Monocle on Culture
353 episodes - English - Latest episode: 3 days ago - ★★★★★ - 30 ratingsRobert Bound and his guests discuss what has piqued their interest in our one-stop shop for lively reports and in-depth interviews on the newest and finest in art, film, books and the media business.
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Episodes
Star style: the art of crafting a look
April 22, 2024 18:00 - 30 minutes - 28.2 MBRobert Bound visits Tate Britain’s ‘Sargent and Fashion’ exhibition to explore the painter’s role as a pioneer of the art of styling. We also speak to Suzi Ronson about her memoir, ‘Me and Mr Jones: My Life with David Bowie and the Spiders from Mars’, and how she crafted many of the singer’s iconic looks. Plus, we hear from stylist Emily Evans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Maggie Rogers
April 15, 2024 16:52 - 27 minutes - 25.5 MBWe meet American singer-songwriter and producer Maggie Rogers, who shot to fame after a 2016 video showed her wowing Pharrell Williams with her track ‘Alaska’. In the years since, she has released two albums, amassed a legion of fans and a Grammy nomination. Her third record, ‘Don't Forget Me’, was written with co-writer and co-producer Ian Fitchuk over five days. Rogers discusses the process of making the album, its road-trip feel and the notion of genre. See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...
Spring preview
April 08, 2024 17:25 - 33 minutes - 30.3 MBToby Earle, Susannah Butter and Natty Kasambala join Robert Bound in the studio to discuss the best upcoming releases of this season in TV, books and music. These include the latest work from one of the UK’s most popular romantic novelists, the long-awaited debut album from an indie-pop darling and a drama starring Kate Winslet as the leader of an unnamed Central European nation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Maggi Hambling
April 01, 2024 10:13 - 24 minutes - 22.9 MBIn the course of her 50-year career, British artist Maggi Hambling has made a name for herself with her dynamic, expressionist paintings and often controversial public sculptures. Hambling joins Robert Bound in the studio to discuss everything from her new show in Hong Kong and her very first cigarette to the elusive nature of the muse. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Staves
March 25, 2024 15:47 - 22 minutes - 20.7 MBJessica and Camilla Staveley-Taylor, the sisters behind English indie-folk band The Staves, join Robert Bound in the studio. Their John Congleton-produced fifth LP, ‘All Now’, is lyrically rich and full of moments of euphoria. They discuss how to work with your siblings, finding the confidence to make bold decisions and why they always return to an early influence: ‘Sister Act’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Lauren Oyler
March 18, 2024 16:04 - 27 minutes - 25.2 MBCultural critic and novelist Lauren Oyler’s essays and reviews have caused a stir online. She joins Robert Bound in the studio to discuss her new book of essays, ‘No Judgement’. Oyler muses on gossip, Goodreads, expat life in Berlin and her experience of trying ‘jaw yoga’ to ease her anxiety-fuelled teeth-grinding. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Spain’s international contemporary art fair Arco Madrid
March 11, 2024 18:42 - 29 minutes - 27.2 MBWe head to the Spanish capital for a special edition of the programme from Arco Madrid. As well as being a major contemporary art market platform, the fair has a strong curatorial core and deep connections with the Latin American scene. We meet the fair’s director and one of its leading curators. Plus: we find out about a major merger in Spain and hear from the artist representing the country at this year’s Venice Biennale. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
‘Io Capitano', Lana Lubany and the first AI-created artworks
March 04, 2024 18:00 - 30 minutes - 27.9 MBWe meet the director and script consultant of ‘Io Capitano’, the stirring Oscar-nominated film that follows two Senegalese teenagers as they try to make their way from their homeland to Europe. Plus: we catch up with the Palestinian-American singer Lana Lubany, and find out about a computer program that used AI to create artworks 50 years ago. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Hans Zimmer
