Tag: dj

Spotify Partners With Bresh, the Acclaimed Gen Z Trend Party

July 29, 2022

Bresh in pink tesxt on a fuzzy looking pink background

No matter your typical go-to genre, there’s some music that simply makes you want to dance. An emphasis on genre fluidity and variation—alongside a desire for diversity, tolerance, brightness, and freedom—is the concept behind Bresh, a dance party that began in Argentina six years ago and quickly became a global phenomenon. The meeting place for artists, actors, and prominent Gen Z personalities is, in short, a vibe—and Bresh is now a popular dance party in more than 90 cities and 12 countries around the world. 

During the pandemic, thousands of people tuned into Bresh’s livestreams to have a good time from home. Now IRL once again, the party has joined forces with Spotify as its official streaming partner so that Latin American users can enjoy the full experience on their smartphones long after the lights have been switched back on and participants have gone home.

 

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This union will enable the promotion of Bresh’s  official playlists on Spotify, “Hitazo Tras Hitazo,” which contains more than 40 hours of the most-listened-to and most-danced-to songs. Plus, through this partnership, we’re also committing to fostering momentum for both recognized and emerging artists and DJs associated with the party. 

Bresh and Spotify share a similar goal: to provide young people with the best audio and the music they love, in one place. The alliance of Bresh and Spotify in Latin America will allow the party to continue to expand in the region, connecting young people from Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina with the values that represent them, such as multiculturalism and belonging.

The most beautiful (and popular) party in the world is now accompanied by the world’s leading audio platform. Together, we’ll work toward our mission of making Bresh a meeting place for all young people united in a shared language of multigenre fluidity, and of course, dancing.

Spotify’s DJ Mixes Provides a Place for Artists To Create Their Music and Grow Their Fan Base

September 29, 2021

Dance and electronic music fans have long enjoyed custom mixes from their favorite DJs as a signature listening experience exclusive to the genre. Today, DJs in eight markets around the world are sharing their own mixed-music content, in addition to high-quality compilations directly on Spotify through its new DJ Mixes, which the company is beginning to test out. 

Available for all users in the U.K., Ireland, the Netherlands, Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand, this latest innovation opens up a completely new format for artists to get their music mixes in the hands of their fans and further expand their global audience. 

DJ Mixes provides one integrated place where artists can seamlessly create and connect with their audiences. 

In celebration of today’s launch, DJs AmyElle, Adam Beyer, Shingo Nakamara, MOTi, and Noisia have each released their own individual mixes on our platform.

In addition to the playlists, you can also check out various existing albums and DJ mixes in the Dance/Electronic microhub. DJ Mixes is just beginning to roll out, so fans should expect the experience to continue to evolve over time. Users on iOS and Android who have the Spotify app downloaded can listen for themselves. 

Introducing track IDs: Co-Curated Playlists From the World’s Leading DJs

August 6, 2020

Do you ever dance to your favorite DJ and wonder what track they’re mixing? You’re not alone. We’re always asking “track ID, anyone?” at sets. Now, with a new suite of playlists, Spotify is here to remove the guesswork for dance and electronic music fans.

Our new playlists, track IDs, are co-curated by DJs and Spotify’s editorial team and include songs DJs play in their sets. Each playlist will also include original tracks from the DJ. In addition to allowing DJs to connect with fans in an entirely new way, these playlists will help listeners discover songs they’ve previously heard live and want to find on Spotify.

“It’s no secret the tracks I play are usually unreleased from whichever sounds I’m into at the time,” explains Berlin-based DJ Dixon. “Right now with the usual game on hold, this playlist feels quite personal. Of course there are the floor fillers in there, some from prior to lockdown, some that never have been tested on a dance floor. But I’m more curious to gauge the listeners’ response to the underdogs.”

These playlists, which will be refreshed on a weekly basis, are co-curated by some of the world’s leading DJs, including MK, Aluna, Black Coffee, and Jayda G.

