{"id":1779468,"date":"2026-02-19T11:28:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T08:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1779468"},"modified":"2026-02-19T11:28:00","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T08:28:00","slug":"the-stop-motion-lego-chat-show-starring-all-your-favourite-artists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1779468","title":{"rendered":"The stop-motion Lego chat show starring all your favourite artists"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/1200\/341-0-1578-1052\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/8\/1438037.png&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article class=\"main-article standard \">\n<div class=\"article-main-content article-wrapper has-media-but-its-an-image\" data-status=\"loaded\" data-primary-article=\"true\" data-url=\"\/music\/article\/69677\/1\/pick-a-piece-lego-stop-motion-fakemink-jorja-smith-youtube-pa-salieu-jim-legxacy\" data-article-id=\"69677\">\n<header class=\"article-header has-landscape-image no-media\">\n<div class=\"wrapper dg-max-width\">\n<div class=\"inner\">\n<figure class=\"main-img has-figcaption\" data-img-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\" data-img-aspect-ratio=\"1.78\" data-template=\"Standard Article\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Lego Editorial 16x9 1\" class=\"img\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/1400\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/8\/1438037.png\" width=\"1920\"><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"img-caption\"><span class=\"inner\"><span class=\"credit\">Illustration Harvey Wood (Credits: Bottom, Pick a Piece. The rest, proceed top left to right: Dave Benett\/Getty Images for The Standard, London; Ninajirachi promotional image; Prince Williams\/WireImage; video still; Gareth <span class=\"nowrap\">Cattermole\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<aside class=\"meta\">\n<div class=\"inner\"><time datetime=\"2026-02-19T11:28:00+00:00\" class=\"timestamp\" title=\"19 February 2026\"><span class=\"month\">February<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"day\" data-day=\"19\">19,<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"year\">2026<\/span><\/time><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<div class=\"titles\">\n<div class=\"tags\">\n<div class=\"sections\"><a class=\"category vertical - music\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/music\">Music<\/a><br \/>\n\/<br \/>\n<a class=\"series\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/q-and-a\">Q+A<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"standard-tag-container\"><a class=\"standard-category\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/music\">Music<\/a> \/<br \/>\n<a class=\"standard-series\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/q-and-a\">Q+A<\/a><\/div>\n<h1 class=\"title\"><span>The stop-motion Lego chat show starring all your <span class=\"nowrap\">favourite artists<\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n<div class=\"standfirst\">\n<h2>Hosts Zain and Ellis explain the ideas behind Pick a Piece, their unlikely web series which features unique voice acting from fakemink, Jim Legxacy, Pa Salieu <span class=\"nowrap\">and more<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<p><time datetime=\"2026-02-19T11:28:00+00:00\" class=\"timestamp\" title=\"19 February 2026\"><span class=\"month\">February<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"day\" data-day=\"19\">19,<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"year\">2026<\/span><\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><time datetime=\"2026-02-19T11:28:00+00:00\" class=\"timestamp\" title=\"19 February 2026\"><span class=\"month\">February<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"day\" data-day=\"19\">19,<\/span>\u00a0<br \/>\n<span class=\"year\">2026<\/span><\/time><\/p>\n<div class=\"providers\">\n<div class=\"contributors\"><span class=\"contributor\" data-contributor-role=\"Text\"><span class=\"contributor-role\">Text<\/span><a class=\"contributor-name\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/user\/solomonpacemccarrick\">Solomon Pace-McCarrick<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"article-body-container\">\n<div class=\"article-body wrapper\">\n<div class=\"dazed-gallery has-10-images \">\n<div class=\"inner\">\n<header>\n<div class=\"info\"><span class=\"heading\">Pick a Piece: <span class=\"nowrap\">Episode 3<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"gallery\">\n<div class=\"gallery-thumbs\">\n<div class=\"gallery-thumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/music\/gallery\/36701\/0\/pick-a-piece-episode-3\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"34770005\" class=\"img\" height=\"1357\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/320\/0-0-2035-1357\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/8\/1438038.jpeg\" width=\"2035\"><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"gallery-thumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/music\/gallery\/36701\/1\/pick-a-piece-episode-3\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"3880\" class=\"img\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/320\/0-0-900-600\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437831.PNG\" width=\"900\"><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"gallery-thumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/music\/gallery\/36701\/2\/pick-a-piece-episode-3\