Lost And Sound
Paul Hanford
Lost and Sound is a podcast exploring the most exciting and innovative voices in underground, electronic, and leftfield music worldwide. Hosted by Berlin-based writer Paul Hanford, each episode features in-depth, free-flowing conversations with artists, producers, and pioneers who push music forward in their own unique way.From legendary innovators to emerging mavericks, Paul dives into the intersection of music, creativity, and life, uncovering deep insights into the artistic process. His relaxed, open-ended approach allows guests to express themselves fully, offering an intimate perspective on the minds shaping contemporary sound.Originally launched with support from Arts Council England, Lost and Sound has featured groundbreaking artists including Suzanne Ciani, Peaches, Laurent Garnier, Chilly Gonzales, Sleaford Mods, Nightmares On Wax, Graham Coxon, Saint Etienne, Ellen Allien, A Guy Called Gerald, Jean Michel Jarre, Liars, Blixa Bargeld, Hania Rani, Roman Flügel, Róisín Murphy, Jim O’Rourke, Yann Tiersen, Thurston Moore, Lias Saoudi (Fat White Family), Caterina Barbieri, Rudy Tambala (A.R. Kane), more eaze, Tesfa Williams, Slikback, NikNak, and Alva Noto.Paul Hanford is a writer, broadcaster, and storyteller whose work bridges music, culture, and human connection. His debut book, Coming to Berlin, is available in all good bookshops. Lost and Sound is for listeners passionate about electronic music, experimental sound, and the people redefining what music can be.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Feb 23, 2021 • 46min
Arab Strap
I zoomed across to Scotland to have a chat with the one and only Arab Strap - Aidan Mofat and Malcolm Middleton. About to release their first new album together for over 15 years - As Days Get Dark, I’ve always loved the band’s confessional lyrics, often pre-occupied with sex and hedonism, half sung, half spoken in Aidan’s Falkirk accent, and the atmosphere they conjur up around this. I felt like I was dropping in on two old friends having a good lunchtime natter and I loved it.https://www.arabstrap.scotTitle music by ESO
Feb 16, 2021 • 41min
Büşra Kayıkçı
Fresh up on the new Lost and Sound I connected to Istanbul, to chat with the influential pianist and interior architect Büsra Kayıkçı. Her compositions have a unique way of capturing something in the moment and her social media presence, particularly on instagram has become, I think, a really positive beacon in a world where its still perhaps unusual in the west to see a woman wearing a headscarf in a creative role.I love her sound, the space and emotion she conjures up and I was so fascinated to discover more about how she combines all of her different disciplines, this is what happened one snowy Sunday when we had a chat.
Feb 9, 2021 • 44min
Hania Rani
I had a chat with pianist and composer Hania Rani, whose two beautiful albums so far on the Gondwana label - Esja and last year’s Home to me, feel like the perfect listening for these snowy days.I love the atmosphere she’s able to conjure often with little more than piano and we got into a really nice conversation from Berlin to her home in Warsaw about, amongst other things, finding the things that give creative freedom, releasing sheet music, The Hobbit and pianos as objects.Hania Rani WebsiteTheme music by ESO
Feb 2, 2021 • 49min
Stuart Staples
I had an intimate and honest chat with Stuart Staples, frontman of Tindersticks, who’ve been carving their unique atmospheric music for over thirty years. When I first heard them, I was immediately drawn to this kind of melancholic romanticism that they seem to tap so well into. I’d listen and in my mind picture a group of gentleman musicians that wear good suits and read old paperbacks. On the eve of the release of new LP, Distractions, we had a conversation from his home in France where we discussed the validity of being pretentious, film scoring, recording in lockdown and what drives his creativity.TindersticksTitle music by ESO
Jan 26, 2021 • 45min
Anna Meredith
I had a chat with Anna Meredith, who is the only person I can think of who has been awarded both an MBE and released albums on indie label Moshi Moshi. Mercury nominated Anna has been Composer in Residence with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and won the 2019 Ivor Novello Composer Award for Innovation. Not only that but was Goldie's mentor on the TV show Classic Goldie and at the same time I find her own LPs bristle with an impossible to define physical voltage . I love her unique approach to music, and we had a revealing and, I think, funny chat that debunks a lot of the romantic perceptions about creativity.http://www.annameredith.comTitle music by ESO
Jan 19, 2021 • 1h 7min
Michael Rother
In the new episode, or should I say the Neu! episode, I had a chat with Michael Rother, of legendary Krautrock pioneers Neu! and Harmonia and ten solo LPs. I’ve always loved his music, which seemed to birth a kind of radical year zero approach to rock, mixing electronics, experimentation, drones and textures. He was also in a very early line-up of some band called Kraftwerk and we had a really warm chat on a cold morning about his complicated relationship with drummer Klaus Dinger, the new LP Dreaming, which he finished in lockdown and the way in the 70s West German music makers like him made music like nobody had ever heard before.Michael Rother’s websiteTitle music by ESOEnjoy!
Jan 12, 2021 • 40min
KMRU
KMRU, also known as Joseph Kamaru, is a groundbreaking Kenyan ambient musician celebrated for his emotive field recordings. He discusses his journey from Nairobi to Berlin and the influence of his cultural heritage, especially his grandfather’s legacy. The conversation delves into how the pandemic reshaped the appreciation for ambient sounds, the emotional ties between sound and memory, and the evocative interplay of scent with sound. KMRU also shares insights on his acclaimed album 'Peel' and its comforting resonance during challenging times.
Dec 15, 2020 • 49min
NZCA Lines
Lost And Sound, is about meeting music people with real vision and together we delve into the culture that inspires them. I spoke with NZCA Lines, aka Micheal Lovett, whose neon-hued disco pop has charmed me since the middle of the last decade. He’s also played with Metronomy and Christine And The Queens and is currently living in New York. We had a really loose and easy chat about living in a new country, vulnerability, sandwiches, Beck’s Midnight Vultures, about having to show up for creativity to happen and the creative benefits of setting limitations. Enjoy!NZCA Lines on BandcampTitle music by ESO
Dec 8, 2020 • 44min
Zakia Sewell
I spoke with Zakia Sewell, Broadcaster, DJ and Audio Producer. Her amazing BBC Radio 4 series, My Albion, goes deep into the songs, stories and symbols that make up British national identity and taps into a super inclusive, multicultural and magical look at folklore. Her show every Saturday morning on NTS delves deep into celestial grooves, spiritual jazz, mythical folk and hazy psychedelic sounds and always sets my weekend up in the right way.I really enjoyed chatting with her about taking an inclusive look at the land, the ecosystems of music and balancing the practical with the woo woo.My Albion on BBC Questing on NTS Lost and Sound theme music by ESO
4 snips
Dec 1, 2020 • 34min
Robert Henke
I had a chat with Robert Henke, dare I say it a true electronic music pioneer. Composer, artist, software developer and co-creator of Ableton Live. Founding member of Monolake, who were making techno music in Berlin back when I was most likely bopping to Kula Shaker in the indie disco, not that there’s anything wrong with that of course. But we spoke in person before lockdown, and listening back I feel an extra wistfulness in his wonderful descriptions of clubbing as a space to both lose and find yourself. Enjoy! And also, from today, Lost and Sound goes weekly. In this strange, tough year the word lost has taken on a new unexpected meaning. But music gets me through and I honestly feel inspiration is flourishing more than ever, wether being forced to be creative about how we approach what we do or just hearing a piece of music in a new way. Sometimes talking about it is a pretty good antidote too. Let’s see how it goes. Lost and Sound, every Wednesday!
