Interviews

Adding on to her ongoing work in creating music that connects with endangered natural environments and species, Australian sound artist and musician Vicki Hallett presents her new soundscape work 'Live at the Amazon.' Consisting of a pair of pieces that blends field recordings of the Amazon rainforest and clarinet performances. Vicki spoke to Ian about 'Live at the Amazon.' Tune in to The Sound Barrier to hear their conversation.

One of Cambodia’s most renowned music exports, the Cambodian Space Project, formed in 2009 with a mission to sing back to life the lost divas and rock legends of Cambodia’s golden age of rock n’ roll, who were all but wiped out by the Khmer Rouge regime. Guitarist Julien Poulson drops by the Global Village to talk about their show at George Lane on March 16 and returning for performances at WOMADelaide after 10 years, and to play some recent releases from them.

Growing up immersed in the traditional practices, customs and stories of Vanuatu, singer-songwriter Tio’s interest in music came from early encounters with the traditional tam tam and songs in his Daakaka language. While his storytelling comes through his spellbinding vocals, he is also a talented multi-instrumentalist, switching between violin, ukulele, guitar, tam tam and bush bass. Tio drops by the Global Village to talk about Wantok Musik's Big Sing Sing at MEMO on March 7.

Wizard of Detroit techno, acclaimed artist Jeff Mills debuts his live project ‘Tomorrow Comes The Harvest’ in Australia in March. The work sees Mills joining forces with French keyboardist Jean-Phi Dary and tabla virtuoso Prabhu Edouard and explores the unknown through an array of improvisational movements. Ahead of this special performance at Hamer Hall, Mills spoke to DJ Ides about the project, touching on AI and the future of electronic music. Tune in to Electric Sunset to hear their chat.

Originally formed in the 1970s, Zamrock pioneers WITCH (We Intend To Cause Havoc) have seen a riotous renaissance in recent years. With a new studio album, 'Zango,' helping them propel themselves into a whole new era of appreciation by way of intoxicating Afrobeat, spacey psych-pop and Sabbathy proto-metal, WITCH will grace Australian shores for shows at WOMAD and Brunswick Music Festival. Lead vocalist Emanuel "Jagari" Chanda catches up with Manchild about the tour.

The inimitable Adriana has put together her first Spasta Compilation, dropping on vinyl on March 1st and featuring tracks from the likes of Bárbara Boeing, Amin Payne, and Still Moving. On the day of its release, she chats with Milo about the compilation and plays a special mix on The Breakfast Spread.

Continuing on from last year's sold-out shows that celebrated the 40th anniversary of The Beasts of Bourbon, The Beasts return for a string of more shows. Guitarist Kim Salmon drops by Sunglasses After Dark to talk to Phil about the tour and their Melbourne show at the Northcote Theatre on April 20.

With a treasured standing in indigenous communities and a career spanning four decades, Gomeroi man Uncle Roger Knox has become one of Australia’s leading Aboriginal performers. Roger calls by Swinging Doors to talk about performing at Port Fairy Folk Festival, March 8 - 11.

Combining driven soulful blues and sweet, folk-tinged, dulcet tones that carry a particular sense of familiarity provide the structure on which she creates her unique sound. Canadian singer/songwriter Cat Clyde brings her third studio album Down Rounder to the Port Fairy Folk Festival. Cat spoke to Ernie in the lead up to her performance at Port Fairy Folk Festival, March 8 - 11. Tune in to Swinging Doors to hear their conversation.

Tune in to Radio City to hear Private Stash talk about their upcoming launch for their single 'When I got you on my mind' at Merri Creek Tavern on March 2.

Merri-bek locals Font bring their new LP 'Coburg 19' to the place where the band formed, The Retreat Hotel. Written, recorded, mixed, mastered and pressed to vinyl all within the shire, the album is a celebration of community and rebirth. The band joins Crispi for a chat about its launch on March 2.

‘Grass: A Nation’s Battle for Life’ is a Persian documentary from 1925 by Merian C. Cooper that follows the journey of the Bakhtiari, an impoverished nomadic tribe in Iran, in their never-ending search for fresh grass for their herds. Almost a hundred years after the documentary's release, Gelareh Pour and Brian O’Dwyer of ZÖJ have composed a score for it. Julie and Lucy spoke to ZÖJ about performing the score live alongside a special screening of the documentary at The Astor Theatre on March 1.

1965 was the year of Bill Jackson's musical awakening, coinciding with what some would describe as a watershed and revolutionary year in music. In 2023, Bill paid homage to this awakening with the release of his album '1965.' Bill and album engineer Kerryn Tolhurst drop in to Roots of Rhythm to talk about the album.

Known for finger-picking guitar and cigarbox instruments, Fiona Boyes' performances range from Delta slide, gritty Mississippi riffs, to intricate country blues and heartfelt ballads. Tune in to Roots of Rhythm to hear the internationally recognised blues guitarist, vocalist and songwriter talk about her performance at Port Fairy Folk Festival 2024.

Aotearoa / New Zealand-based speed metal pests Stälker are set to support Midnight on their upcoming national tour, playing Melbourne on March 1 at Max Watts. They're bringing drummer Matt 'Skitz' Sanders (Diabolical Rites/Damaged/Blood Duster/King Parrot) along for the ride! Matt joins Daif and Chris from Stälker for a chat on Burning Bitumen this week, and Kene has no way of knowing the craziness they’ll talk about. You'll just have to tune in and try and keep up with the madness.

Boasting an all-star lineup of incredible players, Infectious Grooves make their long-awaited return to Australia to celebrate the 40th anniversary of their self-titled debut. Vocalist Mike Muir talks to Kene about the tour. Tune in to Burning Bitumen on Tuesday evening to hear their conversation.

When Sleater-Kinney's latest album Little Rope dropped, PBS's Sarah Blaby managed to have a chat with core members Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker who formed the band around this time 30 years ago. You can hear the entire interview on Pojama People when Chris Pearson invites Blaby to co-host the second half of his show on the last Tuesday of February for what will be a special segment about the riot grrrl movement.

Join Brunswick Music Festival for its inaugural Night Bowls at Brunswick Bowls Club. Featuring Don't Thank Me, Spank Me!, Eggy, Kosmetika and Obscura Hail. Eggy and event organizer Jas Moore join Jordan to talk about the event happening March 5.

EVERYBODY ROCKS! showcases disabled musicians and allies. This mixed genre event boasts a line-up of acts with members who identify under the broad banner of disability. Featuring indie-punk rockers Rhysics, Billiam & The Split Bills, Inkrewsive HipHop Crew and alt-folk band Sibyl. Event organizers Rhys and Chloe chat to Jordan about the event taking place as part of the Brunswick Music Festival on March 7.

Poet laureate of the apocalypse Camae Ayewa, a.k.a. Moor Mother, is a masterful cacophonist who takes on themes of Afrofuturism and collective memory with the fore bearers of jazz, hip hop and beat poetry in mind. Performing alongside Lonnie Holley with the backing of the sublime jazz quintet Irreversible Entanglements, Ayewa graces Melbourne Recital Centre with her creative chemistry and sonic provocations this Wednesday night. Tune in to Mystic Brew to hear more.