Introducing: The Soul of Music

Episode Summary

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The Soul of Music is a new 4-part series from the Overheard at National Geographic podcast. It features conversations between musicians and National Geographic Explorers about how history and nature inspire their art. The featured artists include: - Grammy winner Rhiannon Giddens, who discusses banjo history - Rapper Sompa the Great, who jammed out in the Australian outback - Trumpeter Chief Zion Atunde Adjua, who talks about Louis Armstrong's legacy - Ethiopian jazz singer McLeet Hedero, who calls her music "migration music" The episodes will be available starting February 7 on the Overheard at National Geographic podcast. The musicians share in-depth perspectives on their creative processes and how their adventures connect them to nature and history.

Episode Show Notes

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National Geographic turns 135 in 2023. In February 2023, to celebrate exploration and commemorate Black History Month, National Geographic’s flagship podcast, Overheard, will feature musicians and National Geographic Explorers in conversation on music and exploration. This is just one of many celebrations planned for this milestone anniversary. Hosted by Overheard producer Khari Douglas, these four episodes (every Tuesday in February) will feature world-famous musicians Rhiannon Giddens, Sampa the Great, Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah (formerly Christian Scott), and Meklit Hadero (also a Nat Geo explorer) in conversation with Nat Geo Explorers Alyea Pierce, Danielle Lee, Justin Dunnavant, and Jahawi Bertolli. The Explorers and artists will discuss how nature, history, and culture influence their work, what music inspires their adventures, and how they address some of the world’s most pressing and complicated issues through art and exploration. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode Transcript

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SPEAKER_00: Hey there, I'm Kyrie Douglas, producer for the Overheard at National Geographic podcast. This February, we've invited four dope musical artists to sit down with Nat Geo Explorers for a series of conversations where they'll get in-depth about their music and explain how history and the natural world inspires their art and adventures. It's called the soul of music. We've got two-time Grammy winner, Rhiannon Giddens. For a very long time, there was this assumption that the banjo was about the whitest instrument that you could possibly imagine. The rapper, Sompa the Great. Just jamming out in the whoops, we just created something amazing. Trumpeter, Chief Zion Atunde Adjua. You can't tell a young black kid in New Orleans that they couldn't be those things because the airport is named Louis Armstrong. And ethio jazz singer-songwriter, McLeet Hedero. I see myself as making migration music. Tune in for the soul of music at Overheard at National Geographic beginning February 7th, wherever you get your podcast.