Go with Elmo Lovano

Episode 117: Zakk Wylde is one of the greatest metal guitarists of all time. He's Ozzy Osbourne's longtime guitarist and co-writer, the founder of Black Label Society, and the man Phil Anselmo called to honor Dimebag Darrell in Pantera. In this deep dive, Zakk takes us through his entire career, from a Jersey kid learning Black Sabbath riffs to writing metal anthems with Ozzy and shredding in stadiums with Pantera and Metallica. Zakk tells the story of how a wedding gig with Sebastian Bach and a Polaroid on Sharon Osbourne's kitchen counter led to the call that changed his life. He breaks down writing "Miracle Man," "No More Tears," and "Mama, I'm Coming Home" with Ozzy and Lemmy, and reveals how a goofy rehearsal joke became the Grammy-winning "I Don't Want to Change the World." Plus his wildest Ozzy tour stories: the first gig in Wormwood Scrubs prison, Ozzy passing out before the Buster Douglas vs. Holyfield fight, sneaking him a beer at the Budokan, and the night Eddie Van Halen played "Heartbreaker" on…

Episode 116: French Montana sits down with Elmo Lovano for what may be the most profound interview of his career. It’s a deep, honest conversation about life, survival, money, faith, collaborations, relationships, and how he makes hits. French takes us from Casablanca, Morocco, to the South Bronx at 13 years old, speaking no English, to becoming the first African-born artist with a Diamond-certified single. He opens up about his mother’s sacrifice, surviving the streets, building Coke Boys from the ground up, and what it really takes to write a hit record. We get into the story behind “Unforgettable” with Swae Lee, his brotherhood with Drake, the records that built his career including “Pop That,” “Stay Schemin’,” “All the Way Up,” “Ain’t Worried About Nothin’” and his reunion with Max B, who came home after 16 years on French’s birthday. Plus his new music with Max and their hit “Ever Since U Left Me (I Went Deaf)”. French also talks about faith, money, fatherhood, writing hooks vs. writing verses, how to…

Episode 115: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson Long before he was one of the biggest stars on the planet, Dwayne was a kid in the backseat of his dad's car, singing along to country and soul, and a Polynesian boy whose family never let anyone sit out a song. That love of music never left him. In this conversation, he leads with the warmth, humility and gratitude that make him who he is, and he speaks with deep pride about his family, his culture and the artists carrying Polynesian music forward. Dwayne opens up about his new album Moana: Voices Across the Ocean, a project he and his wife Lauren Hashian dreamed up 10 years ago that gives 25 Polynesian artists a global stage. He tells the emotional story behind his song "Your Dad," written for his three daughters with Iam Tongi. He shares life lessons from his mom, Ata, and talks about how he leads his teams, his first time in a recording booth with Lin-Manuel Miranda for "You're Welcome," and the time he tried to become a country singer in Nashville at 15. The album…

Episode 114: Cindy Blackman Santana Cindy Blackman Santana has had a mind-blowing life journey. Today, she's the drummer and wife of Carlos Santana. Before that, she rode the rocketship of Lenny Kravitz for all the most iconic years. I remember when I first saw Cindy in the "Are You Gonna Go My Way" video and was captivated immediately by her groove, presence, and energy behind the kit. Cindy is deeply dedicated to the drums, and absolutely in love with jazz. What I love about Cindy's story is that she's lived two musical lives most drummers only dream about. She's a serious jazz bandleader with a catalog going back to the late 1980s, and she's a world-class rock drummer who's played the biggest stages on the planet. She never picked a lane. She brought jazz freedom and fire into rock stadiums and has always blown everyone away. We go deep on her hero Tony Williams and what his genius unlocked for her. We talk about her amazing relationship with Art Blakey, who she calls a father figure, and what it meant to…

Episode 113: Morgan Freeman is one of the greatest actors and narrators of our time. He is also an incredibly joyful, thoughtful and wonderful human being. Morgan joins us for a rare long-form conversation about his extraordinary life, his unmistakable voice, the art of narration, The Shawshank Redemption, playing God in Bruce Almighty and the music that helped shape America: the blues. Morgan is joined by Eric Meier, his business partner and an executive producer and co-producer of their latest project, Morgan Freeman’s Symphonic Blues Experience. This ambitious album and live production brings together authentic Mississippi Delta blues, symphony orchestra, cinematic storytelling and Morgan’s narration. Eric is also Morgan’s fellow co-owner of the legendary Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Together, they discuss their friendship, their creative partnership, the future of the blues and their mission to preserve this essential American music while carrying it into places it has never gone…

Episode 112: Stanley Clarke is one of the greatest and most influential bassists of all time, both on acoustic and electric bass. His long time collaboration with Chick Corea and Return To Forever changed music. His solo albums and the success from it had him as the first bass player to ever take front and center stage. He's a multi GRAMMY winning artist, and one of the greatest living master teachers, as well as being an incredibly sweet and loving human. Stanley is one of a kind. This is the longest and deepest Stanley Clarke interview on the internet, and we're so happy that Stanley chose us for this. Coming up in Philadelphia, how he found the bass, moved to NY and starting gigging with Horace Silver, Art Blakey, Joe Henderson, Stan Getz, and Chick Corea. We go DEEP on drummers. His work with Tony Williams, Lenny White, Steve Gadd, Billy Cobham, John JR Robinson, etc How Chick talked him out of a classical career, the switch to electric, Romantic Warrior, why it ended, and losing Chick. We talk School…

