Something that I learned a long time ago is that there can be an art to rambling. They’re conversations you can be part of (or overhear) where you find yourself thinking “wait, how did we get here?” and somehow, the flow will tie back to an overall topic. That’s how it feels whenever I chat with my old friend, ALA.NI, a London-born singer-songwriter who’s called Paris home for many years. Across 3 albums, she’s creatively evolved and pivoted in ways that wholly reflect how she carries herself in this life. Her latest offering, Sunshine Music, the shimmering music of the album was born from ALA.NI’s need to get away from European grey skies and into the crystal clear teal waters of the Caribbean. Across our chat, we get into how tangible that feeling was, along with the experiences in her life that went on to inspire these songs.

We also talk in-depth about how James Baldwin continues to inspire her. We talk quite a bit about a book called ‘Baldwin: A Love Story’ by Nicholas Boggs (which you can check out here). Also, be sure to check out the performance that ALA.NI did with my friend Conor (aka Villagers) for La Blogothèque here.

This episode is a bit of a special one, as I’m joined by Natalie and Meegan of JOSEPH for a conversation that feels just as much of a life update as it does an interview. Their new album, Closer to Happy, digs into that strange space of realizing your life doesn’t quite look how you imagined, and learning to be okay with that. We get into how that mindset shaped the songs, and how the band continues to evolve beyond their indie folk roots into something more dynamic and wide-reaching. One of the things that stands out the most is how the music of JOSEPH moves between softer, more inward moments and bigger, almost cathartic releases. That same energy carries into our conversation, where we talk about growth, perspective, and giving yourself a bit more grace along the way.

Be sure to follow JOSEPH on Instagram @thebandjoseph

One of the most beautiful lessons we can learn in this life is how having clarity on what matters to us can set forth a path for us to walk through. I feel lucky that I’ve met people who’ve echoed that with their actions, and today’s guest does that in spades. Jess DiPierro Obert is an investigative photojournalist, filmmaker, producer, and visual artist whose work has focused on people who’ve had their human rights violated, particularly in the areas of physical violence, sexual assault, and mental health struggles.

It might sound gauche to say it this way, but a major aspect that stands out to me about Jess’s work is the dignity she’s always able to capture. Many of her subjects have been people who’ve gone through difficulties in life, but from Jess’s lens, it’s always clear that a person is more than their worst day (or series of worst days). No, they’re a human being first and foremost, and this bonus episode is about exploring Jess’s ethos towards her work, along with the extensive work she’s done in my family’s home county of Haiti.