Surprise Cast

Dear Andrew, I was so looking forward to our conversation because I knew you'd bring your A game, and you did with great success. I loved hearing about your sparkling new album, 'Solar,' and the amazing stories behind it. Listening to your journeys along the Camino de Santiago was fantastic—it makes me want to get out on the trails one day to soak up the incredible vistas. Thank you for sharing all the granular details, including personal encounters on the trails, your appreciation for Chameleons/Slowdive/Robin Guthrie, and the writing and production process that inspired your latest work. I know you're filled with gratitude at this stage of your life, which I have to say is a great thing because it adds layers and depth to who you are as an artist and, most importantly, a person. Thank you for taking us along on your travels. I love the backstage access to your tales along the road of life.  Follow Calliere: https://calliere.bandcamp.com/ Follow Shore Dive Records: https://shorediverecords.bandcamp.com/ Follow Robin Guthrie: https://robinguthrie.com/ Follow Slowdive: https://slowdiveofficial.com/ Follow Chameleons: https://chameleonsband.com/ Follow Surprise Cast: Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, Spotify, YouTube

Greetings, Peter! Thank you for participating in Surprise Cast. The time went by too quickly.  I loved hearing about your musical awakenings, including Johnny Cash, Hank Williams Jr. David Bowie, Peter Gabriel, and Iggy Pop. All the artists that I admire greatly. I can see why they whetted your appetite for emotional integrity and emotional truth within your musical pursuits.  Thank you for sharing such candid stories about your family history--including strong memories of the loss of your sister, tough upbringing with your father, etc. I think people will appreciate such vulnerability and deep connections to your past. The podcast listeners get an inside look at the making of the Velvet Crunch album and the ESP project: I could hear your appreciation for Tony’s cinematic production approach, the warm, textured mixes, and the band's adventurous arrangements that balance melody and dissonance. Thank you for explaining your lyrical process and the album’s nature-centered imagery and themes of death-as-beginning. Amazing! Throughout the conversation, it emphasized art as a devotional act, the spiritual recharge of nature, and creative partnership as a force that pushes you into such unique territory. I know fans of art rock, post-punk, new wave, and the songwriting process will benefit greatly from our conversation. Your creative vision will always remain deep, wide, and quite tall! Follow Peter Coyle: https://petercoyle.com/peter-coyle Follow Surprise Cast: Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, Spotify

Dear Ian and James, I can't believe this was our 5th conversation in some capacity--thank you for being on Surprise Cast. It's always a pleasure speaking with you, whether it be for your work with The Orchids, One Dove, or Montjuïc.  I loved how our conversation flipped between personal stories and artistic choices. We hit on a few important topics: growing up queer, carrying and reclaiming shame/identity, and maintaining hope during dark political times.  Thank you for talking about the magnificent album 'Things Must Change' and its reception from the general public, and your personal insights. I loved hearing about the creative process behind some of the notable songs. You did a great job reflecting on aging, artistic growth, and confidence, and learning how to just be yourselves over the years.  May love, acceptance, and resilience continue to be major themes of future work and personal lives--it's deeply inspiring and what the world always needs more of...rest assured.  Follow Montjuïc: https://montju1c.bandcamp.com/music Follow Pascal Blua: https://www.bluartwork.com/ Follow Surprise Cast: Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, or Spotify

Dear Peter and Wolfgang, The time we spent together on Surprise Cast flew by quickly. Thank you for taking the time to be on the podcast feature.  I loved chatting with you about a decade of friendship, collaboration, and the making of the new album, 'Times'. Hearing about how your partnership evolved was quite interesting. It's quite evident that you two hold each other in such high regard.  I greatly appreciated how you two responded to Jeff Tweedy's quotes from his amazing book. Getting your take on being a songwriter versus being an artist, the creative process, and accepting challenges was fascinating.  Thank you for walking the listeners and me through specific examples from the new album to highlight certain points. I loved hearing about how certain songs were assembled together based on sketches or synth/bass ideas. I'll never forget the Andy McCluskey story! Congratulations on your amazing collaboration and chemistry. I love that you two embrace mistakes and see them as creative gifts. You confront doubts and obstacles with a head-on approach. You also bring such complementary strengths to the creative table, which result in melodic storytelling, arpeggiated soundscapes and textures, and the endless pursuit of musical curiosity. Truly amazing! Follow:  https://www.instagram.com/wolfgang_fluer/ https://www.peterduggal.com/ Surprise Cast: Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, Spotify  

