Midnight Chats

Death! Like a begrudging respect for Robbie Williams, sadly, it comes to us all. Perhaps that's why Stuart has taken to asking our guests about the subject of the great beyond, which reminded us that there was a time when we asked a bunch of musicians what they thought was the perfect way to die, in a regular interview feature in Loud And Quiet magazine.

On this week's podcast we revisit those answers from 2014 - 2017, make our case for SZA to have another go at Glastonbury, review new documentary Boy Bands Forever, unpack the new proposed levy that supports grassroots venues and, somewhat tragically, discuss the new song by Mark Zuckerberg.

Further reading/listening/viewing

Getting To Know You archive

Sherelle Loud And Quiet interview

Mark Zuckerberg's horrible song

Listen to our new Beat the Algorithm Spotify playlist

Credits:

Editing by Stuart Stubbs 

Mixing and mastering by Willem Olenski

Artwork by Kate Prior

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Kaiser Chiefs announce shows for 2025 celebrating 20 years of their debut album, with support from Razorlight, We Are Scientists, The Cribs and The Coral, Greg and Stu put their heads together to come up with an alternative bill of artists who released records 20 years ago. The Carling will be served warm and the weather will be terrible. Welcome to the inaugural Midnight Chats festival!

Also on this week's podcast, Grammy nominations and predicted winners, as little about Trump as possible, and what are the worst 3 Christmas songs.

Further reading/listening/viewing

Listen to our new Beat the Algorithm Spotify playlist

Credits:

Editing by Stuart Stubbs 

Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines

Artwork by Kate Prior

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welsh electronic artist, producer and DJ Kelly Lee Owens has come along way in a short period of time.

Yet, her warmth and charisma mean her A-list stories of playing Ibiza’s legendary Amnesia nightclub with Charli XCX or being welcomed into the Depeche Mode family, or dining with Bill Murray don’t come across like arrogant boasts. That’s because they come sandwiched with grounded stories of her days as a cancer ward nurse, eating cheese when she gets up at 3AM and hiding horse sh*t in the boot of an ex-boyfriend's car. 

She also spoke to Stuart Stubbs about the release of her fourth album 'Dreamstate', out now on George Daniel’s (The 1975) dh2 imprint.

You can watch clips of the podcast online now, just give us a follow on Instagram @midnightchatspod. 

Further reading/listening/viewing

“Daydreamer of the year” - Loud And Quiet meets Kelly Lee Owens in Venice in 2020

Watch the trailer for the Travis film 'Almost Fashionable'

Listen to our new Beat the Algorithm Spotify playlist

Credits:

Editing by Stuart Stubbs 

Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines

Artwork by Kate Prior

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The era of surprise album releases seems to be over, with everyone from Beyonce to Billie Eilish to Charli XCX to Tyler, The Creator opting for modern (and bombastic) twists on the traditional way of hyping LPs before their release dates. Increasingly, it seems the arena listening party in a key tool in connecting conceptual artist and fans, but as Greg shares on this week's episode, they don't always work.

We also get into the week's headlines, including the reformation of The Maccabees, how Lily Allen is making more money from her feet on OnlyFans than through her music on Spotify, and what Helen Mirren wishes Kurt Cobain got to experience.

Greg also shows off about the most famous people he's met.

Further reading/listening/viewing

Listen to our new Beat the Algorithm Spotify playlist

Billie Eilish listening party

Kanye West Donda listening party 

Credits:

Editing by Stuart Stubbs 

Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines

Artwork by Kate Prior

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've all been there: investing our time and energy into worshiping our favourite artist only for them to call us "creepy as fuck". Ok, maybe we've not ALL been there, but thousands of Doja Cat stans were last year, whilst just a few days ago The Pretenders upset a bunch of their most hardcore fans in an Instagram post that has since been deleted. It offered us the chance to get into the fan/artist relationship on this week's podcast, as well as Greg reporting back from Sexyland World, a club in Amsterdam, and Stu from the perhaps less sexy Barbican Centre in London.

We won't pretend that we planned this, but every element of this week's show, from Joni Mitchell at the Hollywood Bowl to Greg's Top 3 challenge, happens to based around live music.

Oh. And we're calling our listeners Werewolves now. Cheers.

Further reading/listening/viewing

Heartworms Loud And Quiet interview

boygenius Loud And Quiet interview

Robbie Williams' art exhibition

ADE

Listen to our new Beat the Algorithm Spotify playlist

Credits:

Editing by Stuart Stubbs 

Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines

Artwork by Kate Prior

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Charli XCX's Brat remix album reimagines what a remix album can be in 2024, we discuss that release and trace the remix record back to its unexpected origins. Charli's record certainly is a different approach to what Green Day have done recently with their Dookie Demastered stunt, which we also get into.