Episode 111: Hit-Boy is one of the biggest producers in modern day music. He's produced some of the biggest songs for Kanye West, Jay-Z, Nas, Kendrick Lamar, Beyoncé, Drake, Travis Scott, Big Sean and Nipsey Hussle. He's a 3x Grammy winner. He gave Jay-Z the first diamond record of his career, off a beat that six artists turned down before it ever got to him. This Hit-Boy interview is different than the others he's done. We go deep into the craft, how the beats actually get made, cut, released, and paid! Why he's numbered every single beat he's made since 2006, and what happened to the 1,600 nobody picked. We got into all of it. Making "Backseat Freestyle" for Ciara before Kendrick ever heard it. Producing a #1 country record for Beyoncé. Being flat broke in 2017 with a future #1 already sitting on his hard drive. Getting free after 18 years and putting his new album out himself, on his own site, with no label and no DSPs. He also still makes everything in FL Studio, the same program he started on at 15…

Episode 110: Evan "Kidd" Bogart has worn nearly every hat in the music industry. From mailroom A&R at Interscope Records to hit songwriter (Beyoncé's "Halo," Rihanna's "SOS"), artist manager, booking agent, and now buying music catalogs with Seeker and advocating for creators as Vice Chair of the Recording Academy. He's one of the rare people who has sat in nearly every seat at the table. In this episode, Elmo Lovano goes deep with Evan Bogart on both the craft and the business of music. Evan is the son of Casablanca Records founder Neil Bogart, the legendary executive behind KISS, Donna Summer, Parliament, and the Village People, and manager, Joyce Bogart Trabulus. He grew up inside the music business, tried to make it as a rapper, and worked his way up from the Interscope mailroom to the A&R department. As a teenager, he discovered Eminem and was the first person to put Em in front of Jimmy Iovine. He'd go on to sign Kara's Flowers, who later changed their name to Maroon 5. After getting sober in his early…

Episode 109: Michael League is the founder of Snarky Puppy, the GroundUP Music label, and the GroundUP Music Festival, and he's one of the most independent minds working in music today. He sat down with us for a deep conversation about how he built the whole thing. This isn't an interview about bass tone or gear. It's about how the entire machine actually works: how a bandleader turns a college project into a five-time Grammy-winning institution, an artist-first record label, and an international festival, all on his own terms, and all without a major label calling the shots. We trace the whole arc. League started Snarky Puppy in 2004 at the University of North Texas because he wasn't getting to play, so he built his own band. It transformed when he immersed himself in the Dallas gospel and R&B scene, absorbing the mentorship of the late Bernard Wright, the "North Star" who reshaped its feel. Out of that came the Snarky Puppy sound and the rotating cast fans call "the Fam," nearly 40 players who launched…

Episode 108: Labrinth joins us for one of the deepest interviews he's ever had about music, creativity, production, songwriting, and the journey that shaped his career. From his early days in London to being discovered by Simon Cowell, producing Tinie Tempah's "Pass Out," forming LSD with Sia and Diplo, scoring HBO's Euphoria, collaborating with Billie Eilish, Finneas, Zendaya, Beyoncé, The Weeknd, Fred again.., and more, this is a career-spanning deep dive into one of the most original artists of our generation. We talk about how Labrinth approaches songwriting and music production, how he thinks like a producer, why every sound matters, his philosophy on creativity, imagination, originality, building a unique sonic identity, and the lessons he's learned throughout his career. We also dive into his new project, Cosmic Opera, his home studio, live performance, and what it really takes to create music that moves people. Whether you're a musician, producer, songwriter, or simply fascinated by the creative…

Episode 107: Sublime's new frontman is Bradley Nowell's son, Jakob Nowell. Not only does he sound like his dad and honor his father's music perfectly alongside original band members Bud Gaugh and Eric Wilson, but he's also contributing, now writing new Sublime music and having two consecutive #1's and a new album, Until The Sun Explodes! Here is my deep dive with the amazing Jakob Nowell. In this episode, we go deep into Jakob's story: growing up in Long Beach as Bradley Nowell's only son, losing his father as an infant, and being raised by his mom, Troy. We talk about how he found his own voice through his band LAW and his solo project Jakobs Castle, his journey to sobriety, and the surreal, emotional moment he stepped up to front the reunited Sublime alongside Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh on the mainstage of Coachella, and the whirlwind that has followed after that performance. Jakob opens up about what it means to sing his dad's songs night after night, hearing echoes of Bradley in his own voice, playing his…

