The First Time With... Series 36 - 3. Thundercat

THE FIRST TIME WITH... SERIES 36 - 3. THUNDERCAT (320kbs-m4a/139mb/60mins)
BBC Radio 6 Music broadcast: 29th July 2026

Matt Everitt presents in-depth, exclusive and revealing interviews with major artists revealing the pivotal moments and songs that shaped their lives and their careers.

Matt Everitt is joined by bass player extraordinaire Thundercat to share First Times, including how his father influenced his love of rock music, lightsabres, and Erykah Badu.

Thundercat is a bass player – but not just a bass player. He's a Grammy award-winning bass player whose approach, style and skill has shaped contemporary hip-hop, soul, alt rock, and just about everything. He's also a singer-songwriter and producer. His work as a collaborator is incredible, his own solo work is no less distinctive, and his own personal philosophy and approach to life is as unique as his playing.

In this career-spanning interview, Matt and Thundercat discuss his musical life so far. Touching on the musical influences of his parents, his teenage passion for punk and grunge music – there's some Suicidal Tendencies in there – his earliest live shows and how jazz artists like Billy Cobham changed his life… along with career-expanding collaborations with Erykah Badu and Kamasi Washington. All that and the creation of his 2017 breakthrough album Drunk, and wearing a Star Wars outfit – complete with lightsabre – to the Grammys.

A BBC Audio North production for BBC Radio 6 Music.

Thundercat - Dragonball Durag [Brainfeeder]
Vanilla Ice - Ninja Rap [SBK]
Billy Cobham - Total Eclipse [Rhino Atlantic]
Janet Jackson - Come Back To Me [A&M]
Young Jazz Giants - Stephen's Song [Birdman]
Joe Henderson - Inner Urge [Verve]
Suicidal Tendencies - Shake It Out [Suicidal]
Rage Against The Machine - Know Your Enemy [Epic]
Erykah Badu - Honey [Motown]
Thundercat - Walkin' [Brainfeeder]
Thundercat - Uh Uh [Brainfeeder]
Thundercat (feat. Michael McDonald & Kenny Loggins) - Show You The Way [Brainfeeder]
Steely Dan - Aja [Geffen]
John Williams & London Symphony Orchestra - Star Wars (Main Title) [Sony Classical]
Thundercat - Anakin Learns His Fate [Ninja Tune]
Thundercat (feat. Lil Yachty) - I Did This To Myself [Brainfeeder]
Louis Cole & Metropole Orkest & Jules Buckley - A Pill In The Sea [Brainfeeder]