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Nicolay: Foreign Exchange, J Dilla, and Prince

This episode of Gems with Shom features Nicolay @nicolaymusic , Grammy-nominated producer, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and one half of The Foreign Exchange @feofficial alongside Phonte. @phontigallo

From Utrecht to Okayplayer, from bedroom beatmaking to Connected, Nicolay helped shape one of the most original sounds in hip-hop, soul, R&B, and electronic music.

But this conversation isn’t a typical interview.

Nicolay and Shom go deep on The Foreign Exchange, J Dilla, Prince, Phonte, D’Angelo, Slum Village, keyboard beats, musical space, and the creative risks that helped define his sound.

🎙 In this episode, we dive into:

• The Foreign Exchange, Okayplayer, Phonte, and Connected
• J Dilla, Slum Village, swing, timing, and feel
• Prince, Sign o’ the Times, Camille, LinnDrum, funk, and freedom
• Keyboard beats, musical space, and finding your own sound
• Leave It All Behind, creative risk, and moving beyond traditional hip-hop
• AI, streaming, authenticity, and the future of human creativity

Full episode out now.

#nicolay #ForeignExchange #gemswithshom #musicproduction

Limited edition doubleblack vinyl pressing of @nicolaymusic album “Terra Firma” is available for pre-order NOW via @pourhousepressing. A few signed test pressings are available on a first-come-first-served basis. Link in bio. Est. shipping early September. Thank you for listening! #FEMusic

Limited edition doubleblack vinyl pressing of @nicolaymusic album “Terra Firma” is available for pre-order NOW via @pourhousepressing. A few signed test pressings are available on a first-come-first-served basis. Link in bio. Est. shipping early September. Thank you for listening! #FEMusic

Limited edition doubleblack vinyl pressing of @nicolaymusic album “Terra Firma” is available for pre-order NOW via @pourhousepressing. A few signed test pressings are available on a first-come-first-served basis. Link in bio. Est. shipping early September. Thank you for listening! #FEMusic

Out now on all platforms: “Track Sound”, the first ever soundtrack album by @nicolaymusic containing his complete original score for the documentary “False Positive”. Thank you for listening. #FEMusic

#FESeason 2024 concludes with Come Around (7” edit)/Wonderluv.

The first 7” from our FE Music Private Press singles collection is available now. Vinyl jacket includes printer paper inner sleeve. Estimated shipping: Second week of December.

Side A
The Foreign Exchange feat. @darienbrockington - Come Around (7” edit)
Produced by @feofficial

Side B
Darien Brockington feat. @carlittadurand & @littlebrother_nc - Wonderluv
Produced by @kaelinellis and @_carrtoons_

Mastered by @burnoff.

Order now from @portmerch, link in bio. Thank you for listening! #FEMusic

#FESeason 2024 concludes with Come Around (7” edit)/Wonderluv.

The first 7” from our FE Music Private Press singles collection is available now. Vinyl jacket includes printer paper inner sleeve. Estimated shipping: Second week of December.

Side A
The Foreign Exchange feat. @darienbrockington - Come Around (7” edit)
Produced by @feofficial

Side B
Darien Brockington feat. @carlittadurand & @littlebrother_nc - Wonderluv
Produced by @kaelinellis and @_carrtoons_

Mastered by @burnoff.

Order now from @portmerch, link in bio. Thank you for listening! #FEMusic

#FESeason 2024 concludes with Come Around (7” edit)/Wonderluv.

The first 7” from our FE Music Private Press singles collection is available now. Vinyl jacket includes printer paper inner sleeve. Estimated shipping: Second week of December.

Side A
The Foreign Exchange feat. @darienbrockington - Come Around (7” edit)
Produced by @feofficial

Side B
Darien Brockington feat. @carlittadurand & @littlebrother_nc - Wonderluv
Produced by @kaelinellis and @_carrtoons_

Mastered by @burnoff.

Order now from @portmerch, link in bio. Thank you for listening! #FEMusic

#FESeason 2024 concludes with Come Around (7” edit)/Wonderluv.

