Into the Cave

I’m joined by Phillip from Wildernesses, a band blending post-rock, folk, shoegaze, alt rock and dreamo. We start with their song “Summertime, 1917” from their newly released album Growth: a story of love, loss, and memory told through a frame narrative that feels both distant and deeply personal. Phil shares how the idea first came to him over 10 years ago, and why it took so long to become what...

In this episode, I’m joined by Jessie Powell, vocalist of Dream State, and we go through her journey as an artist: from singing in choirs as a kid to fronting bands, taking a break from music, and finding her way back to it. We talk about pressure, burnout, feeling like you’re “too late”, and how scary it can be to step into something new, especially when people are watching and comparing. Jessie...

In this episode, I sit down with Hansol from Shoreline just days before the release of their new album Is This the Low Point or the Moment After? (out now) We start with their song Good Times and talk about what it really feels like to be in a band for 10 years: the highs, the numbness, and the strange moments where something you love starts to feel distant. From playing shows on autopilot to ques...

Arne from Fyrn joins me to talk about the ideas behind their upcoming EP Hope Despair. We dive into lyrics from their song Grip, about feeling stuck in modern life, and a line from La Dispute’s I Shaved My Head, which leads us into a conversation about forcing change when you feel trapped. We also talk about boredom and creativity, building a band from scratch, cutting back on drinking and smoking...

I’m joined by Mathias from Heisskalt, one of the most beloved bands of the German post-hardcore scene. We discuss lyrics from their latest album, “Vom Tun und Lassen,” feelings of anger at the world we live in, and the weird balance between hope and despair that is present in heavy music. Mathias shares lyrics from the post-hardcore band Koolhaus: “Dance, dance, like we could still change the worl...

In this episode, David and Chris from FJØRT join me to talk about anger, the kind that comes from loving humanity deeply. We dive into their new album Belle Époque , a sarcastic title for a world that feels anything but beautiful. We talk about growing fascism, historical responsibility, the weight of staying informed, and the quiet battle between hope and cynicism. We dive into lyrics of their so...

In this episode of I’m joined by Alex of sharpened.lives. We talk about a line from their song Trenches that was written during a particularly difficult period: when both a band and relationship ended. That moment became the real starting point for sharpened.lives. From there, we move into how their songwriting evolved: from deeply personal reflections to a wider, political lens on the world we’re...

Rob from Death of Youth joins me to talk about heartbreak, healing, and the uncertainty that comes when something beautiful ends. We dive into the making of their new album Nothing Is the Same Anymore , the tough decisions that shaped it, and the line “An unfamiliar story with an all too familiar ending.” Rob opens up about grief, therapy, long-distance love, optimism, and learning to sit with unc...

Mae and George of WREX join me for a conversation about vulnerability, emotional release, and letting songs be imperfect on purpose. We talk about writing and recording their new EP Sad World , keeping first takes, resisting perfection, and how playing live reshaped their confidence. Together, we dive into spoken-word moments from their own music, the feeling of emotional numbness, and what it mea...

Depression doesn’t always come from something broken inside of us. Sometimes, it comes from seeing the world too clearly. I’m joined by Alexis, the mind behind screamo project Gros Enfant Mort , to talk about depression as a collective experience, and why it feels almost logical to struggle mentally in the times we’re living in. We talk about writing an album from phone notes taken in the darkest...

Joost of Catapults joined me into the cave. We first dive into the lyrics of Enter Shikari’s One True Colour and talk about where we come from, where we stand as individuals and as a collective, and how science and spirituality can exist side by side. We also talk about the influences behind their latest album, I Hope You Heal , and their song Soft Bite, written after a small moment that might see...

I sit down with J from Hacktivist to talk about lyrics, identity, and what it means to feel different, and to choose to embrace it. Starting from a line inspired by the movie The Burbs, we talk about being an outsider, representing the “weird side,” and how humor and everyday details can live alongside heavier themes. J reflects on blending grime, rap and metal, on making music that feels honest r...

I sit down with Sophie Smith of Hamartia to talk about breakups, growth, and what it really means to choose yourself. We start with Bloom, a song about leaving a relationship that wasn’t toxic, just not right, and the moment you realise you’ve been shrinking yourself to be loved. Sophie opens up about emotional maturity, self-worth, and why some endings are acts of care rather than failure. We the...

