An in-depth conversation with comedian and podcaster, Gavin Hewitson. Gavin does stand-up and he also hosts "Gavin Learns", which I've been a recent guest on - in fact we've set up reciprocating podcast episodes this week. Here we talked about his motivations behind podcasting and the development of it - also his interest in comedy and what it's like to bomb on stage. We also talk about interviews and techniques and have a really good conversation that touches on a few subjects. Get full access ...
Mar 10, 2021•1 hr 32 min
An in-depth conversation with performance poet and songwriter Nadia Freeman (aka Miss Leading). She has her debut full-length solo show at this year's Fringe Festival - one show only on Thurs March 11 at the Pyramid Club in Wellington (730pm). So, there was that to plug. But we talked through her life and focus on writing, her time overseas and learning the craft of slam and performance poetry - to picking up music late in life and creating electronica backing tracks for her words. Get full acce...
Mar 03, 2021•1 hr
An in-depth conversation with Dunedin-based poet and essayist Talia Marshall. We talk about social media (Twitter in particular) and books. Reading. Writers. Writing. We talk about her development as an essayist through work for The Spinoff and Pantograph Punch to North & South and now a regular column in the Sunday Star Times. A deep chat. Lots in here. Get full access to Sounds Good! at simonsweetman.substack.com/subscribe...
Feb 24, 2021•1 hr 33 min
An in-depth conversation with Wellington-based composer and musician Jeremiah Ross aka Module. We talk through the highs of his music production in the early/mid-00s as an electronica artist in a boom time for Kiwi music; signed to LOOP, touring and making soundtrack for video games. We also talked through the lows of feeling lost from music and from the world, mental health overloads, psychotic episodes, homelessness and now the path back. This was a deep conversation and I feel privileged to b...
Feb 18, 2021•1 hr 36 min
An in-depth conversation with author, psychologist, buisnessman and Pulitizer Prize-nominated poet, John Wareham. There was so much to talk about - and we gave it a good go! We talked about his books (novels, memoirs, a play, poetry) and his new podcast that he started over lockdown. We talked about his famous children (including writer Louise and musician Dean). We talked about his time in America and returning to New Zealand. We discussed prison reform, addiction. We gave it a good go at getti...
Feb 10, 2021•2 hr 20 min
An in-depth conversation with Maggie Tweedie, Breakfast host at Radio Active. We talk about her path to that job through other radio gigs and her passion for the format. We talk books, music, interviews, prep, freelance writing and working alone in the studio as producer and host. We also talk about her childhood in rural Hawke's Bay. And we chat about our previous encounter where she interviewed me for her show. Get full access to Sounds Good! at simonsweetman.substack.com/subscribe...
Feb 03, 2021•1 hr 40 min
An in-depth conversation with music industry legend, Murray Cammick. We talk through his life dedicated to photography and music - from collecting soul records, through the founding of Rip It Up and Shake magazines, to DJing on radio and then to DJing more recently in bars and restaurants; to photography - including his current exhibition in Wellington at Photospace Gallery ("Flash Cars") and on through his days setting up record labels and championing bands. His is a life in service to music. W...
Dec 17, 2020•1 hr 48 min
An in-depth conversation with drinks professional, Jules Van Costello. We talk about his brand new book, "Beyond the Vines: The Changing Landscape of Wine in Aotearoa New Zealand" and his previous book about craft beer, Brewed. We talk about his rise through the hospitality industry and into winemaking, distributing and promoting; to writing and blogging and to shares in restaurants. Get full access to Sounds Good! at simonsweetman.substack.com/subscribe...
Dec 09, 2020•1 hr 13 min
An in-depth conversation with poet and academic John Newton. We talk about his brand new novel-in-verse, Escape Path Lighting. We talk through his love of music - including his sideline in songwriting and the band we both used to play in. We talk poetry and his critical history of New Zealand writing (he's one volume in on a three-book deep-dive). We talk about a life spent dedicated to writing, to finding poetry in various places in New Zealand and Australia. He is also currently in Dunedin for...
Dec 02, 2020•1 hr 37 min
An in-depth conversation with Wellington-based comedian and sex-worker Lucy Roche. We talk about her background in comedy and her rise through the talent quests, open-mics to headlining shows. We talk about how she generates material, the writing process, her aims and ambitions. And we talk about her other job - a sex worker. She talks about this often as part of her act. We talk Covid-19 and the lockdown. And the life of a comedian - the quest to generate material and navigating the safe-spaces...
