NOT 97

On today’s episode we sit down with rising R&B artist Fana Hues as she visits New York, fresh from London, in the midst of her first ever international headlining tour. We talk through her childhood, performing music with her siblings in their family band and how she still keeps her family close & connected to her music, Fana speaks on exploring different forms of creativity from learning guitar,...

This is the second episode of our new Community Check-In series, where we bring back past guests — influential voices, industry insiders, essentially people who inspire us and many others. Today's guest is Sidney Madden, a writer & reporter at NPR Music and the host of the excellent podcast Louder Than A Riot: a show that puts a magnifying glass to Hip-Hop, examining and questioning the culture an...

Today's episode features Kari Faux, a singer/songwriter, rapper, and producer who we first introduced in 2017 on the 2nd episode of NOT 97 ever. Kari joins us as she gears up to release her upcoming album "Real Bitches Don't Die," out everywhere May 26th. She introduces two standout singles — "Me First" and "Turning Heads." We talk working with legends like Big K.R.I.T. and the late Gansta Boo, pl...

On today's episode we catch up with DC's own dreamcastmoe on the day he opened for the legendary Roy Ayers in Brooklyn. We talk through his perspective shift that came last year after turning 30 and releasing his most recent project "Sound Is Like Water," what the city of DC represents to him,  the influence Go Go music had on his come up and still has on his sound today, as well as what it means...

We're starting a new series today called Community Check-In where we tap in with guests who have been on NOT 97 in the past — cultural shifters, tastemakers, influential voices, ultimately people who inspire us and many others. The first guest is Jamz Supernova, known for her work on BBC Radio as a DJ, previously 1Xtra now BBC 6 Music as well as Selector Radio. Jamz is also the owner of the Future...

Today's episode features visionary New York-based artist Araya. If you've been tapped in with us for some time you might remember when we played Araya's breakout single "Color Palette" two years and two seasons ago. Or when he stopped by The Flower Shop for a live session in 2021. Today, we catch up with Araya as he gears up to release his latest project Arena, dropping May 16th. He introduces bot...

We sit down with St. Louis's own Jordan Ward on the release day of his debut album "Forward." We talk through the many meanings behind the title of his album, and what this record represents for him and his career. What it means to come from St. Louis and the importance of giving back to his hometown. And what life has been like on tour opening sold out dates for JID and Smino.  *Not 97 is powered...

At the roundtable today is Armon Sadler, a reporter currently covering hip-hop at Vibe Magazine with a byline that has graced the pages of Billboard, Pitchfork, Uproxx, and more. Sadler also hosts his own podcast "Stay Busy with Armon Sadler." Armon introduces the timeless sounds of Ashlee White and an explosive Flex bomb-worthy delivery from Jacques Laine. We spin a nostalgic, angsty anthem from...

We sat down with Kayla Steen to talk through her creative process, the meaning behind her new song "Pussy," and how she juggles music, working towards a career in sync licensing / music supervision, and being a content creator. Kayla also offers an intimate live in-studio performance of her latest single.  *Not 97 is powered by The Orchard & Human Re Sources © NOT 97. All music ℗ & © their rights...

Today's episode features a contagious joint from Berlin-based Cody Currie, a UK-football ready anthem by Finn Foxell, an explosive debut from Vanessa Tha Finessa, & more. Plus a sit down with Kayla Steen discussing everything from her latest single "Pussy" to her newfound passion fro music supervision.  01 "HUNTER SCHAFER" by Ray Laurél 02 "Money" by Cody Currie 03 "WHAT'S YOUR POISON?" by Finn Fo...

We sat down with rising hip-hop artist Ben Reilly to discuss the genesis of his name and what it represents, his commitment to creating deep conceptual worlds with his music, and what's next for his body of work. Tap in with Ben & listen to his debut "Freelance" and last year's follow up "Freelance: Charlie."  *Not 97 is powered by The Orchard & Human Re Sources © NOT 97. All music ℗ & © their rig...

Season Nine of The Only Music Discovery Podcast starts now. Today's episode features our new co-host Athena Yasaman, who introduces a dynamic young creative collective from Ghana called Superjazzclub, as well as Σtella, a rising artist pushing the sounds of her hometown of Athens, Greece forward. We highlight Indian-Australian artist Ashwarya with an explosive new single, and get lost in offerings...

The Only Music Discovery Podcast™ is back. Season Nine of NOT 97 drops this Thursday, March 23rd. Featuring new music, interviews, roundtables, and live sessions from some of the most promising young talents in the industry — from Ben Reilly to Kayla Steen, Jordan Ward to Fana Hues, Dreamcastmoe and more. March 23, 2023. Subscribe now!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/ad...

