Rico Nasty and Boys Noize's Spark is El Alma Que Te Trajo by Safety Trance feat. Arca

Rapper Rico Nasty and producer/DJ Boys Noize are both in awe of multi-talented musician Arca's work, so Boys Noize was thrilled when she appeared on his Boys Noize Records signee Safety Trance's track El Alma Que Te Trajo. Rico and Boys Noize love the genre-melding music that Arca and Safety Trance created, combining reggaeton and techno to create a unique sound. They also both love Arca's fearlessness and her ability to work seamlessly with artists from all sides of the musical spectrum.

Be sure to check out the Rico Nasty and Boys Noize's HVRDC0RE DR3AMZ ep is out now.

X Ambassadors

What drives a musician to play music overtly rooted in traditional ska and rocksteady? And how do they honor those roots while simultaneously giving it a contemporary flavor? This week on In Defense of Ska, Jeremy Peña of The Bandulus talks about he sought to do just that with the band's new record Tell It Like It Is.

Both lush and raw, rickety and tight, Peña walks the hosts through the recording of the album, the thought process behind the songwriting, and the influences that went into the record. Before he can get to where he is now, however, he has to explain where he comes from.

Be sure to check out the new X Ambassadors album Townie.

Listen to X Ambassador's frontman Sam Nelson chat on this episode of The Spark Parade wherever you get your podcasts.

Also, make sure to follow and review to support The Spark Parade, and keep up to date with all our series by following the Consequence Podcast Network.

Fallout's Ella Purnell and Aaron Moten

Fallout actors Ella Purnell and Aaron Moten understand the power of artistic re-interpretation. So, when it comes to their respective 'sparks,' both actors chose songs performed by someone other than who originally wrote the piece. Purnell gravitated towards Brandi Carlile’s breakout hit “The Story,” which was originally recorded by members of her band, while Moten picked Glenn Gould’s recording of the “Goldberg Variations,” which was originally penned by, well, Johann Sebastian Bach. Listen to the two chat on this episode of The Spark Parade wherever you get your podcasts.

Also, make sure to follow and review to support The Spark Parade, and keep up to date with all our series by following the Consequence Podcast Network.

Weston Razooli's Spark is Princess Mononoke

Riddle Of Fire director Weston Razooli first watched Hayao Miyazaki's animated classic Princess Mononoke on a laptop at his boarding school. Even on a small screen, the film transported him to a strange and wonderful world that has inspired his work ever since. He loves detailed storytelling, gorgeous animation, and unforgettable voice work in equal measure, but he also admires the strength of Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli's negotiating tactics when dealing with difficult Hollywood distributors.

Nyambi Nyambi's Spark Is Kim Jung Gi's Marvel Comics Covers

Night Court actor Nyambi Nyambi was enthralled with Kim Jung Gi's sprawling, interconnected covers for Marvel Comics' Civil War II series not just for their artistry, but for the masterful artistic practices used to create it. He attended multiple live demonstrations of Kim's work before his untimely death and has applied his details to his work as a visual artist and an actor.

Be sure to check out Nyambi Nyambi in Night Court on Tuesday nights on NBC.

Asher Grodman's Spark is Dog Day Afternoon

Ghosts actor Asher Grodman loves everything about Sidney Lumet's classic Al Pacino starring film Dog Day Afternoon. The story and its themes touch him deeply, but its the legendary performances by the incredible ensemble that really stick with him. Pacino's unselfconscious, honest portrayal of a complicated real-life character is a masterclass in screen acting. The film has aged incredibly well and was tackling subjects like gay and trans rights in a thoughful and nuanced way nearly fifty years ago.

Check out Asher Grodman is in Ghosts, which airs on CBS on Thursday nights.

SHAED's Spark is Sylvan Esso

Ever since hearing their self-titled debut, SHAED felt a special kinship with Sylvan Esso. Both bands came from a folky, acoustic background and were experimenting with electronic sounds -- not to mention they were both family ventures. On this episode of The Spark Parade, SHAED explains how Sylvan Esso helped to further shape their musical style. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

SHAED originally started as a straightforward folk band, but after running into trouble finding a drummer, they began looking for other outlets. When they heard Sylvan Esso’s electronic flourishes and programmed percussion, though, a whole new world opened up for them, and the solution to their troubles became clear. Ever since, they've been following their own passion for folktronica.

Beth Ditto's Spark is Missy Elliott's Da Real World

Gossip frontwoman Beth Ditto loves everything about Missy Elliott’s second album Da Real World. The non-stop bangers, the icy production from Timbaland, the tight vocal harmonies -- it's basically flawless. More than just quality music, though, the record also reminds Ditto of a time when her musical taste was starting to truly develop. On this episode of The Spark Parade, Ditto explains how the album shaped her young mind. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Missy Elliott as a whole would go on to heavily influence Gossip, as the group looked to Southern soul music for inspiration.

Bassem Youssef's Spark is Billy Joel's "Pressure"

Comedian Bassem Youssef, known for his sharp wit and political commentary, discovered Billy Joel's "Pressure" in an unlikely place -- midway through an episode of Amazon's superhero satire The Boys. From the first notes, he knew he had to seek out the song for himself. On this episode of The Spark Parade, Youssef explains how he fell in love with the track once he did. Listen above, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The more Youssef dove into "Pressure," the more he connected with its energetic synth-rock vibe, soaring melodies, and themes of dealing with stress.

