Gems Podcast with Shom

shomghosh
  • 5.0 (2)
  • MUSIC COMMENTARY
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

Celebrating hidden gems and giving them their shine. Dive into lesser-known music, rare records, vinyl culture, and the worlds of jazz, funk, soul, rare grooves, and international heat.

  1. 2D AGO

    Cherrystones: Library Records, Horror Soundtracks, and UK Digging Culture

    This episode of Gems with Shom features Cherrystones, a musician, international DJ, soundtrack composer, compiler, private record dealer, and long-running NTS Radio host with one of the deepest ears in underground music. Cherrystones and Shom get into UK digging culture, Jazzman Records, Camden Market, library music, Italian horror soundtracks, Goblin, Fantastic Planet, Japanese film music, Den Bosch record fair, and the emotional stories attached to rare records. The conversation also explores his unconventional upbringing between London and Wales, discovering punk, hip-hop, jazz, psych, and rare groove, and how music became a grounding force throughout his life. 🎙 In this episode, we dive into: • UK digging culture, Jazzman Records, and the world of private record dealing• Library records, rare European finds, and the search for unusual samples• Italian horror soundtracks, Goblin, film cues, and darker musical moods• NTS Radio, record fairs, collecting originals, and music as a healing force

    1h 34m

  2. MAY 1

    DJ Agile: BrassMunk, Nas Placement, and International DJ Life

    DJ Agile joins Gems with Shom for a conversation on BrassMunk, producing “Heaven” for Nas, film and television work, and how DJing opened up a whole new chapter in his career. They also get into sync, Dilla, Kardinal Offishall, nightlife, and Agile’s new single, “Between The Sheets” ft. Ray Robinson.

    1h 29m

  3. APR 23

    Pat Van Dyke: Breaking Down the Sound of Hip Hop Classics

    This episode of Gems with Shom features Pat Van Dyke, a multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, and bandleader whose music bridges jazz, soul, and hip hop. Known for his live recreations of classic rap records and his deep understanding of musicianship, Pat joins Shom for a conversation about the records, rhythms, and ideas that shaped his sound. Pat and Shom get into growing up in New Jersey, discovering records at a young age, studying jazz, making beats, and how Pat learned to merge live instrumentation with the DNA of sample-based hip hop. They also talk about his recent live replay videos, the producers and records that inspired him, and what he has learned from breaking down hip hop classics by ear. 🎙 In this episode, we dive into: • Growing up with records, tapes, and early musical influences• Studying jazz, making beats, and shaping his sound as a producer• The gear, records, and producers that influenced his ear• Recreating hip hop classics with live instruments• What classic hip hop reveals about feel, phrasing, and musicianship 📌 About Pat Van Dyke Pat Van Dyke is an artist, producer, composer, and session musician based in New Jersey. His work blends jazz harmony, vintage textures, live instrumentation, and hip hop rhythm into a sound that feels both modern and deeply rooted in classic music traditions. Through solo releases, collaborations, and his live replay series, Pat has built a unique lane that connects musicianship with beat culture.

    1h 39m

  4. APR 15

    7L of Czarface: Cult Following

    This episode of Gems with Shom features 7L, one-third of Czarface. 7L is the DJ and producer behind Czarface, the cult-favorite hip-hop supergroup formed by 7L & Esoteric and Wu-Tang Clan’s Inspectah Deck. Known for sample-based production, comic-book world-building, and a fiercely independent creative path, 7L has helped build one of the most original and enduring underground rap universes in hip-hop. In this conversation, 7L and Shom go deep on records, radio, early DJing, obscure samples, underground touring, collaboration, and the long road from Massachusetts mixtapes to Red Rocks and beyond. We discuss:• Growing up in Massachusetts and discovering hip-hop through MTV, tapes, and roller rink DJs• Learning to DJ, making mixtapes, and building an early production process from scratch• The early 7L & Esoteric years, college radio, indie vinyl, and underground rap in the 90s• Digging culture, rare records, trial and error, and the records that shaped his ear• How Czarface came together with Inspectah Deck• Building a cult following through music, comics, collectibles, and world-building• Collaborating with MF DOOM, Ghostface Killah, Method Man, Kool Keith, and more• Why staying weird helped sustain a long career• Why authenticity, curiosity, and consistency still matter in underground music 7L is a Massachusetts-raised DJ and producer whose career stretches from the independent underground rap scene of the 1990s to major collaborative projects in the modern era. Before Czarface, he built his name through 7L & Esoteric, DIY vinyl releases, college radio, and relentless digging and touring. As one-third of Czarface, he helped shape a group that became far more than a rap act. It became a full creative universe rooted in hip-hop, comics, artifacts, and cult loyalty. The group’s major collaborative releases include Czarface Meets Metal Face with MF DOOM in 2018, Czarface Meets Ghostface with Ghostface Killah in 2019, and Super What? with MF DOOM in 2021.

