Sweetman Podcast

An in-depth chat with American singer/songwriter, soundtrack composer and theatre performer Elvis Perkins. He was in Wellington in February/March for the show "HOME", as part of the NZ Festival. So we talked about that show, but also his solo career beginning with Ash Wednesday and his band Elvis Perkins in Dearland, the horror films his brother (Oz Perkins) has directed that he has scored, the most recent American election, his father Anthony Perkins, the death of his mother (Berry Berenson)in 9/11 and so much more...

A chat with James Buttery - vinyl collector, record-nerd, he's the co-host of a new podcast called The Good, The Bad & The LP. He's the host of a YouTube channel where he effectively reviews his own record collection. We talk about his late start in life, music-wise, his travels between England, Australia and New Zealand and the aims and ambitions of his new podcast. We also talk collecting. And all things record-collection and record-collecting. We talk too about this podcast and some of my music writing. It's a big old music-nerd talk this one.

An in-depth chat with Dennis O'Brien, owner of Slow Boat Records in Wellington. As captain of the good ship Slow Boat Dennis is an institution. His store is perhaps the greatest record store in New Zealand. Actually, no question, it is. Dennis was also a singer/songwriter with a professional music career long before he started selling records. We talk about his years playing in bars in Wellington and playing on giant festival bills in England. His albums, his aims, his return to New Zealand and the creation of Slow Boat which of course sails on. And long may it do so...

An in-depth chat with singer/songwriter, frontman of the Mockers and Fagan & The People, broadcaster, sailor and poet Andrew Fagan. We talk about all of these things - the Mockers reunion, new music with his other band, upcoming poetry readings as the opening act for John Cooper Clarke and his love of the sea, of sailing in his boat Swirly World. We also revisit his time as PD and breakfast host for Kiwi FM and then a stint in talkback.

An in-depth chat with Ebony Lamb, singer/songwriter, frontperson of Eb & Sparrow. The band is just about to release its brand new album and will be heading on a nationwide tour. We talk touring and music-making but before all of that we talk about a Hawke's Bay upbringing, her father's record collection, photography, parenting and life experiences.

An in-depth chat with Wellington-based writer Megan Dunn. She's the author of "Tinderbox", part-memoir/part-novel it tells the story of her time working in the Borders book-store chain, and her attempt to re-write Ray Bradbury's Farenheit 451 novel from a different point of view. We talk about all of this as well as her background in visual art, performance and art criticism. And we talk about her fascination with mermaids, the basis of her next major writing project...

An in-depth chat with journalist and poet Richard Langston. We talk through his varied career from being a newspaperman and TV reporter through to filling in on radio for Kim Hill, writing poetry, working on Maori TV and Country Calendar and his love of music - from interviewing Billy Bragg, Morrissey and The Go-Betweens in the UK to starting a Flying Nun fanzine in Dunedin. We talk about writing and reading and the importance of both. And Richard reads some of his poems...

An in-depth chat with Christchurch-based artist Marie Le Lievre. Marie is Katy's cousin so I first met her over a decade ago. We've watched her work, we're fortunate to have some of it on our walls; we've talked about Marie's art and approach over the years but this was a chance to sit down and talk through the work and some of the baggage that informs in. Marie talks through her reasons for painting, her technique and approach and the aspects of her life that have informed her work. She has an exhibition of her work at Bartley and Company Gallery in Wellington through until early March.

An in-depth chat with Wellington jazz drummer Ant Donaldson. A veritable encyclopedia, Donaldson relays the story of his many bands and music projects from the Primitive Art Group and Six Volts to his work - finally - as a rock drummer in a rock band (TEETH) via improvisation and deep study of the rudiments. From playing with Mike Nock in Sydney to performing with stalwarts of the Wellington improv scene and nurturing in a new generation Donaldson has done so much. And here we get to talk through his life and work.

