Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorNormally, for an interview like the one Variety did on Tuesday with Oscars musical director Questlove and show producer Jesse Collins, the reporter can ask at least somewhat informed questions.
But so little about the show has been revealed in advance that the interview ended up being almost an investigative piece — and a fascinating one.The conversation below reveals a great deal about how the show’s music will work, but the basics are this: Questlove is both the show’s musical director and, as he was last year, the in-house DJ.
Except this time, he will be DJ-ing music that largely was created specifically for the show, pre-recorded by his group, the Roots, along with other musicians.