Headliner Radio

Head engineer at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios, Oli Jacobs, has been as busy as ever this year, particularly with one of the studios’ initiatives WOMAD at Home. A collaboration between Real World and the WOMAD international arts festival, the project has seen a number of artists record intimate tracks in lockdown using d&b audiotechnik’s immersive Soundscape system.

Grammy-nominated producer and mix engineer Damien Lewis has worked with the likes of Rihanna, Katy Perry, Janelle Monáe and many more over the course of his career. Damien talks about how he’s forged a reputable career in production, juggling multiple projects this year including the new Justin Timberlake album, and his love of Waves plugins, which he admits he can’t live without.

The sound of Tokyo-based producer and beat-maker Vantage has become synonymous with French filter house vibes and melodies inspired by the Japanese city pop era of the 70s and 80s. Here we find out more about his experimental production process, his relationship with old analogue synths and instruments, and why he’s always on the hunt for something that sounds a little bit different.

Limahl reflects on Kajagoogoo’s early success and shares the way their smash hit, Too Shy came together, and why he never expected it to be a hit. The 80s icon reveals what he thought of his character in American Horror Story, and the way Stranger Things weaved his hit, The Neverending Story into the finale of season three. Back with a new single named One Wish For Christmas, Limahl explains why the song was seven years in the making and how it fulfils a lifelong ambition of his. And is there a new album coming..?

Alexandra Duparc (aka SKANDRA) recently skyrocketed to fame after her husband’s TikTok video – where he confesses they blew their life savings on her new music project – went viral. SKANDRA explains why now is the time for her own solo music, reveals the inspiration behind new single, Rivers, and shares how TikTok has helped her find an audience.

New Zealand-based husband and wife production duo, Khandro Music (aka Junelle and Abraham Kunin) explain how they have released a unique album of mantras and teachings by The Dalai Lama set to music, entitled Inner World. The duo reveal how they collaborated with The Dalai Lama on this project, why he agreed to be a part of it, and why it took five years to come together.

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.