Headliner Radio

Eurovision 2021 saw James Newman provide the UK's entry with his song Embers . Headliner caught up with him to discuss what went down on the night and the immense platform the content provides artists

Having worked with all the big movie studios, as well as mixing the music for a number of smash-hit video games, producer, engineer and score mixer Jason LaRocca has been on a roll of late, most recently mixing the music for Marvel’s upcoming Morbius and HBO Original series The Nevers. Here he talks us through the impressive setup in his La-Rocc-A-Fella Center recording and mix facility, and revea...

Record producer and mix engineer, Dave Eringa, reflects on his start at Powerplant studios and on keeping things fresh in the studio with Manic Street Preachers after 30 years of working together. He shares what is key when it comes to the role of music producer, and how a calibrated Genelec monitoring setup has been a total game-changer in his home studio. 

A Belgian composer in the midst of his Hollywood breakthrough, Peter Baert has diligently worked his way up scoring Belgian indie flicks, until the opportunity to compose for The Water Man (executive produced by Oprah Winfrey) arose. He opens up about the polarity of euro cinema versus big budget American productions, creating tailor-made synths for films, and why he's been a Cubase user for...

Melbourne singer-songwriter Gretta Ray’s first release of 2021 introduced an innovative concept in new music sharing: Duologies – two songs joined in theme but creatively distinct, issued as a pair. She dives into her songwriting process and explains the concept behind Bigger Than Me and Readymade – which are both songs about her relationship with creativity, which she admits is something that she...

Ivor Novello Award-winning songwriter, Scott Matthews just released his seventh studio album - a reinvention of his musical identity. Here he discusses how the record came together, why he used it as his opportunity to experiment with sounds, and why he believes, lyrically, it’s his strongest work to date.

Maxe Axelsson, founder of record and production company, Pama Studios reflects on starting the studios in 1988, which have gone on to become a successful one stop-shop for music production, film mixing, dubbing, sound editing and video editing. He reflects on the changes in the music industry and recording studios over the years, and explains why he’s been using Genelec monitors since the ‘90s.

Having just released an uplifting single called Soak Up, and with a new album dropping in September, UK singer-songwriter Tom Speight is in a good place musically at the moment. Here he talks about how his life experiences have shaped him as an artist and a person, why he’s laser-focused on his health and his artistry, and some of his favourite gigs from over the years.

Italian pianist and composer Ludovico Einaudi reflects on composing the music used in This Is England, The Intouchables, Insidious, Ricky Gervais’ Derek, Black Swan, and most recently, the Oscar winning film, Nomadland. He explains how Nomadland’s director, Chloé Zhao came across his music online, and why she knew it was a perfect fit to represent the inner dialogue that main character Fern (playe...

Sally Robinson is a third year commercial music student at Bath Spa University whose music has quite literally reached the stratosphere with her new double A single. The singer-songwriter explains how sending her music to an unintended recipient resulted in her track, Moonlit Skies being beamed up to be heard in space on the International Space Station.

Mr Jukes & Barney Artist (aka Jack Steadman of Bombay Bicycle Club and East London rapper, Barney) reveal details of their upcoming collaborative album, The Locket , which is preceded by their single, Vibrate . The duo talk about the new track, stepping away from the Bombay Bicycle Club sound, conquering Barney’s roller coaster fears in the song’s music video, and what fans can expect from the...

A graduate from London's prestigious BRIT school, Nics is the latest rapper and producer emerging from Tottenham, joining the long lineage of artists such as Skepta, JME and Wretch 32. After a very fruitful 2020 (which he gives himself a hard time about), Nics hits us with his single Vision 2021 , with biting lyrics and impressive visuals that debuted on GRM Daily . Having shared the mic with...

Producer, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Leroy Clampitt — otherwise known as Big Taste — reveals how he got his first big break co-writing for Justin Bieber, his process when it comes to using oeksound’s soothe2 on strings and vocals, and tells us about some of the exciting new pop artists he’s been working with recently.

