Episode 199

Amplifying the Culture: Queue Points Live from Banjee Boombox '25

Experience the energy of Atlanta’s Banjee Boombox '25 with Queue Points! In this special bonus episode, we dive into the spirit of a woman-led QTBIPOC festival collective devoted to creating safe spaces for women, gender expansive, and sexually diverse artists.

Our hosts connect with festival guests and tackle the big questions shaping Black music and creative culture today:

  • Gospel’s Influence: Is gospel music still shaping mainstream Black music, or has its impact faded? Tyree Parks explains why the foundation of gospel remains vital, sharing stories about music legends developed in the church and the spiritual depth their roots provide.
  • Creativity & Burnout: Podcasting icon Keisha 'TK' Dutes shares her journey through creativity, burnout, and healing—exploring how gospel and house music function as cultural family ties and why vulnerability in storytelling matters for marginalized creators.
  • Streaming & Quality: Corey Gumbs, founder of the Black Podcasters Association, gives insight into streaming’s impact on artistry, the challenges of the digital vs. analog divide, and the ongoing struggle for quality in an era of constant content creation.
  • Access & Inclusion: Multidisciplinary creative Jasmin Benward discusses the art and process of music supervision, the importance of inclusion in media, and how platforms like Banjee Boombox open doors for new voices.

Packed with honest conversation, industry wisdom, and fresh perspectives, this episode amplifies the culture and celebrates creators making a difference. Tune in for an inspiring look at music, community, and possibility—from the heart of Atlanta’s creative scene.

Featured Guests

Tyree Parks

Keisha ‘TK’ Dutes: https://www.instagram.com/tastykeish/

Corey Gumbs: https://www.instagram.com/coreygumbs/

Jasmin Benward: https://www.instagram.com/writeonjas/

Check Out More Banjee Boombox Content Here: https://partnerships.queuepoints.com/banjee-boombox-2024/

Chapter Markers

00:00 Introduction to Episode

01:10 Tyree Parks on Gospel Music's Influence

02:59 Keisha 'TK' Dutes on the link between Gospel and House Music as well as 'The Secret Life of TK'

07:26 Corey Gumbs on Streaming and Music Quality

09:12 Jasmin Benward: The Role of a Music Supervisor

14:19 Jasmin Benward on Banjee Boombox as an Important Platform for Creatives

16:21 Outro

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Transcript
Jay Ray:

What's up everybody?

Jay Ray:

Welcome to this bonus episode of Queue Points.

Jay Ray:

In August of 2025, Queue Points had the opportunity to participate as the

Jay Ray:

featured podcast at Banjee Boombox.

Jay Ray:

Banjee Boombox is a woman led QTBIPOC Festival collective committed to

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creating safe spaces for women, gender expansive and sexually diverse artists.

Jay Ray:

This year, Banjee Boombox was held in Atlanta, and we were so happy to pull up.

Jay Ray:

We had two tables, we had giveaways, and we had a special bonus Queue

Jay Ray:

Points episode that folks could listen to while they were in the space.

Jay Ray:

We want to give a special shout out to Tyree Parks.

Jay Ray:

Ty, actually came through to help Queue Points out, but Ty also sat down for

Jay Ray:

an onsite interview to respond to the statement that we had at the table.

Jay Ray:

'Gospel music no longer influences mainstream black music.

Jay Ray:

Sit down and change our minds." Here's what Ty had to say.

Sir Daniel:

Alright, so we're here at Banjee Boombox, and

Sir Daniel:

I'm sitting here with Ty.

Sir Daniel:

Ty, you want to change my mind about this question or you have a response?

Ty:

Well, I feel like as far as the question, um, I agree with it.

Ty:

I think that, uh, it affects the readiness of artists today because

Ty:

you think of artists like even Whitney Houston, even coming up some, um,

Ty:

Fantasia, you, you, you have to be ready.

Ty:

To go into the music and do and perform it.

Ty:

And I think without the influence of gospel, artists aren't ready to do that.

Ty:

And they have only can go in the studio and do 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 takes when in reality

Ty:

it, it didn't used to be like that.

