Interviews

The Melbourne Jazz Cooperative has supported and nurtured Melbourne's jazz community since 1983. On Friday May 26 the MJC present a special 40th anniversary concert at the MRC. On Dizzy Atmosphere this week MJC founder Martin Jackson chats to Gerry about the 40 year history of this vital Melbourne institution.

Project of New Zealand musician Hollie Fullbrook, Tiny Ruins release their new album 'Ceremony.' Exploring old and murky mysteries of what it means to be human, 'Ceremony' sometimes nearly fully submerges into darkness yet brings strength to swim towards the light, push through the silt and surface to give another new chance. Tune in to Soak to hear the band conversation with Hannah.

The Melbourne Tango Orchestra will visit the Global Village to talk about all things tango, and their concert at the Brunswick Ballroom on May 21.

West African griots are storytellers who often share their stories with the help of their kora, a stringed instrument that resembles the harp and lute. Senegalese-born griot Jali Buba Kuyateh is one such artist who continues this tradition by fusing African beats with western musical motifs. Ahead of his performance with the Afro Diyaa band at Melbourne Recital Centre on May 18th, Jali brings his kora to PBS for an intimate live performance on Flight 1067 to Africa. Tune in on Sunday from 3pm.

Consisting of improvised compositions recorded over the last few year 'Interstate Pulse' is the new album of instrumental 12 string guitar music from Jeff Lang. Tune in to The Juke Joint to hear Jeff talk to Matt about its launch at Bird's Basement May 18.

Embracing a raw minimalism that prizes patience and restraint Texan singer-songwriter Robert Ellis returns with his exquisite seventh album 'Yesterday's News.' Not quite folk and not quite jazz 'Yesterday's News' is a series of intimate, unhurried meditations on growth and maturity, hope and regret, desire and contentment, all delivered by an artist learning to let go and get quiet. Tune in to 5ft High & Rising this Saturday to hear Myles' conversation with Robert.

Recorded live to tape at Sound Recordings near Castlemaine, 'Songs from the Barrier Line' takes listeners on a journey, as Le Lievre grapples with the existential nature of death and dying, the processing of grief and the healing nature of connection to the unique outback town of Broken Hill where Charlotte has spent significant time living and creating. Charlotte stops by Swinging Doors to talk about the album and its launch at Shotkickers May 11.

From childhood years in a folk community on Canada’s west coast, Meghan was drawn to the buzzing music scene of Montreal which lead to a decade of living there, it was no mistake that Meghan then took off to the vibrant musical tapestry that is Melbourne. After spending years globetrotting and writing music Meghan is readying herself to release her debut single 'Redbird.' Tune in to Radio City to her Meghan's conversation with Crispi.

Founding member and guitarist of Died Pretty Brett Myers joins Crispi to talk about the recent release of the band's first live album 'Died Pretty Live' which was recorded on their 2008 'Don't Look Back' series of concerts and their show at the National Theatre on October 27.

Over the years, Ella Thompson has worked with funk pioneers The Bamboos, electronic duo GL, and indie cult favourites Dorsal Fins. And now, on her brand new EP 'Cocoon/Dawn,' Ella returns to her soul roots, with an imaginative collection of dreamy, contemporary soul songs featuring live recordings with her new band. She joins Lyndelle on The Afterglow to chat more about these songs.

Almost 30 years after Christos Tsiolkas’ debut novel 'Loaded,' that follows Ari, a young man who is struggling with being unemployed, gay and Greek who is drawn by the alluring pulse of Collingwood’s gay clubs to find his escape, and family in the form of drag queens and one-night stands. Christos Tsiolkas joins director Stephen Nicolazzo and writer Dan Giovannoni to adapt Ari’s anarchic odyssey on to the stage. Tune in to State of the Art to hear Annika talk with director Stephen Nicolazzo.

The Omnific are a progressive instrumental metal band with a difference, that being two bassists. Toby Peterson-Stewart calls in to Tyrannocoreus to talk about The Omnific's upcoming european tour and plans for their new album as well as his upcoming solo EP 'Break A Leg.'

New Zealand's technical death metal band Blindfolded and Led to the Woods talk to Kene about their new forthcoming album, problems with naming themselves in the Naughties, Australian tour in May, having a drummer from Adelaide and playing on a children's TV show.

New Melbourne industrial black metal band Irreparable made up of local creatures of the night have come together to create a melodic yet brutal band. Tune in to tonight's Burning Bitumen to hear them talk with Kene about supporting Unto Others as well as their forthcoming EP 'Complete Emptiness.'

Reflecting on the bleak daily battles of mental health, and the struggles of a songwriter to be creative and “productive” amidst a backdrop of turmoil and despair Cash Savage and The Last Drinks return with their new album 'So This Is Love.' Cash stops by Firewater to talk about the album and its launch shows.

Ahead of the release of their second album ‘The Accession' local post-punks Dragnet pop by the studio to clue in Jordan about the record release and upcoming shows.

Local art-pop stalwarts Eggy are heading on their first tour of Europe next month and are playing a send-off show later this month with a stacked line-up including Cool Sounds. Frontwoman of the band Zoe fills in Jordan on all the details.

To celebrate their 40th anniversary the Melbourne Jazz Cooperative (MJC) are hosting a huge concert at the MRC on May 26. Composer/conductor Vanessa Perica calls through on Black Wax to chat about conducting the specially commissioned work 'Jumping Yaks' suite (comprising works by Erkki Veltheim, Erik Griswold, Eugene Ball and Niko Schauble) for the specially formed MJC Orchestra.

Now deep into an incredible fourth decade of creating music, celebrated trio The Necks are showing no sign of slowing down as they continue to conjure wondrous soundscapes in live performances and in the studio. Their 21st album, Travel, was naturally a PBS Feature Album back in February. The trio gears up for their Australian tour next month, and bassist Lloyd Swanton joins Greg Sher for a chat on Dizzy Atmosphere.

Tune in to Sunday's Soak to hear Hannah talk to London-based folk artist Jesse Glass about his new single 'Not Fooling Anyone.'