Show Notes
Cynthia Erivo’s music education and evolution, from 1. Growing up listening to Nigerian music at family gatherings → 2. Discovering her voice through singing along to Brandy, Monica, and TLC → 3. Joining the choir in high school and going to university for music psychology → 4. Working as an usher in a local theater and realizing that she had to perform → 5. Honing her skills as a musician and actress, embracing vulnerability → 6. Performing as Aretha Franklin and studying her ability to communicate complex musical feelings without knowing how to read music
Cynthia Erivo is a GRAMMY, Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress, singer, author, and producer, as well as an Academy Award, Golden Globe, and SAG nominee. Since bursting onto the West End and Broadway stages in “The Color Purple,” she has taken the world by storm. Erivo is currently in production on Universal’s film adaptation of the hit musical WICKED, where she will star as Elphaba opposite Ariana Grande’s Glinda in the highly anticipated film from director Jon M. Chu. She was most recently seen starring in Disney+’s PINOCCHIO as the Blue Fairy opposite Tom Hanks, Keegan Michael Key and Luke Evans. She will next be seen in Netflix’s LUTHER where she will star alongside Idris Elba and Andy Serkis in the feature film installment, which continues the story of the acclaimed BBC crime series. Erivo can also next be seen in the film DRIFT directed by Anthony Chen, where she stars in and produced. Drift follows a young Liberian refugee named Jacqueline (Erivo) who has barely escaped her war-torn country to a Greek island. The film had its World Premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 22nd, 2023.
Follow Silverlake Conservatory of Music at @silverlake_conservatory For more information on Parallel, visit parallel.la Follow Cadence13 at @cadence13 Follow Cynthia Erivo at @cynthiaerivo Follow Flea at @flea333
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Anthony Kiedis’ music education and evolution, from 1. Experimenting with his earliest form of special expression via dance → 2. Meeting Flea in high school and starting his musical journey → 3. Embracing his role as a singer → 4. The RHCP very first show, where they played a single song → 5. Navigating relationships with different producers → 6. Being influenced by Nina Hagen → 7. Meeting John Frusciante and building their creative partnership.
John Frusciante’s music education and evolution, from 1. First picking up an acoustic guitar (that he wished was electric) → 2. His first experiences with teachers, including ones that inspired him and ones that discouraged him → 3. Discovering punk rock in LA → 4. Playing his first show in LA → 5. Joining the RHCP and embracing his own signature style.
Earl Sweatshirt’s music education and evolution, from 1. Growing up in Chicago, lying on his family’s Persian rug listening to jazz, African horns, and gospel music → 2. Being a dad now, watching his son learn rhythm → 3. Learning saxophone in elementary school → 4. Starting writing rap at 16 and also listening to music like Dr. Dre’s ‘Chronic 2001’ and Lil Wayne’s ‘Money on My Mind’ → 5. Visiting his dad in South Africa and starting to write music in earnest in his spare time → 6. Finding inspiration in J. Dilla’s book, Dilla Time.
Tenacious D’s music education and evolution, from 1. Kyle learning to play the flute, and Jack learning piano → 2. Jack meeting his creative hero, Bobby McFerrin, and being inspired to think of his voice as his instrument → 3. Tenacious D being encouraged by Harry Shearer at an early concert → 4. Building a creative process based in acting.
Cory Henry’s music education and evolution, from 1. Watching his mom perform as choir director and lead musician at his church in Brooklyn and eventually playing with the choir by age five → 2. In high school joining the jazz band and going to the Village Underground open mic nights for soul and gospel music → 3. Expanding his taste beyond gospel to include hip hop → 4. Playing with Snarky Puppy and living a scrappy existence; doing it for the love, not the money.