Ty:

And then just the way you feel it brings that feeling.

Ty:

Of emoting emotion from other people

Ty:

and you just don't feel that anymore.

Ty:

That's my take on it.

Sir Daniel:

But what if, what if I can't, I can't sing like Whitney but I like other

Sir Daniel:

artists that I know I could sing like?

Ty:

As, as far as the artist trying to get out there.

Sir Daniel:

Yeah.

Ty:

Well you, you have to have that talent.

Ty:

I mean,

Ty:

it, it, I mean, I know some people out said that don't really have

Ty:

that talent and then they get people to, they, um, studio up their voice

Ty:

and, and doctor it out, but I think that that's what people don't feel.

Ty:

You have to, you have to have that something.

Ty:

Which lends itself to listening to gospel music being brought up in

Ty:

gospel music being brought up, thinking gospel music in front of people in

Ty:

front of the church and congregations.

Ty:

That's where it comes from.

Jay Ray:

Our next guest is a podcast legend who stopped by to

Jay Ray:

answer the same question as Ty.

Jay Ray:

Keisha 'TK' Dutes sat down with us to respond to the statement 'gospel music

Jay Ray:

no longer influences mainstream black music,' but we also spent a few minutes

Jay Ray:

with TK talking about her new podcast.

Jay Ray:

Take a listen.

Sir Daniel:

Alright, we're chilling here.

Sir Daniel:

And banjo, boombox and I got the icon herself.

Sir Daniel:

TK in the building.

TK:

Lemme take my earrings off of this.

TK:

Hold up.

TK:

Shit got real.

TK:

Shit.

TK:

Got real.

TK:

I don't wanna fight.

TK:

I wanna love, you know what I'm saying?

TK:

Yeah.

TK:

Hold up.

TK:

There we go.

TK:

Now we on the air.

Sir Daniel:

All right, so we got TK in the building, so change my mind.

Sir Daniel:

Tk?

Sir Daniel:

Yeah,

TK:

right here.

TK:

The yes.

TK:

Gospel music no longer influences his mainstream black music.

TK:

I don't know if I can change the mind.

TK:

Okay.

TK:

But I can say that I,

TK:

gospel music for me is a cousin of siblings to house music.

TK:

And if house music is still propping in our black communities, it's

TK:

feeding gospel of feeding into that.

TK:

So I don't think I can change your mind.

TK:

I think I probably agree with you, you know, but it's like,

TK:

it, it's feeding into it.

TK:

I don't think a lot of people know that it's gospels come, it's, you

TK:

know, like where it's coming from.

TK:

So it's not gonna have the influence 'cause they don't know the roof.

Sir Daniel:

Mm-hmm.

Sir Daniel:

So while Little did, did you know that CK flew in all the way from New York Right.

Sir Daniel:

For Bull Box and it's, this is rare.

Sir Daniel:

I don't get to see her at maybe once a year.

Sir Daniel:

Yeah.

Sir Daniel:

At um, at, um, Afros and audios.

Sir Daniel:

Yeah.

Sir Daniel:

So this is a treat for me to be sitting face to face with

Sir Daniel:

you and to have you on the mic.

Sir Daniel:

Thanks.

Sir Daniel:

So while you're here, I need you to tell us everything that you've

Sir Daniel:

got going on, man, because I know you have, you're on a new journey.

TK:

Yeah.

TK:

New journey for me.

TK:

Um, I've been yelping, people make podcast for so long.

TK:

I have my own radio show with my co um, my creative partner conscious.

TK:

But there's something about having your own, own, own, own podcast.

TK:

Yes.

TK:

Where the thing is your storytelling, your thing, but also you're the I'm the thing

Sir Daniel:

the ap.

Sir Daniel:

Yes.

Sir Daniel:

I'm the thing.

Sir Daniel:

Yes.

TK:

So I'm feeling real vulnerable right now, and, and it is vulnerable.

TK:

The whole, the topic, it's my healing gurney, you know,

TK:

of course, burnout, grease,

Sir Daniel:

the burnout is real,

TK:

the burnout is real, and the way it affects us marginalized people, also black

TK:

women, also, just every category, Sam.

