JR: Lou Mensah’s list of achievements in podcasting is certainly impressive. Creating the podcast Shade in 2019, Lou has received recommendations in The Guardian, Esquire Magazine and Grazia, as well as being the silver award winner in the 2019 British Podcast Awards for Best Arts and Culture podcast. So how would Lou describe her podcast Shade – what’s it about?

LM: “My guests champion the work of artists of colour within the wider cultural landscape. I love talking with artists whose work stimulates the senses but also has the scope to create wider conversations about inclusion. Shade is a space to be inspired by artists and their stories.

I remembered how isolated I felt being a self-taught, female photographer of colour in the 90’s, without access to inspiring conversations about art or my place within it. I also had a disability which meant that I couldn’t socialise with other artists. Back then my sense of community came from reading about other artists’ lives. When I decided to create the podcast I wanted to create an intimate and welcoming space for everyone, from established artists to listeners who
simply enjoy the odd gallery visit.”

JR: Like many podcasters, Lou has taken away some personal highlights from her time producing the show.

LM: “A highlight so far has been Season 4 which was in response to the 2020 BLM uprisings. I felt that we needed a space to process how we felt about the arts and its response to the uprisings, and how our work may change as a result. It was also an opportunity to talk with those working within the media whose job it was to respond to that seminal moment in civil rights history. I talked with the Editor of TIME, journalists from i-D and The Guardian, plus curators, photographers and critics about how the uprisings had impacted their work. I was lucky to have guests on the show who had refused to talk to other press outlets during this time.

One guest was a founding member of BLM UK, who entrusted me with his story. I am proud to have created a space for the conversations that are glaringly missing from mainstream broadcasting platforms. Sometimes podcasting can feel like talking into a void, but the response to the show affirms that the podcast caters for an audience eager to engage with and support
these conversations.”

JR: Despite time restraints, Lou is looking to the future and production for an upcoming season is in process.

LM: “As an independent podcaster I only have time to work on the show a few hours a week, so I am proud that in it’s short life Shade has garnered attention and support from some art heavyweights, including from the South London Gallery and Hauser & Wirth for example, who will continue to support Shade next season. For season 5 I am working with the Sound designer Axel Kacoutié and we are taking the show in a completely new direction. We will launch our collaboration online and at an event in September [2022]. I hope to see some Pod Biblers there!”

Shade is now in its eleventh season, but find out more about Lou’s collaboration with Axel Kacoutié, Interludes, here >>

Listen to SHADE on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other popular podcast apps now >>

The post Good Samaritan // SHADE appeared first on POD BIBLE.

For this New Pods, we are bringing you some recommendations from some new writers. We’re looking forward to sharing some more from these writers on the Pod Bible website in the coming months. But for now, check out the new podcasts they think are worthy to grace your headphones…

Digging With Flo
Recommended by Isabella McDonnell, Xeno podcast

Digging with Flo is a new weekly podcast from NTS Radio hosted by the station’s Breakfast Show presenter, Flo Dill. Flo shares her love of gardening by interviewing guests as they do gardening tasks together on her allotment. Music artists, from rappers to post-punk musicians, get their hands dirty with mulch and compost, while listeners explore the roots of their creative lives. Being on Flo’s allotment transforms the interview environment. Metaphors powerfully emerge around ideas of creativity and cultivation, and listeners get deeper conversations that unveil the artists’ nurturing and surreptitious sides. Listen on your podcast app >>

Session Zero
Recommended by Joshua Watson, Freelance Video/Audio Editor

Session Zero is a role-playing podcast with a therapeutic twist. Hosted by Ben (an experienced game master) and Mike (a therapist and avid player) the show isn’t afraid to tackle topics like imposter syndrome or using role-playing as a form of therapy. That being said, it sometimes strays into the realm of a regular DnD podcast, focusing more on the game than therapy. With engaging hosts and a strong premise, I believe Session Zero just needs to more consistently focus on this unique idea to be a “natural twenty” of a podcast. Listen on your podcast app >>

Shiny Bob: The Devil’s Advocate
Recommended by Zainab Amer, Freelance Writer

Scotland during the late 1980s and early 90s was gripped with rumours of a conspiracy – that gay lawyers and judges were perverting the course of justice – and Shiny Bob had the “list” of their names. Award-winning journalist, Myles Bonnar, unravels a news story that threatened the Scottish legal system, and wiped out reputations along with it. His sensitive commentary provides a powerful listen, as well as insight into a time where homophobia and fear were used as cover-ups. It transpires that a master manipulator was using this fear as a diversion tactic from his own horrific crimes. Listen on your podcast app >>

