The Loud And Quiet Podcast

Joe Newman – frontman, guitarist and chief songwriter in art rock band alt-J – estimates he’s recognised no more than twice a year; the dream/improbable scenario for a musician operating at his impressive level of success.
Following four alt-J albums, Newman is about to release his excellent debut solo record under the name JJerome87. It’s call The Canyon (coming 27 June) and has a distinctly Californian sound. A big sound, I tell him in this week’s podcast, as abstract as that sounds. What I meant was that it sounds like a million people are playing on it, while Newman’s gift for strange lyrics that mean the world remains. “Baby come away with me / Let’s get lazy eye surgery.”
Join us for a discussion around success, Los Angeles, how to tell you band you’re making a record without them, and a slow motion Hobbit orgy.
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Listen above or wherever you get your podcasts
Further reading/viewing
jjerome87.com
Ticket’s for Joe’s album launch show at Bush Hall, London
‘Track and Field’ video


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Not only do we discuss our customary new albums this month (from Canadian microtonal space aliens Angine de Poitrine, NY electro punk band Lip Critic and new art rock greats Modern Woman) but also the Geese viral mirage, a very horrible football song and what exactly is the Met Gala?
Listen above or wherever you get your podcasts.
Further reading/viewing
Angine de Poitrine KEXP session
Wired’s Geese marketing exposé
North London Forever
Modern Woman Bandcamp
Lip Critic Bandcamp
Angine de Poitrine Bandcamp


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Considering the city of Sheffield’s music heritage – from the future pop of The Human League to stadium rock giants Def Leppard, industrial pioneers Cabaret Voltaire, legendary electronic label Warp, Pulp, ABC, Arctic Monkeys, Self Esteem, hundreds more – it’s borderline impressive that it’s never been chronicled in one book. Other music cities (Manchester, Liverpool, New York) have been 100 times over, but the people of the Steel City are a modest bunch.
Writer Daniel Dylan Wray has now written that book, spanning from 1960 to the early 2020s. It’s called Groovy, Laidback & Nasty, and is publish this week, on 7 May. I spoke with Dan about his first book, from Peter Stringfellow’s forgotten life promoting Jimi Hendrix to the 150+ artists he spoke with to help tell this story. There’s also some good advice for fellow writers, and some hard truths about how writing a book actually works.
Listen above or wherever you get your podcasts.
Further reading
Order a copy of Groovy, Laidback & Nasty
Tickets to Dan’s book launches in Sheffield, London and Brighton
Dan’s first article on Sheffield, about historic night club Niche
Jive Turkey for The Guardian
David Lynch interview for Loud And Quiet
Just What is an Industry Plant Anyway? for Loud And Quiet
David Byrne interview for Loud And Quiet


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When WU LYF were the band that every label wanted to sign in 2010 they rejected all offers, recorded their debut in a church with the help of their fans, and split up.
15 years later they’ve unexpectedly returned with a second album. Less surprising is how they’ve released A Wave That Will Never Break, sticking to their original ethos of building a community of their own. This time around, what they’re rejecting most of all is streaming platforms, instead building their own via their website WORLDUNITE.ORG, which is the only way to hear the new record, other than buying a copy in a store. The site also features an Instagram-like journal, tickets, a fan chat and merch, all for fans who become members.
Ellery and Tom from the band joined me to discuss why they felt they had no option but to do things this way, and what it was like to be the hottest band in the UK in 2010.
Listen above or wherever you get your podcasts.
Support Loud And Quiet and this podcast by subscribing to our Substack
Further reading/viewing
WU LYF on the Culture Show
Is WU LYF’s return the most perfectly timed in indie history?
WORLDUNITE.ORG



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Once a month 3 members of the Loud And Quiet team (Sam Walton, Gemma Samways and Stuart Stubbs) meet up to review 3 albums released over the last 30 days – usually records that had everyone talking. This month, it’s the turn of Harry Styles’ pivot to electro pop, James Blake’s first independent release, and the debut from NYC duo Fcukers.
Revisited is the debut phenomenon from Arctic Monkeys, with the help of a quiz that is FUN. Remember that! It’s a fun thing to listen to and play along with.
This episode is not sponsored by Gary Barlow’s wine company. Sadly.
Further reading/viewing
The New Yorker article on album launches not hanging around
James Blake’s plate-spinning album cover
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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit loudandquiet.substack.com/subscribe