    1h 48m

  5. APR 9

    John Morrison: From Philly Battle Rap to NPR — Politics, Digging, and the Art of Listening

    In this episode of Gems with Shom, I sit down with John Morrison — author, journalist, DJ, and sample-flipper from Philadelphia — for a conversation on hip-hop culture, record digging, and the evolution of music and ideas. John’s journey starts in Philadelphia, coming up in a deeply competitive freestyle and battle rap scene. Those early experiences shaped his approach to music, performance, and creativity. He later transitioned into writing, building a career as a journalist across platforms like NPR and beyond. We talk about how writing about music changed the way he listens, and how understanding samples, production, and context provides a deeper perspective on the culture. A key theme in this conversation is the role of politics in art. John reflects on a time when hip-hop carried clear perspectives — when artists engaged with the world and pushed listeners to think. Today, that layer often feels less present. This isn’t about agreement or disagreement, but about the importance of having a point of view. We also discuss Philly’s influence, beat making as a lifelong practice, the connection between hip-hop and jazz, and why digging and context still matter. A conversation about music, culture, and really listening.

    1h 42m

  6. APR 1

    Diallo Riddle: Music, Comedy & Storytelling | Best Of Episode

    Diallo Riddle: Music, Comedy & Storytelling | Best Of Episode One of the most requested episodes of Gems with Shom is back. In this conversation, I sit down with Diallo Riddle — actor, writer, director, DJ, and host of The One Song Podcast — for a wide-ranging discussion on music, comedy, and storytelling. From DJing in college to working on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon — including the iconic “Slow Jam the News” with President Obama — Diallo shares stories from across his career and how those experiences shaped his creative perspective. We also go deep into music. From sampling and beat digging to the influence of ’90s hip hop, Diallo breaks down how great songs work — where they come from, why they last, and how they connect across genres and eras. This is a conversation about more than music — it’s about understanding it. In this episode:• DJing in college and early influences• Working on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon• The origins of The One Song Podcast• Sampling, beat digging, and ’90s hip hop• Why great music is meant to be studied, not just heard If you’re into music, culture, and creative storytelling — this is a good one.

    1h 7m

  7. MAR 25

    STLNDRMS: Elite Drums, Consistency, and Community

    Why do STLNDRMS’ drums hit different? This is the story behind the sound. STLNDRMS — DJ, producer, curator, and Founder/Creative Director — joins Gems with Shom for a conversation on beat culture, creative independence, and building a life through music. From Detroit roots to a global upbringing across Europe and Japan, STLNDRMS shares how early exposure to records, hip-hop, and Black music shaped his sound and set him on a path of lifelong creation. We explore his journey from early production and recording to touring, building community, and ultimately transitioning into full-time music — creating multiple revenue streams through drum kits, events, photo and video production, streaming, and creative direction. At the center of it all is consistency and community — from early live streams that connected him with key figures in beat culture, to collaborating with artists and mentors around the world. We also dive into: • Crafting elite drum sounds and signature drum kits• Analog recording techniques and studio philosophy• The balance between art and business in a creative career• Beat culture, live performance, and global community• Lessons from DJ Jazzy Jeff’s Playlist Retreat• Building consistency and creating your own lane This is a conversation about discipline, creativity, and longevity — and a real look at what it takes to turn passion into something sustainable. Listen, rate, and subscribe. #BeatCulture #DrumKits #MusicProduction #DJCulture #CrateDigging #GemsWithShom STLNDRMS: Elite Drums, Consistency, and Community

    1h 27m

  8. MAR 19

    Shotgun Shima: Digging in Japan, the Collector’s Mindset, and Putting Up Stats

    A DJ and record collector with an incredible archive of rare vinyl, Shima brings a deep knowledge of music, culture, and the art of digging. The conversation covers digging in Japan, the collector’s mindset, and the transition from being a bedroom DJ to playing for crowds. From growing up as a fourth-generation Japanese American in California surrounded by music to discovering hip-hop, Shima reflects on the early influences that shaped his ear and set him on a lifelong path of collecting. We explore his journey through underground hip-hop, mixtape culture, and college radio, as well as his experiences digging in Japan, from searching for rare records to feeling at home in record stores across Tokyo and beyond. We explore: • Growing up in Sacramento and discovering hip-hop• Underground hip-hop, mixtape culture, and early influences• Digging in Japan and global record culture• The collector’s mindset and what separates DJs from collectors• Record rarity, first pressings, and long-term value• “Putting up stats” and documenting rare finds• And more Listen, rate, and subscribe.

    1h 42m
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Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Celebrating hidden gems and giving them their shine. Dive into lesser-known music, rare records, vinyl culture, and the worlds of jazz, funk, soul, rare grooves, and international heat.

Information

  • Creator
    shomghosh
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    49
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © shomghosh
  • Show Website
    Gems Podcast with Shom

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