With dance and electronic spanning a wide range of styles and subgenres, these playlists allow fans to listen to music for every bpm, from house and techno to electronica and chill. Discover new favorites with one of our track ID playlists playlist below.

Find all of our track ID playlists here.

On the Ground at Cannes Lions with DJ, Author, and Entrepreneur Hannah Bronfman

June 20, 2019

If anyone has a soundtrack to their life, it’s Hannah Bronfman. The DJ, author, and founder of HBFIT has music playing around the clock, from prepping meals that go hand-in-hand with her lifestyle book to making one of her monthly playlists. And people are listening—her 5,000+ Spotify followers are a testament to that. The key to engaging that audience, she says, is in understanding the vibe people are looking for while infusing a fresh musical perspective.

We sat down with Hannah in the midst of the 2019 Cannes Lions Festival, where Hannah DJ’ed Spotify and Hulu’s kickoff party and joined our What’s Next panel. She offered us some firsthand insight into the relationship between music and prevailing millennial trends—and the creative process behind her monthly playlists.

You participated in Spotify’s Culture Next Trend Report. This week at Cannes, you talked about some of the learnings of the report on a panel. What did you walk away with after that conversation?

As a content creator and someone who’s very active in my community and very on-the-ground in pop culture, I think these trends are things that I’m definitely aware of. It was just really interesting to hear a different perspective on them, including from the brand side, too. It’s nice that brands are really thinking about these things.

The report found that millennials are listening to international music more than any other demographic. Have you seen that in your listenership? Is it something that you try to incorporate in your sets?

Absolutely. I think now more than ever, we are really seeing that global music is a huge trend. It’s never been easier to learn about new artists and new music. If I like one song [I can easily]  discover new music and new artists that I wouldn’t otherwise understand or know or have exposure towards.

Do you have a particular discovery tool that’s your favorite? Release Radar, Discover Weekly?

I love Release Radar, I love Discover Weekly. I also love following some of my friends. And then I constantly use Shazam. I travel a lot… and when I’m out in places that are foreign to me and I hear a song that I like, I’ll Shazam it, and then I’ll put it on Spotify and listen.

So what are some of the favorite new artists or international tracks you’ve discovered that you’ve incorporated into your playlists or your sets?

I love playing Doja Cat and Kehlani and then VanJess. They’re kind of newer artists that I’m really into, and I like the vibe of that music right now. And then I think more on the international side, Aroc! is amazing. I have a list that I just got from my friend who lives in Paris who’s been listening to a lot of music coming out of Nigeria. Which has these really authentic, amazing drumbeats, and it’s such a vibe. I think Afrikaans music is becoming a big trend in music right now as well.

You also had a chance to DJ the Spotify/Hulu party this week at Cannes. How was sharing the stage with Ciara?

It was awesome. It’s actually not the first time that I’ve opened for her. And I hope it’s not the last. She’s such an amazing inspiration. She’s unbelievably sexy and cool and just has such a vibe. Kind of an interesting crowd to play for, because I feel like everyone’s kind of like a music enthusiast, and so I was trying to play a little bit of Rosalia, some Lizzo, and then also get into some more mainstream stuff.

Is your playlist creation process the same as when you develop a DJ set?

No, actually. When I’m DJing, I very much read a crowd and go with my instinct. When I’m creating playlists, I really do try to create something different every single month. I like to use my playlists as a little bit of a place for discovery for people who are listening. Things that they might not necessarily hear on Top 40… so it’s a little bit more of a discovery than my DJ sets are.

In January you released your book Do What Feels Good, which outlines some healthy recipes. You spend your fair share of time in the kitchen preparing these healthy meals—what do you listen to?

Being in the kitchen is a very therapeutic moment of my day. I will sometimes put on reggae, or I’ll put on some jazz. Maybe if there’s a new album, I’ll put it on because that’s a really good, solid 45 minutes where I’m in the kitchen focusing on what I’m preparing.

