Music Life

This week, we’re joined by a who’s who of indie royalty. John Grant - American singer-songwriter, multi-linguist, former member of the Czars, and now an incredibly successful solo artist in his own right – guides us through this episode. He’s joined by Pulp founder and frontman Jarvis Cocker, one of the greatest voices in UK music; musician, producer, record label boss and former Cocteau Twins bas...

This week, we’re going truly global, taking in three continents. Lead singer and guitarist of the UK black feminist punk band Big Joanie, Stephanie Phillips, guides us through this bumper episode. Joining her is: one half of the duo Rodrigo y Gabriela, who’ve been playing together for almost 20 years and have been inspired by everything from Heavy Metal to Jazz, it’s Gabriela Quintero; a singer, c...

The host this time is musician, engineer, and ambassador for all things South America, Will Holland aka Quantic. Will is joined by: British saxophonist, Acoustic Ladyland and Polar Bear founder, Pete Wareham; one of the busiest saxophonists in the business with her band Collocutor, Tamar Osborn; and British multi-instrumentalist, television, film, and theatre score composer Orphy Robinson MBE. Led...

This week, Beyonce writer and pop star Raye is back in the presenter’s chair with a new round of musicians. This time she is joined by: the winner of the 2012 MOBO UnSung regional competition in Birmingham and ‘Unknown (To You)’ singer Jacob Banks; producer, radio host, and DJ on the up Melle Brown who’s also signed to Jamz Supernova’s label; and Californian poet and spoken word artist Tenesha the...

This week, born in Johannesburg and raised in Doncaster, UK, the multi-talented, young, and much hyped musician Skinny Pelembe is joined by: Mo Wax founder, UNKLE leader, and an artist who’s collaborated with everybody from Thom Yorke to Massive Attack, James Lavelle; on the other side of the sofa sits avant-garde electronic artist Elsa Hewitt who has been enjoying much success this year; and roun...

This week, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, former Bjork label mate Brian Christinzio AKA BC Camplight is joined by an eclectic line up of musicians, including: the legendary New Order and Joy Division bassist and co-founder Peter Hook; Pavement frontman and solo artist in his own right Stephen Malkmus; and mentored by Tom Waits, Californian singer and guitarist Jesca Hoop completes the group. L...

Welcome to Music Life, the weekly series and podcast in which musicians talk to their peers about all aspects of life making music. This week, poet, artist, musician, rapper, model, and visual artist Kojey Radical commands the red sofa and hosts this episode. He is joined by: jazz superstar saxophonist, Sons of Kemet and The Comet Is Coming band leader Shabaka Hutchings; the only jazz artist on a...

It's a country music themed episode of Music Life, coming to you backstage from the Long Road Festival in Leicestershire in the English Midlands. Musician, historian, and activist Rhiannon Giddens is joined by singer Josh Turner from South Carolina; singer and song-writer to the the stars—including Sam Smith and Miley Cyrus—Cam from California; and frontman of the band SUSTO, Justin Osborne. They...

This week, Beyonce writer and pop star on-the-up RAYE is joined Jamaican superstar and Damian Marley collaborator Kabaka Pyramid, 19 year old London musician and poet Arlo Parks, and with six albums under his belt, Detroit producer, mixer, musician, singer and Ed Sheeran label-mate JMSN completes the quartet. Led by Raye they’ll be discussing balancing love, friends, school, and a social life with...

This week Carla Marie Williams returns to host and she’s joined by Niambi and Thandi aka American hip-hop soul duo OSHUN (over 10 million Spotify streams), and Uche from production duo Da Beatfreakz (who worked with Chris Brown, Sean Paul, Usher, Ellie Goulding). Led by Carla they’ll be discussing the importance of their heritage in their music, being independent artists, and the most fun part abo...

