He's 6'5", calls himself the " Trin-Brooklynian," and pushing the boundaries in Soca. This week Riss sits down with Taller Dan for one of the most fun, heartfelt conversations Via the Sound has had yet.

They get into his Trinidadian roots and Brooklyn upbringing, the shak shak his father put in his hand at six years old, his love for basketball that almost took him to college, and the moment "Sucka Bag" with producer Boogy Rankss changed everything. They talk carnival culture, why Soca deserves more mainstream respect, a tough lesson learned from a brutal stage experience in Miami, how he move through grief, and his new record "Drop It Down" — which actually carries an emotional story behind it.

What does it look like to build a decade long career in music from college radio to Sirius XM to Tidal; while navigating faith, motherhood, and being a Black woman in rooms that weren't always built for you?

This week we sit down with Tonya Nelson Fisher; a content strategist, music executive, creative storyteller, and author — for a conversation that goes way beyond the resume. We get into her six-year-old self meeting Kirk Franklin and how that moment came full circle, the email she wasn't supposed to see that changed her entire trajectory, what it actually means to program music at scale, negotiating her first six-figure salary with a newborn at home, and why she waddled into a job interview seven months pregnant and got the job anyway.

We also get real about Black women being pushed out of the industry at an alarming rate, whether faith and the music industry are more compatible than people think, and the gospel artists you need to have on your radar right now.

This one hits different. Be sure to give us a follow to stay locked in for more conversations 🖤🎙️

Tonya's Book: My Friend J.C.: A Child's Guide to Understanding the Holy Spirit's Presence https://www.amazon.com/My-Friend-J-C-Understanding-Presence/dp/B0F5XZ3WQ9

⏱️ CHAPTERS

0:00 – Cold Open: Kirk Franklin, God's Property & A Dream Behind the Mic

0:54 – Intro: Welcome to Via the Sound

1:31 – Meet Tonya Nelson Fisher

2:15 – Icebreakers: 3 Emojis & Rapid Fire This or That

4:26 – Kirk Franklin or Fred Hammond?

4:46 – Who Was Tonya Before the Titles?

5:12 – Growing Up: 90s, Black Sit Coms, 90's Girl Groups: Destiny's Child, TLC

7:36 – Mom from Barbados, Dad from Queens: Musical Upbringing

9:32 – Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder & the Car Rides That Shaped Everything

10:23 – Pivoted Dreams to Broadcast Journalism

11:47– College Radio: How "Agree to Disagree" Started It All

12:09 – Sirius XM: From Intern to On-Air Personality

14:07 – Six Years Old at a Kirk Franklin Concert

15:40 - Joe Madison Show

17:16 – The Email She Wasn't Supposed to See (And What She Did With It)

21:27 – What Music Programming Actually Looks Like Behind the Scenes

25:48 – From Part-Time Coordinator to On-Air Co-Host

26:09 – Interviewing Kelly Rowland, John Legend & Bruno Mars

26:24 – From Radio to Streaming: COVID, Burnout & Tidal

30:29– Negotiating Her First Six-Figure Salary With a Newborn at Home

33:25 – Rate the Take: Gospel, Faith & the Music Industry

38:40– Being a Working Mom: Village, Support & Refusing to Shrink

39:34 – Radio Built Fans. Will Algorithms Ever Do the Same?41:42 – Are the Best Music Execs Failed Musicians? (Hot Take)

44:00 – Kirk Franklin Saved Gospel Music for a Generation?46:04 – Emerging Gospel Artists to Watch: Alex Jean, Hobie, Lizzie Morgan

50:15 – Stevie Wonder Story

51:18 – Music Industry Layoffs: The Stats & The Reality

57:07 – "My Friend JC" — The Children's Book Inspired by Her Daughter

1:03:03 – Waddling Into a Job Interview 7 Months Pregnant & Getting the Job

1:07:02 – Closing Gems: Prayer, Journaling & Building a Village

Pod Jingle By: @uyixshane

London born. Harlem raised. Rooted in St. Kitts, Nevis & Belize. Boogy Rankss is one of the most exciting producers in Caribbean music right now and he built his entire catalog in under five years from New York City.

This week, Riss sits down with the man behind "Ba Ba Ben," "Dansa," "Look Back," "No Horn," and so much more. They go deep on growing up between four cultural identities, how he started DJing at a five-year-old's birthday party for $75, the college club room where he quietly made a hit while everyone else was playing games, why COVID was actually a blessing for his career, and what it really takes to produce a record that moves the whole Caribbean.

