The New Exchange with Ken Grand-Pierre

Seriously, where is the respect for hip-hop? Despite being the most dominant genre of music, there are still many who consider hip-hop to be a frivolous and exploitative form of music. To tackle this strange phenomenon, I enlisted the help of brilliant Canadian rapper/broadcaster Shad, who also hosts the Peabody Award-winning Netflix docu-series, Hip-Hop Evolution. Together we chat about the love we have for hip-hop and how this also fed into Shad’s latest album, TAO, which is also out now!

What are the challenges of being a trailblazer? Unexpectedly, that question rests at the center of today’s episode with Elsa y Elmar, a Colombian-born/Mexican-based artist whose music is challenging what people expect from music; especially in Latin America. Together we chat about Elsa’s love for music, how production influences her writing, collaborating with Raleigh Ritchie (aka Greyworm of Game of Thrones) and we also share laughs about the complexities of life.

It’s honestly such a privilege getting to bring you this chat with Foy Vance. Foy is a talented musician who hails from my second home of Northern Ireland. You know that saying “salt of the earth?” It was made to describe people like Foy, a person who’ll make you laugh while also being the person you want to go to with your troubles. His newest album, Signs of Life, features a reinvigorated Foy, but the route to this album was full of addiction, heartbreak, and being forced to take a stark look at the direction of his life. On this episode, Foy gets real about clawing out of the darkness and finding light in life again.

It’s no secret that the pandemic has been hard on creatives all over the world; especially bands who rely on touring to get by. Luckily for my old friends of ISLAND, they were able to take this contemplative time and harness it within their sophomore album, Yesterday Park (out now). It’s one of those albums that gives you the space to daydream while also allowing you to reflect on your own life at your own pace. A major theme within the album is friendship and how it’s ultimately a sense of companionship that can get us through hard times. On today's episode, I catch up with frontman Rollo Doherty and drummer Toby Richards to find out what the band went through to make this body of work into a reality.

The first episode of season 3 exemplifies so much of what this series is all about. Gaidaa is a Sudanese-Dutch singer/songwriter who’s independently releasing music that’ll remind you of the emotional depths that can only be explored within R&B. Her project, Overture, was one of the big standouts of 2020 and still provides solace for people getting through hard times. On this episode, I chat with Gaidaa about growing her passion into a career, how her cultural roots have taught her more about herself and why it’s ok to not know how you feel about the world around you.

Today’s the final summer bonus episode before we enter season 3! I couldn’t be happier to share that today’s chat is with my old friend Conor O’Brien of the Irish band Villagers. Throughout the years, Conor has crafted albums that have received worldwide acclaim due to his unique talent for bridging raw passion with intricate instrumentation. The fifth album, Fever Dreams (out now) is a continuation of Conor’s hunger for bringing listeners into soundscapes that leaves them feeling as though they’ve been transported elsewhere. On today’s episode, we go into the importance of escapism and how art is the best vessel to achieve it.

I’m also happy to finally announce that season 3 of the podcast will be premiering on September 14th! I am beyond proud of this upcoming season and I cannot wait for you to hear it. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss out on updates. Also, if you’re listening via Apple please rate and leave a review, it helps massively!

Michael C. Hall, Peter Yanowitz and Matt Katz-Bohen make up Princess Goes to The Butterfly Museum, aka your next favourite band. This New York City-based outfit is what happens when an uncompromising approach to creativity is able to run rampant and unchecked within a room. You can hear that all throughout their debut album, THANKS FOR COMING (out now), which is an emotive sonic collage with tones of industrial, electronica, and even soul. On this episode I’m joined by all 3 members of the band and together we explore the exhilaration their craft provides (and yes, of course, we talk about the legend that is David Bowie).

Our next special summer bonus episode is with Juno Award-nominated artist, Charlotte Cardin; easily one of Montréal’s most beloved musicians. Her long-awaited debut album, Phoenix, is the cultivation of her life experiences blended with piano ballads and foot-stomping dance floor anthems. It’s an album that excels at reminding us how personal rebirths can be essential for art; which is exactly what we explore within today’s episode. Charlotte will also be touring the US this autumn (as well as her native Canada and Europe throughout early 2022), be sure to check out her website for tour dates.

Welcome to the first of four summer bonus episodes coming at ya before season 3 kicks off in September. Genesis Owusu is a Ghanaian-Australian musician who’s beautifully shaken up the music world with his debut album, Smiling With No Teeth. The album poignantly explores the nuances of racism & mental health struggles with a punk attitude that aims to make you reflect on your life as you sweat on the dance floor. On this episode, we have a fascinating chat about his start in music, the empathy that comes with navigating mental health, and how Genesis Owusu is simply one of a kind. Genesis will also be touring the states for the first time throughout January 2022; be sure to visit www.genesisowusu.com for those tour dates.

A third album should solidify a legacy, which is exactly what Hinds have achieved with The Prettiest Curse. Throughout the album, the four friends from Madrid share a refined sound and resounding message that being a band is more than just a lifestyle. On our season 2 finale, I’m joined by singer/guitarist/friend Ana Perrote and together we chat playing a New Year's Eve show with The Strokes, the challenges that came with evolving the band's sound and why Hinds are here to stay. (Season 3 of The New Exchange will premiere September 2021).