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Mohini Dey: The Bass Phenom from India on her journey, Willow, touring, branding & entrepreneurship
Episode 68: Mohini Dey. Today, we’ve got the incredible Mohini Dey on the pod! We’re coming to you from backstage at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Miami, where she just played an amazing set with Willow. Mohini is absolutely one of the greatest bassists in the game right now. She came up in India, built a huge name for herself, and is now living in the U.S., touring the world. We get into her journey, her artist career, her inspiring drive, and something I had no idea about—her entrepreneurial work, which she keeps super low-key (and honestly, that just makes me respect her even more). We also talk playing with Willow, their viral Tiny Desk performance, life on tour, and more. Hope you dig this convo with my friend Mohini Dey. Let’s go! ‘Go with Elmo Lovano’ is a weekly podcast where Elmo interviews creatives and entrepreneurs in music on HOW they push forward every day, got where they are in their careers, manage their personal lives, and share lessons learned and their most important insights. Please SUBSCRIBE / FOLLOW this podcast to catch new episodes as soon as they drop! Your likes, comments and shares are much appreciated!
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What is a Musical Director? Everything You Need to Know
Episode 66: Musical Director Week! If you’ve ever wondered what a musical director is, what they actually do, or how to become one—this episode is for you. MDs are one of the most important (and underrated) pieces of the live music puzzle, running the show behind the scenes for some of the biggest artists in the world. I’ve been a musical director myself for years before starting Jammcard and this podcast, so I’m breaking it all down—what an MD does, why they matter, and how to be a great one. Plus, we’ve brought in some of the top MDs in the game to share their experiences on the pod: Adam Blackstone (Eminem, Justin Timberlake, Rihanna) Kris Pooley (Katy Perry, American Idol) Michael Bearden (Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga) Rance Dopson (Beyoncé, Jay-Z) Teddy Campbell (Britney Spears) This is a must-listen for anyone who wants to step into the world of musical direction or just understand how live shows really come together. Drop any questions you have or personal stories in the comments! ‘Go with Elmo Lovano’ is a weekly podcast where Elmo interviews creatives and entrepreneurs in music on HOW they push forward every day, got where they are in their careers, manage their personal lives, and share lessons learned and their most important insights. Please SUBSCRIBE / FOLLOW this podcast to catch new episodes as soon as they drop! Your likes, comments and shares are much appreciated!
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Nate Smith: Drumming with Fearless Flyers, Brittany Howard, Kinfolk, Groove, Pocket, Practice, Life
Episode 65: Nate Smith. One of the greatest drummers in the game, a future member of the Hall of Fame—you already know it’s Nate Smith! I had a great time hanging with Nate in this conversation. He’s a brilliant musician, composer, thinker, and such a fun guy. We go deep on how he got the gig with Brittany Howard and his work with her, how the Fearless Flyers became a band and how they make records, his practice regimen, personal life, philosophies, working with Paul Simon, going viral, what drives his creativity, etc. Nate is the kind of guy you like even more once you talk with him, so I hope this interview makes you feel like you know him better—and become an even bigger fan. Much love! Here’s my talk with Nate Smith. ‘Go with Elmo Lovano’ is a weekly podcast where Elmo interviews creatives and entrepreneurs in music on HOW they push forward every day, got where they are in their careers, manage their personal lives, and share lessons learned and their most important insights. Please SUBSCRIBE / FOLLOW this podcast to catch new episodes as soon as they drop! Your likes, comments and shares are much appreciated!
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Nathan East: Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Get Lucky, Session Stories, Perspective, Drummers, Quincy
Episode 64: Nathan East. One of the most recorded musicians of all time, and truly one of the greatest humans—that’s Nathan East. I had the best time hanging out with him, diving into his perspective and stories, and cracking up along the way. We talk about his 40-year relationship with Eric Clapton, recording some of the biggest songs ever, and co-writing one of my personal favorite records. His outlook on life is incredible, and I believe that’s a huge part of why he’s had nonstop opportunities since his teenage musician years. Nathan has played on over 2,000 recordings with legends like Michael Jackson, Phil Collins, Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Stevie Wonder, George Harrison, Kenny Loggins, Daft Punk, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock…the list goes on and on. As a bassist, he’s been half of the groove behind a laundry list of the greatest drummers of all time: Vinnie Colaiuta, Ringo, Ndugu Chancler, Jeff Porcaro, Phil Collins, Harvey Mason, John JR Robinson, and more. I hope you enjoy this conversation with the one-and-only Nathan East! I tried my best to make it special from every other interview he’s done. Much love! ‘Go with Elmo Lovano’ is a weekly podcast where Elmo interviews creatives and entrepreneurs in music on HOW they push forward every day, got where they are in their careers, manage their personal lives, and share lessons learned and their most important insights. Please SUBSCRIBE / FOLLOW this podcast to catch new episodes as soon as they drop!
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Don Was: President of Blue Note Records, Producing The Rolling Stones, John Mayer, The B-52's, Dylan
Episode 63: Don Was. Don Was is undeniably one of the most influential figures in music. For the past 31 years, he’s been producing The Rolling Stones, while also working with legends like Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, The B-52’s, and John Mayer. Beyond that, he’s the President of Blue Note Records, plays bass with Bob Weir, and now fronts his own band. In this episode, Don sits down with Elmo to share how he balances running Blue Note Records, producing iconic albums, and touring. He opens up about the challenges of managing a record label in today’s rapidly changing industry and shares some gold on how he makes it all work. We also dive into how Blue Note has stayed relevant, from Robert Glasper’s game-changing projects to rising stars DOMi and JD Beck. One of the highlights is Don’s 30-year journey with The Rolling Stones. He breaks down what it’s like to produce for rock legends and how he’s maintained strong relationships with the band. Don also reflects on his friendship with jazz icon (and Elmo’s cousin) Joe Lovano, studio sessions with Bob Dylan, and his early days with Was (Not Was)—including how “Walk the Dinosaur” became a life-changing hit. Don shares how he introduced John Mayer to Bob Weir which led to Dead and Co. and tells us how he produced The B-52’s, including the making of “Love Shack.” This episode is packed with incredible stories and insights from a producer who’s helped shape the soundtrack of generations.
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George Clinton: Writing Flashlight, Give Up the Funk, Atomic Dog, Sampling, Grammys, Leadership
Episode 62: George Clinton. Step into the Mothership as we welcome the legendary George Clinton, the godfather of funk and mastermind behind Parliament-Funkadelic, on this week’s episode of Go With Elmo Lovano!! From shaping genres to leading a musical revolution, George reflects on his 7 decade career, the stories behind his iconic hits, and the vision that has kept him evolving until today. We go back to the early days with Parliament and Funkadelic, sharing the origins of hits like “I Wanna Testify” and how he’s constantly pivoted with time, embracing changes in music and culture. He opens up about the impact of sampling, why he decided to lean into it and how. We get into the magic behind iconic recording sessions like Flashlight, Atomic Dog, Give Up the Funk and One Nation Under A Groove, unearthing how those tracks came to life. We talk about building community, his dedication to getting his people paid, what it means to be a leader with vision, and quitting drugs. We touch on Prince inducting him into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and their unique relationship. And of course, we get George’s thoughts on aliens, artificial intelligence and where the world is headed. This is an unforgettable conversation with a true legend who’s still shaping the sound of tomorrow. Let’s funk it up! Please SUBSCRIBE / FOLLOW this podcast to catch new episodes as soon as they drop! Your likes, comments and shares are much appreciated!
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