Call & Response

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Latest Episodes:

Big Freedia: I Pray (And I Push) Oct 28, 2021

In the final episode of this season, Adia is joined by “Queen of Bounce” Big Freedia. From Beyoncé to Kesha, Freedia’s collaborations proudly reflect her upbringing in New Orleans, and the spirit of the church that resides in her. Adia and Freedia talk about what it means to be insistent on pursuing liberation, the relationship between good food and good music, and the power of community. Thank you for joining us in another season of leaning into the blues. For the playlist of songs curated for this week’s episode visit: https://bit.ly/cr-freedia

/ Music In This Week's Episode /

Roy Ayers Ubiquity, “Everybody Loves The Sunshine”

Beyoncé, “Get Me Bodied”

The Jacksons, “Blame It On The Boogie”

Big Freedia (feat. Jake Shears and Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph), “Not Today”

Tank and the Bangas (feat. Big Freedia), “Big”

Missy Elliott, “Bomb Intro/Pass That Dutch”

Robert Johnson, “Sweet Home Chicago”

/ Show Notes /

Big Freedia’s latest EP is “Big Diva Energy,” available now.

Adia and Freedia talk about her cover of Lady Gaga’s “Judas” for the 10th anniversary of “Born This Way.”

Adia mentions Freedia’s documentary on gun violence in New Orleans, “Freedia Got A Gun,” streaming now on Peacock.

Freedia says “Calling My Name” by Hezekiah Walker is the song that’s giving her life and light right now.

/ Credits /

Call & Response is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Adia Victoria, Ann Marie Awad and Daniel Rayzel. Our engineer is Sam Bair of The Relic Room.

Julien Baker: My Faith (Is The Fabric) Oct 21, 2021

The music of the South is always drawing upon the church, either relishing in it, or rebelling from it. When Memphis-born artist Julien Baker started reckoning with her faith, “the entire paradigm of my life evaporated.” Since then, Julien has channeled this reckoning into her music, lacing her lyrics with radical honesty and self-reflection. In this episode, Julien and Adia share about how their relationship to God and religion has influenced their music. For the playlist of songs curated for this week’s episode visit: https://bit.ly/cr-julien

/ Music In This Week's Episode /

Robyn, “Between The Lines”

Björk, “Big Time Sensuality”

St. Vincent, “I Prefer Your Love”

Patti Smith Group, “Because The Night”

Hank Williams, “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry”

John Coltrane, “A Love Supreme, Pt. 1 - Acknowledgment”

Little Bandit, “Nashville”

/ Show Notes /

Julien Baker’s latest album is “Little Oblivions,” available now, along with an EP of five remixed tracks from the album.

Julien says “One More Hour” by Flock of Dimes is the song that’s giving her life and light right now.

/ Credits /

Call & Response is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Adia Victoria, Ann Marie Awad and Daniel Rayzel. Our engineer is Sam Bair of The Relic Room.

Regina N. Bradley: Pleasure (For Pleasure’s Sake) Oct 14, 2021

From Bessie Smith to Megan Thee Stallion, Southern Black women have built on a long legacy of giving their bodies a voice through the blues. On this week’s Call & Response, hip-hop scholar Dr. Regina N. Bradley makes it clear that Southern Black culture is not frozen in time, but instead embracing and challenging the issues connecting younger generations. For the playlist of songs curated for this week’s episode visit: https://bit.ly/cr-regina

/ Music In This Week's Episode /

Rapsody, “Nina”

Victoria Monét, “Ass Like That”

Janet Jackson, “The Pleasure Principle”

Angel Olsen, “Lark Song”

The Chicks, “Gaslighter”

Tweet feat. Missy Elliott, “Oops (Oh My)”

Megan Thee Stallion, “Body”

Nina Simone, “Feeling Good”

/ Show Notes /

Dr. Regina N. Bradley’s latest book is “Chronicling Stankonia: The Rise of the Hip-Hop South,” out now from UNC Press. She also just edited a collection of essays from other music scholars, “An Outkast Reader,” available now from UGA Press.

Regina says “Call Me” by Tweet is the song that’s giving life and light right now.

