

The Lydian Spin
Lydia Lunch
A series of lively, deep and often hilarious interviews conducted by Lydia Lunch, one of the most vocal spoken word artists of this or any century and Tim Dahl, musician and general know it all.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 26, 2024 • 57min
Episode 263: Dream Syndicate Frontman Steve Wynn
Steve Wynn, frontman of The Dream Syndicate, has released over 25 albums and had more than 300 songs recorded by artists like REM and The Black Crowes. He has played over 2000 shows in more than 25 countries. He is also known for his solo work and projects like Gutterball and The Miracle 3. Steve joins Lydia and Tim from New York to read from his book I Wouldn't Say it if Iit Wasn't True: A Memoir of Life, Music, and The Dream Syndicate.

Jul 19, 2024 • 1h 8min
Episode 262 Anne Waldman
Acclaimed poet Anne Waldman has been a key figure in the Outrider experimental poetry community for over four decades. Her work, rooted in the Beat, New York School, and Black Mountain traditions, elevates feminist and activist themes through powerful performances. A prolific author with over 60 books, including Fast Speaking Woman and The Iovis Trilogy Waldman also co-founded the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics at Naropa University.

Jul 12, 2024 • 1h
Episode 261 Producer and Musician Kramer
Kramer is a musician, composer, and record producer whose creative ideas can be found all over the American cultural landscape. He is known as the founder of the record label Shimmy-Disc. He was a member of New York Gong, Shockabilly, Bongwater, and Dogbowl & Kramer, and has toured with Butthole Surfers, B.A.L.L., Ween, Half Japanese, and The Fugs. As a producer, Kramer's notable work includes collaborations with Galaxie 500, White Zombie, GWAR, Daniel Johnston, and Urge Overkill.

Jul 3, 2024 • 1h 14min
Episode 260 Writer Richard Cabut
Richard Cabut is an author, journalist, and musician. He is the author of the post-punk novel Looking for a Kiss, which has been adapted for the screen. Richard's journalism has been featured in prominent publications like The Guardian, Daily Telegraph, NME, and The Independent. He co-edited the anthology Punk is Dead: Modernity Killed Every Night and contributed to several other notable works. His short fiction and poetry have been published in various acclaimed books and magazines. Additionally, he played bass for the band Brigandage and co-wrote tracks for The Necessary Animals.

Jun 28, 2024 • 1h 4min
Episode 259 Marianna Simnett
Marianna Simnett is an artist and musician newly based in New York, known for her vivid and visceral explorations of the body as a site of transformation. Her psychologically charged works challenge both herself and the viewer, creating radical new worlds filled with untamed thoughts, strange tales, and desires. Her current work titled Winner is on view at the Hamburger Bahnhof, which the Berliner called "a campy love letter to the world’s most laddish sport(soccer) and its players"

Jun 19, 2024 • 47min
Episode 258 David Yow
Hey have you heard the news? Jesus Lizard is back! They've dropped a new album and are hitting the road for a tour. To celebrate this exciting comeback, we're jumping on the Jesus Lizard bandwagon. So, we're bringing you a replay of our classic interview with the one and only David Yow.

Jun 13, 2024 • 59min
Episode 257 Matt Katz-Bohen
Matt Katz-Bohen, began playing piano at age 7, expanded his repertoire to include cello, violin, and guitar. An alumnus of New York City’s LaGuardia High School, he became the guitarist and Music Director for the drag queen rock troupe The Touchables, collaborating with notable artists like Jody Watley and Lady Miss Kier. Introduced to Debbie Harry at the Squeezebox party, Matt soon joined Blondie on keyboards for their 2008 world tour. As a co-writer of Blondie songs and a musical director for NYC’s Bowieball party, he has also written for RuPaul and toured with Boy George and Tony Bennett.

Jun 6, 2024 • 57min
Episode 256: Timo Ellis
Timo Ellis is a musician, composer, and producer from New York City. Over the past two decades, he has appeared on nearly 100 albums and collaborated with artists like Yoko Ono, Sean Lennon, and Mark Ronson. His music spans genres, including rock, punk, metal, soul, and electronic. Timo's progressive sludge band, Netherlands, has been active since 2010. He also composes and produces music for TV, web, and film, with clients like MTV, CNN, and Harper’s Bazaar, continuously creating new music daily. Timo will join Tim, Lydia and Kevin Shea on tour this summer as part of Big Sexy Noise

May 31, 2024 • 1h 14min
Episode 255 Blag Dahlia
Blag Dahlia has been a force in the punk rock scene for nearly four decades, starting with his 1985 band The Suburban Nightmare, which soon evolved into The Dwarves. Despite never achieving massive commercial success, The Dwarves have left an indelible mark on both hardcore and punk. They’ve always eschewed mainstream conventions, forgoing major label support in favor of raw, unfiltered expression. As such, they're live shows, notorious for their intensity and unpredictability. The Dwarves have a new album out titled Concept Album.

May 24, 2024 • 53min
Episode 254 Guitarist Raoul Björkenheim
Raoul Björkenheim, a Finnish-American guitarist and composer, has spent four decades crafting original music from New York City and Helsinki. Known for his expressionistic and lyrical guitar style, Raul calls his ongoing work "investigative guitarism." His eclectic discography spans over 50 albums, including ambient soundscapes and free jazz, with compositions ranging from duos to big bands. Though his large-scale works for symphony orchestra remain unrecorded, he has scored music for over ten films and dance productions. Collaborating with renowned musicians like Bill Laswell and Mats Gustafsson, Raul's work is featured on labels like ECM and Rune Grammofon. His accolades include the Georgie Prize, the Young Finland Award, the Emma Prize, and three Nordic Music Award nominations.