American Symphony: A Conversation (Video Replay)

with Suleika Jaouad, Jon Batiste & Matthew Heineman

Hi friend,

Over the last few months, I’ve attended more than a dozen screenings of our documentary, American Symphony. It’s always surreal to see our lives projected on the big screen, but it was nothing like last night, when I got to see the Isolation Journals community’s reactions to the film in real time—what made you laugh, what made you cry, and how this wild ride of ours has moved you. What an honor it was to share this with you.

American Symphony is now available worldwide on Netflix. Also available is a video recording of the post-screening conversation with me, my husband Jon Batiste, and the brilliant Oscar-nominated director Matthew Heineman—you’ll find it below. I was so delighted to hear and answer your questions—and I have to say, they were by far the most heartfelt and thoughtful I’ve received since we began sharing the film with people. We got to talk about what Jon called “peak compartmentalization,” me learning to say “I’m not okay,” and how Matt squirreled his way into filming at the Grammys.

I am always in deep gratitude to this community, but today I feel especially so. American Symphony is an intimate story that follows Jon and me during our highest highs and our lowest lows. Sharing in this way often leaves me feeling exposed and raw—I call it “the vulnerability hangover.” But the support and love from this community is the perfect cure. I truly can’t thank you enough.

Sending love,
Suleika

A glimpse of our joyous conversation