Objeks & Tings
Recommended by Jelena Sofronijevic, EMPIRE LINES podcast and freelance journalist

With its first release on Windrush Day, Objeks & Tings is perfectly timed to celebrate 75 years of Caribbean people, culture, and their contributions in the UK. Each episode explores the story behind an object deeply cherished by an individual, from dutch pots to hot combs. But listeners also get to enjoy personal stories from Catherine and Lynda – the mother-daughter duo behind both the podcast and Museumand, The National Caribbean Heritage Museum. Their bickering over sound systems and who is doing the cooking gives the listener as much food for thought as their fascinating conversations about Black histories and contemporary experiences. Listen on your podcast app >>

The Louis Theroux Podcast
Recommended by Mimi Jones (they/them), Young City Laureate

When I tell you that I never expected to care so deeply about Shania Twain’s personal history, believe me. But after listening to Louis Theroux so gently exploring her past on his new podcast, I couldn’t help but get invested. Theroux is sitting down with some of the world’s most ‘fascinating figures’ and you can’t miss it. With all the same care and genuine interest from his documentaries, the podcast brings a mix of heart-wrenching, deep, and hilarious interviews. So far, seven celebs have taken the dive into their lives with Theroux and it looks like things will only get more interesting from here! Listen on Spotify >>

Perfect Pitch
Recommended by Sara Essa, Freelance Writer

Ever wondered what goes into creating the perfect advert you hear on the radio? If yes, then this could be the new release for you! Each episode, host Hunter March takes us through a fun game-show style programme. After hearing the brief from big brands such as Doritos, Indeed and Athletics Greens, two creatives battle it out by pitching their ideas for the perfect ad. Perfect Pitch is the perfect pod to learn from their ingenuity to perfect your next pitch. It’s the type of podcast I’d enjoy on a walk when I’m taking a midday break from work to re-energise, and I’m quickly adding it to my “need inspiration” playlist for those days I’m lacking creativity. Listen on your podcast app >>

Witch
Recommended by Katie Stokes, Freelance Producer

Following the hit 28ish Days Later, India Rakusen brings us another deeply feminist, investigative docuseries. Rakusen unravels what we think we know about witchcraft through lessons in history, science, self-discovery, and a gathering of witches – perfectly balancing the hard evidence against pure, unexplainable magic. The show captures the modern gravity and relevance of witch trials, taking us through Europe, Africa and the Americas (though disappointingly missing the prevalence of witchcraft around Asia). This is a personal, eye-opening, bewitching journey tempting the listener to question, could you be a witch? Listen on your podcast app >>

A Black History of Art Presents: A Shared Gaze
Recommended by J.A.Lovelock, Podcast Creator and Host

Want to know what’s happening in the world of Black artistry? Then tune in to A Shared Gaze. Hosted by Cambridge grad Alayo Akinkugbe this podcast is a conversation, between her and too often overlooked Black contemporary artists and creatives and their work. It introduces you to names and artwork that you have most likely never heard of but wish you did. This podcast is freshly minted and so brand new that only three episodes have so far been published. Listen in if only to savour Akinkugbe’s authoritative, dulcet tones. Listen on your podcast app >>

This Is Awkward
Recommended by Suze Cooper, Big Tent Media

In a world filled with pleasantries, This Is Awkward dives into the heart of difficult conversations. In the first episode, hosts Lyanne Nicholl and Kristy Macleod interview Cate Sevilla, author of How To Work Without Losing Your Mind. They explore giving and receiving feedback, and the balance between boundaries and authenticity at work. The series promises insights into those chats you would rather not have, from talking money with your partner to discussing embarrassing health issues. This is a fresh and empowering perspective on the impact of language and how our words shape our relationships.  Listen on your podcast app >>

History’s Secret Heroes
Recommended by Katherine Collins, Freelance Writer

History’s Secret Heroes is a brand new BBC podcast presented by the talented actress Helena Bonham Carter, and consists of ten 30 minute episodes. Each episode focuses on people throughout history who for whatever reason, have been overlooked. Examples of those include Bela Hazan who went undercover to fight the Nazis in WW2, as well as George Takei (Star Trek) who was a Japanese American imprisoned without trial during the same war. I have a lifelong love of history and am already learning so much from this podcast. Helena is a fantastic presenter. Listen on your podcast app >>

The Retrievals
Recommended by Oli Seymour, Producer 

The Retrievals takes us inside a fertility clinic at Yale, where a procedure is causing patients unbearable pain. We discover that this is due to a nurse stealing the facility’s fentanyl. Journalist Susan Burton takes us through the ensuing investigation and trial with sensitivity and tact,
examining how women are listened to when it comes to their pain – if they’re listened to at all. The Retrievals feels important to me. In the fast paced world of print media, this story might get lost, but the podcast takes the time to help victims’ voices be heard. Listen on your podcast app >>

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Want more recommendations of the latest podcast? Sign up to our newsletter for our choice of the best classic, indie and new podcasts every week!

