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March 14, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 159 – Alejandro Escovedo

Welcome to episode 159 of Sweetman Podcast with support from our sponsors – T Leaf T, Yeastie Boys and La Petite Chocolat.

This one’s a little different – it’s not a face-to-face conversation, as is the usual. Here is a phoner I recorded with the great Alejandro Escovedo ahead of his first ever NZ shows (this coming weekend).

We recorded this in early February and I wrote it up – so you can click there to read a feature-article styled interview. Or if you’ve already read that this is the same conversation as reported there but here you’ll hear it in the order of discussion; some of the quotes and comments were moved around in the written piece to create a narrative.

I’ve loved Alejandro’s music for the better part of 20 years and can thorougly recommend his latest album – The Crossing. So if you’re new to him as a result of this conversation there’s plenty to check out besides just that album. You’ll hear mention of a few songs and albums during this chat.

It was a great thrill to have – and record – this conversation. I loved it. And I hope you do too.

Here now is episode 159 of Sweetman Podcast, my conversation with Alejandro Escovedo

And click here to check out the written version of this interview.
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March 7, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 158 – Caroline Easther

Welcome to episode 158 of Sweetman Podcast with support from our sponsors – T Leaf T, Yeastie Boys and La Petite Chocolat.

Now – as you probably know, as well as the usual platforms (this site, soundcloud, iTunes/Apple) you can now get to Sweetman Podcast on Spotify – follow it there and have it saved in your Spotify library.

This week I have a chat with Caroline Easther – she has a new solo album out – Lucky – but when she’s not standing up the front singing her own songs she’s at the back, driving the band, a drummer for Barry Saunders, Hobnail Boots, Beat Rhythm Fashion, The Chills, Spines, Verlaines – Caroline is a legend. And she has been part of the legend of New Zealand music. She’s played with so many great musicians, so many musicians have been lucky to have her in the band. Read More »

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February 28, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 157 – David Cohen

Welcome to episode 157 of Sweetman Podcast with support from our sponsors – T Leaf T, Yeastie Boys and La Petite Chocolat.

Here I not only had a chat with Wellington-based, internationally-published author and journalist David Cohen. It was my first time even meeting him! Read More »

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February 21, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 156 – Mike Weston

Welcome to episode 156 of Sweetman Podcast with support from our sponsors – T Leaf T, Yeastie Boys and La Petite Chocolat.

Here I had a chat with Mike Weston – it might almost be easier to say what Mike isn’t rather than what he is, given he is or has been a musician, DJ, artist, manager, multi-disciplinary artist and many more besides… Read More »

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February 14, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 155 – Brendon Pongia

Welcome to episode 155 of Sweetman Podcast with support from our sponsors – T Leaf T, Yeastie Boys and La Petite Chocolat.

Brendon Pongia is a former TV host and basketballer. We first met in the mid-2000s because I was a regular music-reviewer on the show Good Morning. Brendon was one of the co-hosts (and you may remember that last year I spoke with Sarah Bradley for the show – there’s the link there if you missed it first time around). Read More »

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February 5, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 154 – Peter Wells

Welcome to episode 154 of Sweetman Podcast with support from our sponsors – T Leaf T, Yeastie Boys and La Petite Chocolat.

Here I have a conversation with Peter Wells. Read More »

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January 31, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 153 – Kiran Dass

Welcome to episode 153 of Sweetman Podcast with support from our sponsors – T Leaf T, Yeastie Boys and La Petite Chocolat.

I had a chat with Kiran Dass – she is a freelance journalist, reviewer and interviewer. She is a longtime retailer, currently the book buyer at Time Out Bookstore in Auckland – and she’s one of the co-hosts of the Papercuts podcast for The Spinoff. She has written for the British music mag, The Wire as well as for the NZ Herald, The Dominion Post, The Listener, The Spinoff, Sunday Star Time, Metro, Sunday Magazine and Landfall. She has presented reviews and features on RNZ and bFM and regularly chats with Mikey Havoc to present Loose Reads as well as being a regular reviewer on Kathryn Ryan’s Nine to Noon on RNZ. Kiran also interviews musician and produces segments for RNZ’s Music 101. She’s been known to take some records out to bars and spin them to provide the soundtrack for an evening. Read More »

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January 24, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 152 – Martin Phillipps

Welcome to episode 152 of Sweetman Podcast with support from our sponsors – T Leaf T, Yeastie Boys and La Petite Chocolat.

