The New Exchange with Ken Grand-Pierre

I think one of the reasons people gravitate towards stories set here in New York is because of how overtly people carve their own paths here. My next guest is such a prime example of that, and it’s even wilder to think that her story has only just begun. Hannah Jadagu is a singer-songwriter who originally hails from Texas but has swiftly made New York her home. Some have gone on to describe her music as “bedroom pop” but her debut album Aperture is so much more diverse and wide-ranging than that descriptor would lead you to believe. Beyond the multitudes of sonic textures across the album are also lyrics that feel inhabited with fresh emotions and an ever-evolving perspective towards people. Personally speaking, I do feel like that aspect of growth happening in real-time happens so intensely here in New York, and it was such a joy getting to share stories and experiences with Hannah during our chat.

After you fall in love with Hannah’s music, you’ll have the chance to see her on November 14th as she opens up for Slow Pulp at Webster Hall.

Intro song is NY Vibes by Bonus Points.

It’s not a secret that friendships in New York City are of a unique breed. Especially in the music world, it’s always clear when the artists who are collaborating also care about one another. That’s consistently been the case with B. Miles, an alternative indie/pop band based here in New York. Led by vocalist/pianist/songwriter Brenna Miles, the music of B. Miles evokes this mixture of effortless cool and intimate vulnerability that’s perpetually striking. That ability to be open in her songs reflects the strong bond Brenna has built with her bandmates and on today’s podcast, we explore the special nature of that bond; along with the specific ways in which NYC feeds into that. Also joining us is Eric Nizgretsky, songwriter/bassist/co-producer/resident hockey fan of B.Miles.

The band will be playing their next gig at Bowery Ballroom on September 7th, easily one of the best venues in the city; be sure not to miss out on this one.

Intro song is NY Vibes by Bonus Points.

There are countless times when an artist realizes that the best way to create art is by getting personal. Naturally, one hopes to be in the right headspace for that, but what about those times in life when you feel stuck, unsure, and daresay; stagnant? If you deem yourself a professional, you must make art any way you can and more imperatively find the light within those dark times. This journey reflects the work of my friend, Charles Fauna, and his aptly titled album Limbo (out July 12th). Throughout its runtime, Charles reminds us that we can dance through the hardships of life, while also finding time to reflect and contemplate where we are and where we’re going in equal measure. We chat about all this, and more, with a crucial focus on how living and existing in a city like New York can strangely be a great antidote to that feeling of limbo.

Charles will be playing an album release show on July 24th at Nublu, I hope to see you there.

Intro song is NY Vibes by Bonus Points.

It is my absolute pleasure to welcome you to A Summer in New York. In case you missed the announcement, this will be a mini-season of the podcast where I’ll be talking to some incredibly talented people about the things that make New York City special. What brings all these talks together is a desire that we have to explore the question “why is this city the place that we call our home?”

The first episode of this run is with a band I’ve been privileged to have known for many years now, San Fermin. They’re a group based in Brooklyn that have always challenged the conventions of what a band could be. And yet, all those traveled roads have led them to their latest album, Arms, their most personal and straightforward body of work yet. It’s a breakup album that’s equally about rediscovering oneself and the sadness left behind after such an experience. New York City plays a persistent role across the album, which we tackle throughout our chat. For this one I ventured to Better Company Studios in Fort Greene, Brooklyn; and I was joined by San Fermin bandmates Ellis Ludwig-Leone, Allen Tate, and Claire Wellin.

Intro song is NY Vibes by Bonus Points.

Welcome to A Summer in New York! The first episode drops on June 25th BUT you can hear the special NYC playlist right now over on Spotify (right over here).

The Wikipedia page for today’s guest describes her as a musician that plays with genres such as “synth pop” “dance-punk” and “punk rock.” Though there’s a kernel of truth to that, it exemplifies how words continue to fail the artist known as Peaches. For over three decades Peaches has remained a vital voice in the worlds of music, visual art, and really entertainment as a whole. Her abrasive sonics can be heard in clubs worldwide and her ability to explore the prism of sex in Western society is as unique as when she first hit the scene. As you can tell, I’m quite the fan, and getting to bring you this talk to close out season 7 definitely feels like a massive gift. If you’re unfamiliar with Peaches, read all of this and thought “What the hell is this guy on about?” don’t worry, this episode was crafted with you in mind. Welcome to the world of Peaches.

