The XS Noize Podcast

In episode #303 of the XS Noize Podcast, Steven Wilson joins Mark Millar to discuss his new album, Requiem For A Village , embracing musical imperfections, and why he believes the human touch matters more than ever in an age of artificial intelligence. Following the cosmic scale of The Overview , Steven explains why he wanted to explore British folklore, childhood memories and the unsettling atmos...

Gabriella Cilmi joins Mark Millar on the XS Noize Podcast to discuss her new album, Pure Love , being signed at just 13, the worldwide success of 'Sweet About Me', and finding her way back to herself as an artist. Gabriella reflects on the pressures of becoming famous at 16, losing creative control and eventually stepping away to rebuild on her own terms. She also reveals how watching footage of h...

My Morning Jacket frontman Jim James joins Mark Millar on the XS Noize Podcast to discuss his new solo album, Wowed Out , rediscovering music from his past, his journey towards sobriety and self-acceptance, and what's next for My Morning Jacket. His fifth solo LP and first new solo album in eight years, Wowed Out grew from a collection of abandoned film-score recordings Jim created with composer B...

In this episode of the XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar is joined by Clint Boon to discuss his autobiography, Manchester Chronicles: True Tales of Music, Madness and Mayhem 1976–2006, the rise of Inspiral Carpets and the remarkable highs and lows of his life in music. Clint recalls seeing the Sex Pistols at Manchester's Electric Circus in 1976—the night that convinced him he could form a band. He dis...

Stephen Mallinder joins Mark Millar on the XS Noize Podcast to discuss Cabaret Voltaire's final tour, the return of Chris Watson, and the remastered edition of CODE . Stephen reflects on why these final shows are both a celebration and an ending, and why he was determined not to let Cabaret Voltaire become its own tribute act. He talks about reconnecting with Chris Watson, rebuilding the music usi...

Jamie Webster joins Mark Millar on the XS Noize Podcast to discuss his fourth studio album, Running Round The Sun , and the success, self-doubt and personal experiences behind his most reflective record yet. Jamie looks back on his journey from playing Liverpool pubs for a pint of Coke and a packet of Quavers to huge headline shows, and reflects on why achieving his dreams hasn't necessarily made...

The Proclaimers have never been interested in becoming a nostalgia act. Craig and Charlie Reid join Mark Millar on the XS Noize Podcast to discuss what still drives—and offends—them nearly 40 years after This Is the Story . The brothers explore their uncompromising 13th studio album, You May Offend , whether people have become easier to offend and the political anger running through the record. Th...

Andros Georgiou joins Mark Millar on the XS Noize Podcast to reveal the remarkable story behind Trojan Souls —the ambitious George Michael album that was never completed. Andros discusses growing up alongside George, recognising his extraordinary musical ability at an early age and their work together on Boogie Box High's version of "Jive Talkin'," which featured an uncredited lead vocal from Geor...

In this episode of the XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar is joined by Mystery Jets' Blaine Harrison and Ollie Taylor to discuss their seventh studio album, A Hole to See the Sky Through . Blaine explains how a postcard artwork by Yoko Ono became the album's title, cover and guiding light. They also discuss recording with Leo Abrahams, the spontaneous creation of 'Black Sage' and how Ollie and his brot...

LE BOOM's Christy Leech joins Mark Millar on the XS Noize Podcast ahead of the duo's 360° immersive floor show at Limelight 1, Belfast. Christy explains how secret raves and unconventional venues inspired LE BOOM to perform in the middle of the audience, removing the separation between the band and the crowd. He also recalls an unforgettable show on a boat in Sydney Harbour and discusses the commu...

The Script's Danny O'Donoghue joins Mark Millar on the XS Noize Podcast to discuss the ideas, stories and songwriting behind the band's new album, "The User's Guide to Being Human." Danny reveals how an unusual moment in Los Angeles inspired the album's title, why he returned to the studio within a week of finishing the Satellites tour, and how sobriety has changed his approach to making music. He...

Tim Wheeler joins Mark Millar on the XS Noize Podcast to discuss Ash's landmark debut album 1977 , its 30th Anniversary Edition, "Girl From Mars," "Goldfinger," Owen Morris, young fame, Northern Ireland and taking the album back out on the road. Originally released in 1996, 1977 turned Ash from teenage upstarts from Downpatrick into one of the defining guitar bands of the era. Featuring "Girl From...

