Surprise Cast

Dear Daniel,So nice to have you on Surprise Cast. Who knew we'd have so much in common, starting with our love for movies that shaped us, including E.T. and Superman. I loved hearing about the amazing Nirvana concert. What an experience for you. Thank you for walking me through your journey from college radio and CMJ to launching your well-respected company, Force Field. I can't believe Sufjan Stevens, Ariel Pink, and Panda Bear were your early clients.It was interesting to learn more about what makes you a trusted partner for artists. Thank you for explaining the day-to-day of tour pressing, album rollouts, and other aspects of your all-consuming job. Your Joan Baez story put a smile on my face. Keep protecting your clients with that amazing shield of yours. All those business victories will continue to pay off big time!Follow Force Field PR: https://www.forcefieldpr.com/
Follow Surprise Cast: Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, or XAdditional music by:https://chapterhouseofficial.com/
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmOk-H-VrObMeMYqPITpH5W2qjMIirKdm
 

Hi David,Boy, oh, boy! It sure was lovely reconnecting with you for another conversation on Surprise Cast. You brought such a Scottish warmth and charm to much of our conversation. Thank you for unpacking the band's brand new album, 'This is...The Bluebells' in a way that was informative. You gave me more insight into the band's trademark jangle, delicious harmonies, and its emotional integrity. I enjoyed learning about all of the participants involved, including Stuart McLeod, Douglas MacIntyre, and more. I loved hearing more about the cultural roots of Scottish music, musical influences, drum playing, and your incredible work in music therapy. I know fans of the band will praise its behind-the-scenes narratives. Plenty of melodic love for one of Scotland's finest indie pop bands. And I don't think longtime fan and CD Junkie, Steve Schnee, would ever disagree with me. Follow The Bluebells: https://thebluebellsofficial.com/
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Dear Simon,
I can't thank you enough for being my special guest on Surprise Cast. It was an incredible honor! The 80 minute episode was a fascinating conversation about music, memory, and the deeper meaning of life. Quite a rich batch of topics!
You did a fabulous job tackling questions framed around the virtues in Ethan Hawke's amazing book, Rules for a Knight. I had a blast exploring ideas such as solitude, pride, discipline, love, death, courage, and how they relate to your work running Bella Union, unique experiences with Cocteau Twins, and personal life. 
I especially appreciate how open and personal you were, sharing stories about your terrifying escape in Mexico, your recovery from a brain tumor, hearing loss, and incredible experiences touring with the band. I know listeners will really enjoy this memoir(ish), authentic conversation about music and life's big ideas and questions. I sure as heck did!
Follow Cocteau Twins: https://cocteautwins.com/
Follow Bella Union: https://bellaunion.com/
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Dear Joseph and Ari,What a great time I had speaking with you both about your amazing craftsmanship. Thank you so much for being on Surprise Cast. What a blast!Joseph,You brought an insightful perspective on your life, including your love for David Bowie. I appreciate your mantra of being in the present and how rewarding that has become for you. Hearing about the evolution of your photography work was interesting. It was impressive that your mom tried to push you toward other professions, but you stuck to your guns. Good for you. I also loved hearing about your work with No Doubt, Billy Corgan, and NIN. Fascinating to say the least. Ari, I loved learning more about your deep-seated passion for NIN, your upbringing in Oceanside, and when your love for photography began at such a young age. It was incredible to hear about your heartbreaking car accident - just about 10 years ago - and how friendships with Matchbox 20 and AFI members led you down this new career path. I LOVED the Danny Elfman story. Simply amazing!Follow Joseph Cultice: https://josephcultice.com/Follow Ari Tomke: https://zrockr.com/author/atomke/
Additional Music Courtesy of:https://www.davidbowie.com/
https://music.youtube.com/channel/UCvgRTZ1F2xWnHXMbNzzL-xg
 

