Synthetic Dreams Podcast

The 100 episode of Synthetic Dreams features the fascinating and super talented American electronic musician and songwriter, John Grant.  We talk about his forthcoming book ‘The Illustrated Lyrics’, which features lyrics from his previous albums, along with his own wonderful photography.  The book is rereleased on 3rd October. We also discuss the making of his latest album ‘The Art of the Lie’, one of my favourite albums of 2024, as well as his love of comedy and British humour.  John’s UK tour starts in London on October 17th and finishes in Liverpool on November 2nd. As discussed in the interview, John has something different planned for this tour, so make sure you get to one of these dates. as I reckon these shows are going to be very special.  To book tickets visit: https://www.johngrantmusic.com/ John Grant - Marbles (Official Lyric Video) John Grant - Meek AF Synthetic Dreams is presented and produced by Scott Zverblis Synthetic Dreams on⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ Synthetic Dreams title music by Chris Ibbott

Graham Crabb from Pop Will Eat Itself joins me on the podcast this week. Graham discusses the early days of PWEI, playing iconic music show Top Of The Pops and his memories of touring with legendary hip-hop act, Run-DMC and Nine Inch Nails. The group, who formed back in 1986, still features much of the original line up. PWEI were way ahead of the curve, when they first burst into the scene, fusing punk rock guitars with hip-hop samples and electronic beats. Some great stories In this one! http://www.popwilleatitself.net/pwei/

Truly thrilled and honoured to be joined by Kathy Sledge from legendary group, Sister Sledge on the Synthetic Dreams podcast this week. Formed in the early 70’s, the group, which featured Kathy Sledge and her sisters Debbie, Joni and Kim, achieved massive, world-wide success during the height of Disco in 1979. Their breakthrough album "We Are Family' peaked at number three on the American Billboard charts and included the hit singles ‘We Are Family’ and ‘He’s The Greatest Dancer’, both of which Kathy sang lead vocals on Kathy’s excellent new single Promise Me is out now, available on all streaming platforms.    This Sunday, 15th September, Kathy headlines the Uptown Festival at Bute Park Cardiff. For more information & Tickets : www.uptownfestival.co.uk Line up also includes Maxi Priest, Aswad, Desmond Dekkers Ace’s, Captain Accident & The Disasters. https://www.kathysledge.com Kathy Sledge - 'Promise Me' - live at BBC Radio 2 in the park Sister Sledge -'We Are Family' official video Sister Sledge - 'He's The Greatest Dancer' Synthetic Dreams is presented and produced by Scott Zverblis Synthetic Dreams on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ Synthetic Dreams title music by Chris Ibbott

Jonathan Donahue from Mercury Rev joins me on the podcast his week to talk about the making of the band’s wonderful new album, ‘Born Horses’ which comes out on September 6th via the always excellent Bella Union label.  This is one of Mercy Rev’s best albums to date, a real joy to listen to. So many wonderful musical styles and textures. From the hazy sax on opening track ‘Mood Swings’ to the pulsating rhythm that drives, ‘There’s Always Been A Bird In Me’, which closes the record  I really can’t recommend this album enough.  Already one of my favourite records of 2024. Just stunning!  This autumn, the band head out on a UK and Ireland tour, startling in Belfast on October 27th and finishing on Nov 8th in Cambridge, For the full list of dates and tickets, visit:  https://www.mercuryrev.com/tour To preorder the album head over to https://bellaunion.com/

My guest this week is Paul Roberts from Electronic group, K-Klass K-Klass, who formed in Manchester back in 1991, enjoyed great success in the mid 90s, scoring five top 40 hits on the UK singles chart. After 36 years, group are still going strong, regularly performing live and DJing at various festivals and club nights. We discuss the making of K-Klass' biggest hit "Rhythm Is A Mystery”. Legendary Manchester nightclub, The Haçienda, where the guys met and what it was like recording music in a converted military bunker. Next month the duo are performing at the Reminisce festival in Liverpool, which is now in its 10th year. With DJ’s and Live acts across 7 stages, this popular festival is a celebration of 90’s dance and pop music  Other acts performing at Reminisce Festival on Saturday September 7th include,  Rozalla, K Klass, N Trance, Oceanic, Alison Limerick, and Basshunter   https://wearekklass.com https://www.reminiscefestival.com K-Klass - Rhythm Is A Mistery - TOTP - 1991 K-Klass - Let Me Show You - TOTP- 1993

