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Headliner

This is a music podcast which explores the creative process. We chat to artists of all levels, from aspiring and emerging talent to international stars, to find more about how they make their music. Check us out on Insta @emergingheadliner, FB and Twitter @headlinerhub and hashtag #headlinerradio

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28 episodes
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English

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#468
Tuesday · 49 min
E468: Nothing But Thieves: The making of Stray Dogs
Nothing But Thieves guitarist and producer Dom Craik takes us inside the making of the band’s new album, Stray Dogs – their rawest and most organic record yet. As the album’s sole producer, Craik discusses capturing the band’s live energy in the studio, how he records Conor’s dynamic vocals, returning to Angelic Studios where it all began for them, working with drums, vocals and analogue gear, taking full creative control for the first time, and what fans can expect from the new album
#2
September 21 · 30 min
E2: Lily C-D: From Manchester to Amnesia Ibiza
Manchester-based tech house DJ, Lily C-D discusses the journey that has led her to carve out her own lane, from spending hours digging for tracks people haven’t heard to developing a distinctly niche taste. She reflects on the importance of finding your own path rather than simply following what’s big, the role TikTok can play in helping emerging DJs build an audience, the gear that has shaped her DJing, her biggest career moments, and where she wants to take things next.
#216
September 15 · 48 min
Headliner USA 216: Carlos de la Garza: Producing Jjerome87’s The Canyon
Once a member of the ska band Reel Big Fish, two-time Grammy winner Carlos de la Garza pivoted into his true calling of engineering and mixing albums, racking up credits with the likes of Death Cab for Cutie, Jimmy Eat World, Wolf Alice, as well as his multiple award-winning collaborations with Paramore and Hayley Williams. He chats to Headliner about working with alt-J frontman Joe Newman and his new solo venture Jjerome87 on the debut album The Canyon.
September 15 · 33 min
E467: Ayanna Witter-Johnson: The route to New Roots
Acclaimed singer-songwriter, cellist, composer and MOBO-nominee Ayanna Witter-Johnson discusses her new album, New Roots, an intimate exploration of British-Caribbean identity, lineage, self-discovery and renewal. She reflects on the central role of the cello in her songwriting, the inspiration behind key tracks from the album, navigating the music industry as a multi-disciplinary artist, and what she hopes listeners take from New Roots.
#1
September 8 · 29 min
E1: Sonata Collective | Inside their deep house journey
Four years after joining forces, Kristian Smith and Curt Lopez have quietly positioned Sonata Collective as one of the UK's most exciting names in deep house. The duo discuss the momentum behind Sonata Collective, why consistency matters just as much as talent, what "making it" as a DJ really means, their must-have DJ gear, and why their biggest chapter is still to come.
#215
August 25 · 29 min
Headliner USA 215: Andrew DeRoberts: Producing Alexandra Kay’s Second Wind
Producer Andrew DeRoberts, the creative force behind rising country star Alexandra Kay’s second album, Second Wind, discusses the making of the record and the collaboration that shaped its sound. Bringing a fresh, modern edge to Kay’s country style, DeRoberts helped craft an album that has made a strong impact on the charts, with lead single Straight For The Heart achieving one of the biggest first-week country radio debuts by a solo female artist. He discusses how he balanced country authenticity with pop influences, the studio techniques that helped define Second Wind, and what it takes to create a record that connects with both audiences and radio.
#465
August 17 · 55 min
E465: Mystery Jets: Making A Hole To See The Sky Through
Blaine Harrison, lead singer of UK indie rock band Mystery Jets, discusses the making of the band’s seventh studio album, A Hole To See The Sky Through. Named after Yoko Ono’s minimalist art piece of the same name, the album features the original artwork on its cover, following special permission from Ono herself. Harrison explains why Ono’s work made such a lasting impression on him, and reflects on how Mystery Jets’ songwriting has evolved over the years. He also looks back at the band’s approach to touring, and how life on the road has changed since they first started out more than 20 years ago.
#466
August 17 · 37 min
E466: Mica Millar: The story behind A Little Bit of Me
Manchester soul artist Mica Millar discusses the making of her new album, A Little Bit of Me – a self-written, self-produced statement recorded at the iconic Miraval Studios in the South of France, the residential studio owned by Brad Pitt. As she enters the next chapter of her career, including a major UK and European tour, Millar reflects on finding her voice, recording at Brad Pitt’s studio, the art of producing her own vocals, and the challenges of making the difficult second album.
#31
July 30 · 38 min
In The Box E31: Jason Graves: Scoring Directive 8020
Two-time BAFTA Award-winning composer Jason Graves, whose work spans the hit games Dead Space, Tomb Raider, Until Dawn, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, and Still Wakes The Deep, delves into his score for Supermassive Games' latest cinematic survival horror adventure, Directive 8020. He explores his thinking behind the deceptively simple three-note motif at the heart of the soundtrack, crafting unsettling musical textures, and shares how Cubase helped bring the game's evolving sonic world to life.
#214
July 30 · 36 min
