As a frequent listener of new music, I’m quite familiar with the venn diagram that outlines dope music on one end and critical acclaim on the other. Not often do we see show awards overlap within that dope music component but it’s a blessing when voters/academies get it right. When I heard Brooklyn based Snarky Puppy’s collaboration with Lalah Hathaway “Something” off their CD/live DVD ‘Family Dinner-Volume One’, sonic amazing filled my headphones and it garnered the worldwide media attention it deserved winning 2014’s Grammy for “Best R&B Performance”.

A music fan ever since, my path fortunately recently crossed with Snarky Puppy band leader Michael League at this year’s Art of Cool Fest where I got a chance to ask their Grammy whirlwind, the possibility of an alternative career as a priest, music education funding cuts, new music and Rodeadope’s label philosophy. With a new collab project ‘Sylva’ with Metropole Orkest now available worldwide this week and a full plate of live shows on the horizon, Snarky Puppy’s anywhere but the doghouse. Peep the interview soundclip below and visit Snarky Puppy’s site for more album release and tour info!