The New Exchange with Ken Grand-Pierre

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.

It’s an absolute privilege to close out season 1 of Creative Maintenance with the one and only Ebru Yildiz. A deeply respected photographer who has gone on to define how we view artists such as Mitski, P!nk, Cigarettes After Sex, and the list is absolutely endless. Part of what makes Ebru’s work stand out is how she’s able to cut through and present work that feels reflective of who a person is, with all the noise of the world set aside and pushed away. When you look at an Ebru Yildiz photograph, it’s immediately clear “this is the art that she wanted to make.” But how did she get there? And more crucially, what’s the link between her better understanding herself + her ability to connect with others? We explore that and more on today’s episode.Remember to follow @creativemainpod on Instagram for more updates on the pod! (intro song is Cassette Player by Rebecca Mardal).

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).

I’d be hard-pressed to think of an episode that’s more personal than this one. Which is (sort of) ironic, because it’s a talk full of laughs and gets off the rails a fair bit, but on that note, I wouldn’t change a thing. Tim Wheeler and Keith Murray are the frontmen of two of my favourite bands, Ash and We Are Scientists. We’re also old friends, and both of their bands have significantly impacted how I enjoy music. This marks both of their returns to the podcast, but the first time chatting together on a pod (I think); and in addition to the obnoxious amounts of laughs in this episode (sorry, not sorry), we also chat about how both bands have reached album number 9. Those albums are We Are Scientists Qualifying Miles (which is out now) and Ash’s Ad Astra (which is out this Friday).

It feels a bit silly trying to introduce today’s guest, because it largely feels like she needs no introduction. But let’s give this a go: Dorothy Miranda Clark (aka dodie) is a singer-songwriter from the UK who’s truly like no other. Most of dodie’s songwriting is emotionally thoughtful and open in sharing the contours of humanity, how oftentimes the most fulfilling thing we can do is also one of the hardest: being vulnerable. Her second album, Not For Lack of Trying, is out on October 3rd, and to kick off season 10, dodie’s joined me on the pod to chat all about it.

The New Exchange is a podcast about how everyone has a story to tell. Throughout the series, Ken Grand-Pierre interviews musicians, writers, comedians & entrepreneurs from all walks of life. Season 10 begins on September 23rd, 2025.Past interview snippets are from the episodes with:Denise Chaila (during season 3)AJ Haynes of Seratones (during season 5)Hrishikesh Hirway (during season 4)Marc Fennell (during season 7)Eoin French aka Talos (between seasons 7 and 8)

Somehow, some f*cking how, this podcast has reached 10 seasons. I can’t overemphasize how this started with no plans or with a vision of the future; there was just a deep desire to learn from people who are different than me. To delve into the past, present, and future of The New Exchange, my buddy Toby Tennebaum rejoins me on the pod to talk through it all.Season 10 will begin on September 23rd, thanks for sticking around. Be sure to visit Toby's photography work on his website.

How often were told you told in school that you need to focus on one thing? If you were anything like me and my friends, I’d imagine it was a daily occurrence for you. There’s arguably some merit to why/how this was pushed onto us, but what about the people who say “f that”? That’s clearly been the case with our friend Carter Howe, a multi-disciplinary creative who’s exploring photography, modeling, and film production in quite some unique ways. At the core of Carter’s work is the exploration of identity, how it can be highlighted, personified, and a vehicle for storytelling. This has led him to working closely with acts like MUNA and Lucy Dacus, and brands like Nike and Levi’s, bringing his distinct style across those projects in a way that seems effortless.But if you’ve been following this series, you know we’re interested in exploring how oftentimes things are anything but effortless. What is it like to pour yourself into so many projects while also traversing who you are professionally and personally? We chat about all of this while having some great laughs in the process. Remember to follow @creativemainpod on Instagram for more updates on the pod! (intro song is Cassette Player by Rebecca Mardal).

This is a wild one: one of the best (if not THE best) live band on planet earth are gracing the podcast. The Hives from Fagersta, Sweden have been making noise since 1993, and somehow have been looking better than the lot of us while doing it. They’re about to release their seventh album, The Hives Forever, Forever The Hives, which is a body of work that further solidifies their world dominance of being absolute badasses. The album is as kinetic and dizzying as you’d expect, with gobsmacking quality that doesn’t sacrifice the emotion and grit of the songs. On our last summer bonus episode, I’m joined by frontman Howlin' Pelle Almqvist and guitarist Vigilante Carlstroem to discuss how The Hives continue to be your favourite band.Also, this is a good time to mention that season 10 (again, holy sh*t) of the podcast will begin on September 23rd. Be sure to be subscribed wherever you stream podcasts so you don’t miss out.