Tony Visconti joins Mark Millar on the XS Noize Podcast to discuss David Bowie, Marc Bolan, T. Rex, Thin Lizzy, Phil Lynott, Blackstar, Scary Monsters, Holy Holy and the art of producing timeless records. Best known as one of the most celebrated producers in music history, Tony played on Bowie's early records and went on to produce some of the most important albums of David Bowie's career. He also...

Rosa Walton joins Mark Millar on the XS Noize Podcast to discuss her debut solo album, Tell Me It's A Dream , out now via Transgressive Records. Best known as one half of Let's Eat Grandma alongside Jenny Hollingworth, Rosa steps into a bold new chapter with her most personal and expansive work to date — a record full of light, colour, open skies, friendship, dreams and emotional honesty. In this...

Belfast rock duo Dea Matrona join Mark Millar on the XS Noize Podcast to discuss their second album, Hate That I Care — a bold, more personal and self-assured new chapter for Mollie McGinn and Orláith Forsythe. Written, recorded and produced entirely by the band, Hate That I Care finds Dea Matrona leaning further into alt-rock while exploring vulnerability, identity, pressure, friendship, self-pro...

Danny McNamara from Embrace joins Mark Millar on the XS Noize Podcast to discuss the band's new album Avalanche , 30 years of Embrace, and why he feels more inspired now than ever. In this conversation, Danny reflects on the band's landmark debut The Good Will Out , the huge comeback with Out Of Nothing , and why new music — not nostalgia — is still what drives him. Danny also talks about the life...

In this episode of the XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar is joined by Irwin Sparkes and Alan Sharland from The Hoosiers to discuss their new album Compassion , the toxicity that inspired it, and how the band found joy, self-belief and purpose again. The band first broke through in 2007 with their debut album The Trick to Life , featuring huge singles including "Worried About Ray" and "Goodbye Mr A." B...

In this episode of the XS Noize Podcast , Mark Millar is joined by Robert Arkins , best known to millions as Jimmy Rabbitte in Alan Parker's classic 1991 film The Commitments . Robert looks back on life before the film, his musical roots, fronting his own band Housebroken , and how his sister first introduced him to Roddy Doyle's book. He reflects on why he initially saw The Commitments as a possi...

Nerina Pallot joins Mark Millar on the XS Noize Podcast to discuss 25 years of music, her new career-spanning collection Fire Escape Symphonies: The Best of Nerina Pallot , and the songs, fans and experiences that have shaped her journey. In this episode, Nerina reflects on looking back across her catalogue, the emotional weight of "Everybody's Gone To War," taking an anti-war song onto Top of the...

In this episode of the XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar is joined by Kevin Drew and Charles Spearin of Broken Social Scene to discuss the band's new album, Remember The Humans . Kevin and Charles talk about where the title came from, how a joke about AI ended up capturing the emotional centre of the record, and why Broken Social Scene returned now with their first new studio album in nearly a decade....

Deb Googe and Cara Tivey join Mark Millar on the XS Noize Podcast to discuss The Golden Thread — their debut full-length album together as da Googie + Cara Tivey. da Googie is the solo project of Deb Googe, best known as the bass player in My Bloody Valentine and Thurston Moore Group. Cara Tivey is a pianist and composer whose career includes work with Billy Bragg, Everything But The Girl, Blur, A...

In this episode of the XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar is joined by Glen Hansard for a warm, honest and deeply reflective conversation about his new live album, Don+t Settle - (Vol 1 Transmissions East) . Recorded at Berlin's historic Funkhaus with his road-hardened live band, the album brings together songs from Glen's solo career, The Frames and The Swell Season, captured with almost no fixes. Rat...

Miles Hunt joins Mark Millar on the XS Noize Podcast to reflect on 40 years of The Wonder Stuff — from the band's rise through the late '80s and early '90s to what it means to still be carrying it forward today. With The Wonder Stuff set for a major 40th anniversary UK tour in October 2026, Miles looks back on audience loyalty, writing the early records, the impact of albums including HUP , Never...

Carol Decker joins Mark Millar on the XS Noize Podcast to talk about T'Pau's return with Be Wonderful — the band's first album of original material since Pleasure and Pain in 2015. In this candid conversation, Carol reflects on the long gap between records, reconnecting creatively with Ronnie Rogers, and what finally brought her back into the right headspace to make new music again. She also looks...

The Boxer Rebellion join Mark Millar on the XS Noize Podcast to talk about The Second I'm Asleep , their first full-length studio album since 2018. In this episode, Nathan Nicholson and Piers Hewitt discuss the six-year gap between records, the reset the band needed, and how the new album came together through a more instinctive, less overthought creative process. They talk about writing quickly,...