Welcome to the Sound and Music Podcast — a place where extraordinary new music and ideas are brought to life by the people who make it. Each episode is hosted by Susanna Eastburn MBE alongside an invited guest host, and features interviews and music by three composers from diverse backgrounds and genres, introducing audiences to new ways of understanding new music and the processes behind it.   

Featured composers include @shabakahutchings, @errollyn-wallen, Lei Liang, @reetaloi, @IndiaJordan, @rocky-dawuni, @cassandra-miller-composer, and Amble Skuse, with co-hosts @des-oliver, Fiona Robertson, Will Eaves and @ruari-paterson-achenbach

Listen here, or follow and listen to this podcast on Spotify, Apple Music, Google Podcasts, or your favourite podcast platform.

Sound and Music Podcast

Composers @NeilLuck,  @IndiaJordan and @DavidAustinGrey share their music and words on the place of distractions in the process of making music. Are distractions bad or are they necessary? 

We listen to the sounds of a dream, hear the power of music to heal, and dive into what it means to create music during lockdown. Join our CEO Susanna Eastburn MBE and writer Will Eaves for a unique insight into composing. 

Our recommendation at the end is for @IndiaJordan's newest release Watch Out! by @ninja-tune 



In this episode, you listened to the following music and sounds: 

NEIL LUCK
-Phantasy (2020), by @chihiroono and Neil Luck 
-Severed Heads (2021) from the album Downturn Fantasies released by @entracte music

INDIA JORDAN
-"Dear Nan King" and "Emotional Melodical" (2020) from the album "For You" released by @localactionrecords
-"And Groove" and "Feierabend" (2021) from the album Watch Out! released by @Ninja-Tune in May 2021 

 DAVID AUSTIN GREY
-Over Seas and Out of Reach (2020), a commission by @stoneylanerecords, performed by David Austin Grey (piano, electronics), @mike-fletcher-music (clarinet, flute) and @davidduffymusic (double bass, electric bass)  
-A Dark Place to Nest (2019), a work developed at @snapemaltings

This podcast was produced by Michael Umney (@umneym @resonance-fm) and mixed by @ChrisBartholomew, with the theme tune composed by @rob-bentall. 

Our heartfelt thanks to the record labels, performers, composers and organisations who allowed us to include excerpts of these recordings on the podcast.

Distractions (Neil Luck, India Jordan, David Austin Grey) | Ep.7

Composers Reeta Loi, Michael Wolters and Maya-Leigh Rosenwasser share their music and thoughts exploring queerness in music. What does it mean to be a queer composer today, and is there such a thing as queer music?  

From the playful to the divine, we listen to a drag character lost in space, gender-bending tracks, and work that plays with failure as a creative starting point. Join our CEO Susanna Eastburn MBE and composer/researcher Ruari Paterson-Achenbach for a unique insight into composing. 

Our recommendation at the end is for the creative collective the mermaid café (Joanna Ward and Ruari Paterson-Achenbach) 

In this episode, you listened to the following music and sounds: 

Reeta Loi 
Unki Yaad (2018), from Ek EP 
Founder (unreleased) by Reeta Loi 
Taken (unreleased), by Reeta Loi and James Perera – to be released in Autumn 2021 
 
Michael Wolters 
‘Aria Cuntata and the Black Holes (2020), conceived by Michael Wolters and performed by Michael Wolters and Paul Norman 
Queer Concerto for Nine Saxophones (2020), performed by Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Symphony Orchestra and Saxophone Department, conducted by Barry Wordsworth 
 
Maya-Leigh Rosenwasser 
Bibliography and smash bros (2020), by flxnflx, a lockdown collaboration between Maya-Leigh and James McIlwrath 
Attack (2018), by Equinox, which is Maya-Leigh Rosenwasser, Taner Kemirtlek and George Kypridemos 

This podcast was produced by Michael Umney (Resonance FM) and mixed by Chris Bartholomew, with the theme tune composed by Rob Bentall.  

Our heartfelt thanks to the record labels, performers, composers and organisations who allowed us to include excerpts of these recordings on the podcast.

