The Independent’s music editor Roisin O’Connor invites musicians, producers and songwriters from all genres and walks of life into the studio, where her lively, engaging and warm interview style allows them to open up like never before.
Episodes delivered fortnightly.
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The Independent’s music editor Roisin O’Connor invites musicians, producers and songwriters from all genres and walks of life into the studio, where her lively, engaging and warm interview style allows them to open up like never before.
Episodes delivered fortnightly.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Zara Larsson has entered a new era. The Swedish pop star got her first taste of fame when she was just 10 years old, after winning the Swedish version of Got Talent back in 2008. Her single “Lush Life” catapulted her to international attention aged 17, the first of a series of hit singles including “Ain’t My Fault”, “Girls Like” with Tinie Tempah and “Ruin My Life”. Her fifth studio album, the dazzling Midnight Sun, was released in September 2025 ahead of her spot opening for Tate McRae on her Miss Possessive Tour. Still riding that high, she chats with Roisin about her pop girl status, the support she’s received from her peers and why she can’t help but fire back at the haters.
Subscribe to The Independent's music newsletter, Now Hear This here, to get your weekly dose of the latest news, music and artists grabbing Roisin's attention.
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Bret. Brit? Britney? Oscar and Grammy-winning Flight of the Conchords star, composer, musician and actor Bret McKenzie is back with his new album Freak Out City, a lush, psychedelic trip of a record that takes its cues from The Beatles and ELO. In this episode, he regales Roisin with tales of his touring misadventures (heard the one about the tour manager who misplaced $5,000?), explains why bakeries are dangerous territory for a Conchord ("baguette?") and reveals how a mischievous Sir Ian McKellen got him scolded by Peter Jackson on the set of The Hobbit. He and Roisin also discuss the perils of dating in a small town, the weird briefs he gets while composing music for Hollywood blockbusters, and whether he and Jemaine Clement are working on a FOTC reunion...
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Professor Stephanie Burt is described by The New York Times as "one of the most influential poetry critics of [her] generation", and in 2024 made headlines around the world when she offered a class at Harvard University titled "Taylor Swift and Her World". Her new book, Taylor's Version, is inspired by that course and offers in-depth critical studies of Swift's body of work for a wider audience. As the pop star releases her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, Professor Burt tells Roisin about how she first became drawn to Swift's songwriting and why she believes it's possible to make comparisons between her work and the poetry of Alexander Pope or William Wordsworth. She also picks her favourite Swift songs (currently) and unpacks "the two sides" of Swift: the relatable and aspirational.
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Kojey Radical doesn't rush greatness. His debut album, 2022's Reasons to Smile, received a spot on the Mercury Prize shortlist and plenty of critical acclaim to boot. Three years later, he's back with an even better work, Don't Look Down, which develops its predecessor's themes of fatherhood, Blackness, co-parenting, love, success and self-doubt. Seven years since they first met, he opened up to Roisin about why he's struggled to make relationships work and why, despite his fantastic career, he's still hit by feelings of imposter syndrome. They also dived into the making of Don't Look Down, which features an astonishing who's-who of some of the most talented musicians working today.
Subscribe to The Independent's music newsletter, Now Hear This here, to get your weekly dose of the latest news, music and artists grabbing Roisin's attention.
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Musician, DJ, author and Drag Race UK star Bimini was a standout contestant on the 2025 series of Channel 4's Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, taking part in gruelling challenges alongside fellow celebrities such as musician Lucy Spraggan, dancer Louie Spence and former Love Island contestant Adam Collard. Bimini had plenty to reflect on after their time in the show, while also discussing their recent remix of Anastacia's "Left Outside Alone" and the poignant interpretation of it - plus their ADHD diagnosis, views on gender and non-binary identity, and whether they have plans to write another book. Also, the Shakespearean appeal of reality TV.
Subscribe to The Independent's music newsletter, Now Hear This here, to get your weekly dose of the latest news, music and artists grabbing Roisin's attention.
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Caity Baser is spearheading a new wave of brilliant, bratty Gen-Z pop, but it wasn't an easy journey to get here. Her 2025 EP There, I Said It shows her at her most vulnerable, confessional self, delving into themes of trauma, healing, betrayal and love. In this candid conversation, she opens up to Roisin about how she's perceived by the public... and the side they don't know so well.
Subscribe to The Independent's music newsletter, Now Hear This here, to get your weekly dose of the latest news, music and artists grabbing Roisin's attention.
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Tim Minchin is an Australian musician, composer, lyricist, actor, director, writer and comedian. He wrote the lyrics and music to the Tony and Olivier Award-winning stage musical Matilda, as well as for the 2022 film adaptation starring Emma Thompson and Stephen Graham. In 2019, he co-produced, wrote, directed and starred in the comedy drama series Upright with Milly Alcock, returning for a second season in 2022. His latest album, Time Machine, was released in July 2025 to critical praise and a No 11 spot in the UK charts. In this revealing conversation, Tim speaks with Roisin about his fascinating career to date, his opinions on social shaming, religion and celebrity, his conflicted views on arts criticism and how he's depicted by critics, and why he enjoyed the divided reactions to his 2020 single 'I'll Take Lonely Tonight', about choosing fidelity over the opportunity to have sex with someone else.