How about podcasts—do you have a current favorite you’ve been binging?

I love Black Girls Texting. I love their conversations. I actually went on their podcast during my press tour for the book. And I just really fell in love with those girls.

You’ve been a guest on a lot of podcasts. Is there a difference in interviews via podcasting and than say an interview like this one?

1000%. Podcasts are single-handedly the most beneficial thing I did throughout my first tour. It’s incredible how addicted the audiences are to podcasts, and how each podcast is unique in how it’s talking about a topic. It’s also really cool to see the crossover in audiences since people are listening to multiple podcasts.

It’s more of a conversation. It’s not just so geared towards a specific answer or a specific routine. It’s very much conversational, and it’s about the interviewer and interviewee.

Don’t just take it from us – stream Hannah’s June playlist below.  

Superstar DJs Spin in Sin City, Amp Up Their Streams

June 3, 2019

Las Vegas history may be steeped in the sounds of Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr, but today the city beats to a very different drum (and bass). To many, Vegas is now considered home to the best party scene in the US. Visitors from all over the world descend on Sin City’s legendary nightclubs for epic events—headlined by Superstar DJs like Afrojack and Marshmello—that don’t stop until the sun comes up. Apparently, what happens in Vegas doesn’t stay in Vegas—at least when it comes to the work of world-famous DJs. Even after a long wild weekend in the desert, partygoers are likely to keep streaming these world-class EDM artists on repeat.

Imagine that it’s your best friend’s birthday party. You and your friends book a room at the posh Wynn resort. After check-in on Friday night you dance straight into dawn at XS nightclub to a performance by The Chainsmokers, the DJ-producer duo of Alex Pall and Drew Taggart. You take a quick break and sleep from sunrise to noon, then catch a second Chainsmokers show in the desert heat and sunshine—an unparalleled pool party at the Wynn’s over-the-top Encore Beach Club. Somewhere in between the shows or just after, you stream “Closer” or “Something Just Like Us.” You then keep the music playing for weeks to come.

In fact, Vegas visitors who played at least one Chainsmokers track during their stay on the Strip have shown a subsequent 27% increase in the duo’s streaming after they return home. And the Chainsmokers are in good company.  

French DJ David Guetta, who has over 36 million monthly listeners, performed 19 times during a two-month 2018 Vegas residency. There was a subsequent 88% increase in his streams among Spotify users who visited Vegas on one of his show dates. Tiësto, the Dutch DJ currently in residence at the Hakkasan nightclub in the MGM Grand, has seen a 40% increase following a recent set of shows.

And it’s not just EDM stars who now enjoy the long-tail streaming value of a Vegas residency. Lady Gaga, who kicked off her “Enigma” show at the Park MGM at the end of 2018, has seen a 13% bump in streams among Spotify listeners who were in Fabulous Las Vegas on one of her show dates. Cardi B is also scheduling performances at the KAOS day and night club in the newly renovated Palm resort.

Sure, the eye-popping residency contracts that artists sign make for good headlines. But staying put on the Strip allows EDM stars, in particular, to keep fans all the more engaged and streaming, well after they’ve returned home (and to a normal sleep cycle). And every weekend brings a new crowd of potential and diehard fans. Take Tiësto’s word for it: “It’s crazier than I can ever remember, and all the clubs are packed. It’s still going strong.”

Stream a who’s who of EDM in our Dance/Electronic hub, or get streaming right away with mint.

 

Mallory Thomson on Connecting Spotifiers Through Px—DJs, Spin Bikes, and Grand Pianos Included

October 25, 2018

On a busy Thursday afternoon at our New York office, we found Mallory Thomson, Spotify’s Px (People Experience) Lead, preparing for “Classy AF.” The playfully titled classical music event offers classically trained Spotifiers a chance to share their music skills with coworkers.

“If you had come tomorrow, you would’ve seen a baby grand piano being delivered in the lobby,” she joked. But while events are an important aspect of Mallory’s job, there’s a lot more to Px than planning parties.

