Go with Elmo Lovano

Episode 109: Michael League is the founder of Snarky Puppy, the GroundUP Music label, and the GroundUP Music Festival, and he's one of the most independent minds working in music today. He sat down with us for a deep conversation about how he built the whole thing. This isn't an interview about bass tone or gear. It's about how the entire machine actually works: how a bandleader turns a college project into a five-time Grammy-winning institution, an artist-first record label, and an international festival, all on his own terms, and all without a major label calling the shots.

We trace the whole arc. League started Snarky Puppy in 2004 at the University of North Texas because he wasn't getting to play, so he built his own band. It transformed when he immersed himself in the Dallas gospel and R&B scene, absorbing the mentorship of the late Bernard Wright, the "North Star" who reshaped its feel. Out of that came the Snarky Puppy sound and the rotating cast fans call "the Fam," nearly 40 players who launched solo careers like Cory Henry's ("Lingus" is one of the most-watched instrumental performances online), Bill Laurance, Mark Lettieri, Larnell Lewis, Robert "Sput" Searight, and more.

Michael pulls back the curtain: how he leads and pays this rotating collective, schedules a year out so everyone gets bandstand time, and sees himself, borrowing from Béla Fleck, as "a leader among equals." We get into why he founded GroundUP Music after growing disenchanted with the label system, how it works as an artist-friendly alternative to majors, and how the GroundUP Festival became a no-headliner gathering that's crossed the Atlantic.

We also cover his life as collaborator: his partnership with David Crosby, whose late-career renaissance he helped spark; Lalah Hathaway entering the Snarky orbit; Family Dinner coming together; discovering Jacob Collier early; his band Elipsis with Antonio Sanchez and Pedrito Martinez; his love of the oud; and running it all from a 500-person Roman-era village in Spain. We talk making a living in music, sustainable careers for musicians, mentors and friends he's lost, and AI's effect on the industry.

This is for musicians, bandleaders, producers, and label-builders and anyone who's wondered how to build something lasting without compromising the art. If you love Snarky Puppy, jazz fusion, and the real workings of the industry, this one's for you. Subscribe and hit the bell. Lets go!

This episode is brought to you by our friends at The Pod Company! Their portable sauna makes it easy to prioritize your health wherever you are, whether you're on tour, traveling, or at home. Use promo code ELMO to get yours for $499 instead of $999! Learn more at https://podcompany.com/

Huge thanks to our friends at DistroKid! DistroKid is the easiest and fastest way to get your music on over 150 platforms worldwide! Go to https://distrokid.com/vip/elmo to get 20% off your first year!

Become a Patreon Member to stay in the loop as we post Patreon-only exclusive content, ad free episodes, and discussions about music and music careers. https://www.patreon.com/gowithelmo

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://elmolovano.komi.io/

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#michaelleague #snarkypuppy #groundupfestival
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Episode 108: Labrinth joins us for one of the deepest interviews he's ever had about music, creativity, production, songwriting, and the journey that shaped his career.

From his early days in London to being discovered by Simon Cowell, producing Tinie Tempah's "Pass Out," forming LSD with Sia and Diplo, scoring HBO's Euphoria, collaborating with Billie Eilish, Finneas, Zendaya, Beyoncé, The Weeknd, Fred again.., and more, this is a career-spanning deep dive into one of the most original artists of our generation.

We talk about how Labrinth approaches songwriting and music production, how he thinks like a producer, why every sound matters, his philosophy on creativity, imagination, originality, building a unique sonic identity, and the lessons he's learned throughout his career. We also dive into his new project, Cosmic Opera, his home studio, live performance, and what it really takes to create music that moves people.

Whether you're a musician, producer, songwriter, or simply fascinated by the creative process, this episode is packed with insights on finding your sound, making meaningful art, and building a lasting creative career, while staying true to yourself. I hope you enjoy my conversation with the amazing, Labrinth!

This episode is brought to you by our friends at The Pod Company! Their portable sauna makes it easy to prioritize your health wherever you are, whether you're on tour, traveling, or at home. Use promo code ELMO to get yours for $499 instead of $999! Learn more at https://podcompany.com/

Huge thanks to our friends at DistroKid! DistroKid is the easiest and fastest way to get your music on over 150 platforms worldwide! Go to https://distrokid.com/vip/elmo to get 20% off your first year!

Become a Patreon Member to stay in the loop as we post Patreon-only exclusive content, ad free episodes, and discussions about music and music careers. https://www.patreon.com/gowithelmo

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://elmolovano.komi.io/

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#labrinth #euphoria #cosmicopera
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Episode 107: Sublime's new frontman is Bradley Nowell's son, Jakob Nowell. Not only does he sound like his dad and honor his father's music perfectly alongside original band members Bud Gaugh and Eric Wilson, but he's also contributing, now writing new Sublime music and having two consecutive #1's and a new album, Until The Sun Explodes! Here is my deep dive with the amazing Jakob Nowell.

