Surprise Cast

Surprise Cast #226 Worm School

Dear Worm School,I love your youth, spirit, and infectious energy!All of you shared interesting stories about how music plays a central role in your lives. It was great fun to jump behind the scenes of your incredible single, "Jacob's Ladder," a song as good as any in the dreampop/shoegaze world. I enjoyed learning about the band's creative process.May 2026 and beyond be filled with more great music and memorable live shows. I know this is only the beginning of great things to come your way. You'll play an important role in the musical landscape. 
Follow Worm School: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7sOjGIpf4A
https://craftingroomrecordings.bandcamp.com/Follow Simon Scott: https://spsmastering.blogspot.com/
Follow Ben Easton: https://www.instagram.com/beneastonmusic/
Follow Surprise Cast: Amazon, iHeart, Podbean, Spotify, or YouTube
 

Surprise Cast #225 The Sundries

Dear Sundries,From a former teacher to current teachers, thank you for a lovely conference about life as musicians!I love listening to how music impacted each one of you whilst growing up. You focused on the role of art and its true impact, which was great to hear. I appreciated how you shared sharp insights on songwriting ideas, importance of simplicity and figurative language in your lyrics. You released one of the most sparkling albums of 2025, so thank you for taking a deeper dive into its sound, production, and thoughts behind it. May your 2026 shine brightly and look forward to hearing more of your infectious music. The band received an 'A' in my grade book!Follow The Sundries: https://thesundries.bandcamp.com/
Follow https://janglepophub.home.blog/
Follow Surprise Cast:Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, Spotify, or YouTube
 
 
 

Surprise Cast #224 Callière (Andrew Rose)

Dear Andrew,I was so looking forward to our conversation because I knew you'd bring your A game, and you did with great success.I loved hearing about your sparkling new album, 'Solar,' and the amazing stories behind it. Listening to your journeys along the Camino de Santiago was fantastic—it makes me want to get out on the trails one day to soak up the incredible vistas.Thank you for sharing all the granular details, including personal encounters on the trails, your appreciation for Chameleons/Slowdive/Robin Guthrie, and the writing and production process that inspired your latest work.I know you're filled with gratitude at this stage of your life, which I have to say is a great thing because it adds layers and depth to who you are as an artist and, most importantly, a person.Thank you for taking us along on your travels. I love the backstage access to your tales along the road of life. Follow Calliere: https://calliere.bandcamp.com/
Follow Shore Dive Records: https://shorediverecords.bandcamp.com/
Follow Robin Guthrie: https://robinguthrie.com/
Follow Slowdive: https://slowdiveofficial.com/
Follow Chameleons: https://chameleonsband.com/
Follow Surprise Cast: Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, Spotify, YouTube

Surprise Cast #223 Peter Coyle

Greetings, Peter!Thank you for participating in Surprise Cast. The time went by too quickly. 
I loved hearing about your musical awakenings, including Johnny Cash, Hank Williams Jr. David Bowie, Peter Gabriel, and Iggy Pop. All the artists that I admire greatly. I can see why they whetted your appetite for emotional integrity and emotional truth within your musical pursuits. Thank you for sharing such candid stories about your family history--including strong memories of the loss of your sister, tough upbringing with your father, etc. I think people will appreciate such vulnerability and deep connections to your past.The podcast listeners get an inside look at the making of the Velvet Crunch album and the ESP project: I could hear your appreciation for Tony’s cinematic production approach, the warm, textured mixes, and the band's adventurous arrangements that balance melody and dissonance. Thank you for explaining your lyrical process and the album’s nature-centered imagery and themes of death-as-beginning. Amazing!
Throughout the conversation, it emphasized art as a devotional act, the spiritual recharge of nature, and creative partnership as a force that pushes you into such unique territory. I know fans of art rock, post-punk, new wave, and the songwriting process will benefit greatly from our conversation. Your creative vision will always remain deep, wide, and quite tall!Follow Peter Coyle: https://petercoyle.com/peter-coyle
Follow Surprise Cast: Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, Spotify

Surprise Cast #222 Zoe Allan

Dear Zoe,What a sensational time I had with you on my podcast feature, Surprise Cast!Thank you for allowing me to shine a spotlight on your work as an aspiring performer in the UK. I loved hearing about the wonderful relationship you have with your parents and the deep support you feel from the two of them. Hearing about your infinite love for theatre and acting was impressive. You handled all of the quotes with great aplomb. Your responses showed depth and great understanding of your craft. It was a blast listening to your experience on Reception: The Wedding Present Musical. From preparation to showtime, and your friendship with Matt Aston, it sounded like an incredibly enriching experience for you and all of the cast. Total team effort!May you continue to shine on and off the stage. Your career seems to be taking off in a manner that feels right for you. Thanks again for helping me pull back the curtains on your life. Bravo! Follow Zoe Allan: https://www.instagram.com/zoeallanxo/
Follow Surprise Cast: Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, SpotifyFollow The Wedding Present: https://www.scopitones.co.uk/
Follow Matt Aston: https://www.instagram.com/mattastontheatre/Follow Heritage: https://linktr.ee/heritage.uk?
 

