Quest for Craft, a new digital series created by Questlove in partnership with The Balvenie Single Malt Scotch Whisky, debuts today. The series explores the convergence of craft and creativity, and in episode one, Questlove is joined by Saturday Night Live comedian Michael Che to explore the theme of chaos and discuss how unpredictability and disorder play a role in their respective crafts.
You can watch the full first episode on The Balvenie’s YouTube page
Questlove shares his thoughts on the debut episode, saying “What is chaos? When we say the word, we think of what’s unregulated, uncontrollable, surprising. Most artists and craftspeople say that they want to avoid it. But should they? In this episode, I talk to the Saturday Night Live co-head writer and stand-up comedian Michael Che, and the two of us look at the ways in which chaos can be a fuel for creativity.”
The Balvenie Single Malt Scotch Whisky has been perfecting the craft of whisky making for nearly 130 years, remaining fascinated by the creative processes and deep intrinsic values that elevate something from great to exceptional.
“I share a synergistic passion with The Balvenie on the importance of inspiration, passion and dedication to creativity and the making process. Our partnership is founded on an exploration into creative minds that invest their time, focus, and soul and into creating something singular and distinctive,” said Questlove. “Quest for Craft is about the pursuit of ultimate craftsmanship. In each episode, I dive deep into conversation with creatives who I have admired for their unique perspective, process, and productivity.”
Season One of Quest for Craft:
- Ep. 1 Oct 28th – Michael Che – Questlove and Michael Che chat about how to infuse purposeful levels of chaos into their careers, how it can push you to a new level of creativity and how it can be a key factor in honing your craft.
- Ep. 2 Nov 11th – Jimmy Jam – Questlove and Jimmy Jam connect on meeting their core creative partners at a young age, and chat about how instrumental their creative communities have been in helping them become the artists they are today.
- Ep. 3 Nov 25th – Patti Smith – Questlove and Patti Smith delve into the topic of time as Patti reflects upon her time with Electric Lady Studios, from attending the opening party to going on to record many of her albums at the legendary studio.
- Ep. 4 Dec 9th – Malcolm Gladwell – Questlove and Malcolm Gladwell cover the topic of practice and Malcolm shares the true meaning of his 10,000 hours theory, how it’s been misunderstood in the past and how getting better at your craft can involve going beyond your mastery to take on new challenges.