TK:

Yeah.

TK:

Yo, I'm, I have to reckon with that.

TK:

So this is where I put it all

Sir Daniel:

real.

Sir Daniel:

I put it out there, you know, I've been, you know how you see things in

Sir Daniel:

passing, like in social media or whatnot?

Sir Daniel:

I'm saying like, do I have a DH, adhd?

Sir Daniel:

Child, but a friend of mine told me that it, that can come from burnout as well.

Sir Daniel:

Yeah.

Sir Daniel:

Like those symptoms, those not being able to concentrate, not being able

Sir Daniel:

to, you know, have the energy to, you know, you have stuff to do.

Sir Daniel:

Yeah.

Sir Daniel:

And it's like, okay, I gotta push myself to do this.

Sir Daniel:

Being forgetful.

Sir Daniel:

Yes.

Sir Daniel:

All of those things.

Sir Daniel:

I've dealt with it also, so I'm like, I'm, it's a symptom.

Sir Daniel:

I'm here with you all that.

Sir Daniel:

Do

TK:

we have this thing or do we don't?

TK:

Either way we have the symptom of something larger.

Sir Daniel:

The,

TK:

the world is telling us that like.

TK:

We can't contend with it.

TK:

Right.

TK:

So what do you do?

TK:

You are like, yo, I have to fall all the way back.

TK:

Mm-hmm.

TK:

I have to actually think about, do I wanna stay in this professionally?

Sir Daniel:

Okay.

Sir Daniel:

Yeah.

TK:

Um, and I'm gonna just be super honest, like, this might,

TK:

this might be the thing that I try and then, and then I'm done.

Sir Daniel:

Okay.

Sir Daniel:

Try,

TK:

you know what I'm saying?

TK:

Gotcha.

TK:

Sometimes you say, okay, if I'm not feeling the love.

TK:

I'll try one more thing, you know?

TK:

Yeah.

TK:

This is us doing a couples therapy, me and Po Me and the podcast.

TK:

I

Sir Daniel:

love that analogy.

Sir Daniel:

Yeah.

Sir Daniel:

So please tell us about before you go Yeah.

Sir Daniel:

Tell us the name of the podcast and when we can expect it with Yeah.

Sir Daniel:

Dropping all of that good stuff.

Sir Daniel:

Yo, it's called The

TK:

Secret Life of TK, um, journey through my creativity, my burnout,

TK:

my grief, my joy, all that stuff.

TK:

The flea view to the whole show just dropped the other j Oh, wow.

TK:

So you can get a taste of it everywhere.

TK:

Uh, that you can hear podcast and it's coming in fall 2025.

TK:

So it's around the corner?

Sir Daniel:

Yes.

TK:

And it's, I don't have no timeline 'cause I'm in charge.

TK:

I do whatever want what I want fam

Sir Daniel:

you the boss.

TK:

Fall, fall 2025.

TK:

This is no fall.

Sir Daniel:

You the boss.

TK:

Thank you fam.

TK:

And thank

Sir Daniel:

you for staying stopping by.

Sir Daniel:

I appreciate you.

Sir Daniel:

Love you.

TK:

Love you too.

Sir Daniel:

Alright.

Sir Daniel:

Peace.

Jay Ray:

We had another legend stop by the table.

Jay Ray:

Corey Gumbs, founder of the Black Podcasters Association, stopped by to

Jay Ray:

respond to the statement that we had on the table at the time, 'the rise

Jay Ray:

of streaming has harmed the quality of music being produced today.'

Jay Ray:

Check out what Corey had to say.

Jay Ray:

Banjee Boombox fam.

Jay Ray:

We are here in Atlanta, and sitting across from me, I have the founder of the

Jay Ray:

Black Podcasters Association, Corey Gums.

Jay Ray:

Corey, the rise of streaming has harmed the quality of music being produced today.

Jay Ray:

Do you believe that?

Corey Gumbs:

Yes and no.

Corey Gumbs:

Okay.

