Straight Up

What do you do when you're about to embark on a world tour but are suffering from burnout? London Grammar frontwoman Hannah Reid sat down with Kathleen and Eleanor to trace her journey from the band forming at Nottingham University to coping with a chronic illness and industry misogyny all the while going to No1. Hannah spoke powerfully about her experiences of sexism in the music business (from getting her lyrics called "vacuous" by critics to being dismissed as "irrational"), as well as the problematic adoration of the complicated male genius and how macho culture can also corrode men in the music business as well as women. Straight Up also drilled into why some male critics write about women’s music so patronisingly, and how Hannah felt pressured to desexualise her image to be taken seriously.Plus, Hannah revealed what she blew one of her first paycheques on, the one person she stalks religiously from the London Grammar Instagram account and the career she secretly fantasises about if she ever calls it quits on music. And of course, as always, shares the songs that have soundtracked her highs and lows.This episode of Straight Up is supported by two brilliant sponsors:Strykk, the no-alcohol, calorie-light spirit range that will save you from your worst mornings. By swapping to Strykk, you'll be waving goodbye to hangovers without compromising on taste or the fun of a fancy drink. All of the spirit, none of the alcohol - what's not to love? It’s as simple as using each one as a straight swap for its namesake spirit, bringing some much needed balance for those who want to take a flexible approach to drinking. We are so happy to be offering listeners of Straight Up 25% off site wide with code STRAIGHTUP25. Check out the amazing Not Vanilla V*dka, perfect for pornstar or espresso martinis, and the rest of the range, from Not G*n to Not R*m, s at strykk.comQ Acoustics, the must-have wireless, widescreen speakers that can connect with everything from your phone and tablet to your TV and turntable. They will upgrade your listening experience as well as your living room, and are perfect for listening to London Grammar's new album Californian Soil at home with friends. Snap up your pair at qacoustics.co.ukFollow Eleanor on Instagram @elliehalls1 and Kathleen @kathleen.m.johnstonStraight Up's music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Follow him on Instagram @marlonpercy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you keep your privacy when you're one of the most famous YouTubers in the entire world, and have shared your entire life online? One of the first YouTubers to make his name on the platform (where he has 23 million subscribers) KSI spoke to Kathleen and Eleanor about the pressures of being in the public eye from such a young age. Over Bacardi rum cocktails, KSI also talked through the songs that have soundtracked his life's highs and lows, from the song he wrote for his first romance (and which he has tried to scrub from the internet) to the songs he associates with heady nights of success. Plus, KSI spills the beans on how he met his girlfriend of three years – and how he has managed to keep her identity from prying fans – his reflections on getting cancelled for using a transphobic slur, and whether we will ever see him come offline completely.Also in this episode, KSI reveals his favourite cryptocurrency, whether he will let his kids use social media and the songs he loves to sing in the shower.Thank you to this episode's two brilliant sponsors:Bacardi, who provided the amazing Coco Colada Spritzes we drank with KSI during the record: a simple but delicious mix of pineapple juice, soda water and Bacardi's coconut flavoured white rum. It's the perfect drink for the holiday season, immediately bringing the tropical island vibes we are all so sorely missing. Get your bottle from major retailers including Asda, Sainsburys, Ocado and Tesco.Q Acoustics, the must-have wireless, widescreen speakers that can connect with everything from your phone and tablet to your TV and turntable. They will upgrade your listening experience as well as your living room. Snap up your pair at qacoustics.co.ukFollow Eleanor on Instagram @elliehalls1 and Kathleen @kathleen.m.johnstonStraight Up's music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Follow him on Instagram @marlonpercy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Should women pay on the first date? Should men date women with more money than them? In this very juicy episode, South London RnB musician Ray BLK chats to Kathleen and Eleanor all about dating do's and don'ts ahead of her debut album Access Denied.Ray also shared hilarious