In this episode, we go deep into Jakob's story: growing up in Long Beach as Bradley Nowell's only son, losing his father as an infant, and being raised by his mom, Troy. We talk about how he found his own voice through his band LAW and his solo project Jakobs Castle, his journey to sobriety, and the surreal, emotional moment he stepped up to front the reunited Sublime alongside Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh on the mainstage of Coachella, and the whirlwind that has followed after that performance.

Jakob opens up about what it means to sing his dad's songs night after night, hearing echoes of Bradley in his own voice, playing his father's guitar, dreams of talking with his dad, and carrying a legacy that millions of fans hold close, all while building something of his own. We get into the new Sublime music, the back-to-back #1 singles, and where the band goes from here.

This is a conversation about family, loss, identity, and the unique beauty of finding yourself inside the music your father left behind. Jakob is an amazing human, with a wonderful perspective, strong sense of self, and a funny guy. I hope you enjoy our conversation! Long live Sublime.

Huge thanks to our friends at DistroKid! DistroKid is the easiest and fastest way to get your music on over 150 platforms worldwide! Go to https://distrokid.com/vip/elmo to get 20% off your first year!

Become a Patreon Member to stay in the loop as we post Patreon-only exclusive content, ad free episodes, and discussions about music and music careers. https://www.patreon.com/gowithelmo

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://elmolovano.komi.io/

Follow Jakob:

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#jakobnowell #sublime #bradleynowell
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Episode 106: Desmond Child is one of the greatest songwriters and producers of all time. With more than 80 Top 40 hits to his name, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

We recorded this episode of Go With Elmo Lovano in Athens, Greece, sitting in front of the Acropolis at our dear friends home.

Desmond takes us inside the stories behind some of the biggest songs in rock and pop history. From Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer" and "You Give Love a Bad Name," to Aerosmith's "Dude (Looks Like a Lady)" and "Angel," KISS's "I Was Made for Lovin' You," Ricky Martin's "Livin' la Vida Loca," "La Copa de la Vida" (the 1998 FIFA World Cup anthem), and "She Bangs," Cher's "Just Like Jesse James," and so many more.

Desmond opens up about growing up in the Miami projects as the son of Cuban bolero songwriter Elena Casals, shares a wild and unforgettable story with Michael Jackson, breaks down his songwriting philosophy and the craft behind decades of hits, and talks about his deep love for Greece.

We also discuss his brand-new documentary, Desmond Child Rocks the Parthenon, which recently had its world premiere at the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival.

This is the story of the man behind the soundtrack of a generation.

Let's go!

Big thank you's to Lars Rasmussen, Elomida Visviki, Curtis Shaw, George Stampolis and the great producer/songwriter Phoebus for bringing us all together.

Huge thanks to our friends at DistroKid! DistroKid is the easiest and fastest way to get your music on over 150 platforms worldwide! Go to https://distrokid.com/vip/elmo to get 20% off your first year!

Many thanks to the folks at Ace Studio for supporting the show! Check them out https://acestudio.ai/

Become a Patreon Member to stay in the loop as we post Patreon-only exclusive content, ad free episodes, and discussions about music and music careers. https://www.patreon.com/gowithelmo

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://elmolovano.komi.io/

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#desmondchild #bonjovi #kiss

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Episode 105: Richard Bona is one of the most respected bass players, composers, vocalists, and bandleaders in modern music. Born in Cameroon and now celebrated around the world, Richard has worked with legends including Pat Metheny, Quincy Jones, Joe Zawinul, Harry Belafonte, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Bobby McFerrin, Mike Stern, George Benson, and many more. From the Pat Metheny Group to the Zawinul Syndicate, Richard has helped shape the sound of jazz fusion, African music, world music, and modern bass playing for decades.

Richard has also shared the stage and studio with some of the greatest drummers in the world including Antonio Sanchez, Vinnie Colaiuta, Dave Weckl, Steve Smith, Omar Hakim, Paco Séry, Dennis Chambers, Manu Katché, Simon Phillips, Terri Lyne Carrington, Mark Guiliana, Steve Gadd, and more.

In this episode, Richard and Elmo talk about growing up in Cameroon, building his own instruments as a child, discovering Jaco Pastorius, moving to Germany, Paris, and New York, becoming Harry Belafonte’s musical director, joining Joe Zawinul’s Syndicate, winning a Grammy with Pat Metheny, rhythm, groove, African music, storytelling, singing while playing bass, improvisation, how to feel odd time signatures and polyrhythms, being managed by Quincy Jones, bass technique, composition, musical identity, and much more.

Richard also shares stories from the road, lessons from the greatest musicians in the world, and his philosophy on music, culture, creativity, and humanity. We hope you enjoy our conversation with the great Richard Bona!

Big thanks to our friends Ace Studio for supporting the show. Check them out! https://acestudio.ai/

Another huge thanks to our friends at DistroKid! DistroKid is the easiest and fastest way to get your music on over 150 platforms worldwide! Go to https://distrokid.com/vip/elmo to get 20% off your first year!

Become a Patreon Member to stay in the loop as we post Patreon-only exclusive content, Zoom hangs, invite only events, and discussions about music and music careers. https://www.patreon.com/gowithelmo

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://elmolovano.komi.io/

Follow Richard:

https://www.instagram.com/richardbonaofficial/

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