Corey Gumbs:

Um, I think because the way the streamings ecosystem is set up, yes.

Corey Gumbs:

It harms the quality because people have to constantly keep putting out music.

Jay Ray:

Ah, yes.

Corey Gumbs:

And they, it is not taking time to really produce a song.

Corey Gumbs:

You know, um, and I think that's part of the problem sonically.

Corey Gumbs:

I know some people like the analog sound, the, you know, that dirty sound.

Corey Gumbs:

Mm-hmm.

Corey Gumbs:

Digitally, I, I mean, being a producer and a music pad, I don't really care.

Corey Gumbs:

Okay.

Corey Gumbs:

I like, I like, um, I like the, the sound surround sound aspect of it and all that.

Corey Gumbs:

So for me, that's not that big of a deal, but I think the streaming business is

Corey Gumbs:

going to hurt the quality of the music.

Jay Ray:

Yeah.

Corey Gumbs:

Um, you know, with.

Corey Gumbs:

I, because now artists are constantly just putting out music to, to meet,

Corey Gumbs:

meet those album, those album deals.

Jay Ray:

Yeah.

Corey Gumbs:

Um, people are copying 'cause it's so easy to put it out and stream it.

Jay Ray:

Yes.

Corey Gumbs:

Versus the whole process that we used to go through

Corey Gumbs:

with a and r and music structuring songs and all that stuff.

Corey Gumbs:

So that's why I feel like it hurts the business side of things.

Jay Ray:

Banjee Boombox featured a lot of amazing special guests,

Jay Ray:

and one of them was Jasmin Benward.

Jay Ray:

Jasmin Benward is an artist, author, multidisciplinary writer, singer,

Jay Ray:

songwriter, and a music supervisor.

Jay Ray:

Jasmin sat down for an interview with us where we got to talk a little bit

Jay Ray:

about what a music supervisor does.

Jay Ray:

What types of projects she has worked on and what types of projects

Jay Ray:

she'd be really excited to work on.

Jay Ray:

Take a listen to the conversation.

Sir Daniel:

Alright, so Queue Points podcast is on location here in Atlanta.

Sir Daniel:

Jay Ray is not via internet.

Sir Daniel:

He's sitting right next to me and we are here live at Banjee Boombox,

Sir Daniel:

live from Buckhead Art and Co. Here in the middle of Buckhead, Atlanta.

Sir Daniel:

And Jay Ray, we have a special guest.

Sir Daniel:

We do.

Sir Daniel:

We have a special guest that took some time to sit down and talk with us.

Sir Daniel:

She's a very busy woman.

Sir Daniel:

We have Jasmin Benward, music supervisor.

Sir Daniel:

We want to talk to you because you're a storyteller in your own right.

Sir Daniel:

Yeah.

Sir Daniel:

The music, if you ask me, and I'm sure others will agree.

Sir Daniel:

It is just as important as a character as the main leads of the show.

Sir Daniel:

Right.

Sir Daniel:

So tell our listeners just a little bit about what a music supervisor does.

Sir Daniel:

Mm-hmm.

Jasmin Benward:

For sure.

Jasmin Benward:

Um, the music supervisor is, um, usually brought on in

Jasmin Benward:

post and they're a key player.

Jasmin Benward:

Um, what they do is they're responsible for the clearances of a project.

Jasmin Benward:

Not only do they have to source, they may do it, um, amongst the team, but they have

Jasmin Benward:

to source the music, um, for the project.

Jasmin Benward:

And then they also have to get the clearances for it and

Jasmin Benward:

do the administrative work.

Jasmin Benward:

So there's the creative side, but then there's also the administrative side.

Jay Ray:

Wow.

Jay Ray:

Mm-hmm.

Jay Ray:

That, that's actually a really good point because, 'cause how

Jay Ray:

there's an arc to it, right?

Jay Ray:

So there's the business side of things, but there's an arc to figuring out.

Jay Ray:

What songs are the right fit for the right projects in the right moments?

Jay Ray:

What's that process like for you?