This weeks episode of Synthetic Dreams features former Tangerine Dream and Steamhammer member, Steve Jolliffe Steve was an early member of legendary electronic act, Tangerine Dream and as well as playing, amongst other things, flute, bass clarinet, synthesizers, grand piano, electric violin etc, he also wrote the lyrics and provided vocals for the album ‘Cyclone' We discuss all manner of things, what it was like working with Edgar Froese, who was the founder of Tangerine Dream, his soundtrack work and meeting David Bowie, who dropped into the studio while Tangerine Dream were recording a session for ‘Cyclone’. Bowie was keen to collaborate with Edgar Froese, but things didn’t go exactly to plan! In-between making solo records, plus various soundtrack scores, Steve also worked on a very famous sci-fi film, not in a musician role, but as a model maker no-less. Was great hearing how he got involved with this all-time classic film.  

Today’s episode of Synthetic Dreams features a fascinating conversation with singer, Jonathan Higgs and guitarist, Alex Robertshaw from the band, Everything Everything, who formed in Manchester back in 2007 Fair to say that music the band make is truly eclectic. A brilliant mix of catchy guitar hooks, funky bass lines and strong electronic beats, which sit perfectly with Jonathan’s wide ranging vocals. The band has released seven albums to date, including the brilliant ‘Mountainhead’, which came out in March this year. As well as having an extremely loyal and dedicated fanbase, something we discuss in the interview, it seems that the band are also loved by the industry. Their debut album, ‘Man Alive’ was shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize and the band have received five nominations for Ivor Novello Awards. Impressive stuff!  As well as making some truly brilliant and critically acclaimed  albums, the band are also known for their awesome live shows and If you haven’t been to an Everything Everything gig yet, I highly recommend you catch them at a festival this summer or on their next tour, as it’s an incredible live experience. 

My guest this week is Fred Schneider, singer-songwriter and frontman of one of the most  influential and successful groups of all-time. The B-52’s The original lineup consisted of Fred on vocals, Kate Pierson on vocals. Keyboards and synth-bass. Cindy Wilson on vocals and percussion. Ricky Wilson on guitar and Keith Strickland, who started out as the drummer, but switched to lead guitar following the death of Ricky Wilson in 1985. The B-52’S have enjoyed many hits including, ‘Rock Lobster’, ‘Planet Clare’, ‘Private Idaho’, ’Roam’ and ‘Love Shack’, which topped the charts in 1989 and became a staple of weddings and parties ever since. Over the years, the group has had three Grammy nominations, and despite being innovators of the new wave genre, have never been nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which is crazy when you consider just how influential and important they are. The band are currently taking a break from their run farewell show, but are returning to Las Vegas  in November for a residency at the Venetian Theatre. These shows will be very special    

Honoured to be joined by a true music legend on podcast this week. Mark Mothersbaugh, Devo frontman, artist and film composer. Mark discusses his beautifully designed mail-art book. ‘Apotropaic Beatnik Graffiti’, which features Mark’s wonderful drawings on small postcards.   Mail art, also known as postal art and correspondence art, is an artistic movement centred on sending small-scale works through the postal service. This lifelong passion of Mark’s started back in 1969 and he now has over 700 red books of mail-art in his archives, including postcards from legendary artist, Andy Warhol. This book represents just 5 of those books from the collection. We also talk about 50 years of Devo and the story behind the look and visual aesthetic of the band. It’s safe to say that band’s visual style is as iconic as their music. There is no one else quite like them!   They are arguably one of the most influential bands of all-time and new documentary about the group premiered at Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. The film, which has had the odd screening in the UK, was directed by Chris Smith, who also made ‘Jim and Andy’, a wonderful film about Andy Kaufman and the making of Man On The Moon.  

