Holding Up The Ladder

Welcome to a special live episode of Holding up the Ladder in collaboration with The Royal College of Art. feat. Gülce Tulçalı and Phoebe Davies.

As part of the Royal College of Art (RCA) MA graduate students', 'Curating Contemporary Art Exhibition' and their curatorial show, Feed Back, I was invited to lead a discussion exploring remediating legacies, curatorial repair and the role of artistic practice in defining and potentially shaping new legacies.

Our conversation took place in the Hanger space at the RCA, an open concrete and brick exhibition space with numerous MA students assembling their curatorial shows. So during our conversation expect to hear the hive like activity of a space in preparation.

The curatorial team responsible for Feed Back were: Apoorva Subbanna, Yi Fan, Serena Gao, Francesca Inciong, Stephanie Rubio, Arina Baburskova and Indy Calland

In conversation were artists: Gülce Tulçalı & Phoebe Davies

We talk about dystopian realities, about the body, about making, about the artist’s role responding to the world around us. We talk about tenant farming and about collectivity and the commons.

Gülce Tulçalı Bio
Phoebe Davies Bio

Links
Now, The Invisible Committee
Octavia's Brood
Vandana Shiva, Reclaiming The Commons
Slade Farm Organics & Podcast

Title: It's Your Job to Make the Work - A Holding Up The Ladder production in collaboration with RCA feat. Gülce Tulçalı and Phoebe Davies

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I can’t think of a better way to end season 4 and the never before heard conversations from my archive, than my conversation between friends, Zadie Smith and Devonté Hynes. I’d been badgering Zadie for a while to let me interview her and when she agreed, the day before our conversation was scheduled, she emailed to ask if she could bring her friend Dev? I of course said yes, scrambled to find another microphone and when we had a last minute cancellation of the recording venue, we had to do it at my house. And the room with the best soundproofing, my bedroom!

We talk about how we’re all storytellers; about music; about the power of live music; about the myth of the 10,000 hours; about Prince; about whether we should define ourselves as 'artists'; about authenticity and consciousness; about knowing and unknowing and about being students forever. I’ve produced almost 60 podcast episodes and this is one of my favourites. Because, for me, there is nothing more fulfilling than sitting around with creative people talking about music and making and process - it’s why this podcast exists. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Guests: Zadie Smith & Devonté Hynes
Title: I would never call myself an artist
Music: Lil Nas X, Industry Baby; Arctic Monkeys, There'd Better Be a Mirrorball; Maggie Rogers, That's Where I Am; Knucks, Alpha House

Links
Devonté Hynes IG and Website
Zadie Smith Website
Zadie interview on latest book, The Fraud - BBC Sounds, This Cultural Life

Find out ways to support the Israel-Palestine project click here
Podcast Website
Podcast IG

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Welcome to part 2 of I've been thinking about...friendship. I talk about the importance of friendship and how pivotal it's been in my creative practice.

Holding up the Ladder links:
Find out ways to support the Israel-Palestine project click here
Podcast Website
Podcast IG
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to part 2 of my conversation with Francis Fuster. We pick up our conversation in London in the 1980's. Francis is playing percussion for Hugh Masekela, he's touring with Paul Simon and that huge record, Graceland. We talk about playing in South Africa post apartheid and a short stint in jail - it was self-defense!

Guest: Francis Fuster
Title: You gotta be ready
Music: Bach, Handel, Miles Davis and John Coltrane

Music links
Hugh Masekela, Sekunjalo
Geraldo Pino and the Heartbeats, Maria Lef for Waka
Hugh Masekela, Don't go lose it baby
Hugh Masekela, Bring Him Back Home (Nelson Mandela)
Francis Fuster, Najesueh

Other links
Shango-Ja Martial Arts Academy

Find out ways to support the Israel-Palestine project click here
Podcast Website
Podcast IG
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You’re in for a treat today! And a little interruption from conversations from my archive. I recently did a gig at London’s Jazz Cafe playing keys and singing for a special concert in honour of South Africa Freedom Day and the late great South African trumpeter, Hugh Masekela. The person leading the band was his percussionist and friend of nearly 50 years, Francis Fuster.

Born in Sierra Leone to a Liberian mother and Swiss father. Now 81 (but looks more like a man in his 60's!) a 7th Dan black belt in karate, upright and sharp as a tack. We talk about his journey from dancing, to drumming, to teaching, to percussion. About being a member of the band described as the Beatles of Africa, Gerald Pino and The Heartbeats.

We talk about his close friendship with icon and disruptor musician Fela Kuti, also the reason he started learning karate. How he went from Sierra Leone to Liberia, to Ivory Coast, to Ghana, to Nigeria, ending up in New York and the wildness of that period. We talk about playing with Paul Simon and the huge record that was Graceland. And his close professional and personal relationship with Hugh Masekela.

This was a joyous interview (what was meant to be an hour long conversation, was closer to 2!) So it's divided into 2 parts.

Guest: Francis Fuster
Title: You gotta be ready
Music: Bach, Handel, Miles Davis and John Coltrane

Music links
Geraldo Pino and the Heartbeats, Maria Lef for Waka
Hugh Masekela, Don't go lose it baby
Hugh Masekela, Bring Him Back Home (Nelson Mandela)
Francis Fuster, Najesueh

Other links
Shango-Ja Martial Arts Academy

Find out ways to support the Israel-Palestine project click here
Podcast Website
Podcast IG
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.