Episode 106: Desmond Child is one of the greatest songwriters and producers of all time. With more than 80 Top 40 hits to his name, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. We recorded this episode of Go With Elmo Lovano in Athens, Greece, sitting in front of the Acropolis at our dear friends home. Desmond takes us inside the stories behind some of the biggest songs in rock and pop history. From Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer" and "You Give Love a Bad Name," to Aerosmith's "Dude (Looks Like a Lady)" and "Angel," KISS's "I Was Made for Lovin' You," Ricky Martin's "Livin' la Vida Loca," "La Copa de la Vida" (the 1998 FIFA World Cup anthem), and "She Bangs," Cher's "Just Like Jesse James," and so many more. Desmond opens up about growing up in the Miami projects as the son of Cuban bolero songwriter Elena Casals, shares a wild and unforgettable story with Michael Jackson, breaks down his songwriting philosophy and the craft behind decades of hits, and talks about his deep love for Greece. We also…

Episode 105: Richard Bona is one of the most respected bass players, composers, vocalists, and bandleaders in modern music. Born in Cameroon and now celebrated around the world, Richard has worked with legends including Pat Metheny, Quincy Jones, Joe Zawinul, Harry Belafonte, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Bobby McFerrin, Mike Stern, George Benson, and many more. From the Pat Metheny Group to the Zawinul Syndicate, Richard has helped shape the sound of jazz fusion, African music, world music, and modern bass playing for decades. Richard has also shared the stage and studio with some of the greatest drummers in the world including Antonio Sanchez, Vinnie Colaiuta, Dave Weckl, Steve Smith, Omar Hakim, Paco Séry, Dennis Chambers, Manu Katché, Simon Phillips, Terri Lyne Carrington, Mark Guiliana, Steve Gadd, and more. In this episode, Richard and Elmo talk about growing up in Cameroon, building his own instruments as a child, discovering Jaco Pastorius, moving to Germany, Paris, and New York, becoming Harry…

Episode 104: Kamasi Washington Kamasi Washington is one of the most important voices in modern jazz. A saxophonist, composer, and bandleader from Los Angeles, he has helped shape the sound of contemporary music through his solo work and collaborations with artists like Kendrick Lamar, Thundercat, Dinner Party, Flying Lotus, Andre 3000, Terrace Martin, and Robert Glasper. In this episode of Go With Elmo, Kamasi sits down for a deep conversation about his journey, from growing up in Los Angeles with the greatest young talents all around him to becoming a central figure in a global movement of jazz, hip-hop, and beyond. The LA music scene, the importance of community, and the foundation of the West Coast Get Down collective all come into focus. Kamasi breaks down the West Coast Get Down and the musicians involved, including Thundercat, Ronald Bruner Jr., Cameron Graves, Brandon Coleman, Ryan Porter, Patrice Quinn, Miles Mosley, and Tony Austin, and how that group helped define a new sound coming out of Los…

Episode 103: Linda Perry One of the greatest songwriters, producers, and hitmakers of the last 40 years, and a Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee to prove it. In this episode of Go With Elmo Lovano, we go deep with Linda Perry on her journey through the music industry, from her early days to global success, and everything in between. We talk about her upbringing, her rise to fame with 4 Non Blondes, and how writing the iconic song “What’s Up?” changed her life. Linda opens up about the reality of success, the emotional toll it took, and how she navigated depression, identity, and reinvention to become one of the most respected songwriters and producers in music. We dive into her work writing and producing massive hits for Christina Aguilera (“Beautiful,” “Hurt”), P!nk (“Get the Party Started”), and Gwen Stefani (“What You Waiting For?”), along with her approach to songwriting, music production, creativity, and artist development. Linda shares how she helps artists find their voice, how she writes hit songs,…

Episode 102: Jimmy Chamberlin Today is the greatest day I’ve ever known, because one of my favorite drummers is here in my home. Jimmy Chamberlin changed the sound of rock music, MTV, and radio in the 90s when his drums were heard around the world. His approach to jazz, fusion, and rock all coming together helped create the unique sound of Smashing Pumpkins that no one had ever heard before. In this interview, we go deep on how Jimmy developed that sound, his approach to drumming, and his philosophies on music and life. We talk about how The Smashing Pumpkins became a band, and how they made their iconic albums Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, Siamese Dream, and Gish, while double clicking into Bullet with Butterfly Wings, 1979, Tonight, Tonight, Today, Cherub Rock, Jellybelly, and so much more. We also discuss the incredible scene that was the 90's, his drummer friends, what that magical moment in time felt like to him, and a whole lotta drum and music talk. Jimmy is an incredibly intelligent human…

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…

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…

Episode 96: Terrace Martin joins me for one of the deepest conversations we have ever had about musicianship, professionalism, creativity, community, and what it truly takes to build a lasting career in music. We break down the do’s and don’ts every musician needs to know. Showing up early, respecting the room, keeping the gig, getting hired, reading the temperature, avoiding the gigging mentality, how to negotiate, emotional maturity, and how to think long term in an industry that can appear to reward short term wins. We also dive into the people who shaped Terrace and his main collaborators: Snoop Dogg. Kendrick Lamar. Herbie Hancock. Kamasi Washington. Thundercat. Robert Glasper. and more. Terrace shares stories from his early days with Snoop, his evolution with Kendrick through Section.80, good kid, m.A.A.d city, To Pimp a Butterfly, DAMN., and the collaborations that changed him forever. We go deep on Herbie Hancock. His mentorship. His spiritual guidance. His approach to curiosity, humility, listening,…