February 26, 2024 17:39 - 28 minutes - 26.1 MBAhead of the release of ‘Dune: Part Two’, we speak to the legendary film score composer and music producer, Hans Zimmer. He discusses his love for Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel, his approach to world building and how he was once fired by the BBC. Plus: ‘Monocle on Culture’ contributor Leila Latif shares her thoughts on the new film. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Yoko Ono’s endless imagination
February 19, 2024 17:37 - 28 minutes - 25.9 MBWe head to London’s Tate Modern gallery for ‘Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind’. The UK’s largest-ever exhibition on the work of the artist and activist, it brings together her performances, films, music, photography and more. Robert Bound speaks to its curator, Juliet Bingham, arts journalist Andrew Male and broadcaster Jennifer Lucy Allan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The untold story of Cymande and the return of Pina Bausch’s ‘Nelken’
February 12, 2024 17:47 - 29 minutes - 27.1 MBWe explore the world of Cymande, a 1970s jazz-funk group that is the subject of a new documentary, ‘Getting It Back: The Story of Cymande’. Robert Bound meets band members Patrick Patterson and Steve Scipio, and catches up with the documentary’s director, Tim Mackenzie-Smith. Plus: as ‘Nelken’, Pina Bausch’s signature work of contemporary dance, returns to the stage, we hear from dancer Christopher Tandy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Last Dinner Party
February 05, 2024 18:27 - 26 minutes - 24.7 MBWe meet Abigail Morris, Georgia Davis and Lizzie Mayland from UK indie band The Last Dinner Party. After signing with Island Records, the group won the Rising Star Award at the Brits and topped the BBC’s Sound of 2024 list – all without having released an album. Now that their debut, ‘Prelude to Ecstasy’, has arrived, Robert Bound meets them to discuss their influences, outfits and penchant for guitar solos. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
‘The Zone of Interest’
January 29, 2024 17:24 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MBWe discuss ‘The Zone of Interest’, the latest film by UK film director Jonathan Glazer. Loosely based on Martin Amis’s novel of the same name, the film tells the story of Rudolf Höss, camp commandant at Auschwitz-Birkenau, and his wife as they build an idyllic life for their family as the Holocaust unfolds. We speak to Christian Friedel, who plays Höss, and film critic Jason Solomons. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A deep dive into the career and character of Werner Herzog
January 22, 2024 18:00 - 28 minutes - 25.7 MBWe dive into the unique career and personality of filmmaker Werner Herzog. We catch up with Thomas von Steinaecker, the director of a new documentary, ‘Werner Herzog: Radical Dreamer’, which paints a portrait of the man behind the camera. Plus: we hear from one of Herzog’s friends and collaborators, Herbert Golder. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Treading the boards in 2024
January 15, 2024 18:13 - 27 minutes - 25.4 MBNancy Durrant and Matt Wolf join Robert Bound in the studio to preview the very best theatre to look forward to in 2024. They discuss a lively ska musical, a new play about the architect of the NHS, a Broadway debut from one of America’s biggest comedic actors and much more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Looking ahead at the year in culture
January 08, 2024 18:23 - 32 minutes - 30.2 MBAshanti Omkar, Ossian Ward and Chris Power join Robert Bound in the studio to round up the TV shows, art exhibitions and books that you should have on your radar this year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Review: ‘The Boy and the Heron’
January 01, 2024 15:38 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBFilm critics Simran Hans and Tim Robey join Robert Bound in the studio to review Hayao Miyazaki’s new film, ‘The Boy and the Heron’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Best of Monocle on Culture 2023
December 25, 2023 20:00 - 29 minutes - 27 MBWe bring you the best of this year’s Monocle on Culture, including singer Jessie Ware, ‘Oppenheimer’ director Christopher Nolan and Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Colson Whitehead. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2023 in review
December 18, 2023 17:57 - 32 minutes - 29.6 MBLaura Snapes, Andrew Male and Leila Latif join Robert Bound in the studio to round up the best of this year’s albums, books and films. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The best Christmas music of 2023
