Two Beats Ahead Live!
Two Beats Ahead Live! Is a podcast inspired by the book of the same name, “Two Beats Ahead: What Musical Minds Teach Us About innovation.” In the book we look into the musical minds of entrepreneurial artists and creators like Pharrell, T Bone Burnett, Imogen Heap and Hank Shocklee. When Michael moved to Iceland he was blown away by the ingenuity and creativity of so many people he met. They all could have been in our book too! This podcast felt like the best way to share their stories with the world. Two Beats Ahead Live! Is recorded in front of—you guessed it—live audiences in Iceland. Recording in nontraditional spaces creates an immediate energy that a quiet studio just can’t deliver. The trade off is that you may occasionally hear a passing car, a crying baby or even some microphone interference. But these sounds only add to the vibe and never get in the way of the conversation. If you want to learn more about the creative process, and how creative mindsets lead to entrepreneurial behaviors, then this podcast is for you. And of course, check out our book too, written by R. Michael Hendrix, the former Global Design Director of IDEO, and Panos A. Panay, president of the Recording Academy, presenter of the GRAMMYs.
Episodes
For this special edition of Two Beats Ahead Live! in Reykjavik, Michael speaks with Lóa Hjálmtýsdóttir at Iceland Innovation Week.
Lóa is a Reykjavík-based visual artist, illustrator, and entrepreneur, known for her creative studio Lóaboratorium. Her work spans comics, visual art and design objects that often feature playful, character-driven stories. In addition to her visual art and product design, Lóa is a founding member of the...
In this 10th episode of Two Beats Ahead Live!, Michael speaks with Jóel Pálsson, acclaimed saxophonist and cofounder of Farmers Market, an Icelandic design company and clothing brand. A five time recipient of Iceland’s Jazz Album of the Year, he has performed in concerts and festivals in Europe, America, Canada and China and appeared on over 150 albums with various artists and groups. He is also a graduate of Berklee College of Mu...
In this episode, Michael interviews Haraldur “Halli” Thorleifsson, an entrepreneur, designer, musician, and philanthropist. Halli founded Ueno, a design agency that worked with Google, Uber, Airbnb, and many others and was acquired by Twitter in 2021. A musician before becoming a designer, he put music on hold until 2023 when he launched his project Önnu Jónu Son. Since selling his business, he’s launched a program to build wheelch...
For the eighth Two Beats Ahead Live!, author R. Michael Hendrix interviews Siggi Baldursson, the renowned drummer and music executive, best known as a founding member of The Sugarcubes. He plays a key role in promoting Icelandic music globally, recently as managing director of ÚTÓN (Iceland Music), where he helped launch initiatives like the Icelandic Music Export Fund and the Record in Iceland program.
In this episode, Siggi discu...
In this episode of Two Beats Ahead Live!, Michael Hendrix interviews musician and carpenter, Klemens Hannigan, best known as a member of techno performance art project HATARI, and an accomplished solo artist and sculptor. They discuss the parallels of songwriting and woodworking and the differences between art and design in both practices. They delve into why they appreciate limitations and frameworks, and how identities or brands ...
In this episode of Two Beats Ahead Live!, Michael Hendrix interviews Melkorka Magnúsdóttir, a choreographer, member of synth pop duo, Milkywhale, and cofounder of Iceland Innovation Week, a platform that celebrates and promotes innovation, startups, and entrepreneurial activities. They discuss the rigidness of business culture and how play and joy are necessary characteristics of innovation, a practice which requires belief in posi...
In this episode of Two Beats Ahead Live!, Michael Hendrix interviews accomplished Icelandic fine artist and photographer, Lilja Birgisdöttir, co-founder of Fischersund Perfumery and Art Collective. LIlja takes us on an intimate scent journey through the collective's shop and explains how this multi-sensory experience emerged from a desire to collaborate with her siblings, the most well-known being Jónsi, the singer of atmospheric p...
In this episode of Two Beats Ahead Live!, Michael Hendrix interviews renowned Icelandic choreographer, artist, and designer Sigga Soffia, founder of Eldblóm Elixir. Sigga Sofia shares how her clear understanding of “designing moments” has led to a connected career, from dancer to fireworks designer to gardener to spirits entrepreneur. She discusses the unpredictable nature of Icelandic weather and how it has been key to her buildin...
In this episode of Two Beats Ahead Live!, Michael Hendrix interviews critically acclaimed composer, producer and musician, Valgeir Sigurðsson, co-founder of the Bedroom Community record label and owner of Greenhouse Studios. Valgeir talks about his pursuit of “complementary differences” among his collaborators and his instinct to find interesting creative opportunities where categories blur. He shares the origin of his label as wel...
In this episode of Two Beats Ahead Live!, Michael Hendrix interviews íris Thorarins, a musician and composer who is also the co-CEO of TÝRA, a project management and consulting firm that fosters innovation and creative thinking. Íris shares her own music career journey to embracing mistakes, the value of collaboration, and the self-revelatory power of improvisation. She also tells stories from her business, from supporting election...
In this episode of Two Beats Ahead Live!, Michael Hendrix interviews Pan Thorarensen, an ambient musician, founder of the Extreme Chill Festival and owner of Space Odyssey Experimental Music Space. Pan talks about seeking connections, seeking surprises and the value of building community through creating opportunities for others. He shares the origin of the festival and how improvisational music has taught him that he needs to occa...
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