The Independent
The Independent’s music editor Roisin O’Connor invites musicians, producers and songwriters from all genres and walks of life into the studio, where her lively, engaging and warm interview style allows them to open up like never before.
Episodes delivered fortnightly.
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Rising soul singer Nectar Woode has already been championed by Sir Elton John and collaborated with the legendary singer-songwriter on her latest project, Naturally. She and Roisin chat about her whirlwind summer, her musical influences, the Mercury Prize shortlist and today's soul scene, as well as a huge milestone with her biggest headline show to date. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dinosaur Jr have a new album - There Near - and it's brilliant. An unusually talkative J Mascis dives into everything from his love of skiing to getting into the straight edge subculture of punk in the Eighties, playing on the same stage with GG Allin and his favourite films, not least the 1971 classic Harold and Maude. Also, an unexpected and transcendental moment he had while on a spiritual journey, the boredom he experienced living in New York, and the unusual way he met his wife. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Roisin and pop singer Baby Queen become fast friends as they dive into the South African-born British pop singer's new album, I Hope You Don't Remember Me, and its themes of heartbreak, anger and confusion. They also chat about her being mentored by Courtney Love, the weirdness of rom-coms, partying in LA and the perils of modern dating! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A Montreux Jazz Festival special
A special live recording of a keynote conversation with Canadian pop provocateur Peaches and UK artist and creator ILĀ at The Great Escape festival in Brighton, delving into the themes behind Peaches' latest album No Lube So Rude and their thoughts on the body, aging, fashion, womanhood, AI and art. Both artists also answered some brilliant questions from the audience on representation and breaking into the music industry! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Roisin finally gets (jet-lagged) pop star Bebe Rexha in the studio to talk about her new album Dirty Blonde. Having parted ways with her major label, the newly independent Rexha found herself club-hopping around the world. This in turn inspired the songs on the new record, from dance banger "New Religion" to the pulsating "Hysteria" and brooding, grunge-influenced "I Like You Better Than Me". Rexha opens up to Roisin about the scrutiny in recent years over her body, her perfect "Eurosummer", dealing with unrequited love, and what she makes of those "Khia Asylum" memes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Rostam is the musician, producer and multi-instrumentalist formerly of Vampire Weekend, who has worked on critically adored albums by artists such as Haim, Carly Rae Jepsen, Clairo and Frank Ocean. Now back with his latest solo record, American Stories, he speaks to Roisin about incorporating his Persian heritage into these new songs, his Iranian parents and their influence, and how he approaches producing for other musicians. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Australian singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett was in the desert in Joshua Tree creating her fantastic fourth studio album, Creature of Habit, with songs about breaking unhealthy patterns and uprooting her life to move from Melbourne to Los Angeles. She tells Roisin about the creative process behind the record, the importance of giving yourself time to learn from the past, and how the artist Georgia O'Keefe inspired her in more ways than one. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Scottish rock band The Snuts are back with their best new music to date. Frontman Jack Cochrane catches up with Roisin about fatherhood and making the decision to move out of the city and back to their hometown in West Lothian, plus the highs and lows of being an independent act, the toxic culture of comparison in the music industry, and founding their own record label to help champion future generations of talent. Subscribe to The Independent's music newsletter, Now Hear This here, to get your weekly dose of the latest news, music and artists grabbing Roisin's attention. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Arlo Parks immersed herself in the club scenes of New York, LA and London while working on her third album, Ambigious Desire, crafting songs about yearning, anonymity, exploring, chemistry and the "spaces in between". She and Roisin first met seven years ago when Parks was just 18 and releasing early singles such as "Cola", "Eugene" and "Black Dog", before she went on to win the Mercury Prize with her debut album Collapsed in Sunbeams when she was just 21 years old. So there's plenty to catch up on, from the books, music and films she's been devouring to her songwriting process, life in LA with her girlfriend, and the intimate moments she's created at her live shows. Subscribe to The Independent's music newsletter, Now Hear This here, to get your weekly dose of the latest news, music and artists grabbing Roisin's attention. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Are Elbow the UK's most dependable band? With 10 critically adored albums (including four UK number ones and a Mercury Prize winner), sold-out shows and without a blemish to their name, it certainly seems that way. Frontman Guy Garvey opens up to Roisin about marriage, fatherhood, his antics with the band and being hand-picked by The Cure's Robert Smith to headline the Royal Albert Hall as part of the 2026 Teenage Cancer Trust shows. Also, his NSFW advice for life! Subscribe to The Independent's music newsletter, Now Hear This here, to get your weekly dose of the latest news, music and artists grabbing Roisin's attention. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
