Music Podcasts and Industry Talks

The FADER Uncovered Podcast

The FADER Uncovered is a series of in-depth conversations with the world’s most impactful musicians, from genre-defining stars to avant-garde pioneers hosted by seven time Grammy Award winner, Oscar Award winner, legendary record producer and DJ, Mark Ronson. Each episode is rooted in these musicians’ iconic FADER cover stories, an institution that, over the past two decades, has told artists’ stories like no other. It’s a chance to talk about the past, present, and future of music and artistry, reflecting on the breakthroughs, creative struggles, and evolutions that can take place under the spotlight. Join Mark Ronson for a new episode every week.

The FADER Uncovered Host Mark Ronson Trailer

Website

The FADER Uncovered Trailer

On the first episode of The FADER Uncovered, host Mark Ronson speaks with Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, drummer of The Legendary Roots Crew. Quest takes Mark back to 2002, when The Roots appeared on the cover of The FADER just before the release of their fifth album, Phrenology. They discuss the incredible creative energy in Philadelphia around the turn of the millennium and the absurd concentration of talent around Electric Lady Studios in Greenwich Village; the difficulties The Roots faced when trying to level up after 1999’s Things Fall Apart; and how Jay-Z quoting The Simpsons on a phone call with Quest led to The Roots collaborating with Hov on MTV Unplugged, thawing out the cold war between underground and mainstream hip-hop.

The FADER Uncovered - Questlove

The FADER Uncovered: Questlove

On the second episode of The FADER Uncovered podcast, host Mark Ronson is joined by sugar trap pioneer Rico Nasty to look back at her 2018 FADER cover story and her life in the spotlight since. Rico tells Mark about the highs and lows of her life on tour, merging rap and rock in new ways, and how she learned to trust herself as she rose to global fame.

Fader Uncovered

The FADER Uncovered: Rico Nasty

On the third episode of The FADER Uncovered podcast, host Mark Ronson is joined by Talking Heads icon David Byrne to reminisce about his 2009 FADER cover story and his inspiring and unique musical career. David tells Mark about his numerous classic albums, both as a solo artist and as part of Talking Heads, collaborating with Brian Eno, what he wanted to achieve with his must-read book How Music Works, and the journey from arthouse to arenas. They also discuss Byrne’s ambitious staging of his American Utopia live show on Broadway and the new artists he has been listening to in lockdown.

The FADER Uncovered: David Byrne

On the fourth episode of The FADER Uncovered podcast, host Mark Ronson is joined by Este and Alana from HAIM to reminisce about their 2013 FADER cover story and to look back over their early days as a band. The sisters fill Mark in on the tough period in their personal lives that led to their Grammy-nominated 2020 album Women In Music Pt.III and how the global pandemic put a stop to their planned tour of delis to promote the record. They also reminisce about being in a band with their parents and Este’s time as a member of pop-rock group the Valli Girls alongside her sister Danielle. There’s talk of panic attacks on the set of Saturday Night Live plus HAIM’s work with Hollywood auteur Paul Thomas Anderson, too. In fact, they had so much to discuss that a second episode featuring HAIM will follow in the coming weeks.

The FADER Uncovered: HAIM Part 1

On the latest episode of The FADER Uncovered, host Mark Ronson is joined by Pharrell Williams for the first in a two part interview. Together they revisit The Neptunes’ 2002 FADER cover and look back on the breakthrough period of Pharrell’s career, discussing the magic of working with colorful characters including Mystikal, N.O.R.E. and Ludacris. Pharrell also lifts the lid on what it’s like in the studio with Jay-Z and how a refusal to be confined to any one kind of music led him to where he is today. Be sure to join us next week for Part II of the conversation.

The FADER Uncovered: Pharrell Williams Part 1

On the latest episode of The FADER Uncovered, host Mark Ronson is once again joined by Pharrell Williams for the second part of their epic interview. This time out they discuss Pharrell’s punk education at the iconic 9:30 Club in DC, his love of go-go music, why Lenny Kravitz is underrated, and the surprising origins of N.E.R.D.’s rock sound before the pair stop to give A Tribe Called Quest legend Q-Tip his flowers as one of the most influential figures in musical history.

The FADER Uncovered: Pharrell Williams Part 2

This week Ronson is joined by rapper, author, and business mogul Rick Ross. Together they revisit the Miami rapper's 2006 FADER cover, written just as his breakout hit "Hustlin'" was blowing up. Ross looks back to a time before "Hustlin'," including a time when a car crash made him re-evaluate life and almost quit rap altogether. They also touch on his stratospheric rise in the hip-hop game, collaborating with Kanye West in Hawaii, his new book The Perfect Day to Boss Up, and what it's like to perform at a bar mitzvah.

The FADER Uncovered: Rick Ross

Nick Yates is a promoter who has been working in the music scene for the past 20 years. He is part of the DC-10/Circoloco Family, and is the booker for brands like Paradise and Cuttin Headz. He is also the Co-Founder of Manchester born brand Kaluki, and also the founder of the M.A.A.C (Music Against Animal Cruelty) charity. 

I asked him to select 5 tracks that have meant a lot to him or hold memories from over the years. This sparked an incredible conversation about his time in the music scene and his personal life. It was a pleasure getting to know each other and sharing stories about our past times.

LOCKED IN W//:  NICK YATES

On paper, Richard "Biff" Stannard is having one of the toughest years of his life. But music, as it has time and time again, has steered him away from the shadows – and towards celebration.

Stannard says that his songwriting style has always been to "write myself happy". This approach has led to him writing and producing some of the fizziest and most successful pop songs of all time, including a run of Spice Girls' hits such as Wannabe – a timeless No.1 record in both the US and the UK.

"Writing himself happy" is also a big part of how Stannard has dealt with mental health issues across his whole life. That life began in East London in 1966, in a house typified, he says, by an "environment of hyper-masculine men". Stannard had a troubled relationship with his father, a boxer, who didn't take kindly to his son's childhood love of music.

In this candid MBW Podcast, Stannard discusses his personal journey, including his early relationship with British maverick impresario, Tom Watkins, who gave the songwriter his break working with boyband East 17 in the 1990s. 

Watkins sadly died earlier this year – as did Stannard's mother, at 91. Stannard says his mom was particularly "protective" of him during his youth, and the only member of his immediate family that didn't discourage his love of music and creativity. 

That's not the only trauma Stannard has faced in the past 12 months, either. Having re-invented himself as a weight-lifter – replete with muscles like beach balls – Stannard broke the UK record for bench-press in his age category during a competition. He walked off stage jubilant, an official master of yet another discipline... before suffering a life-changing heart attack.

This narrative, though – again, thanks to music – has a happy ending. Stannard has co-written two singles on Kylie Minogue's DISCO, which has just become the UK's fastest-selling album of 2020, even outstripping the first-week performances of new records from superstars like Lady Gaga.

As such, DISCO is Stannard's biggest career success since he co-wrote and produced Ellie Goulding's worldwide hit Lights six years ago – and the beginning of a new chapter in his book of triumphs.

Kylie has been a constant collaborator in Stannard's career, which has seen him work with everyone from U2 to Little Mix, One Direction and Leona Lewis – and win both Ivor Novello and ASCAP Awards.

The Music Business Worldwide Podcast

Spice Girls, Kylie and a Near-Death Experience: Biff Stannard, Songwriter

The FADER is the definitive voice of emerging music and the lifestyle that surrounds it. Through in-depth reporting and a distinct street sensibility, The FADER aggressively covers the most dynamic breadth of music and style emanating from the fringes of the mainstream to the heart of the underground. The FADER is the authority on what's next.