Stereo Embers: The Podcast

“When I Hear The Music” Indira May has the kind of voice that will bring you to your knees. Self-possessed, sonorous and imbued with the kind of phrasing that’s so emotionally precise it almost feels supernatural, May is a revelation. Her new EP Simpler Things is a ravishing blend of trip-hop, jazz and indie soul—trust us: it's a straight up stunner and one listen makes it clear that for this artist the sky is indeed the limit. And, Indira’s got her own music and production company called Trash Films and Music and her company is really one to watch. Yes, she’s learned by having cool parents and paying attention to their work ethic and their grace, but Indira is now making her own mark on the music world and setting examples of her own. Now a while back we had her dad Tim May on the program—Tim was in a band in the '80s called The Righteous Boys that signed with CBS, and after that band ended he went on to become a filmmaker, making documentaries for the BBC’s multi-award winning arts strand Arena. There his subjects included Paul McCartney and folk legend, Ewan MacColl; He runs Strange Films and Music with his wife, the writer and director Karen Stowe—they produce films for agencies, brands and companies. And they make documentaries. Their latest is You Can’t Go Back, which is a fabulous movie about Del Amitri and if you think Tim sounds busy, he is. His band Aliens are set to release their brilliant new album and we could go on and on about Aliens because we love them, but there’s so much Aliens news happening, we’ll revisit it on a future show. In this chat, Indira talks to us about her vision for Trash Films And Music, growing up feeling supported in her music by her parents and how she triumphed over adversity to film the winning video for the EP’s first single, “When I Hear The Music.” www.trashfilmsandmusic..com www.strangefilmsandmusic.com www.bombshellradio.com Stereo Embers Twitter: @emberseditor Instagram: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com

“Fretted And Moaning” The British-born Andy Summers started loading up his musical CV at the age of 16 when, inspired by seeing Thelonious Monk and Dizzy Gillespie live in London, the young guitarist set out on the road and the road welcomed him warmly. After a few years playing live in local clubs, he moved to London and helped form Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band. From there, Summers joined Soft Machine and toured the U.S. for a few months, then joined the Animals for one record, 1968’s Love Is. He took a break from the rock and roll lifestyle to study classical guitar fat Cal State Northridge. After graduation, he moved back to London, played with Kevin Coyne, Joan Armatrading, Neil Sedaka, and Keven Ayers. Summers joined the Police in 1977 and Summers life was, putting it mildly, never the same. The Police put out five albums, sold 80 million of them, won six Grammys, toured the world and at one point in 1983 they were arguably the biggest band on the planet. They went on hiatus in '86, came back 22 years later for a massively successful tour, then officially called it a day in August of 2008. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees remain one of the most successful bands of all time. As for Summers, he never stopped working. He’s put out close to 15 solo albums, collaborated on record with with Robert Fripp, John Etheridge, Toni Childs, Carly Simon and Sting, did the soundtracks for The Wild Life and Down and Out In Beverly Hills, put out several books of photography, and published a fabulous autobiography called One Train Later. Andy’s new book Fretted And Moaning is a fabulous collection of short stories where the main character, common denominator, thematic through-line, hero and villain is the guitar. Filled with the ego-driven, the confident, the unconfident, the winners, the losers, the girls, the boys, the hopes, the dreams, the disappointments, the hilarious and the tragic, Fretted and Moaning is written with the kind of narrative velocity that will make you finish it in one sitting. It’s hilarious, it’s hopeful, it’s sad, it’s comforting and it’s alive with aspiration, inspiration and heart. It also showcases Summers’ brilliant ear for dialect and dizzying narrative control. In this discursive and engaging chat, the legendary musician talks to Alex about his new book, and they veer effortlessly off course to chat about Kraftwerk, reggae and reading The Odyssey…. https://andysummersbook.com https://rocket88books.com/products/fretted-and-moaning-signature-edition https://www.andysummers.com www.bombshellradio.com www.alexgreenonline.com STEREO EMBERS THE PODCAST Twitter: @emberspodcast Instagram: @emberseditor

"Heart Shaped Scars" The Scottish born Dot Allison made her initial splash in music fronting the indie dance band One Dove. They only put out one record—-1993’s Morning Dove White—but if you were a band that was only going to put one record out, Morning Dove White would be the perfect choice. A dizzying blend of hypnotic electronica and pulsing melodic pop, Morning Dove White is an undeniable classic. From there, Allison launched her solo career, putting out the wondrous album Afterglow in 1999. Since then, she’s put out several solo efforts, including We Are Science, Exaltation of Larks and her brand new one, which is also her first in 12 years, Heart Shaped Scars. Along the way she's collaborated with everyone from Paul Weller to Pete Doherty to Scott Walker to Kevin Shields. A sonorous collection of hypnotic indie folk that’s punctuated by dreamy and dedicated melodies, Heart Shaped Scars is one of the most stirring and quietly riveting collections of the year. Filled with lyrics that are informed by botany, philosophy, and the organic behavior of the natural world, its an album that’s intricate, and personal, yet also decidedly universal. Perhaps Allison’s botanist father planted the seeds for her interest in the behaviors of the natural world and perhaps her musician mother inspired her to pursue music. Those wouldn’t be illogical conclusions. But that only scratches the surface of the area Alison is exploring on this record. A Whitmanic approach to the natural world has found her digging in to what makes things connect both consciously and unconsciously. When Whitman writes "For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you," that’s what she’s after. Connection. Awareness. The living intelligence of the natural world that provides patterns and templates that stretch from the past to the un-lived future. This conversation is pure joy and it addresses connectivity, collaboration and....leaf blowers.... www.dotallison.com https://sarecordings.com/artist/166560-dot-allison www.bombshellradio.com www.alexgreenonline.com Stereo Embers The Podcast on Twitter: @emberseditor Instagram: @emberspodcast EMAIL: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com

