dopeYEAH talk
Rob Cass, an Abbey Road producer, hosts conversations with musicians at Prague's Doupě Club. Each weekly episode uncovers the life journeys, behind-the-scenes stories, and songs of inspiring artists. The show offers music inspiration and a closer look at the creative process and magic behind contemporary musicians.
Epizody
Casey Abrams on American Idol Backstage, Jack Black and Learning from Legends
🔥 American Idol Bassist Casey Abrams on the dopeYEAH talk podcast! 🎸🎤From Jack Black belly dancing to jazz tours across Europe, Casey Abrams has lived one of the wildest post-American Idol lives imaginable. 🎤 In this episode of musician interviews on the dopeYEAH talk podcast, Rob Cass dives deep with the multi-instrumental madman to explore his artist journey through jazz music and rock music ali
Rubén Blades & Luba Mason: A Powerhouse with 25 Grammy Nominations and 12 Wins
🔥 Grammy Legend Rubén Blades & Luba Mason on the dopeYEAH Podcast! 🎤🎶What does it take for a lawyer turned salsa legend to earn 25 Grammy nominations, win twelve of them, and still find time for Hollywood and a run for president of Panama? In this episode of musician interviews on the dopeYEAH talk podcast, Rob Cass sits down with Rubén Blades and his wife, singer Luba Mason, one of those rare
Jamison Ross: What It Takes to Sing While Keeping the Beat
🔥 Grammy-Nominated Drummer & Vocalist Jamison Ross on the dopeYEAH Podcast! 🥁🎤What happens when a voice this smooth comes from behind a drum kit? In this episode of dopeYEAH interviews, Rob Cass sits down with Jamison Ross, the Grammy-nominated drummer, vocalist, songwriter, and producer, and one of the rare musicians on Earth who can sing and play drums at the same time and make it look effor
The Grammy Win Nobody Expected: Nicole Zuraitis' Unlikely Story
🔥 Grammy-Winning Vocalist Nicole Zuraitis on the dopeYEAH Podcast! 🎤🏆What does it take to go from a childhood dream of being Whitney Houston to a Grammy Award, with a detour through opera, football, and self-taught piano along the way? 🎸🔥 In this episode, Rob Cass sits down with Nicole Zuraitis, the American jazz vocalist, pianist, composer, and arranger who won the 2024 Grammy Award for Best Jazz
Marco Mendoza: From Thin Lizzy to Satriani & Vai — Playing with Rock’s Giants
🔥 Bass Legend Marco Mendoza on the dopeYEAH talk Podcast! 🎸🎵What does it take to spend four decades holding down the low end for some of rock's most iconic bands — Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, The Dead Daisies, and Ted Nugent — and still sound hungry for the next show? 🎸🔥 In this episode, Rob Cass sits down with Marco Mendoza, the bassist, singer, and song producer whose resume reads like a history
Julian Lennon: Using My Voice for Something Bigger
What if one of the most meaningful moments of your life came in the form of a single white feather? 🤍 In this episode, Rob Cass sits down with Julian Lennon for a deeply personal conversation about music, photography and family. Known for his successful music career, fine-art photography, bestselling children's books, and humanitarian work through The White Feather Foundation, Julian shares th
Marc Ribot: Tom Waits Kept Saying No Until It Sounded Right
What does it take to become the guitarist that Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, Elton John, and countless legends keep calling? 🎸 Rob Cass sits down with Marc Ribot — one of the most adventurous guitarists of the last four decades, with credits on more than 600 recordings.From his early days in a literal garage band to helping shape the sound of Tom Waits’ Rain Dogs, Marc shares stories about Chuck Berr
Yann Tiersen: Beyond the Amélie Soundtrack
What happens when the composer behind Amélie turns out to be a punk spirit who doesn’t believe in inspiration, rejects AI music, and isn’t afraid to say: “If you’re saying art is not political, then f*ck you”? 🎻🔥 In this episode, Rob Cass sits down with Yann Tiersen for a fascinating conversation that goes far beyond the music that made him famous.Yann reflects on the moments that shaped his life
Ray Haller: Before Def Leppard & DIO, There Was Sweet Savage
What does it take to become one of heavy metal’s most influential bands without ever becoming one of its biggest? 🤘🔥 In this episode, Rob Cass sits down with Ray Haller, bassist, vocalist, and longtime driving force behind Sweet Savage, to explore the story of a band that was years ahead of its time.Ray shares memories of Sweet Savage’s early days, growing up in a Belfast shaped by conflict, and w
Al Di Meola: Inside the Mind of a Guitar Legend
What happens when a true guitar legend returns with even deeper stories you’ve never heard before? 🎸🔥 In this second conversation, Rob Cass sits down again with Al Di Meola to dive further into the life and mind of one of the most influential players in jazz fusion.Al shares unforgettable moments from his career — from the acid-fueled concert that led to joining Chick Corea, to creative clashes wi
Simon McBride: What It’s Like Replacing Steve Morse in Deep Purple
What does it take to step into one of the most legendary bands in rock history — and make it your own? 🎸🔥 In this episode, Rob Cass sits down with Simon McBride, the guitarist who took on the massive challenge of joining Deep Purple and stepping into the shoes of Steve Morse and Ritchie Blackmore.Simon opens up about the moment that changed his life, the pressure of his first show with Deep Purple
