Go with Elmo Lovano

Episode 101: Ilan Rubin.

Ilan Rubin is the new drummer for Foo Fighters and one of the most respected musicians in modern music. He and I go way back to our early teen and even pre-teen drumming years, so this is an extra fun one for me.

He spent 17 years with Nine Inch Nails as their longest-running drummer, earning a reputation for precision, versatility, and the ability to step into any musical environment at the highest level. From there, he has continued to evolve, now joining Foo Fighters and stepping into one of the most iconic bands in music. Alongside that, Ilan has been a core part of Angels & Airwaves, working closely with Tom DeLonge not just as a drummer, but as a collaborator, multi-instrumentalist, and creative partner. Their relationship goes beyond just playing live. It is about building songs, shaping sound, and pushing ideas forward together.

In this conversation, we talk about Ilan’s journey as a musician, how he built his career starting at just 9 years old, how he has landed some of the biggest gigs in music, and how he has kept those gigs for years. We dive into how he got the gig with Foo Fighters, how much fun he's having with them, and the positive vibe they all have together. We get into what he learned from working with Trent Reznor, all sorts of stories from playing with Nine Inch Nails, his open handed drumming technique, being the frontman of his own band The New Regime, fun stories with Tom DeLonge, and some great stories of him and I over the years. We also dive into how he approaches his role inside elite bands, his work ethic, how he thinks about growth, his approach to music, and what it takes to stay consistently at the top for two decades.

This is a fun conversation about discipline, evolution, and becoming someone artists trust at the top of the game. I hope you enjoy my conversation with the great Ilan Rubin! 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.

Big thanks to our friends Moises for supporting the show! If you need stems, they’re the best in the game. Check them out! https://moises.ai/

Please SUBSCRIBE / FOLLOW this podcast to catch new episodes as soon as they drop! Your likes, comments and shares are much appreciated!

Become a Patreon Member to stay in the loop as we post Patreon-only exclusive content, Zoom hangs, invite only events, and discussions about music and music careers. https://www.patreon.com/gowithelmo 

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Episode 100: Miguel Gandelman.

This man is the Musical Director behind Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show, one of the biggest and most complex live television performances in the world. Miguel Gandelman aka "Miga" is a Berklee graduate and longtime force in live TV and touring. He has worked with some of the biggest artists on the planet including Christina Aguilera, Stevie Wonder, Usher, Shakira, Lady Gaga, Janet Jackson, Jonat Brothers, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Babyface, John Mayer, Aretha Franklin, served as Music Director for The Masked Singer, and was a member of The Tonight Show Band with Rickey Minor.

In this episode, he breaks down how the Super Bowl Halftime Show was built from the ground up in just one month. From getting the call to stepping onto the biggest stage in entertainment, we talk about how you prepare a 15 minute performance seen by over 100 million people. What goes into building a show at that level? What does music direction actually mean on a production of this scale?

We discuss arranging for stadiums, working with an artist who had never used a musical director before, leading world class musicians, handling live TV pressure, and translating an artist’s vision into a global moment.

We also dive into his journey from growing up in a musical family in Brazil to becoming one of the most trusted Musical Directors in the industry, and the mindset required to operate at the highest level of live performance.

If you have ever wondered how massive live shows and television actually come together, this conversation is a masterclass.

Hope you enjoy my conversation with the great saxophonist, programmer, musical director, and human, Miga.

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.

Big thanks to our friends Moises for supporting the show! If you need stems, they’re the best in the game. Check them out! https://moises.ai/

Please SUBSCRIBE / FOLLOW this podcast to catch new episodes as soon as they drop! Your likes, comments and shares are much appreciated!

Become a Patreon Member to stay in the loop as we post Patreon-only exclusive content, Zoom hangs, invite only events, and discussions about music and music careers. https://www.patreon.com/gowithelmo 

Listen to the audio form of this podcast wherever you get your podcasts: https://elmolovano.komi.io/

Follow Miga:

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Episode 99: Ty Dolla $ign.

One of the only artists to earn TWO diamond records in the last decade, Ty Dolla $ign joins us for a deep, musician-to-musician conversation about a career built on trust, taste, and timeless records.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Ty grew up surrounded by live music through his father, musician Tyrone Griffin Sr. of Lakeside, learning instruments at a young age and developing a deep respect for musicianship before fame ever entered the picture. In this interview, Ty breaks down his journey from South Central LA to becoming one of the most trusted collaborators in modern music.

We talk through the early days of Beach House, the breakout impact of “Paranoid” and “Or Nah” with DJ Mustard, and how songwriting and features like “Loyal" and “Psycho” helped shape his rise. Ty reflects on the making of Free TC, the emotional weight behind the album, and carrying his brother with him throughout his career.