Nov 25, 2020•1 hr 7 min
An in-depth conversation with Andrew Armitage, owner of one of the last video rental stores standing in New Zealand, the legendary Aro St. Video Shop (Aro Video). We talked about his life and beginnings, his passions of music and film and where they came from and how they were shaped. We talked synth-pop and discovering the guitar to be a singer/songwriter later in life. We talked about the development of the shop in its growth years, the transition to DVD from VHS, when Flight of the Conchords ...
Nov 18, 2020•2 hr 44 min
An in-depth conversation with Alec Bathgate (Tall Dwarfs, Toy Love) about his solo career, his return to music, the bands he was in, his musical relationship with Chris Knox and their shared approach to music across several bands and projects. We talked about his return to recording and releasing with a brand new instrumental album (Phantom Dots) and his appearance on Instagram where he's clearing out the closet and sharing some great photos from the archives. Get full access to Sounds Good! at ...
Nov 12, 2020•1 hr 34 min
An in-depth conversation with Wellington-based writer, librarian and now bookstore owner, Jackson Nieuwland. We talked about their brand new collection of poetry, I AM A HUMAN BEING and about all of the steps on their journey to publishing. We talked about basketball and hip-hop, depression and finding yourself in online communities, recognising yourself as non-binary. We talked about the bookstore they are about to open. And many more things beside. Get full access to Sounds Good! at simonsweet...
Nov 04, 2020•1 hr 50 min
An in-depth conversation with Claire Mabey, co-director of Verb (Litcrawl) and organiser of many literary events, political talks and writing-related shows, festivals and ideas. Claire's been on the podcast twice before, with partner Andrew Laking. This time it was Claire solo - to talk about this year's upcoming Verb Festival and Litcrawl event and also to discuss the impacts of Covid-19 on event planning and the year of hell that 2020 has been in general and particularly from the point of view...
Oct 29, 2020•1 hr 35 min
An in-depth conversation with actor and comedian Peter Rowley. We talk through his life and career from theatre aspirations to appearing on A Week of It and McPhail and Gadsby to the connection with Billy T. James that resulted in some of the most important TV comedy in the history of New Zealand. There were films on the side, including voicing Dog in Footrot Flats. We talk through it all. Get full access to Sounds Good! at simonsweetman.substack.com/subscribe...
Oct 21, 2020•1 hr 35 min
A Tribute To Eddie Van Halen. The day we heard the news...me and my good friend Ben Fulton (musician, guitar pedal maker) sat down to process the news and pay tribute to one of our heroes, celebrating some of his best music and discussing what made Eddie Van Halen so special. Get full access to Sounds Good! at simonsweetman.substack.com/subscribe
Oct 16, 2020•1 hr
I sit down (with myself) and read poems from my debut volume of poetry - The Death of Music Journalism. I read from the book and discuss the process around it and some of the stories behind the poems. The book is out now (through The Cuba Press) and can be found in (or ordered from) all good book stores in NZ. We launch this Sunday, October 11, 4pm at Meow in Wellington. With readings also by Freya Daly Sadgrove and Rachel McAlpine. Music and poetry by Dr. Blue. And the book will be launched by ...
Oct 07, 2020•53 min
This is the third time I've spoken with Wellington-based singer/songwriter and guitarist Darren Watson. This one is specifically about his brand new album, Getting Sober For The End Of The World. We walk, track by track, through the recording and talk about its creation - including the lockdown, the pandemic and the new way of living. Get full access to Sounds Good! at simonsweetman.substack.com/subscribe...
Sep 30, 2020•1 hr 31 min
An in-depth conversation with Geoff Stahl, Media Studies lecturer and DJ. As TV Disko he puts on DJ sets in bars and via radio shows. As a lecturer he's interested in popular music and the "other social media" of coffee, craft beer and wine. We talked about his upbringing in Canada and his move to Wellington, NZ 15 years ago where he took up a teaching position at Victoria University. We talk pandemic and teaching through lockdown via video conferencing. We talk music and record collecting and t...
Sep 23, 2020•2 hr 3 min
An in-depth conversation with Anna Dean, Nelson-born, Wellington-based, she is one half of the creative agency Double Denim, a co-creator of the Ace Lady Network. She is or has been a journalist, broadcaster, social media manager, event planner, PR guru and party organiser extraordinaire. We talk about the various roles and facets of her career/s and we talk trends in podcasts, social media and journalism. We talk about living online and broadcasting opinions and thoughts and the content mire of...
