Alex in the Morning Playlist 11/11/2020


Playlist for my show Alex in the morning where I interviewed Annika Aka Hachiku about her new album I’ll probably be asleep. We talked about COVID. How the year’s been for her and the possibility of live shows. How she creates art and her work ethic. Plus if she is a City, Beach or Country person.

Was Great to chat with her and will upload her interview and a few I’ve done recently a post soon. Until then Enjoy my playlist.

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The Sea The Sea Interview

Interview with Chuck and Mira of The Sea The Sea

I had the pleasure of chatting with Mira and Chuck who are the Sea the Sea. A duo who create some amazing music and currently reside in Troy New York. We talked about the themes on their album. The pandemic and current political climate in America. Was great to go in depth with them and to lean more not just about their music but who they really are and what they stand for.

Check it out here.

Then Check out their new album too! Which has such a beautifully crafted and smooth sound.

Pulse Playlist 21/10/2020

Pulse Playlist for 21/10/2020

I do a show on the Pulse in Geelong Wednesdays currently from 9 – 11 am for anyone out there who’s interested. Thought I’d upload the playlist from the latest show. I Will also upload the interviews where I chatted to both Ex-Olympian and The Sea The Sea.

So do check out the playlist I feel this was a great playlist and a great one for if you just want to kick back and chill! Especially since it’s full of great music.

Be well and enjoy new music.

Dan Whitford Interview

Chat with Dan Whitford from Cut Copy and finding out if he is a Beach, City or Country person.

I had a chat with Dan of Cut Copy last week about their latest album. What Dan has been doing during the pandemic and also if he is a beach, city or country person. Also the themes that went into their new and sixth release Freeze Melt.

It was a pleasure to be able to chat with a vocalist of a Aria award winning band and Grammy nominated at that too!

To this day Cut copy are making great electronic music which started with their roots in Melbourne and have now become a world wide name and festival staple.

An act I’ve seen live 5 times before while thinking back but I’m sure I’ve probably caught a set or two as well at festivals along the way. They’ve always been great to see live and put on a insanely good show. So once this pandemic starts to calm down I’d be keen to see them live playing new material.

They’d even be a group I’d see from my car honestly if that was the first type of live music that would be happening here in Victoria.

For a world gripped by a panddemic cut copy have done pretty well to support New order and release a new album.


Check out my Interview Below

Also, put their latest album into your playlist rotation as it really is a great addition to the Cut Copy discography.

DAMIAN COWELL’S DISCO MACHINE

Well, I was thoroughly excited to see the fact that Kanye Airport West. Who mind you I’d never heard about (which made sense as they don’t exist) turned out to actually be the band fronted by Tism frontman Damian Cowell. While also being joined by Australian Comedian Tony Martain. My mind was blown.

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I was just at first expecting Damian Cowell to be playing on stage which I mean was a treat in its self but then to also be joined by Tony. This was something on a night when I’d been to work and also lacking sleep after doing the graveyard shift on Triple R the night before. I thought I was either completely delirious or this was literally happening.

To my delight, I wasn’t hallucinating or completely losing it (A Relief). The band themselves put on a great set. Including everything from choreographed moves from the backup singers, Damian and Tony. To Damian Cowell just sometimes posing during backing vocal sections.  It was a treat for the ears as much as the eyes.

I laughed and also enjoyed the TISM disco medley as someone who’s never seen tism live it was cool to see Whatareya done live. As I mean if you were to see Tism live it wouldn’t really matter who else was in the band. They all had masks on anyway. As there was speculation as to who was in the band when they were touring in the 90s. Which has changed now and it’s known who the members were but I really feel that they can still play these songs as long as the frontman remains the same.

There was life, there was entertainment, there were laughs, I was thoroughly delighted to see them play through their songs so sharply and sound so tight. It all worked.

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If you were to catch them I’d say go for it! As the main reason for the slot was to mention that they are playing ANZAC day eve at the Northcote social club. I’d be happy to catch them live again.

They also played a bunch of new songs to which were unfamiliar to the audience and to me. But with every word being thrown on the screen behind it was great to follow along and have a great laugh while doing so. For someone in a delirious state an absolute treat to be given especially when I was so unsure about going out that night due to my lack of brain activity and rest.

It Should be mentioned the sound at The Curtain is sensational and such an iconic Melbourne venue which I’ve maybe been to once or twice in my life I will frequent more I’m sure.

Great night with an unexpected sight of a band who I did not expect to see live I never thought I’d hear a TISM song live being sung by their lead singer. An unexpected surprise act which made my night.

You can catch DAMIAN COWELL’S DISCO MACHINE at the Northcote Social club on the 24th of April.

PBS Summer Interview Series

So it’s summer… The time to get hit by heat and melt! It’s also so a time when I have the opportunity to do 6 weeks of shows on PBS here in Melbourne. The show Burning Bitumen was the one I was filling in for. One I have many times before over the years. But a big stint was great as I was able to compile a ton of interviews over this time.

