Sidetracked with Annie and Nick

How exactly does a song come to be? Nick and Annie are joined by iconic spoken word artist Kae Tempest to discuss his creative process and the importance of community. Elsewhere, Lady Gaga has set a new world record and André 3000 has moved on from flutes to pianos. Plus, Black Sabbath are feeling the pressure ahead of their final gig, Annie discusses the benefits of listening to music you don't like, and Nick thinks the Met Gala should have a fallow year.

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16, WhatsApp on 079700 82700 or email [email protected]

SONGS

Kae Tempest - Know yourself

The Pointer Sisters - Automatic

Teddy Pendergrass - Love T.K.O.

Leon Vynehall and Poison Anna – Mirror’s Edge

MOGAN - House Rules

Marvin Gaye - What’s Going On

Jocelyn Brown - Somebody Else’s Guy

Maroon Five - Payphone

Kae Tempest – Statue in the Square

ALBUMS

Kae Tempest - Everybody down

Kae Tempest - Let them eat chaos

Kae Tempest - Self-titled

Chilli Gonzales - Solo Piano II

Andre 3000 - 7 Piano Sketches

Arooj Aftab - Night Reign

BOOKS

Leslie Feinberg – Stone Butch Blues

Oscar nominated singer, songwriter and actress Cynthia Erivo has the voice of a generation. She joins Annie and Nick to talk about the art of singing, the impact it has on her body physically and physiologically, and what it was like writing her new album alongside her starring role in Wicked. Elsewhere, Beyoncé and Katy Perry have kicked off their new world tours – but have we seen it all before? Plus, the wonderful weirdness of OutKast, why Oasis aren’t bothered about missing out on the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the beauty of Big Boi’s owls.

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16, WhatsApp on 079700 82700 or email [email protected]

SHOWS

Wicked

Jesus Christ Superstar

ALBUMS

Beyoncé - Cowboy Carter

Katy Perry - Lifetimes

Cynthia Erivo – I Forgive You

SONGS

Lorde – What Was That

Beyonce – Deja Vu

LMFAO – Sexy And I Know It

Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande – Defying Gravity (Live at the 97th Oscars, 2025)

Sinead O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U

Kae Tempest - Statue In The Square

Aretha Franklin – Ain't No Way

Cynthia Erivo – The Impossible Dream (Live at the Kennedy Centre, 2016)

What does the response to Kneecap’s Coachella performance tell us about the current relationship between music festivals and political expression? Annie and Nick are joined by BBC Music Correspondent, Mark Savage, to decipher the fallout from the rap trio’s set. Elsewhere, from conical bras to London’s West End – Self Esteem has found a new fan in Madonna, but would you want to know if pop royalty was in the crowd before or after going on stage? Plus, there’s a composer in Australia who’s making music beyond the grave, Annie’s spent her holiday doing family rap battles - and what it feels like to ride Bad Bunny (the horse).

Since this episode was recorded, Kneecap have given BBC News a statement. You can read that here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1dr6xvk5x3o

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16, WhatsApp on 079700 82700 or email [email protected]

SONGS

Orbital – Belfast

The Dare – LCA

Lorde – What Was That

Pulp – Spike Island

ALBUMS

Greentea Peng – Tell Dem It’s Sunny

Self Esteem – A Complicated Woman

From Lady Gaga’s masterpiece in theatrical pop to Missy Elliott dressed as a car, Nick is joined by Scissor Sister’s singer and West End star Jake Shears to discuss the highs and lows of Coachella as the desert dust settles on weekend one. Elsewhere, Elton John’s had a busy couple of weeks making up with Madonna and securing his tenth number one album – but what’s he really like to work with? Plus, Lorde has returned just in time for Easter, why Bon Iver should be added to your sex playlist and the story of how an access all areas pass to a Lady Gaga concert got Jake over an international border.

SONGS

George Frideric Handel - He Was Despised

Osvaldo Golijov – Laika

Louis Armstrong – What A Wonderful World

SHERELLE and George Riley – FREAKY (JUST MY TYPE)

Bon Iver – Walk Home

Lana Del Rey – Henry, come on

Lorde - What Was That

Elton John & Brandi Carlile – You Without Me

Elton John & Brandi Carlile - When This Old World Is Done with Me

Elton John & Brandi Carlile – The Rose of Laura Nyro

Lady Gaga – Abracadabra

Tears for Fears – Mad World

The Beatles – Rocky Racoon

CMAT – Running/Planning

Phosphorescent – Song For Zula

David Bowie - Repetition (Acoustic Version)

ALBUMS

Scissor Sisters – Scissor Sisters

Amadou & Mariam – Welcome to Mali

Amadou & Mariam – La Confusion

Bon Iver – SABLE,fABLE

Lorde – Solar Power

Elton John and Brandi Carlile – Who Believes In Angels?

Lady Gaga – MAYHEM

Nirvana - MTV Unplugged in New York

Lauryn Hill - MTV Unplugged No. 2.0

SHOWS

Academy of St Martin in the Fields with Anthony Roth Costanzo

Akhnaten by Philip Glass

Beck at the Royal Albert Hall

Self Esteem presents A Complicated Woman

Jake's podcast, Queer The Music - https://pod.link/1722154700

What time of day would you be and why? This week’s episode has been curated by your listener questions as Nick shares his top tips for solo gigging, Annie soundtracks the perfect Sunday morning montage and CMAT’s new album inspires a rousing list of potential song topics – from wheelie bin collections and mortgage rates to the art of mushroom foraging. Plus, the joys of Radio 3 Unwind, why Donna Summer isn’t singing about pasta and what is Kankyō Ongaku?

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16 WhatsApp 079700 82700 or email [email protected].

SONGS

Survivor - Eye of the Tiger

BIA – WHOLE LOTTA MONEY

Charli XCX - Vroom Vroom

Florentino - Con Luz

Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Burning

Kings Of Leon – Sex on Fire

Donna Summer – Hot Stuff

ALBUMS

Horrors - Night Life

Caribou - Honey

Hiroshi Yoshimura – Flora

How important is it to make music with purpose? Annie and Nick chat about Ezra Collective’s Femi Koleoso teaching people what’s important at this year's 6 Music Festival. Elsewhere, AJ Tracey has decided to include smaller cities and venues on his upcoming tour and Sam (not Shawn) Mendes is set to create not one but four Beatles Biopics featuring Paul Mescal, Harris Dickinson, Barry Keoghan and Joseph Quinn as each band member. Plus, Lucy Dacus asks Annie and Nick which music artist they’d curate an exhibition on, Annie reveals all about wining Player of The Match at her latest football game, and what are some quintessential spring songs?

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16 WhatsApp 079700 82700 or email [email protected].

SONGS

Angie Stone – Wish I Didn’t Miss You

POLO & PAN — Petite Etoile feat. Beth Ditto

Light of the World – London Town

Jayda G – DJ Kicks

Ed Sheeran – Play, Pause, Fast Forward, Rewind, Stop, Eject

Lucy Dacus - Forever Is A Feeling

Ed Sheeran is calling for more funding for music education in the UK – what are Annie and Nick’s memories of music at school? Elsewhere, Little Simz is suing Inflo over unpaid debts, and Miami has renamed streets after musicians who’ve shaped the music scene. Plus, Annie’s found the perfect album to write to, Nick’s mum is a bit confused about the 6 Music Festival Line-up, and listener gets in touch about the joy of sober gigs.

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16 WhatsApp 079700 82700 or email [email protected].

SONGS

DOME 3000 - In The wind

DOME 3000 - IN MEMORIES GARDEN WE MEET EVERY DAY

CMAT - Running/Planning

Doja Cat/Jack Harlow - Just Us

ALBUMS

Hiroshi Yoshimura - Flora

FKA Twigs - Eusexua

It’s been a big week for new music with releases from HAIM, Chappell Roan and Bon Iver – but the most important takeaway, is Frank Ocean's tease for real? Elsewhere, as the post-St Patrick’s Day delirium sets in, Annie and Nick work out a plan to see Stevie Wonder on his UK tour. Plus, Sidetracked has been knocked off the top of the music podcast charts by King Charles and his love of ‘The Loco-Motion', Nick has a starring role in the new JADE video and a 191-track playlist made by Aphex Twin prompts the question – what is the optimum length for a playlist?

Beyoncé - Crazy In Love

Kylie Minogue – The Loco-Motion

Frank Ocean – Dear April

HAIM – Relationships

Bon Iver, Danielle Haim – If Only I Could Wait

Chappelle Roan – The Giver

JADE - FUFN

What role should AI play in music? Recording artist and technologist Imogen Heap joins Annie and Nick to discuss how AI is currently being used in the music industry, what the future might look like and what artists can do to take back control. Elsewhere, Doechii’s star continues to rise with more new music and an onstage collaboration with Lauryn Hill. Plus, the Red Bull Culture Clash is back, Lady Gaga’s new album is better than everyone thought it would be and why Roy Ayers was the master of vibes.

Get in touch with Annie and Nick! If you’re over 16 WhatsApp 079700 82700 or email [email protected].

SONGS

Mae Martin – I Love You So Much

HAIM - Relationships

These New Puritans, Caroline Polachek – Industrial Love Song

Sister Nancy – Bam Bam

Roy Ayers – Everybody Loves the Sunshine

Doechii – Anxiety

Lauryn Hill – Doo Wop (That Thing)

Imogen Heap – Headlock

Imogen Heap – Hide and Seek

Fat Les – Vindaloo

Thin Lizzy – Whiskey in the Jar

New Order – Bizarre Love Triangle

ALBUMS

Mae Martin – I’m A TV

Busta Rhymes – The Coming

Lady Gaga – MAYHEM

Lauryn Hill – The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

EXHIBITION

The Face Magazine: Culture Shift, at The National Portrait Gallery, London

Sound the Glastonbury siren as Annie and Nick react to the lineup for this year’s festival. Has Charli XCX been booked for the right stage? What sort of crowd will Olivia Rodrigo pull? Why is Busta Rhymes one of the most exciting names on the poster? Plus, they share exclusive details on who will be playing on which stage across the weekend.