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"7428\" class=\"img\" height=\"1500\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/320\/0-0-2250-1500\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437832.PNG\" width=\"2250\"><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"gallery-thumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/music\/gallery\/36701\/3\/pick-a-piece-episode-3\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"birthday\" class=\"img\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/320\/0-0-1012-675\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437833.png\" width=\"1012\"><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"gallery-thumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/music\/gallery\/36701\/4\/pick-a-piece-episode-3\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"IMG_4173\" class=\"img\" height=\"666\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/320\/0-0-999-666\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437834.JPG\" width=\"999\"><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"gallery-thumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/music\/gallery\/36701\/5\/pick-a-piece-episode-3\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"IMG_8170\" class=\"img\" height=\"547\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/320\/0-0-820-547\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437835.PNG\" width=\"820\"><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"gallery-footer\">Gallery \/ 10 images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/jorja-smith\">Jorja Smith<\/a>, Ninajirachi, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/tag\/jim-legxacy\">Jim Legxacy<\/a>, Slawn and Maverick Sabre walk into a bar\u2026 <\/span><span>It might sound like the setup to a niche joke, but it\u2019s literally what happens in the new web series <em data-start=\"305\" data-end=\"319\">Pick a Piece<\/em> \u2013 a Lego stop-motion-slash-talk show featuring voice performances from all of the above, alongside podcast-style vignettes from hosts Zain and Ellis. Having previously cast <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/tag\/fakemink\">fakemink<\/a> as a demented chicken, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/pa-salieu\">Pa Salieu<\/a> as a flight attendant, and Fimiguerrero on a hit-and-run rampage, the series is certainly unorthodox. Beneath the chaos, however, lies a profound shift in how net-native Gen Z audiences are consuming media today.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Perhaps unsurprisingly, Zain and Ellis \u2013 who are both from London \u2013 met online. Ellis had purchased a spare <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/tag\/pinkpantheress\">PinkPantheress<\/a> ticket that Zain was flogging on Twitter, and after attending the show together, the pair quickly became close friends. Speaking to <em data-start=\"355\" data-end=\"362\">Dazed<\/em> over a video call, Zain explains that he originally conceived <em data-start=\"425\" data-end=\"439\">Pick a Piece<\/em> as a Lego-themed talk show, where high-profile guests would be interviewed while building a bespoke Lego set. But after encountering difficulties getting the series off the ground, <em data-start=\"621\" data-end=\"635\">Pick a Piece<\/em> evolved into its current form: movie-quality Lego stop-motion interspersed with his and Ellis\u2019 ambling conversations on everything from live music to body image in the age of social media.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"src-youtube video-container embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"media-youtube\" data-id=\"i2d1Zci900s\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" allowfullscreen frameborder height=\"422\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/i2d1Zci900s\" webkitallowfullscreen width=\"750\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p>The success of the series reflects broader shifts within UK music. A decade ago, the underground rap scene was dominated by drill \u2014 a genre largely centred on gritty portrayals of London gang crime. Since then, a new wave of chronically online Gen Z artists, dubbed <span>\u2018<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/music\/article\/69279\/1\/uk-ug-gen-z-brits-reinvented-rap-2025-fakemink-esdeekid-jim-legxacy\"><span>UK Ug<\/span><\/a><span>\u2019,<\/span> has emerged. fakemink once ran a Pok\u00e9mon fan page, Oopsy weaves references to Super Mario goombas into lyrics about promiscuity, and many of these artists came of age during lockdown, in a period defined by URL-over-IRL connection. Zain is careful not to tie <em data-start=\"689\" data-end=\"703\">Pick a Piece<\/em> too closely to the scene, stating that the series is about \u201cshowcasing unexpected themes, topics and guests\u201d, including \u2013 but not limited to \u2013 UK Ug artists. Still, it\u2019s easy to see how these generational shifts have shaped both artists\u2019 willingness to collaborate with the project and the enthusiastic response from their audiences.<\/p>\n<p><span>Deeper still is how the series oscillates between hyperactive stop-motion segments and slower conversations from its hosts, delivered with a gentleness reminiscent of a mental health check-in. \u201c[It\u2019s] two people connecting, sharing stories and disagreeing in a really soft and safe way,\u201d Ellis explains. \u201cWe\u2019re not arguing or begging for attention; we\u2019re just talking like real people would.