The New Exchange with Ken Grand-Pierre

What if the trick to falling back in love with your craft was falling back in love with yourself? That’s not the question that Charlotte OC set out to ask herself, but it’s the answer she’s clearly been met with; the songs off her latest EP being the proof. That EP is called ‘Seriously Love, Go Home’ and though I’ve told you the end of the movie, the journey is what needs to be explored. Musically, Charlotte’s never sounded better; her trademark effortless cool is in full display, with vocals that would be right at home in your nearest arena. This is the story of how this music almost never saw the light of day, and the relentless badassery of Charlotte OC.Also, this is a great time to let you know that season 11 of The New Exchange will be starting on March 31st.

There’s a hauntingly familiar way in which loneliness can creep in when you’re surrounded by people. It can feel like such a small thing, but it will gnaw away at you until it’s the dominant thought in your mind. This is a feeling that Katie and I have chatted about in private many times throughout the years, and on this episode, we tackle it head-on. How do you make sense of that specific sense of isolation when surrounded by friends while you’re also doing what you love? Fair warning to you, this definitely isn’t a podcast where we solve the grand mysteries of loneliness, but hopefully, hearing us chat about it will help ya feel less alone.This is episode 2 of 5 (Intro song is Fa Fa Fire by Andreas Dahlback, from Epidemic Sound). Artwork photo by Katie Dadarria.

This is another episode that feels unintentionally timely. We all crave escapism, but to many of us, it increasingly feels like the escapism available to us can leave us feeling more detached than intended. Enter in Brooklyn R&B duo Bathe, a group that’s made it their mission to make music that acts as “a balm for the anxieties of modern life.” Take it from this music lover, the ways in which their album Inner Voice(s) has become a refuge for me is something I’m perpetually grateful for & it’s a privilege getting to introduce you to these guys.That said, to just call them R&B would be unfair, and even their self-embraced descriptor of alt-R&B feels too small. What Bathe excel at is bringing you soundscapes that feel intimate, familiar, and fresh all at once. Across this episode, we go into their origin story, along with the whys, and hows of how they go about doing what they do best.

(Thank you, Heather!). Welcome to the first proper episode of In The Long Run with Katie Dadarria. If you missed the announcement episode, don’t worry, this first episode has been (partially) designed to catch you up to speed. Throughout these episodes, I’m going to be chatting with my dear friend, Katie Dadarria, about a developing personal project she’s working on, which features her interviewing older women about their experiences running. One of the lenses we’re utilizing is the exploration of how run clubs have blown up in popularity, the good and the bad of that, along with the conflicting feelings of community and isolation that we can feel in groups.As the series progresses, we’ll be investigating the ways in which these talks have affected Katie, and with each episode, we talk explicitly about her thoughts and feelings towards the evolution of these people's lives (including her own). For this first chat, it only made sense to have a direct talk about running, an activity that many of us can’t imagine partaking in (even with the mounting peer pressure to do so). This is episode 1 of 5 (Intro song is Fa Fa Fire by Andreas Dahlback, from Epidemic Sound). Artwork photo by Katie Dadarria.

I couldn’t be more excited to announce our next mini-series, In The Long Run with Katie Dadarria. Katie is an exceptionally talented photographer and runner based in New York City. Though running has become a focal element of her life, she’s grown hyper-aware of how often the projection of community amongst run clubs can be anything but. Especially regarding older women, who (as Katie puts it) “are often not encouraged to show up, despite having so much to offer.”Across these talks, I chat with Katie about her experiences talking to these women, how the feelings of isolation, aging, and exclusion can feel more tangible than we recognize. A core of this series is being challenged by our own misconceptions of others and what they’re going through, with Katie also exploring how she’s navigating the changes of her life and learning from the people she’s been meeting along the way.The first episode will be out on Wednesday, February 11th. Be sure to follow Katie on Instagram and visit her website to learn more about her and her work (Intro song is Fa Fa Fire by Andreas Dahlback, from Epidemic Sound)

I don’t think it’d be a stretch to say that ambition can usually be associated with a lot of tropes. The tortured artist laboring over their craft & resigning themselves to perpetually chasing greatness at the expense of everything (no, this isn’t a review of Marty Supreme, but I did love that movie). But what happens when an artist is able to take ambition and view it through a different lens? Even a healthier lens?That’s been the case with my old friends of the band St. Lucia, with that healthy ambition being evident across their recently released Fata Morgana double-album. Broken up into two halves (Dawn and Dusk) the album is a soaring triumph, with massive swings musically that feel reminiscent of ABBA, Paul Simon, and Brazilian folk music. My favourite part about this project is how it very much feels alive, a high-quality collection of songs that don’t feel marred by perfectionism, which I can say is a new space for St. Lucia to be operating in. To learn more about this album and the way it expanded the band's life, I got to catch up with Jean and Patti at their home in Brooklyn to learn all about the transformative experience of bringing this music to life.