He's one of the biggest breakthroughs in country music right now, but Zach Top isn't letting it go to his head. In just a few years, the Washington-born musician has won over millions of fans with songs such as "I Never Lie" and "Sounds Like the Radio", aided by his signature sense of humour, arresting voice and deft guitar-playing. Inspired by country legends such as George Strait, Top got his start in Nashville writing songs with other artists before releasing his breakthrough album Cold Beer & Country Music, followed by his Grammy-winning 2025 record Ain't In It For My Health. Ahead of a headline show for C2C festival at the O2 Arena in London, he chats with Roisin about his early influences growing up on a farm in Sunnyside, attending his first Grammy Awards, meeting his heroes, and why he feels it's important not to take himself too seriously. Subscribe to The Independent's music newsletter, Now Hear This here, to get your weekly dose of the latest news, music and artists grabbing Roisin's attention. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Legendary producer Craig Leon is the man behind some of the most influential albums in punk, rock and new wave, working with bands including the Ramones, Blondie, Talking Heads, Suicide, The Fall and The Pogues. It's unsurprising, then, that he has some brilliant stories to share, from the time he saw Talking Heads play CBGB for the first time, to trying to sign Patti Smith, and watching the Ramones beat each other up onstage. Subscribe to The Independent's music newsletter, Now Hear This here, to get your weekly dose of the latest news, music and artists grabbing Roisin's attention. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Heated Rivalry, the Canadian show about the romantic relationship between rival ice hockey players Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, has become a bonafide TV phenomenon, making stars of its formerly unknown lead actors Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, as well as generating discussions on everything from how sex is depicted onscreen to homophobia in sport. It's also got a killer soundtrack thanks to creator and director Jacob Tierney's excellent music taste - from Feist to Wolf Parade and that iconic club scene using t.A.T.u's 2002 hit "All the Things She Said" - and original score composer Peter Peter. Both Jacob and Peter catch up with Roisin to talk about the runaway success of the show, and discuss why music is so integral to Heated Rivalry when it came to developing the relationship between Shane and Ilya. Subscribe to The Independent's music newsletter, Now Hear This here, to get your weekly dose of the latest news, music and artists grabbing Roisin's attention. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Legendary metal band Megadeth are bowing out with their final album, the self-titled Megadeth, and a huge farewell tour. Frontman Dave Mustaine speaks with Roisin about why now was the right time to say goodbye and why he still wanted to have fun with this record. He also reflects on his colourful life, from his many health issues to the themes that informed some of the songs on the album, as well as explaining why he hates the perception of him as a "right-winger". It's a shorter-than-usual episode as Dave unfortunately ran out of time, but he and Roisin still got through plenty of subjects! Subscribe to The Independent's music newsletter, Now Hear This here, to get your weekly dose of the latest news, music and artists grabbing Roisin's attention. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Legendary Grammy-winning US artist Jill Scott returns with her first album in a decade, the extraordinary To Whom This May Concern. She and Roisin dive into the themes that informed the record, their mutual experiences in relationships, and Scott's efforts in raising her son as a single parent. She also reminisces about the times she spent dancing with Prince, her acting career, and owning her power as a woman. Subscribe to The Independent's music newsletter, Now Hear This here, to get your weekly dose of the latest news, music and artists grabbing Roisin's attention. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In the last episode of Good Vibrations for 2025, Roisin chats with Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall about the 20th anniversary of her breakthrough album Eye to the Telescope, which propelled her to international fame back in 2005. They dive into the stories behind hit singles such as "Silent Sea" and, of course, "Suddenly I See", which provided the soundtrack for the opening credits of The Devil Wears Prada. KT also opens up about her famous Jools Holland appearance, her many years as a starving artist, and her uncomfortable feelings around her odd status as a "pop star" during the 2000s. Subscribe to The Independent's music newsletter, Now Hear This here, to get your weekly dose of the latest news, music and artists grabbing Roisin's attention. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Formed at high-school in Florida, Flipturn are the fast-rising indie-rock band causing a storm on both sides of the Atlantic. Their second album, Burnout Days, stars songwriting that oscillates between abstract and diaristic, bolstered by tight, prodigious musicianship and a chemistry between members that shines through on record. In the penultimate Good Vibrations episode of 2025, frontman Dillon and bassist Maddy tell Roisin about growing up in their small town and life on the road. Dillon also opens up about how his partner inspires his most romantic songwriting, and his experiences dealing with addiction in his family. Subscribe to The Independent's music newsletter, Now Hear This here, to get your weekly dose of the latest news, music and artists grabbing Roisin's attention. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
British pop singer Ella Eyre returned in 2025 with her first new album in a decade, Everything, in Time. She and Roisin chat about the record's themes of love and self-worth, her newfound confidence, and why she feels "sad" about her rise to fame as a teenager with her No 1 UK hit with Rudimental, "Waiting All Night". She also opens up about why her plans to be single after ending a seven-year relationship were scuppered, her positive experiences of therapy, and the vocal surgery that left her "learning how to speak again". Subscribe to The Independent's music newsletter, Now Hear This here, to get your weekly dose of the latest news, music and artists grabbing Roisin's attention. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
New Jersey rocker Jon Bon Jovi thought his touring days could be over as he struggled to recover from a crucial but risky vocal surgery. Now he and his band are back and preparing to head out on their first major tour in four years, including a residency at New York's Madison Square Garden and three nights at Wembley Stadium in London. He and Roisin discuss how he felt opening up about such a tricky time in the band's documentary, 'Thank You, Goodnight', their recent album 'Forever (Legendary Edition)', and his joy over his growing family. Also, his views on today's new music (a Chappell Roan fan, it turns out) and what he made of the Oasis reunion, and the moment he finally teamed up on record with his childhood hero, Bruce Springsteen! Subscribe to The Independent's music newsletter, Now Hear This here, to get your weekly dose of the latest news, music and artists grabbing Roisin's attention. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.