Via the Sound

Via the Sound
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Music
  • Updated Biweekly

Via the Sound is where music meets identity. Hosted by Karissa “Riss” Horsford, this podcast explores the routes behind sound through conversations with artists and industry voices. Each episode dives into the influences, upbringing, cultural roots, and pivotal moments that shape how people find their voice in music and what that relationship to sound looks like today. Via the Sound centers honest, reflective conversations that go beyond the surface to uncover the stories behind the music.

Episodes

  1. 4d ago

    Slizzy Soca's Top Chopper with Taller Dan | Episode 04 | Via the Sound

    He's 6'5", calls himself the " Trin-Brooklynian," and pushing the boundaries in Soca. This week Riss sits down with Taller Dan for one of the most fun, heartfelt conversations Via the Sound has had yet. They get into his Trinidadian roots and Brooklyn upbringing, the shak shak his father put in his hand at six years old, his love for basketball that almost took him to college, and the moment "Sucka Bag" with producer Boogy Rankss changed everything. They talk carnival culture, why Soca deserves more mainstream respect, a tough lesson learned from a brutal stage experience in Miami, how he move through grief, and his new record "Drop It Down" — which actually carries an emotional story behind it.

    49 min

  2. Jun 16

    Faith Fuels Frequency with Tonya Nelson Fisher | Episode 03 | Via the Sound

    What does it look like to build a decade long career in music from college radio to Sirius XM to Tidal; while navigating faith, motherhood, and being a Black woman in rooms that weren't always built for you? This week we sit down with Tonya Nelson Fisher; a content strategist, music executive, creative storyteller, and author — for a conversation that goes way beyond the resume. We get into her six-year-old self meeting Kirk Franklin and how that moment came full circle, the email she wasn't supposed to see that changed her entire trajectory, what it actually means to program music at scale, negotiating her first six-figure salary with a newborn at home, and why she waddled into a job interview seven months pregnant and got the job anyway. We also get real about Black women being pushed out of the industry at an alarming rate, whether faith and the music industry are more compatible than people think, and the gospel artists you need to have on your radar right now. This one hits different. Be sure to give us a follow to stay locked in for more conversations 🖤🎙️ Tonya's Book: My Friend J.C.: A Child's Guide to Understanding the Holy Spirit's Presence https://www.amazon.com/My-Friend-J-C-Understanding-Presence/dp/B0F5XZ3WQ9 ⏱️ CHAPTERS 0:00 – Cold Open: Kirk Franklin, God's Property & A Dream Behind the Mic 0:54 – Intro: Welcome to Via the Sound 1:31 – Meet Tonya Nelson Fisher 2:15 – Icebreakers: 3 Emojis & Rapid Fire This or That 4:26 – Kirk Franklin or Fred Hammond? 4:46 – Who Was Tonya Before the Titles? 5:12 – Growing Up: 90s, Black Sit Coms, 90's Girl Groups: Destiny's Child, TLC 7:36 – Mom from Barbados, Dad from Queens: Musical Upbringing 9:32 – Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder & the Car Rides That Shaped Everything 10:23 – Pivoted Dreams to Broadcast Journalism 11:47– College Radio: How "Agree to Disagree" Started It All 12:09 – Sirius XM: From Intern to On-Air Personality 14:07 – Six Years Old at a Kirk Franklin Concert 15:40 - Joe Madison Show 17:16 – The Email She Wasn't Supposed to See (And What She Did With It) 21:27 – What Music Programming Actually Looks Like Behind the Scenes 25:48 – From Part-Time Coordinator to On-Air Co-Host 26:09 – Interviewing Kelly Rowland, John Legend & Bruno Mars 26:24 – From Radio to Streaming: COVID, Burnout & Tidal 30:29– Negotiating Her First Six-Figure Salary With a Newborn at Home 33:25 – Rate the Take: Gospel, Faith & the Music Industry 38:40– Being a Working Mom: Village, Support & Refusing to Shrink 39:34 – Radio Built Fans. Will Algorithms Ever Do the Same?41:42 – Are the Best Music Execs Failed Musicians? (Hot Take) 44:00 – Kirk Franklin Saved Gospel Music for a Generation?46:04 – Emerging Gospel Artists to Watch: Alex Jean, Hobie, Lizzie Morgan 50:15 – Stevie Wonder Story 51:18 – Music Industry Layoffs: The Stats & The Reality 57:07 – "My Friend JC" — The Children's Book Inspired by Her Daughter 1:03:03 – Waddling Into a Job Interview 7 Months Pregnant & Getting the Job 1:07:02 – Closing Gems: Prayer, Journaling & Building a Village Pod Jingle By: @uyixshane