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…

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.…

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…

Episode 95: Simon Phillips. This is the definitive deep dive into the legendary career of Simon Phillips, one of the most influential drummers in the world. In this long form conversation, Simon talks about his work with Toto, The Who, Judas Priest, Hiromi, Protocol, Jeff Beck, Jack Bruce, Pete Townshend, Big Country, Stanley Clarke, Brian Eno, Phil Manzanera, and goes all the way back to his teenage session years in the UK with his dad. This episode covers his technique, sound, gear, studio approach, compositions, touring stories, engineering background, and the experiences that shaped his career. Simon tells the story of stepping into Toto after the passing of Jeff Porcaro and what it took to honor Jeff’s legacy while still bringing his own sound, groove, and musical identity to the band. He breaks down his years touring and recording with The Who, including the 1989 anniversary tour and his approach to Keith Moon’s parts. We also go deep into his early session years with Judas Priest and the making of Sin…

Episode 94: Jimmy Jam. Our first live audience interview! Jimmy Jam has lived through every major jump in music technology over the last five decades: drum machines, synths, MIDI, sampling, tape to digital recording, DAWs, and now AI. Together with Terry Lewis, he helped shape entire eras during these transitions, from Prince to Janet, Michael and beyond. Again and again, he showed that technology does not kill music. Musicians adapt, and the music adapts with them. In this conversation, we explore the real history behind the tools that changed everything, the fear curve that always appears during each breakthrough, and what today’s AI moment looks like through the eyes of someone who lived through many of the most important shifts in music technology. If you want to understand where music is going, you have to understand how we got here. Jimmy Jam has one of the clearest perspectives in the world on that journey. We recorded this in front of a sold out audience at the Abundance Institute’s Creative…

Episode 93: Christian McBride Part 2. He's back! Nine-time GRAMMY winner Christian McBride returns for Part 2 of our conversation. In this episode we pick up where he becomes a bandleader and makes his first album. From there we cover his journey through leadership, creativity, and legacy. We talk about his work with Chick Corea, his solo albums, and the moments that earned him nine GRAMMY Awards. Christian shares stories about the drummer greats he has played with including Jack DeJohnette, Tony Williams, Vinnie Colaiuta, and Brian Blade, as well as his collaboration and relationship with James Brown. It is a two-hour conversation full of stories, laughter, and insight from one of the most influential figures in jazz. Christian is an amazing storyteller and we had a blast recording this one. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did. Here's Part 2 of my interview with the legend, Christian McBride! ‘Go with Elmo Lovano’ is a weekly podcast where Elmo interviews creatives and entrepreneurs in music on HOW they…

Episode 92: Joe Lovano. Joe Lovano is one of the greatest musicians of all time. A Grammy-winning saxophonist who's been on the cover of DownBeat magazine multiple times (as well as many others), a Blue Note Records legend with 25 releases, a Berklee alum, and he holds the Gary Burton Chair in Jazz Performance at Berklee College of Music, which he’s had since 2001. He also happens to be my cousin and one of the biggest inspirations and mentors in my life. This was our first time ever doing something like this together. A 3-hour deep dive interview that covers (nearly) his entire career. We go into our family history, growing up in Cleveland, our Sicilian roots, his father Tony “Big T” Lovano, and how that shaped his sound and spirit. We talk about his time with Elvin Jones, Jack DeJohnette, John Scofield, Charlie Haden, Esperanza Spalding, Michael Brecker, McCoy Tyner, Paul Motian, Bill Frisell, Hank Jones, Dave Holland, Joshua Redman, Al Foster, and many more. Joe shares lessons from decades of leading…

Episode 91: Christian McBride. Nine-time GRAMMY winner Christian McBride is one of the most influential jazz artists in the game. His collaborations span icons like Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, James Brown, and Sting. He’s the leader of multiple acclaimed bands including the Christian McBride Big Band, Inside Straight, and New Jawn. He also serves as the host of NPR’s Jazz Night in America and was the Artistic Director of the Newport Jazz Festival for a decade. His story is incredible, and we’re setting the stage here with Part 1, The Early Years. Growing up in Philadelphia, Christian was surrounded by greatness. His high school classmates included Questlove, Black Thought, Joey DeFrancesco, and Kurt Rosenwinkel, just to name a few. In this episode, we talk about those formative years, the Philly music scene, and how he broke into the spotlight with Wynton Marsalis and Freddie Hubbard, along with the wild story of his rare opportunity to play for Miles Davis. We also get into his professional…