Then we get into the serious business of an age old question: Do you need to know the lyrics to a song – and their meaning – to be able to truly love it? As Stu puts Greg's appalling memory to the test, we're ultimately searching for a big fat NO on this one, otherwise Greg may never work again.

Our Beat The Algorithm recommendations too. And Stu puts Greg on the spot for his favourite music venues in this week's Top 3. (This also ends badly for Greg.)

You can watch clips of the podcast online now, just give us a follow on Instagram @midnightchatspod. 

Further reading/listening/viewing

Listen to our new Beat the Algorithm Spotify playlist

Dookie DeMastered

Credits:

Editing by Stuart Stubbs 

Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines

Artwork by Kate Prior

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seven years ago Laura Marling came on episode 19 of the podcast at a very different time in her life. As she prepares to release her 8th album, Patterns in Repeat, this month (25 Oct), she does so as a new mother, who's trained to become a yoga teacher, who's gained a masters in psychoanalysis, who's formed a band called LUMP, who's quite touring, who's communicating directly with fans via a quite brilliant Substack newsletter about the craft of songwriting.

All of the above is covered in this week's episode of Midnight Chats, as well as discussion about death, T.V., secretly cooking for Damon Albarn and John Paul Jones with not great results, and the beauty of a new, sparse album recorded with a baby daughter literally by your side in your living room.

You can watch clips of the podcast online now, just give us a follow on Instagram @midnightchatspod. 

Further reading/listening/viewing

Listen to our new Beat the Algorithm Spotify playlist

Coldplay on QVC

Laura Marling's Patterns in Repeat Substack

Dog Unit's At Home, Still EP

Credits:

Editing by Stuart Stubbs 

Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines

Artwork by Kate Prior

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When a musician dies and leaves behind unfinished music, what should happen to it? Shelved forever? Released in its current state? Completed by someone else? 

On this week's episode Greg and Stu get into when posthumous albums are a good idea and when they most certainly aren't, from last week's SOPHIE album, to work from Michael Jackson, Tupac, Biggie Smalls and Elliott Smith. But not before sharing the week's headlines about Radiohead going Shakespeare, Tears For Fears going AI, and Green Day going anti-Vegas. 

You can watch clips of the podcast online now, just give us a follow on Instagram @midnightchatspod. 

Further reading/listening/viewing

Listen to our new Beat the Algorithm Spotify playlist

Hamlet Hail to the Thief tickets

Credits:

Editing by Stuart Stubbs 

Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines

Artwork by Kate Prior

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's been our most awkward interview yet? How do we charm our guests? Who have we been starstruck by? And c'mon guys, why is this thing called 'Midnight Chats'? 

As our podcast reaches its 150 episode, Greg and Stu celebrate by showing how the sausage is made, sharing stories and their tricks of the trade while trading some of their favourite clips from MC's illustrious history, and answering our listeners' questions about which guest has had the smoothest hands. 

Also in this special episode, Stu premieres his new jingle for Beat The Algorithm, he and Greg give you their new music tips, and Greg faces this week's Top 3. 

You can watch clips of the podcast online now, just give us a follow on Instagram @midnightchatspod. 

Further reading/listening/viewing

Listen to our new Beat the Algorithm Spotify playlist

Credits:

Editing by Stuart Stubbs 

Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines

Artwork by Kate Prior

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The summer slump is over and what feels like hundreds of artists are gearing up for new albums this autumn. On this week's episode, Greg and Stu get into what coming soon from The Cure, FKA Twigs, Coldplay and more, along with the recent implosion of rock giants Jane's Addiction, while a meeting with Laura Marling last week opened up the question of are music fans starting to lose their love for vinyl? 

We also introduce a new regular feature where each week we'll recommend some new artist, which will be added to the playlist below. And yeah, we're sticking with our Top 3 challenge too. This week, it involves Stu's house being on fire. 

You can watch clips of the podcast online now, just give us a follow on Instagram @midnightchatspod. 

Further reading/listening/viewing

Listen to our new Beat the Algorithm Spotify playlist

Eusexua video from FKA Twigs

That Jane’s Addiction scrap

Rosie Carr's Bandcamp

Greg's Nilüfer cover interview

Credits:

Editing by Stuart Stubbs 

Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines

Artwork by Kate Prior

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.