To The Feeling Of Flow State with Rani Adi (PinkPantheress, Dove Cameron, postergirl)
Love Music More · hosted by Luke F. Walton (Scoobert Doobert)
Guest: Rani Adi
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Topics discussed
Host note
Rani Adi was fresh off the NPR Tiny Desk with PinkPantheress when we recorded this. "I have been watching Tiny Desks for years, and I love Tiny Desks so much. I also love the artist that I got to do it with, PinkPantheress." That's not name-dropping: that's someone who built toward something specific and got there.
She's co-founder and bassist of postergirl, has backed Dove Cameron on The Tonight Show, and is simultaneously producing her debut solo album and postergirl's first record. We cover the 12-hour lockout rehearsals that prep high-stakes performances, what flow state actually means in a production context, and the jazz training that shaped how she breaks rules. "If Esperanza Spalding never believed in herself, who would I be?", the self-belief argument is practical here, not motivational.
Selected moments
- Reflecting on Tiny Desk Experience 2:34 Rani shares her surreal experience performing at NPR’s Tiny Desk concert with PinkPantheress and the freedom she felt during the arrangement process.
- Understanding Lockout Rehearsals 6:34 Rani explains the rigorous 12-hour lockouts during rehearsals and what it takes to prepare for a high-stakes performance.
- The Concept of Flow State 41:22 Rani discusses the importance of flow state in producing music and how it affects creativity and collaboration.
- Believing in Yourself 59:16 Rani reflects on the significance of self-belief in achieving musical dreams and how artists can impact the world.
- The Journey of postergirl 23:24 Rani shares the formation and future aspirations of her band postergirl, emphasizing their creative process.
- Practicing vs. Creating 46:45 Rani talks about the difference between practicing music techniques and the more instinctual process of creating music.
- Tackling Gender Norms 14:54 Rani discusses her experiences as a woman in jazz and the challenges faced along with the empowerment found in her journey.
- Influence of Jazz on Modern Music 40:30 Rani elaborates on how her jazz background informs her current music work and the conversations around genre in modern production.
Selected excerpts
I have been watching Tiny Desks for years, and I love Tiny Desks so much. I also love the artist that I got to do it with, PinkPantheress. She's phenomenal. One of my favorite artists.
It's almost like that saying that people say: you learn all the rules to be able to break them and I feel like it's very similar with music.
...you have to be comfortable with not being good at what you're practicing... you should practice things that you're not excelling at essentially.
If Esperanza Spalding never believed in herself, who would I be?
Music is a way to communicate an inner world and the world itself. It’s such an expansive way of creating art that is an experience as much as a sonic experience.
FAQ
What was Rani Adi's experience like performing at the NPR Tiny Desk concert?
Rani shared that performing at the NPR Tiny Desk concert was surreal for her, as she had been watching those performances for years. She felt a sense of freedom and creativity during the process of arranging the music.
How does Rani Adi balance being a producer and a performer?
Rani discussed the challenges of balancing her roles as a producer and performer, emphasizing the importance of her collaborative work with her band postergirl and the creative processes involved.
What challenges did Rani face as a woman in the jazz scene?
Rani talked about the misogyny she encountered while pursuing jazz, noting that the environment was predominantly male and often dismissive of her abilities before proving herself.
Curated notes only — no public transcript. Listen on the links above.