Interviews

Celebrating 50 years of community radio, our good friends at 3RRR have just kicked off their annual fundraising campaign, the 3RRR Radiothon. This week on Switched On Chris Gill (Get Down) drops in to chat to Emma about all the great reasons why independent community radio is so vital, and how our stations, and our sector more broadly, contribute to this city's extraordinary music culture.

Channeling global rhythms and underground club energy into fiercely dynamic dance floors, Lahore-born, New York–raised DJ and producer ZAINAB will be joining Pradip on the show this weekend. Previously known as ZEEMUFFIN, ZAINAB will be chatting about her new EP 'Canal View', a club-ready production with samples and collaborators from across South Asia and the Middle East. 

With a sound that is rooted in the rich traditions of the tar, setar, and oud, Reza Kashi is a gifted Persian musician. He began his career in Iran in 1998, migrated to Australia in 2017, and has become a sought-after musician who works with a variety of Middle Eastern, Western and Australian ensembles. Tune in to the Global Village as he chats with Roger about his presentation of 'A Mystic Journey with the Oud' at CY Venue on Saturday 29th August, and for an intimate solo oud performance.

Infusing centuries old Lithuanian folk music with decades old fashion and months old facial hair, The Lost Clog is made up of the offspring of World War II Lithuanian refugees living in Melbourne. Alex Brovedani (kankles player) and Jieva Brovedani (fiddle and drum player) visit the Global Village to talk about a fundraising concert for the Australian Lithuanian Festival on Sunday August 23, which is titled 'Baltic Ballads of Birds & Bees' and will be held at the Melbourne Lithuanian Club.

At the Melbourne Recital Centre on Friday August 21, Africubismo will be bringing together musicians who reimagine their shared lineages from West Africa and Cuba. Ray Pereira, Amadou Suso, Yunior Terry Cabrera and Julien Wilson from the group will drop in to the Global Village to perform some live music - tune in to hear about cascading West African harp lines meeting the polyrhythmic pulse of rumba and son, and contemporary improvisation bridges past and present.

Today on the show, Ian Parsons catches up with world-renowned pianist and composer Michael Kieran Harvey. A strenuous advocate for new music, and particularly for music by Australian composers who push boundaries and challenge ideas, Michael is currently based in Tasmania. Tune in from 10pm to hear Michael chat about his new album 'The Life In Between', which celebrates recent works by some of Michael's closest musical friends.

Joining Claire on The Breakfast Spread today is indie-folk musician Rowena Wise. Her sophomore album 'Bad Things Feel Good*' is a bold, intimate statement on transformation, tracing the emotional fault lines of love, identity and mental health with unflinching clarity. Across raw, live-band arrangements and candid, poetic lyricism, Wise explores heartbreak, estrangement and the quiet unravelling of selfhood. Tune in from 8am for an intimate, acoustic performance from Rowena. 

Sound artist Robbie Avenaim will premiere 'Shine Caught Blue' at Now Or Never this month, featuring a groundbreaking collaboration between two peculiar percussion robots: Avenaim’s custom-built S.A.R.P.S. (Semi Automated Percussion System). Presented as an outdoor installation and performance event with Melbourne’s iconic public sound sculpture, this is a complex exchange between human gesture and robotic precision. Robbie stops by Deeep Space to chat with Lloyd about 'Shine Caught Blue'.

Tune in to Black Wax this Monday to hear from AKEY - a queer, trans non-binary powerhouse of Australia’s nu-jazz scene. Their sound synthesises up-tempo future-sonic jazz with hip-hop breakbeats, luscious synth harmonies, and Afro-Cuban grooves. A genre-smashing keyboardist, they’ve toured globally, supporting icons like Herbie Hancock, Chaka Khan and Thundercat. Find out about their new single 'fk me & (only then) call me a f**', and the release show at Shotkickers on August 20.

Sydney vocalist-songwriter Tilly Street returns to JazzLab on August 21 to celebrate the release of her debut album 'All At Sea'. A contemporary blend of original compositions and jazz standards, navigating the unpredictable waves of life, Street has a gift for connection and a sound that draws you in. Tune in to hear about the new album, and some of the incredible collaborators she worked with on the record. 

On September 5, 'DIY On High', a free day festival on High Street, as part of Darebin FUSE Festival, will be taking place across Cactus Room from 1pm and Cafe Gummo from 6pm. The line-up features emerging Naarm artists, including Kosmetika, Banksy, R.U.B and Bughunt, highlighting local independent music in intimate settings, offering two distinct shows that together form a full day of diverse punk. Ahead of the festival, Carsten Bruhn joins Kurt on Homebrew to chat about the day.

Mparntwe/Alice Springs based group Charlie Ivan Band have released their second full-length album 'Of Nothing'. "It's meant to feel like a car dropping into the low road, trying to escape a dust storm trailing in from the west. It's meant to drive forward with a kind of quiet intensity". Ahead of the show at Northcote Social Club on August 20, Charlie drops into Underground Love to play a live song, and to chat about the album release.

Coming onto Pojama People today is Mike Rudd and Tim Gaze, chatting about their double bill show at the Wesley Anne on August 28. Tim Gaze has trailblazed a lifetime of music, including time with Tamam Shud during and post the seminal Morning of the Earth era and breakaway band, Kahvas Jute. Best known for his work with Spectrum, Mike Rudd's song 'I'll Be Gone' became one of the most enduring songs of that era and still heard on the radio today. Tune in to hear from these two artists.

Tonight on the show, Ryan catches up with Blaythe Steuer, the vocalist for Alabama metallic hardcore group No Cure. Blaythe will be chatting about the new album 'It Is Going To Get Dark', along with No Cure's debut Australian tour supporting To The Grave, playing at Max Watt's Melbourne on September 5. Find out about the group's aspirations for the rest of the year.