In this week’s episode of Music Life we hear from Don Letts, Hollie Cook, Josh Rudge of the Skints and Eva Lazarus. Music Life is a weekly series and podcast in which musicians talk to musicians about all aspects of life making music. The host this time is Don Letts (aka the Rebel Dread, film maker, radio broadcaster and DJ). And he’s joined by British/West Indian reggae singer and keyboardist Hol...

Music Life continues in this weekly series and podcast in which musicians talk to musicians about all aspects of life making music. The host this time is poet, author and musician Benjamin Zephaniah (The Times listed him as one of 50 greatest postwar writers). And he’s joined by rapper Novelist (Mercury nominated), spoken word artist Sophia Thakur (performed live with London Symphony Orchestra, pu...

In the eighth episode of Music Life, four musicians talk about all aspects of their lives and music making. The host this time is singer Pixie Lott. She’s joined by singer and songwriter Nina Nesbitt who has written for the likes of Jessie Ware and has toured with Ed Sheeran. Fresh from touring, folk pop and blues rock artist Barns Courtney joins the discussion. Also on the show is American soul s...

The host this time is arranger and composer Rob Lewis (critically acclaimed latest album ‘Momentum’ out now). And he’s joined by composer and violist Sally Beamish (received 'Award for Inspiration' at the 2018 British Composer Awards), composer and virtuoso cellist Jo Quail (worked with Salif Keita, Airto Moreira and Flora Purim) and composer Robin Haigh (one of the youngest winners of the British...

Instrumentalist and music producer Swindle (signed to Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood label) is joined by R&B singer songwriter Joel Culpepper (who's worked with Paloma Faith, Jimmy Hogarth, Roy Davis Jr.), vocalist Lioness (over a million views on YouTube), and multi-instrumentalist composer Ahnanse (runs most popular underground UK jazz night Steam Down). Led by Swindle, they’ll be discussing h...

Musician and producer Quantic (signed to Tru Thoughts) is joined by singer songwriter Rosie Lowe (who's worked with Jay Electronica and Floating Points), Brazilian percussionist and composer Adrian Adewale (worked with Salif Keita, Airton Moreira and Flora Purim) and multi-instrumentalist Emma-Jean Thackray (award winning jazz musician). Led by Quantic they’ll be discussing how they know when a so...

Maverick Sabre - singer, rapper and songwriter, who's worked with Chase & Status and Professor Green - is this week's host. And he’s joined by recording artist Nadia Rose (known for singles Skwod and Tight Up, plus written for Rihanna), Ezra Collective drummer Femi Koleoso (who's worked with Pharoahe Monch and Jorja Smith), and recording artist Connie Constance (has worked with producer Jim Ab...

The host is Grammy award-winning singer, songwriter and composer Jacob Collier. And he’s joined by dodie, a YouTuber with almost two million subscribers, recording artist Lianne La Havas, and jazz drummer and producer Makaya McCraven. Led by Jacob, they’ll be discussing whether they suffer from ‘demo-itis’ (when the demo is better than the finished product), how they develop an initial idea for a...

This week's host is platinum-selling songwriter Carla Marie Williams (Beyonce, Britney Spears, Kylie). And she is joined by recording artists Ghetts (ex-NASTY crew), Kojo Funds (over 200 million streams) and JP Cooper (platinum-selling artist). Led by Carla, they discuss how they overcome writers block, how they decide on which direction to go in musically plus, how grime can grow as a genre.

Singer-songwriter John Grant (ex-The Czars) is joined by special guests Guy Garvey (Elbow), Planningtorock (genderqueer electronic musician) and orchestral composer and violinist Fiona Brice (Placebo, Anna Calvi, Jay Z, Robbie Williams). Together they talk candidly about how success is connected to self-worth, embarrassing rookie errors on social media, anxiety and being yourself.

Four different big-name musicians talk together each week about what matters most: making music. The first three episodes, with guests including John Grant, Dodie, Carla Marie Williams (Beyoncé’s songwriter) and Guy Garvey (Elbow), drop on Friday 9 August 2019.