Electronically Yours with Martyn Ware

Of all the people I wanted to interview for this podcast, Tony Visconti was my number one choice. He has produced 12 of my top 20 all-time favourite albums, and he is simply one of the greatest producers of all time. Bowie, Bolan, Sparks, Paul McCartney, The Move, Iggy Pop, Kaiser Chiefs, Thin Lizzy, Holy Holy, Morrissey, Prefab Sprout, Angelique Kidjo... the list goes on and on... Then there’s the albums... Young Americans, Diamond Dogs, Electric Warrior, Low, Heroes, Blackstar, The Idiot, Lodger, Scary Monsters etc etc The man is a stone-cold, one of a kind, musical hero - my career would probably never have happened without his music. Ladies and Gentlemen, kneel and pay homage to Anthony Visconti... there can be only one...

Morris Hayes is the much-respected musical director of New Power Generation and the trusted right hand man of Prince’s band for nearly 20 years (Prince called him 'Mr. Hayes'). He is also working with Prince’s estate and his huge vault of legacy recordings, including the recently announced, previously unheard brand-new Prince album ‘Welcome 2 America’. His stories and insights into the Paisley Park universe and many tours and albums are fascinating, as is his love of all things technological, which he and Martyn definitely share in common… https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/apr/08/lost-prince-album-welcome-2-america-to-be-released-in-july https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJtxSdTL488&t=144s

Neil Arthur and Martyn have known each other since they worked together on Blancmange’s first demos. They immediately became firm friends, and their mutual love of football and the north remains strong. In the 80’s, Blancmange blasted out a string of top 20 electronic pop classics like Living On The Ceiling and Blind Vision, and three classic albums, and Neil has continued in the last decade with further excellent releases and collaborations. The new Blancmange have supported Heaven 17 on two UK tours recently, and Neil regularly collaborates with new bands Ladies and gentlemen, he’s up the wall, he’s up the bloody tree... Neil Arthur

Chris Watson – what a dude… Part of the original lineup of the truly legendary Cabaret Voltaire (and a major influence on the early Human League during their time together in Sheffield), his destiny was always connected to his love of sound recording. He has a particular and passionate interest in recording the wildlife sounds of animals and habitats from around the world. As a freelance composer and sound recordist Chris also specialises in creating spatial sound installations which feature a strong sense and spirit of place. His television work includes many programmes in the David Attenborough ‘Life’ series including ‘The Life of Birds’ which won a BAFTA Award for ‘Best Factual Sound’ in 1996, and as the location sound recordist for the BBC series ‘Frozen Planet’ which also won a BAFTA Award for ‘Best Factual Sound’ (2012). He probably possesses the world’s largest library of natural world recordings, often captured using devices he himself has created. He also lectures around the world, and he and Martyn have collaborated on various projects over the years, including the astounding Sound Oasis project in the centre of Mexico City, and Martyn’s Future of Sound tour featuring Illustrious’s unique Immersive three-dimensional sound system. Ladies and Gentlemen – prepare to be fascinated… there can be only one Chris Watson

Stephen Mallinder (AKA Mal from the Cabs in my memory) is a multifaceted artist and musician who was a founding member of the most seminal pre and post punk band Cabaret Voltaire, who went on to work as Sassi & Loco, the Ku-Ling Bros., Hey! Rube, Wrangler and Creep Show. He is also one of Martyn’s oldest and best friends, without whose support, mentorship and inspiration, the nascent Human League would never have developed fully. He has produced in excess of 30 albums, and he is also a well-known remixer and live performer. He  is also a respected academic, having published numerous academic papers, and has a PhD in Music. He is super-smart, authentic and funny, in fact everything you’d wish from a true renaissance man… Ladies and gentleman… I give you a true original – Stephen Mallinder

Richard "Kid" Strange is an English writer, actor, musician, curator, teacher, adventurer and the founder and front man of seminal mid-1970s protopunk art rock band Doctors of Madness. Martyn has been a fan of his since the Doctors first album release, and their paths only recently crossed once more when Richard and he became lecturers at Tileyard Education in London. Richard is a fine and innovative songwriter, and has just released a single remixed by Martyn called ‘Walk Of Shame’. Let’s face it, anyone who has maintained a career in music and showbusiness for over 40 years deserves a huge amount of credit… Ladies and gentlemen – Kid Strange…

John Foxx aka Dennis Leigh is the quietly powerful and enigmatic maker of futurist electro pop and composer of elegant soundscapes. Martyn met him and became friends whilst recording in his studio The Garden 40 years ago, and his work has remained massively influential since then, featuring an ever changing series of reinventions. His commitment to innovation and education is a powerful one. And he’s a fellow Northerner! Ladies and gentlemen, prepare to be fascinated...

Roisin Murphy is without doubt a force of nature. After her rise to stellar fame with the band Moloko, and the club classic ‘Sing It Back’, she has matured into a unique musical visionary. Born in Ireland, moved to Manchester and settled in Sheffield, she has gone on to create some of the most intelligent and futuristic electronic pop music in the last 2 decades. Apart from being massively respected in the music community for her daring and originality, her new album ‘Roisin Machine’ is a total, unequivocal triumph, and is top of my playlists currently. Give it up for the machine herself…

Gary Numan is a fascinating and surprisingly affable guy – he’s a singer, a songwriter, a composer and producer, and one of the great electronic pop pioneers. Tubeway Army started as a punk band and, under his Gary Numan persona, quickly metamorphosed into the most popular electronic futurist band of the early 80’s. He is creatively driven, a true artist who clearly doesn’t flinch from controversy, and he has a unique vision which explains his enormous and loyal fanbase. He has sold over 10 million records, and that is no joke. He also loves aircraft and aviation – wait for the story at the end of the podcast – jaw dropping… Ladies and gentlemen – It’s cold outside…it’s Gary Numan!

Thomas Dolby is a very interesting and surprisingly humble renaissance man and polymath. He has always combined a fascination with the future as a kind of geeky avatar, with a playful and highly commercial musical approach. Perhaps best known for blinding us with science, Thomas Dolby has always blurred the lines between composition and invention. As a London teenager, Tom Robertson was fascinated with the convergence of music and technology. His experiments with an assortment of keyboards, synthesizers and cassette players led his friends to dub him “Dolby.” That same fascination later drove him to become an electronic musician and multimedia artist whose groundbreaking work fused music with computer technology and video. Two decades, several film scores, five Grammy nominations and countless live-layered sound loops later, it's clear Dolby's innovations have changed the sound of popular music. That’s Thomas – smart cookie…