Dear Ed, I learned so much about your life in just over an hour. Thank you for being a proud owner of Shelflife Records and being on Surprise Cast! I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation, which moved from early childhood experiences, life in New York City, and running an amazing indie label. It was great to hear about your favorite games, formative films, and early musical obsessions (Depeche Mode, OMD, etc.), along with precious family memories deeply connected to your appreciation for your father's storytelling. You reflected on family influences, the loss of your parents, and how those experiences shaped your creative life. The conversation traced the origin of Shelflife Records in the mid‑1990s, its DIY beginnings (fanzines, hand‑assembled CDs), early breakthroughs with international acts, and the label’s evolution into a vinyl-focused imprint known for high‑quality packaging and artist care and attention to detail. So cool! I liked your dad's mantra, "if you're going to do it, do it right." Well, it's pretty clear you live by such words of wisdom. Keep running one of the more thoughtful labels in today's music scene.  Follow Shelflife Records: https://shelfliferecords.bandcamp.com/ Follow Surprise Cast: Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, Spotify Music included by Close Lobsters, Lavender Blush, Soft Science, Whimsical, Submotile (Shelflife) Non - label tracks by:  https://duranduran.com/ https://omd.uk.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@officialhenrymancini  

Dear Alex, Andrew, and Gabi: Here's a little secret. I've been wanting to chat with you for a long time. I'm so thrilled the desire came to fruition. Look at how deep we went! I embraced our conversation from Halloween memories to deep questions about art, music, and the creative life. I felt that there was a nice balance that mixed light, nostalgic banter with thoughtful discussion inspired by Brian Eno quotes, along with responsibilities and love for parenting. Good stuff! The band talked through the making of the dazzling new album Coaster, with behind-the-scenes detail on a few tracks. You peppered that part of the conversation with tremendous depth and detail.  As I mentioned in the interview, a shout-out to DJ Jake Rudh for leading me to the Massage waters—a place that is warm and beautifully indie. You truly are a band of friends who know how to create that wonderful spark of imagination, which leads to dazzling results, just like a Tim Burton film. Follow Massage: https://www.instagram.com/massagetheband/ Music included in the podcast: Nirvana: https://www.nirvana.com/#/ Harry Nilsson: https://harrynilsson.com/ Read aloud books by Brian Eno and Brene Brown https://www.brian-eno.net/ https://brenebrown.com/about/    

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, Spotify Additional 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, Spotify Artists included on the podcast: Yellowman: https://music.youtube.com/channel/UC84S9jo6JOt7mNKGxBgSXQQ Skinny Puppy: https://skinnypuppy.com/  

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 Spotify Other music included: Johnny Mathis: https://johnnymathis.com/wp2/ New Order: https://www.neworder.com/  

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/BrotherPlukker More 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 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 Spotify Follow Hels Millington Photography: https://www.instagram.com/helsmillphotography/ Other podcast music contributions include The Fall  https://thefall.org/  

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/marinayozora Follow 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

Dear Ryli, Thank you — Rob Good (guitar, harmony, recordist), Yea-Ming Chen(lead vocals, songwriter), and Luke Robbins (bass, backing vocals) — for celebrating the release of your shimmering new album 'Come and Get Me' and for reliving a standout release show at the Four Star Theater in San Francisco. What a performance! I appreciate that our conversation covers quite a bit of territory, including the way your band writes and arranges songs, the challenges of putting together an album,  and the analysis of specific songs from the new album. Our chit-chat also highlights the band's creative camaraderie and sharp attention to detail from album artwork to concert performances.  I'm impressed with what you've have accomplished thus far. Your future is wonderfully bright. Way to keep the Bay Area indie spirit alive and kicking.  Follow Ryli: https://dandyboyrecords.bandcamp.com/album/come-and-get-me Follow Dandy Boy Records: https://dandyboyrecords.bandcamp.com/ Follow Surprise Cast: Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, or Spotify