Interviews

New York-born singer Vivian Sessoms is known for bringing her own vibrant blend of jazz, soul, and protest music to her performances. Having sung with Cher, Donna Summer, Sinead O Connor, Stevie Wonder, Joe Cocker, Ryuichi Sakamoto and Christina Aguilera, Sessoms is a versatile and charismatic artist. She drops in to PBS with her partner and co-producer Chris Parks for an intimate chat with MzRizk on Boogie Beat Suite.

Local piano and baritone saxophone player Ania Reynolds is releasing two new albums at the start of 2026: a solo piano album called 'Tractor Factor', with original compositions inspired by her residency in Sainte-Valière in France; and her alter-ego Synthotronica's album 'Baga Baga'. Launching the record at Ragtime Tavern on January 30, she'll be touring Japan next, stopping off at a baritone festival in Tokyo. Tune in to hear her new music, as well as a live performance from Ania.

To kick off 2026, Swedish musicians Josefina Paulson on nyckelharpa and Fredrik Bengtsson on cittern/bass will be joining Roger in the Global Village. Currently on tour with Louise Godwin on cello and Jessica Foot on violin as part of Big Fiddle Little Fiddle, the group will be performing at the Swedish Church in Toorak from January 5 - 6. Tune in to hear about this collision of Swedish and Australian music, and for a special, live-to-air performance from the group.

Stopping by The Sound Barrier this Sunday are Ben Opie (co-artistic director of the Peninsula Summer Music Festival and the Inventi Ensemble) and local composer Kym Dillon. They’ll be joining Ian to chat about the Peninsula Summer Music Festival, which will include performances by Ensemble Offspring, a new work by First Nations composer and conductor Aaron Wyatt, and intermedia improvisations featuring Kym Dillon and Carita Farer Spencer. Tune in to hear more about this festival on January 3.

Tune in to Audio Vitamins as Jonny Alexander catches up with London-based artist J. Caesar. Discussing his street soul/deep house sound and upcoming EP, J. Caesar draws influence from Peven Everett, Blaze, and Moodymann. Tune in to hear about his show at London’s Royal Albert Hall, along with a 60-minute guest mix featuring unreleased material ahead of his new EP, which is set for release on New Year’s Eve.

Mick Thomas is one of Australia's most revered songwriters and storytellers. With a brand new album GoComeBack, Mick Thomas's Roving Commission are currently touring the country. Joined by Brooke Taylor, Mick finds time to drop into PBS to play a couple of tracks and to chat to guest host Aaron Allen on Swinging Doors this week.

Tune in to Roots of Rhythm for a special Christmas show - filled with the best of the blues, memories and interviews. Helen Jennings will be joined by Jackey Coyle, along with a few surprise guests. Listen in to hear Helen’s final show of the year before she takes her well-deserved summer break.

Joining Milo Eastwood on The Breakfast Spread this morning is local DJ, Joey Lightbulb. With his debut at Club UK in Melbourne in 2001, Joey played at Golden Plains Festival in 2024, along with two headline shows at The Night Cat earlier this year, playing squelchy disco, jacking house, forgotten indie bangers - whatever the people need. Tune in to hear about 'TOOLS DOWN: Joey Lightbulb's Work Xmas Party' on December 19, along with a special Wednesday morning guest mix.

Tune in to the second half of Tyrannocoreus as Ryan is joined by local solo artist ARIE ROSE (pronounced air-ey rose). Making music that is sweet, fiery and thorny, ARIE marries rock and metal with classical influences from singing in choirs and playing in orchestras in her childhood. Listen in to hear about her debut album 'In Sickness And In Sickness', which shares her battles with Crohn's disease, neurodivergence and feminism.

US deathcore band Fit For An Autopsy are returning to Australia next year to tour their new album 'It Comes For You'.  Joined by Florida’s Bodysnatcher, rising Australian force Volatile Ways, and Human Warfare’s newest signing Pain Body, expect a night of crushing riffs and unrelenting energy at Max Watt's Melbourne on January 22. Tune in to Tyrannocoreus as Ryan catches up with guitarist Pat Sheridan ahead of the tour. 