Px is about the people who work here. It’s important for our employees to be happy, to express themselves, and to engage in their passions. It’s part of us all being able to bring our whole selves to work.

Mallory Thomson

Mallory connects with fellow employees

Each morning, Mallory connects with the rest of the Px team—six members total in New York, Stockholm, and London—to discuss upcoming projects and to-dos. “It’s a great opportunity to catch up with the rest of the team to make sure we are aligned with our initiatives. I like the creative aspect of brainstorming together and coming up with new ideas.”

Throughout the day, she collaborates with various other teams across Spotify, including Live Events, D&I (Diversity & Inclusion), and GWS (Global Workplace Services). Together, they plan new events and initiatives, and ensure that all Spotifiers feel welcome. “We use that lens in everything we do. We ask ourselves, ‘Is this inclusive?’ Making sure that everyone can participate is super important.”

Whether Mallory is planning a social event, a conference, or a fitness activity, her mission is to help employees take advantage of not just work, but life, within Spotify. “A lot of our events include ‘plus ones,’ which is part of our initiative called Spotify Plus,” she described. “We want Spotifiers to feel happy and comfortable at work. Our Spotify Plus initiatives are a great way for people to introduce some of their biggest supporters at home to their friends at work. Of course, it’s also a way for everyone to have fun!”

A lot of big gatherings take place in New York’s open MSG room. “We recently had a drag showcase,” she recalled. “We had a catwalk in here, and a DJ from our DJ club performed. It was awesome—not toned down at all!”

Mallory feels the beat

The Px team is responsible for planning Spotify’s mega-size summer and holiday parties—like last year’s summer block party which included performances from T-Pain, Charles Bradley, and Flint Eastwood—as well as smaller events and programs, like Rock Band Bootcamp.

“We have a very robust musician community within Spotify,” Mallory explained. “Rock Band Bootcamp offers music lessons in guitar, vocals, and piano. And our DJ club often hosts the pop-up event ‘Decks on Decks.’ It’s very low key… it’s every other Friday in summer, so it’s great for anyone who just wants to chill on the roof. It’s great for the DJs because they gain experience performing in front of people.”

But these events are just part of the Px equation. “Fitness and health is also an area of particular focus, inside and outside the office,” Mallory said. “We know that physical activity is important for the mind, heart, and overall wellbeing. But perhaps more importantly, coming together with your colleagues while exercising is fun. We recently did a spin class in New York City. It was so cool to look around at all the other bikes mid-class and see all Spotify faces!”

“It really brings you back to what it’s all about, which is the people.”

The most rewarding part of Mallory’s job is when she sees Spotifiers making real, personal connections through her work. “Our team plans an annual trip to Kiruna in the North of Sweden, where you can see the northern lights,” she said. “It’s unique to our Swedish roots, and something we’ll do forever. You’re in a camp in the middle of nowhere, dog sledding and ice fishing with people from the U.S., U.K., South America, Australia, Japan… so you form relationships you wouldn’t otherwise make just hanging out at work. It’s magical.”

These “a-ha moments” are what keep Mallory motivated and excited to come to work each day. “It’s hard not to feel a sense of pride when something’s come together so well after you’ve focused on all the tiny details, and you see everyone having so much fun. It really brings you back to what it’s all about, which is the people.”

Jasmine Solano Talks the Highs and Lows of Success On New Podcast Series ‘Ebb & Flow’ (Sponsored By New Amsterdam Vodka)

August 20, 2018

Jasmine Solano knows how to connect with fellow hustlers.

“I’ve been told I’m a mix of Angie Martinez and Oprah when it comes to interviewing artists” she says. “That might be a stretch, but I’ll take it!”

Jasmine is the host of Ebb & Flow, a new podcast from Spotify and New Amsterdam Vodka launching August 20. The five-episode series features candid conversations with rising hip-hop artists and entrepreneurs who have dreamed, worked, and sacrificed their way to the top. As an accomplished DJ, musician, TV host, and influencer herself, Jasmine understands that success doesn’t always come easy, but with talent, dedication, and a little help from the cosmic forces that be, almost anything is possible.