/ Credits /

Call & Response is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Adia Victoria, Ann Marie Awad and Daniel Rayzel. Our engineer is Sam Bair of The Relic Room.

Tressie McMillan Cottom: Can’t Have The Beat (Without The Burden) Oct 07, 2021

Tressie McMillan Cottom says the blues go beyond the beat and key. It’s a feeling born and inherited from the experience of Southern Black women. As Call & Response dives deeper into the blues, the sociologist and 2020 MacArthur fellow says she can hear the historical echoes of pain and urgency throughout Southern music -- and wants listeners to understand why they do too. For the playlist of songs curated for this week’s episode visit: https://bit.ly/cr-tressie.

/ Music In This Week's Episode /

The Shirelles, “Mama Said”

Junior, “Mama Used To Say”

2Pac, “Dear Mama”

Gladys Knight and the Pips, “I’ve Got To Use My Imagination”

Dolly Parton, “Coat of Many Colors”

Odetta, “Mother’s Blues (Little Children Blues)”

Nina Simone, “Blues for Mama”

/ Show Notes /

Tressie McMillan Cottom’s latest book is "Thick: And Other Essays",” out now from The New Press. Tressie is also working on two upcoming books, “Basic” and “The Vivian.”

Adia and Tressie discuss “The Dolly Moment,” an essay Tressie wrote for her newsletter in February.

Tressie says “Dope Queen Blues” by Adia Victoria is the song that’s giving her light right now.

/ Credits /

Call & Response is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Adia Victoria, Ann Marie Awad and Daniel Rayzel. Our engineer is Sam Bair of The Relic Room.

Tré Burt: My Culture (My Identity) Sep 30, 2021

What happens when one artist’s work is read through the lens of another? Tré Burt’s rambling bluesman sound means his music is constantly compared to that of Bob Dylan, but as a Black man living in 2021, his writing draws from very different perspectives. In this interview, Tré and Adia distinguish what it means to write from experience versus observation, share how working blue-collar jobs has fed their artistic careers, and remember the late, great John Prine. Hear a playlist of songs curated for this week’s episode at https://bit.ly/cr-tre.

/ Music In This Week's Episode /

Tré Burt, “I Cannot Care”

Waxahatchee, “Light Of A Clear Blue Morning”

Lil Nas X, “Sun Goes Down”

Adia Victoria, “Carolina Bound”

Buster Benton, “Money Is The Name Of The Game”

Bill Withers, “Lonely Town, Lonely Street”

/ Show Notes /

Tré Burt’s latest album “You, Yeah, You,” is available now on Oh Boy Records.

Tré says “Pay Day” by Mississippi John Hurt is the song that’s giving him life right now.

/ Credits /

Call & Response is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Adia Victoria, Ann Marie Awad and Daniel Rayzel. Our engineer is Sam Bair of The Relic Room.

Amythyst Kiah: Finding Roots (Redefining Yourself) Sep 23, 2021

Born in Chattanooga, and based in Johnson City, Tennessee, Amythyst Kiah’s sound is a blend of old-time music and fingerpicking blues with a punk-indie sensibility. Like many of us who came up in the South, Amythyst had to find and define her voice, even as she was told she couldn’t be into Green Day or into skateboarding and also play the guitar. This week’s episode of Call & Response is for the people who are facing the brave work of reclaiming themselves, for the people who have found solace in the company of a guitar, and it’s a hope for you – to keep pushing forward in your blues. For the playlist of songs curated for this week’s episode visit: https://bit.ly/amythyst.

/ Music In This Week's Episode /

Leyla McCalla, “Girl”

Precious Bryant, “Don’t Let The Devil Ride”

Sunny War, “Mama’s Milk”

Jessie Mae Hemphill, “My Daddy’s Blues”

Elizabeth Cotten, “Gaslight Blues”

Kyshona Armstrong, “Fear”

Yasmin Williams, “Through The Woods”

/ Episode Notes /

Amythyst Kiah’s latest album is “Wary + Strange” is out now on Rounder Records.