\u201d In a world dominated by online clickbait and ephemeral short-form content, for Zain and Ellis, Lego emerges as an unlikely antidote: it stands for the reassertion of intentional, in-person connection. It takes two to Lego, as the old saying goes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Below, <\/span><em><span>Pick a Piece <\/span><\/em><span>hosts Zain, 25, and Ellis, 26, dive further into the making of the unlikely web series that they\u2019ve built brick by brick.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>How did you first come up with <\/strong><strong><em>Pick a Piece<\/em><\/strong><strong>?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Zain:<\/strong><span> I remember engaging with a game at the time called <\/span><em><span>Elden Ring<\/span><\/em><span>. It\u2019s a very challenging game, but it also trusts the player to figure out how to defeat a boss. I was listening to an interview while I was playing and then I had the idea. I called my friend to spitball what you see in the show now \u2013 a Lego set serving as the centre of conversation between me and a co-host, and the conversation is all based on the contents of the set itself.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>What\u2019s the link with <\/strong><strong><em>Elden Ring<\/em><\/strong><strong>?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Zain: <\/strong><span>A lot of games have a really busy UI [user interface], whereas <\/span><em><span>Elden Ring<\/span><\/em><span> trusts the consumer to figure all that out, to figure out the product. It\u2019s also about the universal nature of Lego \u2013 me and Ellis aren\u2019t sitting on chairs, we\u2019re sitting on the floor, and we\u2019re engaged with each other. We can only hope that it evolves to having a physical guest involved. The whole objective of the show is to build a Lego ecosystem, like when people have a whole basement dedicated to Lego. Maybe we can build the [physical guest] too.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"inline-img expandable dev-view-hide\" data-img=\"b69a909c-40b2-4946-b8de-b3f600a3aad9\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/2000\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/8\/1438038.jpeg\" data-img-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\" data-img-aspect-ratio=\"1.51\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"34770005\" class=\"img\" height=\"1357\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/786\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/8\/1438038.jpeg\" width=\"2048\"><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"img-caption\"><span class=\"caption\">Pick a Piece hosts Ellis (left) and <span class=\"nowrap\">Zain (right)<\/span><\/span><span class=\"credit\">Photography Igoris Taran<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><strong>Did both of you grow up playing with Lego?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Ellis:<\/strong><span> I played a bit, but I got more engaged with it as I got involved with this show. Jan and Zain said, \u2018Before we film or do anything, we\u2019ll buy your Lego set \u2013 just have a play around and see how it feels\u2019. It really is a universal thing. I didn\u2019t expect, as an adult, to be fully engaged with something like Lego, especially in a time when your mind is split all over the place and there are so many things demanding your attention. I found it so freeing and peaceful to build a set. I think that\u2019s what we want to communicate with the show as well.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Zain:<\/strong><span> When I was younger, I would buy Lego sets quite frequently, even the sets that weren\u2019t [marketed] towards me. I remember buying a Star Destroyer, like a \u00a3300-400 set, when I was nine years old. I didn\u2019t complete it, but it\u2019s somewhere in the house.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>You mentioned that this was originally conceived as you and a guest. When did it morph into guests contributing voice acting?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Zain: <\/strong><span>Well, having someone on camera for your first project is not really feasible. So, we thought about it and realised, \u2018Oh, they\u2019re in a studio, we could just have them record some lines\u2019. Then, we\u2019d provide them updates on the progress. It serves as a proof of concept to build the identity of the show, our audience, and then warrant having a physical guest.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span><em>Pick a Piece<\/em> is pretty unconventional, but the artists all enjoyed it, they loved the animation and they wanted to participate in it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Zain, <em>Pick a Piece<\/em> founder<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Your guests are obviously quite high-profile artists. Was it difficult getting them to agree to the project?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Zain: <\/strong><span>Jim, like all of these people featured, really loved the idea. fakemink agreed to do it in January 2025, just before \u201cEaster Pink\u201d was released. He was pretty easy to convince. [<em>Pick a Piece<\/em>] is pretty unconventional, but [the artists] all enjoyed it, they loved the animation and wanted to participate in it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Do you have a background in filmmaking?