The Sound Session

Music isn't just background noise in animation; it’s a crucial element that shapes storytelling and enhances the audience's experience. In this sound session, I sit down with animation director Tim Searle to dive into how music influences animation - and in particular for Toad & Friends, the series we worked on together - highlighting its role in accentuating moments and guiding emotional resp...

Composer and pianist Jo Gendle dives deep into the sounds of grief and how it can transform into music, not as a dark experience, but as a means of connection and release. We explore the question of what grief truly sounds like when it weaves its way into our melodies. Through personal reflections and poignant stories, we see how Jo's journey with loss has shaped her music, beginning with the memo...

What matters more in music: technical skill or emotional feel? In this episode, we dive deep into this question with saxophonist and composer Toby James, who shares his experiences navigating the extremes of music, from composing on a deadline to performing spontaneously without sheet music. Toby makes a compelling case that skill and feel are not opposites but rather interconnected elements that...

What is a podcast? This episode dives into the evolving definition of podcasting, as we explore how audio content is now intertwined with video, social media, and various platforms. We challenge the traditional notion that podcasts are solely audio delivered through RSS feeds, highlighting how many shows resemble TV productions with their viral video clips. Through conversations with industry prof...

What happens when sound surrounds you not just from left to right, but from every angle? In this engaging conversation, I sit down with Dr. Neil Bruce, a composer, sound designer and sound design lecturer at the School of Digital Arts in Manchester, to dive deep into the world of immersive sound. We explore how immersive audio transcends the typical buzzwords, emphasising the importance of paying...

What can sound do that visuals or words can't? This episode delves into the enchanting world of audio storytelling, exploring how sound can create emotional depth and immerse listeners in ways that leave visuals behind. I chat with audio drama director and producer Ella Watts, who shares her insights on the unique power of sound to evoke empathy and imagination. We discuss how audio can dissolve b...

The Sound Session explores how sound shapes our world - and how we shape sound. I’m Gareth, and I’ve spent years working with sound - whether it's music or podcasts - helping others to bring their ideas to life through audio. In this podcast, we’ll explore not just how sound works, but why it matters and how it connects us to one another and the world around us. Join me as we talk to inspiring ind...