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May 22, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

Sweetman Podcast # 169: Jon Toogood

Welcome to episode 169 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 one is a conversation with Jon Toogood. I recorded this in Melbourne last month – after trying to coordinate schedules a couple of times to record a chat over the last couple of years. Finally. We did it. Earlier this year Jon and I met for brunch in Auckland and ran out of time to record – but had a good chat. Mostly about David Bowie. It was good to get to know Jon a little better ahead of recording the podcast.  Read More »

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May 15, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

Sweetman Podcast # 168: Roy Dunningham

Welcome to episode 168 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 is a conversation with Roy Dunningham – he was my high school art teacher. Now, I was terrible at art. But I know Roy’s four top students. So I wanted to talk to him. The seeds for this podcast were sewn late last year when I talked to Freeman White (one of Roy’s top four). I had, in one of the earliest podcasts, talked with my good friend Matthew Couper (another of Roy’s top four. I’ve yet to talk to Regan Gentry for the podcast but he’s also a friend from school – and whilst Roy’s other top student is older than me and didn’t go through high school at the same time as me he is known to many of us – Phil Judd. I’m writing a book about Phil and he’s been a podcast guest also. And Roy’s name has come up a lot in my life.  Read More »

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May 9, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

Sweetman Podcast # 167: Marnie Karmelita previews The Wellington Jazz Festival 

Welcome to episode 167 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.

Here’s a conversation with Marnie Karmelita – she’s the head of programming at the NZ Festival and Wellington Jazz Festival – regular listeners will remember that a couple of years ago I talked with the then-boss-of-things Shelagh Magadza. Shelagh and Marnie worked together in both Perth and Wellington – so it seemed natureal to hear from Marnie now in the top role.  Read More »

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May 2, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 166 – Rob Mayes (Failsafe Records)

Welcome to episode 166 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.

I had a chat with Rob Mayes. He runs a label called Failsafe Records. He’s a musician, archivist, sound recorder, audio engineer, producer…he recorded many of New Zealand’s greatest bands and has a personal archive of important recordings. He releases CD compilations and artist-albums via his Failsafe label. He’s also a musician in his own right, with a history of playing in bands – including the reformations of The Children’s Hour and Beat Rhythm Fashion. Read More »

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April 25, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 165 – Graeme Jefferies (The CakeKitchen)

Welcome to episode 165 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.

Here’s a conversation I had with Graeme Jefferies – he’s a musician behind the band The CakeKitchen. He’s also been part of a few bands with his brother Peter Jefferies including Nocturnal Projections and This Kind of Punishment.  Read More »

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April 18, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 164 – Heather O’Carroll

Welcome to episode 164 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 was recorded just last week. We rushed this one through – and I’m glad it got to happen – a chat with actor Heather O’Carroll.  Read More »

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April 11, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 163 – Yadana Saw

Welcome to episode 163 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.

Here’s a chat with Yadana Saw – she is the host of RNZ’s Music 101. We talked through her obsession with music – a life of fandom that has moved from interest in student radio and activism to hosting RNZ’s flagship music show.  Read More »

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April 3, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 162 – Paul Crowther

Welcome to episode 162 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.

I recorded this conversation back in January in Auckland. It’s me talking with Paul Crowther– drummer for Split Enz in the mid-70s, he played on the masterpiece, Mental Notes.  Read More »

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March 28, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 161 – Graham Reid

Welcome to episode 161 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.

Here’s a conversation I recorded back at the end of January – I was in Auckland for a couple of weeks and I banked a few podcast episodes, including this, my chat with Graham Reid. He’s a freelance writer – covering music, travel, politics and arts.  Read More »

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March 21, 2019 by Simon Sweetman

Sweetman Podcast: Episode 160 – Hadassah Grace

Welcome to episode 160 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.

I had a conversation this week with Hadassah Grace – she’s a performance poet, writer, former sex-worker, survivor of many things – including the Christchurch earthquakes. She also grew up the daughter of “minor Christian celebrities”.   Read More »

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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.

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 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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