Amythyst mentions James Spooner’s 2003 documentary “Afro-Punk” on Black punk fans navigating whitewashed alternative music scenes.

Amythyst says “Sissy That Walk” by RuPaul is the song that’s giving her life right now.

/ Credits /

Call & Response is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Adia Victoria, Ann Marie Awad and Daniel Rayzel. Our engineer is Sam Bair of The Relic Room.

Jason Isbell: To Love (Is To Criticize) Sep 16, 2021

Just hours after a Confederate monument was removed in Richmond, VA, Jason Isbell made his take very clear: “Nostalgia requires a lack of examination.” Amid the backdrop of a region reckoning with its past, this week’s Call & Response features Adia Victoria speaking with Jason, the Grammy award-winning songwriter from Green Hill, Alabama. Jason reflects on his identity as a white Southern man, why he seeks communion in his work, and the pitfalls of unquestioned nostalgia in country music. Also, hear a new single featuring Jason Isbell from Adia Victoria’s upcoming album, “A Southern Gothic,” in this week’s playlist: https://bit.ly/cr-jason.

/ Music In This Week's Episode /

Brittney Spencer, “Sober and Skinny”

Mickey Guyton, “Remember Her Name”

Amythyst Kiah, “Fancy Drones (Fracture Me)”

Shemekia Copeland, “Give God The Blues”

Allison Russell, “All of the Women”

Joy Oladokun, “Bad Blood”

Adia Victoria feat. Kyshona, Margo Price and Jason Isbell, “You Was Born To Die”

/ Show Notes /

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit’s album "Georgia Blue," featuring Adia Victoria, comes out digitally on Oct. 15 through Southeastern Records. Jason’s latest album is “Reunions,” available now.

Jason references a meme showing a futuristic city as what “would be country music if we just cut the bullshit out early on.”

Jason and Adia mention the origins of “bluegrass” music and how it was named.

Jason says “Hide Away” by Freddie King is the song that’s giving him life right now.

/ Credits /

Call & Response is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Adia Victoria, Ann Marie Awad and Daniel Rayzel. Our engineer is Sam Bair of The Relic Room.

Lucy Dacus: Writing Memories (Trusting Perspectives) Sep 09, 2021

Welcome back to Call & Response. To open season two of our show, Adia is joined by fellow Southerner and singer-songwriter Lucy Dacus, whose latest album, “Home Video” is drawn largely from her childhood journals. In their conversation, Adia and Lucy talk about growing up in the church, learning to trust your own voice, and questioning what it means to be a reliable narrator for your own life. We’re so excited to have you here with us for another season of leaning into the blues to make sense of this world. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode head over to https://bit.ly/cr-lucy.

/ Music In This Week's Episode /

Lucy Dacus, “VBS”

The Roots feat. Monsters of Folk, “Dear God 2.0”

Curtis Mayfield, “(Don’t Worry) If There’s A Hell Below We’re All Going To Go”

The Louvin Brothers, “Sinner, You’d Better Get Ready”

Kings of Leon, “The Runner”

serpentwithfeet, “Fellowship”

/ Show Notes /

Lucy Dacus’ new album “Home Video” is out now on Matador Records.

Lucy says “I Follow” by Molly Drake is the song giving her life right now.

/ Credits /

Call & Response is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Adia Victoria, Ann Marie Awad and Daniel Rayzel. Our engineer is Sam Bair of The Relic Room.

Live at Newport: It's Just Me And My Breath. Jul 29, 2021

“What could be possible in the future when it comes to our artists? What is possible when it comes to us looking at each other? What can be possible when we shun a scarcity mindset? When we say this table is big enough for all of us? No, fuck that. Let's build a new table where everyone has a full plate, because we understand that when we create, we are able to feed.” In this final episode of our mid-season special at Newport festival, Adia leaves us with a poem. Keep your heart and your ears wide open for Season 2 of Call & Response, coming September 9th.

/ Show Notes /

Check out all the other episodes of this mid season special of Call & Response.

Listen to Allison Russell’s music.
Press coverage of Once and Future Sounds curated by Allison Russell.

Huge thank you to the Newport Folk Festival and the Newport Festivals Foundation.

