Music Travel Guide

Maikol Piardi
  • 5.0 (2)
  • MUSIC HISTORY
  • UPDATED MONTHLY
Music Travel Guide

In each episode of Music Travel Guide, host Maikol Piardi interviews insiders and musicians, discovering stories about African American Music. If you're a Disco, Funk and Jazz music lover who wants to get inspired by DJs, artists and music experts, this podcast is definitely for you. FOLLOW MUSIC TRAVEL GUIDE 👉 https://www.instagram.com/musictravelguide/ https://musictravelguide.net/

  1. NOV 12

    Jazzfest Berlin 2024 w/ Lakecia Benjamin

    If there's one musician who truly embodies resilience, it's Lakecia Benjamin. Just a couple of weeks ago, at the 60th Jazzfest Berlin, I had the privilege of sitting down with powerhouse saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin for an inspiring conversation.   Throughout her career, she's played alongside legends like Anita Baker, the Count Basie Orchestra, Harry Belafonte, Stevie Wonder, the Roots, Missy Elliott, Alicia Keys, and so many more.   After a serious car accident in 2021, Lakecia didn't just bounce back—she wrote new music that would become her latest album, Phoenix, earning three Grammy nominations. Her journey shows just how far small steps forward can go.   Lakecia opened up about her roots growing up in Washington Heights, New York, a predominantly Dominican neighbourhood pulsing with Latin music. She shared insights into her 2020 album Pursuance: The Coltranes, her triple Grammy-nominated 2023 Phoenix, the influence of Alice and John Coltrane, and the courage it takes to reveal your authentic self to an online audience as an independent artist.   I saw Lakecia in an incredible concert at Quasimodo. What impressed me the most was her attitude. I had to think of what Miles Davis once said: "Anybody can play. The note is only 20 percent. The attitude of the m**********r who plays it is 80 percent." The concert wasn't just music, it was a party with all of us - we all celebrated life and women in music. I love her story, her truth and her drive.   Enjoy listening! 🎧  Let's talk about today's episode:   👉🏻 Let's connect on Instagram   👉🏻 Drop me a note at hello@musictravelguide.net

    24 min

  2. NOV 6

    70s Soul Music, Gil Scott Heron & Songwriting w/ Cecily

    If you’ve ever found yourself relaxing on the couch with a warm cup of tea, lost in thought about your day, Cecily’s beautiful music is exactly what you need to enhance those moments.   Cecily is an amazing vocalist and songwriter based in DC, known for her soothing and rich voice. She describes her music as a blend of soul with strong influences from jazz, 90’s R&B, and a touch of folk. She’s shared the stage with some incredible talent, opening for award-winning artists like Gregory Porter and Jose James, as well as R&B stars like Johnny Gill, Kenny Lattimore, and Elle Varner. She’s even performed alongside folk artist Becca Stevens and alternative soul pioneer Bilal.  Just this past June, she released Awakening Pt. II, the follow-up to her critically acclaimed 2019 project Awakening Pt. I. I had the pleasure of chatting with her virtually on Zoom, and it was truly inspiring.  We explored her musical influences, reminisced about her experiences at the Umbria Jazz Festival, and discussed her connection to Gil Scott-Heron. We also delved into the messages and creative process behind Awakening Pt. II.   We wrapped up our conversation by talking about her approach to songwriting and the challenges of releasing an album independently. It was such a delightful exchange, and I really hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed our conversation! 🎧 Let's talk about today's episode:   👉🏻 Let's connect on Instagram   👉🏻 Drop me a note at hello@musictravelguide.net