Singer-songwriter India Ambre Perkins, known simply as Ambre, tells us about her early days as a bedroom producer blowing up on Soundcloud, how she co-wrote two tracks off of H.E.R.'s 2017 self-titled album, which was nominated for multiple Grammy Awards, and why she loves using her Fender Strat to achieve her R&B vibe. (pod image credit Sharon Marrero)

Grammy Award-winning DJ and producer Afrojack talks about his new track, Hero – in collaboration with David Guetta. He talks about their ongoing working relationship, how the track came together, and reveals that he will perform during the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 – making Afrojack the first ever DJ to perform at the interval act during the final. 

After playing just one show together as a band before the pandemic shut down live events, alternative-rock four-piece Dohny Jep headed to the studio to record new EP, Smile, It Might Never Happen . The band talk about their name, musical inspirations, and how they explore themes of mental health, friendship and letting go of the negatives in life and living in the moment through their music.

Doktor is bringing his feel-good dancehall vibes with his new track, No Drama , which hit #2 on the iTunes reggae chart and exceeded 100,000 streams in seven days. He explains the inspiration behind the song, how he channels his Jamaican heritage into his music, and reveals his album plans.

Sublime, Swedish electro-folk duo POOLS have already released a number of singles this year, so we recently sat down to discuss one of the tracks, which holds a particularly personal significance for one half of the band and lead vocalist, Arvid Hällagård.

Francis Cucuzzella is the director of A&R, publishing and licensing at Unidisc Records, one of the most revered dance music labels in the world. Here he tells us about his father George’s legacy, provides us with an insight into how the world of dance music has evolved and continues to do so, and reveals how Unidisc has remained at the forefront of that world. To celebrate 40 years since the l...

Glass Animals’ frontman and producer Dave Bayley joins the podcast to discuss his impending tattoo, nostalgia, the success of new album Dreamland , and sleeper hit Heat Waves . He discusses his MPG nomination for the Self-Producing Artist Of The Year Award, delves into the production process for Dreamland , and reveals why his four Neve 1073s are key to the Glass Animals vintage-meets-fresh sound.

Many will know singer-songwriter, musician and producer Linda Perry as the lead singer of 4 Non Blondes, but her artistry goes way beyond that. Since her hits with the band in the ‘90s, she has formed two record labels, and composed and produced songs for some of the biggest female vocalists of the last two decades. Here she discusses the importance of being raw and honest, and teases her first pi...

You’ll know Carol Decker of T'Pau from their string of Top 40 hits in the ‘80s and ‘90s, including China in Your Hand , Heart and Soul and Valentine . Carol reflects on the way the band’s biggest hit, China in Your Hand , came together, comments on the way ‘80s music endures, and gets candid about the music industry. She explains how she put the lockdown period to good use by releasing new T&...

We catch record producer, composer and songwriter Neil Davidge in between sessions for his latest TV project to reflect on his time working with Massive Attack, who he first met in the ’90s – going on to produce and co-write their seminal albums Mezzanine, 100th Window and Heligoland , helping to sculpt and define their critically acclaimed cinematic sound. He reveals how the group’s hit song, Tea...

Acoustic, soul pop singer, Julia Zahra, is one of Holland's most exciting young LGBT artists set to break into the UK music scene. She reflects on becoming the youngest singer to ever audition and win The Voice of Holland, and how her life changed after the show. Now, she is looking towards making her own music, and is gearing up to release her album, Remedy . She reveals how her adoption ins...

The exponential growth of the neo-classical music scene has grown from its roots in Berlin, Reykjavík, and... Texas? Yes, indeed – Austin's Balmorhea have been releasing their entirely unique minimalist compositions since 2006, with their efforts being rewarded by putting pen to paper with the legendary Deutsche Grammophon for their brilliant new album, The Wind .