Backstage with Dan Digs

Come backstage and meet Sampology! The Brisbane-based artist, producer, and DJ and I talked about his very favorite venue to play, why record stores are so important, the genius of broken beat, taking inspiration from the outdoors, and the making of his fantastic new album, Regrowth.Plus Sam played a favorite remix from the Avalanches, his favorite broken beat tune, his new single “Suffer and Swim” featuring 30/70’s Allysha Joy, and more. Get Regrowth at http://sampology.bandcamp.com.If you'd like to hear the full version of our chat that includes the songs Sam mentions, just head to http://mixcloud.com/dandigs and search for LOOPS+DOTS episode 32. And if you like what you hear, please subscribe to the Backstage with Dan Digs podcast and leave a review. It helps us move up the charts and get more great music to people!   More music, radio shows, and interviews at http://dandigs.com.

Come backstage and meet Rosie Frater-Taylor!The London jazz-folk artist and I talked about her favorite venue to play in London, working with Chris Hyson from Snowpoet, the genius of George Benson, her childhood memories of the song "Destiny" by Zero 7, and how she put together her fantastic new album, Bloom. Plus Rosie played her favorite songs from Becca Stevens, Madison Cunningham, and more.Get Bloom at http://rosiefratertaylor.bandcamp.com.If you'd like to hear the version of this episode that includes the songs Rosie mentions during our chat, just head to http://mixcloud.com/dandigs. And if you like what you hear, please subscribe to the Backstage with Dan Digs podcast and leave a review. It helps us move up the charts and get more great music to people!   More music, radio shows, and interviews at http://dandigs.com.

Come backstage and meet Brijean!The Oakland duo and I talked about their very favorite venue to play, how they first met, hip-hop trivia nights, opening for Channel Tres, Salami Rose Joe Louis DJing their first show, their jazz backgrounds, Brijean nudging Doug into disco music, dancing all night at house nights in Madison, Wisconsin, texting Chaz from Toro Y Moi about great house music, the supportive musical community of Oakland, writing their amazing track “Moody” in just 20 minutes, being inspired by Timbaland’s productions, the story behind their music video for “Wifi Beach,” Karen Carpenter drums solos, a forthcoming Brijean remix by a house music legend (they wouldn’t tell me who!), future collaborations, and their brand new album Feelings out now on Ghostly.Plus we played music from Moodymann, Candido, and Mejiwahn.Brijean also played my new feature FIVE GEMS, where I ask artists five rapid-fire questions about five of the best things in life.Listen to hear them talk about their picks for:1 – A GEM OF A SONG 2 – A GEM OF AN ALBUM 3 – A GEM OF A LIVE SHOW 4 – A GEM OF A FILM 5 – A GEM OF A PIECE OF ADVICEGet Brijean's new album "Feelings" via Ghostly at http://brijean.bandcamp.com.If you'd like to hear the version of this episode that includes some of the songs Brijean mentioned, just head to http://mixcloud.com/dandigs. If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a review. It helps us move up the charts and get more great music to people!   More music, radio shows, and interviews at http://dandigs.com.

Backstage with Dan Digs is back!We’re remixing it up for 2021 with new and very special “at home” editions!For episode 5 I had a chat “backstage” (meaning over Zoom from my back yard in Nashville) with Natalie Slade in Sydney, who released one of my favorite albums of 2020, Control, on Eglo Records.We talked about the Sydney warehouse scene, living through the Christchuch, New Zealand earthquake, singing Chaka Khan songs as a kid at a talent contest, why every great musician in Australia heads to Melbourne, how every DJ livestream needs a strong houseplant presence, how she would describe her album Control, how she linked up with Simon Mavin from Hiatus Kaiyote to create it, what her song “Humidity” means to her, the forthcoming remixes of her songs, and working with Steve Spacek.Natalie also played my new feature FIVE GEMS, where I ask artists five rapid-fire questions about five of the best things in life.Listen to hear her talk about her picks for:1 – A GEM OF A SONG2 – A GEM OF AN ALBUM3 – A GEM OF A LIVE SHOW4 – A GEM OF A FILM5 – A GEM OF A PIECE OF ADVICEGet Control via Eglo Records at http://natalie-slade.bandcamp.com and follow Natalie at http://instagram.com/_natalieslade.Thanks for tuning in. Hope you enjoy the conversation.To hear the version of this episode that includes some of the songs Natalie mentioned, just head to http://mixcloud.com/dandigs.If you like what you hear, please subscribe and leave a review - it helps us move up the charts and get more great music to people!More music, radio shows, and interviews at http://dandigs.com.