Simon Oslender: From Piano Prodigy to Playing With Legends
What does it take to have Steve Gadd and Will Lee playing your music before you even hit your peak years? 🎹🔥 In this episode, Rob Cass sits down with Simon Oslender, one of the most exciting rising stars in jazz, to uncover the mindset, passion, and moments that shaped his incredible journey.Simon shares how a deep curiosity for sound started almost from childhood — from being fascinated by anythi
Doug Bogie: The Missing Bass Chapter of Queen
What does it feel like to stand at the very beginning of Queen’s story — and then go on to build a whole creative life far beyond it? 🎸👑 In this episode, Rob Cass sits down with Doug Bogie, the short-lived early bassist who played with Queen before John Deacon, to uncover a fascinating story that most fans have never heard in full.Doug takes us back to the very beginning: from Sgt. Pepper changing
Before Women in Rock, There Was Suzi Quatro
What does it take to become the woman who kicked the door open for generations of female rock musicians — and still sound this fearless today? 🎸🔥 In this episode, Rob Cass sits down with Suzi Quatro, one of rock’s true pioneers, to talk about the moments, risks, and instincts that shaped her into a global icon. From finding her voice as a kid to becoming the first woman to truly own the bass at th
The Advice Every Young Guitarist Needs to Hear – Murray Gould
What does it take to go from playing guitar on a London night bus to sharing stages with legends like Eric Clapton, Joe Bonamassa, and members of Deep Purple? 🎸🔥 In this episode, Rob Cass sits down with Murray Gould, a seasoned session guitarist whose career has taken him from small blues bars to some of the biggest stages in the world.Murray shares how he picked up the guitar at just three years
Nick Fyffe: From Leaving Jamiroquai to Playing with Deep Purple
What does it feel like to leave one of the biggest funk bands in the world… and then walk on stage with Deep Purple? 🎸🔥 In this episode, Rob Cass sits down with Nick Fyffe — former bassist of Jamiroquai — to unpack the wild, honest, and sometimes chaotic journey behind his career.Nick shares how he originally wanted to be a drummer, how discovering Hendrix shifted his direction, and how a simple m
Will Lee: From a Bass “Mistake” to Playing with All Four Beatles
What does it take to go from calling the bass your “biggest mistake” to playing with all four Beatles and holding down late night TV for over three decades? 🎸🔥 In this episode, Rob Cass sits down with Will Lee, legendary member of the Late Show with David Letterman band, to unpack the twists, risks, and unbelievable moments behind his career.Will shares how switching from drums to bass felt like a
How Jay-Z Discovered Infinity Song
What happens when four siblings go from singing in Detroit to getting a life-changing call from Jay-Z? 🎶✨ In this episode, Rob Cass sits down with Infinity Song — Abraham, Angel, Israel and Momo Boyd — to talk about their journey from family choir rehearsals to signing with Roc Nation.We revisit their move to New York, street performing in Central Park and Times Square, and the exact moment they d
Is Mike Dawes Better Than Meola, Emmanuel & Van Halen Combined?
What happens when one guitarist refuses to choose between emotion, technique, and imagination — and instead plays them all at once? 🎸🔥 In this episode, Rob Cass sits down with Mike Dawes, a musician who has reshaped what a single acoustic guitar can do, and quickly moves past chops into the real stories behind the sound.We talk about Mike’s early journey — from wanting to be Slash and playing Smok
Great Music, Zero Fame (And How To Fix It): The Next Movement
🎤 What happens when you mix Swiss precision, deep funk grooves, and a little bit of illegal busking? In this electrifying episode, Rob Cass sits down with The Next Movement — one of Europe’s hottest groove trios — for a wild ride through music, hustle, and reinvention. From running from the police while street performing to tearing up stages across the globe, these guys have lived the kind of stor
European Guitar Quartet: The Beatles of Classical Guitar
What happens when four guitarists connect so deeply that it feels almost telepathic? 🎸 In this episode, Rob Cass welcomes European Guitar Quartet — Reentko Dirks, Thomas Fellow, Pavel Steidl, and Zoran Dukić — for an inspiring and often hilarious conversation about music, instinct, and true musical connection. From the first notes to the last laugh, this is not a typical classical guitar talk — it
Nxdia's Rise: From Cairo to 100M Streams… Without a Label
🎤 From Manchester’s art scene to 100 million streams… without ever signing to a major label. In this inspiring episode, Nxdia opens up to Rob Cass about carving their own lane in the music industry — one fearless, bilingual track at a time. Whether it’s screaming on stage, singing in Arabic, or going viral with a deeply personal song like “She Likes a Boy,” Nxdia proves that you don’t need a label
Timo Maas: Grammy-Nominated DJ Behind McCartney, Madonna & Depeche Mode Remixes