Sep 16, 2020•2 hr 8 min
Rachel Doré interviewed me for Manawatu Peoples Radio (MPR) to promote my talk this coming Sunday, September 13, at the Feilding Library as part of the Manawatu Writers Festival. I'll be talking blogging and my life - over the last 15 years - as a daily blogger. I'll be chatting about ways to do it and reasons to bother. This interview is kindly re-upped with MPR's permission. Get full access to Sounds Good! at simonsweetman.substack.com/subscribe...
Sep 10, 2020•50 min
An in-depth conversation with Ben Mulchin - owner/operator of Valhalla music venue in Wellington and a tour promoter (Valhalla Touring). Ben and I talked about his background outside and away from music (science), his love of the venue (then Hole In The Wall) and his decision to run a bar, and then get into promoting shows. We talk, too, of Covid-19's plans for 2020 and adjusting to lockdown levels and socially distanced, responsible gigging. Get full access to Sounds Good! at simonsweetman.subs...
Sep 03, 2020•1 hr 23 min
An in-depth conversation with Charlotte Graham-McLay. She is a Wellington-based reporter and broadcaster. Following work at RNZ she is now the New York Times correspondant and one of the NZ correspodants writing for The Guardian. We talked about her training and experiences in the field - in both radio and print journalism. We talked too of how to negotiate the world online, how to manage life, work and social media. We talked about her Masters topic, the gendered online abuse of radio hosts. Ge...
Aug 27, 2020•2 hr 12 min
An in-depth conversation with writer and comedian Eamonn Marra. We talk about the Christchurch earthquakes, creative writing classes in Wellington, depression, anxiety and mental health, stand-up comedy, writing and his novel, 2000ft Above Worry Level. Get full access to Sounds Good! at simonsweetman.substack.com/subscribe
Aug 20, 2020•2 hr 18 min
An in-depth conversation with writer and performance poet Ben Brown. Ben is Lyttelton-based and this chat happened recently in Wellington outside with the weekend noises happening about us. We talked through his life and work and had a deep discussion about alcohol, alcoholism and addiction. Also an even deeper conversation about poetry. And family. Get full access to Sounds Good! at simonsweetman.substack.com/subscribe...
Aug 13, 2020•1 hr 28 min
An in-depth conversation with Wellington-based writer Rachel McAlpine. Rachel, 80, talks aging and getting old and fighting against it as well as going with it. She talks about and reads from her brand new poetry collection, How To Be Old and discusses her writing history back to her 1975 debut poetry volume and her time writing books about the internet and web-writing in the 90s/00s. Get full access to Sounds Good! at simonsweetman.substack.com/subscribe...
Aug 06, 2020•1 hr 18 min
An in-depth conversation with drummer, percussionist and tutor Lance Philip. For the last quarter-century Lance has been a teacher of drums and percussion, fitting in his own gigs on the side. Gigs that have included orchestras and musical theatre, being in the pit for TV shows (Dancing With The Stars) and an enduring musical relationship with Rodger Fox. We have a big old nerdy drum chat - including the time we both met shared hero, Steve Gadd. And the fact that Lance was one of the first peopl...
Jul 29, 2020•1 hr 52 min
A brief phoner - and not without technical difficulties - with the MC5 guitarist, Wayne Kramer. Wayne was on his way to NZ at the start of the year to open for Alice Cooper. This all actually happened, in a pre-Pandemic world. But I never found a space for my interview. It wasn't one of my greatest interviews. Sound quality isn't amazing, some technical difficulties meant Wayne couldn't hear everything, the publicist was listening in. I wanted to present it to you though, warts and all. We got t...
Jul 25, 2020•18 min
An in-depth conversation with Wellington-based, Invercargill-born actor and voiceover artist Dryw McArthur. We talk about his work in recent Wellington theatre productions, The Aliens (Annie Baker) and Burn Her (Sam Brooks) as well as his current appearance in the brand new radio-drama/podcast Apocalypse Songs. We also talk about his work as a voice-artist, preparing copy for international clients and narrating audio-books using multiple accents. All from the comfort of his bedroom studio in a W...
Jul 15, 2020•1 hr 21 min
An in-depth conversation with musician, poet, teacher and music therapist Ruby Solly. We talk about her life and work, he connection to music, her deep study and improvisation with the cello and on to Taonga puoro and other instruments, including her brand new album Poneke. Ruby is also a poet so we talk poetry, writing and influences too. Get full access to Sounds Good! at simonsweetman.substack.com/subscribe...
Jul 08, 2020•1 hr 57 min