Late night radio has been a staple of my life for 10 years now. I get that Metal shows can’t always happen during the day (maybe one day they can and will) I also think they should. But until then late night radio is where it all lies. But I don’t mind being up at this time as long as I’ve got a decent radio show put together ready to present.

This includes collecting interviews. One of my favourite things to do on radio. Don’t get me wrong I enjoy putting together a playlist to… But truly love to meet new and upcoming artists. Also established ones and just have a chat. It’s the best part of radio meeting artists who you listen to over and over again and get to know a bit more about them and hang out for a bit.

The first band member which I interviewed over the Summer was Ezekiel Ox of Mammal and currently Superheist. It was great to meet an artist who is so political and also can have a bit of fun. I thought I’d be late to this interview. Which in my mind means if I’m not half an hour early there’s something wrong! But managed to make it right on time and get a couple cheeky photos of us holding Christmas presents at the PBS studio. As it was just before Christmas and just before Mammals Christmas shows.

Interview one down now a few more to go! I was in the process of booking other artists to interview and brainstorming with ideas when I remembered Joe played in the heavy band All of the dirt all at Once. So I got in contact with the chap.

We organized to meet at a questionable location. While there we realised the majority of the place is under construction. Which to joes amusement thought would add an “industrial feel to his industrial band” I was more worried about sound issues. But we found somewhere quiet to have a chat and I got the interview sorted for my summer fill on Burning bitumen.

Now I had a decent week of booking artist’s for the next few shows I was in the process of trying to track down a Thy art is murder interview while also contacting a few artists who were playing at UNIFY the gathering in a few weeks time. I managed to get a hold of both Dregg and Polaris.

First up as they are locals to the city of Melbourne were Dregg. Since it was easy to meet them in the CBD I did just that. To my surprise, they had also been interviewed for Triple J Unearthed. So it was cool to be catching up with a band so fresh and with a bit of a traction. They were Chris and Jordan. Two cool dudes who had a lot to say about their music and the current heavy music scene.

It is great to meet a band who knows what they were doing and where they want to go. Also very sure about what they wanted people to know about them. They are sure of themselves. Also, have a great message that they want to get out. Which was that we all need to meet and talk about all the issues at the moment instead of sitting divided. In such a political climate of being polarised which seems to be sitting not just in Australia but a world issue. A truly inspiring interview with a fresh band at the beginning of their journey.

Polaris was next up for an interview. Who mind you were gearing up for shows with the all mighty Parkway Drive. So getting them in the studio was great. We meet in the morning at the PBS studios.

This time being relaxed and on time gave me time to get prepared for this interview. Members Jamie and Ryan were great to talk to. We also got to talk about their upcoming shows at UNIFY the gathering and their recent and first European tour.

Then last but not least. I finally was able to get an interview with Andy from Thy art is murder a band who I’ve always been into and are getting ready to play shows in Australia at the biggest venues they’ve ever played in the country.

The only issue was the time difference as Andy has been all around the world and wasn’t sure of the time of the interview as he was in Brisbane at the time. Still, this wasn’t much of an issue and I was able to grab a hold of him to chat for a bit about being in a now global metal band.

We also talked about playing shows and going around the world, their prefered lifestyle. So it was cool to see how a band can change from being just a band from Australia to being recognised around the world. A feat that all bands want to achieve. Which they are in fact achieving.

So all in all. That was the summer of interviews for the show Burning Bitumen on PBS. I had a blast doing these interviews. So I hope more to come in the future.

Summer heats up Melbourne and brings the city to life. Also brings all these bands to the city to play shows. This is one of my favourite things about Melbourne. It’s insanely diverse music scene. Metal is a genre that will never quit and I can’t wait to see what I do or who I chat to next.

Looking forward to it all.

Check out the shows in full below.

Saturday, 16 December 2017

Saturday, 23 December 2017

Saturday, 30 December 2017

Saturday, 6 January 2018

Saturday, 13 January 2018

Saturday 27 January 2018

Dregg Interview

Today I went to the city and caught up with a band who had just gotten back from the ABC studios do an interview with me this afternoon a great pleasure it was.

I caught up with Chris and Jordan of Dregg. We chatted about live shows, Their latest EP, where their music is coming from and where it lies in the world of Metal.

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Chris and Jordan Chilling out the front of the State Library.

It was great talking to these guys. They really are coming from a raw and pure place. Not to mention their on point with all the issues that are currently going on and able to be a voice for the people. Dregg are well on their way to doing some huge things this year so keep a lookout for them.

Their show at the Workers club with a killer lineup is FREE and on the 19th of January.

Also, Listen to their song General Butt Naked and the whole damned EP below.

 

Donny Benét Interview

It’s always great to go to a show and organize a quick interview with the person you’re seeing that night. This nights artist I chatted to the man of groove and pretty rad bass talent Donny Benét outside the Northcote social club.

We talked about shaving, the latest single, releasing his next album and when he’ll be in Melbourne town next.

Can’t watch rage because it’s daylight or during the week? It’s okay, just watch the closest thing. The digital video of his latest single Konichiwa.

Get the funk and be Funky.