Australian singer-songwriter Ernest Aines, known for his soulful melodies and introspective lyrics, recently joined us on The Feeling Sound Podcast to share stories from his musical journey and his recent European tour.
Ernest even treated us to a unique acoustic performance, unveiling a stripped-back version of one of his songs that captured the raw emotion and authenticity he’s known for.
Fresh from the tour, which wrapped up with a memorable show in Liverpool, Ernest shared stories from the road, reflecting on the energy of European audiences and the inspiration he found in each city he visited. This special acoustic session gave listeners a rare, intimate experience, highlighting the heartfelt connection he brings to both his live performances and recordings.
The Feeling Sound Podcast Season Three - Episode Five Raised in Glasgow and now living in the city of Toronto, guitarist Neil Clark played with many bands in his original home city, including
Newspeak with Alan McGee and Andrew Innes, before meeting Lloyd Cole and Blair Cowan, with the three forming the nucleus of Lloyd Cole and the Commotions.
They recorded three studio albums, Rattlesnakes, Easy Pieces and Mainstream, and Neil was co-writer of some of the groups best-known songs - Are You Ready To Be Heartbroken, Rattlesnakes and Lost Weekend, while also playing the multi-layered guitar coda to Forest Fire.
He has remained a regular collaborator with Lloyd Cole over the years, including contributions to his past two albums Guesswork and On Pain. In addition to his work with Cole, he has recorded with many other artists internationally. Recent projects include Lake and Sea with singer Theresa McKay, post-jazz trio Clark, Jones and Pottie and the solo album, Sundogs.- all of which can be found at neilclark.bandcamp.com.
We caught up with Neil at his Toronto home, where we talked about his incredible musical journey, the stories behind some of the tunes that make up the phenomenal Commotion’s back catalogue, touring … and above all else, what music means to him.
Cole Stacey is a songwriter, singer and musician who roams from the highest echelons of contemporary folk to legendary pop and new romantics, from live sessions on BBC Radio 2 to Glastonbury Festival and 6 Music.
Cole is also one-third of the band, India Electric Co. Where he plays bass, synths, mandolin and guitar.
Blending traditional instruments, folk melodies and subtle electronic influences, they’ve extensively toured throughout Europe, Australia and New Zealand, including the UK. Alongside bandmates Joseph O’Keefe and Russell Field, he’s just completed the ‘Voice and Visions Tour’, having played alongside Midge Ure for nearly 10 years.
India Electric Co. released ‘The Gap’ in 2020 with FRUK declaring them “one of the truly pioneering acts in folk music”.
They currently working on a new album, and are looking to release this in 2023.
Part Two of our chat with Malcolm Catto
Malcolm Catto is a musician and producer from the United Kingdom. He is best known as the founder and drummer of the jazz-funk group The Heliocentrics, who have released several acclaimed albums since their formation in 2005. Catto has also worked as a producer, collaborating with a range of artists from different genres, including Mulatu Astatke, Quantic, and DJ Shadow. He is highly regarded for his distinctive approach to rhythm and his ability to blend diverse musical styles.
For playlists and extras visit urbanistamagzine.uk
Malcolm Catto Is a drummer and record producer.
He co-founded and produced the English Psychedelic / Jazz experimental music group, The Heliocentrics.
Malcolm is the archetypal collaborator, and he’s worked alongside some of the world’s most diverse musical artists. As well as producing four Heliocentric albums, he’s also issued collaborations with DJ Shadow, Mulatu Astatke, Lloyd Miller, Orlando Julius all and Little Barrie.
Join me in Part One, as I talk to Malcolm about what music means to him, and his remarkable musical journey so far, as he winds his way home through the busy Dalston Market.
This is a two-part interview, which is available now.
Nick Kilroe decided to take up the drums at an early age, having seen his Dad with a pair of drumsticks, tapping away in his taxi cab.
He had lessons from the age of 11, and learnt his trade in the pubs and clubs around Liverpool.
He played with The Black Velvets, who released their debut album in 2005 and toured worldwide until 2007. Nick then joined Echo & The Bunnymen in 2007, fulfilling worldwide touring, television and recording commitments with the band for the next ten years.
