As the United States marks 250 years, UNCSA Chancellor Brian Cole asks artists one central question: What does American music mean to you?

Martha Bassett, Ben Folds, Ollie Watts Davis, Justin Poindexter, Aristotle Jones, Eric Slick, Madeleine Peyroux, Steven Banks, Rex McGee, G. Phillip Shoultz III, Mary-Mitchell Campbell and Johnny Gandelsman join the episode to reflect on the sounds, traditions and stories that have shaped the country’s musical identity.

Their answers are as varied as the music itself: American music is a conversation. It is an archive. It is community, reinvention, memory, freedom, pain and celebration shared across generations. As you listen, be sure to ask yourself: What is the sound of America?

Music in this episode includes Ollie Watts Davis singing "Spirituals No. 3, Deep River" with Jupiter Quintet and Stephen A. Taylor as arranger; "The Ascent of Stan" by Ben Folds; "American" by Madeleine Peyroux; a rendition of "Sally Goodwin" by Rex McGee; Mary-Mitchell Campbell playing "Being Alive" on piano; "Over It" by Eric Slick; "Come As You Are" by Steven Banks; "One More Run" by Martha Bassett; Olivia Davis' "Steeped III" from In a Circle Records performed by Johnny Gandelsman; "Streets of Osage" by Aristotle Jones; and G. Phillip Shoultz III, conducting "Redeem the Dream" at a Sing Democracy 250 performance.

"The Arts & Everything" is a podcast by UNCSA Media hosted by Brian Cole. Development producers are Maria Wurttele and Sasha Hartzell. Executive producers are Katherine Johnson and Kory Kelly, and the associate producer is Louie Poore. Creative Design is Alli Myers Gagnon and Digital Strategy is Natalie Shrader. Theme music was composed by Chris Heckman and performed by Chris Heckman, André Vasconcellos, Miah Kay Cardoza and Gabe Lopez.

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