🎧 How did a legendary DJ end up remixing Paul McCartney — and getting a Grammy nomination for it? In this episode, Rob Cass sits down with the iconic German producer and DJ Timo Maas, whose remix of "Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five" earned the approval of Sir Paul himself. From underground raves in the '90s to global stages and superstar collaborations, Timo shares an unfiltered look into his 30+
Fred Wesley: The Funk Legend Shares Untold Stories of James Brown & George Clinton
🎙️ What’s it like to write funk history alongside James Brown, George Clinton, and Count Basie? In this electrifying episode, Rob Cass sits down with the legendary Fred Wesley — trombonist, composer, and bandleader — whose horn helped shape the very sound of soul, funk, and jazz across generations. From sharing the stage with his father to jamming with Pee Wee Ellis and Maceo Parker, Fred tells it
Freddie Mercury: Rare Stories Told by His Close Friends
🎙️ What was it like to be in the room when Freddie Mercury met opera legend Montserrat Caballé for the first time? Or to record “The Great Pretender” with him… in your own living room? In this emotional and deeply personal episode, Rob Cass reunites two of Freddie’s closest collaborators — Mike Moran and Peter “Phoebe” Freestone — for a rare conversation about the real Freddie: the friend, the gen
Judith Hill on Losing Prince, Michael Jackson & Finding Herself
🎙️ What happens when Prince fights a major label to protect your art? In this powerful episode, Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Judith Hill sits down with Rob Cass to unpack the highs and heartbreaks of a life lived in the shadows — and the spotlight — of musical greatness. From Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder to the deep personal connection she formed with Prince, J
Fun Lovin’ Criminals With No Filter: Fights, Fame & Funk
🎤 Ever wondered what really happened between Huey and the Fun Lovin' Criminals? In this honest episode of dopeYEAH, Rob Cass sits down with Brian "Fast" Leiser and Frank Benbini for a no-holds-barred conversation about band drama, brotherhood, and staying funky after 30 years in the game. 😎🔥From the wild early days in NYC nightclubs to touring with U2 and making iconic tracks like Scooby Snacks an
Marc Rebillet: Why I Love Performing Where I'm Not Wanted
🎹 What happens when absurdity meets genius, live and unfiltered? In this explosive episode of dopeYEAH Talk, Rob Cass sits down with Marc Rebillet — the loop-station wizard, viral sensation, and master of musical mayhem. From crafting beats in his boxers to selling out international tours, Marc opens up about life on stage, his improv-first philosophy, and why he thrives in the weirdest, wildest c
Every Freddie Mercury Fan Needs to Watch This | Peter Freestone's Heartfelt Memories
An Unforgettable Journey Inside Freddie Mercury’s World! ✨Imagine having a front-row seat to the life of one of the greatest rock legends of all time. Our host Rob Cass sat down for an exclusive interview with @peterfreestoneoff—Freddie Mercury’s personal manager and the man who knew him best—takes us behind the curtain into the wild, creative, and deeply personal world of Queen’s iconic frontma
VERA SOLA: Dan Aykroyd’s Daughter Talks About Her Hypnotic Music | dopeYEAH talk
What happens when a poet, multi-instrumentalist, and completely self-made artist takes control of her sound? Vera Sola is a mesmerizing musician with a cinematic approach to storytelling and a voice that lingers long after the song ends.From structuring her Peacemaker album around Dvořák’s New World Symphony 🎻 to drawing inspiration from Morricone’s legendary film scores 🎬, Vera’s artistry is unli
Kelvyn Colt: From Sleeping in Hallway to Owning My Music Back - A Story of Unique Entrepreneur Wit
What does it take to carve your own path in the music industry? Kelvyn Colt nows the answer. From viral freestyles to sold-out tours, from breaking into the international hip-hop scene to buying back all his rights—Kelvyn’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. In this episode, the German-Nigerian rapper and entrepreneur opens up about his struggles, triumphs, and the lessons he’s learned along
CHANDRIKA TANDON: From Conquering Business World to Healing Herself and Others Through Music | dopeYEAH talk
Get ready to be inspired by the extraordinary journey of Chandrika Tandon —a trailblazing business leader, philanthropist, and two-time Grammy-nominated musical artist. 🎶 From breaking barriers as the first Indian-American woman elected partner at McKinsey & Company to donating a staggering $100 million to NYU, Chandrika’s life is a testament to the power of embracing one’s talents and giving
Son Lux: Everything Everywhere All at Once - Our Biggest Success Was Also the Most Weirdest One | dopeYEAH talk
Step into the world of Son Lux, the experimental trio redefining music and cinema! Composed of Ryan Lott, Rafiq Bhatia and Ian Chang, this band began as a solo project and evolved into an avant-garde force in music. Known for their genre-defying sound, they’ve left an indelible mark on both albums and films.In this episode, we dive into their creative process, from scoring Everything Everywhere Al
