In The Spotlight: Interviews

For the latest episode of In The Spotlight podcast, Bill Cummings is joined by music critic and journalist Mayer Nissim (Digital Spy, Gold Radio, NME.com), author of a career-spanning new biography Joy Division and New Order: Album by Album. They talk about their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nomination (their inclusion was confirmed this week), the formative years of Joy Division, the portrayal of Ian Curtis, the albums and singles in New Order's catalogue that signposted their evolution as a group, the influence of club culture, their legacy, and much more. They also touch on their shared love of physical music Factory Records, Manic Street Preachers, The Smiths, Luke Haines, Top of the Pops, Tony Wilson, Football Songs and much more.Joy Division and New Order: Album by Album dives into both groups’ studio albums, pulling together a comprehensive narrative of two of the most vital bands in pop history. From their rehearsals at TJ Davidson’s in Manchester to their number one records, it takes you through their fallouts, reunions and fragmentations to their lasting legacy. As well as extensive interviews with band members Bernard Sumner andPeter Hook, Joy Division and New Order: Album by Album features long-form interviews with several band collaborators from across their career. They include graphic designer Peter Saville, Scissor Sisters frontwoman Ana Matronic (‘Jetstream’), producer Stephen Street (Waiting For The Sirens’ Call and Lost Sirens), recording engineerMichael Johnson (Closer and all New Order albums from Power, Corruption and Lies to Technique) and filmmakers Grant Gee (Joy Division) and Charles Sturridge (‘Confusion’). It also features photographs by Anton Corbijn and official group snapper Warren Jackson, as well as full colour reproductions of all Peter Saville’s groundbreaking album sleeves and a complete discography of both bands.Order online on the link below or pick it up in book shops. https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Joy-Division-and-New-Order-Hardback/p/57270

  For the latest In The Spotlight podcast, Bill Cummings is joined by emerging artist Eaves Wilder, who releases her debut album Little Miss Sunshine on 17th April via Secretly Canadian. They talk about her songwriting, the new album, her recent single 'Hurricane Girl', naturalistic imagery to express inner turmoil and the inspiration of grunge and Pearl Jam. As well as anxiety, ADHD and the trigger of big crowds and loud sounds. They also discuss TikTok, the importance of music venues, expectations upon female artists compared to men, mental health, AI, Lily Allen, how underrated Throwing Muses are, and much more.Eaves releases her euphoric new single ‘Mountain Sized’ today. The transcendent new track transforms a crisis of purpose into an explosive sense of release.Find out more herewww.eaveswilder.com 

