The Culture is Black

Introducing The Culture is Black, a brand new podcast series hosted by journalist Jennifer Adetoro.

2020 and the first lockdown in the UK hit the music industry hard but musicians, DJs and producers found innovative ways to keep the joy of music alive. In this week’s episode we caught up with Jamz Supernova (@jamzsupernova) who uses her platform on BBC 1Xtra to showcase rising talent and alternative RnB. She spoke to us about how she pivoted to recording from her bedroom, her label Future Bounce (@future_bounce) and the future of nightlife post-COVID. We also talk to Jojo Sonubi (@jojoldn) who used the first lockdown to launch a brand new digital radio station from scratch. His hugely popular station No Signal (@theresnosignal) is now blasting through the airwaves, hiring young talent, and building big brand collaborations - it’s a rising music platform to watch. So as we head into lockdown two, who better to inspire us than these two guests?! Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @corqstudio and you can find me on Twitter @jennifertoro_.

This week’s episode is all about the changing face of fashion and how 2020 has pushed the industry to be more inclusive, accessible and digital. We caught up with fashion blogger and influencer Natalie Lee (@stylemesunday) to talk about the evolution of the fashion industry, how bloggers and the rise of social media originally pushed fashion to be more inclusive, and how this year is forcing fashion to make even more of an effort to open up seats at the table. We spoke about building a Black business pre and post pandemic, specifically the importance of understanding your worth and value. And finally, we got her thoughts on the rise of Black Pound Day and the need to speak about the influencer pay gap! Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @corqstudio and you can find me on Twitter @jennifertoro_.

We spoke to poet and playwright Inua Ellams (@inuaellams) during the first lockdown about the success of his pre-pandemic hit show at the National Theatre, The Barbershop Chronicles, what it was like to lose 70 percent of his income in March and forming emotional support groups on his WhatsApp. During lockdown 2.0., Inua's thoughts on the future of theatre feel especially valid, with pantomimes and West End productions mostly cancelled or going virtual. In this episode, Inua speaks of the need to support creative freelancers, the innovative ways he was able to deliver interactive poetry through digital mediums and how, in losing theatre, we’ve lost more than plays, we’ve lost sacred spaces to gather as a collective watching the same stories together. Ultimately, books and poetry remain a hopeful medium to deliver art and provide an opportunity to keep educating and bringing people together. This is the last episode of series 1, but we'll be back next year with a new lineup of guests and more inspiring discussions. In the meantime, don't forget to follow us on Instagram @corqstudio and you can find me on Twitter @jennifertoro_.

In today’s episode, we speak to Clubhouse’s “famous moderator” Ashleigh Louise (@ashleighllouise). Known for her highly-acclaimed moderation skills and popular room #TalksWithAsh, Ashleigh shares her thoughts on the future of the audio-based app and its efforts to help Black creators on the platform.Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @corqstudio and you can find me on Twitter @jennifertoro_.

Today we are joined by journalist and co-host of the award-winning podcast series Black Gals Livin’, Victoria Sanusi (@victoriasanusi). In this episode, the podcaster touches on the evolving industry as well as its future alongside new emerging audio-based innovations like Clubhouse. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @corqstudio and you can find me on Twitter @jennifertoro_.

We spoke to Christina Moore who, after working across both the BBC and Apple Podcast, launched her own audio production company, Don’t Skip Media (@dontskipmedia). In today’s episode, the digital native shares a more technical take on where exactly audio is going moving forward.Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @corqstudio and you can find me on Twitter @jennifertoro_.

In this season’s opening episode, we are joined by Bash The Entertainer (@bashtheentertainer). The TikTok star, best known for his infectious laugh, sheds light on his journey and why he turned to platforms like Vine and Facebook to create online video content.Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @corqstudio and you can find me on Twitter @jennifertoro_.

In today's episode, we spoke to dancers Nifé (@ItsJustNife) and Regina Eigbe (@ReginaEigbe) who discuss the momentum behind dance challenges, credibility on TikTok and the importance of online communities.Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @corqstudio and you can find me on Twitter @jennifertoro_.