Matters

The acclaimed trumpeter & composer returns with an album of music written & inspired by jazz legend Wayne Shorter. Featuring Blanchard’s band E-Collective with pianist Fabian Almazan, guitarist Charles Altura, bassist David Ginyard & drummer Oscar Seaton, and the Turtle Island String Quartet.

In 2004 Basement Jaxx was the hot ticket when it came to filling dancefloors right around the world. Disclaimer: This interview is noisy, thanks to it being captured in a hotel lobby during the group's South African debut tour, post Kish Kash's success. That said, it's worthy of your time if you're a fan of the BJ.

In 2006, Richard E. Grant was in town, Cape Town, to share the story behind the making of Wah Wah, his self directed life story, along with a stellar cast of actors.

27 September 2001 - mere weeks after 9/11,  Heather was speaks about hope and promise, heading South, beyond Siren.

In October 2004, one-time Baby Spice, Emma Bunton, was celebrating the release of her second solo album, Free Me. This is she, in conversation with me, talking about her Spice World journey, finding her voice, and teasing out what she intended attempting next.

In interview with celebrated UK author, Tony Parsons, circa 2004.

The Jayhawks lead singer, Gary Louris, waxes lyrical about what makes the band Smile, after a far-to-long hiatus between recordings. Yes, this is another of my legacy cassette-recorded archive interviews intended for the committed – There are nuggets in there if you’re willing to dig deep. Enjoy, regardless.

In conversation with Gary Kemp, he of Spandau Ballet and acting fame, playing one part of the Cray Twins, a 10 year journey summarised in a 20-minute chat.

This is me in full fan-boy flight. Michael Brook is lesser-known, but no less a critical musician; celebrated solo artist, producer and inventor of the Infinite Guitar, famously played by both U2’s The Edge and Daniel Lanois.

Short, but no less sweet, I caught up with 4AD multi-talent to talk about his 1997 soundtrack produced for Albino Alligator, Kevin Spacey’s directorial debut.

Here, Michael talks about his role, that of technology and briefly chats about the movie’s closing cover of “Ill Wind (You’re Blowing Me No Good)”, featuring Flea, Michael Stipe and Jimmy Scott.

Today he’s produced an eye-watering 30 seminal soundtracks, including the likes of Into the Wild, An Inconvenient Truth, Brooklyn, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower. So yes, you do know his work after all [wink].

Pete Doherty was out, having formed Baby Shambles, but The Libertines remained gracious and welcoming should he have cleaned up his act. While they got on with it, drummer Gary Powell and the the remaining band kept their self-titled, second album in the spotlight, regardless of it all.

Through the personal and professional mayhem that haunted them, the band persevered and cleaned up their act to become one of the world’s most impressive acts focused on all about the music.