For the latest In The Spotlight podcast, Bill Cummings is joined by Juanita Stein of Howling Bells, who release Strange Life, their first album in 12 years via Nude Records on the 13th of February. Stein talks about their new album and their new singles 'Unbroken' and 'Melbourne'. She also reflects on recording their "spiky" debut album in Liverpool with Ken Nelson, the very male music scene of twenty years ago, touring with Coldplay, Editors and Placebo. Plus how she feels Howling Bells fit more into the music world now than they did then and much more. Podcast produced by Andy VonPip. Orginally from Australia but based in Brighton for over two decades, Howling Bells are vocalist/guitarist Juanita Stein, her brother and guitarist Joel Stein, and drummer Glenn Moule. They might have moved to the other side of the world in pursuit of the dreams that soon became a reality, playing at an NME Tour and then in stadiums supporting Coldplay, Howling Bells’ hypnotic indie rock always stood apart from the pack and was very much a reflection of their unbreakable union. Influenced by the likes of Tom Waits and Sonic Youth, as well as Nirvana, Fleetwood Mac, and Björk, their recipe created a heady, immersive stew - equal parts sepia-toned romance and gritty rock 'n' roll thrills.The band’s first album since 2014's Heartstrings, Strange Life was recorded with Howling Bells’ long-time friend and collaborator, producer Ben Hillier (Blur, Depeche Mode, Elbow) at his Agricultural Audio Studios.Strange Life is both a vibrant document of and an exploratory testament to this alchemical magic. Strange Life is both familiar and new; a record that will unfurl like an old friend to long term fans whilst speaking in a language that only hard-won experience and a few more trips around the sun can understand. It is, suggests Juanita, a record about experience and wisdom. “If you're not able to acknowledge the mistakes and the pain and make beautiful music out of it, then they're left festering inside of you,” she says. “And I don't ever want that to happen.”Howling BellsFEBRUARY UK IN-STORE SHOWSFriday 13th February – Rough Trade Denmark Street - TICKETSSaturday 14th February – Crash, Leeds - TICKETSSunday 15th February – Jacaranda, Liverpool - TICKETSMonday 16th February – Truck, Oxford - TICKETSTuesday 17th February – Banquet, Kingston - TICKETSWednesday 18th February – Pie & Vinyl, Southsea (daytime) - TICKETS+ Vinilo, Southampton (evening) - TICKETSThursday 19th February – Gatefield Sounds, Whitstable - TICKETSMARCH/APRIL UK TOUR Pre-sale tickets below - Tickets go on general sale on 9th December at 10 AM Thursday 12 March - Think Tank - Newcastle - TICKETSFriday 13 March - King Tuts - Glasgow - TICKETSSaturday 14 March - Brudenell Social Club - Leeds - TICKETSSunday 15 March - Deaf Institute - Manchester - TICKETSThursday 19 March - Bodega - Nottingham - TICKETSFriday 20 March - Clwb Ifor Bach - Cardiff - TICKETSSunday 22 March - Wedgewood Rooms - Portsmouth - TICKETSTuesday 24 March - Oslo - London - TICKETSThursday 26 March - Fleece - Bristol - TICKETSFriday 27 March - The Sugarmill - Stoke - TICKETSSaturday 28 March - Hallamshire Hotel - Sheffield - TICKETSSunday 29 March - The Waterfront Studio - Norwich - TICKETSThursday 23 April - Alphabet - Brighton - TICKETSFriday 24 April - Dead Wax - Birmingham - TICKETS Photo Credit: David Titlow In the Spotlight is a series of interview podcasts where Bill Cummings talks to artists, authors and interesting figures and tries to get to know them and their work better. In memory of James McMahon and his podcast. 

For the latest episode of In The Spotlight, Bill Cummings is joined by Laura-Mary Carter, best known as one half of Blood Red Shoes. She recently released her debut solo album Bye Bye Jackie.   They talk about her first solo record, the personal experiences that inspired it, and the shift in sound for her solo work, including the influence of 50s rock n roll, country and vintage sounds, and the work of David Lynch.   They also chat about the highs and lows of two decades in Blood Red Shoes, the financial issues faced by musicians, indie sleaze, and the shocking physical abuse she faced early in her career. Plus supporting Queens of the Stone Age and Rage Against the Machine, playing Reading Festival and much more.  "Bye Bye Jackie marks a bold creative shift for Carter, showcasing a more introspective and personal side to her artistry. Written between hotel rooms and quiet nights at home, the album was recorded in Hackney with producers Oscar Robertson (sholto) and David Bardon (Sunglasses for Jaws), known for their experimental edge and genre-defying work. Carter's lyrics are filled with dry wit and emotional depth, matched by production that evokes lo-fi indie, vintage soul, and late-night introspection."Laura- Mary Carter heads off on a string of headline shows across the UK and Europe this winter, with dates in London, Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris, Dublin and more. Tickets are available now via www.lauramarycarter.com.https://laura-marycarter.bandcamp.com/album/bye-bye-jackie Produced by Andy VonPip