Queerness (Reeta Loi, Michael Wolters, Maya-Leigh Rosenwasser) | Ep.8

Composers Daniel Kidane, Clarice Assad, Lei Liang and Evelien van den Broek share their music and thoughts exploring the climate emergency in music. What does it mean to be a composer in times of a climate crisis? How does our awareness of the crisis enter our work, and how do we find meaning in our work in these times? 

From exploring cultural belonging and understanding our place on this planet through myth to the imperative of artists to be good storytellers, we listen to field recordings of extinct species and vanishing rainforests and music that reflects and inspires. Join our CEO Susanna Eastburn MBE and composer Des Oliver for a unique insight into composing.

Climate: Emergency (Daniel Kidane, Clarice Assad, Lei Liang, Evelien van den Broek) | Ep.9

Composers Hanna Tuulikki, Colin Riley and Dai Fujikura share their music and thoughts exploring the importance of place in music. How does the more-than-human manifest itself in the composers’ music, and what does it mean to be composing music in times of the climate crisis? 

From imitating birds to Japanese onomatopoeia, we listen to a song written for a stream in the Cairngorms, music that imitates the freedom and order of birds flying, and how can one make sense of climate grief through sound and movement. Join our CEO Susanna Eastburn MBE and festival director Fiona Robertson (Sound Scotland) for a unique insight into composing. 

Our recommendation at the end is for In Place, a collection of songs by Colin Riley which you can explore fully at https://InPlaceProject.co.uk 

In this episode, you listened to the following music and sounds: 

Hanna Tuulikki 
cloud-cuckoo-island (2016), a solo camera performance by Hanna Tuulikki 
Metsänpeiton Alla (Under Forest Cover) (2021), an installation presented at the Helsinki Biennial 2021 exploring climate grief 
Deer Dancer (2019), part of an installation presented at Edinburgh Art Festival 2019, the audio is now available on Bandcamp 
 
Colin Riley 
Litanies for the Furness Fells (2018), featuring words by Richard Skelton and Autumn Richardson; part of In Place, released by Squeaky Kate Music  
Water over Stone (2018), featuring words by Nan Shepherd; part of In Place released by Squeaky Kate Music  
Earth Voices: I. Luften (2021), commissioned by and premiered by Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra at Helsingborg Konserthus, Sweden.  
Performed by the Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Alfonso Scarano 
 
Dai Fujikura 
Secret Forest (2008), performed by Okeanos Ensemble and released on NMC recordings 
Gliding Wings (2019), performed by Ensemble Nomad with Makoto Yoshida, Hideo Kikuchi (clarinets) and conducted by Norio Sato; released on Minabel records 

This podcast was produced by Michael Umney (Resonance FM) and mixed by Chris Bartholomew, with the theme tune composed by Rob Bentall.  

Our heartfelt thanks to the record labels, performers, composers and organisations who allowed us to include excerpts of these recordings on the podcast.

Climate: Place (Hanna Tuulikki, Colin Riley, Dai Fujikura)| Ep.10

Blythe Pepino (@blythehart), Rocky Dawuni (@rocky-dawuni) and Emily Hall talk about the power of music in climate activism. How can music inspire us, help us connect, and how do composers take action in their music? 

From protest songs to upbeat afroroots music inspiring hope and action, listen to the origins of Extinction Rebellion’s “Emergency” anthem, visions of a future Zion, and how music can help make sense of climate anxiety. 

Join our CEO Susanna Eastburn MBE and composer Anthony R. Green (@piargno) for a unique insight into composing – and if you like this episode, check out Ep.4: Portals which features Anthony R. Green and his fantastic music: https://soundcloud.com/soundandmusic/ep4-portals-anthony-r-green-nathan-riki-thomson-amble-skuse

In this episode, you listen to the following music and sounds:

Blythe Pepino 
— "Emergency" (2018), written for Extinction Rebellion (@blythehart)
— "Crisis for Women" (2020), written for a protest organised by Extinction Rebellion on International Women’s Day 2020
— "Now Is The Time" by @mesadorm, inspired by Naomi Klein’s book On Fire

Rocky Dawuni 
— "Modern Man" and "Beats of Zion" (2019), from the album Beats of Zion by Rocky Dawuni (@sixdegreesrecords)

Emily Hall 
— "Feed" (unreleased), written/produced by Emily Hall, sung by Jodie Landau (@jodie-landau)
— "So Far" (2019), performed by Lady Maisery (@lady-maisery) on their album Cycle. Originally part of Rest, a secular requiem by Emily Hall 

Our heartfelt thanks to the record labels, performers, composers and organisations who allowed us to include excerpts of these recordings on the podcast.