Headliner USA 214: Dave Hetrick: The future of Royer Labs and Undertone Audio
Former drummer, songwriter, studio owner and self-described “cynical recording engineer,” Dave Hetrick has built his career trying to bridge the gap between engineering obsession and commercial reality, along the way helping brands such as Event Electronics, KRK and ADAM Audio grow, evolve and ultimately reach successful exits. Now, as president and chief revenue officer of Royer Labs and Undertone Audio, he is applying those lessons to two of the most respected names in high-end recording. In this candid conversation with Headliner, Hetrick reflects on the hard lessons learned from his time at KRK, why some boutique companies succeed while others fail, how to earn trust from sceptical engineers, his upmarket product plans for Royer Labs and Undertone Audio, his goal to “un-pigeonhole” Royer Labs, and he reveals his next brand acquisition plans.
#464
July 20 · 41 min
E464: Jjerome87: The alt-J frontman on making ‘The Canyon’
alt-J frontman Joe Newman opens up about making his debut Jjerome87 album, The Canyon, experiencing ego death, California inspiration, cinematic Americana, and sampling a double Dutch team.
July 20 · 31 min
Emerging Headliner E53: ALANI: Somewhere Between Saying It
Rising singer-songwriter ALANI delves into the making of her debut EP, Somewhere Between Saying It. The London-born singer-songwriter, whose French, Lebanese, and Brazilian roots inform her perspective, discusses overcoming writer’s block, what she learned by appearing on The Voice Kids UK, moving to New York to study at NYU’s Gallatin School, and why the new EP unfolds like a diary.
#213
July 7 · 27 min
Headliner USA 213: Alexandra Kay: From viral videos to the country charts
US country music rising star Alexandra Kay joins Headliner while in the UK for her performance at BST Hyde Park. She discusses turning viral social media success into a loyal global fanbase, the momentum behind her album Second Wind, life on the road, and her rapid rise in country music.
#463
July 7 · 40 min
E463: Jon Onabowu: Making Now’s The Time
Nigerian-British virtuoso jazz drummer and bandleader Jon Onabowu has become a key figure in the London jazz scene, and 2026 is the year he steps out and releases his debut album, Now’s The Time. He discusses blending modern UK jazz with funk, hip-hop, gospel, being the founder of the Cosmic Fusion residency at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London, and helping to shape a new generation of live-focused, groove-led jazz in the city.
#462
June 22 · 34 min
E462: Jordan Fish: Producing Evanescence’s ‘Sanctuary’
After globe-trotting and touring as the keyboardist and producer of Bring Me The Horizon, Reading-born Jordan Fish is now working as a full-time producer for artists including Poppy, Architects, BABYMETAL, and Good Charlotte. He discusses his breakthrough projects with Poppy, his shared history with Amy Lee, how she opened up to co-writing with him after she wasn’t taken seriously as a songwriter in her early years of the band, and the VSTs, plugins, and DAW techniques he used to help create the sound of Evanescene’s new record, Sanctuary.
#91
June 22 · 33 min
Aspiring Headliner E91: AS Fanning: Take Me Back to Nowhere
AS Fanning is an Irish singer-songwriter based in Berlin, formerly of the band The Last Tycoons. After releasing three critically acclaimed albums and being named Far Out’s Songwriter of the Year, Fanning is back with his fourth album, Take Me Back to Nowhere. He chats to Headliner about getting up at 4am to write lyrics with a broken wrist, recording the album in Sweden, and his upcoming EU and UK tour.
#461
June 15 · 31 min
E461: Scorcher: On nostalgia and new album, ADMD
North London emcee and Top Boy actor Scorcher has been one of grime’s pioneers since the early ’00s, and had his talents and contributions recognised as Best Grime Act at the 2025 MOBO awards. His huge music resurgence from recent years continues with new single Comfy ft. K-Trap, followed by his new album, ADMD. He talks about always moving forwards and not getting too nostalgic for the early days of grime, working with the likes of Giggs on recent singles, and his new LP.
#212
June 15 · 26 min
Headliner USA 212: WHIPPED CREAM: The making of HOME WAS ALWAYS ME
Toronto-born WHIPPED CREAM has always moved between worlds, from competitive figure skating to becoming one of electronic music’s most distinctive and emotionally driven producers, vocalists and DJs. She talks about her journey from the ice rink to the DJ booth, the making of her debut album, HOME WAS ALWAYS ME, writing her most personal songs yet, and the life lessons that shaped it all.
#52
June 9 · 26 min
Emerging Headliner 52: Conscious Pilot: Making Human Poultry
In this world of short form TikTok content and AI-generated videos, Glaswegian band Conscious Pilot are a straight-up post-punk/indie rock act committed to recording songs to tape and shooting music videos on 16mm cameras. Frontman Joe Laycock talks about the band’s debut album, Human Poultry, a collection of songs about the grim world of employment, warehouse jobs, and fictional, chaotic film directors.
#211
June 8 · 27 min
Headliner USA 211: Evanescence: The making of Sanctuary
After a five year wait, chart-topping, Grammy-winning alternative rockers Evanescence return with Sanctuary, their sixth studio album. Following the blistering single Who Will You Follow, the new LP features some of the band’s best work to date. Singer, songwriter, and founding member Amy Lee talks about Who Will You Follow’s blockbuster music video, working with producer Jordan Fish and their shared Bring Me The Horizon history, the album’s title track, and the band’s gargantuan 2026 world tour.

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