For the latest In the Spotlight podcast, Bill Cummings is joined by Gruffydd Owen: who is the owner and label manager at Libertino. They discuss Swigod, the new compilation celebrating a decade of Libertino, the founding of the label, and the key compilations, including releases on Ankst that shaped Gruff's formative music taste. Listen below.They also talk the ethos behind the label partly inspired by Factory Records, and its key releases including Adwaith's debut album Melyn, plus the work of Manic Street Preachers, and R.E.M. Plus, creating a supportive community and infrastructure for music in Wales, They finish by discussing the treadmill for bands and artists, how the demands of streaming and social media in 2025, they also talk about being conscious of welfare and mental health for artists and those in the music industry in this environment. Discovering Adwaith at their second gig at the Tangled Parrot in Carmarthen, Libertino was founded by Gruffydd in 2017 and now has a roster of over 25 artists who create and perform in both Welsh and English. It's home to the likes of Keys, Los Blancos, Ynys, N’famady Kouyaté, Alex Dingley, Minas, ACCÜ, and many more. Through Libertino Management Gruff also manages a large proportion of the acts on the label through their creative journey. Libertino is an all-encompassing home for its artists – booking agent/tour support, in house PR, artist management as well as creative support are all provided. He strongly believes that art should be inclusive and not exclusive, creating a community from grass roots level up. Libertino’s aim is to give artists a platform from which to fly and the knowledge of how to fly successfully.Libertino (@libertinorecs) • Instagram photos and videosCARTREF / HOME | libertinorecords

On the 17th of July 2025 at Cardiff Library and Hub there was a Open Space panel: featuring Author Neil Collins, writer and podcaster Bill Cummings editor of God Is In The TV Zine and hosted by Cardiff libraries Gordon Anderson. They discussed Neil's book, "International Velvet: How Wales Conquered the '90s Charts," which explores that era of Welsh music and what led up to it, as well as its lasting impact on music and culture to this day. Listen to a phone recording from the event above. The 1970s and ‘80s were a bleak time for much of Wales - but the 1990s changed everything. Wales was already known for Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey and Male Voice Choirs. But suddenly bands such as Catatonia, Manic Street Preachers, Stereophonics, Super Furry Animals, 60ft Dolls and Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci exploded into the charts and showed the UK population the breadth of what this small but inherently musical nation could offer. Meanwhile, S4C became increasingly prominent and a new National Assembly for Wales was on the horizon…Featuring fresh analysis and new interviews, International Velvet (Calon) charts the UK in a decade in which ‘Cool Cymru’ won over the masses and shows how it inspired the still-vibrant Welsh music scene into the 21st century and beyond.

For the eighth episode of In The Spotlight, Bill Cummings is joined by Kaptin Barrett at a local cafe to talk about Hip Hop: A Welsh Story, a new exhibition he is a co-ordinator on.  It celebrates the evolution of the genre and art form in Wales, it launches on the 17th of July at the Museum of Wales in Cardiff find out more here.A promoter and DJ of over 20 years, Kaptin was Head of Music at Boomtown for a decade. He currently has the same title but at the Welsh festival Big Love, and is on the board for Sound Progression and the advisory panel for the Black Welsh Music Awards. Plus he has just started a show on DIFF radio with his broadcast partner Dregz. Bill also asks Kaptin about his history in music, hip hop in Wales, his life and the difference between being an artist and a creator and much more. Read Kaptin's substack here.Play out with a clip of Luke RV x Mace The Great - See Me Shine

For the seventh episode of In The Spotlight Bill Cummings is joined by music journalist and author Liam Inscoe-Jones, he is a music and fiction writer who has written for The FADER, Crack, Clash, Rolling Stone, The Quietus and Line of Best Fit, and has appeared on BBC Radio 6.  His debut short story 'You Have Been Notified' was published in 2021. They discuss indepth his new book Songs in the Key of MP3 and how artists of the last decade and technology have shaped popular music. They also discuss the value of music, music discovery, playlists, plus the artists he focusses on in his book Devonté Hynes (of Blood Orange), FKA Twigs, Oneohtrix Point Never, Earl Sweatshirt and SOPHIE.  Each began their careers as obscure outsiders but, over time, they helped to re-shape pop culture in their image. Through these five extraordinary figures and an eclectic supporting cast of dozens more, Inscoe-Jones paints a picture of the sonic landscape of the last ten years, exploring the influence of their music on pop culture, the internet and ourselves.An unorthodox mix of criticism, biography and music history – and featuring interviews with the likes of Caroline Polachek, Daniel Lopatin and Nicolás Jaar – Songs in the Key of MP3 is a book of endless curiosity and wonder; a salutary attempt to define pop culture in a fast and ephemeral age.White Rabbit recently published Songs in the Key of MP3: The New Icons of the Internet Ageby Liam Inscoe-Jones.Order here: Songs In The Key of MP3 | White Rabbit

For episode six of In The Spotlight, a new podcast where Bill Cummings gets to know the work of artists, figures and authors, Bill is joined by multi talented Welsh superstar Aleighcia Scott. They talk her first Welsh single 'Dod o’r Galon' – which recently made history as the first Welsh-language reggae song to reach number one on the iTunes Reggae Chart. Plus, her burgeoning broadcasting career including her role as the winning coach on Y Llais 2025 (The Voice Wales), alongside Sir Bryn Terfel, Yws Gwynedd and Bronwen Lewis.. Plus her regular show on Radio Wales, spots on 1xtra and sitting in for the legendary David Rodigan. Scott also talks about her influences, Lovers rock, her 2023 debut album Windrush Baby, working with reggae legend RoryStoneLove, the exciting black music scene in Wales, Focus Wales, her future plans and a lot more. Spring 2025 saw Aleighcia invited as special guest on Lila Iké’s UK Tour. Aleighcia has also opened for icons like Julian Marley and Soul II Soul, toured the UK with The Skints and Gentleman’s Dub Club, and stepped into her own spotlight with a packed-out UK headline tour that proved her pull as a leading live artist. She has performed festival sets at Glastonbury and Boomtown and graced stages in Jamaica at Dub Club and on KingJammy’s sound system.Produced by AndyVonPipMore info: https://aleighciascott.com

For the latest episode of In The Spotlight, Bill Cummings is joined by Dylan Murphy Irish music journalist and presenter of a new podcast produced in association with The Tenth Man called I Was There.  It tells the stories of iconic gigs in Ireland through the voices of the people who were there—journalists, photographers, promoters, and more. The first episode  dives into Bob Marley's 1980 Dalymount Park gig, which nearly didn’t happen, and another revisits Nirvana opening for Sonic Youth to a half-empty Sir Henry’s in 1991. Episode 3 explores Dolores O’Riordan’s transformative first gig with The Cranberries after joining the band in 1990. From her unforgettable audition to the creation of "Linger," this episode celebrates her legacy and the rise of Irish music in the ‘90s.  In this podcast Bill Cummings asks Murphy about the genesis of the podcast, the guests that help tell the stories of each legendary gig across each episode. They also discuss songs they have chosen by Bob Marley, Nirvana and The Cranberries, the current renaissance in the Irish music scene, artists that are exciting them and more.  Playlist here. "Blending meticulous research with compelling storytelling, I Was There offers a deep dive into the energy and chaos of live music history. This podcast is a celebration of the shows that defined not just music but cultural movements, all through the uniquely Irish lens that ties these episodes together. It is also a reminder of the ever-growing disappearance of the spaces that made these moments possible, and the urgent need to cherish and protect the venues that remain."The series is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms, follow The Tenth Man on Instagram @tenthmanhello.

For the latest episode of In the Spotlight podcast, Bill Cummings is joined by Sox from the London group, Tugboat Captain whose forthcoming fourth album, Dog Tale, is out on the 25th April.  They talk Tugboat Captain, their new album, inspirations, favourite dog breeds, AI music, Divine Comedy, music venues, producing music and more. Following their critically acclaimed 2020 album Rut, Tugboat Captain's Dog Tale was written and recorded in just one week at the South London studio Josh and Sox run, Ctrl P, the album is both an exercise in the band and studio’s ethos of creating music in an atmosphere of spontaneity and creativity. It also represents a more personal dimension for chief lyricist Sox, as he muses on the ephemeral nature of living in London in your mid-late twenties.Originally starting off as Sox’s solo project back in 2017, Tugboat Captain has morphed over the last eight years into one of London’s most distinct bands, with a sprawling, romantic sound that draws on folk, classical music, indie pop and singer/songwriters like Scott Walker and the Divine Comedy. Now a fluctuating sextet, the rest of Tugboat Captain are comprised of Joshua Cobb (Bass & Trombone), Buddy Caderni (Keys & Bassoon), Georgia Mancey (Drums & Percussion), Sophia Bartlett (Violin & Keys) and Dougal James (Keys & Bass).As well as the forthcoming release of Dog Tale, the band have a plethora of UK live dates coming up where they’ll be bringing the widescreen sound of the album to venues up and down the country.Tour Dates23rd April - York - The Fulford Arms24th April - Newcastle - Little Buildings25th April - Halifax - Grayston Unity30th April - Bristol - The Lanes1st May - Newport - Le Pub9th May - London - The Ivy House10th May - London - The Ivy House5th June - Falmouth - The Fish Factory26th June - Portsmouth - Deco27th June - Brighton - Folklore28th June - Rainham - The OastTik Tok // Instagram // X

