The New Exchange with Ken Grand-Pierre

There aren’t any shortages of the narrative that life brings about the unexpected. That said, there are still times in which we need to be reminded of the beauty of that; which is very much what happens with this conversation I had with Jason Aalon Butler. Jason is a frontman that’s largely existed in the world of hardcore music, though to say that almost feels reductive because of Jason’s overall approach to his art. You see, Jason has always strived to buck against the conventions of the world, including the hardcore punk world he holds dear. In doing so, he’s someone who’s aggressively gone by the beat of his drum and that’s been a total mainstay of his life thus far; across both his career and personal life.

I’ve known him for many years now and have seen all those aspects of his character, but one thing about Jason that’s very crucial is how so much of the music that he makes is reflective of his lived experience. It’s literally second nature for Jason to sing about what he’s thinking, what he’s feeling and doing so in a way that doesn’t leave many questions to be asked….except for, what is that like? What is it like for someone to be so open about how they’re feeling, how they’re thinking and to do so in a way that’s extremely direct? That’s largely what we talked about across this episode, along with the new music of his band, Fever 333.

The band just dropped a new album called Darker White, a body of work that’s beyond timely. Be sure to check it out.

(ByLwansta chat starts at 3:37 and Dope Saint Jude chat starts at 60:47). This next bonus episode is a very special one, especially since you’re essentially getting two chats for the price of one. Last year, we had a very different season of the podcast called The Passport Season, which featured us highlighting six countries across six episodes. One of those episodes was South Africa, a place that’s grown to mean a lot to me over the years due to the lovely South Africans I’ve met throughout my life. It was from doing that episode (and its playlist) that I came across today’s guests and it was from there that I immediately knew they had to be on the podcast. Those artists are JoBurg based rapper/producer/creative director ByLwansta and Cape Town based rapper/singer/producer/overall badass Dope Saint Jude.

Both of them are supremely talented artists who’re aggressively carving out their own paths, which let’s be honest; is practically a prerequisite to be on this series. But what’s incredible about the both of them is how much they live by their rhymes; and how much their art reflects the lives they’re actively living. Across both chats, they shared with me what drove them to create and how the most meaningful thing they could achieve was creating a new kind of sound in their native South Africa.

Something tells me that after the first few minutes of this episode, the last thing you’ll call today’s guest is “modest.” But something I grew to learn from talking to London-based artist Master Peace, was just how much that confidence has been earned. I could already tell from his stellar debut album, How to Make a Master Peace, an album full of danceable bangers that’ll remind you why you love indie sleaze so much. Actually, it does something better, where if you’re unfamiliar with the indie sound of the early 00’s, the album acts as a perfect doorway to that sound; while also being a colossal step forward. Peace isn’t shy about this being his mission, he says it on this episode that he hopes to make this sound mainstream, to reach the heights that bands like Bloc Party and LCD Soundsystem (unjustly) never did. It's a tall order indeed, but something tells me he’s just the guy for the job. Together we chat about why and how music means so much to him, being driven to make eclectic music, and the joys of collaborating with Wale.

I feel that this episode's title might be a paradox to some of you. In all honesty, fair, I mean how could someone straddle that line of tradition? But to hear Dawn Richard talk about it ends up making all the sense in the world. In our hearts we know that people are nuanced, but how often do we come across people who wear that on their sleeves with intense vigor and conviction? That’s one of the many places that Dawn Richard creates from and it’s a massive privilege getting to welcome her on the podcast. From dancefloor anthems that blend R&B with afro-futurism and synth-heavy compositions that evoke her roots in utter brilliance, Dawn is the kind of artist who’s always aiming to challenge herself, her listeners, and inadvertently the world itself. What you’ll learn across this episode is how the journey of that has never been rooted in a mandate and is more tied to a desire to better understand who she is.

The road of that journey has led her to once again work with the talented composer Spencer Zahn for their second album, Quiet in a World Full of Noise (which is out now). The title is beyond fitting not only because of the music but also because of the deep experience of healing and self-exploration that Dawn went on to write these songs with Spencer. On this episode, we chat about that healing, and why making art continues to be life and death for Dawn.

By the way, Dawn and Spencer will be touring the states this autumn, starting on October 22nd in Minnesota at the Dakota. They’ll be playing two shows at National Sawdust in Brooklyn on the 29th and 30th, trust me when I say that you’ll want to be there. Be sure to check out Dawn Richard and Spencer Zahn via Instagram for more tour dates. 

In a few short years, Kelly Lee Owens has become one of the most prolific artists of her generation. Her unique approach to combining hypnotic beats with pop melodies certainly has a lot to do with it (along with her euphoric live shows), but what continues to make Kelly stand out is how her curiosity about life continues to drive her creativity. The proof is in her upcoming album, Dreamstate (out October 18th on George Daniel’s DH2 label). As the title suggests, Kelly wants to welcome you into a world where you can feel safe to dream, to put your guard down, and dance your troubles away. Crafting the album came from a period of internal and external upheaval in Kelly’s life and on today’s podcast we chat about the importance of doing that: taking stock in one’s life and gaining clarity towards what you want to put out into the world.

Kelly Lee Owens will be touring Europe this autumn, starting on October 29th in Berlin. All tour dates can be found at kellyleeowns.com.

