Elvis Costello's Optimism

Confidence and shyness, masculinity and tenderness are all up for discussion as Rory Graham, aka Rag’n’Bone Man, hangs out with Gregory. Recorded in March 2021, they find common ground in how they both learnt to get across a message in a song as Rory digs into his musical foundations of folk, hip-hop, rock and Blues, or the rubble that he says formed his sound. Nothing is off limits from tattoos to the chance to collaborate musically in the future, in the finale to series 2 of The Hang with Gregory Porter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pianist/producer Robert Glasper turns his talents towards hip-hop, jazz, R’n’B, or any other music genre he wants to experience, considering it all about adding more rooms to his House of Black Music. Recorded in Los Angeles the day after the Grammys 2021, Gregory and Robert joined forces and laughed a lot, teased a lot and shared a lot in common. There was even a domestic interruption and an in-studio one, adding to the energy in the room ahead of their upcoming collaboration for Robert's Black Radio 3.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Moby and Gregory go in deep on Moby’s cultural caution around the samples he finds and repurposes as the pair dissect the legacy and importance of the Blues. If pushed to label the music he creates, Moby explains how it’s folk music that fits him best, while Gregory recalls the moment when he truly felt the power of EDM. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cultural curiosity has always driven actor, activist and author Priyanka Chopra Jonas, as she delves into why representation matters being a brown-skinned woman on screen in Hollywood. Discussing her memoir Unfinished, Priyanka tells Gregory that she also has unfinished business with music, as she reflects on her pop career. Plus, they take a look self-confidence, which can be a tricky beast, and why it’s important to ignore the haters and keep moving forward. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Talking Heads to filmmaking with Spike Lee, there’s a lot of creative joy to be had bringing people together in what Gregory dubs, the Holy Ghost of David Byrne. They reach back to the days when borrowing vinyl from the public library held more influence than the internet, and discuss how a simple bike ride can change the way we look out for each other, whatever our differences. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Not every musician would turn down a record deal, twice, early on in their career, but Imelda May held out until she got the deal that let her record the songs she needed to sing. From early performances in a blues club in Dublin, to hosting her own music TV show, Imelda reveals and sings through the touch stones of her artistic life. Recorded in the final weeks of Trump’s presidency in January 2021, Gregory and Imelda share their hopes for kinder leadership, as well as the shared luck of meeting fellow musician Jools Holland at just the right time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Protest songs may appear to come naturally to Hozier, but there’s much reasoning behind why he chooses the issues he spotlights. Sitting down with Gregory, face to face pre-pandemic, they dig deep into the influence of the church on both their lives, and why challenge and curiosity are such useful skills to wield. Recorded at the Trafalgar St. James hotel, a few paces away from what was then the hustle and bustle of London’s Trafalgar Square, they talk about the music that’s informed their lives and why the words you use can carry such a heavy weight. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elvis Costello is working on his 7th stage musical; none of his previous 6 got made yet he still sees their value, remaining optimistic and enthusiastic. Elvis connected remotely with Gregory in September 2020, bringing tales of Liverpool, London and family life from British Columbia. He traces the origins of his sound, absorbing music from all around, whether it was Dusty Springfield or Curtis Mayfield, unravelling how they helped create the singer-songwriter he is today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thrust into music from the get-go, Rufus Wainwright delves into the larger than life characters that influence him, from Joni Mitchell, to Randy Newman and of course, his own parents. Recorded in October 2020 from their respective homes in California, Gregory and Rufus share a collective sorrow of President Trump’s legacy of hatred towards certain communities yet remain optimistic about America healing. Along the way they talk about sharing beloved childhood films with their own kids and the joy that comes when the love is shared. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Growing up in a music-rich family, stepped in the multiculturism of London’s Camden community, has inspired multi-instrumentalist Nubya Garcia to create her own brand of music. She tells Gregory how, as a child, experiencing carnival in Trinidad was a game-changer and why she likes to immerse herself in the culture of other countries for weeks at a time, travel-permitting. Hard work and perseverance was instilled in Nubya from a young age and she’s proof why your parents nagging you to practise that musical instrument, is most likely going to be worth it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.