    1h 9m

  3. May 27

    London Born, Island Made with Boogy Rankss | Episode 02 | Via the Sound

    London born. Harlem raised. Rooted in St. Kitts, Nevis & Belize. Boogy Rankss is one of the most exciting producers in Caribbean music right now and he built his entire catalog in under five years from New York City. This week, Riss sits down with the man behind "Ba Ba Ben," "Dansa," "Look Back," "No Horn," and so much more. They go deep on growing up between four cultural identities, how he started DJing at a five-year-old's birthday party for $75, the college club room where he quietly made a hit while everyone else was playing games, why COVID was actually a blessing for his career, and what it really takes to produce a record that moves the whole Caribbean. Oh and he breaks down the three skills you need to be a great DJ. You're going to want to hear this one. If you've ever loved the Dutty Dutty, Benna, Rudeness, and Vitamin D soca riddims without knowing who made them, now you do. Chapters 0:00 – Cold Open: The Beat That Started It All 0:30 – Intro: Welcome to Via the Sound 1:38 – Meet Boogy Rankss 2:06 – Icebreakers: 3 Emojis & This or That (Caribbean Edition) 5:17 – Caribbean Music Going Mainstream or Staying Underground? 6:13 – Carnival vs Juve — Where Do You Stand? 7:17 – Who Was Boogy Before the Music? 8:14 – Growing Up With Four Cultural Identities 9:51 – Lil Wayne, Kasav & Everything In Between 10:46 – From DJing to Producing: How It Started 11:46 – The First Rhythm & GarageBand Moment 12:03 – First DJ Gig: A 5-Year-Old's Birthday Party ($75) 12:21 – How "Boogy Rankss" Got His Name 13:58 – Burning Flames: The Producer's Bible 15:19 – COVID, "Ba Ba Ben" & the TikTok Explosion 19:23 – How Boogy Chooses Who Gets the Rhythm 20:16 – The Studio Mindset: 4 Cultural Identities, 1 Laptop 21:48 – "Dansa": From Rugged Rhythm to #1 Worldwide 24:39 – The Moment They Knew "Dansa" Was Global 25:49 – "Look Back" & the Caribbean Music Award Nomination 30:25 – Rate the Take: Soca, Producers vs Artists & Going Mainstream 35:19 – Burning Flames Understood Caribbean Music on Another Level 36:20 – DJ vs Producer: Two Identities, One Artist 37:32 – The 3 Skills Every Great DJ Must Have 40:09 – Staying Grounded: Humility, Confidence & Knowing Your Worth 41:42 – "Feter" with Hunter & Denise Belfon (Billboard Write-Up!) 44:41 – "I Testify" with Dash & the Guava Loop Rhythm 46:08 – What's Coming: Barbados, St. Lucia, Grenada & More 47:21 – Lady Lava & "No Horn": The Junction Rhythm Story Pod Jingle By: @uyixshane

    53 min

  4. May 13

    Between Movement and Melody with Malkalm | Episode 01 | Via the Sound

    What happens when faith, dual identity, and a love for Brandy collide into one R&B artist? This week, Riss sits down with Malkalm; New Jersey-bred artist, music exec, and one of the most quietly layered people in the game. From growing up between Nigerian and Sierra Leonean cultures, to dancing at African parties as a kid and pocketing hundreds, to performing at Barclays and touring with Showtime Camp; Malkalm's path to music was anything but linear. They go deep on what it means to be an artist AND a label exec, how authenticity is the only real marketing strategy, the prophetic moment in church that changed everything, and why his songs literally write themselves in five minutes. If you've ever felt in between worlds and wondered if that was your superpower, this one's for you. Chapters: 0:00 – Cold Open: Faith & the Music 0:56 – Intro: Welcome to Via the Sound 1:29 – Meet Malkalm 2:14 – Icebreakers: 3 Emojis & This or That (Nigerian Edition) 6:19 – Who Was Malkalm Before Music? 8:20 – Growing Up Between Nigeria & Sierra Leone Culture 10:47 – Musical Influences: Brandy, Janet, Michael & More 12:11 – Dance as a Foundation 15:00 – The Mercedes Dealership Moment 18:07 – Faith, God & Staying Grounded 19:43 – The Church Prophecy That Changed His Life 22:36 – Dance vs. Music: Which Path Wins? 23:30 – Touring with Show Dem Camp 25:07 – The Double Life: Artist + Music Exec 26:04 – Courtesy of Records & Working in the Industry 27:01 – Keeping Artists Authentic in a Trend-Chasing World 28:49 – Malkalm's Creative Process 29:38 – Why His Songs Come From God 30:47 - Malkalm Salutes His Fellow R&B Peers 32:42- Malkalm's Upcoming Project 34:52 - Malkalm's Still Figuring Out Pod Jingle By: @uyixshane

    42 min
  5. Welcome to Via the Sound

    Season 1 Trailer

    Welcome to Via the Sound

    Let's get to the route of your sound. 🎙️ Music moves us. But the stories behind it? That's where it gets real. Via the Sound is where artists, musicians, producers, and music industry creatives get honest about their journey. The identity, the culture, the influences, and lived experiences that shaped their sound before the world ever heard it. Before there was a genre, there was a community. Before the sound reached you, there was a whole life being lived. New episodes dropping soon. Follow the show so you never miss a conversation. 🖤 https://linktr.ee/viathesound

    1 min

Trailer

About

Via the Sound is where music meets identity. Hosted by Karissa “Riss” Horsford, this podcast explores the routes behind sound through conversations with artists and industry voices. Each episode dives into the influences, upbringing, cultural roots, and pivotal moments that shape how people find their voice in music and what that relationship to sound looks like today. Via the Sound centers honest, reflective conversations that go beyond the surface to uncover the stories behind the music.

Information

  • Creator
    Via the Sound
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    5
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Via the Sound
  • Show Website
    Via the Sound