Featuring guests Bryce Vine, GASHI, J.I.D, Saweetie, and Skizzy Mars, Jasmine promises that Ebb & Flow isn’t your “typical” interview series. Raw, personal, and real, it details “the struggles and celebration of the journey.” Below, Jasmine Solano opens up about her own success, how she first launched her career, and how her future with Ebb & Flow was written in the stars.

What was the worst job you ever had?

When I was 17, I worked coat check at a club. There was a good and bad side to that job. Managing 400 coats a night with people losing their tickets and being rude… that was not so fun.

But the DJ, who was generously cool, would let me get on the turntables for a bit at the beginning of the night, before anyone was at the club. I got to practice DJ-ing live there – so my worst job actually became a stepping stone for my future life.

What was the best career advice you’ve ever been given?

Keep going. If you’re on the talent or entrepreneurial side, there are highs and lows… which is why Ebb & Flow is such a great name for this podcast. There are so many risks and heartbreaks involved with being an artist and running your own business and brand. It’s so easy to quit.

You really have to keep going until it pops. Find your groove until it creates momentum. You should have a drive that’s unlike anything else. It has to be fierce, consistent and nonstop… always stay ready for what’s around the corner.

When did you feel like you had really “made it”?

I have a music duo with MeLo-X called Electric Punanny. We’ve toured worldwide several times, and during one of those tours we performed at Glastonbury Festival in the U.K. We played on the Favela Stage, which was an entire wall the length of a New York City avenue decorated like favelas in Brazil. It was wild.

During that experience, I realized, “Wow. We are global. Not everyone knows our name, but we made it.”

You’ve worn a lot of hats throughout your career, including DJ, host, and music influencer. What would you say is your main area of expertise?

DJ-ing is number one. I’ve been DJ-ing now for 15 years.

My second main title is producer, which means many things in my world: producer of music, events, tours, organizing and mobilizing people. I take on roles from booking agent to accountant and everything in between. My expertise varies, but my main passion is understanding the climate of music and culture.

Another passion of mine is bringing people together and creating a space in which they feel comfortable sharing their stories. The reason I was obsessed with Ebb & Flow when I got the call was because I am an artist as well. If anyone can understand the lifestyle, and the trials and tribulations of an artist’s life, it’s me. I love talking to people about why they are how they are. I think those conversations are so fruitful, not just for fans who already love these artists, but people in general who are trying to build from the ground up.

Ebb & Flow is not your typical interview series. In some of the episodes, artists started tearing up. We got into some really emotional talks. It really just felt like I was talking to some of my best friends. I think that just comes from artists talking to artists, entrepreneurs talking to entrepreneurs; there’s a sense of understanding and comradery. It’s going to be really beautiful for fans to hear these conversations throughout the series.

Ebb & Flow isn’t the first time you’ve collaborated with New Amsterdam Vodka. What do you value most about being a New Amsterdam Vodka ambassador?

The people behind New Amsterdam Vodka have their finger on the pulse in terms of what to support. A lot of artists and entrepreneurs need partnerships, especially for creative ideas that need funding and backing. New Amsterdam Vodka has been one of those brands identifying projects and people that are pushing the culture forward.

The ethos of New Amsterdam Vodka is similar to that of a touring artist: The person that is always out pushing the needle and making the most of life. It’s definitely the perfect partnership.

How were you first approached about hosting Ebb & Flow?

It’s a really funny story. Back in January, someone told me, “It’s about the ebb and flow.” People have probably heard that phrase their whole lives, but for some reason, I had not heard it in at least a decade. I loved the meaning behind it, which references the waves of the sea. Like the seasons and the tide, everything has cycles.

