Josh "Socalled" Dolgin: Producer, Rapper, Singer, Pianist, Puppeteer, Composer, Artist

This interview really had to be a longer one because Josh just does so much creatively, and I had so much I wanted to ask him about! We start with his remix of Curried Soul for CBC radio's daily show As It Happens, and circle around to topics (timestamped below) including: sampling, Yiddish culture, changes in the industry from when he got his start selling CDs mail-order to touring internationally and collaborating with many musicians, including the funk legend Fred Wesley, David Krakauer, Kiran Ahulwalia, Itzhak Perlman, Theodore Bikel, writing musical theatre, puppets, art...here's a chance for all of us to get to know the creative force known as Josh "Socalled" Dolgin. (if you're wondering about his stage name, you should watch the NFB movie https://www.nfb.ca/film/socalled_movie/ ) J https://www.socalledmusic.com/To watch the Seasons puppet musicals (mentioned in the conversation): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOjCTYWNwa4

All of these episodes are available in video format as well: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/e6-s2-josh-socalled-dolgin

Help me with a tip? https://ko-fi.com/leahroseman Thanks!

(00:00) Intro

(1:16) Curried Soul remix and Moe Koffman

(5:44) Sampling, hip hop

(13:37) The Socalled Seder album and changes in the industry

(17:46) Di Frosh show Yiddish songs with string quartet

(19:45) Kurt Weill

(21:26) old Yiddish song archives, Yiddish Book Center

(32:55) Tales from Odessa

(43:29) The Seasons Puppet musicals

(46:38) Learning Music

(51:13) Fred Wesley

(1:01) Perspectives on his career

(1:06) Yiddish Culture Cruise and Yiddish Revival

(1:17:20) Josh’s amazing drawings

(1:23) Itzhak Perlman

(1:26:40) Theodore Bikel