM on PBS NC and the free PBS app.

If you were to search for Blue Ridge bluegrass mixed with Tennessee honky-tonk, you’ll probably discover Asheville’s own Town Mountain. Members Phil Barker and Robert Greer discuss how the band’s sound has evolved over the years, its blue-collar grit and its deep love for Asheville.

Shaped by Sound

This PBS NC original series, which spotlights North Carolina’s thriving music scene, features artists from a broad range of genres, including indie rock, hip-hop, R&B, alt-country, jazz, bluegrass and folk. Each episode weaves a visually stunning live studio performance by an NC artist or band with an intimate conversation about their creative journey. Watch Thursdays, 9:30 PM on PBS NC and the free PBS app.

Shirlette Ammons, a Peabody Award-winning producer, poet and hip-hop artist based in Durham, delves into the inspirations behind her music. She shares how her work draws from her eastern NC heritage, local community and family, and how her latest album, “Spectacles,” explores sight and perception.

Shaped by Sound

This PBS NC original series, which spotlights North Carolina’s thriving music scene, features artists from a broad range of genres, including indie rock, hip-hop, R&B, alt-country, jazz, bluegrass and folk. Each episode weaves a visually stunning live studio performance by an NC artist or band with an intimate conversation about their creative journey. Watch Thursdays, 9:30 PM on PBS NC and the free PBS app.

Steph Stewart and Mario Arnez of Chapel Hill-based country outfit Blue Cactus discuss their dreamy country rock music along with their fascination with western wear, their appreciation for “Weird Al” Yankovic and why it’s important to look for silver linings.

Shaped by Sound

This PBS NC original series, which spotlights North Carolina’s thriving music scene, features artists from a broad range of genres, including indie rock, hip-hop, R&B, alt-country, jazz, bluegrass and folk. Each episode weaves a visually stunning live studio performance by an NC artist or band with an intimate conversation about their creative journey. Watch Thursdays, 9:30 PM on PBS NC and the free PBS app.

Joseph Terrell and Jacob Sharp, one half of the bluegrass and folk-rock outfit Mipso, discuss growing as musicians on the road with bandmates Libby Rodenbough and Wood Robinson, crafting their first live record and the Japanese origins of their band’s unique name.

Shaped by Sound

This PBS NC original series, which spotlights North Carolina’s thriving music scene, features artists from a broad range of genres, including indie rock, hip-hop, R&B, alt-country, jazz, bluegrass and folk. Each episode weaves a visually stunning live studio performance by an NC artist or band with an intimate conversation about their creative journey. Watch Thursdays, 9:30 PM on PBS NC and the free PBS app.

Folk music legend Alice Gerrard is one of the foremost historians and archivists of the genre. In this conversation, she discusses her love for the landmark 1952 compilation “Anthology of American Folk Music,” her career documenting and performing traditional folk music in the South and what it’s like to preserve songs for future generations.

Shaped by Sound

This PBS NC original series, which spotlights North Carolina’s thriving music scene, features artists from a broad range of genres, including indie rock, hip-hop, R&B, alt-country, jazz, bluegrass and folk. Each episode weaves a visually stunning live studio performance by an NC artist or band with an intimate conversation about their creative journey. Watch Thursdays, 9:30 PM on PBS NC and the free PBS app.

Sonny Miles gained recognition in 2019 when President Obama included one of the Winston-Salem native’s musical collaborations on his popular playlist. In this conversation, Sonny discusses his influences, including George Clinton and Miles Davis; what it’s like to be “in the pocket”; and collaborating on his 2024 record, “Gamma,” with bassist Daniel “Slim Hurk” Maxwell.

Shaped by Sound

This PBS NC original series, which spotlights North Carolina’s thriving music scene, features artists from a broad range of genres, including indie rock, hip-hop, R&B, alt-country, jazz, bluegrass and folk. Each episode weaves a visually stunning live studio performance by an NC artist or band with an intimate conversation about their creative journey. Watch Thursdays, 9:30 PM on PBS NC and the free PBS app.

Jazz legend Nnenna Freelon has multiple Grammy nominations and has performed in prestigious venues across the globe. In this intimate conversation, she talks about her first album of original tunes, “Beneath the Skin,” her journey of self-discovery through music in the wake of the death of her husband, renowned architect Phil Freelon, and the beauty of living an improvised life.

Shaped by Sound

This PBS NC original series, which spotlights North Carolina’s thriving music scene, features artists from a broad range of genres, including indie rock, hip-hop, R&B, alt-country, jazz, bluegrass and folk. Each episode weaves a visually stunning live studio performance by an NC artist or band with an intimate conversation about their creative journey. Watch Thursdays, 9:30 PM on PBS NC and the free PBS app.