We meet Grammy-winner Anderson .Paak as he returns to lead Jameson Distilled Sounds, uniting over 20 artists from around the globe for a week of collaboration, creativity, and cultural exchange.

Few artists embody the spirit of musical fusion and fearless collaboration quite like Anderson .Paak. A drummer-turned-frontman whose infectious grooves and irrepressible charisma have made him one of contemporary music’s most versatile voices, he’s spent the past decade carving out a sound that is equal parts funk, hip-hop, soul, R&B, rock and utterly unique. Whether winning Grammys for his solo work, locking into an impossibly smooth groove alongside Bruno Mars in Silk Sonic, or turning chaotic jam sessions into polished records, he’s proven himself as both a craftsman and a showman. At his core, though, Anderson .Paak remains what he’s always been: an artist who thrives on connection – with audiences, with his collaborators and with the communities that fuel his creativity.

 

That ethos is at the heart of his latest endeavour with Jameson Distilled Sounds, the global music platform he now leads for its second year. The initiative brings together over 20 groundbreaking artists from across the world – from South Africa to Kazakhstan, India to Portugal – to create music that doesn’t just cross borders but blurs them entirely. Hosted once again in Ireland, the home of Jameson, the program gives artists a week to write, record and perform in unexpected pairings, guided by Anderson .Paak’s trademark mix of humour, energy and hard-earned wisdom.

 

This year also marks a deeper role for APESHIT INC. AKA the polymathic artist’s creative house, which helped curate the lineup and pair artists for collaborations designed to spark the boldest results. The result is a roster that mirrors the global sound of now: Punjabi drill colliding with Parisian trap, Nigerian soul intertwining with Malaysian alt-pop, Kazakh synth-pop finding harmony with Greek vocals. As Anderson .Paak puts it, “It’s not about hits, it’s about heart.” That spirit – playful, experimental and rooted in community – flows through both the sessions and the music now rolling out online through Jameson’s channels.

 

Alongside the collaborations, he led intimate workshops, including his “Sleeve Notes” masterclass breaking down a track from idea to final record. For the artists, it wasn’t just about creating songs but learning from a veteran who knows firsthand the grind it takes to go from banging on pots and pans as a kid to headlining festivals and winning Grammys.

 

We sat down with Anderson .Paak to talk about his musical roots, his philosophy on collaboration, and why building community through music remains the driving force behind everything he does.

Do you remember the moment you fell in love with music? What are your earliest memories of music?

Some of my earliest memories are just being surrounded by sounds: my mom always had Motown, soul, and R&B playing around the house, and I was banging on pots and pans before I could even really talk. The real moment it clicked for me was when I got behind a drum set for the first time. That was like magic, it felt like home. From there, it was gospel in church, hip-hop, soul, funk… All of it fed me.

You’ve gone from drumming in local bands to winning Grammys and collaborating with legends. Looking back, what do you think has been the biggest turning point in your career?

There’ve been a few big moments, I’d say linking with Dr. Dre was the moment when everything shifted. I was grinding, playing drums, working odd jobs, trying to figure out how to keep food on the table for my family. When Dre brought me into those Compton sessions, it changed everything. I still think of those early grind days as just as important. They gave me the work ethic that made all those big breaks matter.

Tell us about how you got involved with Jameson Distilled Sounds?

I’ve been rocking with Jameson for a minute – love the drink, love the vibe. When they came through with this opportunity, it was an easy yes. I’m all about giving back and lifting up the next wave of artists, because that energy is missing sometimes in the industry.

You’ve described Jameson Distilled Sounds as “not about hits, but about heart” – what does that mean to you in practice and how did that philosophy shape the collaborations this year?

For me, heart and community are what make music matter. That’s why coming back for a second year with Jameson just felt right. For the artists this isn’t about chasing some chart-topper; it’s about letting the music breathe and trusting the process. When you go in trying to make a hit, you usually miss. But when you lead with your heart, the creativity flows, and that’s when the magic happens. This year was all about keeping it chill, having fun, and letting the collabs be as pure and real as possible.

Your music always blurs genres – funk, soul, hip-hop, R&B, rock and pop. How do you approach balancing all those influences while keeping your sound distinctly “Anderson .Paak”?

I don’t really think about balancing – it’s just who I am. All those sounds are in my DNA. I grew up on funk, I came up in hip-hop, I love soul and rock… it all mixes together naturally. Then I sprinkle my own sauce on top, and that’s it, that’s the sound.

With APESHIT INC. now playing a central role in curating the program, how do you decide which artists and combinations will spark the boldest results?

At APESHIT INC., we’re all about giving artists room to breathe while still giving them the tools to shine. Originality is key – we want them to push boundaries, not just make songs but level up as artists. For Distilled Sounds, we kept the pairings wild enough to create sparks and let that unexpected energy lead the way.

The creative house seems to be about building a community as much as it is about music. What does community mean to you in your artistic journey?

Community is everything, man. I wouldn’t be here without my circle – the people who kept me grounded, told me when something slapped and when it didn’t. You need that honesty and that love to grow as an artist.

This year’s lineup spans genres from Punjabi drill to Kazakh synth-pop. What was the most unexpected or exciting musical pairing you witnessed, and why did it stand out?

Man, when I first saw Greece and Kazakhstan on the same lineup I was like, “How’s this gonna work?” But when I heard what they cooked up, it blew me away. It was next-level – one of those collabs where you can’t even imagine it until you hear it.

You hosted “Sleeve Notes,” breaking down a track from inception to finished record. What’s one behind-the-scenes detail or lesson you shared that you feel really resonated with the artists?

Me and my engineer Jhair had a blast on that session. I told them straight up, “I get the most creative when things are chaotic.” Some of my best stuff came out of uncomfortable moments, messy sessions, late nights. The process isn’t supposed to be clean or perfect – it’s supposed to be alive. I think that hit home for them.

Distilled Sounds is deeply rooted in collaboration across cultures. What have you personally learned or taken away from working with artists from so many different backgrounds?

Working with all these artists from around the world reminded me why I fell in love with making music in the first place. It’s like getting new eyes – they bring their own styles, their own traditions, their own risks, and it makes me want to experiment too. It keeps me sharp, keeps me curious.

Who are the artists that have shaped you the most personally and professionally?

Stevie, Aretha, James Brown, Prince to name a few.

You’re known for your high-energy live shows. How do you prepare mentally and physically before stepping on stage?

I like to remind myself that every show could be somebody’s first time seeing me. So I gotta give ’em everything. Once I hit that stage, it’s like second nature, I’m locked in, but I’m also having fun like it’s a big jam session.

What excites you most about where music is heading right now, especially with the rise of non-English global hits and the meteoric success of K-pop?

Music’s wide open right now. The world’s smaller, everything’s connected, and talent is popping up everywhere. I’ve been in the studio with Ca7riel and Paco from Argentina recently and that was fire. I want to work with even more international acts: it’s fresh, it’s exciting and it keeps the game moving forward.

What’s next for you?

I love this question because honestly, I never know. I’ve got tours coming, but I’m also diving deeper into film, acting, all kinds of creative stuff. I just keep moving and see where the music takes me.

To experience a little piece of Jameson Distilled Sounds, watch the latest digital performances here.