Anderson .Paak: “It’s less of a feeling and more of a knowing — when something good happens in a session, my spidey senses start tingling.”

Anderson .Paak’s done it all — drummer, bandleader, director, mentor — and, let’s be honest, maker of some of the sexiest music on the planet. Now, for the second year running, he’s steering the ship at Jameson’s Distilled Sounds — a global music experiment blending cultures, sounds, and stories. Earlier this summer, .Paak and his creative house APESHIT INC. touched down in Cavan Ireland, bringing together artists from Greece to Kazakhstan, South Africa to Indonesia.

Mentored by Dr. Dre, raised in Oxnard’s church basements, and fine-tuned on stages around the world, .Paak’s always been about giving people a shot — especially the ones who might not have had that chance otherwise. It’s that same spirit of community and discovery that sits at the heart of FOUND. As our conversation with .Paak wraps, we’ll be turning the spotlight to the emerging artists he’s been mentoring.

You’ve been part of countless collaborations, from NxWorries to Silk Sonic. What makes a project like Distilled Sounds stand out from everything else you’ve been part of?

Community and heart are really at the core of what drives me to make music. That’s why being invited by Jameson to come back for a second year felt so natural. As an artist, it’s rare to be part of a project that resonates with so many different people, so it’s something I truly value.

What does a good session actually feel like for you — and was there a moment that caught you off guard?

The feeling is honestly hard to describe — it’s less of a feeling and more of a knowing. I’ve been making music pretty much my whole life, so when something good comes out of a session, I can sense it. It’s like my spidey senses start tingling. And then I really know it’s good when I get the stamp of approval from my board of women. At Jameson Distilled Sounds, a big moment for me was when the artists remixed my track ‘Come Home’ featuring André 3000. I gave them the stems and split them into groups with different genres: country, ATL rap, folk, punk rock, and more. They only had about 30 minutes, which felt wild, but hearing all the different ways it could be broken down, and then hearing each group put their own spin on it within the genre they were assigned — that was something special.

You've always been tuned into where music's headed - but looking back, who were the artists that really shaped your approach to making music?

D’Angelo was a huge influence, and then getting into more modern voices like Frank Ocean, early Kendrick, Jai Paul, J Dilla, they all completely blew my mind. Stevie Wonder too, of course. With those artists, it was always two things: I couldn’t stop listening, and at the same time I felt like, ‘I need to step up — I’ve got something I want to say too.’ That inspiration pushed me. It’s exciting to hear how people keep finding new ways to approach R&B and soul. James Blake is another one — just incredible.

You’ve explored so many different directions — from the raw honesty of Malibu to the grit of Oxnard, the soul of Ventura, and the escapism of Silk Sonic. When you’re starting something new, how do you decide which part of yourself to lean into?

I really lean into what I’m feeling in the moment. Each album you mentioned reflects the space I was in when it was created and released. For me, every new project has to capture something genuine I’m experiencing at the time, and I just hope that comes through in the music.

Where in the world have you felt most creatively alive?

There are a few places that light me up creatively. New Orleans is magic — the energy at Jazz Fest, the history, the community, the jam sessions — it always takes me back to why I make music. California — Ventura, Oxnard, Malibu — is where my soul is, that coastline grounds me and keeps the fire alive. And some of my most powerful moments came in church as a kid or in those late-night sessions when exhaustion turns into pure inspiration. That raw, unfiltered space is where the magic lives.

You’re mentoring a new wave of incredible talent. What are you learning from the process?

Mentoring a new wave of talent has been eye-opening. You start to see creativity from fresh perspectives, and it reminds me of the excitement of discovery when I was first making music. What’s surprised me most is how fearless some of these artists are, the risks they take push me to think differently and experiment in ways I wouldn’t have on my own. Spending time in nature always helps me reset and approach my studio sessions from a fresh perspective. Add other artists into the mix, and my creative energy shifts entirely — it’s like getting a whole new buzz of inspiration.

You’ve spoken about being present as a dad. Has fatherhood shifted the way you create?

Absolutely. Creating music with my son around, I want to make something he can be proud of — moments where he can say, ‘Yeah, my dad made this.

Beyond the music, you’ve stepped into film with K-Pops! premiering at TIFF and Tribeca. What did it feel like to tell that story on your own terms?

It was amazing. K-Pops! had always been something I wanted to do, and it really felt like a passion project because it tied into so many of my other hobbies. Having my son involved in the whole process made it even more special.

And your second NxWorries album Why Lawd? just won a Grammy. With a headline tour on the way, how does this chapter feel compared to touring solo?

Ayyye! Me and Knxwledge are locked in — that’s really family for me. Touring with him is always such a pleasure, and the way we bounce off each other creates something special on stage. As for what that energy looks like… you’ll just have to keep an eye out and stay tuned.

FOUND’s all about spotlighting under-the-radar gems — what are five low-key spots from your hometown we need to check out?

Can’t go without mentioning my own club Andy’s in West Hollywood. Taisho, Casitas, BLVD, and Toppers Pizza in Ventura County.

Writer: Cherelle Chambers