Leeds band Yard Act are having a hell of 2022, which begun with them slogging it out in a battle for number 1 with Meat Loaf and Years & Years. In this week's podcast, singer James Smith talks to Stuart Stubbs about the race to the top of the charts, what really happens at Fallon, and why the band signed a major record deal after a lifetime on indies.
 
Useful links:
Yard Act performing 'The Overload' on Fallon 
'Land of the Blind' video See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ep 115: Yard Act's James Smith

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.

Music

Music Interviews

Katie Crutchfield aka American artist Waxahatchee joins Stu on the podcast to look back on how she arrived at her sixth album, Tigers Blood, following on from her 2021 breakthrough record Saint Cloud. 
Just what does having a breakthrough record do to an artist? How will Katie navigate 2024? Is MJ Lenderman the most talented young dude in US indie rock right now? And what was Charlie Sheen talking about when he said he was drinking Tigers Blood back in 2011? 
You can watch clips of the podcast online now, just give us a follow on Instagram @midnightchatspod.
Links to stuff mentioned in the episode: 
Listen to Tigers Blood on Bandcamp
'Right Back To It' live on the Late Show with MJ Lenderman
Waxahatchee 2013 interview around Cerulean Salt
Charlie Sheen's Tiger's Blood moment
Credits:
Interview and 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 132: Waxahatchee reflects on the success of 'Saint Cloud', it's affect on new album 'Tigers Blood' and where Charlie Sheen fits into it all

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 115: Yard Act's James Smith

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