Jay Ray:

Yeah,

Jasmin Benward:

it changes with every project, but I love it so much.

Jasmin Benward:

Usually I'm working with clients and they'll give me a brief, or it depends.

Jasmin Benward:

Sometimes I'll have only the scripts or I'll have, they may

Jasmin Benward:

know already, so they may give me what's called tonal references.

Jasmin Benward:

But I may be the one providing it to them.

Jasmin Benward:

If they're not sure.

Jasmin Benward:

They may say, oh, my world takes place in New York, um, and it's modern

Jasmin Benward:

day and I want an eclectic sound.

Jasmin Benward:

And I'm like, say less.

Jasmin Benward:

And so.

Jasmin Benward:

My first instinct is to find, um, local artists that I can

Jasmin Benward:

work with because why would I not have their voices in this space?

Jasmin Benward:

And so there's that.

Jasmin Benward:

But then, um, you know, just taking into account what it means to

Jasmin Benward:

be in that world, the tone, the mood, how they want it to feel.

Jasmin Benward:

Um.

Jasmin Benward:

If they wanna do anything like niche, that's sonic, um, I'm taking all

Jasmin Benward:

those things into consideration.

Jasmin Benward:

Is it, is it, um, a period piece, like, you know, it, it could really, um,

Jasmin Benward:

determine like which direction I go to.

Jasmin Benward:

Um, but I love to draw things from like my own personal

Jasmin Benward:

collection of things that I love.

Jasmin Benward:

While also bringing new voices and new talent into this space.

Jasmin Benward:

Um, and so I'm always pitching, um, throughout the entire process,

Jasmin Benward:

I'm pitching like, okay, what do you think about this artist?

Jasmin Benward:

Have you heard about them?

Jasmin Benward:

Um, how do you feel about that?

Jasmin Benward:

And they're, they're like, blown away.

Jasmin Benward:

And so.

Jasmin Benward:

Um, so far it's been, it's been good.

Jasmin Benward:

Um, on one of my more recent projects, it was really cool because I got a chance

Jasmin Benward:

to work in a DAW myself and like, um, make sure that I did the time stamps

Jasmin Benward:

and got those over to the sound editor.

Jasmin Benward:

But I had the picture, um, which was really good because I don't always have

Jasmin Benward:

each episode and they were handing it off.

Jasmin Benward:

And so it's like.

Jasmin Benward:

Okay, um, picture lock and then it's like, okay, you go ahead and get

Jasmin Benward:

your stamps, source this music, place it, put it where it needs to go.

Jasmin Benward:

You, you give notes, you hand it over to song editor and it was

Jasmin Benward:

just, the turnover was crazy.

Sir Daniel:

Love that.

Sir Daniel:

So you mentioned periods, so I know you, you, you have a eclectic background

Sir Daniel:

as far as the music is concerned.

Sir Daniel:

If you were asked to work on a piece Oh, from a specific time period?

Sir Daniel:

Oh, I was talking like sixties, seventies, eighties, nineties.

Sir Daniel:

Like if you said, oh, you know what I want to do?

Sir Daniel:

Oh, where would you land, Jasmine?

Jasmin Benward:

Okay.

Jasmin Benward:

I am obsessed with the seventies.

Jasmin Benward:

I obviously was not around yet, but it's like some of the best music, the style,

Jasmin Benward:

the, the activism that was going on.

Jasmin Benward:

Just so much flavor and so I would love to do that.

Jasmin Benward:

But then in terms of like genre, um, I would love to do a western, Ooh,

Jasmin Benward:

I really wanna do a Western Uhhuh.

Jasmin Benward:

Yeah,

Sir Daniel:

I would love, I would love to hear that.

Jay Ray:

Yeah.

Jay Ray:

Uh, I love snow.

Jay Ray:

Um.

Jay Ray:

Ja, before we let you go, we are here at Fan g Bullock in Atlanta.

Jay Ray:

From your perspective, why is it important that platforms like this

Jay Ray:

exist for podcasters, for musicians?

Jay Ray:

Why is that important?

