Talkin' Bout Tracy Chapman

To mark 30 years of Tracy Chapman's New Beginning, Stefan Evans sits down with collaborator Aurélie Moulin and the musicians behind the record for a rare, in-depth conversation.

Featuring:

• Rock Deadrick (drums)
• Andy Stoller (bass)
• Adam Levy (guitar)
• Glenys Rogers (percussion)
• Kiki Ebsen (keys)

This episode explores how New Beginning was made, the creative process behind the album, and what it was like working with Tracy Chapman during one of the most defining periods of her career.

Topics include:

If you're a fan of Tracy Chapman, Give Me One Reason, or 90s singer-songwriter records, this is a rare behind-the-scenes look at one of the era's most important albums.

Stefan chats with Jeffrey Smith, Vice President of Marketing at Discogs, and Brittany Benton, owner of Ohio-based Brittany's Record Shop, to discuss the reissue of Tracy Chapman's iconic debut album on vinyl for its 35th anniversary.

Stefan chats with singer and musician Yemi Bolatiwa ahead of her upcoming Tracy Chapman anniversary tribute show in Manchester. They explore what it means to pay tribute without impersonation, the lasting legacy of Chapman's work, and how one approaches the art of the tribute act with authenticity and respect.

Aurélie Moulin and Stefan discuss that Tracy Chapman and Luke Comb's now legendary Grammy performance of 'Fast Car'. How it happened and what is next for Tracy Chapman. 

I had the opportunity to chat with photographer Jay Blakesberg about his early career, which involved photographing Tracy Chapman in San Francisco during the early eighties. He also shared his experiences, including shooting B.B. King's 'The Thrill Is Gone' music video and creating the artwork for the 'Let It Rain' album.

We celebrate the 35th Anniversary of Tracy Chapman's debut album with a chat to drummer Denny Fongheiser who performed on that album and toured with Tracy Chapman at various points in her career. 

We hear how the record was made and get insight into some touring anecdotes. 

Celebrating 20 years since the release of the 'Let It Rain' album, Stefan Evans talks to drummer Jonathan "Butch" Norton about his time touring with Tracy Chapman. 

Tracy's "Big Ears", long sound checks and their Austin City Limits performance. 

In this episode, Stefan Evans talks to LA artist and photographer Tim Hailand about how Tracy Chapman commissioned him to produce artwork for her fifth studio album 'Telling Stories'. 

Tim also recalls a hilarious tale of Tracy Chapman and Bjork sharing a gym together at the Chateau Marmont hotel. 

Tracy Chapman makes a rare performance of 'Talkin' 'Bout a Revolution' on 'Late Night with Seth Myers' ahead of 2020 Election. This marks her first TV appearance in five years. In this episode, we break down the performance; Brandon Stansell contributes.