Sampa the Great is great.For the fourth episode of Backstage with Dan Digs, the rogue offshoot of my regular Dublab radio show where we go behind the scenes at the world's best live music venues and have a chat with my favorite artists before their performances, I had a chat with Sampa while sitting on the stage before her recent show at Gold Diggers in LA.We talked about the first song she ever wrote, her memories of her parents playing folk tapes from Zambia, her first time listening to 2Pac, listening to South Sudan rapper Krown while on tour, and the profound concept behind her new album, The Return, out next month via Ninja Tune and available as a red and green vinyl package in honor of the Zambian flag.[This was previously broadcast as part of my regular Dublab show - Loops + Dots - episode 11. Listen to the full show with music at http://mixcloud.com/dandigs.]Thanks for tuning in. More music, radio shows, and interviews at http://dandigs.com.

I love me a good Origin story.For the third episode of Backstage with Dan Digs, the rogue offshoot of my regular Dublab radio show where we go behind the scenes at the world's best live music venues and have a chat with my favorite artists before their performances, I caught up with London-via-New Zealand artist, musician, and Kiwi D’Angelo Jordan Rakei for a chat backstage before his recent Hollywood Forever show in LA. We talked about playing the Troubadour two years ago, the pho vs. ramen debate, strong pho puns, getting recognition from Elton John, Quincy Jones, and Nile Rodgers, his house music alias Dan Kye, his kind-of-secret other music alias Frank Liin, making music on the MPC, his love of musical theater, golf, the rise of artificial intelligence, the best thing about London, and explaining the idea behind the cover art of his amazing new album, Origin, out now via Ninja Tune.Thanks for tuning in! If you'd like to hear the version of this episode that includes the songs Jordan picked, just head to http://mixcloud.com/dandigs. More music, radio shows, and interviews at http://dandigs.com.

Nothing short of glorious.For the second episode of Backstage with Dan Digs, the rogue offshoot of my regular Dublab radio show where we go behind the scenes at the world's best live music venues and have a chat with my favorite artists before their performances, I caught up with one of 2019's fastest rising stars: Slowthai. Ty and I talked about LA, anticipating trying In-N-Out for the first time, his show rider, how surreal it is to release an album into the world, his singular voice, working with Mura Masa, writing "Doorman" in two hours on one hour of sleep, collaborating with Slaves, keeping his future releases a mystery, seeing Odd Future in Birmingham and then a few years later working with Tyler, the Creator, believing in the universe, thinking things into existence, and never putting boundaries on music. Thanks for tuning in. More music, radio shows, and interviews at http://dandigs.com.

Somewhere in space, this may all be happening right now.Backstage with Dan Digs is a new music-centric interview series set in green rooms and iconic concert venues across the nation.Our first episode (originally recorded in 2017) has me sitting down with none other than James Lavelle to talk about his UNKLE album The Road Pt 1, the legacy of Mo’ Wax, DJing around the world, and Phil Collins.You can listen to this episode’s playlist of all the music mentioned in our conversation by searching for "Backstage with Dan Digs" on Spotify. You can also watch the video of our conversation at http://dandigs.com/tv.Thanks for tuning in. More music, radio shows, and interviews at http://dandigs.com.

