McCool & The Gang

I chat to fantastic producer & mixing engineer Mario Leal about his musical beginnings in Mexico, my new single ‘Show Me What You're Made Of', going to uni in Liverpool together (SUCH FUN!) and the importance of collaboration.

This month I chat with the very talented singer & topliner Katy Alex about writing for a multitude of genres, amassing over 5 million streams on some of her recent releases, and how we're both obsessed with space.@nataliemccool@katyalexmusic

I chat to Becky about her brilliant band Stealing Sheep and their journey so far including their own unique brand of electronic-pop psychedelia & upcoming UK tour, re-scoring iconic Cannes-winning film 'La Planete Sauvage' and creating a whole album from synth pioneer Delia Derbyshire's Dr Who samples.www.instagram.com/stealingsheepwww.instagram.com/nataliemccool

This month I welcome the wonderful Geordie singer-songwriter and front-man of Future Humans Afnan Prince.We chat about being kind to yourself, Jeff Buckley, how singers are weirdly really good at hilarious voice impersonations (Gollum, anyone?) female underrepresentation in the music industry and our magical approach to wordsmithery.

This episode I'm excited to welcome Xylo Aria, an Indian-born British-based electronic artist making gorgeous layered electronic music featuring her smooth vocals and minimal textures. Xylo also runs an amazing organisation called Music Production for Women, which focuses on teaching and supporting female-identifying creators with music production.Here's a pretty wonderful chat about Xylo's Indian roots and forming early connections with music, all the gear she uses to create her sounds, and some great advice for anyone wanting to explore music production.www.xyloaria.comwww.nataliemccool.co.uk

I chat to Minneapolis' finest indie pop trio Bad Bad Hats about their tour & SXSW fun, how they get that Bad Bad Hats sound with dirty FX on guitars, drums and keys, how mindblowing the podcast SongExploder is and how little production details can completely change the blueprint of a song.www.badbadhats.comwww.nataliemccool.co.uk

Recorded live in Austin, Texas! I chat to UK acts Liz Lawrence & Low Girl respectively about what's new at SXSW... tacos, being a self taught musician, the plight of writing songs about friends & parters (awkward) and bringing your BEST performance game, internationally.www.lizlawrence.co.ukwww.lowgirl.co.ukwww.nataliemccool.co.uk

I chat to DJ & producer Emily Nash. 21 year old Emily is already making waves in the world of electronic music, with her recent single 'Garden' championed by tastemakers including BBC Radio 1's Pete Tong, Charlie Hedges and Jaguar, who have all selected it as their respective hottest track of the week. Next single 'Chemical Embrace' is set for release on Ministry of Sound followed by a set at Creamfields this summer.I chat to Emily about what inspires her, the creative elements of DJing live and all her favourite sounds and tricks.

Recorded live in Austin, Texas! I chat to both Sarah Corcoran from Irish band PILLOW QUEENS & US indie pop artist Anna Fox Rochinski respectively about their time at SXSW... James Corden, Madonna and the best (worst?) band names, ever.

I chat to New Zealand based artist and producer Elena Šiljić about her time in London as part of the Roundhouse Artist Residency, about exploring her own signature production style to create her own music and that of upcoming new artists, about synthesis and the curation of sound, and about owning your shit as an independent artist.https://elenasiljic.wixsite.com/websitewww.nataliemccool.co.uk

I chat to Swedish singer, songwriter, producer and DJ Maydar about growing up in her native Sweden and how music plays a part in early education and society, using production skills to become self sufficient as as an independent artist, AND being kind to yourself as an artist when you're feeling the pressure.www.nataliemccool.co.ukhttps://soundcloud.com/maydar

This episode I welcome London based songwriter producer Sophie Ackroyd. Sophie has hit multi-million streams with tracks she's produced featured in the likes of Spotify's New Music Friday and Fresh Finds. Here's a pretty refreshing chat about her journey as a producer coming through Spotify Secret Genius, her craft, favourite sounds and plug ins, and what it's like working with the most exciting emerging artists right now.

