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.

Annie Clark has been recording as St. Vincent since 2007, collaborating with David Byrne and Paul McCartney along the way, and proving herself as one of the best guitarists (and songwriters) in the world.

In more recent years she's written a number one hit single (aren't they all) for Taylor Swift, co-written and starred in her debut feature film, The Nowhere Inn, with her close friend Carrie Brownstein of Sleater-Kinney, and released her 7th album All Born Screaming in April 2024.

On this week's show she talks with Stu about her early years in mid-00s CULT band (in every sense of the word) The Polyphonic Spree, why nobody liked her film, her close encounters with Steve Albini, and how she got childhood hero Dave Grohl to drum on her new record.

Watch clips of the podcast online now, just give us a follow on Instagram @midnightchatspod.

Links to stuff mentioned in the episode:

The Nowhere Inn trailer

Video to 'Broken Man', ft Dave Grohl

The Polyphonic Spree on Tour - 2005 mini doc

Credits:

Interview and editing by Stuart Stubbs

Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines

Artwork by Kate Prior

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

South Londoner Lynks used to make the type of straight-faced, emotional music that all of his friends were making, until one day, for a bit of fun, he decided to adopt a masked drag persona and lean into being an entertainer. His thumping alt. pop songs since have centred around his experiences as a young queer person, with songs about sex with strangers delivered with a bluntness that is matched by Lynks' wicked sense of humour. This is, after all, an artist that also has a song exclusively about how to make a bechamel sauce.

Speaking in April 2024 with Stu before his show in Cambridge, England, Lynks discusses the moment he unexpectedly unlocked his successful new act, how he approached debut album Abomination, what could be expected from his camp, prop-heavy show that night, and why it's more satisfying to make people dance than cry with your music.

Watch clips of the podcast online now, just give us a follow on Instagram @midnightchatspod.

Links to stuff mentioned in the episode:

Our Abomination review

Our early interview with Lynks (2019)

'(What Did You Expect From) Sex With a Stranger' video

'How To Make a Beshamel Sauce in 10 Steps (with pictures)' video

Credits:

Interview and editing by Stuart Stubbs

Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines

Artwork by Kate Prior

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sam T. Herring’s distinctive growl and spectacular dance moves may still be one of the best known things about Future Islands, but away from the chest-thumping on stage he's a charismatic, thoughtful and humble guy.

Greg Cochrane caught up with him to talk about his recent move into acting (he starred in TV series The Changling last year), the heartbreak channeled in Future Islands’ most recent album ‘People Who Aren't There Anymore’ and why he’s a diehard follower of an average British football team (sorry, Everton fans).

You can watch clips of the podcast online now, just give us a follow on Instagram @midnightchatspod.

Links to stuff mentioned in the episode:

Sam T. Herring speaks to Stuart on episode 22 of Midnight Chats

Watch the trailer for the TV show Sam stars in, ‘The Changling’

Future Islands return to the UK in July 2024 to play Crystal Palace Bowl - more info

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.

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.