Surprise Cast

Surprise Cast #238 Sky Patterns

Greetings, Paul! It was a pleasure to have you on Surprise Cast for an in-depth conversation about your life as a musician! Thank you for retracing your formative influences such as Chameleons, Talk Talk, and others. It was cool to learn about how these bands helped inform your approach to rhythm, melody and recordings. I loved your stories about The Pixies and Charlatans--fascinating and fun! Our podcast listeners will get a detailed walk-through of your songwriting process: starting songs from a single synth note, experimenting with rhythm and texture, prioritizing dynamics and space, and the lyrical choices that capture mood and ambiguity. You're quite good at capturing these aspects as you allow your songs to breathe. I appreciated hearing more about your production and thematic concerns behind the unique album, 'Night Call'. I particularly gravitated to the story behind "the in-betweens". Very observational, you are!  I'm happy that your music and work continues to reach people's hearts and minds. Keep experimenting over traditional formula--it brings out the very best in your creative spirit. Follow Sky Patterns: https://skypatterns.runasp.net/ [https://skypatterns.runasp.net/] Follow Surprise Cast: Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, Spotify, or YouTube

Surprise Cast #237 Oscar Night Showdown!

Thank you, Susie, Michael, and Jason, for joining me for an energetic conversation about the 98th Academy Awards. I loved hearing about your personal first-movie memories, earliest Oscar impressions, and how movies shaped you. Our listeners can expect hilarious stories about that communal moviegoing experience and the sheer power of Tootsie, Star Wars, Benji, and Dead Poets Society. We unpacked and debated over seven major categories, including frontrunners, dark horses, and voting-pattern predictions. Thank you for your constructive criticism and sharp, highly entertaining analysis. It was a great podcasting performance! Fo;llow Susie: https://www.instagram.com/insusieskitchen/ [https://www.instagram.com/insusieskitchen/] Follow Michael: https://www.facebook.com/michael.hare.5 [https://www.facebook.com/michael.hare.5] Follow Jason: https://www.instagram.com/jasonlostinaforest/ [https://www.instagram.com/jasonlostinaforest/] Follow Surprise Cast: Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, Spotify, or YouTube

Surprise Cast #236 Rocketship

Dear Dusty, I welcomed you with open arms on my podcast feature, Surprise Cast. Thank you for all of your sharp insights!  It was a great time learning about the special reissue of the beloved album, 'A Certain Smile, A Certain Sadness', along with all of the touring details. The wide ranging interview covered plenty of ground from hauling around a massive Hammond organ, working at Beat Records in Sacramento, and early childhood experiences that shaped your work as a musician. The listeners can expect a really warm conversation filled with memorable personal anecdotes and indie charm. You provided great fuel for a fun conversation! Follow Rocketships: https://rocketshipmusic.com/ [https://rocketshipmusic.com/] Follow Slumberland Records: https://slumberlandrecords.com/ [https://slumberlandrecords.com/] Follow Surprise Cast: Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, Spotify, or YouTube

Surprise Cast #235 Silk Daisys

Hi James and Karla, Thank you for joining me at the Surprise Cast table. I loved discussing the self-titled album, creative process, personal stories, and collaborating with Mark Gardener of Ride. It was cool learning about how you two met in such a serendipitous way. The minute you mentioned musical influences from post-punk, shoegaze, and dreampop, I felt right at ease in going deeper into the conversation.  Continue down the trajectory of being "weird" and thinking "outside the box". It's something I can relate to quite a bit. Your music brings sweetness and light to our troubled world.  Follow Silk Daisys: https://silkdaisys.bandcamp.com/album/silk-daisys [https://silkdaisys.bandcamp.com/album/silk-daisys] Follow Mark Gardener: https://www.ox4sound.co.uk/theteam [https://www.ox4sound.co.uk/theteam] Follow Surprise Cast: Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, Spotify, or YouTube

Surprise Cast #234 Thistle Sifter (Peter Barnes)

Dear Pete, Sitting down with you on Surprise Cast was a pure delight. Thank you for coming back for round two.  I appreciate how we explored the new album in greater detail, including central themes--climate change, mass industries, and human cost in the Congo, media, and neoliberalism structures. You did a heck of a job translating these concerns into songs, whilst handling some pretty heavy quotes from Churchill, Chomsky, Monbiot, and more.  Congratulations on the new album--it seems more layered and varied, including the glorious string arrangements. Its mature sound really showcases your talent as a musician. Much continued success on the upcoming tour across Europe. Thank you for creating art that forces the listener to think more critically. Activism and craft sounded so good! Follow Thistle Sifter: https://linktr.ee/thistlesifter [https://linktr.ee/thistlesifter] Follow Surprise Cast: Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, Spotify, or YouTube