Ep 159: Tales of Coachella, Kendrick Lamar surprise album verdict, and what's up with the BBC Sound of 2025 poll?

Brighton/Bristol/London band Squid have made a new album all about evil bastards. It's called Cowards, and will be released 7 February 2025. They've not spoken about it much just yet, but with Christmas here, what better time is there to sit down with Ollie and Louis from the band to discuss songs about cannibalism, Andy Warhol's wig, how they feel these days about their biggest song, and what happens when one member of the band vitoes an idea and breaks the heart of the rest of the group. Merry Christmas, one and all! You can watch clips of the podcast online now, just give us a follow on Instagram @midnightchatspod. Further reading/listening/viewing: Listen to our new Beat the Algorithm Spotify playlist Sign up to the Loud And Quiet Weekly newsletter Credits: Editing by Stuart Stubbs  Mixing and mastering by Willem Olenski Artwork by Kate PriorSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week's episode of Midnight Chats is all about Greg's and Stu's favourite albums of 2024, with a little room to also discuss the records that definitely weren't. They can't all be winners, but Greg and Stu have brought 3 of their favourites each to pitch against one another. We also hear your favourites, and from some past and future Midnight Chats guests, including Biig Piig, Jason Williamson of Sleaford Mods, Richard Dawson, Aurora and Anna B Savage. Find our musical recommendations on our Spotify playlist, Beat The Algorithm. You can watch clips of the podcast online now, just give us a follow on Instagram @midnightchatspod. Further reading/listening/viewing: Loud And Quiet Albums of the Year list The Quietus Anastasia Coope interview Pitchfork's Kendrick Lamar GNX review Listen to our new Beat the Algorithm Spotify playlist Sign up to the Loud And Quiet Weekly newsletter Credits: Editing by Stuart Stubbs  Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines Artwork by Kate PriorSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jessica Winter has a hell of a story about Rebecca Black in this week's episode, involving a legendary burlesque club in London, too much alcohol and a drill going through a part of a man's body it really shouldn't go through. She also talks about scoring CBBC shows and safety for female artists and producers via a simple device making a difference.  Outside of our guest interview this week, Greg and Stu discuss how a punk band terrified America by performing on the Jimmy Kimmel show (and ponder what would happen if we had the same booking here on Graham Norton), and report on how Irish rap trio Kneecap took the UK government to court this week and won.  Further reading/listening/viewing: Knocked Loose on Kimmel Live Watch Kneecap's full statement after winning their court case Hate Zine website Hate Zine on Instagram 'Friday' by Rebecca Black Listen to our new Beat the Algorithm Spotify playlist Sign up to the Loud And Quiet Weekly newsletter Credits: Editing by Stuart Stubbs  Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines Artwork by Kate PriorSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Coachella lineup is out, and often it can tell us a lot about what to expect from the year ahead. But how does 2025's bill stand up, when did Coachella become so powerful, and was it Greg attending in 2012 with a hologram to Tupac that made all other celebrities want to go? Away from our tales of the festival (Stuart has also been to Coachella, but with little affect on its popularity), on episode 159 of Midnight Chats we review the new surprise release from Kendrick Lamar 'GNX' and spare a thought for Drake at this difficult time. Kate Nash has become the latest musician to start an OnlyFans to fund her artistry. And what does the strange BBC Sound of 2025 poll tell us about public appetite for new music? Further reading/listening/viewing: BBC Sound of 2025 – established artists tipped for success  Kate Nash: 'My arse is shining a light on a this problem' Coachella line-up 2025 Denzel Curry cover feature interview – Loud And Quiet  Listen to our new Beat the Algorithm Spotify playlist Credits: Editing by Stuart Stubbs  Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines Artwork by Kate PriorSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Death! Like a begrudging respect for Robbie Williams, sadly, it comes to us all. Perhaps that's why Stuart has taken to asking our guests about the subject of the great beyond, which reminded us that there was a time when we asked a bunch of musicians what they thought was the perfect way to die, in a regular interview feature in Loud And Quiet magazine. On this week's podcast we revisit those answers from 2014 - 2017, make our case for SZA to have another go at Glastonbury, review new documentary Boy Bands Forever, unpack the new proposed levy that supports grassroots venues and, somewhat tragically, discuss the new song by Mark Zuckerberg. Further reading/listening/viewing Getting To Know You archive Sherelle Loud And Quiet interview Mark Zuckerberg's horrible song Listen to our new Beat the Algorithm Spotify playlist Credits: Editing by Stuart Stubbs  Mixing and mastering by Willem Olenski Artwork by Kate PriorSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Kaiser Chiefs announce shows for 2025 celebrating 20 years of their debut album, with support from Razorlight, We Are Scientists, The Cribs and The Coral, Greg and Stu put their heads together to come up with an alternative bill of artists who released records 20 years ago. The Carling will be served warm and the weather will be terrible. Welcome to the inaugural Midnight Chats festival! Also on this week's podcast, Grammy nominations and predicted winners, as little about Trump as possible, and what are the worst 3 Christmas songs. Further reading/listening/viewing Listen to our new Beat the Algorithm Spotify playlist Credits: Editing by Stuart Stubbs  Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines Artwork by Kate Prior  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welsh electronic artist, producer and DJ Kelly Lee Owens has come along way in a short period of time. Yet, her warmth and charisma mean her A-list stories of playing Ibiza’s legendary Amnesia nightclub with Charli XCX or being welcomed into the Depeche Mode family, or dining with Bill Murray don’t come across like arrogant boasts. That’s because they come sandwiched with grounded stories of her days as a cancer ward nurse, eating cheese when she gets up at 3AM and hiding horse sh*t in the boot of an ex-boyfriend's car.  She also spoke to Stuart Stubbs about the release of her fourth album 'Dreamstate', out now on George Daniel’s (The 1975) dh2 imprint. You can watch clips of the podcast online now, just give us a follow on Instagram @midnightchatspod.  Further reading/listening/viewing “Daydreamer of the year” - Loud And Quiet meets Kelly Lee Owens in Venice in 2020 Watch the trailer for the Travis film 'Almost Fashionable' Listen to our new Beat the Algorithm Spotify playlist Credits: Editing by Stuart Stubbs  Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines Artwork by Kate Prior  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The era of surprise album releases seems to be over, with everyone from Beyonce to Billie Eilish to Charli XCX to Tyler, The Creator opting for modern (and bombastic) twists on the traditional way of hyping LPs before their release dates. Increasingly, it seems the arena listening party in a key tool in connecting conceptual artist and fans, but as Greg shares on this week's episode, they don't always work. We also get into the week's headlines, including the reformation of The Maccabees, how Lily Allen is making more money from her feet on OnlyFans than through her music on Spotify, and what Helen Mirren wishes Kurt Cobain got to experience. Greg also shows off about the most famous people he's met. Further reading/listening/viewing Listen to our new Beat the Algorithm Spotify playlist Billie Eilish listening party Kanye West Donda listening party  Credits: Editing by Stuart Stubbs  Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines Artwork by Kate PriorSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've all been there: investing our time and energy into worshiping our favourite artist only for them to call us "creepy as fuck". Ok, maybe we've not ALL been there, but thousands of Doja Cat stans were last year, whilst just a few days ago The Pretenders upset a bunch of their most hardcore fans in an Instagram post that has since been deleted. It offered us the chance to get into the fan/artist relationship on this week's podcast, as well as Greg reporting back from Sexyland World, a club in Amsterdam, and Stu from the perhaps less sexy Barbican Centre in London. We won't pretend that we planned this, but every element of this week's show, from Joni Mitchell at the Hollywood Bowl to Greg's Top 3 challenge, happens to based around live music. Oh. And we're calling our listeners Werewolves now. Cheers. Further reading/listening/viewing Heartworms Loud And Quiet interview boygenius Loud And Quiet interview Robbie Williams' art exhibition ADE Listen to our new Beat the Algorithm Spotify playlist Credits: Editing by Stuart Stubbs  Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines Artwork by Kate PriorSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Charli XCX's Brat remix album reimagines what a remix album can be in 2024, we discuss that release and trace the remix record back to its unexpected origins. Charli's record certainly is a different approach to what Green Day have done recently with their Dookie Demastered stunt, which we also get into. Then we get into the serious business of an age old question: Do you need to know the lyrics to a song – and their meaning – to be able to truly love it? As Stu puts Greg's appalling memory to the test, we're ultimately searching for a big fat NO on this one, otherwise Greg may never work again. Our Beat The Algorithm recommendations too. And Stu puts Greg on the spot for his favourite music venues in this week's Top 3. (This also ends badly for Greg.) You can watch clips of the podcast online now, just give us a follow on Instagram @midnightchatspod.  Further reading/listening/viewing Listen to our new Beat the Algorithm Spotify playlist Dookie DeMastered Credits: Editing by Stuart Stubbs  Mixing and mastering by Flo Lines Artwork by Kate PriorSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.