Quest for Craft (2021)
Quest for Craft, a web series from The Balvenie and Questlove, is now live on our YouTube channel. Subscribe now to watch the chapters as they release this fall. The Balvenie has been perfecting the craft of whisky making for nearly 130 years and, throughout that period, has remained fascinated by the creative processes, often-obsessive human attributes and deep intrinsic values that elevate something from great to exceptional. That journey embarks on a new frontier with the arrival of Quest for Craft: Season One: a disquisitive new digital series exploring the convergence of craft and creativity, hosted by bestselling author, cultural icon and scholar of creativity Questlove.
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Episode 1 - Chapter 5: Mark Ronson
Release Date: 2022-10-17CHAPTER 5, CRAFT AND EXPRESSION WITH DJ, PRODUCER, SONGWRITER, MARK RONSON – Questlove and Mark Ronson delve into issues around finding your voice as a craftsperson and an artist, referencing Mark’s early days as a DJ, his breakout work with Amy Winehouse and his collaboration with Bruno Mars. Episode includes an interview with composer and musician, Kris Bowers (who has created scores for Bridgerton, King Richard, Kobe Bryant’s Muse and Madden NFL).
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Episode 2 - Chapter 6: Misty Copeland
Release Date: 2022-10-17CHAPTER 6, CRAFT AND PERFECTION WITH HISTORY-MAKING BALLET DANCER, MISTY COPELAND – Questlove and Misty Copeland share their experiences and learnings to explore the concept of perfection, how it relates to the craft and creativity where it falls short. Episode includes an animated segment voiced by Questlove during which he relates how the music of J. Dilla taught him to transcend conventions of perfection.
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Episode 3 - Chapter 7: Fran Lebowitz
Release Date: 2022-10-17CHAPTER 7, CRAFT AND PLACE WITH AUTHOR AND NYC GURU, FRAN LEBOWITZ– Questlove and Fran Lebowitz discuss how where you are and what surrounds you…can inspire you. They explore how everything influences what you create, from the people around you to the ground you’re walking on. Episode includes a segment with Atlas Obscura editor-in-chief, Samir Patel, who talks about how craft and place are related around the globe.
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Episode 4 - Chapter 8: Kenan Thompson
Release Date: 2022-10-17CHAPTER 8, CRAFT AND CHEMISTRY WITH COMEDIAN AND MASTER OF ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE, KENAN THOMPSON – Questlove and Kenan Thompson explore the importance of chemistry to the creative process through the lens of Thompson’s tenure at Saturday Night Live and Questlove’s career with The Roots. Episode includes an interview with former astronaut, Leland Melvin, who talks about chemistry through the lens of the space walks and the crew at the International Space Station.