Midnight Chats

The era of surprise album releases seems to be over, with everyone from Beyonce to Billie Eilish to Charli XCX to Tyler, The Creator opting for modern (and bombastic) twists on the traditional way of hyping LPs before their release dates. Increasingly, it seems the arena listening party in a key tool in connecting conceptual artist and fans, but as Greg shares on this week's episode, they don't always work. We also get into the week's headlines, including the reformation of The Maccabees, how Lily Allen is making more money from her feet on OnlyFans than through her music on Spotify, and what Helen Mirren wishes Kurt Cobain got to experience. Greg also shows off about the most famous people he's met. Further reading/listening/viewing Listen to our new Beat the Algorithm Spotify playlist Credits: Editing by Stuart Stubbs Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines Artwork by Kate Prior See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've all been there: investing our time and energy into worshiping our favourite artist only for them to call us "creepy as fuck". Ok, maybe we've not ALL been there, but thousands of Doja Cat stans were last year, whilst just a few days ago The Pretenders upset a bunch of their most hardcore fans in an Instagram post that has since been deleted. It offered us the chance to get into the fan/artist relationship on this week's podcast, as well as Greg reporting back from Sexyland World, a club in Amsterdam, and Stu from the perhaps less sexy Barbican Centre in London. We won't pretend that we planned this, but every element of this week's show, from Joni Mitchell at the Hollywood Bowl to Greg's Top 3 challenge, happens to based around live music. Oh. And we're calling our listeners Werewolves now. Cheers. Further reading/listening/viewing Heartworms Loud And Quiet interview boygenius Loud And Quiet interview Robbie Williams' art exhibition ADE Listen to our new Beat the Algorithm Spotify playlist Credits: Editing by Stuart Stubbs Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines Artwork by Kate Prior See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Charli XCX's Brat remix album reimagines what a remix album can be in 2024, we discuss that release and trace the remix record back to its unexpected origins. Charli's record certainly is a different approach to what Green Day have done recently with their Dookie Demastered stunt, which we also get into. Then we get into the serious business of an age old question: Do you need to know the lyrics to a song – and their meaning – to be able to truly love it? As Stu puts Greg's appalling memory to the test, we're ultimately searching for a big fat NO on this one, otherwise Greg may never work again. Our Beat The Algorithm recommendations too. And Stu puts Greg on the spot for his favourite music venues in this week's Top 3. (This also ends badly for Greg.) You can watch clips of the podcast online now, just give us a follow on Instagram @midnightchatspod. Further reading/listening/viewing Listen to our new Beat the Algorithm Spotify playlist Dookie DeMastered Credits: Editing by Stuart Stubbs Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines Artwork by Kate Prior See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seven years ago Laura Marling came on episode 19 of the podcast at a very different time in her life. As she prepares to release her 8th album, Patterns in Repeat, this month (25 Oct), she does so as a new mother, who's trained to become a yoga teacher, who's gained a masters in psychoanalysis, who's formed a band called LUMP, who's quite touring, who's communicating directly with fans via a quite brilliant Substack newsletter about the craft of songwriting. All of the above is covered in this week's episode of Midnight Chats, as well as discussion about death, T.V., secretly cooking for Damon Albarn and John Paul Jones with not great results, and the beauty of a new, sparse album recorded with a baby daughter literally by your side in your living room. You can watch clips of the podcast online now, just give us a follow on Instagram @midnightchatspod. Further reading/listening/viewing Listen to our new Beat the Algorithm Spotify playlist Coldplay on QVC Laura Marling's Patterns in Repeat Substack Dog Unit's At Home, Still EP Credits: Editing by Stuart Stubbs Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines Artwork by Kate Prior See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When a musician dies and leaves behind unfinished music, what should happen to it? Shelved forever? Released in its current state? Completed by someone else? On this week's episode Greg and Stu get into when posthumous albums are a good idea and when they most certainly aren't, from last week's SOPHIE album, to work from Michael Jackson, Tupac, Biggie Smalls and Elliott Smith. But not before sharing the week's headlines about Radiohead going Shakespeare, Tears For Fears going AI, and Green Day going anti-Vegas. You can watch clips of the podcast online now, just give us a follow on Instagram @midnightchatspod. Further reading/listening/viewing Listen to our new Beat the Algorithm Spotify playlist Credits: Editing by Stuart Stubbs Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines Artwork by Kate Prior See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's been our most awkward interview yet? How do we charm our guests? Who have we been starstruck by? And c'mon guys, why is this thing called 'Midnight Chats'? As our podcast reaches its 150 episode, Greg and Stu celebrate by showing how the sausage is made, sharing stories and their tricks of the trade while trading some of their favourite clips from MC's illustrious history, and answering our listeners' questions about which guest has had the smoothest hands. Also in this special episode, Stu premieres his new jingle for Beat The Algorithm, he and Greg give you their new music tips, and Greg faces this week's Top 3. You can watch clips of the podcast online now, just give us a follow on Instagram @midnightchatspod. Further reading/listening/viewing Listen to our new Beat the Algorithm Spotify playlist Credits: Editing by Stuart Stubbs Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines Artwork by Kate Prior See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The summer slump is over and what feels like hundreds of artists are gearing up for new albums this autumn. On this week's episode, Greg and Stu get into what coming soon from The Cure, FKA Twigs, Coldplay and more, along with the recent implosion of rock giants Jane's Addiction, while a meeting with Laura Marling last week opened up the question of are music fans starting to lose their love for vinyl? We also introduce a new regular feature where each week we'll recommend some new artist, which will be added to the playlist below. And yeah, we're sticking with our Top 3 challenge too. This week, it involves Stu's house being on fire. You can watch clips of the podcast online now, just give us a follow on Instagram @midnightchatspod. Further reading/listening/viewing Listen to our new Beat the Algorithm Spotify playlist Eusexua video from FKA Twigs That Jane’s Addiction scrap Rosie Carr's Bandcamp Greg's Nilüfer cover interview Credits: Editing by Stuart Stubbs Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines Artwork by Kate Prior See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the last 5 years, London band Black Midi have pushed experimental rock music to new and thrilling places, inspired as much by jazz fusion as math rock and no wave. But last month, quite unexpectedly, the trio split up. It was meant to be kept a secret, until singer and frontman Geordie Greep announced the news on Instagram. One week later, he announced his debut solo album, boldly titled The New Sounds (out this month via Rough Trade Records). Stu visited Geordie at his home shortly after these two bits of indie-shaking news broke, to discuss the end of the Black Midi and the start of Greep's solo career, as well as his time at the prestigious Brit School, and what makes Angels by Robbie Williams actually a very good pop song. Also on this week's show, Greg and Stu pick apart the week's headlines, lament being so rubbish at predicting who would win the Mercury Prize, and count down the greatest award show speeches of all time. You can watch clips of the podcast online now, just give us a follow on Instagram @midnightchatspod. Further reading/listening/viewing Black Midi Loud And Quiet interview Geordie Greep 'Holy Holy' video Lenny Henry full MOBO 2015 speech Bjork's grateful grapefruit Credits: Editing by Stuart Stubbs Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines Artwork by Kate Prior See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Part of this week's episode of MC comes from End of the Road festival, where Stu met up with Irish drone folk band Lankum and put your questions to Long Island sibling duo The Lemon Twigs. Even the one about the Muppets. Back home Greg and Stu unpacked the fiasco surrounding Oasis' ticket sale nightmare, particularly the scam that is "dynamic" ticket pricing. And what's all this about the Smiths reunion not being as improbable as we'd all started to think. God help us all! Other music news too, and 3 bands we think should have never reformed. You can watch clips of the podcast online now, just give us a follow on Instagram @midnightchatspod. Further reading/listening/viewing ML Buch on Bandcamp Nourished by Time on Bandcamp Lankum Loud And Quiet cover feature Videopia at End of the Road Credits: Editing by Stuart Stubbs Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines Artwork by Kate Prior See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Like it or not, Oasis are back together for the reunion tour that's surprised absolutely no one. As a former stan of the band, Stu really should be feeling better about this news than he is, while Greg is just happy that he finally gets to share the extremely important role he's played in Oasis mythology. On this week's episode we get into how the story broke, what we think will happen next, and dust off our tales of seeing the band at their best and their worst. You can watch clips of the podcast online now, just give us a follow on Instagram @midnightchatspod. Further reading/listening/viewing Stand By Me Little James Oasis split at Rock En Seine Noel Gallagher - Press Conference 6th July 2011 Credits: Editing by Stuart Stubbs Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines Artwork by Kate Prior See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Charli XCX's career highlight was coming on our podcast back in 2018, for what turned out to be a rushed conversation about art school, living in LA, writing songs for Blondie and seeing songs as colours. With Charli's career still doing reasonably well due to the release of this year's album, Brat, on this week's podcast we revisit that conversation to see if it was as bad as Stu thought it was at the time, consider what it tells us about the rise of Charli, and ask what's next for the undisputed queen of alt. pop. You can watch clips of the podcast online now, just give us a follow on Instagram @midnightchatspod. Credits: Editing by Stuart Stubbs Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines Artwork by Kate Prior See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ahead of their new album Romance, people can't stop talking about Fontaines D.C.'s new look. One week after Glastonbury, the Dublin band's singer, Grian Chatten, had Stu round to his flat to discuss the reason behind the band's new aesthetic, his prolific writing process, a strange 9 days spend working in a bar in L.A., and a record that draws influence from Korn, Lana Del Rey and Shygirl. You can watch clips of the podcast online now, just give us a follow on Instagram @midnightchatspod. Further reading/viewing: Starburster video Jade 'Angel of My Dreams' video Loud And Quiet 2019 cover feature Chris de Burgh in The Mighty Boosh Sister Midnight Credits: Editing by Stuart Stubbs Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines Artwork by Kate Prior See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New York musician Cassandra Jenkins really shouldn't be on Midnight Chats, or any podcast talking about her new album, My Light, My Destroyer, because that record, near-perfect though it is, was never going to be made. On this week's episode she tells Stu about how she had decided to quite music after releasing her last album, but things went unexpectedly well, so here we are, discussing one of the best albums that will be released in 2024, Jenkins' obsession with space, finding inspiration in a billionaire sending Captain Kirk into space, her Manhattan home life living with her parents, and what happens next is this "bonus round" of her life. You can watch clips of the podcast online now, just give us a follow on Instagram @midnightchatspod. Further reading/viewing: Our 10/10 album review of My Light, My Destroyer The moment William Shatner returned to Earth The mighty Zabar's Credits: Editing by Stuart Stubbs Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines Artwork by Kate Prior See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following on from last week's Mercury Prize predictions episode, Greg and Stu dive into this year's shortlist to see how wrong they were as they cast judgement on which of the nominated records they think might actually have a chance of winning this year's award. Stu picks out a clip from our 2018 Charli XCX episode, and you'll all invited to play our Mercury Prize audio quiz, safe in the knowledge that you'll more probably be better at it than Greg was. You can watch clips of the podcast online now, just give us a follow on Instagram @midnightchatspod. Credits: Editing by Stuart Stubbs Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines Artwork by Kate Prior See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In two days time (25 July), the short list for the 2024 Mercury Prize will be announced. On this week's show, Stu and Greg discuss who they think will DEFINITELY be on the list, and who they hope will be. Greg also spills the beans on what it's like to be on the Mercury Prize judging panel (something he's done 3 times), we ask how relevant the award is in the instant age of TikTok, and throw in some of all-time our favourite past winners. Come back next week to see just how right we were about our nailed-on nominees. You can watch clips of the podcast online now, just give us a follow on Instagram @midnightchatspod. Credits: Editing by Stuart Stubbs Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines Artwork by Kate Prior See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Nottingham duo Sleaford Mods release a 10-year anniversary edition of their breakthrough album Divide & Exit, frontman and lyricist Jason Williamson revisits the album that changed his life, the time he threw the bleakest album release party of all time, and how he finally found success in his 40s on his 7th album. You can watch clips of the podcast online now, just give us a follow on Instagram @midnightchatspod. Links to stuff mentioned in the episode: 'Tied Up In Nottz' video Modern Life is Rubbish... still – early Loud And Quiet interview from 2014 Sleaford Mod Loud And Quiet archive Jason on Episode 65 of the podcast Credits: Interview and editing by Stuart Stubbs Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines Artwork by Kate Prior See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Look around and you’d be forgiven for feeling the world is completely broken in 2024. War. Division. Crises. How did we get here? That’s the fundamental question Norwegian songwriter AURORA explores on her latest album What Happened To The Heart?. It’s a project that is technicolor in feeling, and in sound. Host Greg Cochrane went to meet her to talk about activism, conflict and why she and the iconic Brian Eno are like “an old married couple”. It’s a deep listen, for sure, but these are deep times – even if you can focus on the glimmers of light. You can watch clips of the podcast online now, just give us a follow on Instagram @midnightchatspod. Links to stuff mentioned in the episode: Hear Brian Eno discussing his work with AURORA on episode 127 of Midnight Chats The letter ‘We Are The Earth’ by Sônia Guajajara and Célia Xakriabá 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.

Stuart got the hot ticket. Greg did not. In the field, and from the sofa at home, Midnight Chats does Glastonbury 2024. Your hosts tackle the biggest talking points from the most famous music festival in the world. Did Dua Lipa fulfill her promise to turn Worthy Farm into a club on her headliner debut? Was SZA's microphone fresh out of batteries? Did Coldplay bring the world together in a moment of communal feeling, or was it a bad acid trip? Did Louis Tomlinson steal a TV from the local Curries? All these essential questions answered, and more. What did you make of this episode. Please let us know and share your thoughts and questions at Greg@loudandquiet.com or DM us on Instagram @midnightchatspod. And for those in the UK (sorry to those elsewhere), here are links to our top performances on BBC iPlayer. You've a month to watch before they disappear. Sampha IDLES AURORA Little Simz Coldplay LCD Soundsystem Dua Lipa Confidence Man PJ Harvey Everything is bigger and better at Glastonbury, including my unexpected fits of crying Credits: Interview and editing by Stuart Stubbs Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines Artwork by Kate Prior See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

James Smith from Leeds band Yard Act met New Zealand comedian Rose Matafeo at Glastonbury festival a couple of years ago when the pair were watching little Simz. Since then, Smith's group has invited Matafeo to sing on their second album, Where's My Utopia?, star in one of their music videos and open for them in their hometown. What better excuse did we need to get them both in a room to discuss the time Rose accidentally put her hand up Jools Holland's back just after Rod Stewart winked at her, the horrible gig that led to James writing the song Rose would become the face of, what Taskmaster is really like to film, and how James and Yard Act will attempt to navigate this year's Glastonbury. Watch clips of the podcast online now, just give us a follow on Instagram @midnightchatspod. Links to stuff mentioned in the episode: Yard Act 'Petroleum' video starring Rose Rose's Taskermaster country rap song Yard Act perform 'Dream Job' live on Later... with Jools Holland Credits: Interview and editing by Stuart Stubbs Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines Artwork by Kate Prior See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Frontman with one of Britain’s biggest modern rock bands, Yannis Philippakis recently launched Yannis & The Yaw – not so much a solo project, more of an experiment in collaboration. Dial back seven years and Yannis spent time writing songs with one of his heroes, the icon drummer Tony Allen – godfather of Afrobeat and distinguished collaborator with everyone from Damon Albarn to Air. The result is a posthumous project – Allen died in 2020 – titled ‘Lagos Paris London’ released in August 2024. Yannis goes deep with host Greg Cochrane about his “cross generational” bond with Allen, and the other legendary artists he'd love write with Yannis & The Yaw. Plus, he discusses the evolving future of his band Foals, chats about his passion for gardening and why he’s writing music for some contemporary theatre productions. You can watch clips of the podcast online now, just give us a follow on Instagram @midnightchatspod. Links to stuff mentioned in the episode: More Yannis? He joined us on episode 64 of Midnight Chats back in 2019 Check out the videos for Yannis & The Yaw tracks ‘Under The Strikes’ and ‘Walk Through Fire’ Further reading: Yannis on his love for gardening, interviewed in The Telegraph The Confessions theatre production Yannis wrote the score for in 2023 From 2023: Original bassist Walter Gervers rejoins Foals, via NME 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.