Episode 90: Chance the Rapper. Chance the Rapper is one of the biggest independent artists in the history of music. He’s a multiple GRAMMY winner, including Best New Artist, Best Rap Album, and Best Rap Performance. He’s hosted Saturday Night Live twice, been the musical guest three times, headlined the world’s biggest festivals, and done it all without a record label. He’s the definition of a creative entrepreneur and a true leader. In this conversation, we dive deep into how Chance built his career, how he operates his entire musical and business ecosystem, his mentality as an owner, and what he’s like as a leader. We talk about lessons from independence and entrepreneurship, his role as a father, a creative, and a community builder, and how he’s evolved from Acid Rap all the way to Star Line. Chance is an incredible human with amazing energy, a big heart, and a strong drive. I hope you enjoy my conversation with the great, Chance The Rapper. Subscribe for more conversations with the world’s greatest…

Steve Ferrone: The Legendary Drummer Behind Tom Petty, Average White Band, Eric Clapton, Duran Duran Episode 89: Steve Ferrone. A nearly 3 hour deep dive with one of the greatest groove drummers of all time, Steve Ferrone. He joined Average White Band after the passing of their original drummer and went on to create “School Boy Crush,” one of the most sampled grooves in hip-hop history. From there, he played with Duran Duran, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Johnny Cash, and Michael Jackson, before becoming the drummer for Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers for the next two plus decades, all the way up until Tom's unfortunate passing. In this episode, Steve opens up about his journey from Brighton to the biggest stages in the world, his time in the studio with legends like Tom Petty and Rick Rubin, and the philosophy behind his timeless feel and sound. He also shares stories from recording Unplugged with Eric Clapton, Unchained with Johnny Cash, and why groove always comes first. We talk about the evolution of…

Antonio Sánchez: Drumming Legend, Birdman Composer, Pat Metheny Group, The Studio, 4 GRAMMYs, Emmy Episode 88: Antonio Sánchez. Antonio is one of the most celebrated drummers and composers of our time. From shaping the sound of the Pat Metheny Group, to scoring Alejandro Iñárritu’s Oscar-winning film Birdman, to composing for Apple TV+’s The Studio, Antonio has pushed the boundaries of what a drummer can be. With 4 GRAMMY wins, a 2025 Emmy nomination, and collaborations spanning jazz, film, and world music, his artistry continues to inspire musicians and audiences worldwide. This is a 2.5 hour deep dive interview with Antonio that covers the full scope of his career. We talk about his journey from Mexico City to Berklee and how he got onto the world stage, the story behind creating the all-drum score for Birdman, and what it was like to spend decades working side by side with Pat Metheny. We dig into the lessons he’s carried forward, his approach to film scoring, and how he brings storytelling into his…

Episode 87: Daya At 16 years old, still in high school, Daya dropped “Hide Away” with no label, no team, no social following. Just a song she believed in. It exploded, racked up hundreds of millions of streams, and suddenly she was on the radio while still in class. She followed it with “Sit Still, Look Pretty,” then connected with The Chainsmokers to record “Don’t Let Me Down,” one of the biggest hits of the 2010s. We talk about how that collaboration came to be, what it was like for her life to flip so fast, and what it felt like to win a GRAMMY at just 18. We also get into how she built her team, what she learned from the major label system, and how she eventually got her masters back. She explains the move to go independent, what that freedom means to her, and how she’s evolved as both an artist and a person over the past decade. Now she’s stepping into a brand new era with music like “Infrared”, “Demise”, "Bandit" and an upcoming new album "Til Every Petal Drops." exploring a darker and more electronic…

Episode 86: Travie McCoy. You likely know Travie as the lead singer of Gym Class Heroes, the multi-platinum genre bending band behind a generation of hits. His first solo single, Billionaire featuring Bruno Mars, was the track that launched Bruno into stardom. He’s also collaborated with Sia, Ryan Tedder, Adam Levine, Tyga, and many more. Now, 20 years after the release of The Papercut Chronicles, Gym Class Heroes are officially back. This is a three and a half hour deep dive with Travie McCoy. We talk about the rise of Gym Class Heroes and how they made it, his solo career and what it was like stepping out on his own, the story behind Billionaire and working with Bruno Mars, and his collaborations with Sia, Ryan Tedder, and Adam Levine. Travie opens up about the lessons he’s learned along the way, what it took to overcome addiction, and shares so many fun and inspiring stories from his journey. We also get into what’s next with the return of Gym Class Heroes. An honest, inspiring, and fun conversation with…

Episode 85: Miles Bonham. Known to millions online as Miles Music Kid, Miles Bonham has become one of the youngest and most talked-about musical prodigies on Instagram. His videos have gone viral around the world, showcasing his natural talent, creativity, and unique ear for music at such a young age. He is one of the most followed under-10-year-olds in the world, and already, at just 9 years old, has some of the most elite musicians and producers befriending him, supporting him, and cheering him on (shoutout to Mark Ronson, Pharrell, Zedd, Jacob Collier, Questlove, Teddy Swims and Charlie Puth). This is Miles’ podcast debut, and I wanted to mark this special moment in time with him. I had so many questions for Miles, and you can see in this interview how adorable and happy of a kid he is. His dad also joined us for this episode so we could talk about what it’s like parenting Miles, the approach he and his wife have taken, and the incredible job they are doing. This is a unique episode, since we have never…

