Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson | Full Interview

Drummer, DJ, producer, Oscar-winning documentary director, composer and musical director Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson joins SCORE from John Mayer’s private writing room at Henson Recording Studios!

Ahmir discusses the absolutely bonkers music mashup from 50 years of Saturday Night Live, featured in the documentary LADIES & GENTLEMEN: 50 YEARS OF SNL MUSIC. Plus, how he discovered SNL really doesn’t have any “theme song” despite its iconic sound. He also discusses his two other Emmy nominations for SLY LIVES!, a documentary about the great Sly and the Family Stone, and as musical director for an SNL Homecoming concert.

How his start in a performing arts school in Philadelphia led him to meet Tariq Trotter (Black Thought) and form the band The Roots. Questlove reveals the long-anticipated new album, 10 years in the making, will be released in early 2026.

He also dives into his other ventures — from Oscar-winning SUMMER OF SOUL (which won right after the infamous Will Smith / Chris Rock slap moment — that Ahmir missed at the time) — to his early experiments on potentially directing a live-action THE ARISTOCATS film for Disney, which he reveals likely isn’t moving forward at this time.

Plus, drumming on buckets, acting with John Mayer on an iconic Chappelle’s Show sketch, and why one of his biggest dreams remains getting to perform with The Roots on SNL.

Interview by Kenny Holmes and Matt Schrader at Henson Recordings Studios in Hollywood. Special thanks to John Mayer, Faryal Ganjehei, Jeremy Nielsen and Jeff Butler of Henson Recording Studios, Thomas Mikusz and Chris Galasso of White Bear PR, Kaeleah Isaac, and production coordination by Kyle Bales.

Score: The Podcast is presented by Vienna Symphonic Library. Check out Vienna Symphonic Library’s collection of innovating libraries and samples — including their flagship Synchron Series, recorded at Vienna Synchron Stage, where hit films and shows for HBO, Disney, Star Wars, Marvel, and many more are recorded. Check out Synchron Duality Strings libraries, or check out the free sample player, freebie libraries and demos at http://vsl.co.at. To learn more about recording at Vienna Synchron Stage, visit http://synchronstage.com

Video Timecodes
0:00 Questlove
9:17 Show Open
10:00 Vienna Symphonic Library
11:41 Questlove & Lorne Michaels
16:00 Ladies & Gentlemen: 50 Years of SNL Music
17:35 Prince’s Lesson
18:41 Best SNL Performances
21:51 Howard Shore on SNL
22:40 What is the SNL theme?
24:00 Messing with clap rhythms
25:00 Don Pardo
26:15 Seinfeld’s evolving theme
27:24 Birdman
28:00 Growing up with musicians
32:00 Starting The Roots
34:03 Tariq & High School
36:04 Tariq freestyling
37:20 Lying to impress a girl
38:06 ‘You Got Me’
39:22 Spike Lee Levi’s Commercial
40:00 Drumming on buckets
42:51 The Roots new album: Early 2026
49:07 The Weeknd
50:16 Oscars after Chris Rock slap
53:17 Self doubt at the Oscars
54:41 Dapping up Will Smith on the walk to stage
56:10 Being accountability partners with Will Smith
58:48 Stepping into the spotlight
1:00:03 ‘The Aristocats’ reshuffling
1:01:37 John Mayer & Chappelle’s Show
1:05:19 Steady career rise
1:09:20 SNL Homecoming Concert
1:11:43 Will Ferrell rapping Kendrick Lamar
1:13:45 Film Music influences
1:19:16 Henson Recording Studios
1:21:16 Thanks John Mayer!
1:22:03 Vienna Symphonic Library
1:23:48 VSL ‘Forest Gump’ Demo