Surprise Cast #221 Sea of Days

Dear Shane,
In this intelligent and thoughtful episode, you discussed candidly important topics such as influential music, COVID, The National, Cocteau Twins, and the fabulous album, Wound. Your insights were nothing short of enlightening.
Thank you for guiding the listeners and me through the intricacies of the songwriting process, inspired guitar textures, and lyrical ideas. I loved how you delved into your recording approach, shared your views on live performance, and talked about your connections with other talented artists like Maud Anyways and Rachael Benjamin. All good stuff!
Our conversation about your dual life as a music teacher and a parent was particularly inspiring. Your strategies in the classroom and your approach to mentoring adolescents have clearly shaped your music in unique and profound ways.
This was an episode that was candid, spirited, and deeply connected. Thank you for being such a positive, warm guest on Surprise Cast. Your ability to shine brightness into the world's darkness brings tremendous comfort and joy.
Follow Sea of Days: https://linktr.ee/seaofdays
Follow Shore Dive Records: https://shorediverecords.bandcamp.com/
Additional podcast music by:The National: https://www.americanmary.com/
Matt Berninger: https://www.instagram.com/mattberninger/
Cocteau Twins: https://cocteautwins.com/
Robin Guthrie: https://robinguthrie.bandcamp.com/music
Follow Surprise Cast on Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, Spotify

Surprise Cast #220 Montjuïc

Dear Ian and James,I can't believe this was our 5th conversation in some capacity--thank you for being on Surprise Cast. It's always a pleasure speaking with you, whether it be for your work with The Orchids, One Dove, or Montjuïc. I loved how our conversation flipped between personal stories and artistic choices. We hit on a few important topics: growing up queer, carrying and reclaiming shame/identity, and maintaining hope during dark political times. Thank you for talking about the magnificent album 'Things Must Change' and its reception from the general public, and your personal insights. I loved hearing about the creative process behind some of the notable songs. You did a great job reflecting on aging, artistic growth, and confidence, and learning how to just be yourselves over the years. May love, acceptance, and resilience continue to be major themes of future work and personal lives--it's deeply inspiring and what the world always needs more of...rest assured. Follow Montjuïc: https://montju1c.bandcamp.com/music
Follow Pascal Blua: https://www.bluartwork.com/
Follow Surprise Cast: Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, or Spotify

Surprise Cast #219 Blueshift Signal

Dear Ron and Jason,Thank you so much for diving into your feelings about your band, Blueshift Signal, the new album Eventide, and other fun topics.
I loved how we kicked off the show with some lighthearted icebreaker questions about comedy movies. It was fun hearing about your appreciation for Jim Carrey and Charlie Chaplin. You walked the listeners and me through the history and emotional core of the new album, and how the songs grew from rehearsals and moods, your approach to sequencing sonbx, and the narrative arc threaded throughout the entire album. You discussed the right balance between lyrical minimalism and finding an atmosphere on two standout songs. I appreciated hearing about the production, working with producer/Painted Air owner Michael Vitrano. He did a great job shaping the vinyl project and art direction.I believe the listeners can expect an emotional, thoughtful conversation about the importance of your work, songwriting, and strong collaboration. There's plenty of good material that will never leave the listener adrift. Follow Blueshift Signal: https://blueshift-signal.bandcamp.com/album/eventideFollow Surprise Cast: Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, and Spotify

Surprise Cast #218 Trillion

Dear Steve, Tara, and Luke — this was an engaging conversation about your Sydney shoegaze/indie project and the fantastic new album Feel Alright. I loved that we started with light icebreakers and then moved into deeper topics. 
We discussed the creative influences that shaped your sound from My Bloody Valentine’s Loveless to Simon & Garfunkel, Jesus and Mary Chain, Cyndi Lauper, David Bowie and The Cure. All amazing musicians! We peeled back the layers of Feel Alright — exploring impactful tracks from the album. Thank you for explaining how the songs evolved: demos shared weekly, live-testing arrangements, collaboration across geography, and the magic that happens when band chemistry clicks in rehearsal or the studio. Quite interesting. 
I believe listeners will appreciate hearing about the nuances of your live performances, how the band approaches sequencing of songs and concert setlists, personal recommendations that include tv shows, films,.and charities. You hit the jackpot in terms of your kind and thoughtful participation on the Surprise Cast show. Follow Trillion: https://linktr.ee/trillionsydneyFollow Surprise Cast: Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, or SpotifyOther music included by My Blood Valentine: https://mybloodyvalentine.org/
 

Surprise Cast #217 Helen Millington

Hello Helen!I warmly welcome you as my special guest on Surprise Cast.Thank you for joining me from across the pond to discuss everything from Halloween icebreakers and favorite films (Kubrick, The Shining, and more) to how music, cinema, and books have helped you get through dark periods in your life.
The episode includes personal stories of childhood depression, early therapy, a later bipolar diagnosis, and how creative outlets—especially music and film—became lifesavers. You described your parents and influential teachers who fostered incredible curiosity and wonder.
Listeners will have a chance to explore your remarkable work as a photographer, including your early love of film cameras, transition to mirrorless and DSLR gear, go-to lenses for gigs, workflow for shooting and editing live shows, and the excitement of receiving your photos.
Many thanks for your honesty and deep reflection. You brought your life and work into sharper focus, which made the experience truly enjoyable. Follow Hellen Millington: https://www.instagram.com/helsmillphotography/Other music included:https://www.instagram.com/thestonerosesofficial/
https://www.instagram.com/realbabybird_/
https://chameleonsband.com/home