The Pirate Studios Podcast

DJ, curator and producer Siobhan Bell joins us on the Pirate Studios Podcast to share the story behind her journey from spinning house parties on Virtual DJ to becoming one of the UK's most respected DJs.We discuss how East London's underground scene shaped her sound, why she spent years sitting on original music before finally releasing it, and the creative leap from playing other people's records to putting her own work out into the world. Siobhan also reflects on the influence of New York's music culture, the differences between DJing and producing, and why the best music comes from creating for yourself rather than chasing trends.Finally, we dive into the inspiration behind her latest single, Toxic, and what listeners can expect next.

Swedish-born artist and vocalist Manda Malina joins the Pirate Studios Podcast to talk about growing up around music, learning Pro Tools at 10, and launching her career through Swedish X Factor as a teenager.In this episode, Manda reflects on the reality of moving from early industry momentum into a more self-directed creative life in LA, where she has learned to prioritise authenticity, fun and versatility over the constant pressure to release music and chase social content.She also breaks down her sound — a blend of Swedish pop, 2000s R&B, lush harmonies and sensual, body-positive energy — and talks about the different sides of her career, from solo releases to Vegas production shows and her jazz cabaret project, Velvet Noir.We also get into the pressure on independent artists, navigating early industry experiences, her recent West End callback for Burlesque, writing with friends, and why Pirate has become a useful space for recording and rehearsals.To close the episode, Manda introduces “Found It”, one of her favourite releases to date.

On this episode of the Pirate Studios Podcast, we’re joined by Vi Diep, a genre-fluid DJ originally from San Diego, now based in Santa Ana.Vi talks about moving to New York at 18, falling in love with the city’s music scene, and how that experience helped shape her creative identity. Rooted in electronic music, her sets move through house, UK garage, bass, trap and beyond, with a focus on keeping crowds surprised and fully locked in.We also get into her Vietnamese American upbringing, learning to say no to the wrong opportunities, the pressure of building a visible brand as a DJ, and why social media now feels like part of the job.Plus, Vi talks about opening for YDG at Nova in San Diego, playing Academy in Hollywood, her dream of playing EDC, and the recent moments that have made her feel like things are really starting to click.

In episode 29 of the Pirate Studios Podcast, Sammi sits down with artist manager Henry Lyons for a wide-ranging conversation on finding your way into the music industry without a clear blueprint.Henry traces his journey from making remixes on GarageBand and studying at NYU’s Clive Davis Institute, to assisting Hayley Kiyoko, tour managing Gus Dapperton and Claud, and eventually finding his way into artist management. Along the way, he shares stories of chance meetings, cold emails, COVID-era pivots, and the importance of staying open, curious and genuinely interested in people.The conversation also digs into what makes a strong artist-manager relationship, why success looks different for every artist, and why trust, shared accountability and aligned expectations matter more than any single industry playbook. Henry also talks about working with Wallice, her recent signing to Fearless Records, and what he looks for when building long-term creative partnerships.

In this episode of the Pirate Studios Podcast, we sit down with Initial Rhi to unpack the journey behind the artist — from early influences to carving out a distinct identity in a crowded and fast-moving scene.Rhi shares how music first became part of their world and the key moments that pushed them from interest into intent. We get into the realities of building a creative career today — what’s harder than it looks, what’s changing, and what it actually takes to stay consistent and authentic.The conversation also explores the internal side of the journey: what Rhi is currently unlearning, the pressures that come with growth, and the moments that don’t always get shared publicly but shape everything behind the scenes.We also touch on recent highs, creative breakthroughs, and the artists and collaborators catching Rhi’s attention right now, before closing out with thoughts on Pirate Studios — what’s working, and what could be better.A thoughtful, honest conversation with an artist very much in the process of becoming.

In this episode of the Pirate Studios Podcast, we sit down with Juliana Beltran to talk about the journey from early musical instincts to fully committing to songwriting and performance.Juliana shares how growing up immersed in music led her from experimenting with different instruments to becoming obsessed with writing her own songs. Inspired by artists like Taylor Swift, she talks about the moment it clicked that creating music could be something she pursued seriously, not just something she enjoyed.We get into her creative process, her relationship with piano and guitar, and how she’s shaped her identity as an artist over time. The conversation also touches on live performance, building confidence, and what it takes to stay consistent while developing your sound.To close, Juliana introduces her upcoming single Delusional, a country-leaning cinematic pop ballad dropping April 16th, giving listeners a first look at what’s next.

In Episode 26 of the Pirate Studios Podcast, we’re joined by Poli van Dam; musician, songwriter, and former member of The Bombpops, for a candid conversation that begins with a Pirate customer service mishap and unfolds into something far more meaningful.Poli shares her origin story, from piano lessons at five and early dive bar gigs at 13 to growing up in Southern California’s punk and skate scene. She reflects on life after The Bombpops, the challenge of redefining herself as an artist, and what it really takes to sustain a creative career in 2025. We also talk about Warped Tour’s return, her experience hosting the live stream, experimenting with new sounds, and why growth often requires stepping outside your comfort zone.The episode closes with Poli introducing a track from the unreleased Semi-Famous record, a nod to her roots while embracing what comes next.

Hayes Bradley joins us at Pirate Studios Silver Lake to talk about the weird, rewarding reality of scoring film and making music for yourself. We get into his early influences (The Prodigy, Depeche Mode, Aphex Twin-adjacent chaos), how artists like Jon Hopkins helped reframe what “composer world” can look like, and the behind-the-scenes logistics of scoring — schedules, deadlines, feedback from non-musicians, and why collaboration is the whole point (even when it’s painful). Hayes also opens up about the Palisades fires and what it taught him about letting go of anger, then rounds things out with touring highlights (Chicago forever), plus what he’s releasing next.

In this episode of the Pirate Studios Podcast, we sit down with indie pop artist Aleesha King to talk about DIY creation, van-life recording, and turning existential fear into deeply personal music.Aleesha shares how she recorded her debut album in a self-built van, why albums still matter in a singles-driven world, and how themes like mental health, perfectionism, and mortality shape her upcoming project January Scaries. We also dive into visual world-building, creative discipline, and what it really means to make work that feels honest.Featuring music from Aleesha King, including Written in Red. Plus a shout-out to collaborator GRVNT, who appears on an upcoming track.

This week on the Pirate Studios Podcast, Sammi and Flasch sit down with LA-based electro-pop artist Colaine.From growing up in upstate New York to studying Music Business at Belmont University, Colaine breaks down her songwriting process, the emotional themes behind her debut EP I Don’t Know How to Relax, and why understanding the business side of music matters as much as the art itself.They talk introspection, self-management, building cinematic music videos with a small crew, and turning big feelings into pop songs — including a deep dive into her track Imagine.