(Este episodio está presentado por Maddy Cline). Existe un tipo de dolor del que rara vez se habla. Un duelo que es a la vez silencioso y ruidoso, que nos acompaña en nuestros trayectos diarios, mientras cocinamos y en muchos otros momentos. Es el duelo que surge al intentar comprender esta vida, el torbellino de información, el ciclo de noticias de 24 horas, los salarios cada vez más bajos… la lista es interminable. No vas a encontrar la cura para este duelo en este podcast, pero sí encontrarás la banda sonora que te ayudará a afrontarlo. Esto es gracias a nuestra invitada de hoy, Ela Minus, una artista de Bogotá, Colombia, que encarna lo que significa ser una persona inconformista. Ela crea música electrónica sin concesiones que busca tanto hacerte bailar como reflexionar; música que te invita a crecer como persona. Para lograrlo, Ela ha documentado su propio crecimiento a lo largo de su segundo álbum, DÍA. Es un álbum que explora cómo la sanación y la vulnerabilidad que la acompaña rara vez son lineales, cómo para sentirnos más completos, debemos ver la vida desde diferentes perspectivas, incluso internamente. Este es nuestro primer episodio en otro idioma del podcast The New Exchange, y esperamos que sea el primero de muchos. Gracias por acompañarnos en este viaje.

(Your eyes aren’t deceiving you with the artwork. You can hear part 1 of Remembering Talos here).Surprise! Welcome to the finale of season 10. As 2025 comes to a close, it felt only fitting to welcome back Ólafur Arnalds to the pod. The talk we had back in season 9 has gone on to become a massive favourite of mine, and yeah, it just felt so important to have a full + proper chat regarding our friend, Eoin French (aka Talos). You see, before Eoin’s passing, the two created an album together titled A Dawning. It’s one of the biggest standouts of 2025 to me. I mean, yes, I am absurdly biased, but you’d truly be hard-pressed to find music that better evokes sensitivity, whimsy, joy, and tenderness than the songs across this album. The first half of this conversation is Ólafur and I going in-depth about the album's making, along with us reminiscing about Eoin.The second half of the episode also features Ólafur and I, but this time we are joined by Sofi Paez and Sam Beste (aka The Vernon Spring), two artists who’re part of the OPIA Community. OPIA is a creative collective of artists that grew together during the pandemic over Discord. What started as a modest attempt at community has sprawled into a global beacon of light for creatives, as well as becoming a record label (which has put out the stellar albums by Sofi and Sam, Silent Stories, and Under A Familiar Sun, respectively). Together, the four of us explore the vitality of having community in not just the world of music, but life itself. Major thanks to Pete Olshansky for lending his voice to the intro. This episode is dedicated to Steph and Peadar Ó Goill.Btw, here are some relevant links for you:Eoin French’s Obituary via the Irish ExaminerÓlafur Arnalds season 9 episode (released March 2025)We Didn’t Know We Were Ready Tribute on the Tommy Tiernan ShowThe OPIA Community Discord & Instagram

Nowadays, there’s pressure on artists to produce art that feels broad strokes. Pieces that aren’t specific to a place or time, with the hopes of it reaching the widest audience possible (i.e. the approach of producing “content”).But what happens when an artist does the opposite? When they not only lean into where they’re from, but also unflinchingly share a life experience that’s hyper-specific to them and their community? For Irish singer-songwriter/visual artist David Balfe (aka For Those I Love), that endeavor has been second nature. But like all great artists, it hasn’t come without a cost, the act of pouring so much pain into works. The end result has been two uncompromising and exhilarating bodies of work, the Choice Prize winning self-titled/debut album (released in 2021) and his latest album, Carving A Stone (released this year). Across this episode, we chat about the depths of those works, how moments of light can seep into times of grief, and our beautiful relationships with his native Ireland.As mentioned within the episode, you absolutely should listen to Four by Dave’s friend Paul S. Curran here via SoundCloud. You can also check out my old episode with Eloi Youssef here (thank you again to the people of The Netherlands for all the love this year!).