It was a pleasure hanging out with Madison McFerrin on the air and playing some of her favorite songs while I was hosting the Destination OUT! Radio Hour yesterday morning at Dublab. Madison and I talked about appreciating Stevie Wonder at Whole Foods, working on music through the night until 7am with Phonte, the legendary Aretha, fellow Brooklyn experimentalist L’Rain, her collaboration with Photay, the good folks at Astro Nautico, and her upcoming live show at the Lodge Room in Highland Park, Los Angeles, with Charlo Rossi. Plus the show saw brand new music from BADBADNOTGOOD & Little Dragon, Swindle feat. Andrew Ashong, Fatima, and Konradsen, in addition to ending with a bumpin’ remix of Janet’s “Got Til It’s Gone” followed by a cheeky house edit of a Bobby McFerrin classic. You can stream the show in its entirety via http://dublab.com. Here’s how we had no time to lose. TUE OCT 9, 2018 10AM-11AM Konradsen – “Never Say A” Jadu Heart – “The Cure” BADBADNOTGOOD & Little Dragon – “Tried” Swindle – “Reach the Stars” (feat. Andrew Ashong) Fatima – “So Rite” Moonchild – “Run Away” (Eric Lau & Kaidi Tatham Remix) MADISON MCFERRIN LIVE IN CONVERSATION + PLAYING HER FAVORITE MUSIC (bed: Ali Shaheed Muhammad and Adrian Younge – “Better Endeavor”) Aretha Franklin – “Until You Come Back To Me” (bed: Jaubi – “Lahore State Of Mind” [Al Dobson Jr Remix] ) Madison McFerrin – “No Time To Lose” (bed: Flamingosis – “Another Time”) L’Rain – “Which Fork” (bed: J-Felix – “Glide” [Instrumental] ) Madison McFerrin – “Insane” Janet Jackson – “Got Til It’s Gone” (Mo Serious Edit) Joe – “Thinkin About” (Bobby McFerrin Sample) Listen back to my other radio shows at http://mixcloud.com/dandigs, hear more from Madison over at her Bandcamp page at http://madisonmcferrin.bandcamp.com, and check out her brother Taylor McFerrin’s album Early Riser, my number 1 album of 2014, at http://dandigs.com. Also, one more thing, definitely get yourself down to Destination OUT! every Tuesday from 8-11 PM at Rudolph’s Bar & Tea inside the Freehand Hotel in Los Angeles. Presented by Los Guapos, the night “highlights the freshest and most exciting jazz artists today. Guests have included Brandon Coleman, Kamasi Washington, Jeff Parker, Jimetta Rose, Teodross Avery, Makaya McCraven, Tom Misch, Te’Amir, Ethio Cali, Katalyst, and more.”

Last Saturday saw Worldwide FM broadcasting live from the Eagle Rock Music Festival. Was truly a pleasure to join Steve Nalepa, Money Mark, Jimetta Rose, and Iman Omari on the airwaves and spin music from Jadu Heart, the Breathing Effect, Diggs Duke, L’Orange ft Oddisee, Hello Skinny, Cid Rim, and more. You can listen back via Mixcloud at http://mixcloud.com/dandigs and watch the entire show via the Facebook Live video at http://dandigs.com. Here’s how we rocked the ERMF. SAT OCT 7, 2017 4PM-5PM Cream – “I Feel Free” Ben Westbeech – “Butterflies” Luke Vibert – “I Can Phil It” Ivan Conti – “Azul” (Max Graef Remix) Jadu Heart – “Harry Brompton’s Ice Tea” The Breathing Effect – “Josephine” Moonchild – “The List” Swell – “I’m Sorry” (feat. Shilou) Diggs Duke – “School Lets Out” Money Mark – “The Grade” Monro – “Fly” L’Orange – “Look Around” (feat. Oddisee) Sweatson Klank – “Smile” Hello Skinny – “Mr. P.Z.” Dexter Story – “As Is” (Mark de Clive-Lowe Remix) Machinedrum – “All I Really Want” Cid Rim – “Mouches Volantes” Listen back to my other shows on Worldwide FM at http://dandigs.com.

For my latest show on Worldwide FM, I spoke with Charlotte Dos Santos, one of my favorite artists of 2017, backstage before her debut Los Angeles show at Center for the Arts Eagle Rock, and played some of my very favorite new songs from the past few weeks. Musical gems in the mix from Nai Palm, Ibeyi, Werkha, Sly5thAve with Jimetta Rose, Roy Ayers as remixed by Young Pulse, and more, plus Charlotte and I talked about growing up in Norway, living in Berlin, the first song she remembers hearing, who she’d like to collaborate with, and her new album Cleo out now on Fresh Selects. We also played some of her favorite music including tracks by Minnie Riperton and L’Rain. Here’s how we selected the fresh. WED SEP 27, 2017 12PM-1PM Nai Palm – “Homebody” Genesis Owusu – “Sideways” (Prod. Simon Mavin & Perrin Moss from Hiatus Kaiyote) Werkha – “Glass Games” feat. Bryony Jarman-Pinto Jordan Rakei – “Goodbyes” Ibeyi – Me Voy” feat. Mala Rodriguez Sly5thAve – “Let Me Ride” feat. Jimetta Rose (Dr. Dre Cover) 30/70 – “Slangin” Lazy Salon – “Hot Dinners” Kaytranada – “2017 07 04” CHARLOTTE DOS SANTOS IN CONVERSATION Charlotte Dos Santos – “A New Beginning” Minnie Riperton – “Lovin’ You” L’Rain – “Bat” Charlotte Dos Santos – “Cleo” Roy Ayers – “Running Away” (Young Pulse Rework) Listen back to my other shows on Worldwide FM at http://worldwidefm.net.