Headliner Radio

Merging Technologies’ Anubis music product manager by day, songwriter and artist by night – Ricardo Ryan discusses the surprising use cases that have emerged from locked down Anubis users, and how he is using the interface to record his solo material.

We sit down for a chat with Sam and Lewis from British indie RnB group Easy Life, who were due to play some huge international headline tours and festival slots this year before the pandemic struck. The boys discuss how they’ve been honing their production techniques in lockdown, using their time to focus on a new album, and why Fender guitars are always their number one choice.

Rising British R&B artist, Abisha gets candid about the way her music documents her transformation through the years, particularly in regards to representation and self-acceptance. She shares how it felt to grow up being the only biracial, queer woman in her hometown in Devon, why music is her biggest form of release and therapy, and why recent single, One Night is an apology in the form of a song.

A/J from LA quartet, Saint Motel reflects on the success of their hit song, My Type – which has been used by FIFA 15, Pro Evolution Soccer 2016, and is the Now TV theme – although the indie pop band want to be known for more than that one song. A/J talks about the band’s songwriting evolution, the inspiration behind new single, Preach, and why The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack was always planned as a trilogy.

KT Tunstall shares how she’s been keeping occupied during the lockdown period, and looks forward to her upcoming live stream concert at the world famous L.A. music venue, Whisky a Go Go – which takes place tomorrow (November 7). KT talks socially distanced gigs, and why she’s a proud supporter of the #WeMakeEvents campaign.

At just 16-years-old, singer-songwriter Willa Amai has already proved herself to be an artist of great talent and character. Taken under the wing of the esteemed Linda Perry, the L.A. native charmed audiences with her stripped-back cover of Daft Punk’s Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger, and has won acclaim for her rendition of Dolly Parton’s Here You Come Again, which she recorded with Dolly herself. Willa is currently in the studio with Perry working on her forthcoming full-length debut album, a project which she believes will shape her musical identity.

As the UK heads into lockdown part two, we revisit our podcast with Jayli which took place at the start of the first lockdown. She is a London-based DJ and producer who was born into music thanks to her dad, who composed for the likes of George Harrison and Monty Python. Jayli shares her experience of being a female DJ and producer, why her Select Mixcloud subscription may save her DJ career while all gigs have been cancelled, and delves into her recent single, Dance or Dive.

British singer-songwriter RJ Thompson allowed himself a lot of creative freedom when writing, recording and producing his new album Lifeline, which poignantly explores themes of his childhood and mental health. Thompson discusses his early tours with Midge Ure and Jools Holland, as well as how he combined technology and music on his latest record to offer fans a more immersive experience.

Orlando Higginbottom, better known by his stage name Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, describes how his latest EP was inspired by the sounds of birds singing louder than ever during the silence of the lockdown. He explains how what began as a series of musical greeting cards to isolated friends evolved into a truly unique project.

The busy career of London-based songwriter and producer Peter Rycroft has seen him work with the likes of Kehlani, Ella Eyre, Lewis Capaldi, Jason Derulo and The Vamps in just a short space of time. Lostboy talks about the pressures of breaking through as a producer, his creative process and workflow, and his own artist duo project AboutAGirl, which he has been working on throughout this year.