So, Tell Me About The Album…

Ben Proctor is joined by Midlands singer-songwriter Tom Hewitt for an in-depth, track-by-track exploration of his 2024 album, Afterglow.

Across eight tracks, Afterglow explores relationships, uncertainty, self-doubt and finding something brighter. But behind the music is a story of experimentation, personal experiences and an artist finding his sound.

Tom takes us right back to the beginning, from learning drums and playing in a pop-punk band to finding the confidence to sing, write and release his own music.

We explore the influences behind Afterglow, including Snow Patrol and Holly Humberstone, the unusual story behind its flamingo artwork, and how BBC Introducing helped Tom reach new audiences — including performing at Y Not Festival.

And, of course, we go behind the album, one track at a time.

Tom shares the stories behind each song, the decisions made in the studio and how his relationship with the record has changed since its release.

We also look at life after Afterglow, including how abandoned song ideas found their way into later releases, and Tom reveals that his next five-track EP has already been recorded, with Lose My Vision leading the way.

Plus, we finish with Wax & Words, our signature round exploring the records, influences and musical choices that have shaped our guest.

💿 The album: Afterglow (2024)
🎤 The artist: Tom Hewitt
🎙️ Host: Ben Proctor
📍 Recorded in the East Midlands

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction
00:53 – Tom's musical beginnings and the making of Afterglow
30:07 – Don't & Flight
43:34 – Time
56:15 – Afterglow
1:07:14 – Blue
1:17:04 – Slowing
1:27:46 – Runaway
1:36:59 – Homemade
1:47:12 – Life After Afterglow
1:50:22 – Wax & Words

📸 Follow the podcast on Instagram: @_aboutthealbum

So, Tell Me About The Album…
Behind the album, one track at a time, with the artist who made it.

With support from Erewash Sound.

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Ben Proctor catches up with Inspiral Carpets at Y Not Festival 2026, ahead of their set later that day.

The band look back at the incredible life ‘This Is How It Feels’ has taken on since it was written in 1989, while ‘Uniform’ gets a mention as a song that has found a new relevance through its social commentary.

They also reveal that their Y Not set will feature three brand-new songs, as they prepare for a new Inspiral Carpets album in January and plans to head to Australia, New Zealand and potentially Greece.

And there are plenty of festival stories along the way — including meeting R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe at Glastonbury and accidentally landing a peanut on his head, arriving at a festival in the back of a butcher’s van, and a slightly surreal encounter with Jona Lewie.

Plus, after decades of cult classics, would they rather have another big chart hit?

“We’ve got a wardrobe full of cult classics — let’s have another couple of charty hits.”

🎙️ So, Tell Me About The Album…
Behind the album, one track at a time, with the artist who made it.

📍 Y Not Festival 2026, Derbyshire

Subscribe for more artist interviews, festival conversations and deep dives into the music behind the albums.

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Ben Proctor catches up with Good Health Good Wealth at Y Not Festival 2026, shortly before they take to the Giant Squid stage.

The boys chat about returning to Y Not, the real-life experiences that influence their music and why they’re drawn to artists who are difficult to put in a box — from Outkast and Radiohead to David Bowie.

They also pick the tracks they think new listeners should start with, ‘Once in Our Lives’ and ‘Who What Where Why’, before looking ahead to a packed run of festivals including Boardmasters, Boomtown, Lost Village, Victorious and Pitchfork Paris.

And most excitingly, they talk about their forthcoming album ‘The Disco Never Ends’ — and it’s fair to say they’re pretty confident about it…

Plus, Oasis or Blur? Vinyl or streaming? Festival stage or sweaty club gig? And camping or glamping? (Spoiler: neither. They want a hotel.)

🎙️ So, Tell Me About The Album…
Behind the album, one track at a time, with the artist who made it.

📍 Y Not Festival 2026, Derbyshire

Subscribe for more artist interviews, festival conversations and deep dives into the music behind the albums.

#GoodHealthGoodWealth #YNotFestival #TheDiscoNeverEnds #NewMusic #MusicInterview

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Ben Proctor catches up with George and Euan from Bloodworm at Y Not Festival 2026, fresh from their set on the Giant Squid stage.

The guys reflect on a crowd that had people on shoulders and chanting their name, the songs they were most excited to play and what it was like taking on one of their biggest festival slots so far.

They also reveal that they’re working towards getting their music onto vinyl, share possibly their weirdest festival experience — involving a few drinks and a radio interview — and talk about the bands they were looking forward to seeing across the rest of Y Not.

And as for what’s next?

“More gigs, more touring, more releasing, more Bloodworm.”

🎙️ So, Tell Me About The Album…
Behind the album, one track at a time, with the artist who made it.

📍 Y Not Festival 2026, Derbyshire

Subscribe for more artist interviews, festival conversations and deep dives into the music behind the albums.

#Bloodworm #YNotFestival #YNot2026 #NewMusic #MusicInterview

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Ben Proctor catches up with Emily Alice at Y Not Festival 2026, ahead of her set on The Quarry the following day.

Emily talks about getting ready to take to the Y Not stage, the song she was most excited to perform — ‘Fallin To You’ — and why ‘Please Stay’ is the track she’d recommend to anyone discovering her music for the first time.

We also find out who she was looking forward to seeing over the weekend, how she’d describe her live show (with slightly more than three words!) and whether she’d choose one massive No.1 or ten cult classics.

🎙️ So, Tell Me About The Album…
Behind the album, one track at a time, with the artist who made it.

📍 Y Not Festival 2026, Derbyshire

Subscribe for more artist interviews, festival conversations and deep dives into the music behind the albums.

#EmilyAlice #YNotFestival #YNot2026 #NewMusic #MusicInterview

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Ben Proctor catches up with Lucy Spraggan at Y Not Festival 2026, shortly after her set at The Quarry.

Lucy chats about her latest music, the stories behind her songwriting, performing at Y Not and an exciting new chapter in her career — writing music for the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Plus, there’s some quick-fire festival chat as Lucy looks back on her journey and what’s coming next.

🎙️ So, Tell Me About The Album…
Behind the album, one track at a time, with the artist who made it.

📍 Y Not Festival 2026, Derbyshire

Subscribe for more artist interviews, festival conversations and deep dives into the music behind the albums.

#LucySpraggan #YNotFestival #RoyalShakespeareCompany #MusicInterview #YNot2026 #XFactor

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Ben Proctor catches up with Pearce ‘Macca’ McMenamin from The Clause, fresh from the band’s set on The Quarry stage at Y Not Festival 2026.

After describing their Y Not set as “absolutely F’ing mental”, Macca talks about where The Clause are creatively following their debut album and why the band have always lived by one rule: never write the same song twice.

With the debut behind them, Macca says “the leash is off” creatively as they work out exactly what the next chapter of The Clause will sound like — with album number two now their main focus.

He also recommends ‘Fever Dream’ as the starting point for anyone discovering The Clause for the first time, looks ahead to the band’s biggest tour yet, and tells the story of going to Reading Festival as a teenager, burning his tent within about ten minutes of arriving and spending the next four days sleeping on a deckchair…

And when asked what’s next for The Clause, the answer is pretty clear:

“Second album, man. That’s my whole life at the minute.”

🎙️ So, Tell Me About The Album…
Behind the album, one track at a time, with the artist who made it.

📍 Y Not Festival 2026, Derbyshire

Subscribe for more artist interviews, festival conversations and deep dives into the music behind the albums.

#TheClause #YNotFestival #NewMusic #IndieMusic #MusicInterview

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