Ty opens up about working across genres, collaborating with artists like The Weeknd, Kendrick Lamar, Skrillex, YG, Wiz Khalifa, Terrace Martin, Kanye, and more. We talk his songwriting and production process, and how he approaches features musically, treating voices like instruments and focusing on frequency, tone, and feel over star power.

We also dive into his role as a label co-founder with EZMNY Records, signing and developing Leon Thomas, and witnessing Leon’s rapid rise from artist development to Grammy-nominated albums (Electric Dusk and Mutt). Ty shares his philosophy on mentorship, artist development, long term friendships, women, and building a label rooted in belief and musicianship.

We get into Vultures, creative collaboration at scale, returning to solo work with Tycoon, and what longevity, growth, and being a “musician first” really mean to him today.

This is an honest, in-depth look at Ty Dolla $ign’s career. The hits, the craft, the relationships, and the long game. I hope you enjoy episode 99. Lets 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.

Big thanks to our friends Moises for supporting the show! If you need stems, they’re the best in the game. Check them out! https://moises.ai/

Please SUBSCRIBE / FOLLOW this podcast to catch new episodes as soon as they drop! Your likes, comments and shares are much appreciated!

Become a Patreon Member to stay in the loop as we post Patreon-only exclusive content, Zoom hangs, invite only events, and discussions about music and music careers. https://www.patreon.com/gowithelmo

Listen to the audio form of this podcast wherever you get your podcasts: https://elmolovano.komi.io/

Follow Ty:
https://www.instagram.com/tydollasign/

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Episode 98: Lawrence.

Clyde and Gracie Lawrence join me for a rare conversation, and for the first time ever, they're joined by their little brother Linus, who collaborated on the arrangement that earned Lawrence a Grammy nomination this year.

Lawrence has spent years building one of the most joyful and intentional sounds in modern music, and right now they’re having a major moment. They’re currently on Broadway as the house band for All Out: Comedy About Ambition, they’re Grammy-nominated for Best Arrangement, and Gracie is coming off a standout Broadway year of her own. In addition to her Tony nomination for Just in Time, she’s also Grammy-nominated for Best Musical Theater Album for the Just in Time cast recording.

In this episode, we talk about the road to this chapter, how they think about arrangement and feel, what the Broadway grind is like, their family dynamic, and much more. This is an honest, grounded, adorable conversation between three sibling artists who’ve earned every part of where they are. Lets 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.

Big thanks to our friends Moises for supporting the show! If you need stems, they’re the best in the game. Check them out! https://moises.ai/

Please SUBSCRIBE / FOLLOW this podcast to catch new episodes as soon as they drop! Your likes, comments and shares are much appreciated!

Become a Patreon Member to stay in the loop as we post Patreon-only exclusive content, Zoom hangs, invite only events, and discussions about music and music careers. https://www.patreon.com/gowithelmo

Listen to the audio form of this podcast wherever you get your podcasts: https://elmolovano.komi.io/

Follow Lawrence:
https://www.instagram.com/lawrencetheband/

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Episode 97: Robert Glasper.

The career-defining, three hour deep dive with one of the most influential musicians of our time. In this conversation, Robert Glasper walks through his entire journey, from his upbringing and early musical foundations to becoming a Grammy-winning pianist, producer, composer, and cultural architect who reshaped the relationship between jazz, hip hop, and R&B. This is the most expansive interview Robert has ever done. He breaks down how he became the Robert Glasper we know and love, how he developed his voice, how to get gigs (and how to keep them), and how he built a meaningful career in music. He speaks openly about his philosophies on collaboration, artistry, leadership, and longevity, offering invaluable lessons for us all.

The conversation includes rare stories about him with J Dilla, behind the scenes stories about working with Kendrick Lamar and Terrace Martin on To Pimp a Butterfly, including the creation of These Walls and the collaborative environment that defined that era. He reflects on his vision for Black Radio and how working with Erykah Badu led to their version of Afro Blue, one of the most iconic recordings of his career.

Robert also discusses scoring the Miles Davis biopic Miles Ahead and getting to go through the Miles vault! He shares stories and lessons involving Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, Kenny Garrett, Terrace Martin, Bilal, Chris Daddy Dave, Lalah Hathaway, Thundercat, and many others.

We talk about life lessons, fatherhood and integrity, He shares messages directly to singers and musicians about preparation, confidence, and showing up fully in every room. We also touch on the future of music and AI. This conversation is a complete document of a modern master artist reflecting on his life, career, and legacy in real time. And we have 100 laughing attacks while doing it. Here’s my conversation with the great, Robert Glasper!

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.

Big thanks to our friends Moises.ai for supporting the show! If you need stems, they’re the best in the game. Check them out!
Please SUBSCRIBE / FOLLOW this podcast to catch new episodes as soon as they drop!

Become a Patreon Member to stay in the loop as we post Patreon-only exclusive content, Zoom hangs, invite only events, and discussions about music and music careers. https://www.patreon.com/gowithelmo

https://www.instagram.com/gowithelmo/
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