“Meet Me On Another Day” From the mid-‘80s to about 1993, David Long used to front the Dublin band Into Paradise. Filled with moody rhythms, dark melodies and churning choruses, their work brought to mind that of Echo and the Bunnymen and The Sound. Sure enough, Adrian Borland of The Sound produced their second album Churchtown. Made up of David, Rachel Tighe, James Eadie and Ronan Clarke, Into Paradise were a spellbinding outfit whose songs were urgent and yearning. But they only put out two albums Under The Water and Churchtown and aside from a handful of great singles in the early 90s, that was that. In '96 Long and his childhood pal Shane O’Neil who fronted the band Blue In Heaven, teamed up for an album under the moniker Supernaut. The two friends had also been in bands together before, so working with each other was a natural thing. And then Long kind of stepped away for a bit. A bit being like 20 years or so. After a series of winning solo albums, he and O’Neil started writing and recording together in 2018 or so and that collaboration yielded loads of new material. So much so, in fact, that their new EP Far From Home is out now and their new album Moll and Zeiss is forthcoming. The new material is a nervy blend of The Go Betweens, The Triffids' Born Sandy Devotional and the Jesus and Mary Chain. It’s some of the most riveting work we've heard by anyone in years. And David Long? One of the nicest dudes around. You’re going to dig this chat. David Long Links: https://linktr.ee/DavidLong_ShaneONeill Www.bombshellradio.com www.alexgreenonline.com Stereo Embers on Twitter: @emberseditor Instragram: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com

“Worth The Wait” The New Zealand poet John Allison once wrote: “In dividing the light, things are seen. And we notice ourselves.” That division of light and ensuing glimpse of ones true self is the perfect description of the work of one of Allison’s native New Zealanders, Elroy Finn. Finn’s debut solo album, simply titled Elroy, is a shimmering collection of sonorous indie pop that manages to be both spare and textured at the same time. Finn is a master of musical light division and his work is brimming with low-fi folk, thoughtful psychedelia, pure poetry, and a lot of heart. Finn is no stranger to the stage, having toured with Wild Nothing and his brother Liam, and as part of his dad’s band Crowded House. But in crafting the gentle song cycle of his album, Elroy Finn took a long look at himself and that kind of honest introspection yielded results that are both intimate and universal. The songs are bleached in sun, doused in surf and then coaxed into the clouds, where they hang as resplendent as stars. Catchy, bewitching and infectious in the most deviously subversive of ways, Elroy is a revelation—an artistic triumph that’s as charming as it is beguiling. www.grandphony.com www.bombshellradio.com www.alexgreenonline.com Stereo Embers The Podcast: Twitter: @emberseditor Instagram: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com

“The Coronation” The Massachusetts-born Seth Glier is a musician who’s no stranger to the road, with a regular touring schedule that usually finds him playing close to 250 shows a year. But when lockdown locked into place in 2020, Glier found himself where we all found ourselves—at home. Watching the chaos outside while fostering stillness inside was the foundational element to the creation of his sixth album The Coronation. Built on the idea of reconciliation and repair, The Coronation is a stirring song cycle that’s filled with poetic precision and melodic smarts. With subject matter ranging from the death of John Prine to systemic inequality to a plea for gun control, The Coronation is a powerful and moving entry in Glier’s already winning discography. The Grammy Award-nominated singer/songwriter who has been praised by everyone from Paste to NPR, has shared the stage with folks like James Taylor, Mark Knopfler and Ani DiFranco The winner of five Independent Music Awards, Glier’s 2016 TedX talk focuses on the gifts and challenges of caregiving for a family member. An outspoken advocate for Autism Speaks, Glier is a musician, an activist and a a very impressive human being. In this chat Seth talks to Alex about what was life like OFF the road, why his brain functions well in chaos and how a little home construction ended up being unexpectedly moving. www.sethglier.com www.mpressrecords.com www.bombshellradio.com www.alexgreenonline.com Twitter: @emberseditor Instagram: @emberspodcast EMAIL: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com