He’s also worked with various other artists including Miles Kane, The Icicle Works, Ian McNabb and Poltergeist, to name but a few.
To this very day, you can occasionally still find Nick Kilroe drumming in his Dad’s cab.
Following the release of their second studio album ‘Delta Shakedown’ on Friday 20th October 2023, The Heavy North invited the Feeling Sound Podcast along to 3rd Planet Recording Studio in Liverpool for a catch-up.
We sat down with Kenny Stuart (Singer), Jose Ibanez (Producer/Guitarist), Andrew Horrocks (Bassist), Mark Rice (Drummer), Jack Birch (Guitarist) and Ste Penn (Keyboard player) to discuss the writing, recording and production behind ‘Delta Shakedown’ ahead of the band’s huge hometown headline show on Friday 1st December at the Camp and Furnace, Liverpool, where they’ll be performing live as a 12-piece band featuring the Norther String Quartet, brass section and backing singers.
Gregg Deal is a proud member of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe. He is a multi-disciplinary artist and activist, and he often describes himself as a "disruptor."
Through his artworks, paintings, murals, performance work, filmmaking, spoken word, and more, Deal invites the viewer to confront critiques of American society, politics, popular culture and history.
He describes his work as honouring Indigenous experiences, challenging stereotypes, and pushing for accurate representations of Indigenous people in art. Suffice it to say, it’s powerful stuff. It was a direct result of this one of these "disruptions", a gritty art installation performance piece entitled “The Punk Pan-Indian Romantic Comedy”, which saw him establish the band, Dead Pioneers, Gregg Deal of the Dead Pioneers with the intent to create original music for the performance piece, and beyond. The Dead Pioneers' first single, “Bad Indian” was heavily influenced by Gregg’s Indigenous voice, and solidly built on a “First Peoples” perspective. The band aren’t afraid to tackle hard political and social issues, standing in solidarity with Indigenous rights, Black rights, Brown rights, Asian rights, Gay rights, Trans rights, Workers rights and beyond. Dead Pioneers hits hard, with plenty of original material— From songs to spoken word with punk riffs.
We managed to line up an opportunity to speak online to Gregg at his Colorado home, where we asked him about his musical journey so far, his thoughts on the direction of The Dead Pioneers and above all else, what music means to him …
Mel Gaynor is one of the most renowned drummers in the world.
He’s sold over 60 million records during his 35 years playing with Simple Minds.
Gaynor began drumming from 11 years of age in London, England and did his first pro gig at age 14. In addition to drumming, he is active as a songwriter, lead vocalist and record producer. Mel considers The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, James Brown and the Mahavishnu Orchestra to be his main influences and inspiration to embed music as so fundamental in his life and career.
Perhaps best known by audiences for his incredible arena and festival around the world during his time with Simple Minds, it might come as a surprise to many of his fans that he’s also had a shining career as a session musician most notably with guitar gods Brian May, Gary Moore, and the likes of Elton John, Lou Reed, Tina Turner, Meat Loaf, Samson, The Pretenders, Jackson Browne, Little Steven, Robert Palmer, Joan Armatrading, Incognito, Imagination and Light of the World to name but a few of the luminary bands and solo artists Mel has worked with.
After leaving the hard rock band Samson (in which he played alongside future Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson) Gaynor joined Simple Minds in 1982 as a session drummer for the New Gold Dream album playing on six of the nine tracks, he then joined the band permanently from the New Gold Dream tour onwards, as a replacement for Mike Ogletree, enjoying a stunning period of achievements and playing on many multiplatinum albums, sellout stadium and arena tours, criss-crossing the USA and the globe over a 35 year period.
Mel is currently working with esteemed Record Producer and Mix Engineer, David Tickle, on what is surprisingly his debut solo album with the eponymous working title ‘Mel Gaynor’ which finds him song writing, singing lead vocals, with of course large helpings of his signature powerhouse drumming on what is already shaping up to be a typically triumphant return to Heavy Rock leaning towards perhaps a future Blues Rock album with some awesome guitar intensity.
