Can We Talk RnB? Podcast CanWeTalkRnB LLC

On the season finale, join us for a fun-filled episode as Ian Von welcomes his longtime friend, Van Lathan! This Academy Award-winning former TMZ producer and co-host of the Ringer's "Higher Learning" podcast gives his takes on his favorite R&B groups and artists and his controversial take on his favorite Usher album. You don't want to miss this episode. 
 
0:00 - 2:26 Intro 
2:26 - 3:30 Ian and Van Lathan’s background
3:30 - 4:30 Old R&B vs New R&B approaching women
4:30 - 5:33 New age R&B making music on what they think
5:33 - 6:14 Jagged Edge’s let’s get married
6:14 - 6:46 R&B is missing its Vulnerability
6:46 - 9:27 Player Proof vs Pink Ladies story
9:27 - 10:28 Songs that make you want to feel a way about someone
10:28 - 10:47 Vulnerability is frowned upon
10:47 - 13:36 Moving from Baton Rouge to LA
13:36 - 16:10 TMZ to an Oscar
16:10 - 16:30 Once again, for the very first time
16:30 - 19:50 Ian’s group
19:50 - 20:40 People who push and inspire each other
20:40 - 21:37 Being noticed by a fan
21:37 - 22:46 Mount Rushmore R&B Male Groups
22:46 - 27:08 Jagged Edge vs 112
27:08 - 28:49 Ranking Male Group
28:49 - 30:12 Mount Rushmore Girl Group
30:12 - 31:55 Why not Destiny’s Child?
31:55 - 32:42 Mount Rushmore for Male R&B Singers
32:42 - 33:21 Does Michael count as Pop
33:42 - 34:07 Mount Rushmore for Female Artists
34:07 - 35:55 What is considered R&B and Pop?
35:55 - 37:46 Rolling Stones Best R&B Songs 21st Century
37:46 - 41:40 Favorite Singer and Rapper
41:40 - 42:30 Frank Oceans Discography
42:30 - 43:15 Jay Electronica’s Rap Style
43:15 - 45:06 The top ten on the Rolling Stones list
45:06 - 46:30 Confessions better than 8701
46:30 - 47:40 Redoing the Mount Rushmore
47:40 - 48:30 Musiq Soulchild
48:30 - 50:50 New female Mount Rushmore
50:50 - 52:00 SZA’s Impact
52:00 - 53:24 Top Five on 8701 and Confessions
53:24 - 55:40 Confessions top to bottom wins
55:40 - 57:46 Comparing songs on Usher projects
56:46 - 1:00:06 Closing
 
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Hosted & Created by:  Ian Von
Produced by: Launch Pod Studio
Shot and Edited by: Lazy Pickle Studios

This week on "Can We Talk R&B" Will Gittens takes us on a journey!  The internet's favorite cover artist and hitmaker for stars like Chris Brown, Trey Songz, Tank, Josh Levi, Bridget Kelly, and more share his secrets to viral success! Learn how he captivated millions, discover his viral formula songwriting techniques, and how he navigated industry scams. Dive deep into music, motivation, and overcoming challenges. You don't want to miss this one!
0:00 - 1:34  Intro
1:34 - 3:35 What got you into R&B? 
3:35 - 5:44  Moving to Nashville from Trinidad
5:44 - 7:15 Have you found a Trinidad community in Nashville?
7:15 - 9:13 How was the transition to LA? 
9:13 - 10:20  Pursuing music in LA  
10:20 - 14:50 Navigating the Industry 
14:50 - 16:10 How did you grow your social media following? 
16:10 - 19:34 What was your formula for socials?
19:34 - 19:58  Performing and live shows
19:58 - 20:40 Making money on streaming platforms 
20:40 - 21:58 Touring independently
21:58 - 23:00 Understanding the digital marketing and promoting 
23:00 - 24:05 Labels aren’t bad  
24:05 - 26:30 Being constantly determined to grind 
26:30 - 28:53 Do you thing going viral is sustainable? 
28:53 - 30:47 Creating music to find the hit 
30:47 - 32:35 Writing 350 songs in a year 
32:35 - 33:32 Deep Dive: Say the Word 
33:32 -  35:30 Where do you see yourself in 10 years? 
35:30 - 36:46 The desire to change the industry 
36:46 - 37:40 Closing 
 
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Hosted & Created by:  Ian Von
Produced by: Launch Pod Studio
Shot and Edited by: Lazy Pickle Studios

On this episode of Can We Talk R&B, Ian welcomes LA Native 2x Grammy Nominated Singer/Songwriter KENYON DIXON on the show. Kenyon talks about his upbringing in the Church. Linking up with Tyrese early in his career for songwriting for artists like Tyrese, TGT, and later Justin Timberlake. Kenyon also talks about background singing for artists like Tyrese, Justin Timberlake, Ledisi, Kirk Franklin, Pharrell Williams, Usher, Brandy, Jill Scott, and Nick Jonas. His move from background vocals and focus on your solo career. His rise as an independent artist and experience working with Kanye West on “Ultralight Beam '' and contribution to R&B.
 