This podcast was produced by Michael Umney (@umneym @resonance-fm) and mixed by @ChrisBartholomew, with the theme tune composed by @rob-bentall. Our recommendation at the end is an invitation to join Music Declares Emergency (@user-300062034) and Earth Percent, and inspire your colleagues, employers, and collaborators to take one further step in this journey of addressing the largest challenge our species have ever faced.

Climate: Activism (Blythe Pepino, Rocky Dawuni, Emily Hall) | Ep.11

Composers Jem Finer (@jemfiner), Elaine Mitchener (@elaine_mitchener) and Chaya Czernowin (@chaya-czernowin) share their music and thoughts exploring the theme of Time. 

We listen to a piece of music lasting 1,000 years, explore the politics of history and time past, and get a flavour for what non-linear music sounds like. 

Join our CEO Susanna Eastburn and composer Des Oliver (@des_oilver) for a unique insight into composing. 

This podcast was produced by Michael Umney (@umneym @resonance-fm) and mixed by @chrisbartholomew with our theme tune composed by @rob-bentall. 

Our recommendation at the end is for Excuse the Mess Podcast (@etmpodcast). 

Jem Finer
• Longplayer (1999), with the support and collaboration of @artangel-2

Elaine Mitchener

• the then + the now = now time (2019), commissioned by MaerzMusik – Festival für Zeitfragen @berliner-festspiele
• Sweet Tooth (2017), performed by Elaine Mitchener, @sylviahallett, Mark Sanders, Jason@jasonyarde
• The Rolling Calf – a black power trio featuring vocalist Elaine Mitchener, saxophonist Jason Yarde and bassist Neil Charles

Chaya Czernowin

• Hidden (2014), performed by The Jack Quartet (@user-569763326) with electronics by @carlolaurenzi and Jérémie Henrot, released by Schott Music (@schott-london) and Wergo Records
• Infinite Now (2017), performed by Opera Vlaanderen, courtesy of IRCAM (@ircam-2)

Our heartfelt thanks to the record labels, performers, composers and organisations who allowed us to include excerpts of these recordings on the podcast.

Time (Jem Finer, Elaine Mitchener, Chaya Czernowin) | Ep.1

Composers Richard Rijnvos (@richardrijnvos), Cassandra Miller (@cassandra-miller-composer), and Supriya Nagarajan (@manasamitraofficial) share their music and thoughts exploring the theme of Inspiration.

From gardening, cheesecakes and lullabies, to listening to our own bodies as a source of inspiration, join our CEO Susanna Eastburn and composer Des Oliver (@des_oilver) for a unique insight into composing. Our recommendation at the end is for record label another timbre (@anothertimbre). 

In this episode you listen to the following music and sounds:

Richard Rijnvos
- fuoco e fumo (2013), performed by the @royal-concertgebouw-orchestra and released on their own label
- Riflesso sullo spazio (2019), performed by the @ivesensemble, courtesy of Richard Thomas Foundation Recordings and Wyastone Estate

Cassandra Miller
- Tracery: Lazy, Rocking (2017)by Cassandra Miller, performed by @julietfraser courtesy of @allthatdust records
- Duet for Cello and Orchestra (2015), performed by Charles Curtis (cello) and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Ilan Volkov; released by @anothertimbre records

Supriya Nagarajan
- Lullaby — Sonic Cradle (2018/19), recorded in the Hepworth Gallery in Yorkshire and Oslo Central Station


Our heartfelt thanks to the record labels, performers, composers and organisations who allowed us to include excerpts of these recordings on the podcast.

This podcast was produced by Michael Umney (@umneym @resonance-fm) and mixed by @chrisbartholomew with our theme tune composed by @rob-bentall.

