Synthetic Dreams Podcast

This weeks fascinating and fun episode of Synthetic Dreams features legendary singer and songwriter, Andy Bell Andy, who is one half of synth-pop duo, Erasure, talks to me about his new solo album ‘Ten Crowns’ which comes out on May 2nd, via Crown Recordings  The album was co-written and produced by Grammy winning US producer and DJ, Dave Audé, who is supporting Andy on his forthcoming UK tour, wh...

Joining me on the podcast today is American musician, singer-song-writer, Noah Lennox, who records and performs music under the name, Panda Bear Noah, who is the co-founder of experimental pop band Animal Collective, talks to me about his excellent new solo record, ‘Sinister Grift’, which is out now on Domino records. We also discuss creatively, his musical passions and influences, his move to New...

Today's fascinating episode of Synthetic Dreams features legendary singer, Tony Hadley . Tony, is of course, best known as the lead singer of one of the biggest bands of the 1980s, Spandau Ballet. The band, who formed in Islington, London back in 1979, scored a number of hits.  Spandau’s debut single, ‘To Cut A Long Story Short’, one of the greatest synth-pop anthems of all-time, reached number fi...

Today's fascinating episode features singer, songwriter and guitarist, Miki Berenyi. In 1987, Miki met Emma Anderson, a previous guest on Synthetic Dreams and formed the band, Lush. The group went on to release three critically acclaimed albums on legendary record label, 4AD.  The band officially split in 1996, but reformed for a series of well received live shows in 2016. In 2018, Miki formed a n...

Second part of my interview with electronic musician, Jas Shaw His latest album 'Tea Within A Tea' and other releases are available to buy on his Bandcamp page https://jasshaw.bandcamp.com/album/a-tea-within-a-tea

Delighted to be joined by electronic musician, Jas Shaw on the podcast this week. Jas was one half of Simian Mobile Disco, who he formed in Manchester with James Ford, a previous guest on Synthetic Dreams, back in 2003. Originally just a DJ side project to their four-piece band Simian, Simian Mobile Disco formed as an electronic act after Simian parted ways in 2005. In 2006, the single ‘We Are You...

Today’s fascinating episode of Synthetic Dreams features songwriter, guitarist and singer, Emma Anderson  Emma formed Rover Girls with school friend, Miki Berenyi back in 1987. Then after a couple of alternations to the lineup, changed the name of the group to Lush in 1988.  A year later, the band signed to 4AD records and released the six-track mini album, ‘Scar’, which received praise from the U...

Today's fascinating episode features musician, artist and author, Horace Panter. Horace, known professionally as  as Sir Horace Gentleman, was a member in of my all-time favourite groups, The Specials Panter met Jerry Dammers while a student at Lanchester Polytechnic and the two of them formed The Specials.  The group enjoyed many hits including ‘Gangsters’ ‘Rat Race’ ‘Sterotype’ and ‘Ghost Town’...

Today's fascinating episode features Ivan Doroschuk from new wave, synth-pop band, Men Without Hats.  The group formed in Montreal back in 1977, during the height of punk and Ivan talks about some of the punk bands he saw live, along with acts that came a few years before then, groups like Pink Floyd and Roxy Music. The group went on to support Roxy on their Avalon tour world tour in 1982. Ivan al...

Today’s episode of Synthetic Dreams features a conversation with synthesist, vocalist, and composer, Tim Blake.  Tim, who currently lives  in the Poitou region of France, was part of, what many fans consider to be the classic line-up of Gong, which spawned the “Radio Gnome Trilogy” He was also a member one my my all-time favourite groups, Hawkwind, from 1979-1980. Joining them again from 2008-2015...

The first Synthetic Dreams episode of 2025 features a conversation with Berlin-based electronic and avant garde duo, Alexander Hacke and Danielle de Picciotto, who record music under the name hackedepicciotto. Alexander is a founding member of the hugely influential experimental group, Einstürzende Neubauten, who he joined back in 1980 at the age of just 15 Danielle, an American-born artist, music...

Delighted to be joined on the podcast today by experimental guitar and drum duo, George Knegtel and Alex Andropoulos, who record music under the name, Able Noise. The duo, who are based between The Hague, in the Netherlands and Athens, Greece, formed Able Noise back in 2017 after meeting at The Royal Academy of Arts. We discuss the recording of their latest album ‘High Tide’, which was released in...

