Now Spinning Music Magazine - Artist Interviews and Music Reviews

Steven Wilson joins me for an exclusive conversation following The Overview winning Now Spinning Magazine’s Album of the Year vote — and Phil’s Editor’s Choice. Steven discusses how he writes with both stereo and immersive formats in mind, why spatial audio matters, and what fans can expect from his two special Royal Albert Hall shows featuring orchestra and choir. They also explore Steven’s philo...

Neal Morse returns to the Now Spinning Magazine Podcast to discuss the brand new Neal Morse Band album L.I.F.T. — a powerful progressive rock journey about belonging, disconnection, faith and restoration. In this in-depth conversation, Neal reveals:How the album was written in just seven daysThe meaning behind “Hurt People Hurt People”The deeply personal inspiration for “Shame About My Shame”Why L...

Welcome to the first episode of Metal Monthly on Now Spinning Magazine! In this new series joined by musician and sound engineer Wayne McAloon to explore the modern heavy metal landscape — from new British traditional metal to atmospheric black metal, thrash legends, underground discoveries and upcoming releases. Is heavy metal really in decline… or is it stronger than ever? We discuss:Tail Gunner...

In this episode of the Now Spinning Magazine Podcast, I’m joined once again by Danny Vaughn from Tyketto to talk about the band’s brand-new album Closer to the Sun. We explore the album track by track, the optimism and hope running through the songs, Danny’s approach to songwriting and vocal health, the importance of band chemistry, and why recording together still matters. We also discuss touring...

“We’ve been saying for years — stop telling everyone that the CD is dead, because it’s not.”— Karen Emanuel OBE, Key ProductionIn this exclusive Music Biz Chat, Phil Aston from Now Spinning Magazine goes inside the physical music industry with Karen Emanuel OBE, CEO of Key Production — one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of CDs, vinyl and premium physical formats. Forget the headlines. Karen sha...

On this episode of the Now Spinning Magazine Podcast, I’m joined by Joe Nally — bassist and vocalist from London heavy metal force URNE. We dive deep into URNE’s new album Setting Fire To The Sky: how the songs were written (including a brilliant “Tesco riff” moment), the band’s surprisingly broad influences (from Metallica and Priest to soul music, Toto and Peter Gabriel), and how Joe approaches...

Tales From Topographic Oceans by YES has always been an album that divides opinion — even among prog fans. In this video, I take a deep dive into the Super Deluxe “Definitive” Edition, exploring the packaging, the vinyl, the extensive CD content, the newly unearthed live recordings, and — most importantly — the 2026 Dolby Atmos and surround mixes. This isn’t just an unboxing. It’s a personal journ...

In this episode of the Now Spinning Magazine Podcast, I am joined by Gregory Spawton of Big Big Train for an in-depth interview about the band’s new album Woodcut. We explore how an accidental visit to a woodcut exhibition sparked the band’s first full-length concept album, the creative shift that came with Alberto Bravin producing, the expanding role of Clare Lindley, and why Big Big Train insist...

Big Big Train return with Woodcut, their 16th studio album and second with vocalist Alberto Bravin — and it’s an absolute triumph. In this album review, I explore the album’s concept, musicianship, standout tracks and why Woodcut feels like an album full of hope, light and human emotion. Whether you’re a long-time Big Big Train fan or completely new to the band, this is a perfect entry point into...

I’m More Famous Now Than When I Was Famous” — Peter Goalby’s Incredible ReturnI’m delighted to welcome back Peter Goalby — the voice many of you will remember from Uriah Heep, plus Trapeze and more. In this interview we dive into Peter’s astonishing “lost DAT tape” album Don’t Think This Is Over — recorded after he left Heep, then believed gone forever until a poorly-labelled tape resurfaced 34 ye...

In this episode of Music Biz Chat, I look at how Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here returned to Number One — 50 years after its original release — and what the sales breakdown reveals about vinyl, CD, Blu-ray, and physical music today. I also discuss recent industry comments from Proper Music’s Drew Hill and question the idea of a “CD vs vinyl” battle, and explains why most music fans happily buy bot...

Do you have a music collection… or do you have a music library? In this special Now Spinning Magazine feature, I explore why the words we use to describe our records, CDs, and box sets really matter. This isn’t just about physical media—it’s about memory, identity, community, and how music becomes the soundtrack to our lives. From light-hearted collector confessions to deeper reflections on curati...

In this special Now Spinning Magazine conversation, I talk to Amy Shackleton and Lizzie Hoskin from Music for Dementia about practical, hopeful ways to reconnect people living with dementia — and their carers — to the music they love. We discuss:How music reduces anxiety, calms agitation, and rekindles memoryWhy streaming and modern devices can accidentally shut older listeners outm4dRADIO — a fre...