A major thing that I love about structuring these seasons is how, on the face of it, none of these guests have anything in common. Sure, they’re largely creatives, but they all make different music, come from different cities and countries….in some ways, you couldn’t find people who’re more different. And yet, with this second half of season 10, I’m reminded of how crucial imagination is in this life. How artists have many duties, one of which is to remind us of what is possible when we think beyond what’s in front of us. That’s in essence what today’s guest is all about, Aneesa Strings. She’s an independent artist from Oakland, California, who embodies the best parts of jazz, soul, R&B, and hip-hop. A true student of the game, she’s the natural progression of artists like J Dilla, D’Angelo, and Erykah Badu; all while crafting her own lane and doing so in immense style. Across this episode, we chat about her story, why music means so much to her, and, as Ethan Hawke says about doing great work, “it doesn’t come for free.”

The word “imagination” has been on my mind a lot lately. As creatively invigorating as New York City can be, it, like anywhere else, is susceptible to feeling stifling and drab, especially when stuck in the motions of life. It’s times like these where my mind wanders to other places and other people, like today’s guest, my dear friend Dan Black. I’m convinced that if the word “imagination” could have a picture in the dictionary that it’d be ridiculously fitting to have Dan’s photo right on there. For over two decades, he’s pushed the boundaries of indie rock (with The Servant), redefined what pop music can be (see his solo album UN), and helped younger musicians build their own worlds as a music producer (enter French music phenomenon Louane). Oh, and did I mention how on his off-time he galavants across Europe with pioneering dance group Planet Funk as one of their singers?If reading that made you wonder, “wait, how does this guy do ALL of that?” Well, don’t worry, Dan feels the exact same way. Hence, this episode you’re about to hear, a chat that explores Dan’s illustrious past, present and future as comprehensively as humanly possible.On January 12th, Dan will be playing his first live show in years at POPUP! in Paris. You can get your tickets here.

There’s a lot of swearing within the intro to this episode. Some might say it’s excessive, but what can I say: I fucking love this band, man. Last Train are a rock band of four friends from France who’re making some of the most exciting music I’ve heard in years. Their approach? Learn the rules of rock music and toss them out the window, while also showing flourishes of their mastery. They’re a band that’s capable of being strikingly feral and sophisticated in their form, use of time-signatures, and call and release with their instruments (see tracks like Home, The Big Picture, and Heroin as prime examples). This marks their second time gracing this podcast; the first time was a chat I had with their drummer and bass player way back in season 1 (you can hear that episode here).This time around, I’m joined by their legendary frontman, Jean-Noël (aka future winner of the Anakin Skywalker lookalike contest). A beautiful thing about this talk is that we use 2 of their recent albums (2024’s Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and this year's release III) to explore what the band is all about. Both albums not only rock, but feel like thesis statements about Last Train and why they’re about to become your next favourite band.

I am convinced that there’s an alternate timeline where Nick Cave and PJ Harvey stayed together, had a child, and that child learned inter-dimensional travel to reach our world. That’s the only way I can explain the existence of Belgian artist Sylvie Kreusch, an unbelievable dynamo of a performer and the type of artist who was simply born to express themselves. Her second album, Comic Trip, is a wondrous storm of contradictions. Sylvie’s trademark of sleek confidence and ferocity are present, but they’re now in the backdrop of lush and cinematic chords that feel….daresay, sweet? Something told me that the potential for bewildering her audience caused more excitement than pause for Sylvie, and across this episode, I chat with her about her refusal to be pigeonholed.

Something I secretly aspire to be is a lifelong student. Specifically, the type of person that can lose days, weeks and months to the pursuit of knowledge; along with the integration of that knowledge into their lives. That’s one of the many traits I’d use to describe my latest guest, Gwenno. She’s an accomplished Welsh-Cornish musician that’s just as interested as writing a densely layered song as she is a pop banger. Her latest album, Utopia, showcases that in spades. It largely centers around the time that Gwenno spent living + working in Las Vegas, a time she found herself thinking “wait did that ever happen?” The end result of those ruminations is a body of work that again, wants to make you sweat and dance in equal measure. Easily one of 2025’s bests, this is my chat with Gwenno.