0:00 - 3:10 Intro
3:10 - 5:44 Tell us about your upbringing 
5:44 - 6:55 Being from Watts, CA
6:55 - 8:25 Working with Tyrese early on 
8:25 - 9:05 Open Invitation album
9:05 - 10:39 Performing at the Grammys 
10:39 - 13:30  How did your transition from Gospel to R&B
13:30 - 14:10 Mothers first show  
14:10 - 15:36 The difference between TGT and Justin Timberlake
15:36 - 16:55 Working with various artists and their styles
16:55 - 17:07 Touring with Kirk
17:07 - 17:50 Touring Jill Scott
17:50 - 18:49 Most valuable lesson from working with artists
18:49 - 20:35 What made you decide to go solo? 
20:35 - 23:00  The balance of recording and touring with artists
23:00 - 24:23 Preparing for solo career on tour with other artists
24:23 - 26:15  Did the opportunities lead to writing?
26:15 - 29:15  R&B independent artists  
29:15 - 30:36 Do you ever think about majors? 
30:36 - 33:02  The shift from Majors to Indie
33:02 - 36:36  What are your roles in being independent 
35:36 - 37:00  Depending on your team 
37:00 - 40:44 Background vocals on Ultralight Beam
40:44 - 41:42  The Life of Pablo album
41:42 - 43:33 Which singers worked on Ultralight Beam? 
43:33 -  47:12 The R&B You Love 
47:12 -  52:26 Deep Dive: 2000s R&B
52:26 - 54:29  RL and Next
54:29 - 55:15 Being able to tap into the 90s feel 
55:15 - 57:30 Hot Topics: Advocate for the 2000s R&B
57:30 - 58:27  90s to 2000s Artists
58:27 - 59:00  Neyo - So Sick 
59:00 - 1:00:44 Cultural moments that elevated R&B in 2000s
1:00:44 - 1:05:15 Songs Usher should perform at the Super Bowl
1:05:15 - 1:05:54 Closing 

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Hosted & Created by:  Ian Von
Produced by: Launch Pod Studio
Shot and Edited by: Lazy Pickle Studios

This week, Can We Talk R&B welcomes a true icon: Multi-Platinum Selling/ Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, dancer, and all-around powerhouse Mya! Get ready for a deep dive into the evolution of R&B, from Mya's early days to the current landscape. Mya reflects on the 25th anniversary of her iconic self-titled album, ‘Mya’. She shares the keys to navigating the music industry, and the exciting new music she is gearing up to release without the major label backing.  Mya also shares her thoughts on the changing musical climate, the pressures of maintaining a social media presence, and the secrets to staying relevant in the game. Plus, you won't want to miss her insider stories about legendary moments with Michael Jackson and Prince!
This is more than just an interview - it's a conversation with a legend who continues to inspire. Don't miss Can We Talk R&B with Mya, a celebration of artistry, resilience, and the enduring power of R&B!
0:00 - 3:00 Intro
3:00 - 4:35 What got you into music?  
4:35 - 5:10 Why R&B? 
5:10 - 6:20 Where are you pulling from when writing? 
6:20 - 7:00 Growing up in the Church
7:00 - 9:00  How does impacting people through music make you feel?
9:00 - 10:50 Being in an era where music has gone digital 
10:50 - 12:29 Digital versus physical album copies 
12:29 - 15:30  How do you feel about major labels vs being independent 
15:30 - 16:00 Being R&B on a Hiphop/Rock label
16:00 - 17:55 What was that experience like? 
17:55 - 19:20 How important is your team, being independent? 
19:20 - 21:20 Do you think about how your career has changed? 
21:20 - 21:40 Can you talk about some humbling experience throughout your career? 
21:40 - 22:58 Getting a phone call from Michael Jackson
22:58 - 23:40 Having empowering conversations with music icons 
23:40 - 25:40 What was it like for Prince to be a mentor to you? 
25:40 - 26:21 Prince at Essence Festival
26:21 - 28:18  What are some things that you are most proud of?
28:18 - 29:12 Do you still love it? 
29:12 - 29:54  Reflecting on your younger self  
29:54 - 31:08 Do you have artist that reach out to you?
31:08 - 34:31 How has the business changing affected you? 
34:31 - 35:30 Streaming platforms and selling numbers  
35:30 - 36:30  What is your experience like touring? 
36:30 - 37:22 Taking care of self while being a touring artist
37:22 - 38:24 Girls Dem Sugar with Beanie Man and Lie Detector 
38:24 - 39:30 What can we expect in the future? 
39:30 - 39:53 Any cool collaborations coming up? 
39:53 - 41:52 Who inspires you right now in music?
42:52 - 43:50 Why did you decide to be on a vegan diet? 
43:50 - 45:40  How long have you been vegan? 
45:40 - 47:04  When can we expect the new project? 
47:04 - 49:29 Being an artist for 25 years 
49:29 - 49:47 End 
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Hosted & Created by:  Ian Von
Produced by: Launch Pod Studio
Shot and Edited by: Lazy Pickle Studios

