Tal Wilkenfeld: Music, Guitar, Bass, Jeff Beck, Prince, and Leonard Cohen | Lex Fridman Podcast #408

ℹ️ EPISODE INFO

Released

January 9, 2024

Duration

1h 50m

Channel

Lex Fridman Podcast

Watch on YouTube

▶ Open ↗

📝 EPISODE DESCRIPTION

Tal Wilkenfeld is a singer-songwriter, bassist, and guitarist. She has performed with legendary artists including Jeff Beck, Prince, Incubus, Eric Clapton, Herbie Hancock, Mick Jagger, Rod Stewart, Hans Zimmer, Pharrell Williams, and many more. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:

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TRANSCRIPT: https://lexfridman.com/tal-wilkenfeld-transcript EPISODE LINKS: Tal's Instagram: https://instagram.com/talmeastory Tal's Twitter: https://twitter.com/talwilkenfeld Tal's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/talwilkenfeld/ Tal's YouTube: https://youtube.com/TalWilkenfeld Tal's Love Remains record: https://talwilkenfeld.lnk.to/LoveRemains Tal's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/talwilkenfeld Big thank you to Crossroads Guitar Festival and Jeff Beck Estate for the footage included in this podcast. Crossroads Guitar Festival: https://crossroadsguitarfestival.com/ Jeff Beck & Tal Wilkenfeld at Crossroads: https://youtube.com/watch?v=BVgUzUZeTw4 Guitar: Jeff Beck Bass: Tal Wilkenfield Drums: Vinnie Colaiuta Keyboards: Jason Rebello "Cause We've Ended As Lovers" is originally by Stevie Wonder PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/ Full episodes playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOdP_8GztsuKi9nrraNbKKp4 Clips playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOeciFP3CBCIEElOJeitOr41 OUTLINE: 0:00 - Introduction 1:08 - Jeff Beck 10:00 - Confidence on stage 26:39 - Leonard Cohen 34:39 - Taxi Driver 46:00 - Songwriting 49:40 - How to learn and practice 1:08:10 - Slap vs Fingerstyle 1:14:33 - Davie504 1:18:53 - Prince 1:24:30 - Jimi Hendrix 1:26:44 - Mentorship 1:33:02 - Sad songs 1:39:00 - Tal performs Under The Sun (live) 1:44:16 - Tal performs Killing Me (live) SOCIAL:

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• Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman

🎤 SPEAKERS

• Tal Wilkenfeld

  guest

• Lex Fridman

  host

• Narrator

  other

🧾 EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of Lex Fridman Podcast, featuring Tal Wilkenfeld and Lex Fridman, Tal Wilkenfeld: Music, Guitar, Bass, Jeff Beck, Prince, and Leonard Cohen | Lex Fridman Podcast #408 explores tal Wilkenfeld on fearless music, grief, flow, and spiritual practice Tal Wilkenfeld describes her philosophy of playing on the edge of risk, treating mistakes as doorways to creativity rather than failures. She reflects on formative experiences with Jeff Beck, Prince, Leonard Cohen, and others, and how their mentorship and loss shaped her musicianship and spiritual life. The conversation explores meditation, monasteries, grief, comedy, and how trust—not egoic “confidence”—creates musical chemistry. Throughout, Tal emphasizes purposeful living, inner work, and serving songs with honesty over perfection.

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