/ Credits /

Call & Response is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Adia Victoria, Babette Thomas and Emily Shaw. Our engineers are Sam Bair and Tom Tierney.

Live At Newport Folk Festival: Allison Russell Jul 27, 2021

On Saturday at Newport, Allison Russell convened a super group of BIPOC performers to take the stage lead by the legendary Chaka Khan. The very next morning, we recorded this conversation. “It's not going to take anything away from you to let us in,” says Allison. “I wanted everyone to be able to see and hear and feel this majesty, this diversity, these expansive, intensely individual artists.” In this equally expansive conversation, Adia and Allison explore what it means to create collectively, for artists to lift each other up, and what it could look like if the music industry did the same.

/ Show Notes /

Allison’s debut solo record is Outside Child. Allison is also a part of the band Our Native Daughters alongside Rhiannon Giddens, Amythyst Kiah and Leyla McCalla.

Listen back to Call and Response featuring Brandi Carlile and Rhiannon Giddens, mentioned in this episode.

Allison Russell shouts out the Marigold Foundation and the Looking Out Foundation for supporting the Super Jam she curated. She also cites the work of the Black Vision’s Collective.

/ Credits /

Call & Response is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Adia Victoria, Babette Thomas and Emily Shaw. Our engineers are Sam Bair and Tom Tierney.

Live At Newport Folk Festival: Margo Price Jul 26, 2021

“Sometimes the best thing to do is to listen and to not speak. Listening is where you're going to grow.” In this second episode of our mid-season special taped live at Newport Folk Festival, Adia catches up with her longtime friend, collaborator, and country music star Margo Price. Adia and Margo discuss how Margo has come to embody a radical honesty; both in her music and speaking out on what needs to change in the Nashville music scene. They talk about Margo’s love of Tina Turner and what it means to give credit to Black artists.

/ Show Notes /

Margo Price’s recent EP is Live From The Other Side. She recently performed her song “Hey Child” on Colbert.

Adia’s latest single is South Gotta Change.

You can find more about what Margo Price said during her performance, at the Opry, here.

/ Credits /

Call & Response is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Adia Victoria, Babette Thomas and Emily Shaw. Our engineers are Sam Bair and Tom Tierney.

Live At Newport Folk Festival: Jay Sweet Jul 25, 2021

“Americana and roots music has become too complacent. What we need now is to shake ourselves from feeling comfortable and start looking at the world around us.” We’re back for a mid-season special series recorded live at Newport Folk Festival, and in this episode, Adia sits down with Newport’s Director, Jay Sweet to dig into the Black roots of folk music. The two explore how Newport can serve as a platform for uncomfortable conversations so that it can grow and evolve with the expanding landscape of folk music, and what the festival’s return means for the artists and audiences it calls family.

/ Show Notes /

Jay Sweet is the Director of the Newport Folk Festival.

Adia references the 1963 performance at Newport by the Freedom Singers, a group formed by the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).

Jay brings up the song “Ohio,” originally performed by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, inspired by the 1968 killings that took place at Kent State University in Ohio.

/ Credits /

Call & Response is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Adia Victoria, Babette Thomas and Emily Shaw. Our engineers are Sam Bair and Tom Tierney.

Brandi Carlile: Multiple Selves (One Story) Jun 03, 2021

In the last episode of this season of Call & Response, Adia sits down with GRAMMY award winning singer and song-writer Brandi Carlile. Carlile has collaborated with Elton John, dueted with Dolly Parton and churned out powerful songs about queer love and motherhood. In this conversation, Adia and Brandi talk through how great personal challenges can become the greatest teachers. And in this week’s playlist, we’re listening to women who’re paving the way for the future of country music in Nashville. For the playlist of songs curated for this week's episode, visit http://bit.ly/cr-brandi.