We’ve all heard the saying “teamwork makes the dream work” right? Something that’s funny about that phrase is how it doesn’t leave room to highlight how our individual journeys also contribute heavily within a team setting. Today’s podcast inadvertently is an exploration of that, thanks to Vancouver-based artists Alexis Young and Malcolm Holt. Both are members of the indie pop band Blonde Diamond, along with Alexis also being a Co-Founder/Creative Director at the advertising agency Definitely Real, and Malcolm being the founder of the custom screen printing company Pressing Matters. Together, they chat with us about how being multidisciplinary creatives in 2025 feels like a necessity, but how it’s not a path to be feared.Remember to follow @creativemainpod on Instagram for more updates on the pod! (Intro song is Cassette Player by Rebecca Mardal).This is episode 5 of Creative Maintenance with Laura Harvey.

Referencing The Matrix as a symbol for everyday life definitely feels trite at this point. However, the prevalence of that does continue to feel appropriate, especially when describing scenarios that shake us at our core. In 2025, that could be as simple as a person sharing an experience where they weren’t their best selves, a time in their life when they weren’t ok. That’s the case with what you’ll be hearing on today’s episode with Corinne Cumming, a wildly successful photographer who’s worked with the BBC, Drag Race, any band you can think of, and is also the leader of Eurovision’s photography team.Corinne is the kind of creative who lives and breathes the craft, but what happens when doing that isn’t the answer, and what lessons can you learn from dealing with those questions head-on? Thankfully, Corinne was willing to share her story and how she’s become a better creative for it.Be sure to check out Corrine’s stunning work on Instagram @capturedbycorinne. Also, remember to follow @creativemainpod on Instagram for more updates on the pod! (intro song is Cassette Player by Rebecca Mardal).This is episode 4 of Creative Maintenance with Laura Harvey.

None of us would be profound for stating how the word “hustle” is synonymous with creativity. For years, this has felt like a default setting: where if you “want to make it,” then you need to also be willing to throw your all into it. But what happens when the unsustainable aspect of that becomes crystal clear to us? Well, that’s when a person like Desirée Dawson comes in. A supremely talented singer-songwriter from Vancouver, Desirée has experienced firsthand how soul-draining the chase of music industry success can be. A field that demands that artists to think about their work as “content” above….well, pretty much everything.For the last several years, Desirée has been asking herself, “But what if?” And that “what if” has led her on a journey of choosing herself, her health, and being present for the people she cares about the most. We chat about all this and more on today’s episode, along with how Desirée’s path can be an actionable one.Remember to follow @creativemainpod on ⁠Instagram⁠ for more updates on the pod! (intro song is Cassette Player by Rebecca Mardal).This is episode 3 of Creative Maintenance with Laura Harvey.

It’s actually trippy when you stop to think about it, how the pandemic lockdowns are something we all went through, and while trying to make sense of it all, we’re also trying to act like it never happened. And who can blame any of us, right? For diving headfirst into the return of normalcy (lol) in everyday life. But this is where art, the very function of art, is so vital. It can drive us to reach some form of understanding towards what we’ve gone through, and inadvertently, that’s what my friend Shura has done with her latest album, I Got Too Sad For My Friends.Beyond having the most relatable title of 2025, it’s also one of the year's most ambitious albums. You can hear the love of sonic textures from the ’60s and '80s while also hearing Shura’s obsession with crafting unique melodies. There’s a beautiful juxtaposition across this album, where there’s a sense of modernity you can feel across the songs that’s being projected by so many of the things we’ve felt but rarely say out loud. How we can all relate to significant moments of feeling isolated, heartbroken, lonely, and confused at what the world has hurled at us. Somehow, we chat about all this and more, along with how Shura acquired that sick armor for the album artwork.

One thing that happens as we age is the deterioration of our sense of whimsy and openness. One can look around at the political landscape of…well, anywhere in the world, and that alone would seem like a sound reason as to why this happens. But maybe there’s something deeper, something innate within us that dims our light? Luckily for us, they’re people out there who go the opposite way and remind us of what’s possible when we allow for imagination to shine. Our guest today, Tala Schlossberg, is such a person — a multidisciplinary creative who is the kind of artist that reminds you to reconnect with that inner child (you seriously need to check out her illustrations and animated works). Tala’s built a career that aligns with her values of community, being kinder to one another, and having her work rooted with intention.But getting to this point hasn’t been as easy as it looks. What is it really like to say “no” to things that you’d be led to believe you should say “yes” to? How does that impact your creativity as a whole? These are just a few of the areas we explore with Tala on today’s podcast. Also, on June 27th, Tala will be hosting an art show called EXPLATIONS at 195 Plymouth Street in Brooklyn. Visit her Instagram to RSVP, and also be sure to check out her Substack.Remember to follow @creativemainpod on Instagram for more updates on the pod! (intro song is Cassette Player by Rebecca Mardal).This is episode 2 of Creative Maintenance with Laura Harvey.