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Amplify

Amplify explores how music transcends time, culture, and class; and how artists impact and are impacted by the communities that give them rise.
A silhouette of a person playing the trumpet stands in a sunlit doorway inside a rustic wooden room, with benches lined up on either side. The light creates a dramatic contrast, highlighting the musician against the bright outdoors.

Season 4

Episodes

  • Two men on a boat play music; one strums an acoustic guitar while the other plays a steel drum. Both wear casual clothes and hats, with water and blue sky in the background.

    Episode 1

    The Global Stage – St. Croix Blowing Up

    Host Naydyeyah Acoy-Thomas dives deep into St. Croix’s vibrant music scene, where tradition and innovation collide in electrifying ways. This episode spotlights a new wave of artists — including Lima Roe, Masai Harris, Jabari Jahman Carrington, Stanley & The Ten Sleepless Nights, BugZBugs, Katalyss, and AJ Ventura — who are reshaping the island’s soundscape. Through intimate performances and conversations, Naydyeyah uncovers how these musicians are blending ancestral rhythms with global influences, carving out a bold new space for St. Croix on the world stage.

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  • Three people wearing colorful, patchwork costumes and masks stand outdoors on a path lined with greenery, with a stone building and plants in the background.

    Episode 2

    Roots & Rhythms – The Foundations of St. Croix Music

    Host Naydyeyah Acoy-Thomas traces the rich, layered history of St. Croix’s musical roots, uncovering the deep ties to African, European, and indigenous Taíno traditions. Featuring voices like Asta Williams, Willard John, Rashidi Clenance, and Vio International, the episode explores how genres such as quelbe, calypso, and scratch band music were born from the island’s complex past. Through storytelling, performances, and cultural insight, Naydyeyah reveals how the rhythms of resilience and celebration continue to echo through generations.

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  • Seven men in blue shirts and hats sit in a row outside a yellow building, playing musical instruments, including guitars, a drum, and maracas. They perform in a sunny, tropical courtyard with palm trees and plants.

    Episode 3

    Sound of Revolution – Music as a Voice for Change

    Host Naydyeyah Acoy-Thomas uncovers the revolutionary spirit woven into the music of St. Croix, where sound has long served as a rallying cry for justice and identity. Through the powerful perspectives of Mada Nile, Ras Attitude, Ras Bach, the Ay-Ay Cultural Dancers, and Kevin Williams, this episode explores how artists have used music to confront oppression, celebrate resilience, and inspire change — from the island’s historic struggles to its modern-day movements.

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Season 3

Episodes

  • A silhouette of a person playing a trumpet stands in a sunlit doorway of a rustic wooden room. Benches and chairs are visible inside, while green foliage can be seen through the open door. The scene is serene and atmospheric.

    Episode 3

    Jazz & Mardi Gras: New Orleans

    Sean Ardoin wraps up his road trip in New Orleans. He joins the Greg Stafford Quartet, Flagboy Giz, and his old friend Vance Vaucresson, then sees the most unique venue with Aurora Nealand.

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Season 2

Episodes

  • A person with bright blue braided hair stands near a staircase. They are wearing a blue jacket over a white t-shirt. The background features graffiti art on a brick wall.

    Episode 1

    Discovering Home

    “Outlaw country” singer/songwriter Summer Dean visits her college stomping grounds of Lubbock, Texas, and discovers that the city offers a lot more music history than the beloved Buddy Holly. In San Antonio, punk rock drummer Phanie Diaz checks out public art projecting over 300 years of history on the walls of a Catholic cathedral. In Houston, hip hop artist Lou Charles meets “raptivist” Genesis Blu, the first woman to be voted Best Rapper by the Houston Press.

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  • Two people sitting and talking in a cozy room. A man in a cap and vest sits on the left, while a woman in a white shirt and brown vest gestures while speaking on the right. A keyboard is visible in the background against red curtains.

    Episode 2

    Innovations

    Rapper Lou Charles hooks up with Houston’s Patric Johnston, a singer and keyboardist who performs folksy covers of hip hop classics. In Lubbock, Summer Dean records an original song at the legendary recording studio of country western producer Don Caldwell. In San Antonio, Phanie Diaz learns about the multicultural history of the accordion aka Texas squeezebox.

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  • A person with blue hair is sitting at a table in a warmly lit room. They are wearing a black top and have a tattoo on their left hand. Their hands are clasped together as they look to the side, with a bottle visible on the table.

    Episode 3

    History Inspires

    In San Antonio, Phanie Diaz gets a lesson in the bajo sexto, a 12-stringed guitar featured prominently in conjunto band Los Texmaniacs. At Houston’s independent record shop, Vinal Edge, Lou Charles meets owner Chuck Roast, whose extensive interests range from Chopped and Screwed to Indonesion music. In Lubbock, Summer Dean tries her hand at graffiti art after a demo by Joey Ramirez, whose public murals reinterpret the legacy of Buddy Holly.

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  • Two men are indoors. The man on the left wears a blue cap, denim jacket, and patterned shirt. The man on the right has glasses, a beard, and wears a dark shirt. They seem to be engaged in conversation. The background shows framed pictures on the wall.

    Episode 4

    The Scene

    Outlaw country musician Summer Dean jams with Nathen Rogers and his band, La Croix Boix, in Lubbock. In Houston, rapper Lou Charles gets a tour of America’s longest-running record studio, Sugarhill Recording Studio, home to Lil Wayne, Beyonce, and Willie Nelson. Phanie Diaz’s punk band plays alongside the accordion-powered Tex Mex band, Piñata Protest, at local dive Bang Bang Bar.

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Season 1

Episodes

  • A man passionately sings into a microphone on stage. He has a tattooed arm and is wearing a gray shirt with a design. The lighting casts a blue hue on the scene, with curtains visible in the background.

    Episode 1

    Going Home

    Country music producer Kenny Lamb challenges two inspiring musicians to ambitiously own their future by bringing them out on stage at the Walmart AMP theater in Rogers, Arkansas. Will folksy singer/songwriter Sierra Carson and alt rocker Caleb Enyart be able to take their careers to the next level?

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  • A man with tattoos sits on a red theater seat, gesturing with one hand. He has a short hairstyle and wears a teal shirt. Behind him is a blurred drum set on a stage with black curtains, creating a concert setting.

    Episode 2

    Discovering the Passion

    Alt rocker Caleb Enyart builds a new band filled with grunge-inspired vocals and power chords. Sierra Carson meets with a brand guru and graphic designer to build a website and flyers to promote her next gig. Meanwhile, hometown hero Barrett Baber finds success on the national stage after competing on The Voice.

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  • A person wearing a cap and a dark shirt looks out from a window, holding a piece of paper. The setting is dimly lit, suggesting an indoor or shaded area. Part of another persons head is visible in the foreground.

    Episode 3

    Leap of Faith

    Barrett reveals his journey as he became Blake Shelton’s pick on The Voice. Caleb explores how the landscape has shaped his music and plans for the future. Sierra continues to build on her brand and confidence.

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  • A drummer is energetically playing a drum set in a recording studio. He is wearing a plaid shirt and holding drumsticks in the air. The room is filled with various microphones and equipment, and a large window is visible behind him.

    Episode 4

    The Road to Nashville and Beyond

    From tragedy comes therapy through music leading to the discovery of passion for one artist. Meanwhile, Sierra and Caleb prep for an important live show while Kenny and Barrett head to Nashville to record a new song.

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