anecdotes around first paycheques, her very first experiences of success and her craziest moments from the last few years (including her funniest drunken night out in Ghana).Plus, Ray reveals how the music industry forced her to make pop music at the expense of her true self, and Ray shares for the very first time a traumatic X Factor audition that happened when she was 16, and a song from a few years ago that she regrets making today.Follow Ray on Instagram @rayblk and pre-order Access Denied on iTunes or Amazon Music. Follow Eleanor on Instagram @elliehalls1 and Kathleen @kathleen.m.johnstonThis episode of Straight Up has two wonderful sponsors. First up hometipple, the one-stop-shop for creating your own at-home bar all the while giving back to winemakers, brewers and distillers all around the world. Use the discount code straighthome21 to open a PRO account that gets you 10% off every purchase. Open yours now at hometipple.comAnd second, the independent jeweller Katie Mullally, whose gorgeous handmade collections are all hallmarked at either the London or Dublin Assay Office and are therefore an investment for life. Check out her designs at katiemullally.co.ukStraight Up's music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Follow him on Instagram @marlonpercy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the world’s most adored film directors Zack Snyder comes on the brand-new second series of Straight Up to talk all about the music that made him: from the songs that soundtracked his childhood and his first romance to the song that always makes him cry.Zack also chats to Kathleen and Eleanor all about his favourite songs from across his films, as well as getting stuck into topics around being a provocateur, reading reviews, vulnerability and the power of fandoms.Plus, Zack picks his favourite character from Justice League and Army of the Dead, gives us a sneak peak at the Army of the Dead TV series and what‘s happening with Fountainhead.Thank you to our three amazing sponsors for this episode:Polaroid, the game-changing instant camera legend which has just launched the world’s smallest instant analog camera and 2021's coolest little gadget: the Polaroid Go. It's a must-have for young creatives, with a newly developed selfie mirror, self-timer, a battery life for 15 packs of film, dynamic flash, and double exposure. Check it out at uk.polaroid.comhometipple, the one-stop-shop for creating your own at-home bar all the while giving back to winemakers, brewers and distillers all around the world. Use the discount code straighthome21 to open a PRO account that gets you 10% off every purchase. Open yours now at hometipple.comQ Acoustics, the must-have wireless, widescreen speakers that can turn your sitting room into a mini at-home cinema: perfect for watching all of Zack's incredible films and hearing the soundtracks in all their glory! Snap up your pair at qacoustics.co.ukFind Kathleen on Instagram @kathleen.m.johnston and Eleanor @elliehalls1Thank you to Marlon Percy for our music and editing. Find him on Instagram @marlonpercy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

No one puts the UK's biggest musicians in their place like Amelia Dimoldenberg, CEO of Chicken Shop Date, the cult YouTube series in which the comedian and broadcaster takes stars to their favourite chicken shop, and grills them about everything from their love lives to their most embarrassing moments. Both deliciously awkward and completely hilarious, Chicken Shop Date has become a massive viral hit, racking up millions of views, and with guests including AJ Tracey, Dave, D Double E, Sean Paul, and Maya Jama.Amelia talked to us about her favourite Chicken Shop Date episodes, the musicians who have turned her down, the one date that went disastrously wrong and the musician she still keeps thinking about. Also on this episode, Amelia dissects the behind-the-scenes of how Chicken Shop Date is filmed, how she prepares her questions and who she still wants to get on the show.Also this week: the wild success of pop prodigy Billie Eilish, who has become the youngest writer of the Bond song. Keep listening right until the end to hear all about her pet tarantula, her brother Finneas and her sleep paralysis. Follow Amelia on IG @ameliadimz and shoot us a DM at @staightuppodLoved this episode of Straight Up? Have any suggestions for our next episode? Are you a brand wanting to chat to us about sponsorship opportunities? We'd love to hear from you: hello@straightuppodcast.co.ukStraight Up's music and editing is by Marlon Percy: @marlonpercyStraight Up was recorded at club and co-working space The Ministry by Chris Bailey of The Boy in the Corner @cornerHQStraight Up is sponsored by online spirits specialist Master of Malt, where you can buy Amelia's bottle of Artigianale Prosecco. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What's it like to tour the world with Harry Styles, capturing some of the most intimate and symbolic moments of his life and career? Paris-based photographer Hélène Pambrun talks to Kathleen and Eleanor all about how she first met Harry, and why her interest in his fans is the reason she was hired by his team.Also in this episode, Straight Up and Hélène talk all about the power of seduction in photoshoots, as well as her most striking memories shooting everyone from Lenny Kravitz and Ed Sheeran to Tom Hanks.Plus, Hélène reveals what she wants to do next. Have a listen!Thank you to this episode's three wonderful sponsors: Polaroid, the game-changing instant camera legend, which has just launched the Polaroid Go, the world’s smallest instant analog camera. Portable, wearable, and take-anywhere-able, the Polaroid Go is set to be the next generation’s creative collaborator, featuring a newly developed selfie mirror, self-timer, a battery life for 15 packs of film, dynamic flash, and double exposure. polaroid.comPiper-Heidsieck champagne, which we enjoyed while recording this episode to toast to Hélène's incredible career. Eliou jewellery, which Harry Styles fans will know is loved by the pop star himself. Fans of Straight Up get 15 per cent off at Eliou using the discount code STRAIGHTUP15, via www.eliou-eliou.com.Straight Up's music and editing is by Marlon Percy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chic co-founder and super producer Nile Rodgers, along with his longtime manager Merck Mercuriadis, joins Straight Up to chat about how they’ve made a decades-long professional partnership work, what they love most about each other and why they’ve never had an argument (except a small one in this episode).They also told us all about their new business venture, Hipgnosis, which is essential to anyone who loves music and cares about the fair treatment of performing artists and songwriters. It is completely changing the way the music industry works by challenging the power of the big record companies, redressing an uneven power balance that has been corroding the music industry for decades. How? By buying some of the most famous songs in the world, because Hipgnosis believes that songs are just as valuable as gold and oil, completely unaffected by economic cycles, and basically just about the safest investment you can make. By buying up these songs and "actively managing" them, they are giving these old songs a new lease of life, protecting their cultural legacy, while giving songwriters more money.Merck and Nile also chat about why songwriters are so undervalued, how it feels to disrupt music industry from the inside when its top execs are the people they go on holiday with, and the UK artists they love right now.Thank you to our three wonderful sponsors:Q Acoustics, which has just launched the most handsome active speakers on the market, ideal for music lovers who want rich, beautiful, widescreen sound as well as a living room upgrade. The Q Active 200 speakers will transform your interiors and listening experience in equal measure. Check them out at qacoustics.co.uk. Eve bar, our favourite Covent Garden bar from Adam Handling, which serves some of the most luxurious and theatrical cocktails in the city. Their espresso martini (laced with white chocolate) will have you coming back every Friday. Book a table at evebar.co.uk and you can buy their beautiful cocktails for home delivery at adamhandling.co.uk/hame. VOX, which has everything any amateur or professional guitarist needs for the home and studio, from noise-cancelling headphones to retro-looking electric guitars and amps. Check their brand-new VOX Bobcat V90 & S66 semi-hollow body guitars and VH-Q1 smart noise-cancelling headphones for guitarists voxamps.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How did Drake build his floating yellow ferrari and who owns it now? What inspires Gaga's theatric performances or JAY Z's political visuals? And what's it like to edit Kanye West's wardrobe? Willo Perron, creative director to the stars and co-founder of Los Angeles based architect studio Perron–Roettinger, talks to Straight Up about all of this and more.Also in this episode, we chat about how the best ideas come from our subconscious, what happened when his Rihanna show went wrong, and why his favourite artists are the ones with "shitty attitudes".Thank you to this episode's wonderful sponsor Shop Cuvée, the hugely successful lockdown project from renowned North