Hello and welcome to Season Three of the Feeling Sound Podcast.This episode features Lee Harris, a guitarist probably best known for his connections to Ian Dury & The Blockheads, and subsequently with Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets. In his early twenties, Lee became a touring member and co-manager of Ian Dury & The Blockheads. After playing with the Blockheads for 12 years, Lee took a break from the music industry to renovate his French property. It was whilst undertaking these renovations that Lee attended a David Gilmour concert in 2015, with his long-term friend Guy Pratt.One of the most significant things to come out of this experience was that it left Lee determined to get back into playing again, and more importantly, he also came up with the idea of playing some of these early Pink Floyd tracks a bit more seriously. He eventually managed to approach Nick Mason, the original Pink Floyd drummer who unlike Roger Waters and David Gilmour hadn’t really toured much since 1994.The dream turned into a reality in 2018, when they formed Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets together, alongside fellow musicians, Guy Pratt, Dom Beken, and former Spandau Ballet guitarist Gary Kemp. The band's remit was to exclusively play those fantastic pre-Dark Side of the Moon, and Pink Floyd Albums, bringing these works to life again to a potentially much wider audience. They’re just about to embark on a whirlwind European tour throughout the whole of July, followed by an extensive Australian tour on September 23.I caught up with Lee to talk to him about his musical journey so far, what has been like to play alongside such musical legends, and also, most importantly, what music means to him…
Hello and welcome to another episode of the Feeling Sound Podcast.
We’re delighted to have you with us for this special episode, brought to you once again with the generous support of Kanaval Consultancy—An independent law firm specialising in corporate, commercial, and intellectual property legal services.
Today, we’re taking a trip down memory lane with a true musical legend, Michael B Sutton. Sutty, as he’s known, spent seven incredible years as a staff producer and writer at Motown Records, where he collaborated with some of the biggest heavyweights in the music industry.
Discovered by none other than Stevie Wonder himself, Sutty has composed and produced for icons like Michael Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, Smokey Robinson, Cheryl Lynn, and many more. With a career spanning over four decades, his portfolio boasts over 300 tracks, including the disco classic ‘Down to Love Town’ by The Originals.But Sutty isn’t slowing down.
Along with his wife Anissa, he has embarked on a campaign of new releases seeking to revive some of the classic sounds of that vibrant disco era—all infused with the uplifting Motown sound of the 1970s and the therapeutic qualities that funk brings with it.
This 'Funk Therapy,' as Michael calls it, is a true celebration of the healing power of music.We had the privilege of catching up with Sutton online at his Los Angeles studio, and we kicked things off by asking him about his earliest musical memories
Join host Mark Reeson on the latest episode of "The Feeling Sound Podcast," proudly presented by Urbanista Magazine, as he sits down with Peter Hooton, the charismatic lead singer of the iconic band The Farm.
Known for their timeless hits like "All Together Now" and "Groovy Train," The Farm has left an indelible mark on the music scene with their unique blend of alternative rock and dance music.
In this engaging conversation, Peter Hooton shares stories from his illustrious career, insights into the music industry, and the creative process behind some of The Farm's biggest hits. From the band's early days in Liverpool to their rise to fame in the '90s, Hooton provides a candid look at the highs and lows of life in the spotlight.
Listeners will also get an exclusive peek into Peter's current projects and his thoughts on the evolution of music over the years. Whether you're a long-time fan of The Farm or a newcomer to their music, this episode promises to be a fascinating journey through the mind of a true musical pioneer.
Tune in to "The Feeling Sound Podcast" for an episode filled with nostalgia, inspiration, and the timeless sound of The Farm. Don't miss this chance to hear from one of the most influential voices in alternative rock!
Episode Three features the professional drummer Joe Montage.
Joe appeared randomly appeared on my social media feed recently and I found his back story fascinating. He’s got his own studio in Leeds, from which he collaborates remotely with artists all over the world.
The other thing that caught my attention about Joe, is that he is obsessed with the drumming technique of Ringo Starr, as I found out when I spoke to him at his studio.
