To my friend, Ultan! I loved our intimate conversation about music, life, and the new album Only! Thank you for sharing your entertaining stories--from playing with Jackson Brown and opening for John Fogerty, to a near-miss with a Paramount placement song on a Netflix movie — and how those moments shaped your career in some capacity.  The conversation dug into craft: songwriting as the true "currency" of music, ideas for breaking the sameness (Rick Rubin's idea), and the completion phase of a record — knowing when to stop refining and let the work go--not always easy for an artist. You spoke practicality about running a small coffee trailer in rural Ireland as a social creative reset, balancing multiple live projects, and the realities of touring and record promotion. I love that you're in search of staying fresh with new ideas.  Thank you for talking about some of your sweet tunes, the intimate mixing choices that made your voice more intimate, and your approach to being vulnerable on record. And like a good Paul Thomas Anderson film, your music always keeps my interest at a high level. Cheers, for always being so delightful and genuine!Follow Ultan Conlon: https://ultanconlon.com/Follow Surprise Cast: Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, SpotifyAdditional music by John Douglas (Trashcan Sintras): https://johndouglas.bandcamp.com/album/john-douglas-2023    

Dear Rob,It was a real pleasure having you on Surprise Cast. I loved our talk about your supportive parents, early garage bands, formative concerts with your father, and your amazing new album. The episode dug into Oakland’s music life — the good, the rough edges, and the small venues that matter — and also highlighted your tremendous respect for Dandy Boy Records and label founder Bobby Martinez as a grassroots champion for a new jangle-pop/indie revival. He certainly does incredible work! Central to the interview was a deep look at The Goods’ new album Don't Spoil the Fun, including the story behind the album cover, the long, songwriting and recording process, a period of losing and regaining your voice, and the decision to strip some tracks back to basics. I love how you can hear the faint Influences from band such as The Posies, The Byrds, Teenage Fanclub and 60s British pop thread throughout the record, but still claim your own unique sound. You're quite adept at writing such beautiful melodies.  Overall, I thought our conversation was candid, warm-hearted, and optimistic that will appeal to fans of sparkling power-pop, jangly indie, and anyone curious about the craft behind such a heartfelt record. Thanks for delivering the podcast goods!Follow The Goods: https://www.instagram.com/the_goods_music/ Follow Dandy Boy Records: https://dandyboyrecords.bandcamp.com/artists Other music included in the podcast by:https://greenday.com/  

Dear Ryan and Rebecca,Many thanks for joining me on Surprise Cast. I enjoyed our chat. You traced your paths from childhood — eastern Los Angeles, Santa Cruz, and Marin —in an interesting way. I loved hearing about your musical influences, including Daryl Hall & John Oates, Cocteau Twins, Depeche Mode, and Skinny Puppy--so many bands that I love!It was cool learning how Halou formed in the early '90s and listening to your reflections on the music scene, gender dynamics in the industry, life in Santa Cruz, and what being authentic means to you.  The conversation turned to craft and creativity: Ryan, you explained your hands‑on, attention to detail approach to making music, and Rebecca, you described how you found emotional entry points for lyrics and how your voice has changed and matured over time.   Keep up the great work. I feel "Wiser" whilst listening to your music!Follow Halou: https://www.halou.com/ Follow Surprise Cast: Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, SpotifyArtists included on the podcast:Yellowman: https://music.youtube.com/channel/UC84S9jo6JOt7mNKGxBgSXQQ Skinny Puppy: https://skinnypuppy.com/  

Dear Grace and Eva,In this episode, I welcomed you for a lively return to Surprise Cast. The conversation began with playful Halloween icebreakers and costume memories before discussing the band’s recent UK tour, memorable onstage moments, and the variety of bands you played with, including indie legends Camera Obscura. Amazing! The bulk of the episode focused on your sparkling self-titled debut album. You had mentioned producers Jonny Scott (Chvrches) and Simon Liddell (Frightened Rabbit) gave the two of you creative freedom while providing important suggestions (better snare parts, cymbal choices, etc.). You kindly described the songwriting process, preference for short, punchy, punky songs. It really is a special album! I loved that you two geeked out on musical equipment and explained how you prepare for shows, connect with fans at merch, and stay grounded despite growing attention. Your parents did a beautiful job instilling terrific values in you. You touched on charities and benefits you played for, the labels behind the release (Skep Wax and Slumberland), and plans to record more and tour (including hopes to play the U.S., with visa and cost hurdles). Let's make it happen! Keep up the hard work. You have so much left in the creative tank!Follow The Cords: https://www.instagram.com/the.cords_band?igshid=NjIwNzIyMDk2Mg%3D%3D Follow Skep Wax Records: https://www.skepwax.com/ Follow Slumberland Records: https://slumberlandrecords.com/ Follow Surprise Cast: Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, Spotify  

