dopeYEAH talk

🔥 Legendary Bassist Nathan East on the dopeYEAH talk Podcast! 🎸🎶
What does it take to play bass for Eric Clapton for 43 years, record more than 10,000 songs, and lay down the groove on Get Lucky? 🎸 In this episode of musician interviews on the dopeYEAH talk podcast, Rob Cass sits down in Prague with Nathan East, one of the most iconic bassists in music history. His artist journey runs through rock music, funk music, jazz music, and pop music, alongside iconic musicians from Barry White and Quincy Jones to Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, and Daft Punk.
Nathan shares musician stories from the very beginning: a father who beat Jesse Owens, a bass nobody owned sitting on a church altar, and the jingle years of the music industry in Los Angeles. He talks about George Harrison meditating in his living room and trading picks with Paul McCartney. He also opens up about the darkest day of his life in 1990, when the helicopter seat he had flown in three times was taken by Stevie Ray Vaughan on the night of the crash.
Then come the stories behind songs every fan knows. Easy Lover was written in 20 minutes with Phil Collins and Philip Bailey, and was almost called “Choosy Lover.” Get Lucky became a viral music success with two billion streams, yet the bassline earned no writing credit, a candid look at the music business and music production from the inside. He also reflects on Fourplay, his solo albums, and Father’s Son, his new project with his son Noah.
The episode ends with Nathan playing legendary basslines from Stand by Me to Sunshine of Your Love, plus a card trick from a Magic Circle member. Full of industry interviews, celebrity profiles, and stories of musicians who shaped rock music culture, this artists interview is a music podcast about one of the most inspiring journeys in the business and a portrait of a true bass legend among inspiring artists.
If you like musician interviews from Rick Beato and Rick Rubin, you would love Rob Cass podcast as well.✨

👉 CLEARAUDIOThis episode also features a special collaboration with clearaudio — the Celebrity “Al Di Meola” Edition turntable, inspired by his iconic Gibson Les Paul. Limited to 1,000 pieces, it blends high-end German engineering with artistic design and comes with a numbered special release album by Al Di Meola and a guitar pick — a true collector’s item. 🎸👉 Learn more via the link: https://bit.ly/4tGGudp

🔥 Kurt Elling: Why Winning a Grammy Made Me Work Even Harder, on the dopeYEAH talk podcast! 🎙🎷
What happens when one of jazz's more inspiring artists shares his untold stories? 🎙 Rob Cass invites you to an unforgettable episode of musician interviews on the dopeYEAH talk podcast with Kurt Elling, the Grammy-winning jazz legend who has redefined vocal jazz with his unparalleled artistry and charisma. Kurt takes us on an artist journey from growing up in Chicago and falling in love with jazz music, to signing with Blue Note Records and performing with icons like Lang Lang and Al Jarreau.
He shares musician stories about the unforgettable highs of his career, like winning multiple Grammys and performing alongside iconic musicians, and the lows, including "the most hideously awful thing that has ever happened" to him, yes, in Berlin. Plus, this artists interview covers his "no-assholes policy" in the band, and why all musicians deserve the spotlight.
You'll also hear stories behind songs and stories of musicians from his Guilty Pleasures side project, which includes covers of AC/DC and U2 among others, and why he believes jazz must keep evolving instead of standing still, one of the more inspiring journeys in modern jazz music. He talks about how competition drives musicians to be better, and shares his own recipe for a happy marriage as a working musician.
This is one of those rare industry interviews and celebrity profiles that doubles as a music podcast, packed with music history, insights on the future of jazz, and two exclusive live performances at the dopeYEAH club. Kurt's wit and passion for music will leave you inspired to rediscover jazz like never before.
If you like musician interviews from Rick Beato and Rick Rubin, you would love Rob Cass podcast as well.✨

🔥 Manfred Mann's Earth Band Guitarist Mick Rogers on the dopeYEAH talk Podcast! 🎸🎤What happens when an Essex kid who won his first talent contest singing Elvis grows up to play with Manfred Mann, Frank Zappa, and Jeff Beck? 🎸 In this episode of the dopeYEAH talk podcast, our series of musician interviews, Rob Cass sits down with Mick Rogers, guitarist of Manfred Mann's Earth Band and one of rock music history's most iconic guitarists, whose artist journey spans rock, jazz, rockabilly, and blues.Mick shares musician stories from his Essex childhood: his drummer father, Ted, his first band, The Cobras, at age 10, and winning a talent contest at the Cliffs Pavilion at 14 singing Mystery Train. He also recalls the 12-hour nights at the K52 club in Frankfurt backing Adam Faith and Helen Shapiro.There are wild stories from across continents, from Normie Rowe's Playboys at Expo 67 in Montreal and Procession's first-ever a cappella hit single to his one night as bassist in Frank Zappa's band on Pygmy Twylyte. He reveals how he went from Procession to Manfred Mann's Earth Band, why Manfred didn't know he played guitar, and the stories behind songs from the Earth Band's Bruce Springsteen covers. He also talks about the bebop band Zappa later wanted to form with him and the last studio session Jeff Beck ever recorded.Mick opens up about the Paul Jones charity gig where Eric Clapton told him to go solo, making the Genesis audition shortlist alongside Phil Collins, and the Bad Apples years with Jimmy Copley and Mickey Moody. From industry interviews and celebrity profiles to stories of musicians, guitar legends, and iconic guitarists who've shaped rock music history, this artists interview is a music podcast about one of rock music culture's most inspiring journeys, with insights into music production and the music business.If you enjoy musician interviews by Rick Beato and Rick Rubin, you'll love the Rob Cass podcast too. ✨