London restaurant Top Cuvée, which launched a gorgeous online shop at the start of the pandemic and has since become one of the leading sellers of natural wine in the UK. Shop Cuvée also stocks incredible cocktails from Three Sheets bar in London, as well as beautiful store cupboard essentials and deli items including charcuterie and cheese. With Willo we drank a super fresh bottle of Austrian orange wine, the Joiseph Muskat Ottonel, that came specially recommended by the team. Enjoy 10 per cent off shop-wide with the code STRAIGHT UPStraight Up's music and editing is by Marlon Percy  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you bag the only interview with Drake, and get Kanye to open up to you?DJ Semtex’s interviews are the stuff of legend, so over a bottle of Semtex’s favourite drink – Ruinart champagne – Straight Up quizzed him on how he gets the biggest names in music to open up to him and nobody else, his most amazing behind-the-scenes anecdotes with everyone from Travis Scott to J Cole, and his surprising interview fails.Semtex also revealed who from the UK rap scene throws the most iconic parties, how he’d pulled together a Drake interview at a DM’s notice and what he thinks of cancel culture, including which artists and songs he no longer feels comfortable playing in his sets. In this episode, Semtex and Straight up also discuss the damaging impact of fame on artists’ mental health, and the complicated and corrosive nature of artistic genius.This episode of Straight Up has two incredible sponsors. First up, Pioneer DJ, the biggest DJ focused electronic hardware brand in the business, stocking everything from players, mixers and controllers to speakers and headphones, and where every DJ, producer or music lover in the know gets their kit. For DJs just starting or music fans after studio quality sound at an affordable price, then check out Pioneer DJ’s new (and super compact) HDJ-CUE1 headphones. Head to Pioneerdj.com Our second sponsor is the unbeatable Bleecker Burger – winner of the National Burger Award and hands down London’s juiciest burger (don’t believe us? Check out its mouthwatering Instagram). Excitingly for those not lucky enough to live near one of Bleecker’s London restaurants for local delivery, Bleecker has now launched  an epic range of DIY burger kits for delivery nationwide, which includes a full bottle of Bleecker's signature house sauce for you to enjoy long after the burgers are gone. That’s our Friday night sorted...forever. Head to Bleeckerburger.co.ukStraight Up's music and editing is by Marlon Percy  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What do you do when you're at your first-ever Grammys, sitting next to Lady Gaga and Katy Perry, but too high to speak? In this eye-opening chat with Straight Up, the Grammy and Oscar-winning collaborator to Sam Smith, Taylor Swift, Stormzy and Dave reveals some of the most unforgettable moments of his career, from his hilarious Grammys blunder to penning the Oscar-winning Bond song Writing's on the Wall for 2015's Spectre.Also in this episode, over some delicious Old Fashioned cocktails, Jimmy talks about how he first met Sam, and what it was like to co-write their first big hit, Latch, going from singing at empty North London pub nights to becoming world-famous. Plus, Jimmy reveals some of him and Sam's strangest songwriting sessions, why hangovers are brilliant for creativity, and what it was like to work with Dave on Lesley and Stormzy on Crown. Jimmy, Kathleen and Eleanor also get deep into one of the biggest talking points in the music industry right now: the way that Spotify treats musicians, and what needs to change.This episode of Straight Up has two wonderful sponsors. First up, Bar Swift, the London bar with locations in Soho and Shoreditch, which is now offering a brilliant cocktail delivery service, Speakeasy at Home, via which you can order their world-famous Old Fashioned's – including the ones made with Woodford Reserve which we drank with Jimmy – as well as many other delicious cocktails.  Head to barswift.comOur second sponsor is Popsockets, the one-stop-shop for all things digital accessories, from their famous PopGrips to their beautiful phone cases and wallets. Fans of Straight Up get an exclusive 25 per cent discount, STRAIGHTUP25. Simply enter it at the check out! Head to popsockets.co.ukLoved this episode of Straight Up? Have any suggestions for our next episode? Are you a brand wanting to chat to us about sponsorship opportunities? We'd love to hear from you: hello@straightuppodcast.co.ukStraight Up's music and editing is by Marlon Percy: @marlonpercy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.