Surprise Cast

Dear Minaxi, What a great time I had speaking with all of you on Surprise Cast. I really enjoyed our conversation about technology, collaboration, and the making of your superb album, 'Z of A'.  I loved how we opened up our discussion about artificial intelligence, its creative limitations, and accountability. It was interesting to hear the varying opinions.  Thank you for allowing me to use the educational framework to pose questions. You all handled them with great precision and aplomb.  Diving into Z of A was so much fun. I loved hearing your personal takes on key album tracks, along with the behind the scenes in terms of stereo staging, instrumental voicings, etc.  I'm excited about your future creations.  Keep making the music you believe in and let the work speak for itself. Your musical intelligence will always be admired.  Follow Minaxi: https://minaxitheband.com/ [https://minaxitheband.com/] Follow Surprise Cast: Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, or Spotify

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 [https://x.com/BrotherPlukker] More Wild Swans: https://www.paul-simpson.co.uk/ [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://www.patreon.com/Balloontheband] https://balloontheband.bandcamp.com/ [https://balloontheband.bandcamp.com/] https://balloontheband.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://www.instagram.com/meekgiant/] https://linktr.ee/timkeeganmusic [https://linktr.ee/timkeeganmusic] Follow Surprise Cast: Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, or Spotify

Dear Chris, It was an exhilarating experience to have you on Surprise Cast! I loved learning about your upbringing in Brighton, family life, deep musical influences, and how dyslexia affected your life in both positive and negative ways. We discussed your formative years at art college and your extraordinary friendship with Vaughan Oliver and 4AD, along with behind-the-scenes stories from key album cover projects (Wolfgang Press, Throwing Music, Modern English, Kim Deal, Unrest, and Lush). I enjoyed hearing about your collaborations and conceptual ideas for album covers.  From one former teacher to another, it was a pleasure learning why you fell in love with teaching and how you've built a strong classroom community where students feel comfortable being themselves. The podcast audience can look forward to a warm, honest conversation about your creative process, memorable stories, and key insights for music fans, graphic artists, and educators. You always have a way of making the ordinary extraordinary!. Follow Chris Bigg: https://www.chrisbigg.com/ [https://www.chrisbigg.com/] Follow Surprise Cast: Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, or Spotify Some podcast music courtesy of Lush, Unrest, Belly, Harry Nilsson, and Piroshka: https://4ad.com/artists/l  [https://4ad.com/artists/l] https://piroshka.bandcamp.com/album/love-drips-gathers [https://piroshka.bandcamp.com/album/love-drips-gathers] https://harrynilsson.com/