Episode 114 - Ron Sexsmith

This episode of The Swan Song Podcast features Ron Sexsmith.

Ron Sexsmith is a three time, Juno award winning singer songwriter from St Catharines Ontario. Ron has released albums on a consistent basis since 1995 and has recorded with noted producers Mitchell Froom, Daniel Lanois, Steve Earle, Jim Scott, Don Kerr, Brad Jones, Bob Rock, and Martin Terefe. His extensive song and album catalog has garnered Sexsmith a substantive cult following and an international touring career. His early years of touring included opening for established artists such as, John Hiatt, Elvis Costello, Sarah McLaughlin, Squeeze, Aimee Mann, Coldplay, Nick Lowe, John Prine, Lucinda Williams and many others. His songs as well, have been covered by the likes of Rod Stewart, Nick Lowe, Emmy Lou Harris, Feist, Michael Buble, and Stevie Nicks to name a few.

In this episode Ron talks about a couple of songs from his new album "Hangover Terrace".

First we talk about "House of Love" - https://open.spotify.com/track/0N39me70OVY8EecmuCrnV1?si=8f638fc680ac4f97

Then we talk about "When will the morning come" - https://open.spotify.com/track/5V86BLHawoXj6iU7XJWw7a?si=b881614500ab4e76

Find out more about Ron on his website: https://ronsexsmith.com/

If you enjoy the podcast, please like, share and subscribe. We will have lots more great episodes coming soon.

The Swan Song Project is a UK charity that helps terminally ill and bereaved people to write and record original songs.

You can find out more about the charity on our website - www.swansongproject.co.uk.

Please follow us on Social Media:

Facebook: TheSwanSongProject | Instagram: @Swansongproject | LinkedIn: The Swan Song Project

Hope you enjoy it.

www.swansongproject.co.uk

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Episode 113 - Bryde

This episode of The Swan Song Podcast features Bryde.

"Guitarist and vocalist Sarah Howells has been making music for over 20 years, ditching Uni in favour of bombing round the UK on a battered old sofa wedged into the back of a transit van. Raised on 90s grunge and 00s emo early biographies mentioned influences like Deftones and Hole, Tori Amos and Jeff Buckley later shifting to Bon Iver, Cat Power and The National. 

In 2016, Bryde emerged. An electric guitar-led solo project described by the Sunday Times as “sensational, feral guitar” which seemed to reflect these influences in a way that previous projects hadn’t. 

Early Bryde EPs were produced by the likes of Jolyon Thomas and Bill Ryder Jones and quickly supported by Spotify and tastemakers at Radio. In 2018, Debut album Like an Island saw Bryde nominated for the Welsh Music Prize and gracing the stages of festivals such as Latitude, Boardmasters and Live at Leeds. It was a record about emancipation and learning to exist alone again. 

What followed was The Volume of Things, Written and recorded between London, and various friends’ studios in Berlin and produced by Thomas Mitchener. An album about the bombardment of modern life, the avalanche of news, notifications and advice we have access to each day and trying to sift meaning from the white noise. Stand out track Silence gave nods to Bryde’s passion for meditation as a chosen method of sifting."

Find out more about Bryde on her website:

https://www.brydemusic.com/home

Follow Bryde on Social Media:

https://www.facebook.com/brydeofficial/

https://www.instagram.com/brydeofficial

If you enjoy the podcast, please like, share and subscribe. We will have lots more great episodes coming soon.

The Swan Song Project is a UK charity that helps terminally ill and bereaved people to write and record original songs.

You can find out more about the charity on our website - www.swansongproject.co.uk.

Please follow us on Social Media:

Facebook: TheSwanSongProject | Instagram: @Swansongproject | LinkedIn: The Swan Song Project

Hope you enjoy it.

www.swansongproject.co.uk

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Episode 112 - Duncan Lloyd (Maximo Park)

This episode of The Swan Song Podcast features Duncan Lloyd. Duncan Lloyd is a prolific songwriter, best known as a founding member of Maximo Park. Duncan has released eight studio albums with Maximo Park as well as several solo albums and various other projects. He is also a visual artist. In this podcast we discuss the writing of some of Duncans solo songs and how his writing and creative process varies across his projects. He shares some brilliant, practical songwriting tips and a song that he wrote about the passing of his father.

