Survival Songs

Ho, Ho… HOW did we end up with a Christmas Special? Is there no end to this format, I hear you cry?! But then along came Annabel Pettigrew, and suddenly a sprinkling of survival at Christmas made every sense. Enjoy this glorious celebration of ‘Last Christmas’ by Wham! Annabel Pettigrew is an artist and lecturer whose practice is research and pilgrimage based. Annabel initiated and curates ‘Throes...

We’ve had the pleasure of interviewing lots of friends on this podcast. Why else would you start one? Meet Lydia’s friend, Anders. They regularly share music, stories and thoughts, but this wasn’t the conversation Lydia thought they’d have - It’s a good surprise. He’s also a regular listener to this podcast, which is a lovely thing. Anders Duus is a playwright, dramaturg and translator, based in S...

Our podcast forces the guest to choose one song - We know, we’re awful. But when our guest is someone who writes about music and culture, where do they even begin?! Andrew knew exactly where to go, and it might not be where you expect… Andrew Emery is an author and cultural commentator with a deep-rooted passion for hip-hop. He authored The Book of Hip-Hop Cover Art, which explores the artistry an...

Liz is a community artist and organiser. She has particular interest in the way that an open, creative, inclusive process can be used to encourage the development of ecosystems where all species can flourish. She is committed to developing work which explores how we can take inspiration from the natural world that we are part of to create places and spaces where regenerative cultures can thrive. S...

Danny thought he had his go-to survival songs sorted. Then, a year ago, this one hit him from left field and handed him the entire, survival toolkit in 4 minutes. This is a really special conversation and another, new perspective. We hope you love it. Danny West, a proud native of Leeds , serves as the Publishing Manager at Come Play With Me Records (CPWM) , where his passion for music and creativ...

Grab yer air guitars and prepare to yell - We’re about to go in for a female-focussed, punk moment, and it’s ace . Laura Slater in a designer who works across textiles, print and image making. She is also a creative educator Her practice is occupied with the engagement we have with pattern and its ability to connect us with the objects and environments we surround ourselves with, this is explored...

Big song - Gorgeous chat. Grab a cuppa and enjoy two pals unpacking a very beautiful song. Rich Huxley is a musician, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer, and workshop leader, best known as a founding member and guitarist of the Leeds-based band Hope & Social. Rich has been deeply involved in the music scene for over two decades, bringing a unique blend of passion, creativity, and comm...

Bodies, brains, friends and lovers. This is a beautiful chat about a beautiful song - What more do you want? We laughed, cried and swayed our way through this one. We hope you do too. Caro is an artist, writer and maker based by the sea, in Bournemouth. She makes paints, inks and pigments from foraged materials and ancient processes and wrote a book about it so you can too: It's called Found and G...

Craft, community, solidarity and skateboarding: This chat with Luke Tonge goes places! It may be the shortest track we’ve heard so far on Survival Songs, but it sure still packs a punch. And Luke is the perfect person to introduce you to it. We hope you love it. Luke is a graphic designer (& occasional lecturer), originally from Nottinghamshire and now, via Falmouth, proudly flying the flag fo...

Testament is an acclaimed writer, rapper and Guinness world record breaking human beatboxer who is based in West Yorkshire.  Testament’s work ranges from spoken word poetry, playwrighting and composition, to essay writing, live beatbox show to radio presenting. Testament’s work has received praise from Lemn Sissay, graphic novelist Alan Moore, actor and writer Patterson Joseph, BBC presenter...

Every now and then, there comes a song that has space for everything - all of it. Good, bad and ugly; brave, wild and hilarious. This is one such song (and we know the perfect person to introduce you to it). Meet Ruth Charnock. Ruth is a queer writer, tarot reader, artist, creative mentor, facilitator and lapsed academic. She makes work about feelings, music, sex, knots and words. She is the autho...

A longer and lovely episode for you this week, as we overhear two best friends having the kind of conversation they’ve been having in the pub for a long time already… Mat Lazenby is the founder and creative director of LazenbyBrown - A branding and web design agency based in York. He is a creative fellow of both the Northern School of Art and York St John University, a past Master of The Guild of...

When does Char play this euro pop banger? “Every opportunity! I’ve become unbearable! I’m a very annoying fan of this song!” Despite really not wanting to choose it, this song is undeniably Char’s happy place, and one they are delighted to be forcing you to listen to! We really hope you enjoy this brilliant chat with the lovely, Char Heather. Char Heather is a writer, researcher and workshop facil...