The post The best new podcasts of SUMMER 2023 appeared first on POD BIBLE.

Podcasts are a fantastic way to further connect with the subjects you are passionate about, and arts podcasts are no exception. Whether it’s giving you insights to artists and galleries, helping you experience a piece of work you can’t visit in person, or uncovering hidden histories of art movements, there is plenty to dig into.

The Great Women Artists’ Podcast

Katy Hessel’s podcast (and Instagram, and book) gives glowing introductions to the lives and practices of great artists. We get new, alternative insights into the lives of well-known women like Paula Rego and Yoko Ono; for others – like Ruth Asawa, Augusta Savage, and Suzanne Valadon – the podcast pushes back against their posthumous obscurity. Hessel also interviews contemporary artists practising today. Her interview with Marina Abramović is a highlight (you get to hear how she realises that Earth is the ‘Glasgow of the Universe’ in a planetarium) and required listening ahead of this autumn, when the artist will be the first woman to have a solo exhibition at the Royal Academy. Listen on your podcast app >>

Womanica

This iHeartPodcasts show is a five minute daily dose, reinjecting women into the history books. Each episode focusses on an individual woman, grouped in series like ‘Dynamos’, ‘Mothers’, and ‘Ragers’ (with the help of some corporate sponsorship.) Broad in scope and subject, Womanica leans towards the US, covering from Lorraine O’Grady, Sister Mary Corita Kent to Carolee Schneeman – another performance artist, most recently on show at the Barbican. But the episode on Julia Margaret Cameron is a welcome introduction to the artist and photographer at the fore of Tate Britain’s rehang. Listen on your podcast app >>

Writers & Company

Eleanor Wachtel, presenter and co-founder of the Canadian radio programme Writers & Company, recently announced her retirement from the show after 33 years of broadcasting. The farewells bid to her by everyone from Salman Rushdie to Zadie Smith are a testament to her remarkable legacy – and give us an opportunity to go back into the archives. W&C is a deep dive into the the lives, thoughts and works of remarkable writers from around the world, including Bulgarian poet Kapka Kassabova, the multi-hyphenate Amit Chaudhuri, and artist William Kentridge. It considers the act of writing broadly, and delve as much into the guest’s history as the subject of the episode. The episode on the anachronism-filled 2022 film Corsage, Marie Kreutzer’s portrait of the nineteenth century icon, Empress Elisabeth of Austria, is a must-listen. Listen on your podcast app >>

Talk Art

More contemporary is Talk Art, presented by actor Russell Tovey and Margate-based gallerist Robert Diament. Promising to ‘make art accessible, non-academic, non-elitist, gossipy and fun’, each episode feels like a warm conversation with a friend – and we’re in good company, with the likes of Lindsey Mendick, Lubaina Himid, Sonia Boyce, and Ai Weiwei. Still, my favourites are those that platform younger, lesser-known artists, like Paula Siebra. Stepping into her studio in Brazil (by Zoom), we learn why she loves painting glass jars, hates any sort of technology, and paints to the sounds of Simon and Garfunkel. It’s wonderful to hear other young people so driven by their practice: ‘I have a lot of work to do, I’m not dying today’. Listen on your podcast app >>

Arts & Ideas

Say what you will about the BBC – though some formats and presenters are a little staid, it still produces some of the best researched arts, culture, and history content in the field. The BBC Radio 4 shows might get the most attention, but it’s Arts & Ideas (sometimes called Free Thinking) from BBC Radio 3 that makes the boldest leaps. Some episodes explore well-worn subjects from alternative perspectives, like why we love to hate the Pre-Raphaelites, and what such hatred says about us. The series features a wide range of speakers, from Tate Modern’s Nabila Abdel Nabi talking about Hilma af Klint and the occult, to curator Craig Clunas, on what connects Freud and Chinese sci-fi films, and Rana Mitter, on how Artemisia Gentileschi shaped art and advertising. With its multidisciplinary panel, the recent episode on decadence dives into the art movement’s Orientalist foundations from different perspectives – and how ‘art for art’s sake’ has its origins in the colonial anxieties of nineteenth-century France, which feared a falling birth rate with the rise of women’s rights, contraception, and so-called ‘sex for sex’s sake’. Listen on your podcast app >>