Sam Gill and Luke Neher are AKSFX, the electronic duo behind the music for 'Big Walk'. 'Big Walk' is the latest game by House House, the Melbourne indie studio behind 2019's hit 'Untitled Goose Game'. Soundtracking this cooperative multiplayer adventure about teamwork and talking, 'Big Walk's' music is otherworldly and leans into the goal of getting lost with close friends in a big world. Tune into Game Jams this week to hear Sam and Luke chat with Matt about how this OST came together.

Kaytetye producer and DJ RONA will be joining Milo Eastwood on the show today, the day before her EP launch at Hope St Radio on August 21. The new release 'To The Ground' explores the living frequency of Country and the power of rhythm to return us to ourselves. Moving between intimate sound design, expansive vocals and basslines inspired by ceremonial grounds, the EP draws the body back toward earth. Tune in to The Breakfast Spread from 8am to hear from RONA. 

Geelong Indie/Folkternative artist Madeliene Cope is completely in control of her craft, blending heartfelt storytelling, atmospheric indie-folk soundscapes and captivating live performance. On August 22, Madeliene will be launching her new EP 'VOICES', backed by a full band and performing in Geelong's latest music venue, Church. Tune in to Down By The River from 10am to hear the stories and journey behind Madeliene's new EP.

Joining Michael on the show this week for an exclusive interview, is USA artist, actor and radio presenter, Henry Rollins. He'll be chatting about a previously unreleased album from the 1976 band The Cramps, titled 'Gravest Gravy'. The band is credited as progenitors of the psychobilly subgenre, fusing elements of punk rock with rockabilly. The tapes of the album were transferred by Brian Kehew, and the tracks were selected for inclusion by Henry Rollins. Tune in from 7pm to hear from Henry.

Multi-instrumentalist, producer and songwriter Marcel Borrack has just released his new album 'Sun Dust'. Recorded by Marcel, 'Sun Dust' is inspired by his love of Indian music. "The first time I heard the sitar I was instantly hooked on Indian music. Over the years I’ve continued to listen, love, and be amazed by its seemingly unfathomable depth." Tune in to Tiger Beats Elephant Grooves as Marcel catches up with Pradip about creating the album.

After their Studio 5 Live performance, Amaru Tribe will be coming on to the Global Village for an interview with Roger. An intersection between cultures, traditional music from Latin America, urban flow and electronic sounds, their new album 'Golden Roots' is Amaru Tribe’s third full-length album and second vinyl release, created to celebrate 10 years of music, movement and connection. Tune in to hear about the creation of the new album.

Visiting the Global Village on the second half of the show today is Alec Ilyine and Poly Varghese. Belgian musician, sound engineer, and multi-instrumentalist Alec Ilyine is known for his exploration of diverse musical traditions. Poly Varghese, based in Australia and born in Kerala, is a virtuoso of the Mohan Veena (Indian slide guitar), and disciple of Grammy Winner Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, aka V. M. Bhatt. Tune in for some live music, and to hear about their inspirations and collaborations.

Formed in Melbourne in 1992, Icecream Hands - made up of band members Charles Jenkins (guitar, vocals), Douglas Lee Robertson (bass, vocals), Derek G Smiley (drums, vocals) and Marcus Goodwin (guitar, vocals) - are about to release a new EP in August. With a show at the Kew Court House on September 4, Charles Jenkins joins Crispi on Radio City to chat about the new EP, 'Pineapples Pieces'.

Tonight on Junkyard, Michael Mulholland will be joined by Hugo Race and Michaelangelo Russo to chat about the new album 'I Made It All Up For You'. Released back in March with his Italian band Fatalists, the record fuses together roots, electronica, Italian soundtracks and desert rock. With Giovanni Ferrario (Scisma, PJ Harvey) on guitars and synth, Francesco Giampaoli (Brutture Moderne) on bass and Diego Sapignoli (Sacri Cuori) on percussion, tune in to hear more about the album.

Coming on to the show this week, is The Jawa Pitu Band, who are launching their second album 'Kapindho' at the Northcote Social Club on September 5. They will be joined by Sekar Kidul, Melbourne's Sundanese Kacapi Suling ensemble, and performances from Reog Ponorogo (Javanese Giant Mask Dance), Pencak Silat (Sundanese martial arts), and the Sanggar Lestari Indonesian dance troupe. Tune in as members of The Jawa Pitu Band visit the Global Village to talk about the new album.

Joining Michael Mulholland for this episode of Junkyard is Guy Blackman from Chapter Music. He'll be chatting about the second instalment of Chapter’s acclaimed Australian post- punk compilation series 'Can’t Stop It!', originally released in 2007. Tune in to hear about this rich and dynamic time in Australian music history, a time when Australia stepped out of the shadow of overseas influence and asserted its own musical identity for the first time.

Sydney’s indie rock/blues artist Nathan Cavaleri is coming to town for his show 'Growing Pains - The Nathan Cavaleri Story', playing at Memo Music Hall on September 10. From child prodigy to cancer survivor, from global stages to mental health collapse, Nathan has quite the story to tell. Joining Lauren Plant on Down By The River ahead of his show that night, tune in for a live performance from Nathan. 

'Psychedelia in White', the third album from former member of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Mick Harvey and longtime collaborator Amanda Acevedo, is a natural evolution from their 2023 duet debut, 'Phantasmagoria in Blue'. Tonight on Junkyard, Mick and Amanda drop by the show to chat with Michael Mulholland about their new record, which explores themes of mysticism, mythology, love, and loss.