David Benjamine Blower is a musician, poet, podcaster and writer. From the post-industrial melting pot of Birmingham, he has written and toured prolifically, gathering audiences 'round fires to find language for joyous life in a time of slow ruins. David has released more than 17 records, played festivals and lounges nationwide, and his third book, 'Messianic Commons', will be published in Autumn...

‘I would’ve been twelve. And I was holding on to the ladder, there was this little radio with the antennae up, tin foil on it…’ Grab a cuppa and let Robbie tell you a story. This is a great conversation about a song that’s endured with a fella who notices the details. We hope you love it as much as we do. Robbie Austin is an artist, a teacher, a father, and a husband – though that order fluctuates...

‘You’ve just got to keep walking.’ Says Rio, ‘Surviving is giving yourself permission not to thrive.’ Are we spoiling you with the wisest guests on any podcast? Probably. And here’s another one. We hope you enjoy this beautiful conversation about friendship, loving someone through their darkest moments and being on the other side. Rio Matchett lives in Leeds and works as the New Work and Learning...

“My partner give it me” says Florence, when we asked how this song first found her. But while Joe may have given her this song, what Florence describes in this conversation is all her own. This episode contains buckets of embodied joy, a sprinkling of class politics and a surprise mention for Nicole Kidman. This is Florence Brady and her Survival Song, ‘The Good Old Way’ by The Watersons. Florence...

Nicki Davy is a Yorkshire actor, musician, writer and theatre-maker. She has been lucky enough to tread the boards at some brilliant venues, including Sheffield Crucible, Lyric Hammersmith, Nottingham Theatre Royal and Leeds Playhouse, and has toured to numerous other studios, libraries and schools up and down the country.  Most recently, she performed in her debut play as a writer - 'Eva' -...

Sim isn’t a die hard fan of many things, but this band had him at this song. We hope you enjoy what turned out to be a lovely chat about the right tune landing at the right time, and all the joy that’s rolled out since. This is our pal and neighbour Sim Walker, and his chosen Survival Song, ‘22: The Death of All the Romance’ by The Dears. Leeds-based pianist and composer Simeon Walker has quickly...

Those songs that remind us who we are a bit, soundtrack us through doorways and towards more loving places - Know what we mean? Yeah. Here’s one of those. Meet the fantastic Lindsey Chapman and her chosen Survival Song, Love Over Gold by Dire Straits. Lindsey Chapman is a TV and Radio presenter fronting shows for the BBC, Channel 4 and Channel 5. Lindsey works across climate, culture and sport als...

Warning: This episode may cause the impulse to sing like no one’s listening. We were so chuffed to welcome the brilliant Lucy Wright to Survival Songs with her choice, Here You Come Again by Dolly Parton. Search ‘Survival Songs’ to find episodes on all your usual podcasting platforms and add to our community playlist over on Spotify . Lucy Wright is an artist based in Leeds, UK. Her multidisciplin...

“If my one survival song just reminds me of something that happened 20 years ago, then I’m not living my life right, right?” Meet the lovely Ric Neale and his song choice, ‘The Power of Two’ by The Indigo Girls. Ric Neale is a musician and performer whose shows spotlight his expert songwriting. He has taken his theatrical, heartfelt and often hilarious performances of his brand of piano songsmithe...

Get your wide dance moves ready - This episode is a bop. We are delighted to bring you the excellent Letty McHugh and her song choice, ‘Love Can’t Turn Around’ by Darryl Pandy (Long Mix). Letty McHugh is a visual artist and writer who was born in Brontë Country, where she still lives with her cantankerous cat. She makes work about the universality of personal experience which, she says, ‘is an int...

This conversation with Alys Williams is where Survival Songs began. Ed first met Alys during the development of her one-woman show, The Lighthouse. The Lighthouse is based on a true story that involves one, lifesaving song. We were so delighted that Alys was up for recording this conversation with Ed and it’s a real pleasure to share it with you. TW: The conversation includes conversations about a...

Coming Soon:  Survival Songs, a podcast where each episode our guest tells us about one songs that gets them through the best and worst of times.  Help us a grow a community of survival song listeners by joining us on over on Substack: https://survivalsongs.substack.com/ Listen to all our Survival Songs and add yours our community playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5J...