The XS Noize Podcast

In Episode #180 of The XS Noize Podcast, host Mark Millar speaks to Tim Booth lead singer from JAMES about their latest album YUMMY and writing his debut novel "When I Died for the First Time." JAMES have released their 18th studio album YUMMY which reached number one on the UK Albums Chart after 42 years in the music industry and in March Tim Booth published his first novel When I Died For The Fi...

In Episode #179 of The XS Noize Podcast, host Mark Millar speaks to legendary DJ/Producer Arthur Baker, credited as a leader, pioneer, and trailblazer in electronic music. Masterminding breakthrough experimentation with tape edits and sampling. He left Boston for New York at the start of the 1980s. Initially DJing and producing disco and soul, he was drafted in by  Tommy Boy Records  to produce fo...

In Episode #178 of The XS Noize Podcast, host Mark Millar speaks to Tom Bailey from The Thompson Twins about touring to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the classic album Into The Gap . The Thompson Twins are widely regarded as one of the most iconic bands of the 1980s and provided the soundtrack to many people's lives during that incredible era of music. On the eight-date UK tour in May, Tom wil...

In Episode #177 of The XS Noize Podcast, host Mark Millar speaks to award-winning Dublin singer-songwriter-instrumentalist-dramatist Conor O'Brien of Villagers about the new album That Golden Time. The exquisite new album unfurls Conor O'Brien 's trademark melodic flair, his gift for simultaneously vivid and subtle arrangements and lyrics that couch his hopes, fears and dreams in richly absorbing...

In Episode #176 of The XS Noize Podcast, host Mark Millar speaks to Neil Arthur from Blancmange about the career-spanning compilation Everything is Connected (The Best of Blancmange 1979-2024). Blancmange's story is one of two distinct chapters. In the early '80s, they infused the emergent synth-pop scene with oblique lyrics, wry British humour and occasionally tabla-tinged sonics, an unlikely mix...

In Episode #175 of The XS Noize Podcast, host Mark Millar speaks to award-winning Liverpudlian pop singer, and songwriter BANNERS (aka Michael Nelson) about his new album All Back to Mine. BANNERS is known for his effervescent melodies and immensely relatable lyrics about the human condition. With Nelson's latest full-length, All Back to Mine , it's safe to say he owns a market share in feel-good...

In Episode #174 of The XS Noize Podcast, host Mark Millar speaks to Neil Finn and Nick Seymour from Crowded House about their eighth studio album 'Gravity Stairs.' Produced by the band with Steven Schram (Paul Kelly, San Cisco), Gravity Stairs shows Crowded House's current incarnation featuring Neil Finn , Nick Seymour , Mitchell Froom , Elroy Finn and Liam Finn . In this interview, Neil Finn and...

In Episode #173 of The XS Noize Podcast, host Mark Millar speaks to Michael Smyth, guitarist and founder of Belfast shoegaze band Virgins, about their highly anticipated debut album 'Nothing Hurt and Everything Was Beautiful'.  The album finds the band exploring a broader sonic palette, seamlessly moving between the gaze-pop of s l o w l y, l o n g and d i s a p p e a r e r to the dance-influenced...

In Episode #172 of The XS Noize Podcast, host Mark Millar speaks to acclaimed songwriter and former Mansun frontman Paul Draper to discuss his upcoming live shows to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the iconic Mansun album Six. To celebrate the 25th Anniversary of  Six , in April 2024,  Paul Draper  and his live band are hitting the road, playing legendary venues up and down the UK. This will be...

In Episode #171 of The XS Noize Podcast, host Mark Millar is delighted to engage in a captivating conversation with Peter Hooton and Keith Mullin from The Farm. After a triumphant series of festival appearances and the debut of fresh tunes during the summer of 2017,  The Farm  reunited, igniting a resurgence in their recording endeavours. Although their plans for the digital release of the Feel Th...

In Episode #170 of The XS Noize Podcast, host Mark Millar is thrilled to sit down with Guy Garvey, Elbow's illustrious lead vocalist, for an enlightening conversation about their latest masterpiece, AUDIO VERTIGO. March heralds the much-anticipated return of  Elbow  with their tenth studio odyssey,  AUDIO VERTIGO . Crafted throughout 2023 within the intimate confines of the band's studios and Migr...

In Episode #169 of The XS Noize Podcast, host Mark Millar delves deep into a compelling dialogue with Mollie McGinn and Orlaith Forsythe, the dynamic Irish rock duo behind Dea Matrona. This discussion focuses on their eagerly awaited debut album, 'For Your Sins,' which is set to captivate listeners worldwide on May 3rd. Originating from shared school corridors, Mollie McGinn and Orlaith Forsythe's...