JIMBO's Spark is Pee-wee's Playhouse

Self-described drag clown and RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars winner JIMBO first got into Pee-wee's Playhouse, predictably, as a child. And yet, even as an adult, the program's unparalleled creativity continues to have a huge influence on her outlook, art, and even home decor. On this episode of The Spark Parade, JIMBO explores her deep connection with the TV show. Listen above, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Talking about Pee-wee's Playhouse, JIMBO takes particular note of the show's queer -- or at least drag -- aesthetic, as well as how its content boldly treated kids like adults.

Allie X's Spark Is Waiting For Guffman

Singer, songwriter, and visual artist Allie X loves Christopher Guest’s highly influential mockumentary Waiting For Guffman so much that it’s become a somewhat of litmus test for her. If she meets someone and they love Guffman, she knows they’ll get along. On this episode of The Spark Parade, Allie X explores her deep connection with the film. Listen above, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The artist touches on the emotional component of the film, zoning in on how even though it's hilarious, it also reflects the real struggle of being an artist in an industry that often crushes dreams.

The artist also explains her link to the world of theater and recalls the concentrated communities that develop during a production -- something she feels Guffman nails.

Real Estate's Spark Is The Adventures Of Pete And Pete

Real Estate frontman Martin Courtney had loved Nickelodeon's The Adventures of Pete and Pete as a child, but he was understandably skeptical of how it might hold up when it came time to show it to his own kids. Fortunately, Courtney discovered that it was everything he remembered and more. Listen to the singer chat about his rediscovery on this episode of The Spark Parade above, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Courtney dives into how, as an adult, he found that the show's weird, sweet, funny nature helped it transcend the pitfalls similar shows from the time fall into. He ended up being so taken by his reconnection with the show that Real Estate created a Pete and Pete-themed video for their new song "Water Underground."

Mitch Rowland's Spark Is Charles Mingus' The Clown

Of all places, Mitch Rowland discovered Charles Mingus' seminal jazz album The Clown at a pizza restaurant. The singer, songwriter, and Harry Styles collaborator was scrolling through his coworkers iPod when the album jumped out at him. On this episode of The Spark Parade, Rowland explains just how instrumental that pizza-adjacent moment was. Listen above, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Rowland continues to be mesmerized by classic tracks like "Haitian Fight Song" to this day, with the record as whole remaining a core inspiration for the songwriter's own work. As a fan, he comes back to The Clown often to marvel at its audacious take on jazz playing and song structure.

The Beaches' Spark Is True Romance

This week on The Spark Parade, The Beaches front-woman Jordan Miller recalls the time her tour manager introduced her to True Romance, the cult classic written by Quentin Tarantino and directed by Tony Scott.

Hooked from the first frame, Miller details how she loved the film's bright colors, ultra-violence, and -- most of all -- titular romance. She’s watched and re-watched it so many times, she admits, that it has ultimately shaped her perception of romantic relationships throughout her adult life.

Atmosphere's Spark Is Herbie Hancock's Future Shock

On this episode of The Spark Parade, Atmosphere’s DJ and producer Ant discusses seeing a live performance of Hancock's instrumental hip-hop classic "Rockit" at age 13, a performance that ultimately led him to become absolutely obsessed with art of scratching. Listen to the full conversation above, and don't forget to like, review, and subscribe to The Spark Parade wherever you get your podcasts.

After catching the live performance, the recorded version of the song (as well as the album it came from, Future Shock) became an all-time favorite for the budding producer. Ant reflects on the personal importance of the track, why it inspired him to master the scratching techniques it displayed, and how strange it was that the song became a hit.

Justin Tranter's Spark Is "Swan Dive" by Ani DiFranco

On this episode of The Spark Parade, Grammy and Golden Globe-nominated songwriter, producer, and activist Justin Tranter talks about feeling completely entranced the first time they heard Ani DiFranco’s song "Swan Dive."

Tranter instantly fell in love with “Swan Dive” and its poetic message of self-empowerment. Ever since, it's continued to shape their taste and songwriting process.

Aryan Simhadri's Spark Is The Devil Wears Prada

Percy Jackson and The Olympians star Aryan Simhadri was a bit skeptical when he first saw The Devil Wears Prada, but he quickly became enthralled with the incredible acting and sharp storytelling. On this episode of The Spark Parade, the actor explains how it wasn't just the glitz, glamour, and fashion that drew him, but the powerhouse that is Meryl Streep.

Max Burkholder's Spark Is Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker’s Airplane!

Ted star Max Burkholder might have been born in the '90s, but the 1980 cult classic Airplane! still resonated with him like few other comedies before or since. On this episode of The Spark Parade, Burkholder gushes about the silly world of Airplane!, a style of comedy that grabbed him and never let go.

The actor admits that, upon first viewing, the performances in the film were so subtle he didn't realize it was a comedy. He's since grown to adore its blend of deadpan humor, slapstick, and surrealism, and it's proven to be a major influence for his work on Ted, a show from another one of his creative heroes, Seth MacFarlane.

Sleater-Kinney Spark Is Patti Smith's Horses

When Sleater-Kinney's Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker discovered Patti Smith's legendary debut album Horses, an artistic earthquake occurred in both of their lives. They were blown away by Smith's fearless, challenging lyrics and melodies and Robert Mapplethorpe's stunning portrait on the album's cover. Horses has remained a constant source of inspiration in Sleater-Kinney's decades long career, as the band has travelled the globe playing iconic venues infused with the spirit of Smith's music and that of her contemporaries.

Be sure to check out Sleater-Kinney's new album  Little Rope, a record that was completed in the aftermath of a deadly car accident involving Brownstein’s mother and stepfather in late 2022, which is releasing 1/19 here!

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