World renowned tastemaker, DJ and presenter, Zane Lowe, is set to host a brand new seven part TV series ‘Soundchain’, featuring live performances and in-depth interviews with some of the biggest and most exciting names in music. Created in partnership with Relentless Energy Drink, the music chat show will premiere on MTV UK’s flagship music channel, MTV Music on Sunday 6th July at 9.30pm, with each 30 minute show focusing on one featured artist.
Ed Sheeran, Kasabian, Queens of the Stone Age, Nas, Chase & Status, Jake Bugg and Biffy Clyro have been confirmed to appear and perform on show.
In a musical landscape where fans rarely gain in-depth, up-close and personal insights into their favourite artists, Relentless Ultra Presents Soundchain celebrates today’s most influential music talent through a mixture of captivating interviews, exclusive live performances and videos. While shining a light on today’s most important new musical talent, these shows also provide a fascinating platform for host Zane Lowe to discuss each artist’s influences and the next generation of emerging artists who they’ve inspired.
Each show in the series will focus on a different artist, telling the story of their personal journey from grassroots to global stardom, the key events that shaped their career and the obstacles they have had to overcome and commitment they’ve made to reach the very top of their game. As well as the inspirations behind their craft and success, each artist will also discuss the next wave of emerging acts who are keeping them passionate about new music, providing a fascinating insight into the musical heroes of the future.
Underpinning the breadth and diversity of musical genres featured on Relentless Ultra Presents Soundchain, the artists confirmed to appear range from across the spectrum of rock, hip-hop and dance. Singer songwriter Ed Sheeran will be performing three brand new songs from his eagerly anticipated forthcoming album ‘x’. Platinum selling Glastonbury headliners Kasabian and electronic dance duo Chase & Status will also be performing live and discussing their musical inspirations past, present and future with Zane. The line-up for the seven-part series is completed by Queens of the Stone Age, legendary rapper Nas, singer songwriter and BRIT nominee, Jake Bugg and Scottish rockers Biffy Clyro. Shows will be filmed in unique studio settings around the world including Los Angeles, London, Slovenia and New York.
Zane comments, “We are going to travel the world looking for the best stories from some of the best musicians around, who will also be giving us some incredible live performances.”
At the press conference regarding this new TV series, Zane opened up about the actual idea behind the interview, “We’re going to concentrate on their journey. It’s hard to sit down with someone like Ed Sheeran and tell him “Ok let’s go back…” because he’s too busy looking forward and everyone is going like let’s talk about the last 6 months… (We’re thinking) well no wait a minute, why don’t we talk about the last 6 years. We just kind of wanted to contextualise the journey and just hear the emotional stuff and the funny stuff and put it all together.”
He adds “When It comes to Soundchain these questions (personal) have to be asked because it’s a part of the story”
Both Zane and Ross Cairns (Director of Soundchain) tried to not give too much away but when asked about each artist/band featured on the first series however, he did say that when it came to Nas “I’m a huge rap fan that was my primary entry point to music. He is a G O D. He’s one of the greats.”
When asked who they want to see at the top of the list to interview in the next series, Ross shares “erm for me? Foo Fighters definitely… maybe Eminem.” Zane answered “I would love to sit down with Skrillex, to go from Rock n Roll/ Heavy Metal artist through to this guy who has won a bunch of Grammy’s for songs which he made on a tiny laptop, I mean that is THE electronic-music story for me”
Zane adds, “I’d talk to any artist whose music represent their personality. With all the artists on Soundchain this series, when you listen to their records, you know that they’re talking about their life, you know that they’re reflecting what they grew up with.”
The show starts on Sunday the 6th of July at 9.30pm on MTV Music.