👉 CLEARAUDIOThis episode also features a special collaboration with clearaudio — the Celebrity “Al Di Meola” Edition turntable, inspired by his iconic Gibson Les Paul. Limited to 1,000 pieces, it blends high-end German engineering with artistic design and comes with a numbered special release album by Al Di Meola and a guitar pick — a true collector’s item. 🎸👉 Learn more via the link: https://bit.ly/4tGGudp

🔥 Al Di Meola on the dopeYEAH talk podcast! 🎸🔥
Join Rob Cass for an unforgettable episode of musician interviews on the dopeYEAH talk podcast, an unforgettable conversation with guitar legend Al Di Meola at the dopeYEAH Club. In this exclusive episode, Al dives into stories from his remarkable career, one of the more inspiring journeys in modern guitar music. He recalls recording with Paco de Lucia, one of the world's most iconic guitarists, on the Elegant Gypsy album, where they created magic despite Paco not speaking English.
Al opens up about his love for The Beatles, recording at Abbey Road, where he met Paul McCartney. On a separate occasion, he recalls seeing John Lennon record, and leaves a special message for Ringo Starr. He shares musician stories about receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award from George Martin, and his experiences with iconic musicians like Chick Corea, highs and struggles included. He also talks about recording his latest album Across The Universe with producer Max Vaccaro from earMUSIC, and traces the path from taking LSD for the first time, to joining a band, to his eventual Carnegie Hall debut.
You'll hear stories of musicians who shaped his sound, from making the "Land of the Midnight Sun" album to working with Steve Winwood. This artists interview covers Tigran Hamasyan, the qualities of great guitar players, and his collaboration with Tommy Emmanuel.
This episode is packed with music history, untold stories, and inspiration from one of today's more inspiring artists, one of those rare industry interviews and celebrity profiles that doubles as a music podcast, blending jazz music, latin jazz, and world music into a sound all his own. You won't want to miss his thoughts on the future of music, plus stories behind songs like the one in The Sopranos, recorded live at the dopeYEAH Club.
If you like musician interviews from Rick Beato and Rick Rubin, you would love Rob Cass podcast as well.✨

🔥 Abbey Road Mastering Engineer Christian Wright on the dopeYEAH talk Podcast! 🎛️🎶

What happens when a 19-year-old runner making tea for Liam Neeson and Tom Baker grows up to master albums for Ed Sheeran, Radiohead, and Oscar-winning film scores? 🎛️

In this episode of musician interviews on the dopeYEAH talk podcast, Rob Cass reunites with Christian Wright, his colleague from ten years at Abbey Road Studios and one of the most trusted names in music production. Christian's artist journey spans rock music, classical, pop, and Oscar-winning film scores including Harry Potter, One Battle After Another, and Licorice Pizza.

Christian shares musician stories behind songs like Tears for Fears' Songs from the Big Chair, his most challenging record, plus vinyl cutting credits for Massive Attack, Radiohead, Cream, Elvis, Ella Fitzgerald, and Björk. These are records tracing decades of iconic guitarists and rock music history. He opens up on why trust matters, on automatic mastering, why directors skip soundtrack masters, how social media brought artists back for their vinyl cut, and how his craft powers viral music success.

There are also stories about the craft: why fewer tracks on vinyl improve quality, how mistakes make records alive, and how recording became a loop where mix is performance and studio is instrument. Christian reflects on a song producer's hardest job: letting a record go, and the insecurities of every finished product.

Christian takes us into Abbey Road's history: from Elgar's EMI Studios origins to how the Beatles changed everything, and how one yes from George Martin shaped the best music production studio in the world as well as decades of iconic musicians and guitar legends. He shares how Star Wars and Indiana Jones saved Studio 1 from becoming an underground car park, and where it's heading next.

From industry interviews and celebrity profiles to stories of musicians in the music business, this artists interview and music podcast celebrates rock music culture and inspiring journeys in music production.

If you like musician interviews from Rick Beato and Rick Rubin, you would love Rob Cass podcast as well.✨

👉 CLEARAUDIOThis episode also features a special collaboration with clearaudio — the Celebrity “Al Di Meola” Edition turntable, inspired by his iconic Gibson Les Paul. Limited to 1,000 pieces, it blends high-end German engineering with artistic design and comes with a numbered special release album by Al Di Meola and a guitar pick — a true collector’s item. 🎸👉 Learn more via the link: https://bit.ly/4tGGudp