/Music In This Week's Episode/

The Highwomen, “Highwomen”

Yola, “Diamond Studded Shoes"

Erin Rae, “Mississippi Queen”

Margo Price, “Four Years of Chances”

Allison Russell, “Nightflyer”

Kyshona Armstrong, “My Own Grave”

Gillian Welch, “The Devil Had a Hold of Me”

Those Darlins, “Optimist”

/Show Notes/

Brandi Carlile’s new book is Broken Horses, which you can buy at Parnassus Books if you’re in Nashville. Brandi’s most recent solo album is By The Way, I Forgive You.

Brandi says “Nightflyer” by Allison Russell and “Carolina in My Mind” by James Taylor are the songs giving her life right now.

Dolly Parton and Brandi performed “I Will Always Love You” at The Newport Folk Festival All Female Super Jam that Brandi curated.

/ Credits /

Call & Response is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Adia Victoria, Babette Thomas and Megan Lubin. Our engineers are Sam Bair and Josh Hahn of The Relic Room.

Caroline Randall Williams: Blues Work (is the Work) May 27, 2021

The blues can’t be defined by a set of chord progressions. It’s a philosophy, it is catharsis, it is taking something painful, and turning it into art. In this episode, Adia sits down with blues scholar and poet Caroline Randall Williams. Together they redefine the blues, and talk about what American culture can learn from its music. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode visit www.mixcloud.com/sonos.

/Music In This Week's Episode/

Sippie Wallace, “Women Be Wise”

Muddy Waters, “Mannish Boy”

Koko Taylor, “I Am a Woman”

Samantha Ege, “Fantasie Nègre No. 1 in E Minor

Billie Holiday, “Solitude”

Precious Bryant, “Fool Me Good”

/Show Notes/

Caroline Randall Williams article that made waves in the New York Times last summer is called You Want a Confederate Monument? My Body Is a Confederate Monument.

Caroline says her life sounds like the playlist of blues songs her students made for her, particularly “Where Did You Sleep Last Night?” by Leadbelly.

Adia and Caroline collaborate as part of their poetry collective, the Blair House

Caroline’s book and ballad about Shakespeare’s Dark Lady is called Lucy Negro, Redux.

The song giving Caroline life right now is “No Weapon” by Fred Hammon.

/ Credits /

Call & Response is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Adia Victoria, Babette Thomas and Megan Lubin. Our engineers are Sam Bair and Josh Hahn of The Relic Room.

Brittany Howard: Seeing the South (Seeing Yourself) May 20, 2021

“How does the South inform my music? How do I describe the sound that your bare feet make when they pat the cool, packed red dust under them?” In her music and her writing, Brittany Howard has tapped something elusive: the feeling of the south. It’s contradictions, it’s pain, and its beauty. In this episode, Adia sits down with rock legend and longtime lead singer of the Alabama Shakes Brittany Howard to talk about getting down to the feelings below her lyrics, being unapologetic about where you come from, and who you are. Brittany asked Adia to make a playlist for this episode with her mom, Miss Jackie, so that’s exactly what we did. As always, you can hear the music that accompanies this show on Sonos Radio and Mixcloud, and we hope you will. This one’s a real treat. Visit www.mixcloud.com/sonos for the playlist curated for this week's episode.

/Music In This Week's Playlist/

Al Jarreau, One Good Turn

Soul For Real, Candy Rain

Basia, Run For Cover

Fiona Apple, Get Gone

Marvin Gaye, Inner City Blues

Nirvana, All Apologies

LaBelle, Lady, Marmalade

Kings of Leon, Four Kicks

/Show Notes/

Brittany Howard’s essay, The South Just Has a Thang, is in the Oxford American winter 2020 issue.

Brittany Howard’s debut solo album is Jamie.

/Credits/

Call & Response is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Adia Victoria, Babette Thomas and Megan Lubin. Our engineers are Sam Bair and Josh Hahn of The Relic Room.

Kiese Laymon: Telling Hard Truths (Staying Soft) May 13, 2021

Author Kiese Laymon recently got into a twitter dust up about the eternal question, Outkast v. The Beatles. He wrote, “Beatles stole southern Black and added it to British white. Outkast stole Mars and added it to southern urban Black. Outkast wins.” After reading more of what Kiese had to say about the appropriation of Black southern music, Adia knew she needed to bring him on the show. Their conversation unfolds over how Outkast created new space for southern hip hop, what Adia learned from watching the Derek Chauvin trial, and what hip hop itself can learn from the blues. For the playlist of songs curated for this week's episode, head over to http://bit.ly/cr-kiese.