I sit down with Andy from Pleiades to explore the song No Living Thing, and especially into the line “I’m caught on the claw of a single thought and it’s keeping me in all of the space I’ve realigned” and how it captures the pain of watching someone decline before their time, the weight of responsibility, and the reminder that we are not invincible. Then we shift to “LA1 (Left Aimless)”, where And...

In this episode, Casper from Paleskin dives deep into the writing behind Absence of You and Honey Poison, songs that explore grief, depression, friendship, and the moments when you can’t see the light even though it’s right beside you. We talk about breakups, how depression can make you blind, grief, and how expressing pain through lyrics can help you move forward. If you love bands like Loathe ,...

Aaron Akeredolu of incaseyouleave joins me for an honest conversation about lyrics, identity, and finding your place in the DIY scene. We dig into the writing of Ink Labyrinth , how reality and fear start to blur when things get heavy, and the small practices that help him pull himself back from the spiral. Aaron also opens up about growing up as a person of colour in predominantly white punk and...

fiio joins me from Vienna to talk about his new album Athena., a mix of humor, melancholy, and honesty. We talk about love, distance, and why doing things with intention still matters. Vienna-based artist Fiio joins me to talk about his new album Athena ., a record that somehow manages to sound both playful and deeply melancholic. We talk about the song “Athena.,” the idea that we all see the worl...

Fynn Gillions of Take Breath joins me to talk about turning emotion into art. We dive into their song “Writhe” , the short story that inspired it, and how “Canvas” captures the highs and lows of being an artist. Fynn opens up about burnout, self-doubt, and learning to fall back in love with music again. Follow Take Breath on IG: @takebreathx Follow Into the Cave on IG: @intothecavepod

⚠️ Trigger Warning: SA, trauma. Kim, vocalist of post-hardcore band Chasing Dreams, opens up about turning pain into power. From struggling with self-worth to healing after abuse, she shares her story with honesty and strength. We also talk about confidence, body image, and how music helps reclaim your voice. A deeply moving and empowering conversation. Follow Chasing Dreams on IG: @chasing_dreams...

Mario Radetzky of Blackout Problems joins me to talk about friendship, authenticity, and the power of speaking up. We dive into the stories behind Talk to Me and Germany, Germany , touching on emotional struggles, political awareness, and finding meaning through music. A raw and honest conversation about what it really means to stay true to yourself, both on and off stage. Follow Blackout Problems...

This week I sit down with Clément Vauchelle, vocalist of the French post-hardcore band Aurore. We talked about their song “Kill Him”, how it went from a scrapped punk track to one of their most emotional and hopeful songs, and how boredom and anxiety shaped the lyrics. Clément opened up about mental health, isolation, and his own connection and the ones he created with music. We also dove into Mov...

I sit down with Courtney Levitt of Love Rarely for a heartfelt conversation about music, growth, and healing. We dive into the emotional depth of her songwriting, exploring themes of loss, acceptance, and resilience. Courtney opens up about navigating relationships, setting healthy boundaries, and how childhood experiences shape who we become. We also talk about the evolving representation of wome...

In this episode, Ian Mann, vocalist of newshapes, joins me to talk about their song Sick of Breathing, born from the frustration of writer’s block and wrapped in upbeat music that contrasts its heavy themes. He also opens up about their brand-new single Forget , a track that marks the beginning of a new chapter for the band. We dive into newshapes’ influences, the balance between polished sound an...

In this episode I sit down with Jordan Dreyer of La Dispute to talk about two lines of lyrics that mean a lot to him. One comes from Gastr del Sol and their song Blues Subtitles No Sense Of Wonder , a track that says so little yet feels so big. The other is from La Dispute ’s own Self-Portrait Backwards , off their new record No One Was Driving The Car, where fragments of memory and moments of lif...

Munich-based duo UMME BLOCK, Klara and Leoni, take us deep into the nocturnal world of their latest album NÄCHTE . With the lines “wo es leuchtet fallen Schatten, kein Schatten ohne Licht” and “each day a wave, each night a stone” , they share how darkness and light intertwine in their music and in the way they created it, mostly at night, mostly on their own. Tune in for stories of midnight sessi...