‘Wide-ranging and insightful’ - Guardian (pick of the week, January 2024)
A show for anyone who has ever listened to, played, improvised, written, or just enjoyed music and wanted to know more about these mysterious sounds. Are they 'auditory cheesecake' as cognitive scientist Steven Pinker claims, or actually a fundamental part of what has made us into modern humans?
With an enormous variety of guests ranging from well-known musicians, producers and industry figures through to those for whom music is central but who rarely have a voice, this show is unapologetically broad in scope.
In 'entertaining noises', Steve has musicians explain and demonstrate their instrument, giving fresh perspective on everything from the piano to modular synthesizers, via lesser-known folk instruments from around the world.
And in the flagship 'genre tombola' section, Steve is assigned a randomly-chosen genre from the list of 1334 music genres on Wikipedia, which he then goes away and researches, often talking to an expert in that music, before frequently attempting to make some music in that style... Whether he succeeds or not, there's lots of fascinating stuff to learn along the way!
As fun as it is thoughtful, this show aims to help you hear and appreciate music in new ways.
http://www.originofthepieces.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
‘Wide-ranging and insightful’ - Guardian (pick of the week, January 2024)
A show for anyone who has ever listened to, played, improvised, written, or just enjoyed music and wanted to know more about these mysterious sounds. Are they 'auditory cheesecake' as cognitive scientist Steven Pinker claims, or actually a fundamental part of what has made us into modern humans?
With an enormous variety of guests ranging from well-known musicians, producers and industry figures through to those for whom music is central but who rarely have a voice, this show is unapologetically broad in scope.
In 'entertaining noises', Steve has musicians explain and demonstrate their instrument, giving fresh perspective on everything from the piano to modular synthesizers, via lesser-known folk instruments from around the world.
And in the flagship 'genre tombola' section, Steve is assigned a randomly-chosen genre from the list of 1334 music genres on Wikipedia, which he then goes away and researches, often talking to an expert in that music, before frequently attempting to make some music in that style... Whether he succeeds or not, there's lots of fascinating stuff to learn along the way!
As fun as it is thoughtful, this show aims to help you hear and appreciate music in new ways.
http://www.originofthepieces.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week, Steve shares a powerful, surprising, and often jaw-dropping conversation with musician, composer and activist Jono Enser.
Jono is a gifted multi-instrumentalist and a member of Nubiyan Twist, but he’s also a disabled artist whose recent experiences as an amputee have sparked a radical rethinking of performance, access, and the body as instrument — quite literally. Together, they explore:
Plus, Steve shares a clip from his Ocean Songs sunrise performance at Benacre Broad — part of his work with the Blue Machine project, inspired by Dr. Helen Czerski’s oceanography book of the same name.
There’s a lot packed in here, and it’s one of the most wide-ranging and deeply personal episodes yet.
🎟 Jono’s band Nubiyan Twist are touring this summer – check them out.
🎶 His solo project Matters Unknown is also worth diving into.
🎤 Steve is performing live at ALSO Festival and on July 11th at the National Maritime Museum with Blue Machine – see originofthepieces.com for details.
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🧡 Support the podcast and get exclusive content at:
patreon.com/StevePrettyOnTheOriginofthePieces
🎧 Listen, watch, share and review: it all helps the podcast grow.
📍 More info at originofthepieces.com
00:00 – Welcome back + Acid Brass recap
Steve introduces the episode and reflects on his recent chat with Jeremy Deller.
02:00 – Meet Jono Enser
Jono’s musical upbringing, his shift from trumpet to tuba, and the spiritual resonance of breath.
07:00 – Life as a touring amputee
The hidden and not-so-hidden barriers for disabled musicians on the road.
10:00 – Access is everywhere (or isn’t)
From venue layouts to door weights and bar heights — access means more than ramps.
14:00 – What artists and venues can actually do
Practical steps, responsibility, and why checking access before the gig matters.
18:00 – Ocean Songs interlude
Steve shares a clip from his beachside dawn performance as part of the Blue Machine project.
23:00 – A flute made from his own amputated leg
Jono’s extraordinary project connecting trauma, ancestry, and sonic experimentation.
28:00 – Resonance, ritual, and reclaiming space
Caves, Ambisonics, somatic practice and ecological listening.
32:00 – Music as breath and transformation
Why giving pain a voice — literally — matters.
36:00 – What’s the point of music?
Jono’s heartfelt answer to Steve’s recurring question.
40:00 – Wrap-up and upcoming gigs
Tour dates, ALSO Festival, and National Maritime Museum performance previews.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.