This one was a long time coming – a chat with Martin Phillipps, of The Chills. I say a long time because Martin and I have been chatting online, talking about planning a podcast for a couple of years. It wasn’t right to talk to him when he was up on his last solo show – as the opening act for Aldous Harding, but it was right when he returned in late 2018 with The Chills.

In so many ways, Martin is The Chills.

And I grew up with his music. Like many of us. I also interviewed him for my book On Song – we talked then about Pink Frost which we also reference in this discussion. But here we got to many other things, the changeable line-ups, the feel and flow of The Chills, Martin’s focus and formation as a songwriter and perfomer. We talk too of some of his influences and artists he’s been lucky to have seen as part of the band, or as a music fan traveling – from Lou Reed and John Cale to Randy Newman, Phillipps has seen and met many of his heroes, sometimes by virtue of being the opening act.

We recorded this conversation in the board room of a hotel ahead of his Wellington show as part of a tour by The Chills. I was thrilled that Martin made the time for me – and I hope you enjoy hearing this.
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January 17, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

Sweetman Podcast # 151: Marc Taddei

Welcome to episode 151 of Sweetman Podcast with support from our sponsors – T Leaf T, Yeastie Boys and La Petite Chocolat.

Now – as you probably know, as well as the usual platforms (this site, soundcloud, iTunes/Apple) you can now get to Sweetman Podcast on Spotify – follow it there and have it saved in your Spotify library to access each new episode; or via Anchor/FM you can get the podcast on Stitcher and other key platforms. So thanks for checking it out. Read More »

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January 10, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

Sweetman Podcast # 150: Delia Shanly

Welcome to episode 150 of Sweetman Podcast with support from our sponsors – T Leaf T, Yeastie Boys and La Petite Chocolat.

Did I think I’d make it to 150 when I started this podcast? I had no number in mind. So we continue…

Thanks for listening if and when you do.

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January 4, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

Sweetman Podcast # 149: Simon and Nick at the Hawke’s Bay Arts Festival

Welcome to episode 149 of Sweetman Podcast with support from our sponsors – T Leaf T, Yeastie Boys and La Petite Chocolat.

Here’s something different. Last year I was invited along to speak with Nick Bollinger at the Hawke’s Bay Arts Festival. It was a lot of fun. Part of a magic weekend in fact. And with the permission of Nick and our chairperson for the event Jamie Macphail, I recorded the chat to serve up here as an episode of the podcast.

Nick is a previous guest of the podcast – so if you missed that conversation click that link.

For this live Q&A we were in conversation on the subject of music journalism and the NZ music industry. The live event took place at the Cabana in Napier, a historic live music venue. (Click here to hear an earlier podcast episode where I speak with the Cabana’s owner Roy Brown).

This was recorded as it happened – no amplification. It was an intimate setting. You will hear the hum of the beer-fridge and such. You might not get to hear the audience-questions in the final few moments but they are paraphrased by Jamie.

Louise Ward of Wardini Books can be heard at the top of the show introducing Jamie, Nick and me.

I hope you enjoy this – something different for the podcast. A chance to hear some of the behind-the-scenes stories and the mindset and approach of two very different music reviewers.
Here now is episode 149 of Sweetman Podcast – a live recording of me and Nick Bollinger discussing music writing at the Hawke’s Bay Arts Festival.
You can support Off The Tracks via PressPatron

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December 28, 2018 by Simon Sweetman

Sweetman Podcast # 148: Joan Baez

Welcome to episode 148 of Sweetman Podcast with support from our sponsors – T Leaf T, Yeastie Boys and La Petite Chocolat.

Here’s something a little different for the podcast. A conversation with legendary singer, songwriter, protester, activist and icon Joan Baez.

Now, although this is the first-time broadcasting this – it is not a brand new conversation. It was recorded in 2015. I had seen a Joan Baez concert and the promoter reached out for me to interview her following that review. So ahead of seeing the show again I had this chance to talk to Baez. Read More »