Dear James,I'm thankful that you returned to Surprise Cast for a third time; that means a great deal to me. I had a wonderful time celebrating the spirit of Halloween, as well as enjoying an old Maps tune and your new album, 'Welcome to the Tudor Gate'.  You explained how the project began — moving into a new house near a "creepy" old inn, vintage photographs (from dad) that conjured spooky imagery, and a decision to build a continuous, soundtrack‑style journey in chapters. What a great concept! I know the new/old album will serve as both a seasonal listening experience and an album suitable for any time of year. Thank you for keeping listeners and me updated on the ongoing work of Maps, including mixing and production projects, and for sharing your plans to continue evolving while remaining true to your incredible sonic electronic DNA. You're always a breath of fresh air, continuing to make music that matters and soothes the soul. Follow Maps: https://thisismaps.com/ Follow Mute Records: https://mute.com/ Follow Surprise Cast: Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, or Spotify

Dear Jonathan,I loved our chat on Surprise Cast. Thank you for making it authentic and intimate. I learned a great deal about your craft regarding being a photographer and film writer--two things that you're quite good at doing.It was cool to learn about your path from Pennsylvania to Los Angeles, early work with concert promoters, and long and collaborative relationship with Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails.   You provided wonderful insight into live performance and stage design including concept sketches for the NIN 'Self-Destruct' tour. Thank you for sharing your personal reflections on touring with Trent, capturing the exhaustion and intensity of long runs, and why collaboration is essential to ambitious live shows. Who can forget your hilarious story about Andy Warhol? The conversation also dove into identity, fear and courage — how your fluid sense of self helped you fit into intense creative communities and how you learned to move past fear to take the images you felt were important. So interesting! Keep up the inspirational work. Your eye for high art is one-of-a-kind. Follow Jonathan: https://jonathanrach.com/ Follow Nine Inch Nails: https://www.nin.com/Episode music includes by Vitamin Piano Series: https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-piano-tribute-to-nine-inch-nails/1000955308Episode also includes music by Nine Inch Nailshttps://music.apple.com/us/album/hesitation-marks-deluxe-version/655150306  

Dear Sice and Tim,It was a fun, engaging, and relaxed conversation on Surprise Cast. I loved our playful icebreaker topics about childhood memories of Halloween traditions and horror movie favorites--and the Tigger outfit!It was cool hearing you reflect candidly on the making of the 1995 album, "Wake Up!" and its aftermath. Hearing you two recall studio tensions between ambition and execution, and how the radio-friendly song, "Wake Up, Boo" reshaped your career positively and negatively.  Your announcement of the upcoming tour, new music plans, and a new single was shared with great enthusiasm. It was easy to pick up on the gratitude you feel toward long-time fans. Overall, the episode included some real personal moments, studio anecdotes, and a great invitation to revisit some of the most glorious alternative pop music. You've made some giant steps in your long career, and here's to many more!Follow The Boo Radleys: https://www.thebooradleys.com/ Follow Surprise Cast: Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, or SpotifyOther music included:Johnny Mathis: https://johnnymathis.com/wp2/New Order: https://www.neworder.com/  