One more thing; we’ll be embarking on a special mini-season of the pod throughout the summer. It’ll be called ‘A Summer in New York’ and the title says it all. After you hear my chat with Peaches, head to the Spotify feed of this podcast to hear a special radio playlist to get a head start on that season. The playlist features some of the best talents that New York has to offer; both old and new.

Empathy is a word we all know and yet there are times when it can feel elusive in our lives. One of the best antidotes for that is witnessing how it shows up in other people's lives, especially when it’s an individual that’s exerting it outwardly. That’s been the case as of late with Nabil Ayers, American music industry entrepreneur, musician, and author of the memoir, My Life in the Sunshine: Searching for my Father and Discovering My Family. On the surface, the memoir traces Nabil’s life as the son of legendary soul musician, Roy Ayers. But within its pages, it’s actually a deep exploration of what it means to have a family, the ways that families are usually much more complicated beyond what you see at face value. The memoir also explores what it means to be black in America throughout the decades and redefines what words like “race” and “family” even mean to oneself as they’re figuring out who you want to be (and why). Along with penning the memoir, Nabil is also the president of Beggars Group, home to influential labels such as 4AD, Rough Trade, Matador, XL Recordings, and Young. You know the homes of artists such as Big Thief, St. Vincent, Future Islands, The National, seriously, the list is ridiculously endless.

Throughout our chat, we go into both the emotional and logistically realities of bringing a book to life, along with the ways that music continues to drive Nabil’s life.

This is the last bonus episode of season 7 and to call it a special one feels like a massive understatement. Sofia Loporcaro is an award-winning radio host, producer, and podcaster based in Los Angeles who’s made being a music fan a full-time job. Her podcast, Before the Chorus, centers on exploring the emotional journeys of a songs inception to its release. In many ways, her podcast feels like a sister to my show, and we very much explore that throughout our chat. The best way to describe Sofia is to highlight what’s on her Instagram bio, which reads “unpretentious, anti-gatekeeping music nerd.”

Sofia is one of the most passionate people I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know and that immediately comes across in spades once you hear her speak. After our chat, be sure to check out Before the Chorus wherever you stream podcasts (past guests include Glass Animals, Japanese Breakfast, Alt-J, and New Exchange alumni like Genesis Owusu, Local Natives, Self Esteem, and many more).

Marc Fennell is a wild multi-hyphenate from Australia and…to be honest with you, even saying that doesn’t feel fitting enough. Along with being a decorated journalist, he’s a television host, documentary presenter, radio personality, a writer, a dad, and as he simply likes to put it: a maker of things. Marc is also a person who’s directly inspired this very series, I’ve been a fan of his for a long time now. His approach to interviews and storytelling showcases a vigor of excellence and openness that’s honestly quite rare to come across. I’m sure every podcaster has a wishlist of guests they’re keen to chat with. That’s absolutely the case with today’s episode and it’s a joyous privilege getting to bring this one to you. Across this episode we chat about Marc’s approach to work, his critically acclaimed podcast and television series, Stuff The British Stole, his other acclaimed podcast House of Skulls, fatherhood and in chatting about all this we do hit on the “why” behind the madness of making so many things.

You know, it’s a wild thing to think about how today’s guest goes about his craft. TOBi wouldn’t be the first artist to be a lover of the old school while also carving out his own path…but honestly, we’ve never seen it done like this before. Hailing from both Lagos, Nigeria, and Brampton, Canada, TOBi is an artist full of multitudes. His latest album, PANIC, showcases this in spades, where throughout the album's runtime, he tells stories of battling anxiety, depression, and maneuvering around the world as a black man. He’s done this all while doing what expert songwriters do best: leaving enough room for you as a listener to insert your own feelings. Enough room for you to insert your own traumas and your own experiences within the music. Unsurprisingly, this led to PANIC winning two Juno’s one for best rap album and one for best rap single (the Juno’s are the Canadian equivalent of The Grammy’s), but as you’ll hear throughout our conversation, TOBi is a man with little to no ego, and simply put, he just wants to spread his message across the world.