Couch Wisdom

Latest Episodes:

The Black Madonna Dec 04, 2017

Show notes

One of the most respected DJs working today, The Black Madonna has never shied away from speaking up for women, people of color and the LGBTQ community, both on and off the dancefloor. In her lecture from the 2016 Red Bull Music Academy in Montreal, the former Midwest raver tells us what it takes to challenge the status quo.

Kaytranada Nov 27, 2017

Show notes

An unofficial Janet Jackson remix put Kaytranada on the map, but the Haitian-born beatmaker has emerged as the next in a long line of talents from Montreal. His debut album for XL Recordings netted him a Polaris Prize while putting his passion for Dilla beats, disco oddities and ’90s R&B on full display. At the 2016 Red Bull Music Academy, Kaytranada traces his early rise to fame.

Pauline Oliveros Nov 20, 2017

Show notes

One of electronic music’s most important early figures, Pauline Oliveros dedicated her life to sound. An original member of the pioneering San Francisco Tape Music Center, she also founded the Deep Listening Institute. In this episode, recorded at the 2016 Red Bull Music Academy in Montreal and released in rememberance of her passing, Oliveros talks about building her own instruments and transformative potential of listening with more than the ear.

Che Pope Nov 13, 2017

Show notes

As the chief operating officer of Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music label, Che Pope is one of the most influential figures in US rap and hip-hop culture. In his lecture from the 2015 Red Bull Music Academy in Paris, the Grammy-winning producer breaks down the labor of love that was working with Lauryn Hill and the ruthlessness of the hip-hop industry.

Suzanne Ciani Nov 05, 2017

Show notes

Created in the early 1960s, the Buchla synthesizer revolutionized electronic music, but few have pursued its emotional and sonic possibilities as comprehensively as Suzanne Ciani. In her lecture at the 2016 Red Bull Music Academy, the Grammy-nominated artist and electronic-music pioneer recounts her lifelong relationship with the synthesizer and its inventor.

Iggy Pop Oct 30, 2017

Show notes

Iggy Pop was punk before punk even existed. His band The Stooges created some of the most potent rock music the world had ever heard, and his high-wire collaborations with David Bowie are the stuff of legend. In 2016, he affirmed his position in the pantheon of rock music with his Post Pop Depression LP. Red Bull Music Academy was honored to host him to Montreal in 2016.

Mtume Oct 23, 2017

Show notes

James Mtume may have crafted iconic LPs with Miles Davis, but it was his transition to R&B master that really set him apart. His duo with Reggie Lucas was an unstoppable force through the ’80s, and after decades of serving hit after hit, most notably the sampled-to-death “Juicy Fruit,” Mtume opens up at the Red Bull Music Academy Tokyo 2014.

Moodymann Oct 16, 2017

Show notes

Moodymann is one of the most enigmatic figures house music ever bred. Despite his refusal to play the press-and-promo game, his voice has been among the loudest when it comes to preserving the rich heritage of Afro-American music while fighting the industry powers that be. In a rare public lecture at the 2010 Red Bull Music Academy, Kenny Dixon Jr. reveals all.

Tanya Tagaq Oct 09, 2017

Show notes

A powerful voice from Canada’s north, Tanya Tagaq’s take on Inuk throat singing is a fiercely innovative fusion of old and new. In this episode of Couch Wisdom, recorded at the 2016 Red Bull Music Academy in Montreal and released in honor of Indigenous Peoples Day, Tagaq discusses how the country’s untold history of human rights abuses have influenced her music and beliefs.

Young Thug Engineer Alex Tumay Oct 02, 2017

Show notes

Nobody knows Atlanta rapper Young Thug quite like audio engineer Alex Tumay. In his lecture from the 2016 Red Bull Music Academy in Montreal, Tumay discusses working with one of the brightest and weirdest talents in rap and how Atlanta’s new generation struck gold with a unique new sound.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected