Impropod Podcast

Educator, instrumentalist and audio editor William Barkley shares a powerful story about a revelation he experienced while playing a gig at a ski resort, which changed the way he saw himself and the world around him. He also tells the moving story of his friendship with an elderly Irishman, Patrick, and his passion for the poetry of W. B. Yeats.

They discuss:

◼ How music can become a way of communicating and connecting with others through improvisation

◼ How an unexpected friendship with an elderly Irishman and his love of W. B. Yeats inspires a soundtrack of darkness, wonder and connection

◼ How a disastrous gig, getting stoned and a moment of self-realisation can be transformed into an improvised musical journey

◼ How improvisation can bring memories back to life, creating a conversation between music, storytelling and personal experience

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Film and TV composer (Sky Arts, Amazon Prime) Myles McLeod talks about the double life he leads between composing and working at the Bristol Hippodrome, and the sacrifices he’s made to pursue a career in music. He shares surreal experiences working alongside the team behind Strictly Come Dancing, meeting members of the Pet Shop Boys, and balancing everyday work with a career in film music. Myles also reflects on his illusive french past, moving to the UK to study music, leaving a band to pursue composing, and the personal relationships and opportunities he’s had to sacrifice along the way.

They discuss:

◼ How the contrast between a routine day job and a surreal life as a film composer inspires music that moves between simplicity, reflection and chaos

◼ How meeting celebrities such as the Pet Shop Boys and working around Strictly Come Dancing creates a strange, glamorous and sometimes uncomfortable double life

◼ How the sacrifices made to pursue a career in music can be expressed through tension, dissonance and the eventual feeling of finding your own path

◼ How improvisation can turn personal experiences into music, creating a space for reflection on ambition, relationships, identity and the journey of becoming a composer

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https://www.mylesmcleod.co.uk/

◼ Myle's Instagram: @myles_mcleod_music

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Experimental pop artist and vocal couch BexX, discuses his innovative vocal workshops, where participants use improvisation to explore sound, emotion and self-expression without fear of making mistakes. He shares an entertaining story about graduation day, and an unfortunate encounter with his cat, before recounting a profound experience at a festival where a singer performed his “soul song”. BexX and Luke explore how music can express vulnerability, uncertainty and the feeling of being on the right path. BexX then creates a spontaneous electronic soundtrack using synths and a loop station, transforming unease and chaos into a sense of direction and resolution.

They discuss:

◼ How vocal improvisation can create a space for self-expression, experimentation and embracing imperfection

◼ How a graduation day, an unfortunate encounter with a cat can become the inspiration for an improvised musical journey

◼ How an extraordinary experience at Medicine Festival involving a “soul song” inspires music about vulnerability, uncertainty and finding your path

◼ How synths, loops and electronic textures can transform feelings of unease and chaos into a sense of direction, confidence and resolution

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◼On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC34WsYcP0CO0urZJJLz1tOw

◼ See this episode on the podcast map at: https://www.impropod.com/

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◼On LinkedIn @luke-tomlinson-917ab6252/

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Psychologist and synaesthesia artist Maike Preissing gives some fascinating insight into how she sees the world with synaesthesia including seeing music as colours in her mind’s eye. Maike and Luke discuss their connections to music, and she tells the story of telling the class about that she has synaesthesia when she was a child. She also recounts a recent trip to Norway, describing how raw fish, motorboats and birds appeared through her synaesthetic experience. Luke responds to each story with improvised soundtracks, exploring how music can translate memories, emotions and sensory experiences into sound.