A week later, my acupuncturist had a candle that said “ebb and flow.” Then I heard a song on the radio called “Ebb and Flow.” Every two weeks, “ebb and flow” would somehow come up in my life.

Then I got the call for this show and expressed how much I loved the concept. Then they told me the title was Ebb & Flow, and I nearly lost it!

So crazy! Do you think that when it comes to success, there’s something cosmic at force, or do you think it’s more luck, or hard work? Maybe a combination?

It’s everything you mentioned. It’s cosmic energy, destiny … mixed with devotion, timing, hard work, and talent.

I’m no guru; I don’t know the formula. But when people have all of that going at the same time, special things always happen.

Listen to Jasmine Solano host all 5 episodes of Ebb & Flow starting today, August 20.

DJ Mia Moretti Knows Exactly What to Listen to—and When

July 2, 2018

Hunkering down with a good book and want some music to set the tone? Try world-renowned DJ Mia Moretti’s playlist “What To Listen To When It’s Too Cold To Go Outside.” What if you’re feeling spontaneous and up for an adventure? Moretti has an answer in “What To Listen To When Driving Up Highway 1 On A Whim.” Her incredibly specific playlists are curated around a particular experience, setting a mood that can translate to just the one you’re in.

Moretti travels around the globe, turning tracks everywhere from A-list fashion shows to birthday parties in the jungle in Tangier. And like most Spotify subscribers, she uses the platform to create playlists. But Moretti’s playlists are like a modern mixtape, carefully collected and named after an event that occurred in her own life, compiled in a way that relates to feelings we all have.

We spoke with Moretti about what influences her, the life motto passed on to her by her grandfather and, of course, the inspiration behind those special playlists. If you’re looking for the right music to fit a particular mood, check out Moretti’s Spotify page, and you’ll be sure to find the perfect tracks.

How can DJs who usually play electronic or house music incorporate classic rock and folk music?

I love this question because it presents two ideas we think of as different and then proposes a challenge to unite them. The thing I love most about DJing is that there is no fixed equation. Being a DJ means constantly moving and adapting, just like a song moves and changes.

As a DJ, you have limitless access to tools to manipulate and change a song. You have a loop roll so you could repeat a word or a verse, you have filters to isolate highs or lows, you have effects to add echo or reverb. In doing this you create opportunities to merge two worlds that might have either different tempos, different rhythms, or completely different feelings into one seamless movement. If the transition makes sense, your audience will follow you on the journey, even if it’s to a new place.

What is your responsibility as a DJ to seamlessly tie songs together?

The most important part of a DJ set is the bridge between the two songs. If you don’t do this, and you leave your audience confused as you jump from one world to another, it’s like removing a bridge from under someone’s feet, and then they might not cross over to the next journey with you. The transitions are also what add the humanity to your DJ set. It’s the difference between someone playing a playlist versus listening to a real DJ. It’s the feeling you add, the intention behind the change, the way you tell the story.

Your Playlist Series is called “What To Listen To When…” Why did you name it that?

Songs probably hold the strongest element in my memory. After hearing just a few seconds of a song, I can be transported back to a specific time and place, and even the temperature and mood of that moment comes rushing back. I wanted to make playlists that transport you to, or help create, these places and memories. So whether it’s the first time you fell in love and drove up Highway 1 in California [What To Listen To When Driving Up Highway 1 On A Whim] or when you were standing in front of Beyoncé’s iconic performance at Coachella [What To Listen To When #Beychella Is Over], I wanted to make these memories re-livable and real, so I made them each their own playlist that’s based on my experience.

What responsibility do musicians have to utilize other forms of art in their work? How has visual art influenced your work?

I don’t think an artist should feel any responsibility to utilize or not utilize any form, but I do think it’s necessary for an artist to have a complete expression of their work when it’s transferred from their heart into the world. The forms might be different for each artist. Today, most of us see music before we hear it; what we see will stay with us throughout the musical experience. I use visual art to build characters and worlds that people can step into so they can step out of wherever they were before this moment started: what they woke up to, what is on their to-do list, who they do or don’t love, and also the trauma that we are constantly being exposed to on a daily basis. That’s the power of music. It’s escapism, it’s freedom, it’s an uncompromising joy you feel when you are completely in the moment of a song.