‘Deee-lited’ to be joined by one of my new favourite acts on the Synthetic Dreams podcast today, Nauti Siren, which features  multi-talented musician, Jessie Evans and DJ Dmitry, co-founder of the seminal New York dance group Deee-lite. Nauti Siren’s music is a truly intoxicating mix of disco, reggae, new jazz and electro dub. Their excellent new single ‘Mermaid Of The Year’ is out now, with their debut album to follow. Jessie has worked with some amazing musicians, including the late and very great, Steve Mackay, who provided saxophone on the first two Stooges albums and drummer, Budgie from legendary post-punk band, Siouxsie and The Banshees.    As well as discussing Nauti Siren, Dmitry also talks in-depth about the recording of ‘Groove Is In The Heart’ and his time in Deee-lite This much-loved group enjoyed international success with their single, ‘Groove Is In The Heart’, which Rolling Stone Magazine recently called one of 10 best dance tracks of all time.  It’s a truly iconic track, which still gets played on the radio and in clubs across the world. Deee-lite had six number-ones in the U.S. Dance music charts during the five years they were together before disbanding in 1994.  Since then, Dmitry has gone to collaborate and work with a diverse range of artists including Chaka Khan, Julee Cruise, Sinead O’Connor and Ziggy Marley.  Jessie and Dmitry describe Nauti Siren as a mythological creature, calling from the portal where the elements of water (emotions) meet air (higher knowledge).  LINKS https://nautisiren.bandcamp.com/community Nauti Siren - Mermaid Of The Year Nauti Siren performing live at the Mermaid Parade - great footage! Deee-Lite - Groove Is In The Heart (official video) Deee-Lite - Groove Is In The Heart Live Deee-Lite interview 1990 Synthetic Dreams is presented and produced by Scott Zverblis Synthetic Dreams on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ Synthetic Dreams title music by Chris Ibbott

My guest this week is multi-talented musician, Jah Wobble We discuss, amongst other things, the making of his latest album ‘A Brief History Of Now’. A fantastic post-punk record, which I really can’t recommend enough. As well as his recent ambient album ‘The Bus Routes Of South London’  Jah was a member of legendary post-punk band Public Image Limited  and in 2021 released ‘Metal Box Rebuilt in Dub’ which received great reviews  We also talk about punk and the post-punk scenes of the late 1970’s, meeting John Lydon and his close friendship with Sid Vicious. Jah’s excellent radio documentary about Sid is available to listen to online. As well as collaborating with artists from the world of rock and pop, Jah has worked with some of the biggest names in electronic music, including Massive Attack, Bjork, Moby, Bomb The Bass and Brian Eno He also played bass on the Orb’s iconic track. ‘The Blue Room’ from the U.F.Orb album  Jah is an excellent raconteur, with so many great stories to tell. It’s also worth checking out his book ‘Memoirs of a Geezer: Music, Mayhem, Life’ which was originally published in 2009. The expanded version of the book came out this year on Faber and Faber RELATED LINKS https://jahwobble.com https://jahwobble.bandcamp.com Public Image Ltd - Swan Lake live on TOTP Socially Functioning Psychopath by Jah Wobble Jah's Sid Vicious Radio 4 doc

Today’s episode features an in-depth and fascinating interview with Armenian-American vocalist, songwriter and composer, KÁRYYN KÁRYYN talks to me about the making of her latest three- track, EP Calm KAOSS! Which was co-produced by James Ford, one of the UK's biggest record producers, previous guest on Synthetic Dreams and one-half of Simian Mobile Disco. KÁRYYN also speaks about her time at Mills College in Oakland, where she was exposed to experimental music through teacher-composers like Pauline Oliveros and Maggi Payne.  We also discuss sexism in the music industry and the challenges she has faced as a female musician. She discusses these experiences in a frank and open way, but with a good deal of humour.   Calm KAOSS! Which also features two fantastic remixes, is out now on the always excellent Mute records, a label we both love 

Today's episode features the second part of an in-depth and fascinating conversation with electronic pioneer, Morton Subotnick.

This week's exceptional episode of Synthetic Dreams features the legendary American electronic musician. Morton Subotnick. In 1967 he released the seminal album ‘Silver Apples of the Moon’ - a record that showcases the sound of the Buchla 100 invented by the late and very great, Don Buchla. This groundbreaking and hugely influential record was the first electronic composition composed exclusively for the album format This year sees the release of 'Subotnick - Portrait of an Electronic Music Pioneer' a brand new documentary about his career , which has already received some fantastic reviews. The film, which has yet to have a UK release date, is currently screening in the US. This interview is part one of two interviews with this great man, who at 91 years of age, is showing no signs of stopping. 