Episode 84: Dave Weckl One of the most influential drummers of all time, today’s guest is the legend, Dave Weckl. From his legendary years with Chick Corea’s Elektric Band and Akoustic Band to his groundbreaking solo debut Master Plan, to his session work with Simon & Garfunkel, Nile Rodgers, George Benson, Mike Stern, Robert Plant, Madonna, and more, his drumming has defined modern fusion and inspired generations worldwide. This is the Dave Weckl deep dive! Two and a half hours long, intimate, honest, and open. Dave shares stories about his early breaks with Nite Sprite, French Toast, and landing the Simon & Garfunkel Reunion Tour that put him on the map. We dig into his days as a first-call New York session player in the 80s, and go deep inside his years with Chick Corea, from writing records like “Got a Match?” to how the Grammy-winning Akoustic Band came together, as Dave reflects on what made Chick so special as a bandleader. We talk about his solo career beginning with Master Plan, his longtime…

Episode 83: Narada Michael Walden Part 2 At this point in the story, Narada has gone from a jazz fusion drummer with Mahavishnu Orchestra, to a major label solo artist with hits, to a Grammy-winning producer with Aretha Franklin. And now... Whitney Houston enters the picture. We kick off this episode with the moment Narada and Whitney's journey starts together. He gets a call from Arista A&R exec Jerry Griffith, who discovered Whitney, asking him to work with the unknown artist. Narada says yes and immediately produces "How Will I Know." The song becomes a number 1 hit. Then comes the call from Clive Davis asking for a follow-up. Narada delivers "I Wanna Dance With Somebody." The story continues. We also get into his work with a then unknown Mariah Carey, and wild stories from across his life, including how Narada introduced Jaco Pastorius to Weather Report, giving Jaco his big break! Narada is an incredible soul with a deep story and endless energy. This is Part 2 of our conversation. Let's go!! ‘Go with…

Episode 82: Narada Michael Walden. He went from being the drummer of Mahavishnu Orchestra and landing the cover of Modern Drummer Magazine, to producing Whitney Houston’s biggest hits and winning the GRAMMY for Producer of the Year. This interview is the epic journey of Narada Michael Walden. I loved this conversation so much. Narada’s positive, creative energy jumps out at you immediately. We go deep into his drumming career, how he got the gig with his favorite band, Mahavishnu Orchestra, following the great Billy Cobham. How he landed a record deal as a solo artist, almost got dropped, then shifted his focus to disco and scored a hit that saved his career. Then came the call from Clive Davis that launched his producing career and brought him Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, and so many more. His story is incredibly inspiring. From super drummer, to successful solo artist to hit producer. We went so deep on Mahavishnu in this convo that we had to do this interview in two parts! I’m happy now…

Episode 81: Kevin Lyman. The Vans Warped Tour is the longest-running touring music festival in North America, drawing over 750,000 fans every summer at its peak. And it all started with one guy — Kevin Lyman. In this episode, we sit down in person with the man who turned parking lots into punk rock playgrounds, helped break some of the biggest names in music, and built a generation-defining cultural movement. Warped Tour was the first concert I ever went to at 13 years old, and a few years later, I was lucky enough to play the tour multiple times, including full runs, and again in 2010 with Skrillex. It was a big contributor in shaping my life. In this conversation, I finally got to ask Kevin everything I’ve wanted to know for years. We dive deep into: - How Kevin started Warped Tour from scratch - How he landed the sponsorship deal with Vans - The behind-the-scenes details that kept it running for 24 years - How he gave stages to artists like Sublime, No Doubt, Blink-182, Eminem, My Chemical Romance, Fall…

Episode 80: Mike Caren. If you’re in the music industry, you hear the name Mike Caren all the time. He’s one of the most powerful people in music, with a career that’s led to billions of streams, multiple GRAMMY wins, and chart-topping, career-defining hits as both an A&R and executive. He’s signed and/or helped break artists like Bruno Mars, Charlie Puth, Ed Sheeran, Kehlani, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Wiz Khalifa, Flo Rida, T.I., Trey Songz, Ava Max, Kevin Gates, and Don Toliver. He started his career at Atlantic Records at just 18 years old, eventually becoming President of Worldwide A&R at Warner Music Group. Today, he is the founder and CEO of APG, which includes Artist Partner Group (label) and Artist Publishing Group (publishing), one of the most successful independent music companies in the world. This is Mike Caren’s first-ever long-form, on-camera interview. Mike usually keeps a low profile, so I was honored he agreed to do this. We dive into his full trajectory, how he got where he is today,…

Episode 79. Omar Hakim, Part 2! We’re back with the drumming legend Omar Hakim and pick up right where we left off in Part 1. We start with the wild story of how he met Sting while recording Brothers In Arms with Dire Straits… ON AN ISLAND. This story blows my mind. From there, we continue through his career with Sting, Miles Davis, Madonna, and the crazy story of making the Daft Punk hit "Get Lucky." This episode is full of rare backstories, industry gems, and lessons in creativity and innovation. We talk about Omar being an early adopter of electronic and acoustic hybrid drum setups. As the drummer for Madonna in her stadium-filling heyday, Omar blended cutting-edge sampling, triggers, and MIDI controllers to deliver on recordings’ impossible sounds in a live setting, building custom rigs and using expression pedals for real-time sound bending. This preceded today's standard in pop touring, marking him as a pioneer for the next generation of drummers. We also get into the business side of touring and…