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Zain:<\/strong><span> No\u2026 So, to give you an overview of everyone involved in the show, the only person that might come from a creative background is Mike, the animator. The animation is a one man machine, he\u2019s the only one that does it. We procure the voices and work with him in terms of what assets we need to get for the animation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>I don\u2019t come from a filmmaking background. In fact, I got kicked out [of school] for six months for punctuality. Now, I\u2019m a network engineer. Jan, the executive producer, was in uni and now he works with Jim Legxacy. He was in uni studying maths, but left for financial reasons. Safa, another producer, works in events management. Another one is Omnia, whose background is in law, and Dominic, who\u2019s currently working for a localisation company in Japan. Even Kaine, he shoots the show and edits it, but his background is in finance. It\u2019s nice to have people from different industries. And Ellis\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Ellis:<\/strong><span> I have a background in film journalism. What really attracted me to do <\/span><em><span>Pick a Piece<\/span><\/em><span> was that, when I was learning on the BFI Critic Mentorship program, I learned about interviewing and how to speak to a camera.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>How do you pick the topics you discuss on the show?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Zain:<\/strong><span> Firstly, I\u2019ll select the set. The writing would be relevant to whether it was a brand-new set or if it was a modular set. In the first episode, we build a jazz club, right? So if we\u2019re building an auditorium, we can talk about live shows. If you\u2019re building a cafe, you can talk about hospitality, the food industry, and food insecurity.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Ellis:<\/strong><span> Yeah, a big part of these topics are brought up by the set. But me and Zain are also constantly having conversations when making the set, and we\u2019re constantly putting our disagreements about things or our personal anecdotes in there. I think what\u2019s engaging is if [our audience] sees two people connecting, sharing stories and disagreeing in a really soft and safe way. We\u2019re not arguing or begging for attention; we\u2019re just talking like real people would. We try to take that part of our relationship and put that into a script for you guys.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>What are you excited about in the new episode?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Zain: <\/strong><span>We have some pretty crazy wild cards, like Ninajirachi and Jorja Smith. We are blindsiding people with that and the juxtaposition between them. We also have Slawn, who\u2019s someone from a different disciplinary background. We hope to expand that in the future as well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Pick a Piece Episode 3 <em>is out now<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"newsletter-inline-last\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-small\">\n<div class=\"inner\">\n<h1 class=\"newsletter-title\">Escape the algorithm! 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class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"press - beautiful disaster 3\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/0-1-2999-1995\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/8\/1438040.jpeg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">I(nterne)t girl duo Mgna Crrrta share their pop culture picks<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/music\/article\/69665\/1\/is-rap-music-dead-hip-hop-k-pop-reggaeton\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Screenshot 2026-02-17 at 12.22.24\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/0-84-2326-1547\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437825.png\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">Rap music isn\u2019t dead \u2013 it\u2019s evolving<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/fashion\/article\/69671\/1\/what-went-down-at-dazed-and-reeboks-classics-club-nyfw-party\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\">\n<p class=\"optional-paragraph\"> Reebok <\/p>\n<p><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Reebok x Dazed\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/0-0-719-479\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437850.JPG\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">What Went Down at Dazed and Reebok\u2019s Classics Club NYFW party<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"swiper-slide list-element\">\n<div class=\"scard-latest__section\">\n<div class=\"card-latest__wrapper\"><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/music\/article\/69656\/1\/the-moment-charli-xcx-music-mockumentary-spiceworld-8-mile-prince\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Moment\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/0-171-2240-1489\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437806.jpg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">The Moment: 6 times musicians made their own films<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/music\/article\/69596\/1\/berlin-club-closures-is-the-party-over-techno-schwuz-cost-of-living-clubbing\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Rush-Troye-Sivan-2\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/0-99-1440-957\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/6\/1436779.png\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">Berlin: Is the party finally over?