Influenced

Frontman of two of the most successful alternative music projects of all time, Damon Albarn has been a musical powerhouse for over thirty years at this point. With his work as a young man in Blur catapulting Britpop to the top of the musical world, to forming the most successful "virtual band" of all time with the genre-defying Gorillaz. Refusing to be defined by one sound or idea, Damon has constantly taken his music incredibly seriously, constantly moving from one sound to another, seemingly capable of making hits with anyone, (De La Soul, Elastica and Danger Mouse to name a few!). In this first episode on Damon we explore his early days as a school aged musician all the way to the beginnings of Gorillaz in the early 2000's. 


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Named after a devious device from William Burroughs' Naked Lunch, Steely Dan was always full of unique take's on just about everything from their music, lyrics and the way they approached production. Formed by core members Walter Becker and Donald Fagan, the band was a great antithesis to the bombastic state of Rock throughout the seventies. Opting often to use professional session musicians instead of the usual rock band lineup, the band was able to craft extremely intricate and well produced albums throughout the entire decade of the seventies, even if it meant they were a rare live band. The way the band used the studio and cutting edge production techniques made them an oddity in their day, but it means the albums sound like they haven't aged a day! In this Episode, we explore where Steely Dan got the interest in crafting music the way they did, and how their countless albums have shaped the musical landscape ever since they started the band fifty years ago.


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They brought Gothic culture to heights no-one ever thought imaginable. Siouxsie and the Banshees are one of punk music's most influential bands. Formed after Siouxsie Sioux and Steven Severin had their minds blown at a Sex Pistols gig, they took the Punk formula and turned it inside out. From their debut singles, they were turning heads in the UK music scene as one of the must see bands of the day. With a mixture of incredible musicians (including the Cure's Robert Smith for a brief stint!) the band was able to break away from the trappings of the punk genre that so many other artists of that time found themselves trapped in and constantly evolve with the changing musical times. Siouxsie and the band found major success in the Alternative and burgeoning indie scene in the USA as well becoming one of the headliners on the original traveling Lollapalooza tours in the '90's.   In this episode we trace the band from their punk beginnings to the musical chameleon they would become in the later portions of their career.


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Catapulting to stardom in 2005 with multiple 1 hits and a record-breaking iconic debut album, Arctic Monkeys changed the template for indie-rock. Determined never to be pigeon-holed by that 'indie-rock' moniker, Arctic Monkeys have continually drawn from all over the musical map. From psychedelic and stoner rock, doo-wop, hip-hop, and even piano-based lounge music on their 2018 release. The band meld genres almost effortlessly so it leads to no surprise that they've had massive success across the world with every single album going no. 1 in multiple counties as well as headlining some of the biggest festivals and playing for millions across the planet. In the episode, we trace many of the influences that Arctic Monkeys have threading through their musical DNA as well as the huge impact they've had on the musical landscape as a whole. 


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Named after the ill-fated founding member of the Rolling Stones and the tragic Jamestown Massacre, The Brian Jonestown Massacre live up to the bizarre nature of their band name. Founded in the late 1980's by Anton Newcombe ( the band's only consistent member), the BJM have always been about Newcombe's musical vision. From their early days in the eighties and early nineties as displaces of the UK's shoegaze movement (a la Slowdive and RIDE) to the vintage rock and roll twang that would encompass much of the band's later nineties output, Anton would lead his motley crew of musicians (featuring future and former members of bands like Swervedriver and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club)  toward whatever musical outcome that he saw fit. During this episode we trace the many influences that play into the music of the Brian Jonestown Massacre, as well as the way this shambolic band has influenced so many alternative and psychedelic artists who came afterwards. 


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Formed in late seventies England, the Cure are the brainchild and artistic avenue for frontman Robert Smith who has become the bands sole founding member. Beginning as a brash and eerie punk band, Robert soon became enamored with exploring new sonic territory throughout the eighties and well into the next decade. The band grew fond of melding a healthy dose of the Gothic and their original Punk aesthetic, with a love for Pop-style songwriting and production, the band has become one of the most influential in the last 40 years of music, and have cemented themselves as one of the most common musical touchstones of  Alternative music. In this episode we explore the Cure's everlasting gloomy legacy in music.


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Sharon Van Etten has made a name for herself as one of the most critically acclaimed and successful indie-folk and alternative names in the last decade. She continuously evolves her sound whether that means incorporating noisy and almost punk-rock guitars to accompany her voice or incorporating layers of synths and drum machines to create an almost electronic backdrop to some of her most recent work. She's one of the most forward thinking and influential musicians to come out of the 2010's and we're very excited to delve into her influences and how she's shaped music since her debut. 


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Elvis Costello is one of the most synonymous names with the New-Wave and Power Pop movements in the later half of the 20th century. Rising out of the punk and pub rock scenes in England in the late seventies and finding widespread success with the Attractions in the late 70's and well into the 1980's. Costello has influenced countless musicians from across the musical spectrum and collaborated with icons from across the music world from Hip Hop powerhouses to indie-rock mainstays. We explore Elvis Costello's lasting influence on music over the next thirty minutes. 


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Formed in 1964 by Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark, David Crosby, Chris Hillman, and Michael Clarke, The Byrds were one of the most popular and influential bands in the mid to late 60's. At the forefront of the Folk-Rock craze with a co-sign from Bob Dylan, the Byrds catapulted to the top with a string of no. 1's and hit albums. Rubbing shoulders with the Beatles in their prime, the Byrds never shied away from experimentation in the studio and in their songwriting. While the band's lineup was never the most consistent, they could always prove themselves when it came time to showcase their abilities as a band and as constantly evolving musicians. Influencing everyone from 70's arena bands like the Eagles and Tom Petty to alternative music in the eighties and nineties through the likes of REM and others. The band even still pop up as a prime influence in a number of  bands in the past two decades,  In this first episode of the podcast we dive into the influences and stories that created the Byrds and the way their 'jangly' tunes have shaped what's come since!


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