Dear Stefanos,Thank you from the bottom of my heart for joining me on Surprise Cast for the third time. You're a great songwriter and bassist for the band. I had a wonderful time discussing many interesting topics with you.  I loved hearing about your influences, such as Nirvana, Ride, Depeche Mode, The Chameleons, and Interpol, also your musical upbringing in Greece, and how specific songs affected you during different phases of your life. Our conversation went into the making of the album 'Luv', including the decision to pursue a rougher, more textured rhythm section and fuzzier guitars, and Vanna’s expanded and gorgeous vocal lines. We talked about the album artwork from Typical Organization (the bright pink vinyl and interactive sleeve that shifts color), and the do-it-yourself spirit behind the band's music video. Thank you for sharing your gratitude for the label support from Shelflife Records, as well as the challenges of bringing the band’s live show abroad, personal concerns about AI in music and your hopeful plans for singles in 2026 and a new album by 2027. Exciting! It was an intimate and warm conversation, my friend. Your heart is filled with love—as it always expresses with so much creativity and colour. Follow Sugar for the Pill: https://linktr.ee/SugarForThePill Follow Surprise Cast: Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, or SpotifyOther music by...The Chameleons: https://chameleonsband.com/ Interpol: https://www.interpolnyc.com/ Aphrodite's Child: https://vangelis.online/themes/thestoryofaphroditeschild

Dear Minaxi,What a great time I had speaking with all of you on Surprise Cast. I really enjoyed our conversation about technology, collaboration, and the making of your superb album, 'Z of A'. I loved how we opened up our discussion about artificial intelligence, its creative limitations, and accountability. It was interesting to hear the varying opinions.  Thank you for allowing me to use the educational framework to pose questions. You all handled them with great precision and aplomb. Diving into Z of A was so much fun. I loved hearing your personal takes on key album tracks, along with the behind the scenes in terms of stereo staging, instrumental voicings, etc.  I'm excited about your future creations.  Keep making the music you believe in and let the work speak for itself. Your musical intelligence will always be admired. Follow Minaxi: https://minaxitheband.com/ Follow Surprise Cast: Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, or Spotify  

Dear Jem,I'm elated that we had the opportunity to chat. I really enjoyed hearing your reflections on so many interesting topics!We covered your experience of fatherhood and the important relationship with your son, which included how parenting reshaped priorities, lessons about supporting a sensitive teenager, navigating education, "failure" as a learning milestone, and how to balance encouragement with letting a child find their own path. I greatly respect this approach :).   It was fascinating to hear your honest thoughts on how technology and AI impact creativity and education. You described AI as a powerful tool for research and music production but also warned about its risks: the danger of bypassing critical thinking, the potential decline of humanities studies, and the social and political forces shaping how knowledge is shared.  Thank you for pulling back the curtains with your stories behind The Wild Swans. You provided honest accounts of the inspiration behind the album, recording details, and gigs. You explained the origins of the B-side “Holy Holy,” its distinctive drum sound, and why certain production choices were made — which were quite ear-opening to hear. I loved hearing your memories about music videos, including "Young Manhood" and "Bible Dreams".  This conversation was deep, thoughtful, and warm. You brought the English charm, which added variety to the table. You delivered sharp observations and opinions with Jem Kelly passion. Thanks for keeping the spirit of humanity alive!Follow Jem Kelly: https://x.com/BrotherPlukkerMore Wild Swans: https://www.paul-simpson.co.uk/  

Dear Ian,Thank you for coming back to Surprise Cast!I truly enjoyed our chat about music, family, and the creative process behind your magnificent work. It was wonderful to hear about your sharp reflections on journalism and songwriting. I also appreciated hearing your perspective on the significance of Robert Redford's work. I didn't realize All the President's Men had such an impact on you, but that makes complete sense considering your love for journalism. Our conversation about fatherhood was fascinating. You candidly opened up memories of raising your children, the role your parents played in molding your values, and the sweetness of singing with your son. I loved hearing such pride in your voice. We dug into the magnificent 2024 album, Gas 'N' Air, including the album cover, recording process, and standout songs. You articulated reflections so clearly, which made the learning of the album even more ear-opening. You deserved all of the glowing comments from critics and fans! Thanks again for taking the listeners and me on a wonderful storytelling experience. It felt so intimate and warm, just like one of your Balloon songs!Follow Ballon:  https://www.patreon.com/Balloontheband https://balloontheband.bandcamp.com/ https://balloontheband.com/ Follow Surprise Cast: Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, or Spotify

