Episode notes
Episode 12: Jean Grae – “I Need to Create the Things That are Still Unseen”
It’s JEAN GRAE, folks. Hip Hop artist, writer, actor, singer, thinker… puppeteer? Jean was born in South Africa, raised in New York City, and makes so so many many good good things.
IN THE INTRODUCTION, Aimee and I tackle some technical issues and try to figure out what a polymath is and try to figure out why it might be more fun to say my whole name?
IN THE INTERVIEW we start out with naps and animals, but eventually get to talking with Jean about her early life dancing, influences, from her parents (musicians both, links below) to Jim Henson, sci-fi murders, collaborating as a lone wolf, and why representation matters. Along the way, of course, discuss past and current projects, INCLUDING the one-woman show, “Jeanius,” that Jean’s putting on at Joe’s Pub in NYC this July THAT YOU SHOULD GO TO, AND a scripted series she’s writing, directing, composing the music for, hosting, and starring in, called “That’s Not How You Do That,” based on the series of instructional albums for adults, of the same name, she put out a couple of years ago. I am told there are indeed puppets.
Links to all of that and MORE, right here:
Jean and Quelle Chris’ “Everything’s Fine”
Abdullah Ibrahim, “Mannenberg”
In this episode...
Guests
- Jean Grae
About the show
The Art of Process with Aimee Mann and Ted Leo is the newest artistic collaboration from legendary singer-songwriters Aimee Mann and Ted Leo. Every other week, Aimee and Ted talk to friends across the creative spectrum to find out how they work. And sure, they’re friends with a lot of musicians, but weirdly not as many as you’d expect. So you’ll hear from comedians, directors, novelists, show creators – ok, yes, some musicians – writers, producers and more, as they discuss the process of turning an idea into art.
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