My new song, “Club Soda,” is an instrumental dance track that aims at doing just that. Giving the listener a moment to escape, then let themselves get transported to a place of universal joy, no matter where you come from, where you live now, or what language you speak. Music isn’t about boundaries, it’s about bringing people together, and I hope I can do that, even if it’s just in brief moments.

What is a good life motto to go by?

I asked my 101-year-old grandfather a similar question the other day and he said to me, “Do something good for others, every day.” If it’s gotten him through this world for over a hundred years, there must be something to it.

Moms Listen to Top Artists, Too—Just Ask Latham Thomas and Her Teen DJ Son

May 11, 2018

Wondering what to add to your mom’s breakfast-in-bed Spotify playlist this Mother’s Day? It might not be so different from what you’d add to your own. Spotify’s latest data on the top artists for women between the ages of 20 and 70-plus show that hits are hits—no matter what your age.

In a list of top listened-to artists by gender and age group, Post Malone and Ed Sheeran take the top two slots for women ages 30 through 59, with Drake, Avicii, and Adele also scoring high. For women 60 and up, it’s all about Ed Sheeran and perennial favorite The Beatles.

Parents have a big opportunity to influence what their kids listen to, and based on the data, it looks like the next generation is repaying the favor by keeping Mom in the musical know.

Take the musical preferences of Latham Thomas, wellness and lifestyle specialist and founder of Mama Glow. Latham and her 14-year-old son, Fulano Librizzi—an accomplished DJ and musician who has spun for everyone from Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week to the New York Knicks—both get down to Stevie Wonder, but also thrive on sharing everything from jazz to J. Cole.

We spoke to Latham about what her family is listening to now, and how to bridge the generation gap with the right tunes.

What are your early memories of music?

My mom was always playing music; she would throw on a record and make pancakes in the morning. Especially on weekends, it was Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, and Diana Ross. I went to my first Prince concert when I was 3, and Sheila E threw her drumsticks in the audience and my aunt caught them. My whole childhood was always punctuated with music.

How did you begin sharing your love of music with your son, Fulano?

When I was pregnant with my son, his father had a radio show on WKCR [in New York City] called “Jazz Alternatives.” We would hang out in the studio and pull records that looked interesting­­. We had Sicilian tarantellas, blues like Lead Belly, Sun Ra, Funkadelic, and Parliament—which my son loves now. He would actually kick to the rhythm of certain things. I think playing a lot of different music for him definitely helped with shaping his aptitude. Not only is he a DJ, he arranges music; he plays guitar and bass, ukulele. I think all those instruments also help him with understanding how to create a song. It’s nice to be able to know that just our passion and love for music helped to shape him to be very musical.

Does Fulano now introduce you to new music?

Yes. All the music that is current, I only know because of my son. He’s the one who’s like, “Oh, you’ve got to listen to J. Cole, you’ve got to listen to Migos.” I find out about a lot of indie or underground artists. He’ll play me a list of stuff and say, “This is really big right now” or, “This person’s on the come up.” I don’t know all the names, but I stay in the pulse that way.

What songs are at the top of both of your playlists right now?

We both maintain a lot of the same soul classics, like Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson. As far as the more current music, we both have been listening to J. Cole. We both like Cardi B.

How can parents better get along musically with their kids?

If you have a different musical style than your kids, spend some time and get to know who the artists are that they’re listening to, because those people are definitely influencing them. It’s a point of entry for conversation and connection, and it’s a point of coolness for you. Every generation has music that the previous generation just doesn’t get. But if you can gather around what matters to kids, you can ride the soundtrack of their lives and get to know better what’s happening in their own world. Music just has that ability to make people come together.

Happy Mother’s Day!