Nothing Is Easy (feat. Jack White)

Jack White has won twelve Grammys, founded his own label, and is regularly ranked as one of the top guitarists of all time—but, “I’ve never felt like I’ve arrived or felt satisfied,” he tells Hanif. It’s that restlessness and discomfort with success that keeps pushing Jack into new creative territory. In this episode, we talk to Jack about his two forthcoming albums, Fear Of The Dawn and Entering Heaven Alive, and what it means to consistently return to the challenge of making something new—a daunting and inspiring task that all artists face. Plus, Hanif makes a playlist highlighting his favorite vinyl record purchases so far this year. For the playlist of songs curated for this episode head over to https://bit.ly/oos-jackwhite.

 

Music in this episode:
Hi-De-Ho - Jack White, Q-Tip
Party Girl - Linda Ronstadt
Lonely, Lonely - Nancy Wilson
Way Out - Steve Arrington’s Hall of Fame
Emotion - Merry Clayton
You’re Just What I Need - Betty Wright
Talk Talk - Talk Talk|
Let the Church Roll On - Mahalia Jackson

 

Show Notes:

You can check out the final product of Hanif’s reupholstery project on his instagram, @nifmuhammad. Find select Jack White upholstery projects documented here.

Fear of the Dawn is out April 8. Entering Heaven Alive will be released July 22. Catch Jack White on tour across North America and Europe, starting on April 8 and continuing through August. 

Check out Cab Calloway’s 1934 short film Hi-De-Ho. Calloway is sampled on Jack White and Q-Tip’s track of the same name. 

Jack White previously collaborated with Q-Tip on the A Tribe Called Quest album, We got it from Here... Thank You 4 Your service, where he appeared on several tracks as a guest artist.

Hanif has performed in The Blue Room, a performance venue housed inside Third Man Records in Nashville, Tennessee.

Special thanks to Brett and Amy at Spoonful Records in Columbus, Ohio for their hospitality! 

Credits:
This show is produced by work by work: Scott Newman, Jemma Rose Brown, Kathleen Ottinger, Rhiannon Corby, and by Hanif Abdurraqib. The show is mixed by Sam Bair. Extra gratitude to Joe Dawson and Saidah Blount at Sonos.