Authenticity has become a word that most of us groan at. It’s a word that’s long plagued conference rooms & dating apps to (nearly arriving at) the point of losing all meaning. But once in a while, an artist comes around that reminds you of the magic of that word & the beautiful multitudes it can carry. Singer-songwriter Ben Abraham is such an artist, a musician who writes songs that are crafted to make your heart flutter. To hear Ben chat about it, the way of doing this is second nature to him, but the road to becoming the musician he is today was far from an easy one. A journey of highs and lows, Ben’s north star has always been “how to write the best song?” and this is all about how he goes about just that.The full name of that comedian from the Broadway show ‘ta-da!’ is Josh Sharp.

The fact that many people still view pop music as a “guilty pleasure” is absurd. They say you shouldn’t start any piece of writing with a declarative statement, but similar to today’s guest; I couldn’t give a f%£k less about the rules. Miso Extra is a British pop artist (by way of Japan) that hates to be bored. For the last few years she’s released music brimming with colour, style, and most importantly: substance. Her debut album, Earcandy, is one of 2025’s finest, a masterclass of pop songwriting that understands that the rules of any genre are meant to be broken and skewed. It’s not that Miso solely colours outside of the lines, but rather that she understands the lines are there to be danced around; that she can operate within the confines of pop songwriting as easily as she can blend multiple genres to her will. Part of how she’s able to achieve that is by creating within the Misoverse. What is that exactly? You’ll have to hear this latest podcast to find out.

Energy. Authenticity. Soul. These are words we all know, but it’s so rare to come across an individual who not only reminds us of those words but also truly embodies them. That’s how I’d describe Caleb Kunle, though, like all great things, it feels comical to attempt to reduce him to words. Caleb is a singer/songwriter/performer from the UK (by way of Nigeria and my second home of Ireland), and his mission is to make you feel. His music blends the best bits of R&B, soul, jazz, and funk into this sound that‘s fresh and immediate. When Caleb puts a song out into the world, he wants you to move, to sweat, and again: to feel. This episode is all about introducing you to what Caleb is about, why he does what he does, and getting you to know your next favourite artist.

(Hey, this is required listening before or after today's episode. You're welcome). Finding quiet moments in life feels more high-stakes than ever, doesn’t it? With what a dumpster fire the world is (both politically and societally), you could be forgiven for retreating into a feedback loop of escapism. But what’s your soundtrack for those moments? And could the soundtrack for those quieter moments actually leave you feeling more connected to people? The Londoner who is Catching Flies says yes, and he’s my latest guest on the podcast. A next-level DJ / producer, his music has been a constant mainstay in my headphones throughout this year. He has a unique approach to blending the tones of trip-hop, jazz, and soul that reminds you of the humanity you can feel on a dancefloor. He’s become vigorously prolific, and though he’s been releasing music for a minute, in many ways, he’s just getting started.

Somehow in 2025, the act of being unabashedly oneself has become a rebellious act. Arguably, it always has been, but it is baffling how speaking your truth in this modern age feels life and death. That said, my latest guest tackles this brilliantly, largely by being mindful of what they give a f%£k about. Nxdia is an alt-pop punk artist from Manchester (by way of Egypt and Sudan), and they relish in being an anomaly. Though they clearly appreciate a hooky melody, there’s more of a fascination with pivoting and bulldozing right into expectations of any sort. Their body of work, I Promise No One’s Watching, is a flag-planting moment; one of those examples of an artist making it clear that they’ll never seek approval or understanding. No, Nxdia is here to share deep stories of chaos and disarray, all while sporting a mischievous grin in the process.

It’s not just me that finds that the most impactful moments in life tend to be the quietest ones, yeah? Those moments where your perspective is forced to shift in ways you couldn’t have imagined and you can feel yourself changing in real time….yeah, moments like those. Someone who clearly feels similar is my old friend Gordi, a supremely talented singer-songwriter from Australia who’s released one of 2025’s strongest albums. That album is called Like Plasticine (out now), which is a body of work that traverses the beauty of life and death, queer identity, heartbreak, and, ya know, the fun stuff! But in all seriousness, where Gordi shines as a songwriter is in making us feel less alone by sharing her own experiences, along with those she’s observed, and in doing so, the multitudes of the human condition. A word that is the guiding light of this episode is ‘perspective’ and how crucially we need to find, nurture, and adapt to it across other people. We chat about all that and more (along with the occasional laugh, because again, fun stuff).