 For the latest episode of the In the Spotlight podcast, Bill Cummings is joined by Annie Dressner who recently released her new single ‘For The Thrill Of It’ feat Kathryn Williams. They talk about how the song highlights misogyny in the music industry uniquely and how we should call it out. She also talks about working with Kathryn Williams, and working on a new album with artist and producer, Peter Bruntnell, Plus supporting Badly Drawn Boy and Bernard Butler; her dream tour, and what records and new artists she's loving at the moment. They also talk about streaming algorithms and fake artists used on sleep playlists and more. Dressner is currently on tour with Danny & the Champions of the World.Since moving from her hometown of NYC to the UK thirteen years ago, singer-songwriter Annie Dressner has garnered rave reviews for her recordings and live performances. From her debut Strangers…, her EP 'East Twenties’, her second full-length 'Broken…’, to her third full-length Coffee…. and more recently ‘I Thought It Would Be Easier’, Dressner has gone from strength to strength. Her straightforward lyrical style, sharp ear for wordplay and crisp, lilting vocals offer listeners a front row seat to her stories. Her music has drawn comparisons to an up-tempo Mazzy Star, an understated Jenny Lewis, Soccer Mommy & Phoebe Bridgers.Website: https://anniedressner.com/homeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/anniedressner/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anniedressner/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/AnnieDressner In the Spotlight is a series of interview podcasts where Bill Cummings talks to artists, authors and interesting figures and tries to get to know them and their work better. In memory of James McMahon and his podcast. Produced by Andy VonPip

 In The Spotlight, is a series of podcast interviews with artists and figures, where Bill Cummings finds out more about their lives and work. For the second episode, he is joined by Patrick Jones. Jones is a poet and playwright who has brought the struggles and contradictions of life in the Welsh Valleys to new audiences. He was voted the most innovative poet and playwright in the ‘Top 100 heroes of Wales’. He has collaborated with Amy Wadge, John Robb, Martyn Joseph, Beverley Humphreys and provided the words for James Dean Bradfield's Top 10 homage to Victor Jara, 'Even in Exile'.He talks about his powerful new album 'A Constellation of Sorrows', out this week on Repeat Records.  He says “The album is my small act of resistance, of solidarity with the Palestinian people". It's also about the futility of wars worldwide and the lessons we can learn from history. He also touches on his trip to Palestine, Elon Musk, twitter and the post-truth world, his cultural highlights of 2024 and more. A Constellation of Sorrows | patrick jones

For the debut episode of In The Spotlight a new series of podcast conversations, Bill Cummings is joined by Julia and Simon from The Indelicates. They chat about their seventh album AVENUE QANON a labyrinthine concept a record full of songs "about being old and sad and silly amid the bathetically surreal discourse of one of history's all-time stupidest decades."They talk about conspiracy theories, right-wing populism, the re-election of Trump, 4chan, RFK jnr, and how anyone can fall down the conspiracy rabbit hole. They also chat about Simon's solo projects Pylon Music, Arcadia Park and The Mechanical Child. AI and Julia's first photographic retrospective, Fleetwood Mac and much more. The Indelicates released their debut album American Demo on Weekender Records in 2008.That album was followed by five albums on their own Corporate Records label. Their most recent album was Juniverbrecher in 2017.A huge range of Special Editions is available from:https://avenueqanon.indelicates.xyz Other information also available at: https://www.indelicates.com/