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/art-photography\/article\/69609\/1\/bacardi-cebo-luthuli-amapiano-club-night-london\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\">\n<p class=\"optional-paragraph\">BACARD\u00cd<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"bacardi Move With The Greats campaign Cebo Luthuli\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/0-247-1080-718\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/6\/1436924.jpg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">In pictures: Unfiltered joy from the heart of Amapiano club culture<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"swiper-slide list-element\">\n<div class=\"scard-latest__section\">\n<div class=\"card-latest__wrapper\"><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/music\/article\/69621\/1\/indie-pop-yearner-sarah-kinsley-fleeting-internet-obsessions\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Sarah Kinsley\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/0-166-2447-1628\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437106.jpg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">Alt-pop yearner Sarah Kinsley shares her internet obsessions<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/music\/article\/69643\/1\/listen-to-slushy-noobz-loverboy-playlist-youtube-valentines-day\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Slushy Noobz Loverboy\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/243-334-2515-1673\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437343.jpg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">Listen to Slushy Noobz\u2019 loverboy playlist<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/music\/article\/69629\/1\/5-times-charli-xcx-soundtracked-the-big-screen\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Charli xcx wuthering heights\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/0-82-724-482\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437307.png\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">5 times Charli xcx soundtracked the big screen<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"swiper-slide list-element\">\n<div class=\"scard-latest__section\">\n<div class=\"card-latest__wrapper\"><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/music\/article\/69628\/1\/ledbyher-uk-ug-rapper-outlier-the-elephant-interview-2026\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"DSCF4917\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/0-864-2000-1330\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437166.jpg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">London rapper Ledbyher is the outlier of UK Ug<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/music\/article\/69610\/1\/danny-l-harle-you-cant-overestimate-the-power-of-your-own-club-night\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"DLH_PRESS_FINAL\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/0-2-3000-1995\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437175.jpg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">Danny L Harle: \u2018You can\u2019t overestimate the power of your own club night\u2019<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><a class=\"card-latest\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/music\/article\/69624\/1\/ticket-prices-are-sucking-the-fun-out-of-pop-harry-styles-taylor-swift-music\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"card-latest__img-wrapper\"><span class=\"image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"GettyImages-1393470392\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/480\/0-0-1012-673\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437133.jpg\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"card-latest__content\">\n<h3 class=\"card-latest__title\">Pop music isn\u2019t fun anymore<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"newsletter-inline\" data-newsletter hidden>\n<div class=\"newsletter-small\">\n<div class=\"inner\">\n<h1 class=\"newsletter-title\">Escape the algorithm! Get The Drop<\/h1>\n<div class=\"meta-row\">\n<p class=\"meta\">Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/privacy-policy\" class=\"meta-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\nPrivacy policy<br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"confirmation\" aria-live=\"polite\">\n<p class=\"confirmation-title\">Thank you. You have been subscribed<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/privacy-policy\" class=\"meta-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\nPrivacy policy<br \/>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"article-body wrapper\">\n<div class=\"dazed-gallery has-10-images \">\n<div class=\"inner\">\n<header>\n<div class=\"info\"><span class=\"heading\">Pick a Piece: <span class=\"nowrap\">Episode 3<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"gallery\">\n<div class=\"gallery-thumbs\">\n<div