NTS Don't Assume with Zakia

Thundercat doesn’t follow the rules. From his tattoo of the word NO, to his genre-bending playing and extensive collection of cat hair, he's an artist who keeps us guessing and is the perfect guest for Don’t Assume. The bassist, singer, and producer has become a key figure in the West Coast jazz, funk, and R&B scene alongside the likes of Kamasi Washington and Flying Lotus. Known for his virtuoso playing and falsetto voice, Thundercat actually cut his teeth playing bass in the thrash metal band Suicidal Tendencies. He traces a line from there to the psychedelic, jazz-infused R&B that he’s loved for today, as he and Zakia discuss being the weird kids in school, how all musicians want to be comedians and his quest for extra pickles. Thundercat has benefited from some incredible collaborators along the way including Kamasi Washington, Mac Miller, Erykah Badu, Flying Lotus and Kenrick Lamar, here he reflects on the impact they’ve had on his career. He’s a mercurial talent, and over the course of the interview he dances between references, funny asides and reflections on grief, all grounded in what is clearly a sincere love and respect for music. Discover Thundercat on NTSPresenter - Zakia SewellProducer - Alannah ChanceRecording - Sophie EllisonMusic composition - Jennifer WaltonMix-Mastering - Sol KingExec Producer - Lizzy King for NTS

Diamanda Galás is one of a kind. The Greek-American artist is known for her uncompromising approach and singular, multi-octave voice. Her work often channels the pain of the dispossessed, giving emotionally charged performances that explore subjects like the AIDS crisis, the Greek-Armenian genocides and experiences of grief. But she is equally at home singing jazz standards and blues songs. We couldn’t think of a better artist to launch this series of Don’t Assume, a podcast which reveals the sorts of things you’d never expect from our favourite artists.In this lively conversation, Zakia and Diamanda travel across the expanse of Diamanda’s wide ranging career, discussing everything from her collaboration with John Paul Jones, the influence of her strict father, her mistrust of the term “avant-garde” and her love of forensic TV shows. Diamanda is equal parts deeply serious and acerbically funny, swinging between reflecting on her regrets to lacerating the ‘bubble gum crap’ of the Beatles. This interview feels like a true meeting of minds, and a chance to see both sides of this formidable artist, truly someone who embodies the spirit of this new series of ‘Don’t Assume’. Discover Diamanda Galás on NTSPresenter - Zakia Sewell Producer - Alannah Chance Music composition - Jennifer WaltonMix-Mastering - Sol King Exec Producer - Lizzy King for NTS

Zakia Sewell is back with another season of Don't Assume, brought to you by NTS. This is an interview podcast where avant-garde composer, vocalist, and performance artist Diamanda Galás shared the same feed as Korean-American electronic music producer, DJ, and singer Yaeji alongside Thundercat, Vashti Bunyan and many more...

Lisa Maffia came to prominence in the early 2000s as the only woman in So Solid Crew, the platinum selling UK Garage act from South London that took over the UK mainstream. Lisa joins Zakia in the NTS studio in London to reflect on Lisa’s younger years and the early days of So Solid Crew, through to Lisa’s solo career. Lisa and Zakia discuss the highs and lows of So Solid’s journey, which took them from DIY pirate radio to the Brit Awards and countless other accolades. Along the way they drew criticism from the British press, and they fell victim to the Metropolitan Police’s punitive 696 form, which all but shut down their scene. In this Don’t Assume interview, Zakia and Lisa celebrate the lasting legacy of UK Garage and its celebration of Black Britishness. Presenter - Zakia Sewell, Producer - Lizzy King, Sound Recording - Fabrice Robinson, Editing - Femi Oriogun-Williams, Composer - Jennifer Walton, Talent & Outreach - Samuel Strang. This is an NTS Podcast, discover more at www.nts.live.

Mark Mothersbaugh is the co-founder and lead singer of iconic American new-wave band, Devo. As the band embark on a global tour, Mark and Zakia reflect on the first 50 years of Devo and they speculate on what the next 50 years of the band will look like. Mark recalls some of his successful moments of subversion; placing subliminal messages into soda commercials and his other film and TV commissions. This Don’t Assume conversation serves as a rallying call to mutate, not stagnate. Presenter - Zakia Sewell, Producer - Lizzy King, Sound Recording - Jennifer Walton, Editing - Femi Oriogun-Williams, Composer - Jennifer Walton, Talent & Outreach - Samuel Strang. This is an NTS Podcast, discover more at www.nts.live.

Lloyd ‘Bullwackie’ Barnes and his legendary Wackie’s institution has been at the heart of the dub and reggae scene since the 1970s. Starting out as a tailor to reggae’s brightest stars, Bullwackie quickly started working as an engineer at Treasure Isle and Studio One studios in Kingston, Jamaica. On moving to New York with his family he became immersed in the burgeoning reggae and dub scene briefly running his own soundsystem. Bullwackie opened up the first reggae studio in New York, Wackie’s House of Music. Since Wackie’s was founded in 1976, Bullwackie has produced and released records with the likes of Sugar Minnott, Lee Scratch Perry, The Love Joys, Horace Andy, Max Romeo, Dennis Brown, and - as Zakia discovers - even impromptu sessions with the likes of Mohammed Ali. After enjoying a resurgence of interest in more recent times, following a reissue series via Mark Ernestus and Moritz von Oswald’s Basic Channel dub techno label, Wackie’s today enjoys multi-generational cult status.In this podcast Zakia and Bullwackie reflect on his life and career, and the exciting discovery of his stolen archive of unreleased Wackie’s recordings that Lloyd has recently recovered, and is now in the process of mastering, in some cases nearly 50 years after they were first recorded. Check out the NTS Guide To Wackie’sPresenter - Zakia Sewell, Producer - Lizzy King, Sound Recording - Josh Farmer & Zara Wladawsky, Editing - Femi Oriogun-Williams, Mastering - Felix Stock, Composer - Jennifer Walton, Talent & Outreach - Samuel Strang. This is an NTS Podcast, discover more at www.nts.live.

Accra-via-Atlanta rising Alté pop sensation Amaarae is the subject of this episode of Don’t Assume, where host Zakia discusses the release of her acclaimed new album, Fountain Baby, and everything that went into making it. Discover how the rich musical scenes of the cities Amaarae grew up in helped anchor a distinct musical taste that has made her as at home making soothing Afro-house as she is with arresting spaceship rap. She reflects on challenging and breaking expectations of what music from West African can sound and feel like. Presenter - Zakia Sewell, Producer - Lizzy King, Sound Recording - Felix Stock, Editing - Femi Oriogun-Williams, Mastering - Josh Farmer, Composer - Jennifer Walton, Talent & Outreach - Samuel Strang.This is an NTS Podcast, discover more at www.nts.live.

One of England's best loved folk singers, Shirley Collins talks to Don’t Assume host, Zakia Sewell (a life-long Shirley Collins fan) about her 60 year career in folk music. Recorded from her front room in Lewes, the conversation covers everything from Shirley’s legendary trip around the American South with folklorist Alan Lomax in the 1950s to her unique take on the notion of ‘Englishness’. Hear about Shirley’s experience working with the likes of Davey Graham and Current 93, as well as her thoughts on the future of folk music. Presenter - Zakia Sewell, Producer - Lizzy King, Sound Recording & Editing - Sam Stone, Mastering - Josh Farmer, Composer - Jennifer Walton, Talent & Outreach - Samuel Strang. This is an NTS Podcast, discover more at www.nts.live.