/ Music In This Week's Playlist /

Rich Boy, “Throw Some Ds”
Goodie Mob, “Cell Therapy”
Trina, “The Baddest Bitch”
Lucille Bogan, “Shave ‘Em Dry”
Nappy Roots, “Awnaw”
Ludacris, Field Mob feat Jamie Foxx, “Georgia”
Arthur Alexander, “Anna (Go To Him)”

/ Show Notes /

Kiese Laymon is the author of the genre-bending novel, Long Division and the essay collection, How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America. Laymon’s bestselling memoir, Heavy: An American Memoir, won the 2019 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction.

Link to the tweet that launched this episode.

Watch Outkast win best new artist at the 1995 Source Awards.

Scholar Regina N. Bradley’s book is Chronicling Stankonia, and you can read Kiese’s essay about OutKast ‘Da Art of Storytelling (A Prequel) in Oxford American.

/ Credits /

Call & Response is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Adia Victoria, Babette Thomas and Megan Lubin. Our engineers are Sam Bair and Josh Hahn of The Relic Room.

Natalie Daise: Sharing Stories (Planting Seeds) May 06, 2021

Remember the show Gullah Gullah Island on Nickelodeon from the 90’s? The colorful worlds, songs and stories inspired by the Gullah Geechee culture were created by Adia’s family friend and the show’s creator, Natalie Daise. Spirit to spirit, Natalie and Adia connect over what it means to use stories and songs to more fully step into your own truth. They talk about moving from south to north and back again, and the importance of southern Black folks returning to the dirt, to seeds, and the land. For a playlist of songs curated for this week's episode, http://bit.ly/cr-natalie

/ Show Notes /

Natalie Daise was the host and creator of Gullah Gullah Island, a children’s show about Gullah Geechee Culture. Natalie and Adia bring up Wintley Phipps’ “It Is Well With My Soul,” “Detroit Moan” by Victoria Spivey and “Coconut Oil” by Lizzo.

/ Music in This Week's Playlist /
Queen Quet and De Gullah Cunnekshun, "Kneebone"
Our Native Daughters, "Blood and Bones"
Jessie Mae Hemphill, "Black Cat Bone"
Bessie Jones, "Sometimes"
Yasmin Williams, "Jarabi"
Precious Bryant, "You Don't Want Me No More"
Ibeyi, "River"
Bessie Jones, "Steal Up, My Young Lady"
Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou, "The Homeless Wanderer"
Nina Simone, "Four Women"

/ Credits /

Call & Response is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Adia Victoria, Babette Thomas and Megan Lubin. Our engineers are Sam Bair and Josh Hahn of The Relic Room.

Kamasi Washington: Making Music (Finding Freedom) Apr 29, 2021

Kamasi Washington is a bonafide jazz icon and visionary who embodies the idea of music making as a communal act: collaborating with folks from across the music industry and infusing his free ranging Angeleno jazz into rock, rap and beyond. You've likely seen his name in the liner notes of your favorite artists’ work from Kendrick Lamar to St. Vincent and Snoop Dogg. In this episode, Adia sits down with Kamasi to talk about his musical upbringing, creating in an unpredictable world, and the transcendent power of Black art. For a playlist of songs curated for this week's episode, visit http://bit.ly/cr-kamasi

/ Show Notes /

Kamasi Washington’s most recent album is Heaven and Earth.

Kamasi’s favorite childhood song was “The Pink Panther Theme” by Henry Mancini. He cites “A Chant for Bu” by Art Blakely and The Jazz Messengers and “Out To Lunch”by Eric Dolphy, as well as Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly, as music that has inspired him throughout his musical journey.