EMPIRE LINES

EMPIRE LINES uncovers the unexpected, often two-way flows of empires through individual artworks – from theatre to architecture, painting to film. In fifteen minutes, we focus on one object as an artefact of imperial exchange, using art to understand the how and why, and challenge simplistic, monolithic understandings of empires. Recorded on location in the latest exhibitions, EMPIRE LINES features fascinating interdisciplinary thinkers in the field, with contemporary artists like Nalini Malini and Ingrid Pollard, curators from The Courtauld to the COBRA Museum in the Netherlands, and the team behind Tate Modern’s Surrealism Beyond Borders. Listen on your podcast app >>

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Jelena Sofronijevic is an audio producer and freelance journalist, who creates content at the intersections of cultural and political history. They are the producer of EMPIRE LINES, a podcast that uncovers the unexpected flows of empires through art, and historicity, a new series of audio walking tours, exploring how cities got to be the way they are. Their full works in print, including museum and exhibition reviews, can be found here. Follow them @jelsofron.

The post 6 of the best podcasts about art and artists appeared first on POD BIBLE.

What was the first podcast you ever listened to?

The first podcast I ever listened to is a show called the GiantBombcast back in 2009, I was a big gamer at the time and I didn’t have the best internet connection to watch reviews or previews so it was a great way to stay in the loop and the personalities of all the hosts really impressed on me that doing a podcast could be fun.

Why did you decide to start podcasting in the first place?

I always had a creative streak but never really knew what to do with it, I’m not the best writer and can’t draw but always wanted to make things. After a stint in college radio I did an internship in commercial radio but the format never felt right. Eventually I decided to give podcasting a try when I went back to study journalism after listening to them for so many years and immediately it clicked. All the ideas I had in my head seemed to start to take form and I saw all the little threads that would pull the fragments of my notebooks together to become a reality.

Which podcasts do you take inspiration from?

I take a lot of inspiration from shows like Articles of Interest. I like to think about how different storylines come together to influence something as a whole, like the story of how a forearm tattoo on Tsar Nicholas II intersects with the Meiji Restoration in Japan and the decline of the Dutch trading companies. I like shows that take a small, almost inconsequential, story and use it to connect it to something bigger and more nuanced.

How do you navigate talking about the cultural aspects of tattooing?

One of the biggest things to remember about tattooing is that it is not a monolith, from the outside most non-tattooed people just see tattoos as tattoos, ink in skin and nothing much more than that, all painted with the same brush. When in reality tattooing as a culture is very diverse, from styles, to regions, to even who’s applying them. There has always been a very rich cultural history in tattooing that far predates tattooing machines or our modern ideas around tattooing. It’s an artistic medium that has touched every culture and subculture you could imagine, so it’s a lot more diverse and deep than most people think

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt so far as a podcaster?

Always save a backup and don’t drink sparkling water before recording.

Which episode would you say is the perfect introduction to your podcast?

I would recommend either our second episode, ‘Into the Land of the Painted People’ on the prehistoric origins of tattooing, or our episode on ‘Britain’s first professional tattooist’ Sutherland McDonald.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

There’s no such thing as a bad tattoo, just ones that aren’t appreciated yet.

Where can Pod Bible readers find out more about you?

You can find us on Instagram @beneaththeskinpod where we also share images of some of the tattoos we talk about in the show!

Listen to Beneath The Skin on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other popular podcast apps >>

The post Beneath The Skin: The history of everything told through the history of tattooing appeared first on POD BIBLE.

That is why Claire started the Creativity Found memberships, to connect the creatively curious with the creativity confident. We asked her more about what the community offers to members – as well as how the community helps Claire as well…

What does membership offer your community?

I run two memberships. One to help anyone that is creatively curious get past whatever is holding them back and give them access to new creative activities and experiences to try. The other supports and promotes businesses that teach creative activities or sell kits and supplies. All members have access to monthly online meetups, an online members’ pack with arts and crafts and business resources, a private chat group, money-saving discounts for arts and crafts events and activities, and opportunities to meet other members in real life to go to arts events that their family or other friends might not be so keen on going to. Business members get a dedicated page on the Creativity Found website explaining how they can help you get creative, with links to their own websites and social media accounts, plus opportunities for podcast appearances and adverts.

