Questlove Shares How His ‘Quest For Craft’ Captures ‘Profound & Transcendental Experiences’

What does “craft” mean for you? For Questlove, honing his trade means exploring sonic frontiers and ocular narratives, from drumming with The Roots, researching the definitive Soul Train history, and producing films similar the Academy Award-winning Summer of Soul and the upcoming Dilla Time. For those astatine The Balvenie Single Malt Scotch Whisky, pursuing one’s trade means creating a drinking acquisition that lingers agelong aft the solid is empty. For those who Questlove had successful his and The Balvenie’s The Quest For Craft series, trade tin mean awe-inspiring dance, enlightening essays, and side-busting comedy.

“Moments erstwhile you bask music, food, penning oregon immoderate fig of expressions tin beryllium immoderate of the astir profound and transcendental experiences, arsenic existent passionateness and artistry are needed to make thing extraordinary,” Questlove shares with HollywoodLife. “That level of craftsmanship and bosom is what’s astatine the halfway of Quest for Craft and my continued narration with The Balvenie.”

(The Balvenie)

(Similarly, Questlove – successful his concern with MasterClass – has shared a playlist of “100 Essential Songs You Should Know,” which features likewise minded musicians, each trying to explicit themselves done their music. George Clinton, Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin, and War are conscionable immoderate connected this playlist, cleanable to enactment connected the adjacent clip you unfastened a vessel of The Balvenie with friends.) Like Questlove, those progressive successful the playlist person worked hard astatine their craft, pursuing the creation of euphony to its zenith.

Hopefully, determination volition beryllium different circular of Quest For Craft since the 2nd play featured specified individuals who embody the “profound and transcendental” experiences Questlove spoke of. The play kicked disconnected with Mark Ronson, the shaper champion known for his enactment with Bruno Mars, but who has collaborated with Lady Gaga, Queens of the Stone Age, Adele, and more. Questlove spoke with Misty Copeland, the archetypal African-American pistillate to beryllium promoted to main dancer successful the American Ballet Theatre’s 75-year history. Questlove besides spoke with New York City instauration — renowned writer Fran Lebowitz — earlier closing the play with a chat with Kenan Thompson. Each occurrence focused connected the individual’s trade – music, dance, writing, drama – and what they’ve gone done successful the pursuit of their chosen skill.

Quest For Craft debuted successful 2021. Season 1 featured conversations with SNL head writer Michael Che, legendary songwriter and shaper Jimmy Jam, punk and spoken connection icon Patti Smith, and The New Yorker journalist and writer Malcolm Gladwell.