Music Life

Where music stars discuss how they make their music.

World Service,246 episodes

Episodes

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Spending your creative cash with Eyedress, Homeshake, Na'Kel Smith and María Zardoya
What's the best way to get through a creative block?
02 Sep 2023,22 mins
Success is seasonal with Hak Baker, Benjamin Zephaniah, Celeste and Baxter Dury
How does living in London shape a musician's sound?
26 Aug 2023,32 mins
Don't wait for permission, with Kathryn Tickell, Laura Cannell, Amy Thatcher and Ruth Lyon
Four British folk stars discuss how they make their music
19 Aug 2023,37 mins
The log drum is the new 808 with Busiswa, DJ Lag, Karen Nyame KG and Scratchclart
How South Africa's amapiano and gqom scenes have gone global
12 Aug 2023,30 mins
Music is escapism with Nitin Sawhney, Tim Burgess, Nainita Desai and Ayanna Witter-Johnson
How does your family history affect the things you create?
05 Aug 2023,36 mins
Secrets of African rhythms with Sampa the Great, Thandiswa Mazwai, Emmanuel Jagari Chanda and Mag44
Some of Zambia and South Africa's best musicians discuss their music
29 Jul 2023,36 mins
You don't have to fit the mould, with Rara Sekar, Sandrayati, Ugoran Prasad and Rully Shabara
Four Indonesian musicians discuss music and social change
22 Jul 2023,33 mins
Becoming the people we want to be, with Gina Birch, Kathleen Hanna, Mark Moore, and Stephen McRobbie
Four counter-cultural artists share stories from their lives in music
15 Jul 2023,29 mins
Curating errors with Perera Elsewhere, Fever Ray, Paula Temple and Maral
Four artists explore the outer reaches of contemporary electronic music
08 Jul 2023,28 mins
Quiet is the new loud with José González, Vashti Bunyan and Erlend Øye
Three folks stars discuss the appeal of softer sounds
01 Jul 2023,31 mins
What Afro boom?! With Floyd Lavine, Lakuti, Coco Em and Desiree
How difficult is it for African artists to tour?
24 Jun 2023,32 mins
Collaborating is like dating, with Melike Şahin, Kutiman, Dijf Sanders and Ah! Kosmos
How do artists combine lyrics with music?
17 Jun 2023,27 mins
Meltdown special with Kokoroko, Soap&Skin, Django Django and Let's Eat Grandma
Four artists playing a festival curated by Christine & the Queens discuss making music
10 Jun 2023,30 mins
Insular worlds with Peter Gregson, Dobrawa Czocher, Dom La Nena and Sebastian Plano
Four cello players discuss how they make their music
03 Jun 2023,27 mins
200th episode: Best of the guests with John Grant
Highlights from the past four years, featuring Iggy Pop, Nona Hendryx and Elvis Costello
27 May 2023,49 mins
We are superconductors with Deena Abdelwahed, 3Phaz, Aïsha Devi and débruit
How do musicians bring their studio sounds to the live stage?
20 May 2023,25 mins
Navigating barriers with Phil Selway, Hannah Peel, Valentina Magaletti, and Errollyn Wallen
How do composers progress from a blank page to a room full of musicians?
13 May 2023,33 mins
Eurovision special with Sam Ryder, Mr. Lordi, Teya and Poli Genova
Four Eurovision stars discuss how to write a song for the musical extravaganza
06 May 2023,28 mins
Kindred spirits with Soweto Kinch, Esperanza Spalding, Eska and Tumi Mogorosi
Four modern jazz stars discuss how they make their music
29 Apr 2023,36 mins
Game changers with Gaye Su Akyol, Dana Colley, Marc Ribot and Via Mardot
How do musicians deal with the politics of the industry?
22 Apr 2023,25 mins
La Linea Latin music festival special with Francisco Carrasco, N. Hardem and Chapulines
Four inspiring Latin American musicians discuss creativity and the songwriting process
15 Apr 2023,25 mins
Sounds from the blockchain with Mark de Clive-Lowe, Iman Europe, dot and Pat Junior
Four artists discuss how Web3 technology has changed the way they make music
08 Apr 2023,27 mins
Being a fox or a hedgehog, with Molly Rankin (Alvvays), Tracyanne Campbell, Mac DeMarco and Molly Nilsson
Four indie-pop stars discuss how they make their music
01 Apr 2023,31 mins
Collaboration is the gift that keeps on giving, with Baaba Maal, Tricky, Jah Wobble and Chi-Chi Nwanoku
What influence does African music have in the West?
25 Mar 2023,32 mins
Singing for the rain to come, with Ana Moura, Pedro Mafama, Herlander and Pongo
Four of Portugal's most exciting musicians discuss their craft
18 Mar 2023,28 mins
The bottom is the top and the top is the bottom, with Sun-Mi Hong, Jen Shyu, Mark Guiliana and William Parker
Four boundary-pushing jazz stars discuss how they make their music
11 Mar 2023,26 mins
The courage to seek the unknown with Liraz, Derya Yildrim, Adrian Younge and Ladybug Mecca
A globe-trotting quartet of artists discuss how they make their music
04 Mar 2023,28 mins
Distinguishing what you love from who you are with Mia Gladstone, ROMderful, Maiya Blaney and Emmavie
How painful can songwriting be?
25 Feb 2023,34 mins
Becoming your own muse, with Amelia Moore, REI AMI, G Flip and Royal & the Serpent
Four futuristic pop artists discuss how they make their music
18 Feb 2023,26 mins
Creating space to disappear with Sarathy Korwar, Nwando Ebizie, Sandunes and Abel Selaocoe
Four artists diversifying the classical music space
11 Feb 2023,31 mins