Go with Elmo Lovano

Episode 59: Jacob Collier. Today, I’m hyped to have one of my favorite artists on the podcast—Jacob Collier. Jacob is one of the brightest lights on Earth, and I always treasure our conversations. This time, you get to watch us! Jacob is nominated for 3 GRAMMYs this year, including Album of the Year, Best Arrangement, and Best Global Music Performance. With 6 GRAMMY wins and an incredible 15 nominations to his name, he’s set a remarkable standard, being nominated for Best Arrangement for the past 6 consecutive years—winning both Arrangement GRAMMYs in two of those years.In this episode, we dive into Jacob’s world-building approach to music and life. We discuss his album Djesse Vol. 4, which is up for Album of the Year, and how he brought the project to life. Jacob shares what it feels like to complete the ambitious Djesse series and the magic of conducting massive audiences on his current tour.We talk about his unmatched talent for arranging, crafting mind blowing versions of classics like "Bridge Over Troubled Water" with Tori Kelly and John Legend, to how he creates intricate layers that evolve from a single idea to a masterpiece.Jacob opens up about life, fame, and staying grounded while still living at home with his mom. We even touch on reincarnation, our dearly treasured Quincy Jones (which is how Jacob and I got connected) and his friendship with Herbie Hancock. Stick around to the end to hear Jacob’s message to our homie, Zedd.There’s so much to love in this episode—humor, depth, and the genius of one of the most inspiring musicians of our time.We hope you love our conversation! Please like, comment, and subscribe for more amazing stories from the world’s most fascinating artists. Dropping new episodes weekly. Let’s go!!#JacobCollier #GoWithElmoLovano #Podcast‘Go with Elmo Lovano’ is a weekly podcast where Elmo interviews creatives and entrepreneurs in music on HOW they push forward every day, got where they are in their careers, manage their personal lives, and share lessons learned and their most important insights. Please SUBSCRIBE / FOLLOW this podcast to catch new episodes as soon as they drop! Your likes, comments and shares are much appreciated! Listen to the audio form of this podcast wherever you get your podcasts: https://rss.com/podcasts/gowithelmoFollow Jacob:https://www.instagram.com/jacobcollier/Follow Elmo Lovano:https://Instagram.com/elmolovanohttps://Twitter.com/elmolovano

It’s that time of year when Walter Afanasieff takes over the charts. Walter is the writer and producer of “All I Want for Christmas Is You”—the biggest Christmas song of all time—and he also produced “My Heart Will Go On.” But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. From writing and producing with Mariah Carey to working with Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, and Barbra Streisand, Walter has been behind some of the most unforgettable songs in music history.He co-wrote dozens of hits with Mariah Carey, including “Hero” and “One Sweet Day”—the record-breaking duet with Boyz II Men that held the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for 16 weeks. And let’s not forget “My Heart Will Go On”—yes, the Titanic theme with Celine Dion—which earned him a GRAMMY for Record of the Year. Walter also won the Producer of the Year GRAMMY in 2000.This year, he’s nominated for Best Song Written for Visual Media for his song "Love Will Survive" with Barbra Streisand from the miniseries The Tattooist of Auschwitz. Walter co-wrote the piece with Hans Zimmer, Charlie Midnight, and Kara Talve, and produced it alongside Peter Asher.In this episode, we dig into Walter’s incredible journey through the music world. From his early days working with Narada Michael Walden (fun fact: Walter played synths on “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”) to collaborating with some of the biggest voices in history, Walter is an absolute legend. He’s also a dear friend, and I’m so excited to share our conversation with you today. Let’s go!

Episode 57 - Elena Pinderhughes is one of the most sought-after musicians in today’s vibrant jazz scene. From touring with legends like Herbie Hancock, Common, and Chief Adjuah to performing the iconic “Mask Off” with Future on the Coachella Main Stage, Elena has already brought the flute to a new level. She’s a prominent figure in this wave of brilliant young musicians rising within the new jazz world.The first time I heard her play flute, it was alongside the jazz world’s GOAT, Herbie Hancock, and I immediately knew she was different. Her sound didn’t just complement something already iconic—she elevated it. Since then, I’ve seen her perform with Terrace Martin, Lalah Hathaway, Snarky Puppy, and so many more. I wanted to understand how she’s achieved so much at such a young age.I’d boil it down to these things: Intention, mind set, dedication, and a strong support system with her brother, Samora Pinderhughes.Elena talks about her journey—from being a teenage jazz star to becoming a first-call collaborator across genres. She shares stories about working with Herbie Hancock, Chief Adjuah, Esperanza Spalding, Robert Glasper, and Josh Groban, diving into the lessons she’s learned and how she’s crafted her unique sound. We explore the modern jazz scene, how she’s making her mark, and how she balances artistry with building a thriving career.Elena Pinderhughes is a trailblazer in both jazz and pop culture, and there’s no question—her career is only going up from here.‘Go with Elmo Lovano’ is a weekly podcast where Elmo interviews creatives and entrepreneurs in music on HOW they push forward every day, got where they are in their careers, manage their personal lives, and share lessons learned and their most important insights.Please SUBSCRIBE / FOLLOW this podcast to catch new episodes as soon as they drop! Your likes, comments and shares are much appreciated!Listen to the audio form of this podcast wherever you get your podcasts: https://rss.com/podcasts/gowithelmoFollow Elena:https://www.instagram.com/iamelena/Follow Elmo Lovano:https://Instagram.com/elmolovanohttps://Twitter.com/elmolovano

Episode 56 - Dave King of The Bad Plus.The Bad Plus is one of the world’s most exciting and innovative ensembles. Over the past 20 years, they’ve created a groundbreaking sound that blends jazz and avant-garde music in a way that’s uniquely their own—beautifully melodic, dark, twisted, soft, loud, simple, and incredibly complex, all in one.Their drummer, Dave King, is one of my all-time favorite drummers. Creating a distinctive and instantly recognizable voice on an instrument is rare, but Dave achieved that right from their debut album.Dave joined me in the studio to discuss the story of The Bad Plus—their beginnings, the feelings of success, their mindset and approach to writing music, and the process of creating their now-iconic cover songs. We talked about meeting artists like Aphex Twin and Black Sabbath, whose music they’ve covered, and hearing their reactions. We also dove into performing on Jools Holland, touring with The Pixies as a jazz trio, their new album Complex Emotions, Dave’s hilarious web series Rational Funk, and much more.We hope you enjoy this fun and insightful conversation with the incredible Dave King!‘Go with Elmo Lovano’ is a weekly podcast where Elmo interviews creatives and entrepreneurs in music on HOW they push forward every day, got where they are in their careers, manage their personal lives, and share lessons learned and their most important insights. Please SUBSCRIBE / FOLLOW this podcast to catch new episodes as soon as they drop! Your likes, comments and shares are much appreciated! Listen to the audio form of this podcast wherever you get your podcasts: https://rss.com/podcasts/gowithelmoFollow The Bad Plus:https://www.instagram.com/thebadplus/Follow Dave:https://www.instagram.com/googlebully/Follow Elmo Lovano:https://Instagram.com/elmolovanohttps://Twitter.com/elmolovano