---
title: "Layers Behind The Curtain with Geneva Harrison (Nu Deco Ensemble, Y La Bamba, Rachel Goodrich)"

description: 'Whether she’s touring with Y La Bamba or scoring live stories for WNYC’s Snap Judgment, Geneva Harrison is the kind of artist who breathes life into her work. She’s a world-class percussionist and producer, and a total student of how music connects. I loved her takes on the "elasticity" of rhythm. It’s steady and unsteady. Like a heartbeat. Human and tied to the environment. The culture.'

status: complete

date: 2026-02-03

kind: guest

guestSlugs:
  - geneva-harrison

listenUrl: "https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lovemusicmore/episodes/Layers-Behind-The-Curtain-with-Geneva-Harrison-Nu-Deco-Ensemble--Y-La-Bamba--Rachel-Goodrich-e3egsos"

lmwUrl: "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5njhwXvh45w"
appleUrl: "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/layers-behind-the-curtain-with-geneva-harrison-nu/id1567355195?i=1000747831244&uo=4"
spotifyUrl: "https://open.spotify.com/episode/4N1EPFMJTSrQLKwVF5j0JP"
youtubeUrl: "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfqNBQYfxbk"

topicsDiscussed:
  - "Los Angeles"
  - "Drums"
  - "Mixing"
  - "Brazilian music's cultural significance"
  - "Elasticity of rhythm"
  - "The connection between music and movement"
  - "Joy as resistance in Brazilian music"
  - "Role of percussion in live performance"
  - "The importance of cultural exploration in music"

hostNote: |
  In this episode of Love Music More, we welcome **Geneva Harrison**, a renowned percussionist and producer known for her work with bands like Y La Bamba and Nu Deco Ensemble. Geneva's insights into the intricate connection between music and culture are not only thought-provoking but also deeply resonate with anyone intrigued by the art of sound. We explore the unique elasticity of rhythm, a concept that delights both musicians and listeners alike, allowing us to appreciate the human heartbeat found in every beat.
  
  Tune in as Geneva shares her experiences rooted in Brazilian music, the role of rhythm in connecting with audiences, and the magic that emerges when music is both liberating and grounded in tradition. This episode invites listeners to think critically about how we move and feel together through the power of music.

selectedMoments:
  - label: "Geneva on Brazilian music"
    startSec: 131
    note: "Geneva details her early exposure to Brazilian rhythms and their cultural significance."
  - label: "Emotional connection to rhythms"
    startSec: 289
    note: "She speaks on the dreamlike quality of Brazilian music that connects deeply with emotions."
  - label: "Samba's origins"
    startSec: 367
    note: "Geneva explains samba as a music born from resistance and joy."
  - label: "Rhythm's elasticity"
    startSec: 554
    note: "They discuss how traditional rhythms can be both rigid and flexible."
  - label: "Live performance instincts"
    startSec: 965
    note: "Geneva reflects on the communication between drummers and vocalists in creating dynamic performances."
  - label: "Transcribing vocal rhythms"
    startSec: 1364
    note: "She highlights the challenge and artistry of translating vocal melodies into percussion."
  - label: "Music's role in movement"
    startSec: 2118
    note: "Geneva emphasizes the importance of rhythm in facilitating physical expression through dance."

excerptQuotes:
  - text: "I really love that not just as someone who is a practitioner of music, but the core of it was from listening to music. I love that music puts me in a place where I can dream."
    startSec: 3173
    reviewed: true
  - text: "Samba is kind of at the root of so much Brazilian music... it is a kind of music that came out of resistance to union powers. Essentially, it was born out of slaves escaping their plantations and finding a home where they could... express themselves musically."
    startSec: 368
    reviewed: true
  - text: "I think that's such a beautiful interesting thing of like you get to have kind of a conversation with ancestors with your history with your place."
    startSec: 459
    reviewed: true
  - text: "I think the mix really can change every... whether a song is good or not in some ways."
    startSec: 1874
    reviewed: true
  - text: "Music is such a great channel for all of that... I think it can really help you."
    startSec: 890
    reviewed: true
  - text: "I think there’s so much room for what that means that doesn't need to be bound so tightly to like perfect... it really depends on what the music is right?"
    startSec: 1045
    reviewed: true
  - text: "I think that groove complexity even for the so-called simple rhythms is just underappreciated maybe in the popular sense."
    startSec: 1689
    reviewed: true

faq:
  - question: "What are Geneva Harrison's influences in music?"
    answer: "Geneva credits her exposure to jazz, Latin, and Brazilian music from a young age, deeply influencing her rhythmic style and creativity."
  - question: "How does Geneva Harrison define the elasticity of rhythm?"
    answer: "Geneva explains that elasticity in rhythm allows for a more organic and expressive performance, as opposed to strict adherence to a metronome."
  - question: "What role does percussion play in live performances according to Geneva?"
    answer: "She believes percussion can significantly elevate the energy in live performances, creating a deeper connection with the audience."

transcriptPublished: false

draft: false
---