/Music in This Week's Playlist/

Nina Simone, “Sinnerman”

Kamasi Washington, “Hub-Tones”

Joshua Asante, “Everybody Gets Used”

Sun Ra, “Honeysuckle Rose”

Beyonce, “Formation”

Kendrick Lamar, “King Kunta”

St. Vincent, “Pills”

Henry Mancini, “The Pink Panther Theme”

/ Credits /

Call & Response is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Adia Victoria, Babette Thomas and Megan Lubin. Our engineers are Sam Bair and Josh Hahn of The Relic Room.

Jamila Woods: Mapping Lineage (Writing Legacy) Apr 22, 2021

Jamila Woods carries a lineage in her music— artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Zora Neale Hurston and James Baldwin filter into her song lyrics. She channels their voices in her critically acclaimed album, LEGACY! LEGACY! not speaking for them, but instead, singing through them. On this week’s Call and Response, Adia sits down with Jamila to talk about how they each draw strength from the artists who’ve come before them, and using these pandemic times to recenter home, rest and stillness in the creative process. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode, visit http://bit.ly/cr-jamila

/ Show Notes /

Adia and Jamila discuss Zora Neale Hurston’s essay, How It Feels To Be Colored Me. They also reference this Muddy Waters interview.

You can find recordings of Zora Neale Hurston’s singing at the Library of Congress and an interview with Tori Morrison on her writing process, here.

Adia references the song, “Window Seat” by Erykah Badu. Jamila and Adia discuss Lucille Clifton’s poetry and Toni Morrison’s Sula.

Jamila has been playing Deborah Vandyke’s Chords of The Cosmos, Tasha’s “Lullaby” and serpentwithfeet’s “Fellowship,” to lean into rest.

/ Music In This Week's Episode /

70’s Blues, Betty Davis

Goin’ Down Slow, Howlin’ Wolf

VRY BLK, Jamila Woods

Blues at Midnight, Sun Ra

Sweet Home Chicago, Robert Johnson

It’s Hard Sometimes, Frankie Knuckles

Honeybee, Muddy Waters

Smile, Saba

/ Credits /

Call & Response is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Adia Victoria, Babette Thomas and Megan Lubin. Our engineers are Sam Bair and Josh Hahn of The Relic Room.

Rhiannon Giddens: Looking Back (Looking Forward) Apr 15, 2021

“Nostalgia is a killer of truth” says roots musician Rhiannon Giddens. “Musically, what I try to do is just tell as much truth as I can.” In the first episode of Call & Response, Adia sinks into conversation with Rhiannon, and together, they trace the lineage of the banjo from the Caribbean to the Carolinas and question the whitewashing of American folk and blues music. Plus, hear a playlist made by Adia of artists who’ve used their music to reframe the sound of the south. Head over to http://bit.ly/cr-rhiannon to hear the playlist.

/Show Notes/

Rhiannon Giddens’ new album is They’re Calling Me Home.

Rhiannon talks about the akonting, an African ancestor to contemporary American banjos.

Learn more about Frank Johnson, the artist Adia talks about who was whitewashed out of music history.

Adia describes how important Nina Simone’s Four Women is to her, and the impact of listening to Kaia Kater’s music.

Rhiannon says the theme for Japanese TV show Midnight Diner, “Omoide” is the song that’s giving her life right now.

/Music In This Week's Playlist/

Rhiannon Giddens, I Shall Not be Moved

Kaia Kater, Southern Girl

Roseanne Cash, The Killing Fields

Jesse Clarence Gorman, Going up to the Country #1

Valerie June ft. Carla Thomas, Call Me A Fool

Amethyst Kiah, Black Myself

Linda Martell, You’re Crying Boy, Crying

The Moving Starhall Singers, You Got To Move

/ Credits /

Call & Response is a Sonos show produced by work x work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Adia Victoria, Babette Thomas and Megan Lubin. Our engineers are Sam Bair and Josh Hahn of The Relic Room.

Call & Response: Trailer Apr 05, 2021

Call and Response draws upon the blues tradition of communal music making and listening. Hosted by Nashville-based musician and poet Adia Victoria, each episode is a back and forth between Adia and an artist, between their present work, and the lineage of musical ancestors that came before them, and between Adia and you. Listen to Call & Response in your podcast feed, every Thursday, starting April 15th.

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