Live From My Den

Surrounded by vines and leafy set-pieces, the alternative Americana band Pinegrove play a stunning set of tracks from their environmentally-themed album 11:11 at Brooklyn’s Complete Music Studios. Filmed right before the band departs for their tour, the episode also captures the band discussing what it means to bring their most emotional material to a live audience and how 11:11 is, in some ways, their self-titled record.

Justin Quiles breezes through a reggaeton set for his episode of Live from My Den, amidst palm trees and the glow of the South Florida sun. His performance takes an acoustic approach, playing multi-platinum singles like “Loco,” and “Jeans” with guitar, keys, drums, and bass. The self-proclaimed foodie also spends some time in the kitchen, discussing the relationship between food and culture with a professional chef. The episode posits a special glimpse into the background of one of reggaeton’s fastest growing superstars.

Magdalena Bay performed in Los Angeles, clad in neon bodysuits that match their synthetic pop perfection. Fresh off their first ever headlining tour, the band plays selections from their debut album Mercurial World, and they discuss their appreciation for pop, the many inspirations that contribute to their retro-futuristic aesthetic, and the potential attractions of a Magdalena Bay-themed amusement park.

Nicole Atkins plays her set from her go-to creative space in Nashville – Sometimes Studios – backdropped by rays of sunshine. The singer-songwriter performs selections from her 2020 album Italian Ice and talks through how the artists and studio musicians like Britt Daniel of Spoon, Seth Avett of the Avett Brothers, and the famous Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section came to be featured on the album. The multi-hyphenate artist also tours her art gallery, cracking jokes as she shows off her colorful paintings. Atkins is a one-of-a-kind creative, and this episode displays all sides of her artistic output.

In the studio where she recorded her debut record, mxmtoon (aka Maia) plays songs from both her upcoming album rising and 2019’s The Masquerade. The indie pop superstar breaks down her pop songs to just her vocals and ukulele, displaying the true intimacy of her songwriting. The episode also features Maia grabbing lunch from Xi’an Famous Foods, a nostalgic spot for her family in New York. She talks to Variety about moving to New York and its influence on her writing process, how rising distinguishes itself from her debut, and coping with imposter syndrome in the music industry.

The East London native Kojey Radical returns to his home of Hoxton to perform for Live from My Den. In a walking tour of his beloved neighborhood, he shows off local landmarks like Hoxton Hall, which helped foster his artistic ambitions, his favorite spots to eat, and even the very block where he grew up. The episode features Kojey performing songs from his debut album Reason to Smile alongside singles from his earlier mixtapes. In his conversation with Variety, he reminiscences on bringing his mom to the studio for the final feature to complete the album. Kojey Radical’s vast creativity and rambunctious energy is infectious in this episode of Live from My Den.

In their homebase of the Crescent City, Tank and the Bangas perform to a packed room on Bourbon Street. Featuring a full band of horn players, singers, and multi-instrumentalists, the New Orleans group play tracks off their 2022 album Red Balloon as well as deep cuts from 2019’s Green Balloon. The band’s joy and humor is more than present in their interview with Variety where they laugh, crack jokes, and explain the organic and natural recording process of Red Balloon. On their creative tour, Tank and the Bangas take us to Bangaville, their rehearsal space. The band’s music and radiant enthusiasm represents their beloved New Orleans throughout the episode.

Kimié Miner reconnects with her roots, performing her spirited style of Hawaiian, jazz, and R&B-inspired music in the Bishop Memorial Chapel at her alma mater, the Kamehameha Schools. The singer-songwriter takes us around the dorms where she first developed her musical passions and subsequently, her fanbase. Kimié’s tour adds a personal layer of understanding to her music that often touches on the Hawaiian cultural importance of home.

Family band Kapena shows the deep connections between the Hawaiian music tradition and ʻOhana in their performance from their home in Kāneʻohe. Their feel-good songs are abundant with layered harmonies, infusing contemporary and reggae sounds with the Hawaiian music bandleader Kelly Boy grew up with. This intimate episode demonstrates how Hawaiian music is uniquely embedded in the culture of family, and vice versa.

The Hawaiian music legend Amy Hānaialiʻi performs from Waimea, a particularly special location for the six-time Grammy nominee. She discusses how her ancestors originated from the region of Waimea, contributing to her deepened sense of Wahi Pana, or connection to the land. Accompanied by a group of Hula dancers, Hānaialiʻi displays the full breadth of her falsetto vocals that have made her such an essential voice in the Hawaiian music scene today.

Keauhou performs from Papahana Kuaola, a non-profit organization specializing in environmental sustainability and land preservation. At this particularly special place for the band, Jonah Kahanuola Solatorio and brothers Nicholas and Zachary Lum discuss how living up the road from the non-profit impacted their understanding of place and ʻāina-based work. After touring the area, the vocal trio play their music outside, amidst the natural beauty of the ʻili of Waipao.