Inspiration (Richard Rijnvos, Cassandra Miller, Supriya Nagarajan) | Ep.2

Composers Gerald Barry, Matthew Shlomowitz, and Joanna Ward (@joannamward) share their music and thoughts exploring the theme of Taste.

From writing a piece intentionally ‘in bad taste’, to cultural appropriation, from the memory of and ethics of taste; join our CEO Susanna Eastburn MBE and composer Des Oliver (@des_oliver) for a unique insight into composing.

This podcast was produced by Michael Umney (@umneym @resonance-fm) and mixed by @chrisbartholomew with our theme tune composed by @rob-bentall.

In this episode, you listen to the following music and sounds:

Gerald Barry

• String Quartet No.1 (1994), performed by members of @xeniaensemble
• Viola Concerto (2018/19), performed by @britten-sinfonia with viola player Lawrence Power conducted by @thomas-ades. This recording is courtesy of Britten Sinfonia

Matthew Shlomowitz

• A Lecture On Bad Music (2015), performed by Matthew Shlomowitz and Plus-Minus ensemble, courtesy of Kammer Klang

Joanna Ward

• baby wontcha come on home (2019), performed by @ensemblerecherche(based on Joan Armatrading’s Woncha Come On Home, 1977)
• Gradient (2019), performed by Illuminate String Quartet and soprano @patricia-auchterlonie


Our heartfelt thanks to the record labels, performers, composers and organisations who allowed us to include excerpts of these recordings on the podcast.

Taste (Gerald Barry, Matthew Shlomowitz, Joanna Ward) | Ep.3

Composers Anthony R. Green (@piargno), Nathan Riki Thomson (@nathanrikithomson) and Amble Skuse (@ambleskram-1) share their music and thoughts on what music might mean beyond just sounds, and how we connect to each other and the world around us through the act of making music.

We listen to the sounds of an augmented double bass, hear the inner workings of a digital opera, and dive into a social justice piano concerto. Join our CEO Susanna Eastburn and composer Des Oliver (@des_oilver) for a unique insight into composing. 

This podcast was produced by Michael Umney (@umneym @resonance-fm) and mixed by @chrisbartholomew with our theme tune composed by @rob-bentall.

In this episode, you listen to the following music and sounds:
 

Anthony R. Green

• Collide-oscope V (2019) for mixed quintet, performed by Sound of Late.
• Piano Concerto: Solution (2019) for piano and percussion orchestra, commissioned by Robert McCormick for the McCormick Percussion Group (@parmarecordings)and soloist Eunmi Ko (piano) @eunmi-ko-1
• Collide-oscope II (2016) for string trio, performed by Desdemona.

Nathan Riki Thompson

• Seeds (2019), for solo augmented bass and electronics from the album Resonance, released by Siba Records / NAXOS.
• Ode to Nana (2019), duo with Nathan Riki Thomson and percussionist @adriano-adewale, from the same album.

Amble Skuse

• We Ask These Questions of Everybody (2019), a digital opera by Amble Skuse and Toria Banks performed by an all-disabled ensemble; commissioned by Sound Festival (@soundscotland) and supported by @help-musicians-uk, Mahogany Opera Group (@user-771585416), Ignite Ticket Fund and @creative-scotland.
• Normalised Interfacing Karlsruhe (2017), a soundwalk of Karlsruhe commissioned by Zentrum für Kunst und Medien, Karlsruhe (ZKM)


Our heartfelt thanks to the record labels, performers, composers and organisations who allowed us to include excerpts of these recordings on the podcast.

Portals (Anthony R. Green, Nathan Riki Thomson, Amble Skuse) | Ep.4

Composers Shabaka Hutchings (@shabakahutchings), Alwynne Pritchard (@alwynne-pritchard) and Oliver Leith (@oliver-christophe-leith) share their music and thoughts exploring the nature of the human relationships which shape the music they make.  

We listen to compositions rooted in friendship, explore attempts to decolonialise music, and intimate performances recorded in a toilet during lockdown. Join our CEO Susanna Eastburn MBE and composer @Des-Oliver for a unique insight into composing. 