Tune in for the second half of Burning Bitumen to hear from Brazilian metal legend, Max Cavalera. The pioneering heavy metal band Sepultura, which he founded with his brother Igor in 1984, marked the beginning of a career that later saw him become the driving force behind Nailbomb and Soulfly. Listen is as Max chats about the reformation of Nailbomb, along with the much-anticipated new Soulfly album.

Formed in 2020 from the ashes of various hardcore and metal bands through a love of extreme metal, industrial and crustpunk/hardcore, Knife has just released their new EP 'Non Compos Mentis'. Tune in to Burning Bitumen to hear about the band's upcoming album, and when we can next expect to seem them perform live.

Tune in to Underground Love today as Jordan is joined by Rick from local jangle rock trio Skink Tank. They'll be chatting about the band's upcoming 'Merry Skinkmas' show at Thornbury Bowls, featuring Dag, Martin Frawley, kisses, and more, raising money for Husk housing support -  a grassroots housing collective, organised for and by people facing homelessness and domestic violence.

After a string of sold-out shows, Watar Ensemble returns to the stage with new music, timeless Arabic melodies, and an energy that promises to move both heart and body. They'll be sharing two brand-new singles at Howler on January 11, reconnecting through the sounds that have come to define Watar’s voice. Tune in to Dounya as DJ Matab catches up with Watar Ensemble about their upcoming show.

Author of the best-selling 'Tokyo Jazz Joints' photobook, and co-creator and photographer of the 'Tokyo Jazz Joints' audiovisual project, the work of Philip Arneill explores the illusory ideas of home and culture by exploring insider-outsider dynamics and autoethnographic issues of place and identity. Tune in to Mystic Brew as Mike Gurrieri catches up with Philip about his podcast series while he's in Melbourne.

Sunday December 21 sees a community takeover of The Tote, raising funds for Black Peoples Union. The day features a silent art auction and compilation launch with live sets from a stack of local punk and dance acts including Equestrian Fields, BUGHUNT, Hot Tubs Time Machine, Our Carlson, Punko, Rhysics and loads more. Event organisers Billy, Angie and Darcy join guest host Kurt for a chat and to share some tracks from the compilation and line up.

Tune in to Deeep Space this Monday morning as 2x GRAMMY nominated group Frollen Music Library will be joining Lloyd Briggs. With a creative process that is organic and grounded in an immense appreciation for the music of the '60s and '70s - the bedrock of hip-hop sampling - Frollen Music Library is a sample library and production house that creates high-quality sample packs ready for the modern producer to easily employ. Tune in to hear from Darvid Thor, Henry Jenkins and Hudson Whitlock. 

Dr Shellie Morris AO has released the album 'Singing For Our Little Ones' - a project that encourages the integration of First Languages learning in early education curriculums. Developed with Warumungu elders Miriam Frank and sisters Rosemary and Marlene Plummer to help preserve the Warumungu language for future generations, Miriam, Rosemary and Marlene are among a small handful of fluent speakers left. Tune in to the Global Village to hear Roger catch up with Shellie about this project.

After the success of 'The Napoli Exchange', EX GENERATION's new album, 'The Mumbai Exchange' sees Ziggy and Lewis' ongoing series of cross-cultural collaborations, a project that examines how the soul of a city is shaped after years of touring and absorbing the sounds of different cities. With musicians including award-winning vocalists Vinay Sugatha Ramadasan and Anuja Zokarkar, the album is a vibrant love letter to Mumbai. Tune in to hear Pradip catch up with Lewis about the new record.

Hopestreet Recordings turns 16 this year. To celebrate this milestone birthday, the beloved local label is releasing a 'sweet 16' mixtape featuring remixes from beat-maker Sensible J (Sampa The Great, Cool Out Sun) on one side, and a seamless vinyl DJ mix on the other from musician and vinyl connoisseur Lachlan Stuckey (Surprise Chef). To talk more about this auspicious anniversary, label founders and affiliates Bob, Elle, Tristan and Ryo drop in for a chat with DJ Manchild on The Breakdown.