Episode 78: Omar Hakim. Today on the pod we’ve got one of the most recorded drummers of all time. The legendary Omar Hakim! We went deep for over 2 hours, and unlocked SO MUCH GOLD, so we’re releasing this conversation in two parts. In Part 1, Omar shares the stories behind some of his most iconic recordings, including his legendary session with David Bowie on Let’s Dance, his deep musical relationship with Nile Rodgers, and his time in Weather Report. We also get into the wild story of how he tracked the entire Dire Straits album "Brothers in Arms" (including the questions I’ve always had about Money for Nothing). With this interview, I hope you'll now understand how Omar became the legend he is today. I think your mind will be blown when you hear about the caliber of musicians that were around him since he was a kid! Part 2 drops next week. For now, here’s the first hour of my conversation with the amazing Omar Hakim. ‘Go with Elmo Lovano’ is a weekly podcast where Elmo interviews creatives and…

Episode 77: Steve Smith.The incredible, multi-faceted, Steve Smith was one of my favorite drummers growing up. His playing with Journey blew me mind, and the fact that he had a full-on jazz career alongside his rock success made him even more inspiring to me. Steve made Modern Drummer’s Top 25 Drummers of All Time list and won the #1 All-Around Drummer Award five years in a row. His credits are stacked, from early gigs with Jean Luc-Ponty (alongside Allan Holdsworth), Focus, and Ronnie Montrose, to arena-filling hits with Journey, to leading his band Vital Information (for the past 4 decades). He’s done sessions with Mariah Carey, Andrea Bocelli, Vasco Rossi, Zucchero, Savage Garden, Bryan Adams, and Zakir Hussain. On the jazz side, Steve has played with heavyweights like Steps Ahead, Tom Coster, Ahmad Jamal, Victor Wooten, Mike Stern, Randy Brecker, Frank Gambale, Stuart Hamm, Dweezil Zappa, Hiromi, and Bill Evans.Steve is one of the greatest to ever do it, and it was a total honor to have him on the show.…

Episode 76: Jerrod "J-Rod" Sullivan. If you're a drummer, chances are you've seen J-Rod pop up in your feed. He's one of the most exciting drummers to watch, and now he’s holding down the drum chair for Janet Jackson. From uploading his first drum video to YouTube back in 2006 to building an audience of over 700,000 followers, J-Rod is living proof that consistency and passion pay off. We get into everything from his early days playing in church to building an online community of over 700K+ followers with his drum videos and how he creates them. We talk about staying consistent while on the road, and why authenticity is everything. Plus, we go deep into the Janet Jackson gig, talking about how it came together from a DM and the sacrifice he took dedicating 2 months to turn this Janet Jackson opportunity into a closed deal. I had to find out how in the world he plays the infamous “Control” drum fill, his gear setups, how he makes his social media videos (both the cameras, the audio, and the process), creating…

Thomas Lang: Drum God Mode, Practice Secrets, Clinics, Social Media Trends with guest Luke Holland! Episode 75: Thomas Lang. Thomas Lang is one of the best drummers of all time. His drive and focused, intentional practice has led to him being one of the most sophisticated drummers, producers, and composers, with the ability to do four-limb separation beyond pretty much anyone else. On top of that ability, he is musical! He's also a great human, impressive entrepreneur, and a fun guy to hang with. In this episode, we dive deep into his story, how he became the Thomas Lang we see today — both in his skill sets and his success. We talk about how he throws his drum camps, his insane clinics (he did the biggest clinic tour of all time), how to practice correctly, what to do and what not to do. You'll also get a glimpse into his great personality and mindset. Luke Holland jumped in and joined us in this interview as well, which was fun since we're all friends. Together we talked about something you all want to…

Episode 74: RedOne. RedOne is one of the most successful producers and songwriters of our time. From Lady Gaga’s Just Dance, Poker Face, and Bad Romance, to J.Lo and Pitbull’s On the Floor, and Nicki Minaj’s Starships — he’s helped shape the sound of modern pop. In this episode, we go deep into RedOne’s story — from being broke in 2008 to producing The Fame with Gaga and changing pop music forever. He shares behind-the-scenes stories from iconic sessions, how his producer tag came to life, and how he creates hits from demo to final mix. We talk about his work with FIFA and how he is now their Head of Music Entertainment, producing the album for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, as well as writing the official anthem song for his favorite team, Real Madrid, We also talk about collaborating with Jung Kook and Red's close friend, Cristiano Ronaldo, We discuss his passion for elevating music from the MENA region, all about his life in Dubai, as well as the future of AI in music, and the love he shares with his…

