The xx's singer Romy Madley Croft speaks to Greg Cochrane about releasing her debut solo music – writing for international pop stars like Dua Lipa and Mark Ronson, being more comfortable expressing her sexuality and her love of f...

Ep 103: Romy, The xx

The podcast where musicians talk nonsense at midnight. And intimately about their lives and creativity. From the team behind independent music magazine Loud And Quiet.

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Music Interviews

The Blessed Madonna – truly one of the most engaging, fun and opinionated guests we’ve welcomed onto Midnight Chats. 
One of the world’s foremost DJs, producers and curators, Marea Stamper invited Greg Cochrane to her intimate London studio Godspeed to record this colourful conversation. 
Topics covered: 2024 and this turbulent time in politics and journalism; her unique relationship with the iconic track ‘Marea (We Lost Dancing)’ by Fred again… and stories of cooking pasta for Daft Punk when they literally came to the house. 
Oh, and while there’s still no confirmed release date for her much anticipated debut album, there’s lots of chat about what to expect when it does finally drop. 
Enjoy! 
You can watch clips of the podcast online now, just give us a follow on Instagram @midnightchatspod.
Links to stuff mentioned in the episode: 
Watch the video for 'Marea (We Lost Dancing)' 
'Happier' – listen to the single on YouTube 
The Evening Standard article about Maria's response to PM Rishi Sunak using her music
Credits:
Interview by Greg Cochrane 
Editing by Stuart Stubbs 
Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines
Artwork by Kate Prior
Video by Robbie Hamilton


 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep 131: The Blessed Madonna on cooking for Daft Punk, dance music needing to do better, and what’s happening with that elusive debut album

A. G. Cook joins Stu on this week's show to talk about the visionary hyperpop label he founded in 2013 and closed in 2023 (PC Music), his work with Charli XCX as her creative director, co-writing a song for Beyonce, growing up an only child as the son of radical architects, and his new 3-disc, 24-track, 100 minutes long album, Britpop.
A completely singular creative mind, this episode was recorded face to face in April 2024. It could have easily gone on for hours. 
Give the show a follow on Instagram at @midnightchatspod for clips and more.
Further links:
Powering down: the story and legacy of PC Music – Loud And Quiet
The World According to Archigram – The Guardian
Beyonce – All Up In Your Mind
A. G. Cook – Britpop
A. G. Cook – Soulbreaker
Witchfork
Wandcamp
Credits:
Interview and editing by Stuart Stubbs
Mixing and Mastering by Flo Lines
Artwork by Kate Prior See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep 130: A. G. Cook discusses the life and death of PC Music, telepathy with Charli XCX, and new LP Britpop

It’s surprising to find 23-year-old British songwriter GRIFF’s feet firmly on the ground, given her extraordinary experiences the past three years. 
It’s been a steep rocket ride: from bedroom songwriter to a powerful breakthrough performance at the BRITs, and onto the stages of stadiums with Dua Lipa and Ed Sheeran. Coldplay’s Chris Martin is such a fan the duo collaborated on the song ‘Astronaut’. 
And so here we are in 2024, and GRIFF is preparing to release her debut album vertigo in July. Not before she tells Greg Cochrane about growing up in sleepy Hertfordshire feeling like an outsider, being a foster sibling and eating chips with her all time icon Taylor Swift. 
You can watch clips of the podcast online now, just give us a follow on Instagram @midnightchatspod.
Links to stuff mentioned in the episode: 
Watch GRIFF’s live performance of Black Hole at the 2021 BRIT Awards 
Listen to the single ‘Miss Me Too’ 
The making of ‘Astronaut’ with Coldplay’s Chris Martin 
GRIFF welcomes special guests to try and ‘Beat The Clock’ 
Credits:
Interview by Greg Cochrane 
Editing by Stuart Stubbs 
Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines
Artwork by Kate Prior
Video by Robbie Hamilton


 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep 129: GRIFF

London-born musician Anna B Savage talks to Stu in this particularly freewheeling episode of Midnight Chats that covers topics including meeting Cillian Murphy, present-opening etiquette, music industry anxiety, and what the hell is success anyway?! 
Stu also reveals to Anna where she is/was on the Loud And Quiet 2023 Albums of the Year list. And then there's a song to end.
Give the show a follow on Instagram at @midnightchatspod for clips and more.
This episode was recored in November 2023.
Further links:
Listen to Anna's cover of 'A Girl Like You'
Read our most recent interview with Anna from issue 157 of Loud And Quiet
Read the full L&Q; Albums of the Year 2023
Credits:
Interview and editing by Stuart Stubbs
Mixing and Mastering by Flo Lines
Artwork by Kate Prior
  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep 128: Anna B Savage

Surprise! When you get an icon like Brian Eno on the podcast, it cannot wait until our usual Monday night drop. So we come to you early. 
Welcome to this special, bonus "Earth Day" (22 April) edition of the podcast. Brian Eno is a trailblazing musician, producer and activist. Working with everyone from U2 to Talking Heads, Coldplay to Grace Jones, he's also deeply passionate about climate action, and is the co-founder of Earth/Percent.
Today they launch Sounds Right where a group of huge artists are releasing new music where "NATURE" is the featured artist, and receives credit and royalty. A radically simple initiative. No biggy, but Brian's song is one he originally co-wrote with David Bowie. 'Get Real' features hyenas and some wild pigs. 
Greg Cochrane went to his legendary studio in London in March 2024 to record this conversation. 
You can watch clips of the podcast online now, just give us a follow on Instagram @midnightchatspod.
He also talks about the release of the "definitive Brian Eno documentary" – a new movie premiering in London on about the story of his life. This is Eno, though, there is a twist. It's a generative film powered by AI so will be different everytime it's screened. Plus, he demos Greg some previously unheard music and talks about the geopolitical state of the world in 2024. 
Enjoy. We'll be back in your feeds as usual this coming Monday night at midnight (BST). 
Links to stuff mentioned in the episode: 
Listen to the reimagined 'Get Real' by Brian Eno and David Bowie
Read more about Earth/Percent
Check out the Sounds Right initiative and listen to the songs 
More about 'Eno' the "definitive" documentary about Brian's life
Stream the accompanying soundtrack to the 'Eno' movie 
Brian's musical contributions to Sounds Right used The Listening Planet – a non-profit acoustic ecology sound library
Jarvis Cocker discussing his 'Biophobia' music and climate project 
Hard Art – a think tank for creative resistance 
Listen to Brian Eno speaking to Greg on the Sounds Like A Plan podcast 
Credits:
Interview by Greg Cochrane 
Editing by Stuart Stubbs 
Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines
Artwork by Kate Prior
Video by Robbie Hamilton  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep 103: Romy, The xx

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