“Storm Coming” The LA.-based artist, producer and composer Ethan Gold’s debut album Songs From A Toxic Apartment left his fans wanting more and more is exactly what they’re getting. Gold will be releasing a trilogy of albums that will surely make his longtime fans very pleased and it will also bring him scores of new ones in the process. The first in the trilogy is Earth City 1: The Longing and it’s a stunner. A meditation on isolation and loneliness in a seemingly deeply connected digital world and feeling like an outsider while being on the inside, Earth City 1 is a moving and heartfelt glimpse of modern life and how it engenders alienation. A sly pop craftsman, Gold’s music is warm, heartfelt and comforting, even when he’s exploring themes that break us all apart. Over the course of his career, Gold has produced and arranged for Elvis Perkins, composed film scores which featured John Grant and Staves and in the process crafted some of the most unforgettable pop songs around. In this conversation Gold talks to Alex about the past and the future, Leonard Cohen and the freedom of performing poetry onstage. www.ethangold.com www.bombshellradio.com www.alexgreenonline.com Twitter: @emberseditor Instagram: @emberspodcast EMAIL: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com

"To Be Dreaming" The North Carolina-based singer/songwriter Ashley Virginia's style falls somewhere between '70s country cool and west coast cosmic Americana. Like the spiritual daughter of Stevie Nicks and Gram Parsons, visually, Ashley Virginia is one of the most distinct and innovative artists you're likely to meet. But fashion aside, Ashley Virginia's music is as cosmic as her clothing—an arresting blend of indie folk, experimental country and '60s pop, her debut album And Life Just Goes On Living is a stirring first effort that marks the arrival of a major talent. Her voice is rich and emotive, her lyrics are heartfelt and honest and her songs are brave and bold.  From being tear gassed by Raleigh police during a peaceful assembly during the George Floyd protests to her own mental health, Ashley Virginia presents the unvarnished truth of the world and the raw and sometimes unsettling state of the human soul. In this conversation, Ashley talks to Alex about weddings, fashion, and the perspective of having a 9-5 job in the music business. She also opens up about mental health and why being onstage is one of the most comfortable places for her in the world. www.ashleyvirginiamusic.com www.bombshellradio.com www.alexgreenonline.com Stereo Embers On Twitter: @emberseditor Stereo Embers On Instagram: @emberspodcast EMAIL: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com

“Swinging On The Moon” Steve Kilbey can swing from anywhere he wants in the universe; the moon, the stars, whichever planet he chooses. And yes, of course, he can also swing from the milky way. Because the fact of the matter is that Steve Kilbey is a musician whose talents are not only downright otherworldly, they’re positively celestial. A poet, a painter, a singer, a writer, a partner and a dad, Kilbey is not only one of the most fascinating musicians to ever walk around on this planet, he’s also one of the most productive. In addition to the 25 albums he’s recorded with the Church, he’s got almost twenty solo albums under his belt, along with numerous side projects with members of Game Theory, The Go-Betweens, All India Radio and Remy Zero. Kilbey’s new double album The Hall of Counterfeits is a straight up stunner that’s as raw as it is ravishing. In this chat he talks to Alex about the pressures of recording for a major label, why he’s writing songs on acoustic guitar now and how heroin addiction ended up being a chapter in his life rather than a book. He also talks about his friendship with Grant McLennan, his penchant for being competitive and his favorite album by The Triffids…. https://waterfrontrecords.mywaterfrontstore.com/Product/94653/1?ffm=FFM_21f04e523dca1e9055cf4b6e20f53a16 https://ffm.to/thehallofcounterfeits www.thetimebeing.com www.thechurchband.net www.bombshellradio.com www.alexgreenonline.com Find Alex on Twitter: @emberseditor And Instragram: @emberspodcast EMAIL: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com

“The Hardest Battle” Talking to Colin Moulding is no battle at all. In fact, the XTC co-frontman and bassist is one of our favorite guests and we’re thrilled to have him back on the show. We’re also thrilled that the occasion of his return is to promote his new single “The Hardest Battle.” A swirling pop gem that’s filled with layered pop melodies, “The Hardest Battle” is one of the catchiest songs of the year. Moulding was on the show when he and former XTC drummer Terry Chambers under the TC&I banner put out their Great Aspirations EP, but this new track is Moulding’s first foray as a solo artist. And what a foray it is. As the bassist and co-frontman of XTC, Moulding played on 14 of the legendary Swindon band’s albums, including White Noise, Skylarking, Drums and Wires and Oranges and Lemons. And if it every comes up at parties, an interesting fact is that Moulding wrote the band’s first three charing singles. Over the course of his career he’s collaborated with everyone from Sam Phillips to Anton Barbeau and the fact of the matter is, he’s a great musician and he’s a fascinating guy. We’re lucky to have him as a friend of the podcast. In this conversation Colin talks to us about his songwriting process, his brief return to live music and the status of his current relationship with Andy Partridge Order Colin’s new EP here: https://burningshed.com/store/colin-moulding_store/colin-moulding_the-hardest-battle_cd www.alexgreenonline.com www.bombshellradio.com Twitter: @emberseditor Instagram: @emberspodcast