On this episode of Can We Talk R&B, Ian Von welcomes Singer/ Songwriter, Kevin Ross. Kevin Ross talks about his upbringing in DC, falling in love with music, musical influences, and career building. He recalls a pivotal time in his career touring with Neyo and Maxwell. Kevin also explains why he left the major label and how he went viral, reaching over 100M+ views on his videos throughout the pandemic, plus so much more. You don't want to miss this episode.
0:00 - 2:45 Intro
2:45 - 5:00 Being from Dc 
5:00 - 6:03 90s era of music
6:03 - 7:20 Music adapting new sounds
7:20 - 8:55 Musicianship  
8:55 - 12:10 When did you decide to pursue music
12:10 - 13:15 Spending time on music 
13:15 - 14:00 Learning how to use recording machines
14:00 - 16:20 What inspired you to make videos? 
16:20 - 18:35 Adding mixing and mashups
18:35 - 20:00 Reaching 100M views
20:00 - 21:50 Motown’s writing camp
21:50 - 23:00 Being isolated
23:00 - 23:40 The development phase
23:40 - 24:27 Touring with Maxwell and Neyo
24:27 - 26:13 Ponder on artistry
26:13 - 27:27 How did touring with Maxwell and Neyo happen
27:27 - 28:33 Understanding the vision
28:33 - 30:00 Deciding to leave the label
30:00 - 31:00 Talking with the label
31:00 - 32:08 Going independent
32:08 - 33:22 Benefits of an independent artist
33:22 - 34:12 Having a good team
34:12 - 35:01 Using resources to be successful as an independent Artist 
 35:01 - 36:33 Telling the story in music
36:33 - 37:53 Transitioning throughout the project
37:53 - 38:58 Exploring in Songwriting
38:57 - 41:06 Artists telling stories in music
41:06 - 42:58 Being able to have longevity
42:58 - 43:54 Dream Collab
43:54 - 44:53 Kenyon Dixon collaboration
44:53 - 46:20 Where does the freedom to express yourself in your music come from? 
46:20 - 48:30 Earth Wind & Fire vs Franky Beverly and Maze
48:30 - 50:50 The cultural impact of the bands
50:50 - 57:15 Deep Dive - God is a Genius
57:15 - 1:03:30 Top 5 R&B Songs Written
1:03:30 - 1:07:00 R&B being on the rise
1:07:00 - 1:07:50  Check out the Patreon
1:07:50 - 1:08:02 Ending
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Hosted & Created by:  Ian Von
Produced by: Launch Pod Studio
Edited by: Lazy Pickle Studios

On this week's episode, Ian Von welcomes Grammy nominated, Samoht on Can We Talk R&B. The Rising Singer/Songwritter talks about his new album ‘Amore’, his upbringing in The South, the story behind how he discovered he was Grammy Nominated and opens up about a dark period in his life. You don't want to miss this!!
0:00 - 3:00 Intro 
3:00 - 4:45 What was the inspiration behind this project?
4:45 - 5:44 Growing up in North Carolina
5:44 - 6:52 Having a Church background
6:52 - 8:10 Singing in chorus
8:10 - 9:22 When did you fall in love with R&B
9:22 - 10:50 Gospel Influences
10:50 - 11:28 Contemplating on releasing music
11:28 - 12:30 Who worked on this project with you
12:30 - 13:55 What’s missing in R&B
13:55 - 15:10 Sangers vs Singers in R&B
15:10 - 16:20 Better record
16:20 - 18:40 R&B Male Vocalists
18:40 - 20:57 How do you compare R&B male vocalists to Gospel
20:57 - 22:00 Working with Pj Morton
22:00 - 22:20 Finding out about the nomination
22:20 -23:05 Pj Morton’s artistry
23:05 - 23:50 Struggles of an independent artist
23:50 - 24:37 Having to work harder
24:37 - 26:00 How important is your team
26:00 - 26:23 Pushing through struggle for success
26:23 - 27:35 Process of creating a project
27:35 - 29:22 Fashion in R&B music
29:22 - 31:38 Signature fashion
31:38 - 35:55 Deep Dive - Shine On
35:55 - 37:11 Working with Luke James
37:11 - 40:32 Respect the Pen Game - Moonlight
40:32 - 42:10 R&B losing its romantic feel 
42:10 - 44:08 Sitting with the new album 
44:08 - 46:17 New Artist you’re listening to
46:17 - 47:59 Top 5 Favorite R&B Singers 
47:59 - 49:26 What’s next following this album
49:26 - 52:20 Vocal range and strength 
52:20 - 52:52 End
✅ LISTEN, FOLLOW AND RATE
Hosted & Created by:  Ian Von
Produced by: Launch Pod Studio
Edited by: Lazy Pickle Studios