Surprise Cast

Surprise Cast #202 Tim Keegan

Dear Tim,I'm glad we finally connected and had a conversation about music and life on Surprise Cast.The discussion covered Jeff Tweedy's (Wilco) ideas about focusing on verbs rather than nouns, the importance of process, and the creative “lightning bolt” moments that happen when inspiration meets preparation. You shared your past struggles as a young musician, how parenthood and teaching influenced your work, and why you prioritize being a decent person over fame. Very admirable. I enjoyed hearing your thoughts on your latest album, Vide Grenier, the joy of recording with trusted collaborators, and the pride you take in completing a record you're happy with.Thank you for sharing your gentle and insightful voice with the world - it will always feel quite soothing!Follow Tim Keegan: https://www.instagram.com/meekgiant/
https://linktr.ee/timkeeganmusic
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Surprise Cast #201 Chris Bigg

Dear Chris,It was an exhilarating experience to have you on Surprise Cast! I loved learning about your upbringing in Brighton, family life, deep musical influences, and how dyslexia affected your life in both positive and negative ways.We discussed your formative years at art college and your extraordinary friendship with Vaughan Oliver and 4AD, along with behind-the-scenes stories from key album cover projects (Wolfgang Press, Throwing Music, Modern English, Kim Deal, Unrest, and Lush). I enjoyed hearing about your collaborations and conceptual ideas for album covers. From one former teacher to another, it was a pleasure learning why you fell in love with teaching and how you've built a strong classroom community where students feel comfortable being themselves.The podcast audience can look forward to a warm, honest conversation about your creative process, memorable stories, and key insights for music fans, graphic artists, and educators. You always have a way of making the ordinary extraordinary!.Follow Chris Bigg: https://www.chrisbigg.com/Follow Surprise Cast: Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, or SpotifySome podcast music courtesy of Lush, Unrest, Belly, Harry Nilsson, and Piroshka:https://4ad.com/artists/l https://piroshka.bandcamp.com/album/love-drips-gathershttps://harrynilsson.com/
 

Surprise Cast #200 Vox (Chameleons)

Dear Vox,Thank you for participating in the Surprise Cast show. Our intimate conversation about life on the road, creative rebirth that manifested during Covid, and your sharp perspective on self-awareness/personal growth was such an honor to hear. I loved listening to your musical influences, including T-Rex, The Fall, and The Beatles. Hearing your relationship to Manchester and how other cities shaped you was quite interesting. Thank you for opening up about family influences, including your mother's love of literature and your father's sporting nature. I greatly appreciated hearing your in depth analysis of the new album, 'Arctic Moon'. You provided insight into collaborations with other band members, production, and song highlights. It sounded like wonderful chemistry!
I'm grateful for your openness about mental health, vulnerability, and the healing process. Keep sharing your voice and truth--there are many old and new Chameleons' fans that appreciate it!Follow Chameleons: https://chameleonsband.com/home
Follow: https://metropolis-records.com/
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Other podcast music contributions include The Fall https://thefall.org/
 

Surprise Cast #199 Highspire

Dear Highspire,Our episode did a solid job discussing the band's arc--from your Philly roots and many-year hiatus to the creation of your awesome new album, 'Crushed'. A must own!I enjoyed learning about your cinematic influences, including Steven Spielberg and Stanley Kubrick. Our talk delved into music influences such as My Bloody Valentine, Stone Roses, The Charlatans, and more. You spoke candidly about tremendous personal obstacles that reshaped your vision for your craft: lineup changes, setbacks,  career transitions, and the pandemic in 2020. 
I enjoyed hearing your analysis of your new album, including amazing songs that tackle themes of repetition, haunting, and identity. By the way, the album is quite intimate and sonically rich. 
Thank you again for the heartfelt storytelling and behind-the-scenes accounts of your friendship and songwriting. You've taken grief, resilience and produced something that is a great comeback. Now that's what I call gifted and talented. Follow Highspire: https://highspire.bandcamp.com/music
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Surprise Cast #198 David Calkins

Dear David,I had such a wonderful time connecting with you. We explored many important topics such as cultural trauma, family history (what a story), and of course, your everlasting love for music and business.  Hearing your personal reflections on how 9/11 affected you in both a positive and negative manner was quite interesting. Listening to your vulnerable story about being adopted and how it informed your approach to fatherhood was spellbinding. I know the listeners will get a kick about your love for bands such as The Cure, The Police, Chicago, Dead Can Dance, Peter Gabriel, and the mighty U2.  
Finally, hearing about your life as an entrepreneur, starting up Discology in Reno, was a blast. Your store's eclectic stock (vinyl, CDs, laserdisc, cassettes, and more) makes it all the more special. 
I believe listeners can hear the emotional, candid conversation that pulls together amazing confessions and great storytelling. You have a way of reminding us why music and the human connection truly matter. Follow Discology: https://discologyreno.com/
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Podcast music included:- Slowdive (Crazy for you)- Piano Covers (With or Without you)- Mark Rolfe (Burying the Dead)