    45 min

  3. SEP 20

    Earth Music, Fela Kuti & Documenting your Journey w/ Etuk Ubong

    Etuk Ubong is without a doubt one of the most electrifying trumpet players in Africa. Seun Kuti himself called him ‘one of the best things to come out of Lagos,’ and it’s easy to see why. Etuk picked up the trumpet at 14 and hasn’t looked back since. What sets him apart is his fusion of Afrobeat, Highlife, Jazz, and the traditional drumming of the Ekombi, creating his signature sound, 'Earth Music.' It’s a captivating mix of spiritual, high-energy, and deeply moving rhythms. I had the chance to sit down with Etuk before his set at the Dürchluften Festival 2024 and our conversation was nothing short of inspiring. We dove into his musical influences, deep connection to Fela Kuti, jazz studies at the University of Cape Town, and how he crafted his unique genre: Earth Music. We also touched on the importance of documenting your journey online, and Etuk had some incredible insights to share on that. Chatting with him was a spiritual experience, and I hope you'll feel the same listening to the episode. 🎧 What stood out to you most? Let's talk about today's episode:   👉🏻 Let's connect on Instagram   👉🏻 Drop me a note at hello@musictravelguide.net Join our Online Music Networking Event on Tuesday, September 24 at 7 pm CET! I'd love to invite you to our Music Networking Event! The event is the perfect opportunity for you to connect with other artists &musicians worldwide.  It's a chance to share your ideas and discuss various aspects of your musical realm, such as upcoming releases or shows, exciting music discoveries, ongoing projects, seeking feedback/discussing your major challenges. Get ready for a session filled with great exchanges. 🙂 To join the session, access the Zoom link 👉🏻 HERE.  PS. Make sure to add the event to your calendar. I can't wait to see you!

    50 min

  4. AUG 13

    Brazil, Political Music and Sharing Powerful Messages w/ Bia Ferreira

    Bia Ferreira, a Brazilian singer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist, stands out for her innovative approach to combining Afrodiasporic rhythms – like soul, R&B, reggae and rap – with Brazilian music – such as samba and repente.  She is known for her straightforward lyrics addressing important topics like necropolitics, racial quotas, anti-racism, women's rights, LGBTQIAP+ rights, and affection.  She's been also one of the strongest "voices" against Jair Bolsonaro inside and outside Brazil. Her shows are full of music, love and speeches. I catch up with Bia before her show at Dürchluften Festival 2024. In our conversation, we talked about her musical influences, why she focuses on making political music, her debut album Igreja Lesbiteriana, Um Chamado, and all things sharing powerful messages through music. Absolutely a spiritual time chatting with her! I hope you will enjoy the experience. 🎧 What was your biggest takeaway from today's episode? Let's talk about today's episode:   👉🏻 Let's connect on Instagram   👉🏻 Drop me a note at hello@musictravelguide.net Join our upcoming Online Q&A Session w/ Skyline Sun!   I want to extend an invitation for you to join us in an exciting live Q&A session on August 27 at 7 pm (CEST) with Australian-born, Berlin-based guitarist, musician and producer Jarrah Dhyan aka Skyline Sun. During this session, Jarrah will discuss all the aspects and respond to your questions on Getting Featured on Spotify Playlists and Media Coverage through his experience releasing his very first album Dichotomy. Get ready for a session filled with inspiration and exchange! To join the session, sign up for our Club Membership today 👉🏻 HERE.

    53 min

  5. AUG 6

    Navigating the Cultural History of Jazz + Getting Booked at Festivals w/ Natalie Greffel

    Natalie Greffel is a versatile Mozambican-Danish singer, bassist, composer, and passionate advocate for the arts. In addition to his work as a musician, she serves as a curator for XJAZZ! FESTIVAL, curating an eclectic lineup of performances, workshops, and special events showcasing contemporary jazz while honouring its rich cultural heritage. In our conversation, we talked about her multicultural background influencing her musical journey, the music and the politics and the culture behind Jazz addressing social and political issues and her role at XJAZZ! sharing useful advice and personal reflections about getting booked at Festivals. Getting the chance to meet Natalie was a fantastic opportunity for me to delve into the importance of understanding more about the true nature of jazz. Specifically, I learned about its African roots that continue to shape its music in the present day. Natalie, being a passionate individual dedicated to promoting cultural exchange, shared her passion for all things Jazz music with great enthusiasm. I hope you will enjoy it the same way I did! 🎧 What was your biggest takeaway from today's episode? Let's talk about today's episode:   👉🏻 Let's connect on Instagram   👉🏻 Drop me a note at hello@musictravelguide.net Join our upcoming Online Q&A Session w/ Skyline Sun!   I want to extend an invitation for you to join us in an exciting live Q&A session on August 27 at 7 pm (CEST) with Australian-born, Berlin-based guitarist, musician and producer Jarrah Dhyan aka Skyline Sun. During this session, Jarrah will discuss all the aspects and respond to your questions on Getting Featured on Spotify Playlists and Media Coverage through his experience releasing his very first album Dichotomy. Get ready for a session filled with inspiration and exchange! To join the session, sign up for our Club Membership today 👉🏻 HERE.

