Synthetic Dreams Podcast Synthetic Dreams Podcast

‘Pioneer’ is a word that often gets overused in the world of music journalism, especially when describing this week’s guest, but that’s exactly what she is, a pioneer…a true pioneer of electronic music! 

Suzanne Ciani speaks to me about the time she met Don Buchla and her memories of him, as well as discussing her early career in new New York, making advertising jingles for huge companies like coca-cola.  

She also talks about the recording of ‘Golden Apples Of The Sun’ a collaboration with Parisian composer Jonathan Fitoussi, which came out last October     

Suzanne Ciani performs in China on May 24th before retiring to the UK for a couple of dates in September. For tickets visit: https://www.sevwave.com/

Synthetic Dreams title music is by Chris Ibbott 

My guest this week is Boris Blank from hugely influential Swiss electronic act, Yello.

Boris Blank formed Yello with Carlos Peron back in 1979. Charismatic singer and lyricist, Dieter Meier, joined shortly after. Boris and Dieter became a duo after Peron left the group in 1983 to pursue a solo career, and the rest, as they say, is history.  

During our conversation, which was recorded over telephone, we discussed, among other things, Blank’s third solo record ‘Resonance’. The twelve tracks that feature on “Resonance” were originally commissioned for the FORTYSEVEN thermal spa near Zurich.  

Boris also talks about the new documentary ‘Oh Yeah’ which explores the legacy of Yello’s iconic track which found international success after being featured in the closing scenes of John Hughes classic teen comedy ‘Ferris Bueller's Day Off’, which is one of my favourite films of the 1980s

For more information about the new album, or to buy a copy, visit:

https://ianrecords.com/products/boris-blank-resonance

Boris Blank - 'Resonance'

Synthetic Dreams is presented and produced by Scott Zverblis Synthetic Dreams on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ Synthetic Dreams title music by Chris Ibbott

In this week’s episode of Synthetic Dreams I’m talking to DJ, and drummer, Anna Prior.

Anna, best known for her role as drummer in hugely popular electronic act Metronomy, has just released the second single from her much-anticipated EP, ‘Almost Love’, which comes out on 13th June via House Anxiety records

She also presents a monthly show called ‘Beat Palace’ on Soho Radio. https://sohoradiolondon.com/profile/anna-prior/

Anna recently collaborated with Tom Furse from The Horrors. Furse directed the video for her previous single ‘Tech Não and for her latest single ‘Fall Back’

 Anna Prior - Tech Não (Official Video)

Anna Prior - Fall Back

Delighted and honoured to be joined by Jonathan Moore on the podcast today. 

Jonathan is one-half of hugely influential electronic act, Coldcut, which he formed back in 1986 with Matt Black.

Coldcut are often refereed to as pioneers of pop sampling in the 1980s

We discuss, among other things, the recording of Coldcut’s first album. His memories of working with the late and very great, Mark. E. Smith from post-punk band The Fall and Jonathan tells a great story about the time Coldcut remixed a track by legendary French composer and pioneer of musique concrète, Pierre Henry.  

We also discuss Ninja Tune, the label that he and Matt started in 1990. The label’s first release was the first five volumes of DJ Food's Jazz Brakes. Since then Ninja Tune has gone on to release albums by The Cinematic Orchestra, Bonobo, Kelis, Amon Tobin, Black Country New Road and the amazing BICEP

https://coldcut.net/

https://ninjatune.net/home



The Fall w/Coldcut - Telephone Thing

Coldcut featuring Lisa Stansfield



Synthetic Dreams is presented and produced by Scott Zverblis
Synthetic Dreams on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠
Synthetic Dreams title music by Chris Ibbott

Multi-talented Danish musicians, Lisbet Fritze and Louise Foo, otherwise known as Glas, recently spoke to me about the making of their highly anticipated debut album, ‘Kisses Like Feathers‘
The album, which was self-produced by the duo and mixed by Anders Trentemøller, a previous guest on the podcast, is out now via Hamburg’s hfn music. 
All lyrics, vocals and instruments were performed by Glas, and recorded in their studio.
It was great to  speak to one of my new favourite bands about their excellent debut record, which I can’t recommend enough. 
https://glasdk.bandcamp.com/
Glas: 'Midnight Fay'

Synthetic Dreams is presented and produced by Scott Zverblis
Synthetic Dreams on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠
Synthetic Dreams title music by Chris Ibbott

Thrilled and honoured to be joined by Grammy award winning musician, composer and producer, Jan Hammer. 

Jan started his career as the keyboardist with the fusion group, The Mahavishnu Orchestra. He went on to release several critically acclaimed solo albums and has collaborated with renowned musicians like the late and great, Jeff Beck, Carlos Santana, Neil Schon of Journey and Mick Jagger.

In 1984, Jan began composing the score for Miami Vice, one of the most iconic TV shows of the 1980s. 

Jan discusses the making of this much loved TV theme and also talks about the recording of ‘Crockets Theme’, which is one of my all-time favourite songs of the 80s. 

We also talk about some of Jan’s more recent work including ‘Seasons Pt. 2’ released in 2022.  A follow up to 2018’s ‘Seasons Pt. 1’ Both worth checking out 

For more information visit:

https://janhammer.com/home

Jan Hammer - 'Miami Vice Theme'

Jan Hammer - 'Crockett's Theme' on TOTP



Synthetic Dreams is presented and produced by Scott Zverblis

Synthetic Dreams on ⁠Instagram⁠

Synthetic Dreams title music by Chris Ibbott