Oh and he breaks down the three skills you need to be a great DJ. You're going to want to hear this one.

If you've ever loved the Dutty Dutty, Benna, Rudeness, and Vitamin D soca riddims without knowing who made them, now you do.

Chapters0:00 – Cold Open: The Beat That Started It All0:30 – Intro: Welcome to Via the Sound1:38 – Meet Boogy Rankss2:06 – Icebreakers: 3 Emojis & This or That (Caribbean Edition)5:17 – Caribbean Music Going Mainstream or Staying Underground?6:13 – Carnival vs Juve — Where Do You Stand?7:17 – Who Was Boogy Before the Music?8:14 – Growing Up With Four Cultural Identities9:51 – Lil Wayne, Kasav & Everything In Between10:46 – From DJing to Producing: How It Started11:46 – The First Rhythm & GarageBand Moment12:03 – First DJ Gig: A 5-Year-Old's Birthday Party ($75)12:21 – How "Boogy Rankss" Got His Name13:58 – Burning Flames: The Producer's Bible15:19 – COVID, "Ba Ba Ben" & the TikTok Explosion19:23 – How Boogy Chooses Who Gets the Rhythm20:16 – The Studio Mindset: 4 Cultural Identities, 1 Laptop21:48 – "Dansa": From Rugged Rhythm to #1 Worldwide24:39 – The Moment They Knew "Dansa" Was Global25:49 – "Look Back" & the Caribbean Music Award Nomination30:25 – Rate the Take: Soca, Producers vs Artists & Going Mainstream35:19 – Burning Flames Understood Caribbean Music on Another Level36:20 – DJ vs Producer: Two Identities, One Artist37:32 – The 3 Skills Every Great DJ Must Have40:09 – Staying Grounded: Humility, Confidence & Knowing Your Worth41:42 – "Feter" with Hunter & Denise Belfon (Billboard Write-Up!)44:41 – "I Testify" with Dash & the Guava Loop Rhythm46:08 – What's Coming: Barbados, St. Lucia, Grenada & More47:21 – Lady Lava & "No Horn": The Junction Rhythm Story

What happens when faith, dual identity, and a love for Brandy collide into one R&B artist? This week, Riss sits down with Malkalm; New Jersey-bred artist, music exec, and one of the most quietly layered people in the game. From growing up between Nigerian and Sierra Leonean cultures, to dancing at African parties as a kid and pocketing hundreds, to performing at Barclays and touring with Showtime Camp; Malkalm's path to music was anything but linear.

They go deep on what it means to be an artist AND a label exec, how authenticity is the only real marketing strategy, the prophetic moment in church that changed everything, and why his songs literally write themselves in five minutes.

If you've ever felt in between worlds and wondered if that was your superpower, this one's for you.

Chapters:

0:00 – Cold Open: Faith & the Music

0:56 – Intro: Welcome to Via the Sound

1:29 – Meet Malkalm

2:14 – Icebreakers: 3 Emojis & This or That (Nigerian Edition)

6:19 – Who Was Malkalm Before Music?

8:20 – Growing Up Between Nigeria & Sierra Leone Culture

10:47 – Musical Influences: Brandy, Janet, Michael & More

12:11 – Dance as a Foundation

15:00 – The Mercedes Dealership Moment

18:07 – Faith, God & Staying Grounded

19:43 – The Church Prophecy That Changed His Life

22:36 – Dance vs. Music: Which Path Wins?

23:30 – Touring with Show Dem Camp

25:07 – The Double Life: Artist + Music Exec

26:04 – Courtesy of Records & Working in the Industry

27:01 – Keeping Artists Authentic in a Trend-Chasing World

28:49 – Malkalm's Creative Process

29:38 – Why His Songs Come From God

30:47 - Malkalm Salutes His Fellow R&B Peers

32:42- Malkalm's Upcoming Project

34:52 - Malkalm's Still Figuring Out

Pod Jingle By: @uyixshane

Let's get to the route of your sound. 🎙️

Music moves us. But the stories behind it? That's where it gets real.

Via the Sound is where artists, musicians, producers, and music industry creatives get honest about their journey. The identity, the culture, the influences, and lived experiences that shaped their sound before the world ever heard it.

Before there was a genre, there was a community. Before the sound reached you, there was a whole life being lived.

New episodes dropping soon. Follow the show so you never miss a conversation. 🖤

https://linktr.ee/viathesound