Synths, Sound & Music's Future with Martyn Ware (The Human League / Heaven 17 / BEF / Electronically Yours podcast)

Apr 12, 2025

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What did the future sound like when the synthesizer first arrived? What does it feel like now, with AI looming and immersive audio spaces on the rise?

In this special episode of the Drowned in Sound Podcast, recorded at Tallinn Music Week, Sean Adams speaks with Martyn Ware — founder of The Human League and Heaven 17, producer for acts ranging from Tina Turner to Erasure, and creator of some of the UK’s most ambitious sound installations.

This is a conversation about optimism and dystopia, about punk and purpose, and about how DIY culture in Sheffield shaped a career that’s still future-facing today.

Martyn also reflects on his podcast Electronically Yours, the legacy of sound, and how creative freedom can reshape confidence, community, and cultural memory.

Timestamps & Topics:

01:32 – Synths, Sheffield, and starting out
07:00 – Curiosity and creative confidence
10:00 – From charts to immersive installations
14:30 – Podcasting and preserving legacy
20:00 – What would a Martyn Ware bar sound like?
25:00 – Optimism, memory, and what comes next

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About the Guest:

Martyn Ware is a pioneering British musician, producer, and sound artist. As a founding member of The Human League and Heaven 17, and co-founder of British Electric Foundation, he helped define the sound of synth-pop while pushing boundaries in spatial audio, immersive installations, and political music-making. He also hosts the acclaimed podcast Electronically Yours.

About the Host:

Sean Adams turned his passion for music into Drowned in Sound, a UK-based music platform that launched in 2000. He also manages artists like Charlotte Church and The Anchoress, and works across strategic communications in the music and creative sectors.