December 11, 2023 18:06 - 30 minutes - 27.9 MBGeorgie Rogers and Will Hodgkinson join Robert Bound in the studio for our annual review of the season’s best festive music releases, including albums and singles from Cher, Blue Man Group and Wheatus. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
200 episodes of ‘Backlisted’
December 04, 2023 16:37 - 29 minutes - 27.5 MBWe celebrate 200 episodes of books podcast ‘Backlisted’. Launched in 2015, it features books that have fallen out of fashion, favour or print. Alongside their guests, hosts John Mitchinson and Andy Miller breathe new life into these old books with generosity and warmth, creating the perfect environment to learn about your next favourite author. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Review: ‘The Eternal Daughter’
November 27, 2023 17:51 - 29 minutes - 27.2 MBBritish director Joanna Hogg’s ‘The Eternal Daughter’ stars Tilda Swinton as a mother and daughter pairing who book into a grand but chilly country house hotel for a birthday holiday. Robert Bound is joined in the studio by Clarisse Loughrey and Christina Newland to review the eerie new film, which swirls in a gothic fog. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
An encyclopaedia of The Cure and the surprising world of rabbi portraiture
November 20, 2023 18:16 - 28 minutes - 26 MBWe meet Simon Price, author of ‘Curepedia: An A-Z of The Cure’, a lavish new chronicle of all things related to the British rock band. Plus: we head to Los Angeles to delve into the world of rabbinical portraiture and meet a collector-turned-creator of the unusual works. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
John le Carré and the nature of truth
November 13, 2023 17:07 - 27 minutes - 25.4 MBWe discuss the world and words of spies on today’s show. Robert Bound sits down with Errol Morris to discuss his new film about John le Carré, ‘The Pigeon Tunnel’. Then John Mitchinson explores the author’s works and their legacy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Leading the charge: introducing the new Cadillac Lyriq
November 08, 2023 10:29 - 8 minutes - 7.72 MBAlongside Monocle on Culture’s new partner, General Motors, we introduce you to the company’s first electric vehicle for the European market: the Cadillac Lyriq. In the first part of a special series of shows, we give you a flavour of the car, reflect on Cadillac’s impressive contribution to visual culture and dream up some future roadtrips. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Turin, from dawn to dusk
November 06, 2023 20:30 - 30 minutes - 27.9 MB‘Monocle on Culture’ hits the road and heads to Turin for the most exciting cultural week in the Italian city’s calendar. We roam around the contemporary art fair, Artissima, and meet its director, as well as a Turin-based gallery and artist. Then, as night draws in, we head to avant-pop festival C2C. Founder Sergio Ricciardone gives us a quick history of the event before we speak with musicians Rachika Nayar and Marina Herlop as they warm up for their sets. See omnystudio.com/listener for ...
Hiroshi Sugimoto
October 30, 2023 17:03 - 25 minutes - 23.6 MBHiroshi Sugimoto is famed for mixing wit and commentary with exquisitely tuned craftsmanship and bold conceptual thinking. The Japanese artist is the subject of a new exhibition at London’s Hayward Gallery. We speak to Sugimoto, plus the show’s curator, Ralph Rugoff, and the director of photography gallery Black Box Projects, Kathlene Fox-Davies. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Review: ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’
October 23, 2023 16:12 - 27 minutes - 25.4 MBCritics Hannah Strong and Tim Robey join Robert Bound in the studio to review Martin Scorsese’s latest film. ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ is an American epic based on David Grann’s book of the same name. It tells the true story of a series of murders of members of the Osage tribe in Oklahoma in the 1920s. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Twenty years of Frieze London
October 16, 2023 19:30 - 27 minutes - 24.8 MBWe raise a glass to celebrate Frieze London’s 20th anniversary. François Chantala of Thomas Dane Gallery tells us what it’s like to have taken part since its very first edition, while we ask up-and-coming galleries and artists how significant Frieze is to the art scene today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Autumn album releases