They discuss:

◼ How synaesthesia creates unique connections between sounds, colours, shapes and textures, and how Maike experiences music in her mind’s eye

◼ How a childhood experience of discovering synaesthesia, from excitement and curiosity to betrayal and mistrust, inspires an improvised musical soundtrack

◼ How the sounds and sensory experiences of a trip to Norway can be transformed into music

◼ How improvisation can bridge two different ways of experiencing the world, translating memories, emotions and sensory perceptions into sound

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Sound recordist Joe Early from the Library of sounds, tells stories about  recording of a storm, and a night on King Street, Bristol. Luke improvises a soundtrack to these stories over the recordings recontextualizing them, an insightful episode about the power of music and sound. From the chaos of a busy Bristol night to the cosy feeling of listening to a storm from indoors, the episode explores how harmony, dissonance, rhythm and perspective can transform the emotional meaning of a soundscape. Joe also explains how field recordings can transport him back to the exact moment they were captured, bringing back memories of the sights, smells, temperature and atmosphere of a place. An insightful conversation about the power of music and sound to shape how we experience the world.

Interlude sound recordings from the library of sounds:

They Discuss:

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Host of the Shrewsbury Biscuit Podcast, Alex Whiteley tells a story about a crazy night in Columbia involving drunkenly bear-hugging a famous latin singer, and about how he almost leaked one of the most important announcements in comic book history, involving The Walking Dead creator Charlie Adlard!.

Along the way, Alex reflects on his own experiences of trauma, anxiety and rebuilding his life, and explains why music has always been such an important part of getting through the day. Luke improvises soundtracks to both stories, capturing anxiety, intrigue, chaos, excitement and relief through music. Alex also talks about his podcasts, including the Shrewsbury Biscuit Podcast and his new show, The Biscuit Guy.

They discuss:

Mentions:
Duel of the Fates (Phantom Menace, John William)

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Voice actor Stevie Cripps shares his fascinating journey from being a child radio enthusiast to becoming a locksmith and eventually a BBC radio producer, working alongside names including Pete Tong, Judge Jules and Seb Fontaine. He also tells the inspiring story of how The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron helped him turn his life around and reconnect with his creativity. All accompanied by a unique improvised soundtrack with a flavour of trance music!

They discuss:

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Music

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LA based actor and film maker Scott Ham, Duenas tells an entertaining story about his wedding, where he nearly got into a fight with the preacher! He also steps into character from his films to tell stories, including Chance, a gambler trying to turn his life around, and Will, a grieving father searching for his missing daughter. Through each story, Scott explores how improvised music can capture excitement, chaos, loss and hope.

They discuss:

Check out the trailers to the films here: Final Wager, and ReBROKEN 

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Attorney and founder of the Jeffrey Deskovic Foundation for Justice, Jeffery Deskovic, tells an extraordinary story about being wrongly imprisoned from the age of 16 to 32  and how betrayal, resilience and determination shaped his life. He reflects on what he learned during his 16 years in prison, including education, self-reflection and the importance of setting goals. Jeffery also discovers the calming and healing power of music, while sharing a humorous story about secretly playing Pac-Man in prison. His powerful stories are brought to life through Luke’s improvised piano soundtracks, creating a unique musical interpretation of his experiences. 

They discuss:

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Artist, mentor, cultural diplomat and filmmaker Iman Kamel explores ancient Egyptian mythology, the Neteru archetypes and the wisdom of embracing paradox. She shares a powerful story about the goddess Sekhmet, exploring the tension between destruction and healing, fierceness and compassion. Iman also discusses the idea of the holographic being, where seemingly opposing aspects of ourselves can come together to create something harmonious. Through improvised piano, Luke responds to her stories and ideas, creating a musical exploration of the desert, the cosmos, inner discovery and the connections between our inner and outer worlds.

They discuss:

◼ How the ancient Egyptian goddess Sekhmet embodies the paradox of destruction and healing, fierceness and compassion

◼ How a mythological story of a lost girl in the desert inspires improvised music exploring vastness, danger, power and transformation

◼ How travelling outward into the world can also become a journey inward, exploring imagination, ancestry, experiences and identity

◼ How embracing seemingly conflicting aspects of ourselves can create a more complete and harmonious whole through music and storytelling

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