Surprise Cast

Surprise Cast #267 The Hanging Stars w/ Richard Olson

Dear Richard, You brought fun, good energy, and intelligence to the conversation! For the second time, I truly enjoyed having you on the program. Thank you for discussing the delicious-sounding new album 'Just A Day', the band's evolving lineup, and the creative choices that have reshaped its sound. It was interesting to hear how the group moved away from the pedal steel sound toward a more stripped-back approach while still keeping those dreamy harmonies. I loved hearing about the jingle-jangle pop touchstones, such as The Byrds, Big Star, and Teenage Fanclub, easily some of my favourites. Your stories about collaborations recorded at Edwyn Collins' studio were a real treat. Keep chasing "the bliss," my friend, whilst always staying true to those timeless harmonies and melodies! Follow The Hanging Stars: https://www.thehangingstars.com/ [https://www.thehangingstars.com/] Follow Surprise Cast: Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, X, or YouTube

Surprise Cast #266 Hans Olsson

Hello Hans, Mr. producer, mixer, and mastering engineer. It felt like a warm, wide diversified conversation. I appreciated listening to your seeds of inspiration, production perspectives, and incredible friendship with Jose Gonzalez.  Thank you for jumping into specific topics, particularly your love for producing. It was interesting to learn more about the role of distortion versus compression, hybrid workflow, and the incredible use of cool consoles. Listening to your amazing stories about your longtime friendship and the creative partnership with Jose was a treat. You really highlighted the collaborative process behind albums such as two sensational albums, 'Local Valley' and 'Against the Dying of the Light'. Modern production craft is your speciality...as your inspirational light will never flicker out.  Follow Hans Olsson: https://www.instagram.com/hansolsson_/ [https://www.instagram.com/hansolsson_/] Follow Jose Gonzalez: https://jose-gonzalez.com/ [https://jose-gonzalez.com/] Follow Surprise Cast: Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube

Surprise Cast #265 Mark Kaiser (Mt. St. Mtn. Records)

Dear Mark, Fascinating conversation with you regarding your work as a record label owner. I learned some cool things about your challenging and successful profession. I had fun learning about the early inspirations by releasing tapes from your dorm and tracing your roots back to life in Ventura. I loved hearing about your musical formation by discovering punk and skate culture.  The belly of the conversation covered quite a bit of details regarding the early days of running Omnibus Records, demos, vinyl pressings, and now Mt. St. Mtn. I love how you roll up your ownership sleeves and are willing to put in so much effort to keep your baby running. Keep climbing the mountain of success! Follow Mt. St. Mtn. : https://www.mtstmtn.com/journal [https://www.mtstmtn.com/journal] Additional music by Massage, Cindy, and Seablite Follow Surprise Cast: Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, X or YouTube

Surprise Cast #264 Daniel Land

Dear Daniel, What an inspiring conversation I had with you regarding your work as a musician and writer. Thank you for your time, effort, and willingness to share so much with me.  I thoroughly enjoyed listening to your journey through music, including your stories behind particular songs, personal challenges, and the importance of authenticity. I discovered how much you embrace art, love, and resiliency. Oh yeah--let's not forget your undying love for Cocteau Twins and Deacon Blue :). I respect you a great deal, as you're a creative life force that understand vulnerability and courage.  Follow Daniel Land: https://www.danielland.co.uk/home [https://www.danielland.co.uk/home] Additional music by: https://cocteautwins.com/ [https://cocteautwins.com/] Follow Surprise Cast: https://surprisecast.com/ [https://surprisecast.com/] Bluesky, Instagram, Facebook, X, or YouTube

Surprise Cast #263 Antony Ryan (RedRedPaw Mastering)

Dear Antony, Thank you for taking me deep into your craft as a mastering engineer. I learned so much about your technical wizardry in an entertaining manner.  Your life's work is both rich and accomplished. You've worked with some of the greats, including Simon Scott, Andy Bell, and Dot Allison. I especially enjoyed learning how your environment influences creativity and focus, and hearing your perspective on the challenges and lifelong learning that mastering engineering requires. Your thoughts on AI and its potential impact on your profession were also ear opening. One of my favourite parts was learning about the process of finalizing a music album; something most listeners rarely think about. You have a remarkable gift for hearing the subtle details in music that others could miss, and it's clear how those small arrangements create a powerful final result. Thank you for nourishing our ears and helping us reset--it's in your nature! Follow RedRedPaw Mastering: https://www.redredpaw.com/ [https://www.redredpaw.com/] Follow Isan: https://www.isan.co.uk/ [https://www.isan.co.uk/] Follow Simon Scott: https://spsmastering.blogspot.com/ [https://spsmastering.blogspot.com/] Follow Andy Bell: https://andybell.bandcamp.com/ [https://andybell.bandcamp.com/] Follow Dot Allison: https://dotallison.bandcamp.com/ [https://dotallison.bandcamp.com/] Follow Surprise Cast: Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube