Matters
132 episodes - English - Latest episode: 4 months ago -A place where great music lives, interviews shared and memories rekindled.
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Episodes
Desmond Tutu Matters
June 24, 2022 10:00 - 22 minutes - 21.3 MBYes, Matters caters to a broad church, yet this one is a little different from what I usually share. In going through my many cassette interviews, many incorrectly labelled, I stumbled upon an interview I hold very dearly. In mid-2007, after two years of negotiating, I was finally afforded an audience with the late great Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu. This is it, an unedited insight into a man who shaped modern-day South Africa for the better.
Steve Louw Matters
June 17, 2022 15:00 - 29 minutes - 27.7 MBIn December 1999, I had the privilege to chat to Steve Louw on the eve of his first Greatest Hits album, highlighting his first decade as Big Sky and a solo artist. Fast forward 22-odd years and Steve continues to record brilliant records with his lifelong legendary South African producer, Kevin Shirley. On the eve of his 2021 album, Headlight Dreams’ 2022 South African Music Awards (SAMA) nomination and his soon-to-be-released follow-up Thunder and Rain. If you don’t know his work, this ...
UB40 Matters
June 09, 2022 22:00 - 15 minutes - 14.3 MBIn 1998, Birmingham-born reggae supergroup UB40 decided to drop Labour of Love III, the band’s twelfth and third covers album, released on DEP International. To celebrate the highly anticipated covers collection, I got on the phone with percussionist Norman Hassan to share what motivated the band’s selection of classic tracks.
Seven Mary Three Matters
June 03, 2022 13:00 - 20 minutes - 19.2 MBI had the opportunity to speak to Jason Ross, he of grunge rock’s Seven Mary Three “Cumbersome” fame. We collided headway into the release of their Atlantic debut, RockCrown. Jason speaks perspective, doing what they did best. They could write good songs; commercial and critical acclaim was the intangible they ignored; they focused on making music that mattered to them. They started out as friends; Seven Mary Three was something they created, a baby, if you will. They had no real strategy,...
Pantera Matters
May 27, 2022 13:00 - 15 minutes - 14.2 MBRecorded over a near-year-long period that saw Pantera take The Great Southern Trendkill on the road, I got the rare privilege to speak to the late-great founding member of Pantera, Vinnie Paul, about recording their first live release, Official Live: 101 Proof. Live is where the magic happens; tell me otherwise…
Johnny Clegg Matters
May 20, 2022 16:00 - 19 minutes - 18.1 MBThirty years into his career, since his first 1976 hit, Johnny Clegg was very much in control of his destiny when I had another rare opportunity to speak to this late-great icon in late 2006. Celebrating but still pointing fault at legacy politics, Johnny spoke to the past but always looked forward. The juxtapositions are jarring, but it shows a level of grit that made him an extraordinary narrator. One Life was the album, 17 tracks long, filled with Zulu chorus that took more than a year ...
MLTR Matters
May 13, 2022 17:00 - 12 minutes - 11.4 MBAnd now for something completely different. When I spoke to Kåre Wanscher in 1997, one of the four people who made up Michael Learns To Rock (MLTR), new territories like South Africa were hearing their infectious pop for the very first time. They became one of this county’s most significant late 90s, early nulls, favourites. After this interview, multiple tours to the country followed, and album sales went through the roof. I was fortunate enough to tour with the band during my tim...
Silverchair Matters
May 06, 2022 18:00 - 12 minutes - 11.6 MBIn 1999, the Australian three-piece Silverchair could do no wrong. I got to meet up, albeit via a phone call between Pretoria, South Africa and Cleveland, Ohio, to talk through their third album release, Neon Ballroom. Lead singer and songwriter Daniel Jones spent 10 minutes with me, taking me through the journey to where they were at the time. They were incredibly young but no less mature in their approach to becoming globally famous. Enjoy this one, should you be a fan of all things mode...
Thievery Corporation Matters
April 29, 2022 15:00 - 14 minutes - 13.5 MBThievery Corporation made up of Rob Garza and Eric Hilton, had the world sitting up and paying attention when they released their debut album, Sounds from the Thievery Hi-Fi. The year was 2000, four years after the album was first released by the band independently. 4AD called the duo up and rereleased the album at a time when remix culture abounded, so getting to chat with Rob to discuss their journey to then was such a pleasure. Mere months later, they dropped The Mirror Conspiracy, one ...
Nine Days Matters
April 22, 2022 10:00 - 15 minutes - 14.6 MBIn October 2000, I got 15 minutes with Nine Days’ founder member, guitarist, and vocalist Brian Desveaux. This is an interview that highlights the fact that time-in pays dividends. Nine Days took ten years to achieve success with The Madding Crowd, an album that’s a testament to a commitment to the belief in what later became and remains a critical modern rock statement.
Lenny Kravitz Matters
April 15, 2022 14:00 - 9 minutes - 8.92 MBI was gifted a rare opportunity to speak to the American singer-songwriter, record producer, multi-instrumentalist, and actor Lenny Kravitz on the eve of his 2000 Greatest Hits album release. In the 10 minutes I was given, we spoke about how he successfully melded rock, blues, soul, funk, reggae, folk, and everything psychedelic in-between to become one of the biggest and most respected names in popular music. Enjoy.
Maxim Matters
April 08, 2022 14:00 - 24 minutes - 22.3 MBMaxim, the English musician, best known for his vocal deliveries across the better part of the Prodigy’s rich catalogue, hooked up with me in September 2000 to talk about Hell’s Kitchen, his critically-acclaimed XL debut. It took a few minutes for him to settle and open up, and the next twenty minutes revealed a true artist on a respectful journey he could proudly and humbly claim as his own. Enjoy!
Buffalo Tom Matters
April 02, 2022 10:00 - 21 minutes - 20.3 MBOn the 21st of November 2000, I reconnected with Buffalo Tom’s guitarist and founder member Bill Janovitz. This session captured a decade into the band’s career, is an interview all things retrospective, post-Smitten’s success. For the unincubated, Buffalo Tom is an American alternative rock band from Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 1986. Its principal members are guitarist Bill Janovitz, bassist Chris Colbourn, and drummer Tom Maginnis. Enjoy!
Embrace Matters
March 25, 2022 10:00 - 11 minutes - 10.8 MBEmbrace began life as a band in 1990. I was privileged to get to lead singer Danny McNamara in September 1998, three months after the band’s seminal Hut/ Virgin Records debut, The Good Will Out rocked the world. Since then, they’ve released no less than six more albums, each one brilliant. If you’re curious about what and where their earliest motivations came from, this one is for you. Enjoy. Disclaimer – Remember, all Matters’ interviews are unedited, ripped from ageing analogue cassettes...
Marcy Playground Matters
March 18, 2022 11:00 - 7 minutes - 7.14 MBIn early 1998, 12 March to be exact, I got less than 10 minutes with Marcy Playground, an American alternative rock band consisting of three members: John Wozniak (lead vocals, guitar), Dylan Keefe (bass), and Shlomi Lavie (drums). The band is best known for its 1997 hit "Sex and Candy" from its debut self-titled album. These interviews are always unedited, captured from decaying analogue cassettes. John sounds fine on this one, which is the most crucial part, despite my calling him Mark for...
Goldfish Matters
March 11, 2022 15:00 - 33 minutes - 31.3 MBThis is a very candid, unedited interview with Goldfish, made up of Dominic Peters and David Poole, making waves throughout the better part of the early nulls. On the cusp of releasing Perceptions of Pacha, I got to sit with the group to deep dive into what made them tick at the time. Enjoy.
Kula Shaker Matters
March 04, 2022 10:00 - 22 minutes - 21.2 MBKula Shaker, a band that bloomed and faded – all in record time. I got to the band in early 1999, at the beginning of their sophomore album, Peasants, Pigs & Astronauts’ journey. Never an easy album to make for any band or artist, and in the case of Kula Shaker, this sadly proved to be the case. I had the privilege of speaking to the then bass player, Alonza Bevan when neither of us knew what lurked mere months away, ultimately causing the band to split in September of that same year...
The Cardigans Matters
February 25, 2022 10:00 - 10 minutes - 9.62 MBComing through the fire that was 1996’s First Band on the Moon, today, The Cardigans remain one of those bands that became suddenly popular with their third life-changing album. Of its many celebrated singles, “My Favourite Game” made them instantly famous, thanks to MTV – today’s Twitter/ Instagram reality, all of which threw them into a vortex of pop mayhem. “Erase/Rewind” swiftly followed while the hurricane raged on. Fast forward to album four, 1998’s Grand Turismo – that was when I got ...
Springbok Nude Girls Matters
February 18, 2022 17:35 - 33 minutes - 31.1 MBPicture it, 4 June 1997, at a time when clearly opinionated Springbok Nude Girls (fresh out of Stellenbosch and surrounds) was cementing grown-up, First World, modern rock made in ZA. This is a playful, in-the-moment, interview with a band on the cusp of global domination, all whilst hanging on the coattails of INXS.
Paula Cole Matters
February 11, 2022 10:00 - 15 minutes - 14.4 MBIn 1998, Paula Cole was already a Grammy award-winner and respected artist, post cutting her musical teeth with the likes of Peter Gabriel. He features on This Fire, her second album I got to unpack with her, 18 months after its initial release. If her music is not known to you, think the very best of Kate Bush, Peter Gabriel, Melissa Etheridge and Sarah McLachlan, and you’ll be in ballpark she owned for the latter part of the ’90s. The big hit off that record was, “Where Have All the Cowbo...
Hoobastank Matters
February 04, 2022 10:00 - 15 minutes - 14.5 MBThe early nulls were a time filled with rich re-invention of what had become a rather tired modern rock model. Hoobastank was one of the few that led the charge to reimagine the genre. Hoobastank is an American rock band formed in 1994 in Agoura Hills, California, by lead vocalist Doug Robb, guitarist Dan Estrin, drummer Chris Hesse, and original bassist Markku Lappalainen. They were signed to Island Records from 2001 to 2012 and have released six albums and one EP thus far. My journey wit...
Art of Noise Matters
January 28, 2022 14:00 - 17 minutes - 16.7 MBThe Seduction of Claude Debussy broke Art of Noise’s 10-year-long musical drought. I was fortunate enough to interview Paul Morley at the beginning of the collective’s next exciting chapter. Besides being a journalist for the NME and co-founding the legendary record label ZTT, he was also a member of Art of Noise, along with Trevor Horn, Anne Dudley, and Lol Creme. Harvested from a decaying C90 cassette, this interview has Paul talking through the group’s hiatus and subsequent return to Ar...
Placebo Matters
January 21, 2022 10:00 - 18 minutes - 17.1 MBChatting to Steven Hewitt – album two for Placebo was a collective success. Without You I'm Nothing was the second studio album recorded in mid-to-late 1998 and released on 12 October 1998 by record labels Hut and Virgin Records. The album went platinum in the UK and gold in France and has sold over one million copies. The album spawned five singles, including "Every You Every Me", "Pure Morning", and "You Don't Care About Us".
Scott 4 Matters
January 14, 2022 13:00 - 18 minutes - 16.9 MBScott 4 may be a band you missed in the late 1990s, but one that most certainly left its mark on the UK indie music scene that’s still felt today. After the critical success of their debut album, Recorded in State, in 1998, Scott 4 secured a record deal with V2 and headed into the studio to build on its success. With lead singer Scott Blixen, this interview unpacks the band’s musical journey to deliver a remarkable body of work, titled Works Project. If Scott 4 is a new name to you, I cha...
Josh Rouse Matters
January 07, 2022 10:00 - 8 minutes - 7.82 MBSinger, songwriter Josh Rouse was glorious to interview, as tricky as it was (read: he wasn’t interested in me). If I recall, he was is in a London cab, en-route to a soundcheck when we spoke. Under Cold Blue Stars was the album he was promoting at the time, just before the release of his career-defining 1972 album. Big thanks to Rob Cowling for setting this interview one up.
Röyksopp Matters
December 31, 2021 10:00 - 17 minutes - 16.5 MBThe Norwegian electronic music duo, Röyksopp, enjoyed a certain level of success until their debut studio album, Melody A.M. What happened after its September 2001 release by Wall of Sound turned Svein Berge and Torbjørn Brundtland into global stars. I had the privilege of talking to Svein nearly two years after the record first exploded and continued to find new audiences. It was an interview filled with reflection and pondering how success found them and what it meant to them both.
Duran Duran Matters
December 24, 2021 10:00 - 24 minutes - 22.5 MBPost the influential, The Wedding Album, an interview opportunity with Duran Duran guitarist Warren Cuccurullo was forced into an interview with me in July 1997 to talk through all things Medazzaland. The album’s first single was also a track included on the soundtrack to The Saint. “Out Of My Mind” took Duran Duran to new heights, even though John Taylor had recently and finally decided to leave the band. During an emotional time, Simon, Warren, and Nick became the core of what the group ...
David Sylvian Matters
December 17, 2021 15:00 - 22 minutes - 20.5 MBThe year 1999 was momentous on many levels, especially in music. David Sylvian, the unforgettable voice that illustrated “Forbidden Colours”, composed by Ryuichi Sakomoto for the motion picture’s soundtrack, Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence, was about to release a remarkable collection of new material. You may know him as the ex-Japan singer or recall his collab work with the legendary Robert Fripp? This interview presents a man worthy of tremendous applause beyond the indie world he’s spent th...
Lloyiso Matters
December 10, 2021 13:00 - 21 minutes - 19.9 MBNow and again, you stumble upon a quiet, unassuming genius. Lloyiso is one such soul we all need to pay attention to. He's young, astute, and above all, gifted. I had the joy of spending a little time with the soon-to-be global hitmaker at the point in his career that's beyond foundational; it's defining. Enjoy.
Ziggy Alberts Matters
December 03, 2021 11:00 - 37 minutes - 34.4 MBIn May 2021, I had the privilege of interviewing Ziggy Alberts upon the release of his 5th studio album, Searching for Freedom, and its accompanying Brainwaves book of poetry. In the 30-odd minutes we spent time in the Zoom, he unpacked his third album's success, his lockdown reality, and his ambitions for the future. A delightful human being, invested in pushing his words and songs in directions that influence positive change, not only for ourselves but the planet in all its glory. I...
Hard-Fi Matters
November 26, 2021 12:00 - 10 minutes - 9.74 MB20 weeks to get to Number One, Hard-Fi’s Stars of CCTV album was a slow burn to the top, but when it did, it knocked the lights out. Chatting to lead singer, Richard Archer on the eve of their second Once Upon a Time in the West, this 2007 release travelled even better than the first, landing a Top 10 place as far afield as Japan. This legacy cassette-recorded interview is a snapshot in time, never to be repeated. Enjoy.
José González Matters
November 19, 2021 10:00 - 21 minutes - 19.7 MBIn 2006, José Gabriel González, the Swedish indie folk singer-songwriter and guitarist from Gothenburg, arrived in Cape Town to promote and play a record released three years before. I sat with him in a small club in Observatory, Cape Town to talk through the journey to Veneer, his debut studio album. González is also a member of the band Junip, along with Tobias Winterkorn.
Stereophonics Matters
November 12, 2021 10:00 - 12 minutes - 11.1 MBIn 1999, Stereophonics were knocking the lights out with the arrival of their highly anticipated second album, Performance and Cocktails. I had the honour of chatting to the now sadly late drummer, Stuart Cable, who unpacked the journey the band had taken to realising global, well-deserved, success.
Violent Femmes Matters
November 05, 2021 10:00 - 30 minutes - 28.1 MBI had the privilege of speaking with Violent Femmes’ gracious frontman Gordon Gano in February 2000, at the time Freak Magnet arrived. Since 1983, this group has claimed a space that remains entirely relevant some 38-odd years on. The Washington Post called the album "stuck in the Reagan decade," writing that "the Femmes still play punky hootenanny-rock with occasional potty-mouthed lyrics to assure frat-boy appeal. This may be a legacy interview, but in listening back its subject matter r...
Jim Kerr Matters
October 29, 2021 10:00 - 36 minutes - 33.5 MBSpeaking to Simple Mind’s frontman, Jim Kerr on the back of filming the promo video for “War Babies” from the album Néapolis, shot in Cape Town in April 1998. Directed by Michael Geoghegan, the video gave the band an excuse to return to the country and talk through their then 20-year music career.
Missy Higgins Matters
October 22, 2021 11:00 - 16 minutes - 15.3 MBIn mid-2006, I sat with the Australian singer-songwriter, musician, actress, and activist, Missy Higgins. Her confidence, self-belief and passion for her craft was palpable, please enjoy!
Fountains of Wayne Matters
October 15, 2021 07:00 - 21 minutes - 19.6 MBYears before "Stacy's Mom" was realised - this is FOW and the very start of their career as once of modern rock's more subtle influencers.
Terence Blanchard Matters
October 08, 2021 12:00 - 14 minutes - 13.5 MBThe acclaimed trumpeter & composer returns with an album of music written & inspired by jazz legend Wayne Shorter. Featuring Blanchard’s band E-Collective with pianist Fabian Almazan, guitarist Charles Altura, bassist David Ginyard & drummer Oscar Seaton, and the Turtle Island String Quartet.
Basement Jaxx Matters
September 26, 2021 10:00 - 17 minutes - 16.1 MBIn 2004 Basement Jaxx was the hot ticket when it came to filling dancefloors right around the world. Disclaimer: This interview is noisy, thanks to it being captured in a hotel lobby during the group's South African debut tour, post Kish Kash's success. That said, it's worthy of your time if you're a fan of the BJ.
Richard E. Grant Matters
September 24, 2021 10:00 - 24 minutes - 22.7 MBIn 2006, Richard E. Grant was in town, Cape Town, to share the story behind the making of Wah Wah, his self directed life story, along with a stellar cast of actors.
Heather Nova Matters
September 17, 2021 12:00 - 11 minutes - 10.8 MB27 September 2001 - mere weeks after 9/11, Heather was speaks about hope and promise, heading South, beyond Siren.
Emma Bunton Matters
September 10, 2021 10:00 - 12 minutes - 12 MBIn October 2004, one-time Baby Spice, Emma Bunton, was celebrating the release of her second solo album, Free Me. This is she, in conversation with me, talking about her Spice World journey, finding her voice, and teasing out what she intended attempting next.
Tony Parsons Matters
September 03, 2021 10:00 - 30 minutes - 27.8 MBIn interview with celebrated UK author, Tony Parsons, circa 2004.
The Jayhawks Matters
August 27, 2021 06:00 - 21 minutes - 19.8 MBThe Jayhawks lead singer, Gary Louris, waxes lyrical about what makes the band Smile, after a far-to-long hiatus between recordings. Yes, this is another of my legacy cassette-recorded archive interviews intended for the committed – There are nuggets in there if you’re willing to dig deep. Enjoy, regardless.
Spandau Ballet Matters
August 20, 2021 15:37 - 21 minutes - 20.3 MBIn conversation with Gary Kemp, he of Spandau Ballet and acting fame, playing one part of the Cray Twins, a 10 year journey summarised in a 20-minute chat.
Michael Brook Matters
August 13, 2021 10:00 - 8 minutes - 8.3 MBThis is me in full fan-boy flight. Michael Brook is lesser-known, but no less a critical musician; celebrated solo artist, producer and inventor of the Infinite Guitar, famously played by both U2’s The Edge and Daniel Lanois. Short, but no less sweet, I caught up with 4AD multi-talent to talk about his 1997 soundtrack produced for Albino Alligator, Kevin Spacey’s directorial debut. Here, Michael talks about his role, that of technology and briefly chats about the movie’s closing cover of “...
The Libertines Matters
August 06, 2021 11:00 - 19 minutes - 18.1 MBPete Doherty was out, having formed Baby Shambles, but The Libertines remained gracious and welcoming should he have cleaned up his act. While they got on with it, drummer Gary Powell and the the remaining band kept their self-titled, second album in the spotlight, regardless of it all. Through the personal and professional mayhem that haunted them, the band persevered and cleaned up their act to become one of the world’s most impressive acts focused on all about the music.
Angelique Kidjo Matters
July 30, 2021 11:00 - 15 minutes - 14.7 MBThe year was 1998, Oremi had just been released and I got the opportunity to talk to its maker. What a wonderful woman and equally brilliant, trail-blazing musician.
Chemical Brothers Matters
July 23, 2021 10:00 - 20 minutes - 18.8 MBThe Chemical Brothers make music that’s not been made yet. Whether they were working with Mercury Rev or Mazzy Star, they had an ear for what works. Remixing wise, they’re legendary, only because they have a lot of ideas. ’94. ’95 was a great way of getting their music out there. As they became a band, they focused on themselves, for no less than 14 months. They wanted their own voice and Surrender was it. Surrender needed explaining and Tom was happy to unpack it, here.
Moby Matters
July 11, 2021 07:00 - 15 minutes - 14.6 MBMoby in interview with me, 6 July 2021, talking through his journey in music and more especially his lush retelling of his greatest hits, orchestrally.