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In this special one-off episode filmed at Montreux Jazz Festival, pop star JADE sat down with Roisin to speak about her thriving solo career, the pop icons who have inspired some of her recent singles, the place of politics at music festivals, her first dates with boyfriend Jordan Stephens, and her upcoming debut solo album, That's Showbiz Baby.
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Ólafur Arnalds is the renowned Icelandic composer behind works including his 2010 album ...And They Have Escaped the Weight of Darkness, and
2018's Re:member, as well as the scores for award-winning shows such as Broadchurch (2015) and Defending Jacob (2020).
His latest work, A Dawning, is a collaboration with the late Irish artist Eoin French, known to many as Talos, who died before they could finish the record together.
Arnalds completed it with help from friends, family and loved ones, intending it to serve as testament to his friend and collaborator's talent and unwavering spirit.
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UK rap legend Giggs joined Roisin on Good Vibrations to talk about his new single "Gorgeous" and how he gets over writer's block.
He also opened up about why he initially hesitated before sharing his son's own music with his followers, and reflected on some career highlights ahead of a busy summer.
Subscribe to The Independent's music newsletter, Hear This Now here, to get your weekly dose of the news, artists and features grabbing Roisin's attention.
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Skunk Anansie formed in London in 1994 and quickly asserted themselves as one of the UK's most pioneering and radical rock bands.
They're now back with their new album, The Painful Truth, recorded during a tumultuous period for the band and individual members.In a live recording of Good Vibrations, lead singer Skin spoke about the making of the album, the band's history-making headline slot at Glastonbury Festival in 1999, and her views on the modern music industry.
Subscribe to The Independent's music newsletter, Hear This Now here, to get your weekly dose of the news, artists and features grabbing Roisin's attention.
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Hey guys! We're taking a short break this week, as I'm running around at The Great Escape festival in Brighton, where The Independent has a stage, and also getting ready for Eurovision this weekend!
But, all is not lost. I'm speaking to Skin from Skunk Anansie LIVE on stage at The Great Escape, and we'll be recording that episode and releasing it right here for you to listen to.
Subscribe to The Independent's music newsletter, Hear This Now here, to get your weekly dose of the news, artists and features grabbing Roisin's attention.
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Kate Nash shot to fame in 2007 with her hit single “Foundations”, which featured on her No 1 debut album Made of Bricks. The Brit Award winner has since released further albums including 2013’s Girl Talk and her latest record, 2024’s 9 Sad Symphonies.
In a typically candid chat, she spoke with Roisin about her recent tour mishap, her headline-generating Butts for Tour Buses campaign, her issues with today’s music industry, and the very special performance she has planned for Mighty Hoopla 2025.
Subscribe to The Independent's music newsletter, Hear This Now here, to get your weekly dose of the news, artists and features grabbing Roisin's attention.
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A brief pause while we work on our next episode of Good Vibrations starring the brilliant Kate Nash.
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British pop singer Chesney Hawkes first shot to fame in 1991 when he was just 19 years old, with his debut single “The One and Only” turning him into a global teenage heartthrob.
In this candid and frequently emotional conversation with Roisin, Chesney opens up for the first time about a childhood trauma that inspired a song on his new album, Living Arrows, and reflects on his early experiences in the spotlight.
*This episode contains themes that listeners may find upsetting.
Subscribe to The Independent's music newsletter, Hear This Now here, to get your weekly dose of the news, artists and features grabbing Roisin's attention.
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After headlining sold-out shows at the Royal Albert Hall and the Roundhouse in London with his band The Cult for their 40th anniversary, Billy Duffy sits down with Roisin to talk about his early days as a key figure on Manchester's punk scene, hanging out with Morrissey and Johnny Marr, his bandmate Ian Astbury's "new lease of life", and his surprise forays into reality TV.
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Oscar and Golden Globe-winning composer Hans Zimmer caught up with Roisin about his new documentary film, Hans Zimmer & Friends: Diamond in the Desert, and reflected on his staggering career to date, as the man behind scores for films such as Inception, Gladiator, The Lion King and Dune.
Hans also discussed how he managed to overcome both stage fright and vertigo with some help from friends Johnny Marr and Pharrell, and shared the story behind his romantic on-stage proposal to his partner in 2023.
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American musician Banks shot to international fame upon the release of her critically adored 2014 album Goddess. Over a decade later, she has produced a string of successful albums including 2016's The Altar and III (2019), with her latest album, Off with Her Head, released at the beginning of 2025.
On Good Vibrations, she opens up about the making of her new record, overcoming feelings of anxiety and doubt, her recent move to Seattle from her hometown of Los Angeles, and the very awkward first date with her now-fiancé, Drew Snider.
Subscribe to The Independent's music newsletter, Hear This Now here, to get your weekly dose of the news, artists and features grabbing Roisin's attention.
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