How did you realise there was a need for this more in-depth membership?

The podcast episodes were getting such a good response that I wanted to take that inspirational aspect further and share opportunities for listeners to follow in the footsteps of my guests and access their own ‘creativity found’. Like many of my guests, I am self-employed, and I understand how isolating that can be. The small business owners that join the Create a Scene membership are in the same boat, and I knew I wanted them to be connecting with each other and sharing their highs and lows. You tend to think you are alone in a particular predicament, but usually you’re not, and someone else who has been there may be able to help you, or even just chatting through the situation can lighten the load. I wanted to connect creative business owners with each other and with more customers, and connect those looking for creativity with small businesses that I trust and can recommend.

What’s been the reaction from people who have signed up as members?

Supportive. It’s a great community and now each member knows that other members are their cheerleaders, as well as me of course. There have also been some collaborations on events, which I love.

One thing creators can find difficult is deciding on their ‘value’ in literal terms. Can you give us an idea of how you went about valuing yourself and deciding on price bands?

I pragmatically thought about what I would be willing to pay for the benefits that the membership offers. I also considered what I already pay for groups that I am a member of and get value from. As the Creativity Found community widens, the value that it already offers will organically grow, with no extra cost to the member.

What does the membership give to you as the leader?

A load of new friends, for starters. An insight into all the opportunities there are out there, and the wealth of disciplines for you to try. It turns out that I am a bit of a people person, and a good networker, and there is nothing I like more than being able to connect people with others that can help them, or they just might love to have as a friend.

Is there anything you haven’t done with the Creativity Found community that you would like to do in the future?

A big in-person meetup. That won’t be easy, since we have members from Scotland to Brighton, but I would love to see all members in a big room, showing off their creative talents and teaching others all about their art or craft.

If you are looking for arts and crafts classes, courses, kits or supplies; memberships to support you on your first steps to creativity or help you grow your creative business; or an inspirational podcast telling the stories of adults who have found their creativity as grown- ups, you can find all of this – and more – at creativityfound.co.uk

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This article was produced as part of a paid advertising package. To enquire about advertising with Pod Bible email info@podbiblemag.com.

The post Learn how to be creative with Claire Waite Brown’s podcast community! appeared first on POD BIBLE.

Now with more than sixty episodes in the back-catalogue, Claire has found success as a solo podcaster, with nominations for the International Women’s Podcast Awards and recently with features on the Amazon Music app. We caught up with Claire to ask her all about it…

Creativity Found has been listed as 10 Inspiring Indies in a featured list on Amazon Music in the US – how do you feel?

Excited that people who may not have otherwise come across the podcast might now find it, and also proud that some clever people at Amazon think its worthy of being highlighted and promoted this way. I know its worthy, but it’s always nice to know someone else thinks so too.

What was the first podcast you ever listened to?

Bear Brook from New Hampshire Public Radio. It’s a true crime series. I still listen to a lot of true crime, shows about cults, and podcasts about podcasts and podcasting.

Why did you decide to start podcasting in the first place?

Because I realized I could. I accidently went on an online workshop about using Anchor, which I don’t use, that showed me that I could audio edit and produce something good. I had been speaking to people in general about returning to an artistic endeavour after time away for whatever reason, and thought it was an interesting topic to explore. And it is! And other people want to hear about it too, so two years down the line and I am booking guests six months in advance.

Which podcasts do you take inspiration from?

I am inspired by my new podcast buddies that I have met since starting, in particular all the indies doing absolutely everything themselves, as I do. Podcasts with similar themes to Creativity Found are More Than Work by Rabiah Coon and The Second Chapter by Kristin Duffy. Clare Murigande’s Narratives of Purpose is really interesting, and Zoe Langley-Wathen’s Head Right Out is about outdoor adventuring, which is NOT something I do but great to hear how other people do it. I was very impressed with the production of Conning the Con by Sarah Ferris. She has done more shows now but for a first series it was very skilful.

Who’s your dream guest for the podcast?

All of my guests so far are dreams, and I love them all equally! I did ask Johnny Vegas to come on. He talked on Grayson’s Art Club about using Naomi Woolf’s book The Beauty Myth as influence for his final show at uni, and I used it for my dissertation. I was at a crime writer’s event recently and asked author Clare Macintosh and the rest of the panel a question – I was very nervous. I managed to make it relevant to the podcast and asked Clare if she’d like to be a guest – she used to be a police officer. That one may actually happen, which is exciting.

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt so far as a podcaster?