The first song we talk about is "Young Dreams"

You can listen to it here - https://open.spotify.com/track/3C6aY7rC1YdR6HrjKLpTXc?si=ec115b9401f341e0

We also talk about "Catherdral Doors"

You can listen to it here - https://open.spotify.com/track/5Kwh68YTkC0t1PuPDMpMCl?si=62d765923074416c

Find out more about Maximo Park - https://www.maximopark.com/

Follow Duncan on Social Media:

https://www.instagram.com/dunclloyd

If you enjoy the podcast, please like, share and subscribe. We will have lots more great episodes coming soon.

The Swan Song Project is a UK charity that helps terminally ill and bereaved people to write and record original songs.

You can find out more about the charity on our website - www.swansongproject.co.uk.

Please follow us on Social Media:

Facebook: TheSwanSongProject | Instagram: @Swansongproject | LinkedIn: The Swan Song Project

Hope you enjoy it.

www.swansongproject.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 111 - Bob Heath

This episode of The Swan Song Podcast features Bob Heath. Bob Heath is a songwriter and music therapist who has been hugely influential in promoting the use of therapeutic songwriting in music therapy. He also has significant experience of writing songs with terminally ill and bereaved people and has written a book about this called "Songs from a window".

In this episode we discuss Bob's work as a music therapist, the use of songwriting in music therapy, what it is like writing songs with terminally ill and bereaved people and two of Bobs own songs "Back Story" and "Say it Anyway".

You can find out more about Bob's work on his website:

https://bobheathmusic.com/

Order Bob's Book "Songs from a window" here:

https://www.waterstones.com/book/songs-from-a-window/bob-heath/9798505149256

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Songs-Window-End-Life-Stories-ebook/dp/B09523RQ9V

If you enjoy the podcast, please like, share and subscribe. We will have lots more great episodes coming soon.

The Swan Song Project is a UK charity that helps terminally ill and bereaved people to write and record original songs.

You can find out more about the charity on our website - www.swansongproject.co.uk.

Please follow us on Social Media:

Facebook: TheSwanSongProject | Instagram: @Swansongproject | LinkedIn: The Swan Song Project

Hope you enjoy it.

www.swansongproject.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 110 - Sodajerker

This episode of The Swan Song Podcast features songwriting duo Sodajerker. Sodajerker is made up of Dr Simon Barber and Brian O'Connor who have been writing songs together for many years. In 2011 they started the "Sodajerker on Songwriting" Podcast which has released over 300 episodes to date including many of the worlds most successul songwriters. Their podcast has been a big influence on this one and it was a real pleasure to speak to them about their own writing as well as what they have learnt from interviewing so many great songwriters.

We also ask Simon and Brian to share a song each that is meaningful to them relating to bereavement.

Brians choice was ‘Alone Again (Naturally)’ by Gilbert O’Sullivan.

Listen to it here - https://open.spotify.com/track/54pvEYFocTlvIAQOfXSjqV?si=cd57cf0a0aa2453d

Simons choice was ‘Circus Left Town’ (aka ‘Circus’) by Eric Clapton.

Listen to it here - https://open.spotify.com/track/78Ld60e2y57fRik5I7KwYf?si=ce1173c32d6241fa

You can subscribe to the Sodajerker on Songwriting Podcast on all platforms and find out more about them on their website: https://www.sodajerker.com/

https://www.facebook.com/sodajerker

https://www.instagram.com/sodajerker

https://x.com/sodajerker

If you enjoy the podcast, please like, share and subscribe. We will have lots more great episodes coming soon.

The Swan Song Project is a UK charity that helps terminally ill and bereaved people to write and record original songs.

You can find out more about the charity on our website - www.swansongproject.co.uk.

Please follow us on Social Media:

Facebook: TheSwanSongProject | Instagram: @Swansongproject | LinkedIn: The Swan Song Project

Hope you enjoy it.

www.swansongproject.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 109 - Linda Magistris OBE (Grief Awareness Week Special)

Listen to this special edition of The Swan Song Podcast for Grief Awareness Week 2025 with Linda Magistris OBE.