    1h 33m

  6. JUL 30

    Q&A SESSION Àbáse's album 'Awakening' + Promoting Your Album (excerpt) w/ Àbáse

    EXCERPT - I've made public a snippet of our recent live Q&A session within our Club Membership with Berlin-based Hungarian musician and producer Szabolcs Bognar aka Àbáse. In this excerpt, Àbáse discussed the behind-the-scenes process and inspirations of his new album 'Awakening', as well as his personal views and experience in promoting the album release. I am grateful for this lively and deep exchange we had with Szabolcs as he shared such important topics including cultivating a growth mindset in the age of social media and clearing your mind of worries before performing live. What was your most valuable takeaway from today's episode? 👉🏻 Let's connect on Instagram I love hearing from you! Want to hear the full discussion? The conversation is now available on-demand in our Club Membership online platform. If you're interested, sign up for our Club Membership today HERE.

    30 min

  7. MAY 20

    Q&A SESSION The Power of Samba Music and the Creative Process w/ Vitor Cabral (excerpt)

    EXCERPT - I've made public a snippet of our recent live Q&A session within our Club Membership with drummer, percussionist and producer from São Paulo, Brazil, Vitor Cabral. In this session, we covered a wide range of topics including Samba rhythms from Brazil, shining a spotlight on talented Brazilian artists who deserve more recognition, and all things the creative process. One particular highlight that stood out to me was when Vitor stressed the importance of studying different musical traditions as a means to uncover fresh ideas that can ignite creativity in your work. What are your thoughts on this? How do you personally stay creative as an artist? 👉🏻 Let's connect on Instagram I love hearing from you! Interested in hearing the full conversation? The full conversation is now available on-demand in our Club Membership online platform. If you're interested, sign up for our Club Membership today HERE. Join our upcoming Online Music Networking Event! Mark your calendars for May 28 at 7 pm (CET). I'd like to extend an invitation to you for a Music Networking Event. The event is the perfect opportunity for you to connect with other artists and enthusiasts worldwide. It's a chance to share your ideas and discuss various aspects of your musical realm, such as upcoming music releases or shows, exciting music discoveries, ongoing projects, seeking feedback/discussing your major challenges. To join, click here to get the Zoom link. I can't wait to meet you!

    21 min

  8. APR 26

    Unveiling the Secrets of Dodo Blues w/Olith Ratego & Sven Kacirek

    Odd Okoddo is a duo from Kenya and Germany, comprised of Olith Ratego and Sven Kacirek. The two artists crossed paths in Kenya around ten years ago when Sven Kacirek was working on his album "Kenya Sessions," which gained him recognition as a global producer. In 2018, they officially formed the project ODD OKODDO, combining their diverse talents seamlessly. Together, they create an energetic and vibrant sound that showcases Ratego's impressive vocal range and variety of tones alongside Kacirek's exceptional percussion skills. Olith Ratego specializes in singing in a musical style known as "dodo," originating from the shores of Lake Victoria in Kenya. This traditional female singing style is widely popular among Luo communities. In our discussion, we delved into Olith's deep passion for music from a young age, the significant influence of Tabu Osusa (a passionate Afro-Fusion producer who discovered him), the encounter with Sven, and various aspects of Dodo music in addition to their debut album Auma which was launched in 2019. It's been such a fantastic chance to meet Olith and Seven, truly extraordinary individuals. Olith has this incredible talent for crafting musical instruments that bring joy and inspiration to others. I encourage you to listen and immerse yourself in the wonderful sonic journey they create! 🎧 Let's talk about today's episode: 👉🏻 Let's connect on Instagram 👉🏻 Drop me a note at hello@musictravelguide.net I love hearing from you! Join our upcoming Online Q&A Session w/ Vitor Cabral! I want to extend an invitation for you to join us in an exciting live Q&A session on May 7th at 7 pm. Our special guest will be Vitor Cabral, a talented drummer, percussionist, and producer hailing from São Paulo, Brazil.  During the session, Vitor will guide us through the fascinating musical traditions of Brazil. He'll also be answering all of your burning questions about his creative process as an independent artist. To take part in this exclusive event, sign up for our Club Membership today HERE.

    59 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

In each episode of Music Travel Guide, host Maikol Piardi interviews insiders and musicians, discovering stories about African American Music. If you're a Disco, Funk and Jazz music lover who wants to get inspired by DJs, artists and music experts, this podcast is definitely for you. FOLLOW MUSIC TRAVEL GUIDE 👉 https://www.instagram.com/musictravelguide/ https://musictravelguide.net/

Information

  • Creator
    Maikol Piardi
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2024
  • Episodes
    56
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Maikol Piardi
  • Show Website
    Music Travel Guide

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