Dear Tim,I'm glad we finally connected and had a conversation about music and life on Surprise Cast.The discussion covered Jeff Tweedy's (Wilco) ideas about focusing on verbs rather than nouns, the importance of process, and the creative “lightning bolt” moments that happen when inspiration meets preparation. You shared your past struggles as a young musician, how parenthood and teaching influenced your work, and why you prioritize being a decent person over fame. Very admirable. I enjoyed hearing your thoughts on your latest album, Vide Grenier, the joy of recording with trusted collaborators, and the pride you take in completing a record you're happy with.Thank you for sharing your gentle and insightful voice with the world - it will always feel quite soothing!Follow Tim Keegan: https://www.instagram.com/meekgiant/ https://linktr.ee/timkeeganmusic Follow Surprise Cast: Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, or Spotify

Dear Chris,It was an exhilarating experience to have you on Surprise Cast! I loved learning about your upbringing in Brighton, family life, deep musical influences, and how dyslexia affected your life in both positive and negative ways.We discussed your formative years at art college and your extraordinary friendship with Vaughan Oliver and 4AD, along with behind-the-scenes stories from key album cover projects (Wolfgang Press, Throwing Music, Modern English, Kim Deal, Unrest, and Lush). I enjoyed hearing about your collaborations and conceptual ideas for album covers. From one former teacher to another, it was a pleasure learning why you fell in love with teaching and how you've built a strong classroom community where students feel comfortable being themselves.The podcast audience can look forward to a warm, honest conversation about your creative process, memorable stories, and key insights for music fans, graphic artists, and educators. You always have a way of making the ordinary extraordinary!.Follow Chris Bigg: https://www.chrisbigg.com/Follow Surprise Cast: Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, or SpotifySome podcast music courtesy of Lush, Unrest, Belly, Harry Nilsson, and Piroshka:https://4ad.com/artists/l https://piroshka.bandcamp.com/album/love-drips-gathershttps://harrynilsson.com/  

Dear Vox,Thank you for participating in the Surprise Cast show. Our intimate conversation about life on the road, creative rebirth that manifested during Covid, and your sharp perspective on self-awareness/personal growth was such an honor to hear. I loved listening to your musical influences, including T-Rex, The Fall, and The Beatles. Hearing your relationship to Manchester and how other cities shaped you was quite interesting. Thank you for opening up about family influences, including your mother's love of literature and your father's sporting nature. I greatly appreciated hearing your in depth analysis of the new album, 'Arctic Moon'. You provided insight into collaborations with other band members, production, and song highlights. It sounded like wonderful chemistry! I'm grateful for your openness about mental health, vulnerability, and the healing process. Keep sharing your voice and truth--there are many old and new Chameleons' fans that appreciate it!Follow Chameleons: https://chameleonsband.com/home Follow: https://metropolis-records.com/ Follow Surprise Cast: Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, or SpotifyFollow Hels Millington Photography: https://www.instagram.com/helsmillphotography/ Other podcast music contributions include The Fall https://thefall.org/  

Dear Highspire,Our episode did a solid job discussing the band's arc--from your Philly roots and many-year hiatus to the creation of your awesome new album, 'Crushed'. A must own!I enjoyed learning about your cinematic influences, including Steven Spielberg and Stanley Kubrick. Our talk delved into music influences such as My Bloody Valentine, Stone Roses, The Charlatans, and more. You spoke candidly about tremendous personal obstacles that reshaped your vision for your craft: lineup changes, setbacks,  career transitions, and the pandemic in 2020.  I enjoyed hearing your analysis of your new album, including amazing songs that tackle themes of repetition, haunting, and identity. By the way, the album is quite intimate and sonically rich.  Thank you again for the heartfelt storytelling and behind-the-scenes accounts of your friendship and songwriting. You've taken grief, resilience and produced something that is a great comeback. Now that's what I call gifted and talented. Follow Highspire: https://highspire.bandcamp.com/music Follow Surprise Cast: Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, or Spotify