Todays fascinating episode of Synthetic Dreams features Ivor Novello winning musician, producer and co-creator of popular electronic act, Goldfrapp. In 2005, Will formed The Will Gregory Moog Ensemble  - a group of talented musicians, who all perform with analogue synthesisers.  We discuss the formation of the Moog Ensemble and  recording of their excellent debut album, ‘Heat Ray’ which is out on June 14th via Mute Records. Will also talks about his vast collection of analogue synths, his earliest musical passions and love of Wendy Carlos and her album, ‘Switched-On-Bach’. A hugely influential electronic album, which was truly groundbreaking at the time of its release back in 1968.  The Moog Ensemble are playing a few live dates later in the year, including a headline slot at the Hidden Notes Festival on 21st September. For more information about the Will Gregory Moog Ensemble and the players involved visit: https://www.willgregorymoogensemble.co.uk/  To pre-order the album visit: https://mutebank.co.uk/collections/will-gregory-moog-ensemble Moog Ensemble - Young Archimedes (Official Visualiser) Synthetic Dreams is presented and produced by Scott Zverblis Synthetic Dreams on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ Synthetic Dreams title music by Chris Ibbott

Today’s episode of Synthetic Dreams features electronic musician, DJ, producer, remixer and record label owner, Josh Wink Born and raised Philadelphia, Josh has enjoyed several hits, not only under his own name, but also with different aliases, including "I'm Ready" (as Size 9) "Don't Laugh" (as Winx), with his absolutely amazing and timeless track, "Higher State of Consciousness," which still sounds incredible today. We discuss, among other things, his more material, including the E.Ps ‘Ci-Devant and ‘The Deepness’, earliest musical passions, the American rave scene in the early 90s and Ovum Recordings, a record label he started back in 1994 with his good friend, King Britt. This year, the label celebrates it 30th Anniversary. www.ovumrecordings.com www.joshwink.com. Synthetic Dreams is presented and produced by Scott Zverblis Synthetic Dreams on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ Synthetic Dreams title music by Chris Ibbott

My guest this week is musician, composter, writer and filmmaker, Barry Adamson. We discuss his excellent new solo album ‘Cut To Black’ which is out this Friday, 17h May. This is Barry’s tenth solo album. Barry, who has worked with Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, Visage and Finnish electronic act, Pan Sonic, also talks about his brilliant memoir ‘Up Above the City, Down Beneath the Stars’, which was published in 2021, via Omnibuspress press. It’s well worth a read! We also talk about his earliest musical passions, the post-punk scene in Manchester, back in the late 70s, meeting Howard Devoto and the formation of Magazine - one of the greatest bands the city has ever produced To purchase the album or for details about forthcoming live dates visit http://www.barryadamson.com

‘Pioneer’ is a word that often gets overused in the world of music journalism, especially when describing this week’s guest, but that’s exactly what she is, a pioneer…a true pioneer of electronic music!  Suzanne Ciani speaks to me about the time she met Don Buchla and her memories of him, as well as discussing her early career in new New York, making advertising jingles for huge companies like coca-cola.   She also talks about the recording of ‘Golden Apples Of The Sun’ a collaboration with Parisian composer Jonathan Fitoussi, which came out last October      Suzanne Ciani performs in China on May 24th before retiring to the UK for a couple of dates in September. For tickets visit: https://www.sevwave.com/ Synthetic Dreams title music is by Chris Ibbott 

My guest this week is Boris Blank from hugely influential Swiss electronic act, Yello. Boris Blank formed Yello with Carlos Peron back in 1979. Charismatic singer and lyricist, Dieter Meier, joined shortly after. Boris and Dieter became a duo after Peron left the group in 1983 to pursue a solo career, and the rest, as they say, is history.   During our conversation, which was recorded over telephone, we discussed, among other things, Blank’s third solo record ‘Resonance’. The twelve tracks that feature on “Resonance” were originally commissioned for the FORTYSEVEN thermal spa near Zurich.   Boris also talks about the new documentary ‘Oh Yeah’ which explores the legacy of Yello’s iconic track which found international success after being featured in the closing scenes of John Hughes classic teen comedy ‘Ferris Bueller's Day Off’, which is one of my favourite films of the 1980s For more information about the new album, or to buy a copy, visit: https://ianrecords.com/products/boris-blank-resonance Boris Blank - 'Resonance' Synthetic Dreams is presented and produced by Scott Zverblis Synthetic Dreams on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ Synthetic Dreams title music by Chris Ibbott

In this week’s episode of Synthetic Dreams I’m talking to DJ, and drummer, Anna Prior. Anna, best known for her role as drummer in hugely popular electronic act Metronomy, has just released the second single from her much-anticipated EP, ‘Almost Love’, which comes out on 13th June via House Anxiety records She also presents a monthly show called ‘Beat Palace’ on Soho Radio. https://sohoradiolondon.com/profile/anna-prior/ Anna recently collaborated with Tom Furse from The Horrors. Furse directed the video for her previous single ‘Tech Não and for her latest single ‘Fall Back’  Anna Prior - Tech Não (Official Video) Anna Prior - Fall Back