Warmest of welcomes back to Art Histories, the podcast, everybody! We're well and truly into Spring and the series now, hopefully you're enjoying the episodes outside with five or less friends as you delicately sip tinned cocktails and count down the hours until the pubs reopen. That's forming a large part of Olivia's plans, anyway...

Art Histories aims to provide a raw, intimate study of the power of the arts by inviting one guest on a week to talk about three pieces of art that have moulded them or shaped the course of their lives.

Episode 4 is our first genre-based show, and first in-person recording (so forgive any microphone issues) and Olivia can hardly contain her excitement. Sitting in her garden with the incomparable Tom Holton, Olivia launches herself with reckless abandon into the world of EDM and Trance music, beginning with vintage 2011 Monstercat compilations (which make an interesting backdrop to a Sunday afternoon, that's for sure), travels via YouTube to Miami for Armin van Buuren's Ultra Festival set in 2018 (no Red Bull required), and gets up close and personal with Tom's self-proclaimed idol Martin Garrix (but not too close and personal - social distancing). There's debates around the responsibility of the music industry to uplift and promote new talent and how EDM specifically fulfils this, the art of constructing a DJ set and how it is as much reliant upon context and environment as the music itself (although Olivia had a great time head-banging in her room), and how a musician's personal ideals can be as impactful on a fan as the records they release. This episode was truly music madness, and Olivia came away a changed woman - appreciating the wildness and weirdness of one of her oldest friends Tom more than ever before. Enjoy!

Original jingle for 'Art Histories' composed and performed by Fran Birkby. Cover photography as seen on Spotify and Instagram by Anna Emslie. Follow us on Instagram @arthistoriespod for episode updates and bonus content, and Spotify so you never miss an upload!