Dear David,I had such a wonderful time connecting with you. We explored many important topics such as cultural trauma, family history (what a story), and of course, your everlasting love for music and business.  Hearing your personal reflections on how 9/11 affected you in both a positive and negative manner was quite interesting. Listening to your vulnerable story about being adopted and how it informed your approach to fatherhood was spellbinding. I know the listeners will get a kick about your love for bands such as The Cure, The Police, Chicago, Dead Can Dance, Peter Gabriel, and the mighty U2.   Finally, hearing about your life as an entrepreneur, starting up Discology in Reno, was a blast. Your store's eclectic stock (vinyl, CDs, laserdisc, cassettes, and more) makes it all the more special.  I believe listeners can hear the emotional, candid conversation that pulls together amazing confessions and great storytelling. You have a way of reminding us why music and the human connection truly matter. Follow Discology: https://discologyreno.com/ Follow Surprise Cast: Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, or Spotify Podcast music included:- Slowdive (Crazy for you)- Piano Covers (With or Without you)- Mark Rolfe (Burying the Dead)

Dear Marina,I'm grateful for our conversation. Thank you for joining me on Surprise Cast. I had a great time discussing topics with you. It was fun learning about how you were raised across multiple countries and the story behind your name. All of these things inform your artistic perspective. I enjoyed listening to your early musical memories, chanting along in your father's car and finding your energy by listening to musicians such as Vanessa Carlton and Britney Spears. It was interesting to learn about evolving from acoustic songwriting to dipping your feet into the pool of dreampop/shoegaze music. Thank you for giving the listener an analysis of your gorgeous songs. Fun! Thank you for being candid about your creative output and the paradoxes that accompany it, including the blend of exploration and perfectionism. Your attention to detail, reflections on culture, and honesty will continue to serve you well in your music career. Authenticity is the name of your game, never commercial compromise!Follow Marina: https://linktr.ee/marinayozoraFollow Surprise Cast: Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, and Spotify*Music included in this episode by Daughter and Six Pence None the Richer

Dear Laura and Liam,Thank you for joining me for Part 2. I had a blast deep diving into the band James: their B-sides, priceless live moments, upcoming North America tour, and James Fanzone. Listening to your numerous concert experiences, it's clear that their shows never feel the same twice, with different setlists each night, and spontaneous actions by band members on stage, which was amusing to hear. The heartbeat of our conversation was a guided tour through favourite B-sides. I won't mention our selections. We are clearly excited about their upcoming North American tour, and maybe we'll get a chance to hear some of these gems.  Whether you’re a long time James devotee or a curious newcomer, expect stories, song picks, and plenty of reasons to revisit the band’s B-sides and live performances, don't you think this episode has something for every listener to enjoy?I'll leave you with one more question. What will part 3 be about? Follow Laura: https://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/ Follow Jamesfanzone: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1523750017780710 Follow James: https://wearejames.com/ Follow Surprise Cast: Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, or Spotify

What a wonderful conversation! Thank you so much for sharing about your life and artistry. I love learning how family and great music influence your creative work. I appreciate how our discussion flows smoothly between music culture, visual art, and personal stories. And I truly value hearing your honest memories of your parents and how your father's work ethic and independence have impacted you. Your art is lively, innovative, and healing, as I've seen in your collaboration with Tim Burgess, frontman for the band The Charlatans. Keep bringing light and positive energy to our dark and troubled world. It's quite therapeutic. Follow Ben O'Brien: https://www.ben-obrien.com/ Follow Tim Burgess: https://www.timburgessofficial.com/ Follow Tim Burgess Listening Parties: https://timstwitterlisteningparty.com/ Follow Surprise Cast: Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, or Spotify. Additional music by- Tim Burgess- Charlie Parker- Matt Owens- Erroll Garner

Dear Miki and Ollie,Thank you for a wide-ranging and entertaining conversation! I enjoyed our discussion on your magnificent new album, Tripla, your upcoming North America tour, friendship, and of course, the creative collaboration. You brought wonderful and belly-tickling laughter, sharing candid stories and behind the scenes insight into life on the road and in the studio. It was fun hearing about van rides and late-night driving playlists, indelible concert moments. Many thanks for digging deeper into Tripla songs that provided a lens into the creative process. So cool!Congratulations on your success - here's to more great music and live shows!Follow MB3: https://mikistuff.com/ Follow Air Cooled: https://linktr.ee/aircooled?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaeI52HE6XQ8KgDm-ZVNjN9CNScRF0FUpi4NHk3BZ-eDP-zHsJ9H6yXvB0E5OQ_aem_7gTOoB6J8AIHNIjsLl_fMA Follow Surprise Cast: Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, or Spotify