October 09, 2023 16:40 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MBWe showcase three new releases: a country-inspired tour de force by Canadian singer-songwriter Bahamas, a new collection by shoegaze pioneers Slowdive and the second record by synth-pop group Nation of Language. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Short stories with Tessa Hadley and Lawrence Osborne
October 02, 2023 14:55 - 29 minutes - 27.2 MBWe explore the medium of short stories through the prism of two new collections by two UK writers. Tessa Hadley’s new book, “After the Funeral”, is characteristically full of sharp observations about personal and familial relationships. Meanwhile, Lawrence Osborne’s “Burning Angel and Other Stories” is the first collection of short stories from the novelist, in which characters find themselves up against forces they can’t control. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
‘Stop Making Sense’ and the enduring appeal of the concert movie
September 25, 2023 17:28 - 29 minutes - 27.2 MBWe celebrate the 40th anniversary of ‘Stop Making Sense’ – Jonathan Demme’s film with Talking Heads – which is often regarded as the greatest concert movie of all time. Robert Bound is joined in the studio by Will Hodgkinson and Simran Hans to discuss the new 4K restoration of the film, the impact of ‘Stop Making Sense’ more widely and to recommend the best of the concert movie genre. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Feist, São Paulo’s art scene and ‘Fremont’
September 18, 2023 16:30 - 29 minutes - 27.2 MBThis week we take a spin around the Americas. Sheena Rossiter speaks to indie-pop singer Feist at the Edmonton Folk Music Festival. Then we head to Brazil to explore São Paulo’s art scene and catch a new film depicting the life of an Afghan refugee in the Californian city of Fremont. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Review: ‘The Fraud’, Zadie Smith
September 11, 2023 16:35 - 29 minutes - 27.2 MBIn more than two decades since Zadie Smith burst onto the literary scene with her debut novel, ‘White Teeth’, her books, essays and short stories have continued to enjoy commercial and critical success. Her latest novel brings to life the story of the Tichborne case – one of the lengthiest trials in British history and one that enthralled Victorian England. Robert Bound is joined by Alex Peake-Tomkinson and Alex Preston to review Smith’s first foray into historical fiction. See omnystudio.c...
Look ahead to autumn: TV, books, art
September 04, 2023 15:58 - 31 minutes - 29 MBRobert Bound is joined in the studio by Scott Bryan, Holly Black and Chris Power to share the TV, art exhibitions and books to watch, see and read this season. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Summer blockbusters: How did they fare?
August 28, 2023 16:26 - 28 minutes - 26.1 MBAs summer comes to an end, we look back at the season’s biggest blockbusters. Robert Bound is joined in the studio by Alex Ritman of ‘The Hollywood Reporter’ to discuss how the films fared at the box office and what this means for the future of cinema. Plus: BFI Imax programme manager, Madeleine Mullett, examines how big-ticket movies reach audiences. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Colson Whitehead
August 21, 2023 16:13 - 31 minutes - 28.6 MBOver the years, the two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, Colson Whitehead, has turned his hand to non-fiction, zombie thrillers and historical fiction. His new book, ‘Crook Manifesto’, is the second in his Harlem Trilogy, which is set on the chaotic streets of 1970s New York. Robert Bound sits down with the author to discuss this exciting new heist novel. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
John Carroll Kirby and Sylvan Esso
August 14, 2023 16:28 - 29 minutes - 26.6 MBWhile John Carroll Kirby is celebrated for the catalogue of stars with whom he has played or collaborated (a list including Solange, Frank Ocean and Harry Styles), he is also renowned for his solo work. We catch up with the Grammy-nominated pianist and producer to discuss his most recent album, ‘Blowout’. We also hear from Amelia Meath and Nick Sanborn, the duo known as Sylvan Esso. Over the past decade and four studio albums, the electronic pop duo has picked up two Grammy nominations and a...
