He's not normally in front of the camera. He's usually behind the kit, making everything feel right. Building the rhythms. This week Jaylen K. Petinaud joins us and share his journey with Riss.

One of the most sought-after drummers working today, Jaylen has played Broadway as principal drummer for Alicia Keys' Grammy and Tony Award-winning Hell's Kitchen, toured the world with 14 time Grammy winning Jazz musician Herbie Hancock, made his Broadway debut in Camille A. Brown's revival of For Colored Girls, and got his first real gig at 21, a live album recording for Nicole Bus at Roc Nation.

This week they get into his Jamaican roots, growing up as a pastor's kid with music in his DNA, the NBA dream that died when he was younger, picking up sticks at seven years old in church and how Producer Mondays at NuBlu cracked open the industry door. Jaylen also shares phone call from Herbie Hancock that shifted it all.

They also get real about losing his father, nearly losing his motivation, and how music, family and community pulled him through.

Jazz is in good hands with people like Jaylen. - Herbie Hancock He's not wrong. 🥁🖤

Chapters

0:00 – Cold Open: Has There Ever Been A Moment You Second guessed This?

1:04 – Intro: Welcome to Via the Sound

1:29 – Meet Jaylen K. Petinaud

4:12 – Who Was Jaylen Before the Music? [Wrestling, Basketball & Karate]

4:48 – The NBA Dream & Why It Didn't Happen

6:23 – LaGuardia High School: Where It All Clicked6:42 –The Moment Drums Found Him

9:11 – His Father: Minister of Music, Role Model & Everything

9:56 – Jamaican Roots: Bob Marley

11:01 – How Reggae & The One Drop Shaped His Sound

12:05 – Academia vs Raw Talent: Does School Matter?

13:16 – What He Learned at LaGuardia & Purchase College

14:49 – Welcome to the Industry: Ray Angry, Producer Mondays & NuBlu

17:03 – Getting Signed: Starfruit Management

18:09 – You Need a Team: Being Grounded Beyond the Music

18:35 – The Camille A. Brown Relationship: How It Started

19:50 – Broadway Debut: For Colored Girls Revival (2022)

20:10 – Original Drum Arrangements & Getting Credit for His Work

20:28 – How Hell's Kitchen Happened: Alicia Keys Production

21:00 – "How Do You Feel About Working With Alicia Keys?"

23:51 – Has There Ever Been a Moment You Second guessed All of This?24:05 – Losing His Father: Turning the Page

26:20 – What Keeps Him Grounded: Gospel Music Feels Like Home

26:39 – A PK Kid Who Questioned God After His Father Passed

27:22 – Favorite Gospel Artists

29:06 – The Herbie Hancock Phone Call

29:40 – From Kenny Garrett Tour to the Met Opera to Herbie in One Week

32:35 – What Herbie Says About His Playing

34:17 – What Legacy Looks Like

36:12 – Closing: Thank You & A Surprise Album Tease?────────────────────────────

🎵 Podcast Jingle By: @uyixshane

All Rights Reserved 2026 © VIA THE SOUND⚠️ This content may not be reproduced, redistributed, or monetized without written permission. Unauthorized use will be reported and may result in copyright claims or legal action.

✅ Follow Via the SoundIG:@viathesoundTikTok:@viathesound

She grew up Seventh Day Adventist in the Bronx, declared herself an atheist at 18, found God in a college dorm room with no altar call and no fancy light; just a room, a few people, and a prayer. Then she ran. To Tennessee. To Spain. Back home. Until 2020, when she finally surrendered. And everything changed.Bronx born, Puerto Rican and Dominican, worship artist Diana Marie sits down with Riss for one of the most vulnerable, Spirit-filled, laugh-out-loud conversations Via the Sound has ever had. They get into her battle with anxiety, depression and late-diagnosed ADHD, why her journal entries became her debut project, what it actually means to know God, and the night "All Sufficient One" went viral.They also talk about how she ended up in the studio with Israel Houghton & New Breed after saying no, performing Spanish worship at the Dove Awards. Diana has a the new live album on the way! Oh — and Diana coins a new genre Lol 🤍🎙️⏱️ CHAPTERS 0:00 – Cold Open: From Whisper to All Sufficient One 1:11 – Meet Diana Marie: Bronx Born, Spirit Led 7:07 – Who Was Diana Before Christ? Depression, Anxiety & Searching 8:23 – Pausing to Pray9:43 – Growing Up Seventh Day Adventist in the Bronx 10:32 – Proximity to Jesus Doesn't Mean You Know Him 11:26 – Hispanic SDA vs African-American SDA13:09 – Discovering Gospel at 1915:09 – 18, Alone & Away From Home: The Season That Changed Everything 16:48 – Self-Proclaimed Atheist, Depression Magnified & Searching She 24:01 – The Danger of Being Platform Too Soon 25:08 – Her Jonah Season28:04 – Surrender Unlocked Everything 33:38 – First Song She Ever Wrote: Better Days (From the Depression) 34:13 – Sanctification Is a Process35:52 – Late Diagnosed ADHD & Mental Health38:32 – Journals: How Journal Entries Became Her Debut Project 42:52 – The Genre She Just Coined 👀 44:51 – All Sufficient One: The Creation 45:39 – The Night in Atlanta53:15 – Her Worship Inspirations/Mount Rushmore: Stephanie Gretzinger, Naomi Raine & Abby Gamble 1:03:50 – Israel Houghton & New Breed: How She Got the Call1:10:23 – Spanish Music at the Dove Awards During THIS Climate. 1:12:00 – What She Wants Her Legacy to Be for Emerging Worshippers 1:14:37 – What's Next: A Live Album────────────────────────────────────All Rights Reserved 2026 © VIA THE SOUND⚠️ This content may not be reproduced, redistributed, or monetized without written permission. Unauthorized use will be reported and may result in copyright claims or legal action.✅ Follow Via the SoundInstagram: @viathesoundTikTok: @viathesoundLISTEN & WATCH MORE:🔔 Follow!Want to see more awesome conversations?Subscribe and hit the bell button to get new videos coming your way!💼 Collaborate📧: hello@viathesound.com

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