040 – Transmissions from The Church: Steve Kilbey on Obsession, Myth, and Channeling the Music

🎙️ Post-punk Heartstrings Episode 040Transmissions from The Church: Steve Kilbey on Obsession, Myth, and Channeling the MusicIn this landmark 40th episode, we sit down with Steve Kilbey — bassist, lyricist, and founder of the iconic Australian band The Church. From early musical beginnings to post-punk stardom, Kilbey walks us through the obsessions, mysticism, and myth-making that fuel his prolific output. We talk about Bowie, ambient textures, concept albums, and how songs like Under the Milky Way come to him like transmissions from another place.🎸 Steve’s start in music, early band Baby Grande, and the urge to write more than play🌀 The origin of The Church name — a nod to Bowie’s “Moonage Daydream”🤝 Meeting the original lineup: Peter Koppes, Marty Willson-Piper, Nick Ward⛪ The use of religious and mythological themes in his lyrics (Priest = Aura, “Kings”)🌫️ The evolution of ambient textures in The Church’s music (“Summer,” Forget Yourself)🥁 Drum loops, Richard Ploog’s final recordings (Gold Afternoon Fix)🎧 Collaborations: Isidore with Jeffrey Cain and No Agenda with Hammock📼 Outtakes & B-sides: Beside Yourself, Back With Two Beasts, So Love May Find Us📖 The Hypnogogue saga: Eros Zeta, futuristic concept albums, and the companion novella🛸 New album Lacuna coming late 2025🛤️ The Road to Tibooburra - Steve Kilbey and band The Winged Heels and the theatrical story of Lord Jim.💡 On AI, technology, and disillusionment in lyrics like in the song “Amanita”🗣️ Reflections on legacy, autonomy, and what makes a “Church” recordTracks included for critique purposes:“Anchorage” – The Church“Swan Lake” – The Church“There and Back” – Baby Grande“Moonage Daydream” – David Bowie“Fly” – The Church“Field of Mars” – The Church“Metropolis” – The Church“Kings” – The Church“Summer” – The Church“No Agenda” – Hammock ft. Steve Kilbey“So Love May Find Us” – The Church“Musidora” – Isidore“Amanita” – The Church“The Hypnogogue” – The Church“Last Drinks” – Steve Kilbey & The Winged HeelsYou can find Post-Punk Heartstrings on Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/PostpunkHeartstrings⁠ Post-punkHeartstrings can now be found on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjKWsuzqWiSY0vln1Py5ahg👉 Drop us a message, follow the show, and say hello!