Zi Lan Liao is one of the leading exponents of Chinese music.
Her busy career on the international concert circuit, has resulted in her being one of the most widely heard and best appreciated performers on the Gu-Zheng worldwide. The Gu-Zheng is a twenty one string, harp like instrument established across thousands of years of Chinese Dynastic tradition.
She began to learn the Gu-Zheng at the age of three when she lived in Guangzhou. By the age of nine she was winning major prizes in China, including the prestigious National Youth Music Competition. By the time she left China for the UK at the age of fifteen, her reputation as a virtuoso performer was already established. She made an immediate impact on her arrival in the UK, by winning at the International Eisteddfod in Llangollen.
She continued her music studies at Chetham’s School of Music and the Royal Academy of Music, where she also specialised in the western concert harp, besides the traditional Chinese Gu-Zheng. Zi Lan has captivated audiences around the world as a soloist with leading orchestras, as a recitalist and through the joyous enthusiasm of her incredible musical workshops.
She recorded music for the Oscar-winning film “The Last Emperor”; she has collaborated with Peter Gabriel, Nigel Kennedy, Jah Wobble and other internationally known recording artists. Zi Lan has appeared at most of the major concert venues in the UK, including the Edinburgh, Aldeburgh and World Harp Festivals. In 1996, she featured as soloist in the World Premier of ‘The River’, where she played a Gu-Zheng Concerto with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Her collaboration with her husband, Jah Wobble – ‘Chinese Dub’ won the best ‘Cross-Cultural Collaboration 2009’.
In 2010, she performed with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra again, this time in Liverpool and at the Shanghai World Expo, playing on the new composition ‘Oxbow’ written by Ian Stephens. Zi Lan is deeply committed to making the music of her native country more well known in the West, and a desire to share her insight into its cultural and spiritual significance. Despite her busy performing schedule Zi Lan still finds time to assist the Pagoda Chinese Youth Orchestra and Dance Group in Liverpool, both as musician and choreographer.
Jah Wobble first worked with the Pagoda Chinese Youth Orchestra in 2008, and his album Chinese Dub won Songlines’ Best Cross Culture Album award in 2009. His work left a legacy for the youngsters at the time and inspired them to discover new fusions of Chinese music, with other modern genres. There is a ‘Celebration of Legacy Concert’, at the Tung Auditorium in Liverpool, on Saturday 15th July. The concert is a part of a wider series from Pagoda Chinese Youth Orchestra, marking their 40th anniversary with friends and supporters throughout the years. This concert will see Jah Wobble and his band performing with Tian, a band featuring his sons, John and Charlie, themselves two past alumni of the youth orchestra, showcasing the exciting new development of Chinese and Western fusion music.
St. Catherine’s Child is the pet project of transatlantic singer-songwriter Ilana Zsigmond. Born in England, to musical parents, Ilana spent the majority of her childhood in New Haven, Connecticut, USA bouncing back and forth between continents as her parents toured.
After settling back in the UK in 2015, she formed a band that reflects the Americana aesthetic that surrounded her throughout her childhood, with the articulation and dry-wit of her British sensibilities. Named for the Patron Saint of eloquent women, her vocal strength and poetic songwriting shine at the heart of St. Catherine’s Child.
We chat with Kenny & Jose from the Heavy North about their new track and gigs for 2023.
With an exclusive acoustic performance oi their new single 'where are you now', this is a must-watch interview for all Heavy North fans.
In episode 2 of the Feeling Sound Podcast Episode Mark speaks to the lead guitarist of Travis, Andy Dunlop.
Although Andy and I haven’t known each other that long, it feels like I’ve known him all my life. Once we started to talk, it was our mutual love of all things music that created a familiarity that made our conversation easy. When I spoke to Andy, it was easy. It was really easy to talk to him about the way music made him feel.
We recorded this podcast in the studios at LMA, right in the heart of Liverpool. As I started to set the equipment up, Andy asked me if he could play piano next door whilst I got ready and this was where our conversation began …
Read more about this fascinating podcast on the Urbanista Music Magazine website