class=\"gallery-thumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/music\/gallery\/36701\/0\/pick-a-piece-episode-3\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"34770005\" class=\"img\" height=\"1357\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/320\/0-0-2035-1357\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/8\/1438038.jpeg\" width=\"2035\"><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"gallery-thumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/music\/gallery\/36701\/1\/pick-a-piece-episode-3\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"3880\" class=\"img\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/320\/0-0-900-600\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437831.PNG\" width=\"900\"><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"gallery-thumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/music\/gallery\/36701\/2\/pick-a-piece-episode-3\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"7428\" class=\"img\" height=\"1500\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/320\/0-0-2250-1500\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437832.PNG\" width=\"2250\"><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"gallery-thumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/music\/gallery\/36701\/3\/pick-a-piece-episode-3\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"birthday\" class=\"img\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/320\/0-0-1012-675\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437833.png\" width=\"1012\"><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"gallery-thumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/music\/gallery\/36701\/4\/pick-a-piece-episode-3\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"IMG_4173\" class=\"img\" height=\"666\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/320\/0-0-999-666\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437834.JPG\" width=\"999\"><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"gallery-thumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/music\/gallery\/36701\/5\/pick-a-piece-episode-3\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"IMG_8170\" class=\"img\" height=\"547\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/320\/0-0-820-547\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/7\/1437835.PNG\" width=\"820\"><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"gallery-footer\">Gallery \/ 10 images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/jorja-smith\">Jorja Smith<\/a>, Ninajirachi, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/tag\/jim-legxacy\">Jim Legxacy<\/a>, Slawn and Maverick Sabre walk into a bar\u2026 <\/span><span>It might sound like the setup to a niche joke, but it\u2019s literally what happens in the new web series <em data-start=\"305\" data-end=\"319\">Pick a Piece<\/em> \u2013 a Lego stop-motion-slash-talk show featuring voice performances from all of the above, alongside podcast-style vignettes from hosts Zain and Ellis. Having previously cast <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/tag\/fakemink\">fakemink<\/a> as a demented chicken, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/pa-salieu\">Pa Salieu<\/a> as a flight attendant, and Fimiguerrero on a hit-and-run rampage, the series is certainly unorthodox. Beneath the chaos, however, lies a profound shift in how net-native Gen Z audiences are consuming media today.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Perhaps unsurprisingly, Zain and Ellis \u2013 who are both from London \u2013 met online. Ellis had purchased a spare <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/tag\/pinkpantheress\">PinkPantheress<\/a> ticket that Zain was flogging on Twitter, and after attending the show together, the pair quickly became close friends. Speaking to <em data-start=\"355\" data-end=\"362\">Dazed<\/em> over a video call, Zain explains that he originally conceived <em data-start=\"425\" data-end=\"439\">Pick a Piece<\/em> as a Lego-themed talk show, where high-profile guests would be interviewed while building a bespoke Lego set. But after encountering difficulties getting the series off the ground, <em data-start=\"621\" data-end=\"635\">Pick a Piece<\/em> evolved into its current form: movie-quality Lego stop-motion interspersed with his and Ellis\u2019 ambling conversations on everything from live music to body image in the age of social media.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"src-youtube video-container embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"media-youtube\" data-id=\"i2d1Zci900s\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" allowfullscreen frameborder height=\"422\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/i2d1Zci900s\" webkitallowfullscreen width=\"750\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p>The success of the series reflects broader shifts within UK music. A decade ago, the underground rap scene was dominated by drill \u2014 a genre largely centred on gritty portrayals of London gang crime. Since then, a new wave of chronically online Gen Z artists, dubbed <span>\u2018<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/music\/article\/69279\/1\/uk-ug-gen-z-brits-reinvented-rap-2025-fakemink-esdeekid-jim-legxacy\"><span>UK Ug<\/span><\/a><span>\u2019,<\/span> has emerged. fakemink once ran a Pok\u00e9mon fan page, Oopsy weaves references to Super Mario goombas into lyrics about promiscuity, and many of these artists came of age during lockdown, in a period defined by URL-over-IRL connection. Zain is careful not to tie <em data-start=\"689\" data-end=\"703\">Pick a Piece<\/em> too closely to the scene, stating that the series is about \u201cshowcasing unexpected themes, topics and guests\u201d, including \u2013 but not limited to \u2013 UK Ug artists. Still, it\u2019s easy to see how these generational shifts have shaped both artists\u2019 willingness to collaborate with the project and the enthusiastic response from their audiences.