When journalist Colleen Harris launched Guitars Of R&B, she had no idea of the kind of tales she would uncover. From Malina Moye playing guitar on the table at an industry dinner, to Ari O’Neal almost missing her break with Beyoncé by not checking her DMs, the series has become a treasure trove. Here, Music Week finds out more…
What was your main motivation behind starting the podcast?
“It came from a deep desire to see better representation in the guitar world. For years, I’ve been going to guitar events and retreats that focused on rock, classical and blues, and they’re fantastic genres, but I couldn’t connect to them in the same way as people who grew up on that music. I was drawn to the R&B and gospel guitarists I followed on social media, and I knew there were others out there who felt the same. I started the Guitars Of R&B YouTube series to spotlight professional R&B players who are excelling in their field, be that a former child prodigy, R&B guitar educators, a pioneer who’s breaking barriers, or touring guitarists playing for top-tier artists like Beyoncé, Lizzo and Tyrese. It’s about sharing their guitar journeys, career highlights, industry insights and advice for aspiring R&B players.”
You’ve had some great guests, but what has been your favourite story you’ve been told so far?
“It’s hard to choose, there’s so many. Malina Moye told this funny story of when she took record label execs to dinner, jumped on the table with her guitar and started playing while they were eating. Marcus Machado talked about catching the eye of Prince, who tweeted this Rolling Stone article naming him as the ‘Best Next Young Gun’ guitarist. Ari O’Neal, Beyoncé’s touring guitarist, almost missed her big break with Beyoncé because she wasn’t checking her DMs and they had been chasing her for months. Also, Kerry ‘2 Smooth’ Marshall shared some great advice he learned from touring with Jason Derulo. Each guest brings something different.”
There have also been some moving moments, did you expect these interviews to get so personal?
“I didn’t expect that. The episode with Juno The Artist was so powerful, so authentic and vulnerable. Hearing Juno reflect on getting to play guitar for her grandfather in his final moments was deeply moving. She has a real gift for connecting with people through music and seeing the light in others. That episode really shows how music is about so much more than skill or performance, it’s about connection, healing and purpose. It’s definitely one of the most moving moments in the series for me.”
How do you think your podcast can help the music industry more widely in terms of platforming the people you’re interviewing?
“I’m hoping it will have an impact that goes beyond diversifying the industry’s recognised talent. In Series Two, for example, we touch on mental health, the financial realities of sustaining a music career as a guitarist and how to build relationships in this industry so that you keep getting the gigs, along with more behind-the-scenes stories of working with some of the world’s biggest artists and entertainers. These are the kind of conversations that can both inspire and prepare the next generation.”
Who would be your dream guest and why?
“If I had to choose just one, it would be Jubu Smith. He’s R&B royalty and one of the most respected players in this genre. He’s played for Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross, Alicia Keys and many more. He also played on one of my favourite songs from the movie Boyz In The Hood, Tony! Toni! Toné!’s Me And You. But I have a list of ‘North Star’ guests including Paul Jackson Jr, who played on Michael Jackson’s Thriller album, as well as albums by Aretha Franklin and Quincy Jones. H.E.R is another one; she’s an incredible musician and songwriter that’s inspiring a whole generation of Black girls to pick up the guitar. I’d also love to interview Nile Rodgers, a living legend and master of rhythm guitar.”
Finally, what’s been the biggest lesson you’ve taken from doing the podcast so far?
“The biggest lesson has been realising how much resilience, energy and discipline it takes to run a podcast alongside full-time work. Had I known what I was getting myself into, I might have talked myself out of it, but I’m so glad I didn’t. I feel so creatively stimulated. Crafting packages is what I loved most about radio when I was at the BBC, so doing that again with video, and using my TV news experience, has been so fulfilling. But the best feeling of all is getting messages from followers saying, ‘Thank you so much’, ‘This is so needed’, or that they’re learning to play but don’t have any guitarists nearby who look like them. One of the keys to learning any instrument is playing songs you know and love and, as they say, ‘You can’t be what you can’t see.’”