Linda is the founder of The Good Grief Trust. A UK charity that aims to raise awareness of the support available to those suffering with bereavement. In this episode Linda shares her story of how she came to start The Good Grief Trust and some of the amazing work they have done over the years including starting National Grief Awareness Week.

We also ask Linda to share with us a song that is meaningful to her relating to bereavement. Her choice in "Unforgettable" by Nat King Cole.

You can listen to it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFyuOEovTOE

If you enjoy the podcast, please like, share and subscribe. We will have lots more great episodes coming soon.

The Swan Song Project is a UK charity that helps terminally ill and bereaved people to write and record original songs.

You can find out more about the charity on our website - www.swansongproject.co.uk.

Please follow us on Social Media:

Facebook: TheSwanSongProject | Instagram: @Swansongproject | LinkedIn: The Swan Song Project

Hope you enjoy it.

www.swansongproject.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 108 - Prof Sophie Daniels (Liberty's Mother)

The Swan Song Project Podcast features a range of Songwriters to talk about songwriting and bereavement.

Swan Song founder Ben Buddy Slack asks each guest to:

A) Share one of their songs and talk a bit about how they wrote it

B) Share a songwriting tip that could be useful to new and aspiring songwriters.

C) Share a song that is meaningful to them in some way relating to bereavement.

Sophie's song choice is "Spring Will Come" by Nadine. Listen to it here - https://soundcloud.com/nadinemusic/spring-will-come

https://www.libertysmother.com/

https://www.instagram.com/libertysmother/

https://www.facebook.com/libertysmother

"Why We Write Songs" Panel - https://songwritingstudies.com/why-we-write-songs/

https://www.icmp.ac.uk/

Facebook: TheSwanSongProject | Instagram: @Swansongproject

Twitter: @swansongprouk | LinkedIn: The Swan Song Project

Hope you enjoy it.

www.swansongproject.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 107 - Hannah White

The Swan Song Project Podcast features a range of Songwriters to talk about songwriting and bereavement.

Swan Song founder Ben Buddy Slack asks each guest to:

A) Share one of their songs and talk a bit about how they wrote it

B) Share a songwriting tip that could be useful to new and aspiring songwriters.

C) Share a song that is meaningful to them in some way relating to bereavement.

https://www.hannahwhitemusic.com/

https://www.facebook.com/HannahWhiteMusic/

https://www.instagram.com/hannahwhitemusic

Please support The Swan Song Projects Fundraising appeal - https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/swansongatchristmas

Facebook: TheSwanSongProject | Instagram: @Swansongproject

Twitter: @swansongprouk | LinkedIn: The Swan Song Project

Hope you enjoy it.

www.swansongproject.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 106 - Hannah Scott

The Swan Song Project Podcast features a range of Songwriters to talk about songwriting and bereavement.

Swan Song founder Ben Buddy Slack asks each guest to:

A) Share one of their songs and talk a bit about how they wrote it

B) Share a songwriting tip that could be useful to new and aspiring songwriters.

C) Share a song that is meaningful to them in some way relating to bereavement.

https://www.hannahscott.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/hannahscottuk

https://www.instagram.com/hannahscottuk/

Facebook: TheSwanSongProject | Instagram: @Swansongproject

Twitter: @swansongprouk | LinkedIn: The Swan Song Project

Hope you enjoy it.

www.swansongproject.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 105 of The Swan Song Podcast is a special edition for Grief Awareness Week 2024 and features Trudi Galloway.

Trudi recently wrote a song with The Swan Song Project dedicated to her Son Benjamin who sadly died by suicide in 2020. The song is called "Start Talking" and aims encourage people to talk more about their mental health.

In this episode she talks more about her song and how she found the writing process.

Trigger Warning - This episode contains discussions about suicide.

Below are some details on mental health and suicide charities:

Papyrus - Prevention of Young Suciide - https://www.papyrus-uk.org/

Calm - Campaign against living miserably - https://www.thecalmzone.net/

Samaritans - 24/7 helpline - https://www.samaritans.org/

SOBS - Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide - https://uksobs.com/

#Nationalgriefawarenessweek #griefawarenessweek

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