Question — What do Baby Keem, King Princess, Giveon, Arlo Parks, Tierra Whack, Mach-Hommy, Yebba, and Fousheé all have in common? They were discovered on NOT 97. The only Music Discovery Podcast is back. Season Nine starts March 23rd, 2023 on all platforms. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode we sit down with genre blending LA trio Your Grandparents, known for pushing nostalgic sounds far into the future. We discuss their home city and how its shaped their journey, the drive to make music unlike anything else out, and we hear who their grandparents put them on to growing up. Plus a snippet of their upcoming single "Livin In Hell."  *Not 97 is powered by The Orchard &...

On the Season Eight finale we're joined by budding Toronto RnB legend Dylan Sinclair. Dylan discusses his home city and the supportive community that he comes from, his early days singing in church, and why RnB will never die. He introduces “Open,” a standout from his latest record No Longer In The Suburbs, as well as puts us on to another young Toronto sensation Rowena Fysx. We discuss an explosi...

Today we're sitting down with singer/songwriter and producer Madison McFerrin — Madison introduces us to two artists who she’s performed with in the past — Chicago’s own multi-instrumentalist and producer Brooklyn Skye as well as captivating Brooklyn-based artist Zenizen. We dive into the dynamic world of UK by way of Zimbabwe artist Downtown Kayoto, discuss a masterful delivery from prolific song...

We sat down with LA-based trio grouptherapy. on the tail end of their three city tour to discuss their journey as a pandemic baby into a full fledged collective, what it means to work together while staying true to themselves as individual artsits, and how their respective backgrounds in the industry inform the way they move now. Plus we hear an exclusive snippet of their new song "Big Steppa" fea...

We sit down with Beloved Sun, the new collaborative project between Sol Galeano and Artist Named You to discuss their debut record "Crying Around and In Color" — we talk through how the pair met, their experimental sound, and airdropping strangers their project, amongst more. Check out the record if you haven't already!  *Not 97 is powered by The Orchard & Human Re Sources © NOT 97. All music ℗ &...

Today we're joined by hip-hop artist, singer/songwriter, and New Jersey legend MoRuf. MoRuf introduces us to two friends & collaborators: Nathan Bajar & Ikenna. We dive into the deep world of jazz with Julius Rodriguez's "Two Way Street," get lost in London with Areej, & hit Houston to explore the masterful songwriting of up & comer Blessing, amongst much more.  01 "Two Way Street" by Julius Rodri...

On today's epiosde of The Check In we sit down with Baton Rouge’s own Quadry. We talk about his home city and the influence it’s had on him and his music, building his own style of mosaic-like storytelling, and what he’s taken away from his journey navigating the music industry. © NOT 97. Not 97 is powered by The Orchard & Human Re Sources Follow Not 97: Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/_not97...

Today’s episode is a special one — recorded in advance of NFT NYC, we brought together our friends, NOT 97 alums, & WEB3 professionals — Max Kulchinsky, Melanie McClain, and Heno to answer your questions. We discuss how Web3 has cultivated an inspiring, supportive community, the power of NFTs as a means to reclaim ownership & worth, as well as how we can reimagine the future of currency through so...

Touré Ali, Columbia Records' Associate Director of Digital Marketing, comes to us with two soon-to-be superstars with the DMV’s own Joony, as well as the Kanye co-signed KayCyy. We hear a modern take of classic sounds from Swsh & Lou Val, plus fresh, progressive offerings by Fredwave, boyband, and more.  01 "Do You Don't" by Swsh  02 "Drifting In Tokyo" by Joony 03 "OMF" by Fredwave  04 "Eternal S...

On today's episode of The Check In we catch up with innovative, genre-blending Tampa duo They Hate Change on the heels of their critically acclaimed record "Finally, New" out now on Jagjaguar. We discuss the evolution of their multidimensional sound, what being from Tampa means to them and their music, digging into a deep well of culture influence, and much more.  Learn more about your ad choices....

The weather is finally turning and you can hear it in the music. We're joined by artist, curator, and Web3 advocate Max Kulchinsky. Max introduces us to an ear catching alt pop offering from Queens' own Hadji Gaviota, as well as a dance-baiting delivery from Australia's Confidence Man.  We embrace the weather with Summer-ready songs from Zora, Neemz, Tendai, and more + an introduction to the intri...