<\/p>\n<p><span>Deeper still is how the series oscillates between hyperactive stop-motion segments and slower conversations from its hosts, delivered with a gentleness reminiscent of a mental health check-in. \u201c[It\u2019s] two people connecting, sharing stories and disagreeing in a really soft and safe way,\u201d Ellis explains. \u201cWe\u2019re not arguing or begging for attention; we\u2019re just talking like real people would.\u201d In a world dominated by online clickbait and ephemeral short-form content, for Zain and Ellis, Lego emerges as an unlikely antidote: it stands for the reassertion of intentional, in-person connection. It takes two to Lego, as the old saying goes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Below, <\/span><em><span>Pick a Piece <\/span><\/em><span>hosts Zain, 25, and Ellis, 26, dive further into the making of the unlikely web series that they\u2019ve built brick by brick.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>How did you first come up with <\/strong><strong><em>Pick a Piece<\/em><\/strong><strong>?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Zain:<\/strong><span> I remember engaging with a game at the time called <\/span><em><span>Elden Ring<\/span><\/em><span>. It\u2019s a very challenging game, but it also trusts the player to figure out how to defeat a boss. I was listening to an interview while I was playing and then I had the idea. I called my friend to spitball what you see in the show now \u2013 a Lego set serving as the centre of conversation between me and a co-host, and the conversation is all based on the contents of the set itself.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>What\u2019s the link with <\/strong><strong><em>Elden Ring<\/em><\/strong><strong>?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Zain: <\/strong><span>A lot of games have a really busy UI [user interface], whereas <\/span><em><span>Elden Ring<\/span><\/em><span> trusts the consumer to figure all that out, to figure out the product. It\u2019s also about the universal nature of Lego \u2013 me and Ellis aren\u2019t sitting on chairs, we\u2019re sitting on the floor, and we\u2019re engaged with each other. We can only hope that it evolves to having a physical guest involved. The whole objective of the show is to build a Lego ecosystem, like when people have a whole basement dedicated to Lego. Maybe we can build the [physical guest] too.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"inline-img expandable dev-view-hide\" data-img=\"b69a909c-40b2-4946-b8de-b3f600a3aad9\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/2000\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/8\/1438038.jpeg\" data-img-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\" data-img-aspect-ratio=\"1.51\"><span class=\"has-css-custom-props image-container\" data-aspect-ratio-type=\"landscape\"><span class=\"preserve-aspect-ratio\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"34770005\" class=\"img\" height=\"1357\" src=\"https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/786\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/8\/1438038.jpeg\" width=\"2048\"><\/span><\/span><figcaption class=\"img-caption\"><span class=\"caption\">Pick a Piece hosts Ellis (left) and <span class=\"nowrap\">Zain (right)<\/span><\/span><span class=\"credit\">Photography Igoris Taran<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"embed-content\" data-embed-type=\"raw-html\">\n<p><strong>Did both of you grow up playing with Lego?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Ellis:<\/strong><span> I played a bit, but I got more engaged with it as I got involved with this show. Jan and Zain said, \u2018Before we film or do anything, we\u2019ll buy your Lego set \u2013 just have a play around and see how it feels\u2019. It really is a universal thing. I didn\u2019t expect, as an adult, to be fully engaged with something like Lego, especially in a time when your mind is split all over the place and there are so many things demanding your attention. I found it so freeing and peaceful to build a set. I think that\u2019s what we want to communicate with the show as well.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Zain:<\/strong><span> When I was younger, I would buy Lego sets quite frequently, even the sets that weren\u2019t [marketed] towards me. I remember buying a Star Destroyer, like a \u00a3300-400 set, when I was nine years old. I didn\u2019t complete it, but it\u2019s somewhere in the house.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>You mentioned that this was originally conceived as you and a guest. When did it morph into guests contributing voice acting?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Zain: <\/strong><span>Well, having someone on camera for your first project is not really feasible. So, we thought about it and realised, \u2018Oh, they\u2019re in a studio, we could just have them record some lines\u2019. Then, we\u2019d provide them updates on the progress. It serves as a proof of concept to build the identity of the show, our audience, and then warrant having a physical guest.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span><em>Pick a Piece<\/em> is pretty unconventional, but the artists all enjoyed it, they loved the animation and they wanted to participate in it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Zain, <em>Pick a Piece<\/em> founder<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Your guests are obviously quite high-profile artists. Was it difficult getting them to agree to the project?