Is there anything more cliche than a sad boi crooning about a lost love? Well….probably not, actually, but it’s that self-awareness that shines through on J. Bernardt’s latest effort, Contigo. With this moniker, my friend, Jinte Deprez (of Belgian indie rock legends Balthazar) has crafted the perfect break-up album. Yes, there’s whining, sweeping string sections, and catching numbers, but what makes Contigo excel is Jinte’s constant desire to “go there.” Listening to this album for the first time stopped me dead in my tracks on multiple occasions, because in all honesty, hearing a man be so bare and direct about his feelings felt starkly refreshing to me. Throughout the album’s runtime, Jinte never attempts to hide behind a veil, and in doing so he’s willing to expose a lonely, confused (and sometimes petulant) crooner who’s in the throes of an identity crisis. It’s a beautiful album full of character, whimsy, and wit, and it’s such a privilege that we got to explore it in depth for the first bonus episode of season 8.

J. Bernardt will be going on tour throughout Europe this autumn, starting on September 29th in Denmark. Be sure to visit https://www.jbernardt.com for all tour dates.

Nostalgia is a powerful emotion that’s omnipresent in our day-to-day lives. Because of this, we’re living in a time where indulging in nostalgia can feel lazy, tired and simply put: old. But once in a while, we’re reminded of the magic that can come from retreading our pasts, as well as the rare instances where it can give us clarity towards our future. That’s been the case with Matt Lowell, my friend and frontman of indie-alt rock band Lo Moon. Lo Moon are a group of creatives that oscillate between brash dynamics and elegant progressions. Their approach towards arrangements, hell, and their dedication to the craft is infectious. Whenever I listen to them, I hear a rock band that strives to be more than a rock band; and in doing so they hit it out the park every time. 

Those elements of the band have never shone brighter than they do on their latest album, I Wish You Way More Than Luck (which is out now). It’s the kind of album that reminds you that a band can be more than a band, and this conversation I had with Matt centers on the multitudes of what creatively drives him and his bandmates. Lo Moon will be touring Europe and the UK starting on October 30th and they will also touring Mexico and the US starting on November 15th. All tour dates can be found at lomoonofficial.com.

Would ya look at that? We’ve made it to season 8! Once again, it brings me immense joy to share these talks with you over the next few months. Especially when I reflect on how these talks have evolved beyond my wildest expectations from what I envisioned for this podcast. Even if you’re a new listener to this series, it won’t take you long to recognize that these talks tend to get deep and hand-on-heart; it shatters my mind how open the guests get across these next 15 episodes.

Starting today with Vanessa Brown (aka VV Brown), an indie alt-pop singer-songwriter, model, and producer from Northampton, UK. The word ‘trailblazer’ should also be added to the mix, especially due to her recent album, Am I British Yet? Which you can infer from the title, is a direct critique of how British society can make people of other races and cultures feel less then. Though the conversation starts with a focus on Vanessa’s lived experience, it doesn’t take us long to utilize a birds-eye view of how what she’s experienced mirrors what so many people of colour and I have experienced across the world. We explore those feelings and experiences in-depth across this episode, along with highlighting the vitality of having joy within the resistance.

This is something very different than our usual episodes, but one that I felt was important to share. A few weeks go, a good friend of mine, Eoin French (aka Talos) passed away. Eoin was one of the most talented artists I’ve met from Ireland. His artistry is exemplary of what makes that island special, along with how he carried himself off stage. Eoin was a deeply curious person, tenaciously creative, kind to all and a fantastic friend. I thought about how I wanted to honor him, which led me to listening back to some of our past conversations (from the times I interviewed him for magazines and podcasts). This led me to re-listen our very first conversation, which you’ll hear in this episode. Recorded back in the summer of 2018, it’s just….so wild how much of Eoin’s spirit can be heard across this conversation. Listening to this made me smile and laugh as I remembered my friend, and I hope it does the same to you. Codladh go maith agus i síocháin.

Photo in the artwork was taken by me in Manhattan during our chat. This episode features a performance of In Time by Talos, recorded in Greenhouse Studios in Reykjavík, Iceland.

This last summer episode couldn’t be with a more fitting guest. Caleb Eberhardt (aka Rosehardt) is a polyglot of a musician, and someone I very much feel lucky enough to call a friend. Caleb exemplifies New York's creative abandon across songwriting, production, and acting. His latest body of work, ‘the world gets smaller each day it seems to shrink’ is the kind of album that proactively refuses to be confined into a box. It’s a maelstrom of sonic textures, harsh pivots of genres and emotions…and yet it somehow feels cohesive; it somehow feels measured. Like many of the talks for this mini-season, the album reflects what it’s like to live and create art in New York. A beautiful aspect of this particular episode is how so many of the areas we touch on were experiences that Caleb thought about for the first time since working on the album; allowing you to hear him in real-time come to the realization of how much New York means to him. We recorded this chat at the Circle in Square Theatre on Broadway, ahead of one of Caleb’s performances as Hovstad on An Enemy of the People, the Tony Award-winning play starring Jeremy Strong.

Thank you for indulging me this summer with this mini-season. It’s been a long time coming, creating a series of talks highlighting why I decided to make this city my home and I hope it comes across with these five talks that when it comes to New York; there isn’t another place like it. Season eight will be starting very soon in September.

Intro song is NY Vibes by Bonus Points.