The wonderful Beth Iles has chopped up our episodes from 2024 to give you a run down of our best bits as we enter our 10 year anniversary year. 

Enjoy the most insightful clips from episodes featuring Jess Greenfield of Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, Ralph Rolle of Chic, Chris Maas of Sting 3.0, James Walsh of Starsailor, The 1975 touring band, Erron Baron Cohen, Seye Adelekan of Gorillaz & Self-Esteem, John Blease of Florence Welch, Robert Plant & Paolo Nutini's bands, plus Paul Weller bassist Andy Crofts. 

Thanks to Beth for putting this together, and the continued help from Tymon Firmin, Darcy Dewar, Annabel Jones & Kate Ward. 

If you want to get in touch about our upcoming tour, or sponsor the podcast, contact [email protected]

Touring members of The 1975, Gabi King, Polly Money and John Waugh join us again for our final episode of 2024, similar to our previous episode in May but we ask a completely different set of questions, which we recorded for students at BIMM University.

You can now find us on Tik Tok, Instagram and Facebook by searching ‘The StageLeft Podcast’ for exclusive video content of the interviews. We’re looking to tour this next year so register your interest by emailing [email protected]. If you’re a business that needs Mental Health First Aid or Mental Health in the Workplace training, you can support the podcast by hiring me to deliver that as I’ve qualifications in doing that, and that also goes for any leadership development, change management or 121 coaching budgets you may have. 

If you’re a drummer, Gabi is doing 121 tutoring [email protected], John has a new single with George Solonos called 'Quietly in Mind' released on December 13gth, and John also has singles and a new EP with Daniel Vildosola in early 2025. Polly Money has an EP coming out in March 2025 and you can catch her at a series of festivals including Truck Festival, Kendal Calling and Victorious. 

Edited by Darcy Dewar

It’s about time, after 9 years, we did an entirely filmed episode isn’t it? So, whilst you enjoy this audio only version, do feel free to search for ‘The StageLeft Podcast’ on Youtube and you’ll find this episode in beautiful 4K, filmed in Andy Crofts stunning seafront hit hut. 

 “Chris and Andy, excellent interview. Informative. Heartwarming. Honest.” – Debra, StageLeft listener.

Thank you to Sophia at Bearlane Productions for filming this, Darcy Dewar for editing, Beth Iles for making our YouTube page look gorgeous, and Tymon Firmin for the clipping on Socials such as Instagram, Facebook and Tik Tok. 

We do this for free to ensure equity of access to music education globally, so if you can help sponsor us or locate us funding - email me at [email protected]. You can also buy us a coffee at www.thestageleftpodcast.com. Should your day to day work need any leadership development programmes, executive coaching, bespoke eLearning or Mental Health First Aid training, you can support the podcast that way, as I’m qualified in each area. I deliver learning both face to face and online. #sidehustle

Here we go, this is Andy Crofts!

What’s it like getting feedback from Robert Plant when playing on Led Zeppelin songs?

How do we best deal with song changes on the day of the gig?

How to best negotiate fees to ensure everyone is paid fairly?

What makes Paolo Nutini unique to work with?

How did the recent Florence and the Machine Royal Albert Hall show work logistically?

Hosted by Chris Simpson - you can reach out to Chris directly for 121 professional development coaching, or Mental Health First Aid training via www.thestageleftpodcast.com/coaching

Edited by Darcy Dewar.

Thank you too, to Beth Iles, Tymon Firmin and Annabel Rose-Jones for their help with this episode.

An episode almost a decade in the making. 

Finally, James Walsh, frontman of Starsailor appears to discuss the final ever recordings with Phil Spector, the impact that episode had on his wellbeing, negotiating with Allen Klein, how he wrote 'Fever' and 'The Greatest Story Never Told', plus how to best work with a singer when you're a session musician. 

Thank you to Tymon Firin, Darcy Dewar, Beth Iles, Anabel-Rose Jones and Sophia Franklin at BearLane Productions for making this episode happen.

Sting 3.0 drummer Chris Maas joins The StageLeft Podcast mid-tour!

We explore:

Thanks to Chris for appearing.

Edited by Darcy Dewar.

Host Chris Simpson is available for 121 coaching and can deliver Mental Health First Aid training to your business. Please get in touch via www.thestageleftpodcast.com/coaching

Ginger shots at the ready!

What would someone learn from working with Damon Albarn they wouldn't learn from anyone else?

How does sobriety work on gig days in an environment so conducive to drink and drugs?

How is Self-Esteem approaching her new record, given the success of her last?

When does practice end and rehearsing begin?

What happened to the Youth of the Apocalypse (YOTA)?!

All these questions, and more, answered by the visionary Seye Adelekan, songwriter and bassist with Gorillaz, Self-Esteem and Paloma Faith as he joins Chris Simpson for the newest episode of The StageLeft Podcast.

Feedback on our episode welcome by contacting [email protected]. 

Hustle - Please too reach out if your business is interested in equipping their staff with Mental Health First Aiders, as Chris is one of only two people in the UK who can deliver this fully accessibly. 

Ralph Rolle joins Chris Simpson to discuss his unique open-hand drum technique, walks us through the Grammy's tribute to David Bowie with Lady Gaga (which without Ralph's genius almost ended us a disaster), working with Nile Rogers and Prince and.... cookies.

#chic

#davidbowie

#ladygaga

After 8 years, we’ve finally done a live episode! We are joined by Polly Money, Gabi King and John Waugh (touring band with The 1975) in front of a live audience of BIMM students, recorded in London just before the European leg of The 1975s most recent tour. The interview begins with a 30mins interview with Chris, then then band jammed three songs of The 1975 with BIMM students (“If You’re Too Shy Let Me Know”, “About You”, and “UGH!”), before a Q and A from the students themselves.

We discuss the value of music education, navigating external vs internal validation, fear of failure, how AI and creativity might entwine, playing Madison Square Garden and more.

P.S. we’re going to do more of these – do get in touch if you’re a venue who’d like to host :)

Thank you to BIMM London and in particular Seda Beysal and Sam Hong.

Engineered by Matteo Cortinovis @waitate

@thestageleftpod

@thestageleftpodcast

www.thestageleftpodcast

The Oscar shortlisted composer Erran Baron Cohen joins us to dig deep into how the music industry has shaped him as a person, plus breaks down the creative process of writing music for the Borat movies, Da Ali G show, The Infidel (with David Baddiel), being signed to Miles Copeland III's label, and having Snoop Dogg, Elton John, Sting, Bono & Chris Martin perform on his original 'Dove of Peace'.

“I think it’s hard to not be exploited in the music industry at some point (of your career).”

You can find more of Erran's work at erranbaroncohen.com and you can contact us by emailing [email protected] to let us know what you think of the episode, or via www.thestageleftpodcast.com

Happy listening!

Chris