RJD2 has been making music since 2002. His song “A Beautiful Mine” was turned into the opening credits music for Mad Men. He’s a producer and beatmaker, but also a singer and songwriter. But for the vocals on the song “Games You Can Win,” he tapped Kenna, a Grammy-nominee who Malcolm Gladwell wrote about in Blink. In this episode, you’ll get to hear the parts that make up the track, as well as the unreleased demo vocals that RJ originally recorded himself.

Buy “Games You Can Win” on iTunes.

For a transcript of this episode, click here.

footnotes
“#1 Soul Brother” by Pete Rock

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In an interview with Belgian filmmakers the Dardenne brothers, talking about the kinds of stories they tell, Luc Dardenne says, “Human suffering, that interests us very much.”

It also interests Tom Krell, a songwriter and producer who goes by the name How to Dress Well. After seeing one of the Dardenne brothers films, The Kid With a Bike, he was inspired to make the song “Pour Cyril.” In this episode, he’ll dig deep into that where that inspiration led him, from transformations within the song, within the film, and within himself.

Buy “Pour Cyril” on iTunes, and check out How to Dress Well’s live orchestral version of the song on Soundcloud.

For a transcript of this episode, click here.

footnotes
“The Kid with a Bike,” directed by Jean-Pierre & Luc Dardenne


Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major, Op. 73, 2nd movement


“Special,” by Janet Jackson


“Beau Travail,” directed by Claire Denis

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Casey Dienel is a producer, singer, and songwriter who goes by the name White Hinterland. In this episode, she’ll break down her song Ring the Bell. To make it, she had to break out of her comfort zone of working alone and reach to other people. She got a little unexpected help from Beyoncé.

Buy “Ring the Bell” on iTunes.

For a transcript of this episode, click here.

footnotes
Here’s Beyoncé’s song “The End of Time.”

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