Today’s fascinating episode features DJ, producer and musician, Mathew Carter, who performs and records music under the name Jaguar Skills  As well as putting out hundreds of drum and bass mixtapes through various radio stations, Jaguar Skills, who started his DJ career back in 2002, has released four studio albums. We discuss, amongst other things, the recording of his latest album‘Disco Galactic...

Today’s fascinating episode features Austrian-Canadian electronic musician and producer,  Bill Leeb. Leeb started his musical career with legendary industrial band, Skinny Puppy, going on to form Front Line Assembly in 1986 and new-age ambient act, Delerium a year later. In 1997 Delerium scored a massive, world-wide hit with the track ‘Silence’ taken from their ninth studio album, ‘Karma’, which i...

Todays fascinating and fun interview features Dick Valentine, from American band, Electric Six joins me on the podcast today Electric Six, who formed in Detroit, Michigan back in 1996, are known for combining elements of garage rock, new wave and disco into their genre-defying sound As well as being part of Electric Six, Dick is also an author and we discuss the series of novels he has written.  E...

Today’s fascinating episode features multi-talented Scottish musician and composer, Christopher  Duncan who records music under the name C Duncan  His debut album ‘Architect’ was nominated for the 2015 Mercury Music Prize and since then, has gone on to release five critically acclaimed and well received albums.  Christopher, who’s music has features ion various TV shows, discuss’s the making of hi...

Today’s insightful episode  of Synthetic Dreams features Colombian singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer, Ela Minus Ela talks about the creative process and recording of her brilliant new album ‘DIA’ which comes out on January 17th via Domino records.  She also discusses her earliest musical roots and time playing drums in hardcore rock band, Ratón Perez. Her move to New York and f...

Today's fascinating episode of Synthetic Dreams features multi-talented musician,  Christopher Stephen Clark, who records and performs electronic music under the moniker, Clark. Clark has also written and produced music for television, films and video games. His records have been released by Warp Records, Deutsche Gramophon and his own record label, Throttle Records. We discuss creativity, the run...

Todays fascinating episode of Synthetic Dreams features a conversation with British singer, rapper and songwriter, Alison Clarkson, better known as Betty Boo. Alison, who has acquired many strings to her bow, started her music career as a rapper in hip-hop group She Rockers back in the late 80s. They supported big named hip-hop acts like Public Enemy.  Then in the early 90s Alison creative the mon...

This weeks episode of Synthetic Dreams features Scottish musician, Robin Guthrie, one of the co-founders of the legendary band, The Cocteau Twins, who are arguably one of the most influential bands of all-time. Guthrie, who was Cocteau’s principal songwriter, guitarist, bassist and keyboardist, has released several collaborative albums with the acclaimed ambient composer and pianist, the late Haro...

My guest this week is multi-talented musician, Aaron Hemphill, who records music under the name, Nonpareils. We discuss he recording of his second album as Nonpareils, 'Rhetoric and Terror', which is out now via Mute records. It's a brilliant record, one of my favourite releases of 2024. Aaron, who co-founded the band Liars, also talks about the creative process and inspiration behind this record,...

Delighted to be joined by multi-talented musician, Steve Hillage on the Synthetic Dreams podcast this week  Hillage is an Insanely prolific musician, so there was a lot to cram in, but we mange to cover all manner of things, including the early Canterbury music scene, which Steve was a big part of. Meeting Daevid Allen and joining psychedelic rock band, Gong. Steve was in the classic line up of th...

This very special book club edition of the Synthetic Dreams podcast features an interview with Thomas Dolby, who discusses his debut novel. 'Prevailing Wind', which was published back in April, via Archway Publishing. Thomas Dolby, of course, needs little introduction, especially to fans of electronic music. He’s a true legend, a master of sound and technology.  It was great to speak to him in-len...

The 100 episode of Synthetic Dreams features the fascinating and super talented American electronic musician and songwriter, John Grant.  We talk about his forthcoming book ‘The Illustrated Lyrics’, which features lyrics from his previous albums, along with his own wonderful photography.  The book is rereleased on 3rd October. We also discuss the making of his latest album ‘The Art of the Lie’, on...

Graham Crabb from Pop Will Eat Itself joins me on the podcast this week. Graham discusses the early days of PWEI, playing iconic music show Top Of The Pops and his memories of touring with legendary hip-hop act, Run-DMC and Nine Inch Nails. The group, who formed back in 1986, still features much of the original line up. PWEI were way ahead of the curve, when they first burst into the scene, fusing...