Why Do So Many Chinese Musicians Have PhDs?

Bonus: The Music Supervisor Behind Iconic TV Shows

A bit of Hollywood glam on this episode of Crosscontinentals. Thomas Golubić is a music supervisor who worked on shows such as Breaking Bad, Six Feet Under, and The Walking Dead. He pulls back the curtain on the American entertainment industry and describes how his multicultural background led to his job.  We discussed:  * Working as a journalist in Yugoslavia during the wars in the 90s * Do mixed kids tend to have unusual parents?  * Learning English from broadcaster Peter Jennings * Varying approaches to music supervision in different languages * Matching music to the way British actors were interpreting American culture on The Walking Dead * What makes ABBA great? * The decision to place Sia’s music in Six Feet Under before she was famous in the US * Tech’s impact on the entertainment industry Thomas’ work Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/supermusicvision [https://www.instagram.com/supermusicvision] Thomas’ personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thomasgolubic/ [https://www.instagram.com/thomasgolubic/] Follow this show on Instagram: bit.ly/3NDZI0i [https://www.instagram.com/crosscontinentalspod/]

How World Music Went from Unique to Ubiquitous

When Natacha Atlas began her career in the 80s, her music raised many eyebrows. Eventually, the world caught up, and the way in which she mixes global influences became so commonplace, it’s now heard everywhere.  We discussed:  * Natacha’s Rosicrucianism-influenced school  * Observing how world music became just music * Natacha’s return to electronic music  * The professional and personal collaboration between Natacha and her partner Samy * Why Natacha doesn’t want to live in London again  * The longevity of Natacha’s collaboration with Christian Louboutin * Why moving around is important for creativity  Natacha’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natachaatlas/ [https://www.instagram.com/natachaatlas/] Follow this show on Instagram: bit.ly/3NDZI0i [http://bit.ly/3NDZI0i]

Living Simply to Create Freely

Yumi Ito’s parents, despite being musicians themselves, tried to dissuade her from following in their footsteps. She did it anyway—but in her own way, allowing her music to reflect her worldviews and Japanese-Polish heritage.  We discussed:  * Yumi’s parents’ journey from Poland and Japan to Switzerland * How Yumi knew she should be a musician * Battling getting sucked into the capitalist system * Crossing socio economic divides in childhood * Why people assume music duos are romantic?  * Music as a way to connect beyond identities Yumi’s Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/yumiitomusic/ [https://www.instagram.com/yumiitomusic/] Follow this show on Instagram: bit.ly/3NDZI0i [http://bit.ly/3NDZI0i]

The Perfect Mix: Music and Heritage

Mark de Clive-Lowe is a musician, DJ, and producer whose career spans multiple musical genres, from jazz to house. In recent years, he has drawn more deeply from his heritage, creating some of his most personal work yet. As his music began to reflect more of Japan's influence, a series of unexpected events led him to move to Tokyo. We discussed:  * The decision to not take up a teaching position in the US and instead move to Japan  * Afrofuturism  * Mark’s relationship with his father  * Childhood in New Zealand * Heritage albums and how they were a departure from Mark’s previous work  * Mark’s ayahuasca experience  * Japan’s complicated citizenship laws  * US taxes Mark’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markdeclivelowe/ Follow this show on Instagram: bit.ly/3NDZI0i

Why Do So Many Chinese Musicians Have PhDs?

Caitlin Magee 凱琳 is a musician and radio host who grew up around the world, moving with her family to follow her father who was an Australian diplomat. She describes how her peripatetic life led to unexpectedly finding a home in Taiwan, where she sings in English and in Mandarin.  We discussed: * Various challenges and opportunities stemming from growing up around the world * Adjusting to gender attitudes in Saudi Arabia * Becoming a Taiwanese citizen * The difference between studying music and making music * The complexities of singing in Mandarin * Creating music with thousands-of-years-old Chinese poems * Caitlin’s shift from jazz to R&B and pop  Caitlin’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cait.magee/ [https://www.instagram.com/cait.magee/] Caitlin’s radio show Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/cait.radio/ [https://www.instagram.com/cait.radio/] Follow this show on Instagram: bit.ly/3NDZI0i [https://www.instagram.com/crosscontinentalspod/?hl=en]