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by Jess Ellett & Johni Baird
Hosted by Jess and Johni, The Hook features candid conversations with musicians, artists, entertainers, and creatives of all kinds. We go beyond the surface to explore the real stories behind the art — the first spark, the turning point, the doubt, the obsession, and the moments that changed everything.Just like a hook in a song stays with you, every creative has something that grabbed hold and shaped who they became.This isn’t just about what artists create. It’s about why they couldn’t stop.🎙 Interviews 🎸 Live performances 🎣 Real stories behind the craftOnce you’re in, you’re in.
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Send Johni & Jess a text Great music has a story. And we're here for all of it! 🎙️🎸 Go beyond the stage and behind the scenes with The Hook with Johni & Jess! From rising independent artists to music industry legends, we're diving into the stories, struggles, laughs, and unforgettable moments that make these artists who they are. Get a taste of what happens when musicians let their guard down and the conversations get real, featuring clips from Mighty Joshua, Stanley Jordan, Will Kimb...
Send Johni & Jess a text Have you seen the guy on TikTok dancing in his yard while his neighbor plays drums across the street? Meet Ben Guidry — and trust us, there's a whole lot more to this Nashville musician than his viral dance moves! We're coming to you LIVE from Nashville! In this special episode of The Hook with Johni & Jess, we sit down with Ben for one of our funniest, most honest, and surprisingly heartfelt conversations yet! After spending roughly 25 years in Nashville, inc...
Send Johni & Jess a text Virginia roots. Nashville dreams. And a bass-baritone voice made for country music. At just 26, Grayson Walsh is building his place in Nashville with a sound that blends traditional country storytelling, neon-bar energy and a little cinematic heartbreak. Raised in Glen Allen, Virginia, Grayson went from singing in choir to performing with JMU’s Exit 245, studying opera, writing his own music and eventually packing up for Music City to chase the career he knew he w...
Send Johni & Jess a text From dive bars to stadiums packed with 100,000 fans, Mark Damon has lived just about every version of the musician's life. This week on The Hook with Johni & Jess, we're joined by Mark Damon of The Pretty Reckless for an unforgettable conversation about life on the road, the evolution of the band, and what it's like sharing the stage with some of rock's biggest legends. Mark takes us behind the scenes of touring with AC/DC, opening for The Rolling Stones, and ...
Send Johni & Jess a text What happens when film, music and storytelling become more than entertainment — and start bringing people together? This week on The Hook, Johni and Jess sit down with Heather Waters, Founder and Producer of the Richmond International Film Festival (RIFF), as the festival celebrates its 15th anniversary September 22–27. Heather takes us inside the incredible story of RIFF — from launching the festival just one week after moving to Richmond to building it into an i...
Send Johni & Jess a text What happens when a kid raised by opera singers finds his voice in reggae? For Christos DC, the answer became a life that has crossed genres, cultures and continents. From his Greek-American roots in Washington, D.C., to years on the road with reggae legends including Don Carlos and The Itals, Christos has built a career around something increasingly rare: making the music he believes in, on his own terms. On this episode of The Hook with Johni & Jess, Christo...
Send Johni & Jess a text Richmond music legend James “Plunky” Branch joins The Hook with Johni & Jess for a wide-ranging conversation about more than five decades of music, creativity and cultural impact. From his early years in Richmond and time at Columbia University to the evolution of Juju and Oneness of Juju, Plunky shares how jazz, African rhythms, funk, soul and R&B shaped his unmistakable sound. He also opens up about his connection to the early development of go-go music,...
Send Johni & Jess a text What happens when three incredibly talented musicians share a studio, trust each other completely, and set out to make the best music they possibly can? You get JORDAN REIN. In this episode of The Hook with Johni & Jess, Jordan Rein, Peter Wellman, and Maddox Bruce join us for an unforgettable conversation about the evolution of their Richmond-based power trio, their collaborative creative process, and the friendships that fuel their music. The band shares how...
Hosted by Jess and Johni, The Hook features candid conversations with musicians, artists, entertainers, and creatives of all kinds. We go beyond the surface to explore the real stories behind the art — the first spark, the turning point, the doubt, the obsession, and the moments that changed everything.Just like a hook in a song stays with you, every creative has something that grabbed hold and shaped who they became.This isn’t just about what artists create. It’s about why they couldn’t stop.🎙 Interviews 🎸 Live performances 🎣 Real stories behind the craftOnce you’re in, you’re in.
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