FaceCulture: Giving You The People Behind The Music

Billie Marten is a British singer and songwriter who released her first single 'Ribbon' at only 14 years old. The next year she was nominated for the BBC Sound of 2016, followed quickly by her debut album 'Writing of Blue and Yellows' (2016). Her second album 'Feeding Seahorses by Hand' was released in 2019 and on the follow-up 'Flora Fauna' (2021) Marten showed a more mature version of herself. Her latest album 'Drop Cherries' (2013) continues this evolution as an artist. We spoke with Billie about clarity in songwriting, struggles with her musical identity, writing an album about a lover, touring in America, and a lot more! 

Interview by: Robin Hignell

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Arjen Lucassen is a singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist widely known for his progressive work under the moniker Ayreon.  We have been talking with Arjen for years now, this time about his latest project called Supersonic Revolution.  We spoke with Arjen about forming a new band, juggling multiple projects at once, The Golden Age of Music, 70s inspired music, covering ZZ Top, Van Halen, future plans and a lot more! 

Interview by: Martin Kuiper

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Freya Ridings is an English singer, songwriter and instrumentalist whose 2017 single "lost Without You" became a top then his in the UK. Since then she released her well-received self-titled debut album in 2019, and has now released her sophomore album Blood Orange (2023). We spoke with Freya about Blood Orange, growing up around music, confidence, inner growth, moments of joy and gratitude, her voice, and a lot more! 

Interview by: Robin Hignell

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Kristian Matsson, aka The Tallest Man On Earth is a Swedish singer-songwriter whose poetic lyrics and gravely voice has captivated listeners since the release of his self-titled debut EP in 2006. His first full album 'Shallow Grave' (2008) and the follow-up 'The Wild Hunt' (2010) garnered the Swedish songwriter an international following, and he has aimed to evolve his folky sound ever since. His latest effort is the album 'Henry St.' (2023), an album on which he enlisted the help of a full band for the first time. We sat down with Kristian in Amsterdam and talked about the album, his connection to the U.S., feelings of gratefulness, confidence and doubt in songwriting, his songs impacting others, and a lot more!

Interview by: Robin Hignell

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Jake Isaac is a charismatic singer and songwriter from South-London whose influences range from pop, to soul, to folk. Jake started out as a session musician and released his first album 'Our Lives'  in 2017. On his second album 'Honesty' the songsmith started to explore a more vulnerable side of himself when it comes to love and relationships, and he continues this evolution on his latest offering 'For When It Hurts'. We had a lovely chat about Paul Simon, taking risks in life, resiliency in love, working with Jack Savoretti and Joss Stone, doing some acting, and a lot more!

Interview by: Robin Hignell

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Rou Reynolds is a vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, author, and frontman for English rock band Enter Shikari. Their debut album Take To The Skies (2007) shot up to the the 4th place in the UK charts and their eclectic style of electronically-infused alternative rock and socially aware lyrics have captivated listeners ever since.  Their latest album is A Kiss For The Whole World (2023) and we had a chat with Rou about the album, resurrecting the band, introspection, creativity and self-worth, the longevity of the band, and a lot more! 

Interview by: Robin Hignell

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Natalie Merchant is an American singer and songwriter known for her recognizable voice and literary lyrics. Merchant rose to fame during the 80s with alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs, and in 1993 decided to pursue a solo career. Her solo debut Tigerlilly (1995) was a huge success, and more albums followed. Her latest album 'Keep Your Courage' (2023) is the first album she released since her self-titled album in 2014. We were lucky enough to speak with Natalie about the album, songwriting, love in all its forms, social commentary, greek mythology and a lot more! 

Interview by:

Robin Hignell

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Phil Soussan is a British bassist, songwriter and producer who has worked with a host of artists ranging from Ozzy Osbourne to Jimmy Page and Toto. In 1986 he co-wrote Ozzy's massive hit single 'Shot In The Dark', and he has also released a couple of successful solo albums. Soussan joined rock band Last in Line, a band formed by the original members of Dio after the passing of frontman Ronnie James Dio, replacing all-round musician Jimmy Bain after his death in 2016. We spoke with Phil about the new Last In Line album Jericho (2023), writing Shot In The Dark, The Beatles, timeless music, pushing the envelope, what makes a good song, and a lot more! 

Interview by: Robin Hignell

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Benny Sings is a Dutch musician, songwriter and producer who has released 10 albums to great international success, the latest being 'Young Hearts' in 2023. Benny also has collaborated with artists like Mac DeMarco, Rex Orange County and Free Nationals. We spoke with Benny in his Amsterdam studio about the new album, being in music for over 20 years, setting goals, confidence as a songwriter, working with Kenny Beats, taking the next step, lovable losers, and a lot more! 

Interview by:

Robin Hignell
FaceCulture

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Thank you for listening! For more interviews with your favorite artists visit the FaceCulture YouTube channel.

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Matt Corby is an Australian singer-songwriter who reached the top of the Australian charts with his debut album Telluric (2016). Once a Australian Idol runner-up, Corby has since developed into a multi-instrumentalist, incorporating an eclectic mix of influences into his carefully crafted songs. His latest album is 'Everything's Fine' (2023), recorded while his house was underwater due to severe floods. We spoke about the album, the addictive nature of songwriting, how parenthood changed him, enjoying the little things, setting the bar high for himself, and a lot more! 

Interview by: Robin Hignell

Support the show

Thank you for listening! For more interviews with your favorite artists visit the FaceCulture YouTube channel.

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