Surprise Cast #197 Marina Yozora

Dear Marina,I'm grateful for our conversation. Thank you for joining me on Surprise Cast. I had a great time discussing topics with you. It was fun learning about how you were raised across multiple countries and the story behind your name. All of these things inform your artistic perspective. I enjoyed listening to your early musical memories, chanting along in your father's car and finding your energy by listening to musicians such as Vanessa Carlton and Britney Spears. It was interesting to learn about evolving from acoustic songwriting to dipping your feet into the pool of dreampop/shoegaze music. Thank you for giving the listener an analysis of your gorgeous songs. Fun!
Thank you for being candid about your creative output and the paradoxes that accompany it, including the blend of exploration and perfectionism. Your attention to detail, reflections on culture, and honesty will continue to serve you well in your music career. Authenticity is the name of your game, never commercial compromise!Follow Marina: https://linktr.ee/marinayozoraFollow Surprise Cast: Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, and Spotify*Music included in this episode by Daughter and Six Pence None the Richer

Surprise Cast #196 A Tribute to James Part 2 w/ Laura Dean And Liam Christopher Walker

Dear Laura and Liam,Thank you for joining me for Part 2. I had a blast deep diving into the band James: their B-sides, priceless live moments, upcoming North America tour, and James Fanzone. Listening to your numerous concert experiences, it's clear that their shows never feel the same twice, with different setlists each night, and spontaneous actions by band members on stage, which was amusing to hear. The heartbeat of our conversation was a guided tour through favourite B-sides. I won't mention our selections. We are clearly excited about their upcoming North American tour, and maybe we'll get a chance to hear some of these gems. 
Whether you’re a long time James devotee or a curious newcomer, expect stories, song picks, and plenty of reasons to revisit the band’s B-sides and live performances, don't you think this episode has something for every listener to enjoy?I'll leave you with one more question. What will part 3 be about? Follow Laura: https://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/
Follow Jamesfanzone: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1523750017780710
Follow James: https://wearejames.com/
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Surprise Cast #195 Ben O'Brien

What a wonderful conversation! Thank you so much for sharing about your life and artistry. I love learning how family and great music influence your creative work. I appreciate how our discussion flows smoothly between music culture, visual art, and personal stories. And I truly value hearing your honest memories of your parents and how your father's work ethic and independence have impacted you. Your art is lively, innovative, and healing, as I've seen in your collaboration with Tim Burgess, frontman for the band The Charlatans. Keep bringing light and positive energy to our dark and troubled world. It's quite therapeutic. Follow Ben O'Brien: https://www.ben-obrien.com/
Follow Tim Burgess: https://www.timburgessofficial.com/
Follow Tim Burgess Listening Parties: https://timstwitterlisteningparty.com/
Follow Surprise Cast: Amazon, Apple, iHeart, Podbean, or Spotify. Additional music by- Tim Burgess- Charlie Parker- Matt Owens- Erroll Garner

Surprise Cast #194 Miki Berenyi Trio

Dear Miki and Ollie,Thank you for a wide-ranging and entertaining conversation! I enjoyed our discussion on your magnificent new album, Tripla, your upcoming North America tour, friendship, and of course, the creative collaboration. You brought wonderful and belly-tickling laughter, sharing candid stories and behind the scenes insight into life on the road and in the studio. It was fun hearing about van rides and late-night driving playlists, indelible concert moments. Many thanks for digging deeper into Tripla songs that provided a lens into the creative process. So cool!Congratulations on your success - here's to more great music and live shows!Follow MB3: https://mikistuff.com/
Follow Air Cooled: https://linktr.ee/aircooled?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaeI52HE6XQ8KgDm-ZVNjN9CNScRF0FUpi4NHk3BZ-eDP-zHsJ9H6yXvB0E5OQ_aem_7gTOoB6J8AIHNIjsLl_fMA
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Surprise Cast #193 Ryli

Dear Ryli,Thank you — Rob Good (guitar, harmony, recordist), Yea-Ming Chen(lead vocals, songwriter), and Luke Robbins (bass, backing vocals) — for celebrating the release of your shimmering new album 'Come and Get Me' and for reliving a standout release show at the Four Star Theater in San Francisco. What a performance!I appreciate that our conversation covers quite a bit of territory, including the way your band writes and arranges songs, the challenges of putting together an album,  and the analysis of specific songs from the new album. Our chit-chat also highlights the band's creative camaraderie and sharp attention to detail from album artwork to concert performances. I'm impressed with what you've have accomplished thus far. Your future is wonderfully bright. Way to keep the Bay Area indie spirit alive and kicking. Follow Ryli: https://dandyboyrecords.bandcamp.com/album/come-and-get-meFollow Dandy Boy Records: https://dandyboyrecords.bandcamp.com/
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