He’s a very independently spirited and straight talking individual who holds the line. I relied on the advice and inspiration from a man named Brent Hansen when I first arrived at MTV he’s definitely been a mentor to me throughout my life. Each of them gave me great advice which I carry today. Outside of immediate family, I was introduced to some of the founding principles of great broadcasting and media by two gentlemen, both called Eddie - one in New Zealand and one in London. My parents and my brother are hugely influential parts of my life. I’ve been fortunate throughout my life to have gotten to know and work alongside some incredibly inspiring people. Listen to their album Killjoy and tell me it doesn’t stand out with the all time greats. While they’re one of the most influential and legendary hard rock bands of New Zealand, they never made it on the international stages that I believe they should have. No one’s heard of that band but they made these beautiful, lilting post-rock records. A band that used to really help me through pretty bleak times when I first left New Zealand and was experiencing some long winters with only enough money for rent and beer, was a band called Rex. Whilst he’s a reoccurring member of Gorillaz that’s had a great career in music, I always feel like it’s never guaranteed that when I mention his name to people they’ll know who he is or what he’s achieved in music. I think about an artist like Del the Funky Homosapien. They’re definitely an artist that if you know, you know. I never understood why, maybe it’s just timing, maybe they evolved the original spirit into something more that people can relate to, but specifically Quicksand, who recently reformed and remain an incredibly potent hardcore rock n roll band from New York City that never made a bad record. Those artists may go on to influence a generation of artists that may reach a wider audience. There’s so many amazing artists that never break through in ways you hope they will, but if you love them that doesn’t affect the way you feel about their music or who they are. There’s so many amazing artists, songs, albums, moments…I could fill this entire conversation with a list of artists who have made more than just music, they have made a lasting impression on my life and been there through all of life’s complex experiences and emotions and then…oh shit Smashing Pumpkins, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, basically all of Seattle from the late 80s to the mid 90s, all of New York always, I can’t forget Mike Skinner and the Streets and what about the XL Recordings roster, oh shit Jack White and the White Stripes… you need to stop me now.Īre there any artists that never really made it, that came across your desk, that you wish people could hear and embrace? That being said, there remain firm favorites for me: Beastie Boys remain on every device I’ve ever owned - cassette, CD, computer, iPod and phone, A Tribe Called Quest, Queens of the Stone Age, Pavement, Neil Young, PJ Harvey, old funk, old jazz, Thomas Newman, Shihad, Neil Finn, Bjork, Bon Iver, Frank Ocean, Adele. This would’ve been a lot easier for me to answer even 5 years ago but now my taste has broadened even more (and I used to have pretty broad taste). I find myself listening to more new music and experimenting in areas I had little or no knowledge to, prior to the streaming era. If you were to make a playlist of the songs that are part of your DNA, the comfort food that you keep coming back to, that never fail to move and inspire you, what would those tracks be? Recently, being there at the start of and producing the early Queen Radio shows with Nicki Minaj, which was a truly incredible and memorable experience. Every time I’ve talked to Kanye, playing Adele’s Hometown Glory on Jamie T’s independent label Pacemaker for the first time anywhere in the world on the radio, hearing Arctic Monkeys for the first time. Every interview I’ve done with Jay-Z, those early Apple Music meetings with Jimmy, Trent, and Dre, and the team, my first ever Radio 1 show, my first Beats 1 show for that matter, interviewing Paul McCartney on a crappy brown couch for a really cheap afternoon TV show on MTV2 called Gonzo…multiple times, countless Maida Vale live sessions for the BBC, and of course going out to Shangri La to interview Rick Rubin for the first time. I feel blessed to have had many experiences. This is a hard question for me to answer. Alexander Zane Reid Lowe is a DJ, radio personality and creative director of Apple Music’s influential radio station, Beats 1.Įveryone in the music industry has a few favorite “industry moments ” (interactions with a favorite artist, special event or experience etc.) What are a few of yours?
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