The New Exchange with Ken Grand-Pierre

What can creativity mean to you? The state of the world has made this a difficult question to explore, but luckily today’s guest has a beautiful answer for you. Brandon Stosuy is an author/artist manager/event curator whose life mission has been to give people of all walks of life a platform to share their stories. His website, The Creative Independent, is full of stories of people crafting their own paths and continues to be a brilliant resource for creatives worldwide. On today’s episode, we chat about Brandon’s career, the practicalities of expressing yourself through art and we also go deep into his upcoming book, Stay Inspired: Finding Motivation For Your Creative Work (which will be out on May 18th, through Abrams). This episode is all about exploring what keeps you moving after you get out of bed in the morning.

Today’s a special bonus episode where you’re not only getting one but TWO interviews with two brilliant Irish artists. If you were to ask why Irish music stands out, many people would agree it’s due to the perpetual honesty that Irish musicians present to the world. Our two guests today are a true testament to that and both of their debut albums are pushing music forward (both were nominated for RTE’s Choice Music Prize). Nealo is a rapper whose album, All The Leaves Are Falling, explores the multi-faceted nature of masculinity and Ailbhe Reddy is a singer/songwriter whose album Personal History is full of observational wit that will charm the hell out of you. On today’s episode, I chat with them both about the work and experiences that went into crafting these standout albums.

There won’t be a new episode of the podcast next week, season 2 will resume on April 13th.

What does it take to create art that has nothing to prove? Irish alt-pop band Soda Blonde makes it look easy. On today’s episode, I chat with talented frontwoman Faye O’Rourke about creativity being limitless, how the pandemic lockdowns played a role in showing her what the band could be and why Soda Blonde will never compromise their creative spirit. Be sure to check out their upcoming debut album, Small Talk, which will be out on July 9th.

How do you speak out on the injustices of your field while you’re also trying to make a name for yourself? For Australian rapper/producer Kwame, it’s practically second nature. 2020 was a massive year for Kwame, with the release of his EP, Please, Get Home Safe and a social media post that went viral within Australia’s music industry. On today’s episode, we chat about those moments, along with why it’s important to speak your mind in the face of inequality

Video games have the ability to transport players to other worlds, which is exactly what I explore on today’s bonus episode with British musician Shura. 2020 saw Shura making a name for herself as a game streamer on Twitch. Together, we chat about how she’s provided laughter and warmth to fans during the never-ending lockdowns, as well as how video games are truly pieces of art and more. Be sure to check out Shura on Twitch at https://www.twitch.tv/shura and also be on the lookout for the deluxe edition of forevher (out on March 19th).

Is it possible to feed our dogs food without artificial ingredients and preservatives? PetPlate says yes! On today’s episode, I’m joined by PetPlate founder Renaldo Webb, who delves into creating food for dogs with real ingredients and within human-grade kitchens. We also discuss the realities of running a business on the betterment of animals and the challenges of being an entrepreneur during a pandemic.

Originally hailing from Scotland, Eve Barlow is an entertainment journalist based in LA, who has written for The Guardian, Billboard, GQ, LA Times, etc. Within this episode, I chat with Eve about both her career and her Jewish faith. Together, we touch upon how Jewish people have been marginalized throughout history and how that sadly still exists today.

We all find ourselves thinking: how can I be an ally? The best place to start is to listen; which is exactly what today’s episode is about. Originally hailing from Scotland, Eve Barlow is an entertainment journalist based in LA, who has written for The Guardian, Billboard, GQ, LA Times, etc. Within this podcast, I chat with Eve about both her career and her faith. Together, we touch upon how Jewish people have been marginalized throughout history and how that sadly still exists today.

How do you keep a passion fresh, especially when it involves 5 people? Belgian band Balthazar makes it seem effortless, especially within their fifth album Sand (out February 26th through PIAS). On this bonus episode, I catch up with frontmen Maarten Devoldere and Jinte Deprez about how they crafted Sand during the pandemic lockdown, the challenges that came with delving into more personal waters and why it’s more important than ever for bands to explore different sounds.