The first 7” from our FE Music Private Press singles collection is available now. Vinyl jacket includes printer paper inner sleeve. Estimated shipping: Second week of December.

Side A
The Foreign Exchange feat. @darienbrockington - Come Around (7” edit)
Produced by @feofficial

Side B
Darien Brockington feat. @carlittadurand & @littlebrother_nc - Wonderluv
Produced by @kaelinellis and @_carrtoons_

Mastered by @burnoff.

Order now from @portmerch, link in bio. Thank you for listening! #FEMusic

Out now on all platforms via #FEMusic: @bemyfiasco - Pretty Little Love EP.

Out now on all platforms via #FEMusic: @bemyfiasco - Pretty Little Love EP.

Out now on all platforms: “Terra Firma”, the new album by Nicolay. #FEMusic

Out now on all platforms: “Terra Firma”, the new album by Nicolay. #FEMusic

For your Grammy consideration: @syberspace - “Until We Meet Again”. #FEMusic

Pre-order @carlittadurand - Make Me Stay on vinyl!

This 6 song EP, fully produced by Anikan and Vader, takes you on a journey of two people who quickly find love but realize the distance is stronger than the connection.

Limited edition pressing includes both main and instrumental mixes. 140g color vinyl. 100 copies. Link in bio.

Pre-order @carlittadurand - Make Me Stay on vinyl!

This 6 song EP, fully produced by Anikan and Vader, takes you on a journey of two people who quickly find love but realize the distance is stronger than the connection.

Limited edition pressing includes both main and instrumental mixes. 140g color vinyl. 100 copies. Link in bio.

Pre-order @carlittadurand - Make Me Stay on vinyl!

This 6 song EP, fully produced by Anikan and Vader, takes you on a journey of two people who quickly find love but realize the distance is stronger than the connection.

Limited edition pressing includes both main and instrumental mixes. 140g color vinyl. 100 copies. Link in bio.

Out now on all platforms via #FEMusic: Carlitta Durand - Make Me Stay. Thank you for listening.

Out now on all platforms via #FEMusic: Carlitta Durand - Make Me Stay. Thank you for listening.

Last week on the podcast @nicolaymusic talked with @seandammit about the lead-up to making @feofficial ‘Connected’ with @phontigallo 💜 This week is part 2 with a song-by-song breakdown of the entire album, complete with stems and samples directly from @nicolaymusic’s archives! Do not miss this episode if you are a Foreign Exchange fan! Shout out to @rwviiimusic for piecing together this intensive deep dive. 🙏 Listen to @thequestionshiphop wherever you connect with podcasts @stonyislandpods

The Foreign Exchange has certain formulas…

This is one of the several intriguing (and sometimes humorous) revelations that come from @nicolaymusic & @phontigallo in this week’s QLS with @feofficial

Animation by @fuzethemc @thecoolcreative

#nicolay #phonte #foreignexchange #fe #studio #music #qls

When @nicolaymusic joins QLS in-studio alongside @phontigallo it automatically becomes a special episode with The Foreign Exchange.

This 90-minute conversation is meaningful and significant for many reasons. The discussion covers the 20th anniversary of #connected, and in turn, the 25th anniversary of @okayplayer. Along the way, listeners can learn of Nic’s journey through space and sound, FE’s adherence to their original formula, and so much more.

Oh, and make sure you check out FE’s new two-pack!

Enjoy!

#nicolay #phonte #theforeignexchange #femusic #qls #thatsite #okayplayer

When @nicolaymusic joins QLS in-studio alongside @phontigallo it automatically becomes a special episode with The Foreign Exchange.

This 90-minute conversation is meaningful and significant for many reasons. The discussion covers the 20th anniversary of #connected, and in turn, the 25th anniversary of @okayplayer. Along the way, listeners can learn of Nic’s journey through space and sound, FE’s adherence to their original formula, and so much more.

Oh, and make sure you check out FE’s new two-pack!

Enjoy!

#nicolay #phonte #theforeignexchange #femusic #qls #thatsite #okayplayer