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Zain: <\/strong><span>Jim, like all of these people featured, really loved the idea. fakemink agreed to do it in January 2025, just before \u201cEaster Pink\u201d was released. He was pretty easy to convince. [<em>Pick a Piece<\/em>] is pretty unconventional, but [the artists] all enjoyed it, they loved the animation and wanted to participate in it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Do you have a background in filmmaking?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Zain:<\/strong><span> No\u2026 So, to give you an overview of everyone involved in the show, the only person that might come from a creative background is Mike, the animator. The animation is a one man machine, he\u2019s the only one that does it. We procure the voices and work with him in terms of what assets we need to get for the animation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>I don\u2019t come from a filmmaking background. In fact, I got kicked out [of school] for six months for punctuality. Now, I\u2019m a network engineer. Jan, the executive producer, was in uni and now he works with Jim Legxacy. He was in uni studying maths, but left for financial reasons. Safa, another producer, works in events management. Another one is Omnia, whose background is in law, and Dominic, who\u2019s currently working for a localisation company in Japan. Even Kaine, he shoots the show and edits it, but his background is in finance. It\u2019s nice to have people from different industries. And Ellis\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Ellis:<\/strong><span> I have a background in film journalism. What really attracted me to do <\/span><em><span>Pick a Piece<\/span><\/em><span> was that, when I was learning on the BFI Critic Mentorship program, I learned about interviewing and how to speak to a camera.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>How do you pick the topics you discuss on the show?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Zain:<\/strong><span> Firstly, I\u2019ll select the set. The writing would be relevant to whether it was a brand-new set or if it was a modular set. In the first episode, we build a jazz club, right? So if we\u2019re building an auditorium, we can talk about live shows. If you\u2019re building a cafe, you can talk about hospitality, the food industry, and food insecurity.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Ellis:<\/strong><span> Yeah, a big part of these topics are brought up by the set. But me and Zain are also constantly having conversations when making the set, and we\u2019re constantly putting our disagreements about things or our personal anecdotes in there. I think what\u2019s engaging is if [our audience] sees two people connecting, sharing stories and disagreeing in a really soft and safe way. We\u2019re not arguing or begging for attention; we\u2019re just talking like real people would. We try to take that part of our relationship and put that into a script for you guys.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>What are you excited about in the new episode?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Zain: <\/strong><span>We have some pretty crazy wild cards, like Ninajirachi and Jorja Smith. We are blindsiding people with that and the juxtaposition between them. We also have Slawn, who\u2019s someone from a different disciplinary background. We hope to expand that in the future as well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Pick a Piece Episode 3 <em>is out now<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"newsletter-inline-last\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-small\">\n<div class=\"inner\">\n<h1 class=\"newsletter-title\">Escape the algorithm! Get The Drop<\/h1>\n<div class=\"meta-row\">\n<p class=\"meta\">Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/privacy-policy\" class=\"meta-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\nPrivacy policy<br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"confirmation\" aria-live=\"polite\">\n<p class=\"confirmation-title\">Thank you. You have been subscribed<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/privacy-policy\" class=\"meta-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\nPrivacy policy<br \/>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.dazeddigital.com\/music\/article\/69677\/1\/pick-a-piece-lego-stop-motion-fakemink-jorja-smith-youtube-pa-salieu-jim-legxacy&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images-prod.dazeddigital.com\/1200\/341-0-1578-1052\/azure\/dazed-prod\/1430\/8\/1438037.png&#8221;] Illustration Harvey Wood (Credits: Bottom, Pick a Piece. The rest, proceed top left to right: Dave Benett\/Getty Images for The Standard, London; Ninajirachi promotional image; Prince Williams\/WireImage; video still; Gareth Cattermole\/Getty Images) February\u00a0 19,\u00a0 2026 Music \/ Q+A Music \/ Q+A The stop-motion Lego chat show starring all your favourite artists Hosts [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,76],"class_list":["post-1779468","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-dazeddigital-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1779468","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1779468"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1779468\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1779468"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1779468"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1779468"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}