I suspected we might be listening to The Beatles in this episode. Instead I got Blondie and The Monkees, neither of which were expected… both of which put a big smile on my face! 

Welcome to another episode of All About The Music, where I’m joined by Samira Ahmed — broadcaster, journalist and author – whose interest in music is every bit as great and varied as you’d expect from a presenter of BBC Radio 4’s Front Row.  

From her first album – Blondie’s Parallel Lines – via piano lessons and Claude Debussy, to the bizarre brilliance of William Shatner covering Pulp’s Common People, Samira and I chat our way through many times in her life and find music at the heart of all of them. 

I absolutely loved picking apart the simple poetic magic of Nick Drake with someone who adores his work. And it’s always a pleasure to discuss how much better The Monkees are than many people assume! 

Follow Samira Ahmed: https://twitter.com/SamiraAhmedUK 

Find the Spotify playlist of all Samira’s selections here. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1zesdmdIW0rheIt2Jkm96q 

Featured artists & tracks: 

Blondie, “One Way or Another”, “Heart of Glass” 

Nick Drake, “At the Chime of a City Clock”, “Parasite” 

Claude Debussy, “Arabesque No.1” 

The Monkees, “The Girl I Knew Somewhere” 

Frank Sinatra & Betty Garrett, “Come Up To My Place” 

Pulp, “Babies” 

William Shatner, “Common People” 

Connect With Us 

Stay in tune with All About The Music and join the conversation wherever you are: 

Website: allaboutthemusicpod.com — explore episodes, guest playlists, and behind-the-scenes stories. 

Instagram: @allaboutthemusic.pod — discover new episodes, reels, and the songs that shaped our guests. 

Facebook: facebook.com/allaboutthemusicpod — follow for updates, clips, and listener discussions. 

TikTok: @allaboutthemusicpod — enjoy bite-sized musical moments and highlights from the show.

Follow Neil: @neil.brand.9 — for performances, live appearances, and my personal reflections on music. 

Share with your friends: Listen to All About The Music

Because wherever you listen, it’s all about the music. 

Somersault Studio