This podcast was produced by Michael Umney (@umneym @resonance-fm) and mixed by @ChrisBartholomew, with the theme tune composed by @rob-bentall. Our recommendation at the end is for Alwynne Pritchard’s #RecordedDelivery project. 

In this episode, you are listening to the following music and sounds: 

Shabaka Hutchings 
- Circadian Clocks (2015), performed by @CaraStacey and Shabaka Hutchings from Things that Grow by Cara Stacey, released by @kitrecords
- Beasts Too Spoke of Suffering (2020), by @shabakaandtheancestors, from We Are Sent Here by History released by impulse! Records  

Alwynne Pritchard 

- Stamp Club Report 1980 (2018), commissioned by Kammerkoret GNEIS and performed by vocalists Signe Bjorvatn, Lisa Braathen, Alexander Fiske Fosse, Jung-Jae Kim, Jone Kuven, Bendik Savstad, Tanja Silvestrini, Joar Simarud Stabell, Ørjan Hammar Vollvik and Emilie Wright. Recorded at The Grieg Academy (Bergen) by Cem Arapkirlioglu, mixed by Alwynne Pritchard 
- Recorded Delivery (2020), a lockdown project inviting people to send fragments, to which Alwynne responded with a video postcard. We heard extracts from Recorded Delivery No.3 (Peter de Moncey-Conegliano) and No.6 (Bernd Bleffert)
- Heart of Glass (2019), performed by @zubin-kanga at the London Contemporary Music Festival (2019), recorded and edited by @reuben-barnaby-penny

Oliver Leith 

- Honey Siren (2020), recorded by @12_ensemble in the album Death and the Maiden, released by @piasrecordings / @sanchopanzasound recordings
- good day good day bad day bad day (2018), written for and recorded by GBSR duo, released by @anothertimbre

Our heartfelt thanks to the record labels, performers, composers and organisations who allowed us to include excerpts of these recordings on the podcast.

Invitations (Shabaka Hutchings, Alwynne Pritchard, Oliver Leith) | Ep.5

Composers @Errollyn-Wallen, Richard Ayres, and Hannah Catherine Jones join Susanna Eastburn MBE and Des Oliver to share their music and thoughts exploring the gift of making music with and for other people.  

We listen to music written for billions of listeners and music written for a community orchestra, the gift it is to write music and the gift it is to rehearse it. Join our CEO Susanna Eastburn MBE and composer @Des-Oliver for a unique insight into composing.

This podcast was produced by Michael Umney (@umneym @resonance-fm) and mixed by @ChrisBartholomew, with the theme tune composed by @rob-bentall. Our recommendation at the end is for Hannah Catherine Jones’ PhD research which is published by NTS Radio (@nts-latest) - tune in to Part 1 and Part 2 on the NTS website for an exploration of decolonisation through sound. 

In this episode, you are listening to the following music and sounds: 

Richard Ayres (@schott-london)
  - No.42 (In The Alps), performed and released Nederlands Blazers Ensemble in 2010 and released on their own label. 
  - No. 50 (The Garden), performed by ASKO | Schönberg (@asko-sch) with Joshua Bloom (bass) and @MarthaColburn (video artist); broadcast on NTR / NPO 4 (2018) 
  
   
Errollyn Wallen 
  - Spirit in Motion (2012), commissioned for the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games, performed by Denise Leigh and the @London-Symphony-Orchestra
  - Cello Concerto (2008), performed by Matthew Sharp (@mattdjsharp) and Ensemble X, from the album Photography by @NMCrecordings
     

Rose Dagul (@rrrhosyn)
  - Part 2: The All Around from "Ode To The Old Kent Hellraisers" (2014), performed by Peckham Chamber Orchestra. 
 

Hannah Catherine Jones
  - Owed to Diaspora(s) (2019), displayed as an audio-visual installation at Sydney Biennale 2020 (@user-22994623) and available on @TheWireMagazine.

 
Our heartfelt thanks to the record labels, performers, composers and organisations who allowed us to include excerpts of these recordings on the podcast.

Offerings (Errollyn Wallen, Richard Ayres, Hannah Catherine Jones) | Ep.6

Sound and Music is the UK’s national organisation for #NewMusic. Our mission is to maximise the opportunities for people to create and enjoy new music.