In a riveting Episode #168 of The XS Noize Podcast, host Mark Millar engages in a dynamic conversation with Phil Etheridge and Jon 'Simmo' Simcox from This Rebel, exploring the depths of their self-titled album released on March 8, 2024, via Jump The Cut Records. Hailing from The Black Country, a region renowned in the UK as the heart of England's Midlands, This Rebel's narrative took root in 2008...

In the captivating Episode #167 of The XS Noize Podcast, host Mark Millar meets James Walsh from Starsailor to discuss their new album, Where The Wild Things Grow. Starsailor returns with Where The Wild Things Grow , their first album in six years, produced by Rick McNamara and set for release on 22nd March 2024. Formed in and around Wigan at the start of the millennium and featuring James Walsh (...

In the captivating Episode #166 of The XS Noize Podcast, host Mark Millar engages in a profound conversation with Ride's Laurence 'Loz' Colbert and Steve Queralt, delving into the intricacies of their highly anticipated seventh studio album, 'Interplay.' Scheduled for release on March 29th, Interplay marks a significant milestone for the Oxford-based quartet, being their third album since their re...

In episode #165 of The XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar engages in a captivating conversation with John Power, the lead singer of Cast, exploring their latest musical endeavour, 'Love Is The Call.' This marks a significant return for Cast, with their first album in six years set to be released on February 16th. Love Is The Call  doesn't just resonate with Cast's musical history but also draws inspira...

In episode #164 of The XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar meets James Atkin and Ian Dench from EMF to discuss their new album, 'The Beauty and The Chaos,' released on January 26th 2024. The Beauty and The Chaos finds the band at their full creative tilt, delivering Classic EMF! And sees the band reunited with Ralph Jezzard , who produced their first two albums, Schubert Dip and Stigma . This energetic...

In episode #163 of The XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar meets the visionary mind behind Kula Shaker, the legendary Crispian Mills. We delve into the enchanting realms of their latest musical creation, "NATURAL MAGICK." As the frontman and creative force behind the band, Crispian takes us through the inspiration, creative process, and mystical elements that shape the album. Join us as we uncover the s...

In episode #162 of The XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar meets the charismatic frontman of Shed Seven, Rick Witter. Shed Seven has been a formidable force in the British alternative rock scene with a career spanning over three decades. Mark sits down with Rick to delve into the band's highly anticipated new album, "A Matter of Time." Known for their infectious melodies and timeless sound, Shed Seven c...

In episode #161 of The XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar meets Katherine Blamire and Jessica Davies from Smoke Fairies to discuss their new album, "Carried In Sound." Smoke Fairies is a project founded on friendship. Katherine Blamire and Jessica Davies have known one another since they were kids, forming a band to escape the humdrum of high school. On their new album, Carried In Sound , the duo prove...

In episode #160 of The XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar meets Chris Turpin, one-half of British indie-blues-rock duo Ida Mae , to talk about their latest LP, "Thunder Above You." Ida Mae is a husband and wife duo of Chris Turpin and Stephanie Jean Ward . They met while studying at university, quickly bonding over their passion for music and later forming their first band, Kill It Kid . Penning three...

In episode #159 of The XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar meets 80s legend Deniece Pearson, lead singer of the iconic pop group Five Star, to discuss her Christmas single 'Santa Claus is Coming.' Santa Claus is Coming follows her recent single Forever Young – a feel-good infused pop-bop which reached #12 in Music Week's Pop Chart and went Top Ten in their Black Chart. It was taken from a new EP featuri...

In episode #158 of The XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar meets Peter Cunnah from D:Ream to discuss the brand new double CD compilation, "D:Ream - The Best Thing." Peter Cunnah & Al Mackenzie made their name in the early '90s, having several top-ten singles, including hitting number 1 with Things Can Only Get Better . D'Ream has released "D:Ream - The Best Thing", a brilliant new compilation that inclu...

In episode #157 of The XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar meets Galen & Paul, a new project from Galen Ayers, the singer-songwriter whose artistic projects include the rightly acclaimed solo album 'Monument', and Paul Simonon, bassist with The Clash, Gorillaz and The Good, The Bad and The Queen. After the bilingual charms, international genre-spanning adventures, and picture postcard images of pan-Euro...

In episode #156 of The XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar meets Future Islands frontman Samuel T. Herring to discuss their new album, People Who Aren't There Anymore , released on 26 January 2024. The seventh album from the band - Samuel T. Herring (vocals, lyrics), William Cashion (bass, guitars), Gerrit Welmers (keyboards, programming), and Michael Lowry (drums) - follows 2020's As Long As You Are ....