The New Exchange with Ken Grand-Pierre

What’s it like to not only grow up in a place that’s confused by your very existence but also resistant towards you sharing your heart? Most of us can’t imagine what it’d be like to deal with such hardships and yet, that’s exactly what today’s guest had to deal with; both as a child and as an adult. Say hello to morgxn, an independent singer-songwriter who’s made a name for themselves through collabs with acts like Tiësto, Walk The Moon, and Sara Bareilles, along with their own stellar releases. Their latest album, MERIDIAN, is about challenging what you’ve come to expect, about how the journey is always more important than the destination. On our next summer bonus episode, I chat with morgxn about their experiences of growing up as a queer person in America, navigating both a city and an industry that’s confused by that and they even sing some songs for us throughout the episode (really, what a sweet touch, eh?).

We all know that classic R&B sound of the ’70s is timeless, right? Artists like Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and Charlie Wilson have all released songs that sound like they could’ve been released yesterday. But, what if I told you that there’s a new guy who’s not only continuing that legacy but also truly building upon it? Joel Culpepper is a deeply passionate British singer-songwriter who doesn’t shy away from celebrating his influences. His debut album, Sgt. Culpepper, effortlessly jumps between vulnerable croons to dance floor anthems full of soul, funk, and yes; that classic R&B. Together we chat about how he turned heads in the UK by performing shirtless across national TV (on Jools Holland actually), his battle with imposter syndrome and how music has helped Joel to understand who he is.

What if I told you that one of the best movies of 2022 involved parallel universes, a genocidal coconut, the power of friendship, and a treasure cove of internet culture references? Yeah, it’s true, that movie does in fact exist and it’s called Night of the Coconut, the directorial debut of Patrick Willems. Throughout the years, Patrick has made a name for himself on YouTube with thought-provoking video essays that fuse humor with an endearing passion for storytelling and a seamless sense of whimsy. On today’s bonus podcast, we chat about his film, particularly the unspoken joys and challenges that come from crafting a film. We also delve into why friendship is so crucial to a creative pursuit, and yes: we do talk about that genocidal coconut.

Night of the Coconut can be streamed now via Nebula, a streaming platform created by and for creators. Learn more about Nebula here, especially to receive a discount through Patrick’s channel.

Before we start, I want to give a major thanks to everyone who’s been on the podcast this season, along with a massive thanks to you, the listener. I say it every season but the fact that you’re proactively taking the time to listen to this is huge and it truly means the world to me. Season 4 was such a wild journey, a true blast of technicolor of people from various walks of life. Getting to bring you this was a major life experience for me, largely in reminding me of the importance of other people; why we need to celebrate our differences and take stock of how we all have stories to tell. My guest today is a prime example of that, Brooklyn-born and raised artist Melanie Charles. She is a jazz musician who refuses to be boring and in turn; she refuses to bore you. Her album, Y’all Don’t (Really) Care About Black Women, is both a reworking of famous originals while also being an outward mirror of Melanie’s experiences as a black woman on this place we call earth. On today’s episode, we talk about the deeply personal nature of crafting this body of work and share some heartwarming laughs about navigating the world in our black skin.

Melanie will be playing a selection of shows in Canada, Europe, and the UK soon, along with a free show in Central Park on July 16th. Be sure to visit her website tour dates.

Season 5 of the podcast will be kicking off in September, be sure to follow me on Instagram and Twitter so you don’t miss out on updates!

True story: one of the most ambitious bands on earth hails from Hamilton, Ontario. They’re called Arkells and they’re here to remind you that rock music can be fun, exhilarating, and colorful. Their latest and sixth album, Blink Once, is full of songs that work both for stadium sing-alongs and those quiet walks home from the bus stop. The architect of these songs is frontman Max Kerman, a musician who isn’t shy about the aspirations he has for his friends. On today’s podcast, I catch up with Max about what makes that ambition unique, the ways music can uplift us from dark times, and how music has a lot more in common with sports than you’d think.

Big ups to Brooklyn Cannery for hosting us for this talk and after you hear this episode, be sure to also check out Max’s podcast The Best Hang Podcast with Mike Veerman and Shane Cunningham.

I do love these kinds of episodes and we simply had to have one more before this month's season finale. Photography is a passion of mine that’s grown at a rate that quite frankly staggers me. It started as a side-hustle and over time has transformed into a career of sorts. A major form of enrichment that I’ve gotten from photography is how it’s introduced a wild array of people into my life; such as today’s guests. Those incredible people are DeShaun Craddock, Michelle Grace Hunder, and Jenn Five, photographers who aren’t only my peers but also my friends. On today’s episode, we explore how we got started, the experiences that we cherish, and why passion will always be the best antidote to the chasing of clout.

It’s no overstatement to highlight that today’s podcast is with a certified pop star. Yuna is a pop singer-songwriter from Malaysia who’s one of the most successful artists to ever hail from the region. For over a decade she’s released songs that have garnered millions of streams and has collaborated with titans like Tyler The Creator, Little Simz, Pharrell Williams, and USHER. She’s been nominated for over 100 music awards and has won multiple Malaysian Music Awards (the equivalent of the Grammy’s in Malaysia), along with winning a Billboard Music Award, Rolling Stone Award, and a VMA Music Award!

Currently, Yuna is on a new path with her career, where she was forced to ask, what do you do after you’ve achieved most of the dreams you’ve ever chased? Surprisingly, the answer is to create a new path, which is what she’s currently doing with her Y5 project. Throughout this year, Yuna will be releasing 5 short EPs, that will eventually lead up to a full album comprising of all the tracks. On today's episode, I chat with Yuna about her feelings behind re-contextualizing her career and what it looks like to forge a new path for one’s self.

This is a talk that’s been in the making for quite a while and the amount of joy I have in getting to share this with you is insurmountable. Sampa The Great is a singer-songwriter, poet, and rapper from Zambia and Botswana who’s fiercely unapologetic about what she stands for. A major touchstone of her values is an unwavering love for family, friendship, and culture, but another key focus is a steadfast acceptance of who she is and where she’s going. For years now she’s been praised by outlets like NPR, The Fader, Noisey, NME, Complex, and at this point pretty much the whole fucking world agrees: Sampa the Great is an unbelievable talent. And yet, it still feels like things are only getting started for Sampa, which is what we delve into within today’s podcast. We chat about her return to Africa after years in Australia, the differences between creating music about your home vs. while you're actually there, her now-legendary performance of Final Form at the ARIAS (aka the Australian equivalent of the Grammy's), and so much more.

Connie Lim (aka MILCK) is a singer-songwriter, producer, and esteemed advocate for human rights. Beyond her talent, the most remarkable thing about MILCK is her ability to showcase her principles within her craft, which is something we explore in-depth within today’s bonus episode. I’ll be honest, this is a conversation that left me deeply affected, especially our exploration of the ‘why’; why do we have principles and why do we feel compelled to share them with the world?