Drummer, composer, and activist Terri Lyne Carrington on her early start, equity in jazz, mentorship, teaching at Berklee, rethinking jazz and gender, and and her new album We Insist 2025! with Christie Dashiell, a reimagining of Max Roach’s protest 1960 suite.

Singer, songwriter, producer pablopablo - aka Pablo Drexler- on how he found his own voice, sound, and artistic identity. His debut full-length album, Canciones en mi, is out now. The title is a bilingual play on words—“in E” (as in the musical key), and “in me”—and it perfectly captures the spirit of the record: introspective, expressive, and sonically bold.

Twenty years ago, “Al otro lado del río” became the first Spanish-language song to win an Oscar. Here we revisit that historic night with the song’s composer Jorge Drexler and the people in the immediate circle who watched it go down. They explore the song’s unexpected journey, the impact of its win, and how memory shapes our understanding of the past.

Legendary singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega on early hits, enduring legacy, and her new album Flying with Angels — a conversation about songwriting, truth-telling, and staying true to your voice.

Pianist, composer, bandleader, and activist Arturo O’Farrill in a wide-ranging conversation that is both personal and political. The son of legendary Cuban composer Chico O’Farrill and father to musicians Adam and Zack O’Farrill, Arturo reflects on growing up between cultures, rejecting and then rediscovering his Latin roots, and how the search for artistic honesty has shaped his life.

Dancer, singer and band leader Max Pollak on the remarkable story of how he taught himself to dance in a place where no formal tap training existed. Early on, improvisation wasn’t just part of his style — it was the only way forward. That instinctive relationship with rhythm would become the foundation of his unique voice as an artist.

Self-described “badass and blind” singer, songwriter, guitaristRaul Midón on creativity, perception, independence, and the long road of a life in music. From growing up blind in New Mexico and discovering jazz through shortwave radio, to being discovered by producer Arif Mardin and signing to Blue Note Records, to building a self-sufficient creative life in his Maryland home studio — Raul’s story is full of vision.

Songwriter Stephin Merritt on impermanence, organizing principles, and the art of constraints: Raised by a spiritually seeking mother, Merritt moved 33 times by age 22 and describes himself as a “hippie brat” who “never liked children—even as a child.” This sense of solitude shaped his singular voice as the creative force behind the Magnetic Fields, who are touring this year to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their landmark triple album 69 Love Songs. 

In recent years, his productivity has slowed due to long COVID, a development he accepts with dark humor: “The gods have punished me for my dependence on inspiration by withdrawing it.” Here he reflects on creativity, aging, and songwriting, following a warm and revealing conversation with his longtime friend—and former personal assistant—bestselling author Emma Straub.

Nels Cline’s career defies the myth of a predictable artistic timeline. From decades in the avant-garde to nearly 20 years in Wilco, his journey is one of persistence & reinvention. Here he talks about music, identity & his new album Consentrik Quartet.

Steven Greenberg, the creative force behind the hit “Funkytown”, on crafting one of the most enduring dance tracks of all time, bridging the transition from disco to synth-driven pop, and the discipline required to bring musical ideas to life in an era before digital shortcuts.

Drummer, producer, and composer Makaya McCraven, whose work bridges improvisation, production, and cultural synthesis, on rhythm, time, and the balance of tradition and innovation, plus his creative journey, from his roots in Northampton, Massachusetts, to his innovative projects like In The Moment and In These Times. This hybrid episode spanning interviews from 2022 and 2025 offers a deep dive into the mind of a true beat scientist.

Revisiting this conversation with Jacob Collier recorded at his family home in North London, just as his career was beginning to take flight. At 20 years old, Jacob had already captivated musicians and fans alike with his groundbreaking YouTube videos. Ten years later, with six Grammys, millions of fans, and collaborations with icons like Herbie Hancock and Chris Martin, Jacob’s journey from his small music room to global acclaim underscores the transformative power of artistic connection. This early conversation captures a young artist at the cusp of greatness, offering a rare glimpse into the genesis of one of the most influential musicians of our time.

Pianists Aaron Parks and Marta Sanchez on how music has helped them navigate life's complexities. Aaron talks about his move to Portugal, the release of his latest album Little Big III, and how addressing mental health shaped his journey. Marta reflects on leaving Madrid for New York and the deeply personal inspiration behind her album Perpetual Void.

Composer/pianist/singer Samora Pinderhughes and drummer/producer Jack DeBoe on their long standing collaborative relationship, what happens when art confronts life’s heaviest themes, but the creators meet it with laughter, lightness, and trust.

Allan Tannenbaum, the legendary photographer behind some iconic images, from 1970s NYC nightlife to global headlines, on how he captured it all.

Grammy-winning composer and NEA Jazz Master Maria Schneider on 30 years of the Maria Schneider Orchestra, her life and career, from her small-town Minnesota roots to her groundbreaking collaboration with David Bowie and her fight for artists’ rights. 

Here she talks about how her music channels the wonder, mystery, and tension of her life experiences, her poetic creative process, her acclaimed album Data Lords, and her reflections on what’s next as she looks back on a remarkable journey.

Just like we did after the 2016 and 2020 elections, I spoke with my dad Ben Sidran this week about the latest presidential election.  

Singer Songwriter and multi instrumentalist Andrew Bird on “the reckoning” of returning home from the road, his early days in Chicago, discovering his sound, songwriting as a form of “speaking in tongues”, what it means to be living his life in song form, the upside of obscurity, and what he learned from singing standards. 

Pianist Aaron Goldberg on 20 years of organizing jazz fundraisers for presidential campaigns (this year's was Jazz for Kamala), how he thinks about the potential of music to provoke personal transformation and political action, his own relationship with activism and progressive politics, concert curation, Israel and Gaza. 

Family music artist Lucy Kalantari on the power of intention, why gardening is her favorite metaphor for living a creative life, staying curious, parenthood, and the Grammys.