🎙️ New Podcast Episode of Music Is My Mantra – Episode #42, and it’s a deep dive into music, community, and creative freedom. I’m joined by Mendeleyev — baritone singer-songwriter, producer, and voice improvisation facilitator — whose career has taken him from The Voice (Team John Legend) to opening for Ben Harper, Jackson Browne, and Madison Cunningham, to leading circle singing communities in Los Angeles
Trained by Bobby McFerrin, Mendeleyev blends improvisation, folk, funk, and electronic sounds into storytelling that’s raw, playful, and transformative. In this conversation, we explore how communal singing opens doors to healing, why vulnerability is essential to artistry, and how experimenting with formats (like his album In Waves) can reshape how we experience music
🎙️ Episode Highlights:
🔹 The power of circle singing and carrying forward Bobby McFerrin’s legacy
🔹 How community singing breaks down barriers and invites play
🔹 Stories from Harmonize, his LA-based vocal improv collective
🔹 The making of In Waves and reimagining one song across 15+ styles
🔹 Lessons from collaboration, improvisation, and living in creative “flow”
💡 Takeaways:
🌱 Music is a playground — improvisation reconnects us with joy
🎶 Community and call-and-response can heal self-consciousness
💫 Innovation in format creates deeper listening experiences
🔥 Authentic expression transcends genre and expectation
🎧 Listen now to Episode #42 — “An Improved Life & Circle Singing” with Mendeleyev:
🌐 Website: courtneymckenna.rocks/podcast
📸 Instagram: @courtneymckenna
🎥 TikTok: @courtneymckenarocks
P.S. If you’ve ever wondered what happens when music, play, and community collide — this episode will inspire you to step into the circle. ✨