‘Talk to Me’
August 07, 2023 16:53 - 25 minutes - 23.5 MBCritics Christina Newland and Karen Krizanovich join Robert Bound to review new Australian horror film ‘Talk to Me’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Summer sounds
July 31, 2023 16:37 - 31 minutes - 28.6 MBRobert Bound is joined in the studio by Natty Kasambala and Kate Hutchinson to discuss the songs that encapsulate the sound of summer 2023, which of this year’s festivals guarantee a good time and the best upcoming album releases. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Christopher Nolan
July 24, 2023 16:07 - 29 minutes - 26.9 MBAcclaimed writer-director Christopher Nolan is known for his spectacular and layered storytelling and preference for analogue cinematic methods. Robert Bound sits down with the filmmaker to discuss his new film ‘Oppenheimer’, which tells the story of the man widely regarded as the “father of the atomic bomb”. Plus: Monocle on Culture regular, Leila Latif, shares her critical take on the film. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How to design an album cover
July 17, 2023 17:10 - 29 minutes - 27 MBThis week we ask: how do you design an album cover? We meet Anton Corbijn, the photographer and director of ‘Squaring the Circle’, a new documentary that tells the story of legendary design studio Hipgnosis. We also hear from photographer Markus Klinko, who is responsible for a defining album cover of the early 2000s, and ask an art director about the artwork design process in the age of streaming. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ryuichi Sakamoto in mixed reality
July 10, 2023 17:40 - 29 minutes - 26.9 MBWe meet Todd Eckert, the director behind an extraordinary new mixed-reality performance that brings to life the music of the late Ryuichi Sakamoto. Plus: Robert Bound is joined in the studio by Roddy Maude-Roxby, a nonagenarian artist who has been a stone’s throw away from many of the artistic movements, creative circles and cultural moments of the past 70 years. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Max Richter
July 03, 2023 17:24 - 32 minutes - 30.1 MBWe head to the Oxfordshire countryside to visit Studio Richter Mahr, a state-of-the-art studio and production facility built by British-German composer Max Richter and his partner, artist Yulia Mahr. Robert Bound sits down with Richter to discuss his recent Glastonbury performance, the creation of his album ‘Sleep’ and his hopes for the studio. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Viva la diva!
June 26, 2023 19:00 - 31 minutes - 29.3 MBWe visit a new exhibition at London’s V&A dedicated to all things diva. Curator Kate Bailey joins Robert Bound to discuss how the show celebrates the power and creativity of iconic performers across the ages, while fashion designer Bob Mackie tells us how he created such a wealth of iconic looks. Plus: Monocle’s Fernando Augusto Pacheco and film critic Christina Newland share their thoughts on how divas intersect with society. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Literature in London
June 19, 2023 19:00 - 27 minutes - 25.4 MBRobert Bound is joined in the studio by Ted Hodkingson, head of literature and spoken word at London’s Southbank Centre, to discuss how he went about programming the venue’s summer literary events. Plus: we hear from writer and broadcaster Kate Molleson and poet Lidija Dimkovska. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Anselm Kiefer’s ‘Finnegans Wake’ and fake artworks at The Courtauld
June 12, 2023 19:00 - 27 minutes - 25.3 MBFrancesca Gavin joins Robert Bound to review German artist Anselm Kiefer’s new exhibition at White Cube Bermondsey, ‘Finnegans Wake’. Plus: we meet the curators behind a new exhibition in which all is not as it seems. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Beatie Wolfe’s “sonic self-portrait”, Hong Kong Mixtape and Esperanza Spalding
June 05, 2023 17:12 - 32 minutes - 29.9 MBWe head to Toronto to find out about a new documentary that examines the internal struggles of the creatives impacted by Hong Kong’s national security law. We also catch up with artist and musician Beatie Wolfe at the London Design Biennale. Plus: Grammy Award-winning musician Esperanza Spalding on what restorative art means to her. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
‘The Stones and Brian Jones’
May 29, 2023 19:00 - 30 minutes - 27.9 MBAcclaimed documentary film-maker Nick Broomfield is known for his intimate portrayals of his subjects, often ill-fated musicians. His back catalogue includes documentaries about Whitney Houston and Kurt Cobain. Now he has turned his attentions to The Rolling Stones and the rise and fall of the band’s founding member Brian Jones. Broomfield joins Robert Bound in the studio to tell him more about the making of the film, his unique style and his thoughts on the state of today’s documentary-maki...
Review: ‘Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret’ and ‘Return to Seoul’
May 22, 2023 15:47 - 24 minutes - 22.6 MBRobert Bound is joined in the studio by critics Simran Hans and Tim Robey to discuss two new films: a tender coming-of-age tale adapted from a book by one of America’s best-loved children’s authors and a moving exploration of identity that unfolds in the bars and hotels of South Korea’s capital. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.