Tag: mic check

British Legend Craig David Reflects on His Career in the Latest Episode of ‘Spotify: Mic Check’

March 21, 2023

a visual of craig david looking at the camera with graphic shapes around him

Craig David hit the music scene just before the turn of the millennium when he was featured on U.K. duo Artful Dodger’s garage classic “Re-Rewind.” What followed for the British singer-songwriter were eight studio albums, 14 Brit Award nominations, and the release of many successful song collaborations across multiple genres.

Craig has made a mark on music and culture over the last 25 years, and he’s not slowing down. He recently sat down with Lea Palmieri, host of the Spotify: Mic Check podcast, to revisit the pivotal moments in his career, from hearing his breakout hit at the Notting Hill Carnival to writing his first book, What’s Your Vibe? Tuning Into Your Best Life.

Listen to the episode here, and watch the full conversation below.

‘Spotify: Mic Check’ Returns With Teen Breakout Star Sara James

October 12, 2022

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We’re back! After a brief summer hiatus, Spotify: Mic Check, Spotify: Discover This, and Spotify: For the Record return with new episodes. Whether you’re looking to go behind-the-scenes with your favorite creators, discover music genres or audio trends heating up around the world, or take  a deep dive into all things Spotify, our trio of podcasts has got you covered. 

Our latest Mic Check episode features Sara James, a Polish 14-year-old who captured the hearts of millions by her stunning performances on the popular TV show America’s Got Talent. In June, she also became Spotify’s youngest-ever ambassador for our EQUAL program. (You can read what she has to say about supporting women in music in our June interview). 

 

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Tune in as the artist shares her story with Mic Check from Spotify’s Studios in LA—and look out for her new Spotify Singles, including a whole new take on Billie Eilish. 

 

Four Days of Country Music at Spotify House During CMA Fest 2022

June 15, 2022

This past weekend, CMA Fest returned to Nashville for the first time since 2019 to celebrate all things country music. Top country stars and emerging artists alike came together at Spotify House to perform and enjoy time in an intimate setting with their fans. Spotify House was located in the unmatched Blake Shelton and Opry Entertainment Group’s Ole Red. With four days of performances across two stages, there was something for everyone in the crowd.

Spotify partnered with Meta throughout the event to bring an exclusive Instagram Reels experience to Spotify House, capturing content with director The Tommy B for artists’ Instagram and Facebook. Adding to the experience for fans were QR codes from Digital Seat Media, which helped attendees receive real-time event updates. 

Also on the ground was our team behind Spotify: Mic Check, which had the opportunity to speak to several returning CMA Fest performers and newcomers alike. The episode featured R&B-inspired country artist Tiera Kennedy, whose song “Found It In You” recently hit 20 million streams after being featured on Spotify’s Hot Country playlist. 

“I remember when I first moved to Nashville, wanting so badly to be on all those playlists. To see my music on all those playlists is really cool and it feels really special.”

Meghan Patrick, who performed at CMA Fest again this year, was also thrilled to be back onstage. “I’ve always looked at CMA Fest as a huge milestone and a huge opportunity to be part of. Every year it feels like I get a few more opportunities to play and show my music and play some different stages. Every year it’s always super exciting and a great opportunity to have some great exposure to a lot of fans in a short amount of time.” 

Check out the episode, which also features Erin Kinsey and Brett Eldredge, below.

Read on for a little more from each day of CMA Fest.

Day 1: Darius Rucker, Dan + Shay, Brett Eldredge, Ashley McBryde, and more

Spotify House got off to an incredible start with Darius Rucker, Dan + Shay, Brett Eldredge, Chase Wright, Brantley Gilbert, Ashley McBryde, Dustin Lynch, Dalton Dover, Nate Smith, Ashley Cooke, Kameron Marlowe, Meghan Patrick, and Nikki Lane taking the stage for day one. 

Superstar Darius Rucker kicked off with a high-energy opening set, performing chart-toppers “Alright” and “This” as well as his iconic Hootie & The Blowfish track “Only Wanna Be With You” and fan favorite “Wagon Wheel.”

Hannah Ellis, Dalton Dover, and Nate Smith soon hit the stage for performances of their own tracks as well as famous covers from fellow country artists. They were followed by a full-circle moment for rising country star Chase Wright, who made his Spotify House debut just a few years after he found himself waiting in line to get into the CMA Fest hot spot. 

Fans were treated to a surprise performance from Jimmie Allen when he joined Ashley Cooke onstage for their song “Good Goodbye” and a duet of his song “Freedom Was a Highway.” Kameron Marlowe dazzled the crowd, as did Meghan Patrick, who serenaded fans with “Heart On My Glass,” accompanying herself on the harmonica. As the sun went down, Brett Eldredge performed two tracks from his upcoming album Songs About You, including the album’s title track and latest single, “I Feel Fine.” This year, we also hosted our Fresh Finds Rooftop for the first time. The rooftop stage featured emerging artists Abby Anderson, Chris Ruediger, Taylor Edwards, Maggie Baugh, Tanner Adell, and Jordan Rowe.

‘Spotify: Mic Check’ Welcomes Fresh Finds Artist Julia Wolf To Share Her Story

October 21, 2021

If you love hearing artists and creators tell their stories in their own words, you’re in luck. One of our new podcasts, Spotify: Mic Check, connects creators with fans by doing exactly that. In each episode, artists and podcasters share exclusive recordings and personal stories in their own words.

In the inaugural Spotify: Mic Check, you’ll hear from Julia Wolf—a rising star from Queens, New York, whose refreshing indie-pop sound is influenced by her classical training and love of hip-hop. She’s a recent graduate of Spotify’s Fresh Finds program, which provides up-and-coming artists with the tools to build a long-term career. 

In the episode, Julia speaks about how she overcame her severe shyness to become an artist. 

“I only started writing because my music teacher at the time said, ‘If you want to participate in the final showcase, it has to be an original song,’” shared Julia. “And I was mortified, like so embarrassed. For me, I just thought no one wanted to hear what I had to think. I went home and wrote it anyway because I wanted to participate. And that’s when I really fell in love with the music and being able to let people know what’s going on in my head without having to talk to them.”

This past weekend, Julia sold out her first hometown show—something she had strived for despite the naysayers. And over the years, she’s learned a lot about her music and herself. 

Listen to everything Julia has to say on Spotify: Mic Check.