One of the best things about being on the road is catching up with friends all over the globe. In today’s episode, we’re in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Tonight is the Formula 1 Grand Prix (you know I love F1), and headlining it is J.Lo! I got to catch up with my longtime friends Charles Streeter, Brandon Brown aka Pastor Funk, and Javad Day. Streeter has been J.Lo’s drummer for many years. Pastor Funk is playing bass with her, and has also played bass and/or music directed for everyone from The Jacksons to Stevie Wonder. He also leads his own band, The Brandon Brown Collective (aka the BBC), which was actually the first band to play at the JammJam! Javad Day, aka Mr. Klynik, is playing keys with J.Lo, and this same week, he’s also musical directing Megan Thee Stallion at Coachella. Javad’s worked with Beyoncé, Mac Miller (that’s him on Mac’s Tiny Desk), Ella Mai, Mustard, Ciara, Tyler, the Creator, and more. I love these guys and had such a great time hanging in Saudi with them, right before they crushed it for a…

Ash Soan is one of the most sought after session drummers in Britain, who has worked with the likes of Adele, Taylor Swift, Seal, Billy Idol, Tate McRae and so many more. Ash's 5th gig was Woodstock '94 with the band, Del Amitri and then went on to support Van Halen (which was my first concert) and Bon Jovi. Recently, Ash has been touring with Snow Patrol and Tori Amos. Ash has also been collaborating with Ariel Posen and are releasing their self-titled album together- available now on Bandcamp. Ash came through my hotel in London to meet up with me on his way to Heathrow to fly out to Abu Dhabi for a show with Snow Patrol. From the lobby of my hotel, in this convo we go in on how Ash achieves his legendary drum tone, how he created his unique studio "The Windmill," and more. I remember Ash for being one of the first to start using high quality audio on Instagram in his VF15 videos and it's inspiring to watch him continue to play and work on his sound. We are On The Go! Here’s my conversation with Ash Soan.…

Tom Stingemore is one of the most knowledgeable minds in music sync licensing. He was President of Sync at Hipgnosis, the multi-billion dollar music catalog fund that owns thousands of No. 1 songs. Before that, he was SVP of Sync at BMG and Creative Director of Sync at Universal Music Group. In this episode, we link up in London to talk about Tom’s new company, Alloy, and his mission to fix one of the biggest problems in sync: bad data. We break down what music sync is, how it works, what’s broken in the current system, and how it can be improved. Whether you’re a music supervisor, artist, producer, or just curious about how songs get placed in film, TV, ads, and games—this episode will give you a deep understanding of the sync world today and where it’s going. We are On The Go — here’s my conversation with Tom Stingemore. Special thanks to Dean St. Studios in London for having us! (00:00) INTRO (02:55) WHY SYNC IS IMPORTANT TO ARTISTS (03:59) SYNC MAKES YOU MONEY (04:45) HIPGNOSIS (07:13) PROBLEMS, CURRENT…

Welcome to the first episode of our new On The Go podcast series — stripped down, run-and-gun, recorded in different cities around the world, and still packed with all the good stuff: behind-the-scenes stories, insights, lessons learned, and more. I’m traveling right now and wanted to keep the podcast conversations going, so here’s what we’ve got for you. For this one, I caught up with my friend Damien Nolan. By day, he has one of the coolest jobs in the world — he’s the Formula 1 Team Radio Editor and Engineer. When you’re watching F1 and those Team Radio messages pop up, that’s Damien and his team. They bring all the behind-the-scenes comms to life. It’s wild how fast they move — turning something said in a driver’s helmet into a broadcast moment in just seconds, reaching millions of people. By night (and sometimes the same day), he’s a killer session guitarist in the UK. We talk about what it’s like working inside the F1 machine, how he balances both worlds, and how creativity plays out in high-pressure…

Episode 73: Keyon Harrold. Everywhere I turn, I see Keyon Harrold. He’s widely regarded as one of the greatest trumpeters alive today, pushing the new jazz generation forward with power and soul. His solo album Foreverland was GRAMMY-nominated this year for Best Alternative Jazz Album, and his resume is stacked — Jay-Z, Common, Erykah Badu, Diana Ross, Mac Miller, Robert Glasper, the Count Basie Orchestra, Terrace Martin — and he played all the trumpet parts in the Miles Davis biopic Miles Ahead. Keyon is a dear friend and an incredible human being. He drops so much wisdom in this episode and truly inspired me with his words. I hope you enjoy my conversation with the great Keyon Harrold. ‘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. (0:02:09) LIVING ROOM SET WITH RONALD BRUNER JR (0:05:35)…

Episode 72: William Bowerman. William is one of the most in-demand musical directors in the world, coming out of London. His client list includes Post Malone, Jennie, BLACKPINK, The Kid Laroi, FKA Twigs, Addison Rae, and many more. He's the co-founder of WFB with his wife, creative director Ace Bowerman. Together, they’re building something special. William stopped by my place while he was in LA rehearsing for Coachella with Jennie, and we had a great hang. We talked about his path, creative process, artist relationships, WFB, and life. Here is our conversation! Hope you enjoy it. 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. Please SUBSCRIBE / FOLLOW this podcast to catch new episodes as soon as they drop! Your likes, comments and shares are much appreciated! Listen to the audio form…