The Canadian singer-songwriter and poet Leonard Cohen has written some of the most eloquent, powerful, and important popular songs of the past half century. Although many members of the younger generation are only familiar with his modern day hymn “Hallelujah,” that’s really just skimming the surface of Cohen’s brilliance. For the man who wrote “Hallelujah” […]
Ep. 17: On Chicago, Hip Hop, and Finding Freedom in Northern Thailand: A Conversation with Binkey
Binkey is a Chicago-born, Chiang Mai-based poet, musician, MC, and teacher. He’s also a man with many different interests, ideas, and opinions, and he and I go deep in this episode of Travels in Music. As my first sit-down, in-person interview (so much more fun than Skype), in today’s episode Binkey and I discuss growing up […]
Ep. 16: From Delhi 2 Dublin: Sanjay Seran on Charting Your Own Course in the 21st Century Music Business
My guest today is a founding member of one of the most unique, interesting, and eclectic groups on the world stage. Back in 2006, Delhi 2 Dublin began as a side project for vocalist Sanjay Seran. As the band name suggests, Sanjay and fellow founding member Tarun Nayar began playing a fusion of North Indian […]
Ep. 15: The Chitlin’ Circuit and the Road to Rock n’ Roll: Preston Lauterbach on Rock’s Forgotten Pioneers
When we think about the roots of rock n’ roll, we generally tend to think about people like Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Buddy Holly. For reasons owing to politics, race, and the various prejudices of historians and music journalists, many of the earliest African-American blues, jazz, and r n’ b pioneers, such as Louis […]
Ep. 14: Around The World With The Rolling Stones: Rich Cohen Shares a Personal History
Think about your all-time favourite musician. Someone you’ve been following since you were very young. Someone whose music touches you like no one else’s. Now imagine being invited into that person’s world, watching them rehearse behind closed doors, spending time with them, sharing drinks on their plane, taking in their concerts from the side of the […]