That I like people! I always thought I was a bit of a lone bird, but I love meeting new people and having a good chat.

Which episode would you say is the perfect introduction to your podcast?

My guests cover all disciplines of the arts, so you might choose to hear from a photographer if photography is something you’re interested in, for example. There’s also an element of the emotions of an episode. If you are in the mood for something touching and emotional, I would recommend the episodes with Lou Hamilton, Leanne Tibiatowski, Andrea Carter Brown or Anna Lovind. For something more light-hearted, I’d suggest Maxyne Ryan, Tara L Lacey or Rabiah Coon.

Listen to Creativity Found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and other popular podcast apps. 

The post Creativity Found: Stories of new-found artistic experiences appeared first on POD BIBLE.

In Hauser & Wirth London, Axel Kacoutié and Lou Mensah sit in front of a Amy Sherald painting titled “For love, and for country” (2022). The piece is part of an exhibition called The World We Make and it’s Amy’s first solo show in Europe. The piece is also the subject of ‘Interludes: Dream Recurred’, the fourth episode in the new season of the Shade Podcast, which this live podcast experience is launching.

Interludes is a collaboration between multi award-winning sound artist Axel Kacoutié and Shade, where six contemporary artists answer the question: What does healing sound like?

Lou Mensh and Axel Kacoutie. Photo credit: Kid Circus

In previous seasons of the Shade Podcast, host Lou would hold interviews between artists and herself regarding how art has moved through their life. It would result in conversations about what art means personally, but also beyond one person. A particularly harrowing season of Shade was after the Black Lives Matter protests of summer 2020 – season four reflected on how the media responded to the uprising.

Speaking to Lou before the show, she told me that though those conversations were timely, she felt that after this response the audience needed a place where they could find some sort of solace. “I just thought next season I want it to be a gift to the audience and for people who are listening, something that can hold them, comfort them and acknowledge the need for everyone just to take a step back – to take some respite and some selfcare. I just wanted to create a small space through this series with Axel that would help people do that.”

This is evident through Axel’s sonic response. At the launch, they play us a snippet of the episode ‘Dream Recurred’ – Amy discusses the piece “For love, and for country”. Her images depict Black Americans in ordinary everyday situations and also reimagines them in historical moments: This piece in particular was a recreation of the photograph VJ Day in Times Square (1945). She fondly mentions friends she cares deeply about and wanting them to be represented, and it is followed by Axel using audio of Amy simply repeating the words “love is love” – the words linger in the air and the audience take them in. After sitting in comfortable silence for some seconds, Axel explains why the use of repetition not only emphasises the statement but reminds us how grounding the listening experience can be.

Credit : Amy Sherald ‘For love, and for country.’ 2022

“I feel like there’s a lot that the body and ear can do and need and I wanted to speak to that intuitive response,” they continue, “to follow how sound and music works to encourage and evoke a stillness,” a stillness that is often difficult to find in podcasting.

Lou talked briefly about how as the Producer she broke the housekeeping rules of podcasting – there is no traditional intro and outro, no break for ads and sponsors. Lou wanted all of that removed, “I wanted it to be an audio but also a physical and an emotional space to rest. For people to just relax. In audio there’s a lot of talk, a lot of chat, there’s a lot of fast energy. There’s a lot of slick audio making but I feel like it misses that capacity to hold people emotionally. I just felt like it was something I would try and do.” I felt like this approach of break in structure from Lou and these moments of quietness and minimalism for Axel worked well together – healing itself is such a nuanced and deeply personal topic; it is never linear therefore giving the listener a moment of reflection and breaking tradition feels just.

For those who have been listening to Shade for a while, you may remember the first glimpse of collaboration between Axel and Lou was the final episode of the 2021 four-part series of conversations exploring anti-racism in the arts, co-curated by Shade and Convergence. They’ve wanted to work together since, both confirming that it had been a year long process to get Interludes made. However, to add a timeline to projects like these is reductive. In some of the Interludes episodes, the sounds Axel used draw inspiration from projects that were made ten years ago, “It’s all part of the healing process that being able to give life to things that you thought would never see the light of day,” Lou adds, “I’ve been working in the arts for nearly 30 years so there is no way that all the things I’ve experienced and been a part of, have not been a part of this series because they have, so it’s a lifelong process of memories and inspirations.”

This project was as much for the creators as it is for the listener.

Listen to Interludes on The Shade Podcast now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other popular podcast apps.

The post REVIEW // Shade Podcast LIVE – Interludes appeared first on POD BIBLE.