Dear Richard,You brought fun, good energy, and intelligence to the conversation! For the second time, I truly enjoyed having you on the program. Thank you for discussing the delicious-sounding new album 'Just A Day', the band's evolving lineup, and the creative choices that have reshaped its sound. It was interesting to hear how the group moved away from the pedal steel sound toward a more stripped-back approach while still keeping those dreamy harmonies. I loved hearing about the jingle-jangle pop touchstones, such as The Byrds, Big Star, and Teenage Fanclub, easily some of my favourites. Your stories about collaborations recorded at Edwyn Collins' studio were a real treat. Keep chasing "the bliss," my friend, whilst always staying true to those timeless harmonies and melodies!Follow The Hanging Stars: https://www.thehangingstars.com/
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Hello Hans,Mr. producer, mixer, and mastering engineer. It felt like a warm, wide diversified conversation. I appreciated listening to your seeds of inspiration, production perspectives, and incredible friendship with Jose Gonzalez. Thank you for jumping into specific topics, particularly your love for producing. It was interesting to learn more about the role of distortion versus compression, hybrid workflow, and the incredible use of cool consoles. Listening to your amazing stories about your longtime friendship and the creative partnership with Jose was a treat. You really highlighted the collaborative process behind albums such as two sensational albums, 'Local Valley' and 'Against the Dying of the Light'. Modern production craft is your speciality...as your inspirational light will never flicker out. 
Follow Hans Olsson: https://www.instagram.com/hansolsson_/
Follow Jose Gonzalez: https://jose-gonzalez.com/
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Dear Mark,Fascinating conversation with you regarding your work as a record label owner. I learned some cool things about your challenging and successful profession.I had fun learning about the early inspirations by releasing tapes from your dorm and tracing your roots back to life in Ventura. I loved hearing about your musical formation by discovering punk and skate culture.  The belly of the conversation covered quite a bit of details regarding the early days of running Omnibus Records, demos, vinyl pressings, and now Mt. St. Mtn. I love how you roll up your ownership sleeves and are willing to put in so much effort to keep your baby running. Keep climbing the mountain of success!Follow Mt. St. Mtn. : https://www.mtstmtn.com/journalAdditional music by Massage, Cindy, and Seablite
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Dear Daniel,What an inspiring conversation I had with you regarding your work as a musician and writer. Thank you for your time, effort, and willingness to share so much with me. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to your journey through music, including your stories behind particular songs, personal challenges, and the importance of authenticity. I discovered how much you embrace art, love, and resiliency. Oh yeah--let's not forget your undying love for Cocteau Twins and Deacon Blue :). I respect you a great deal, as you're a creative life force that understand vulnerability and courage. Follow Daniel Land: https://www.danielland.co.uk/homeAdditional music by: https://cocteautwins.com/
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Dear Antony,Thank you for taking me deep into your craft as a mastering engineer. I learned so much about your technical wizardry in an entertaining manner. 
Your life's work is both rich and accomplished. You've worked with some of the greats, including Simon Scott, Andy Bell, and Dot Allison. I especially enjoyed learning how your environment influences creativity and focus, and hearing your perspective on the challenges and lifelong learning that mastering engineering requires. Your thoughts on AI and its potential impact on your profession were also ear opening.
One of my favourite parts was learning about the process of finalizing a music album; something most listeners rarely think about. You have a remarkable gift for hearing the subtle details in music that others could miss, and it's clear how those small arrangements create a powerful final result. Thank you for nourishing our ears and helping us reset--it's in your nature!Follow RedRedPaw Mastering: https://www.redredpaw.com/
Follow Isan: https://www.isan.co.uk/
Follow Simon Scott: https://spsmastering.blogspot.com/
Follow Andy Bell: https://andybell.bandcamp.com/
Follow Dot Allison: https://dotallison.bandcamp.com/
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Dear Glenn and Morgan,What a San Francisco treat to have you both on Surprise Cast--it meant a lot to me. We covered cool topics, including artistic inspiration, the current vibe of the city, unforgettable concert memories ("less talking, more rocking"), musicianship, and your favourite albums that shaped the DIY pop aesthetic.  Thank you for sharing your thoughts on musicianship and the balance between what feels natural and what pushes you outside your comfort zone. You both responded to the Rick Rubin quotes with remarkable thoughtfulness and insight. 
I'm sure fans will enjoy the personal stories, deep dives, and thoughtful reflections on creativity, music community, and life as creative musicians. Thank you for the conversation, and please keep making those wonderful records.Follow The Reds, Pinks and Purples: https://www.firerecords.com/artists/reds-pinks-purples/
Follow The Umbrellas: https://linktr.ee/theumbrellas
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