Jasmin Benward:

Ooh, um, access and inclusion, um, liquid is on the

Jasmin Benward:

same, on the same wave that I am.

Jasmin Benward:

We, we met at glad and so we've kept in contact.

Jasmin Benward:

But, um, there's just so much inequity in terms of information and so, and, um,

Jasmin Benward:

we like to get our heads together and see how we can give back in that way.

Jasmin Benward:

And I feel like, um, pertinent information for the things that you're

Jasmin Benward:

already good at and know that you wanna do can get you into spaces that.

Jasmin Benward:

You wouldn't have imagined before just because you're knowledgeable and that

Jasmin Benward:

you're empowered by people who look like you, who have interest in you succeeding.

Jasmin Benward:

And, um, the industry is very, um, is very whitewashed and it's very male dominated.

Jasmin Benward:

Um, and so, yeah, I I make it a point not to gate keep.

Sir Daniel:

Well listen, Ja Benard has been our guest.

Sir Daniel:

We are, listen, I'm so glad that.

Sir Daniel:

Liquid did do this so we could meet you.

Sir Daniel:

So, and you are introduced to our listeners, please let them know

Sir Daniel:

how they can contact you or get, keep in contact with you and find

Sir Daniel:

out where your next project is

Jasmin Benward:

for sure.

Jasmin Benward:

Okay.

Jasmin Benward:

So, um, definitely follow on Instagram.

Jasmin Benward:

It's at Wright, like you're writing something.

Jasmin Benward:

W-R-I-T-E-O-N-J-A-S.

Jasmin Benward:

Um, that's like my primary that I'm using all the time.

Jasmin Benward:

Um, it's also linked to my link tree that has books and playlists and, um.

Jasmin Benward:

Interview all of the things that you may wanna dig around and find out more.

Jasmin Benward:

Um, and also my email because I believe in people being able to contact you.

Jasmin Benward:

So it's info dot Create the Room, which is my business, um, at gmail.com.

Sir Daniel:

Thanks.

Sir Daniel:

Thank you so much

Jay Ray:

gentlemen.

Jay Ray:

Thank you for being here on two you.

Jay Ray:

Yes.

Jay Ray:

You

Jasmin Benward:

so happy.

Jasmin Benward:

Such a pleasure.

Sir Daniel:

Thank you.

Jay Ray:

Thank you for tuning into this bonus episode of Queue Points.

Jay Ray:

We hope you enjoyed all of the conversations.

Jay Ray:

Make sure that you follow Banjee Boombox on social media.

Jay Ray:

That's B-A-N-J-E-E Boombox on social media.

Jay Ray:

Make sure you follow all of the amazing folks that we spoke to.

Jay Ray:

Their information will be in the description.

Jay Ray:

If you can hear our voices or see our faces, go ahead and subscribe to the

Jay Ray:

podcast and share the show with your friends, family, colleagues, because

Jay Ray:

if you enjoy Queue Points, chances are they will enjoy the show as well.

Jay Ray:

Visit our website at queuepoints.com.

Jay Ray:

Shop our store at store.queuepoints.com, and make sure that you check out our

Jay Ray:

substack for more content from our show.

Jay Ray:

We appreciate y'all.

Jay Ray:

Peace.

About the Podcast

Show artwork for Queue Points
Queue Points

About your hosts

Profile picture for DJ Sir Daniel

DJ Sir Daniel

DJ Sir Daniel is a DJ/Selector and part of Atlanta's, all-vinyl crew, Wax Fundamentals. Co-host of the Queue Points podcast, he is an advocate for DJ culture and is passionate about creating atmospheres of inclusivity and jubilation from a Black perspective.

Profile picture for Jay Ray

Jay Ray

Johnnie Ray Kornegay III (Jay Ray) is a podcast consultant and co-host and producer of Queue Points, the Ambie Award-nominated podcast that drops the needle on Black music history. In addition to his duties at Queue Points, he is the Deputy Director of Strategy and Impact for CNP (Counter Narrative Project). A photographer, creative consultant and social commentator, Jay Ray's work is centered around a commitment to telling full and honest stories about communities often ignored.