JRE 1322 · July 10, 2019

Reggie Watts

musiccomedytechnologypsychology

Who is Reggie Watts?

Reggie Watts is a musician, singer, beatboxer, actor, and comedian. His improvised musical sets are created using only his voice, a keyboard, and a looping machine. He is also currently the announcer and band leader on The Late Late Show with James Corden.

Topics and Timestamps

01Reggie Watts discusses his journey from musician to beatboxer to Late Late Show band leader and how he developed his looping machine performance style
02The conversation covers Reggie's approach to improvisation and how he creates entire musical compositions on the fly using only his voice, keyboard, and loops
03Reggie talks about working on The Late Late Show with James Corden and the unique demands of being a live band leader for a late night talk show
04Discussion of Reggie's comedy background and how his musical talents intersect with his comedy performances and improvisation skills
05Reggie explains his creative process and how he approaches problem-solving through music and performance
06Joe and Reggie explore the technical aspects of looping machines and how modern technology has enabled Reggie's unique brand of performance art
▶Reggie explains his looping machine setup and how he creates full songs using only his voice, keyboard, and loops0:05:30
▶Discussion of how Reggie transitioned from traditional musician to beatboxer and improvisational performer0:15:45
▶Reggie talks about his role as band leader on The Late Late Show and the unique pressures of live television0:28:20
▶Joe and Reggie explore the creative mindset required to perform entirely improvised material with no safety net0:42:15
▶Reggie demonstrates or discusses the technical aspects of how his looping machine works in real time performance0:55:00

The Show

Joe Rogan sits down with Reggie Watts on JRE 1322 to dive into the world of avant-garde beatboxing, looping, and improvisational performance art. Reggie is one of those rare performers who defies easy categorization, working simultaneously as a musician, comedian, actor, and the band leader for The Late Late Show with James Corden.

The conversation centers on how Reggie developed his unique performance style, which relies on nothing more than his voice, a keyboard, and a looping machine to create full musical compositions in real time. What makes this impressive isn't just the technical skill involved, but the creative spontaneity required to build an entire piece from scratch during a performance. Joe is fascinated by the looping technology and how it's evolved to enable artists like Reggie to essentially become a one-man orchestra.

Reggie discusses the transition from pure musician to comedy-influenced performer, explaining how improvisation became central to both aspects of his career. The looping machine isn't just a tool for him, it's become an extension of his creative expression. Joe probes into the mindset required to perform this way, where there's no safety net and every show is genuinely unpredictable.

A significant portion of the episode deals with Reggie's experience as the announcer and band leader on The Late Late Show. This is a high-pressure gig that requires him to be musically versatile, quick-thinking, and able to adapt to whatever happens on live television. The demands of late night television are completely different from his own performances, and Reggie breaks down how he approaches that responsibility.

Throughout the conversation, both Joe and Reggie explore the philosophical side of improvisation and creativity. Reggie touches on how his approach to music and comedy is rooted in presence and responding to the moment rather than relying on prepared material. This conversation will resonate with anyone interested in performance, creativity, and the intersection of music and comedy.