Steve Morse Interview : on Loss, Hope and Instrumental Storytelling Taken by an Angel: Steve Morse on Loss, Hope and Instrumental StorytellingIn this episode of the Now Spinning Magazine podcast, I sit down with legendary guitarist Steve Morse to dive deep into his new instrumental album Triangulation. Steve talks about the freedom of making a record with no industry expectations, the almost telep...

Seven Decades of Deep PurpleJoin me, Phil Aston, for a heartfelt conversation with music writer Martin Popoff, as we explore his monumental new book Seven Decades of Deep Purple — a 640-page celebration of every era of the band that changed rock forever. We discuss:How Martin rebuilt and expanded his earlier Purple booksThe emotional connection he has with the bandWhy the Purpendicular–present era...

“Lunatic Soul was never the ‘bassist’s side project’. It’s the composer’s project—the place I can be completely free.” Mariusz DudaThere aren’t many artists who can glide between rock, ambient, electronic and filmic sound design with the grace of Mariusz Duda. As the voice, bassist and principal composer behind Riverside, Duda is already a towering presence in modern progressive music. But it’s un...

From Island Studios to Super-Deluxe Box Sets: The Engineer Richard Digby SmithOn this episode, I'm delighted to welcome one of the true unsung heroes of classic rock (or rock music in general any era, really), and that is engineer and producer Richard Digby Smith. His career spans decades from the golden age of the early 70s on Island Studios with bands like Free, Traffic, Led Zeppelin, Sparks...

This Podcast episode is a joy: Annie Haslam joins me and Sue —surprise-guested by Jim McCarty—to talk about the new Renaissance “stories & music” concerts, the band’s beginnings, Annie’s five-octave voice, the magic of Betty Thatcher’s lyrics, “Northern Lights,” and how Annie paints songs with colour and feeling. We also touch on deep cuts, Illusion-era gems, and even Jim’s Shoot project. Upli...

Peter Hammill on Voice, Vision & Vulnerability: Inside The Charisma & Virgin Recordings 1971–1986Peter Hammill joins me to explore his new 18CD + 2 Blu-ray anthology The Charisma & Virgin Recordings 1971–1986 — including new remasters, 5.1 & stereo mixes of The Future Now and pH7 by Stephen W. Tayler, rare BBC sessions, unreleased European TV performances, and a 76-page hardback bo...

Prince: A Sign O’ The Times — An Interview with John McKie“I spoke to 220 people. I still wanted more—Prince is bottomless.” — John McKieIn this episode, I’m joined by John McKie, acclaimed music writer and former editor of Smash Hits and Q Magazine, to talk about his epic new book Prince: A Sign O’ The Times, published by Bonnier Books. This incredible book is based on over 200 interviews with pe...

Derek Shulman: Giant Steps - Exclusive Interview An in depth interview with Derek Shulman—Gentle Giant founder and the executive who helped power Bon Jovi, Pantera, AC/DC, Dream Theater, Slipknot and more. I discuss his remarkable memoir Giant Steps: grief and grit after his father’s passing, the leap from Simon Dupree & The Big Sound to Gentle Giant, mentorship from Tony Visconti, live reinve...

Vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Nad Sylvan (lead singer with Steve Hackett’s band) joins Phil Aston to unpack his new solo album Monumentata—a deeply personal work shaped by family, memory, grief, and resilience. Nad explains how his music arrives fully formed in his head, why lyrics come last, and how a painful moment with his father became the seed for the title track. He also talks about ada...

Guitar legend Steve Hackett returns to the Now Spinning Magazine Podcast for our fifth conversation. We talk candidly about health, the healing power of music, his packed 2025–2026 touring schedule, 38 minutes of new studio material, band lineup changes (Nick D’Virgilio, Felix Lehrmann, L.A. Lawson), the Dolby Atmos experience of The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, and the long-form magic of Foxtrot,...

Guitar legend Steve Howe (Yes, Asia) returns to Now Spinning Magazine for the 3rd time! to go deep on the new reissues of Portraits of Bob Dylan (1999) and Natural Timbre (2001). We discuss how he chose the songs, why he avoided the obvious Dylan hits, arranging with taste (and restraint), performances with Jon Anderson, Annie Haslam, PP Arnold, Phoebe Snow, Allan Clarke, Max Bacon, Keith West, an...

Derek Trucks - Exclusive Interview It’s not every day you get to sit down with one of your all-time favourite guitarists. Derek Trucks — slide innovator, bandleader, and co-captain (with Susan Tedeschi) of the mighty Tedeschi Trucks Band — joined me to talk about the long-awaited release of Mad Dogs & Englishmen Revisited (Live at LOCKN’), the legacy of Joe Cocker and Leon Russell, the telepat...