We made it to 100! I say we and I guess I mean me. But I also mean you - dear listener. Thank you. If you've tuned in even once...well, welcome back for a start! And so here I talk about the behind-the-scenes, the before and after interviewing, the aims - and we walk back through some key moments from conversations with Booga Beazley and Dave Dobbyn, with Sylvie Simmons and Jeff Boyle, Anika Moa and Luke Buda, Mike Nock and Phil Judd and Nadia Reid. My thanks to all guests, to all listeners and we're back next week with a "proper" episode. This is the first walk back through some moments from previous episodes.

An in-depth chat with Adam Page, Australian saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, musical force - and massive Van Halen fan! We chew the fat about Stevie Ray Vaughan and Charlie Hunter and Coltrane and other musical influences. We talk about Adam's time growing up in Australia, the huge impact he had on the Wellington music scene in the early 2010s and his focus now as a new dad, label owner and continued creative spirit.

An in-depth chat with Yvonne Lorkin, wine taster, critic, judge, enthusiast. She's also behind "WineFriend", a subscription model where her expert tasting notes and palate will provide individual wine choices, pay the fee and have the wine delivered to your door. We talked about wine and wine-tasting and wine-writing and how Yvonne turned her passion into a brand.

A second in-depth chat with Wellington-based writer and musician and curator/collector Jules Desmond. We catch up on the bits we missed in the first talk (ep.90) and discuss the Wellington music scene in the mid-90s as well as talking about music journalism and touching on many other tangents...

An in-depth conversation with Andrew Johnstone of the now defunct Rip It Up Radio. He interviews me about my life and influences and writing interests. I play a few clips of favourite songs and discuss some of my favourite tracks and my approach to writing, reviewing and listening. This interview was originally party of Rip It Up Radio's podcast series and was recorded around two to three years ago. It's represented here thanks to Andrew Johnstone and Rip It Up. A bit of summer holiday bonus content.

An in-depth chat with Wellington-based actor Gavin Rutherford. We talk about the various forms of work he has done - TV, film, voiceovers, adverts, theatre. We talk too about his recurring Pantomime roles and his work as one of the new stalwarts of Circa Theatre. In early 2018 he'll be directing a play on the main stage (Circa One).

An in-depth chat with Adam McGrath, lead singer and a songwriter for The Eastern, also a solo artist; prolific busker. We talk about his early years stealing cars and obsessing over music. We talk punk and the influence of The Clash and Henry Rollins and the move to making American music in America and then back in New Zealand. We talk about the rise of The Eastern, the setback of the Christchurch earthquakes and the relief work the band was involved in. He has a solo album due next year and a new Eastern album will be recorded late next year too...

An in-depth chat with Wellington-based singer/songwriter, busker, multi-instrumentalist Vorn Colgan, leader of the band VORN, part of the group Gold Medal Famous, solo artist, musician for hire...we talk about the albums he's made and the work he's done, his influences, travel, jobs, and the aims and ambitions of his music, including a brand new project which is an 'album' you can only access via YouTube.

An in-depth chat with "The Godfather of New Zealand Comedy" Scott Blanks. We talk about the 20th Anniversary of his comedy club, The Classic, his various roles as manager, promoter, talent spotter and his background in performance and promotion. We talk about the development and evolution of the New Zealand comedy scene from the wasteland of the early 90s to the robust TV-career-driven roster that now abounds. Scott and his club were both name-dropped in a book by British comedian Stewart Lee.

A return visit from Shelagh Magadza, this time to preview and discuss the 2018 New Zealand Festival (still known by many as The Arts Festival). We talk through the shows and highlight several key acts and events. (In our earlier talk, episode 65, we talked all things Jazz Festival).

An in-depth chat with Jules Desmond - bass player, music reviewer, archivist, noise-maker...Jules and I know each other best through Facebook but we've known each other for a while. I was first aware of him as a music reviewer/writer but also as a member of Letterbox Lambs. He's gone on to play in several bands, release albums, run a label, make noise/improv music and meet Henry Rollins. We talk about that - and more. And this is just the first conversation - recorded a year ago...we go on to talk more (more recently) in a future episode of the podcast...