This episode I welcome object blue, a techno DJ and producer who was born in Tokyo, raised in Beijing, and is now is based in London. Here's a pretty honest and incredibly inspiring chat about access and acceptance to music, disregarding outside opinion to figure things out for yourself, and creating tracks from shady voice notes. www.nataliemccool.co.ukhttps://objectblue.format.com/

This episode features a pretty inspirational chat with synth pop artist Låpsley about reclaiming artistic identity, her long awaited second album ‘Through Water', and the importance of rest and recuperation.www.nataliemccool.co.ukhttps://musiclapsley.com/

I chat to garage pop trio Peaness about the DIY scene, just what the heck 'totally snick' is, and keeping sane in these strange times.www.nataliemccool.co.ukwww.peanessband.com

I chat to Liverpool indie-pop gem ZUZU about her new album 'Queensway Tunnel', Harry Potter, and writing songs about people but not telling them...www.nataliemccool.co.ukwww.thisiszuzuofficial.com

I chat to music man & The Wombats drummer Dan Haggis about the tracks we wrote together for my new album 'Memory Girl', his upcoming projects including the new Wombats album, and the most unforgettable gig, ever.www.nataliemccool.co.ukhttps://www.thewombats.co.uk/https://www.facebook.com/dan8theman/

I chat to the very boss singer, guitarist and songwriter Mike Halls (Clean Cut Kid) about being at uni together (and what a LAUGH it was), Clean Cut Kid's upcoming 4th album, and how to really perfect Spotify (aside from the royalty splits!).

I chat to impassioned psychedelic artist She Drew The Gun about her new album 'Behave Myself', the inspirations behind it, and our mutual love for bizarre science fiction.

I chat to Amazing Radio DJ, host and podcaster Shell Zenner about how music can save your life, the strength of network and community, and how to make your track stand out on BBC Introducing.www.nataliemccool.co.ukhttps://www.facebook.com/shellzenner/

I chat to producer Kenzo Zurzolo about writing my single 'Closure' together in Paris, his music project Love Supreme and their recent sync with Black Mirror, and his love of analogue synths.www.nataliemccool.co.uk

I chat to Anil Sebastian & Paul Frith about AI songwriting robots, how healthy a lifestyle making music is, and the weirdest inspirations for songs, EVER. Anil is a vocalist, songwriter & director of London Contemporary Voices choir and Paul Frith is a composer & songwriter who has worked with The xx, James Morrison & Bear's Den. I met Anil & Paul on a songwriting camp for Film & TV in LA in 2018, and have kept working with them since.

I chat to amazing producer Sam Cramer about his work which has reached over 30 million streams on Spotify, valuing songwriters with the global #BrokenRecord campaign, and Stewart Lee's shoes.www.nataliemccool.co.ukhttp://bit.ly/FutureHumansSptfy

I chat to artist, vocal arranger, singer and songwriter Anil Sebastian about his new film ‘Daffodil' and the accompanying soundtrack, his amazing choir the London Contemporary Voices (who have worked with U2 and Florence + The Machine) and the route back to intimacy, touch and connection.www.anilsebastian.comwww.nataliemccool.co.uk

I chat to London based composer Paul Frith about our new & exciting collaborative music project, his work on brand new Bear's Den album 'Fragments', and...Formula 1.

I chat to Grammy Award winning record producer and composer Steve Levine about working with The Beach Boys, the film Drive and my cover of Nightcall, scoring for film and TV, and the most amazing Jeff Goldblum anecdote.www.stevelevine.co.ukwww.nataliemccool.co.uk

I chat to ace photographer & videographer Georgia Flynn about live music photography, talking robots & her very own music & visual festival Shout About It Live!.http://www.georgiaflynn.com/https://www.facebook.com/shoutaboutitukhttps://www.nataliemccool.co.uk

I chat to the very wonderful artist & songwriter IONE about her new single 'Tell Me' which we co-wrote together, our creative bolster to the #BlackLivesMatter campaign, and how songs can be a force for change and awareness.Listen to 'Tell Me' on Spotify: https://bit.ly/IONE-TellMehttps://www.ioneofficial.com/Listen to the two tracks we co-wrote supporting the #BlackLivesMatter campaign on Soundcloud: https://bit.ly/BLM-I-NMhttp://www.nataliemccool.co.uk

I chat to the wonderfully unique music/visual artist, poet & photographer Beija Flo about stand up, pom poms & using the stage as a platform to speak out & educate on issues such as MRKH syndrome & gender identity. LISTEN: New single 'Nudes': www.bit.ly/BeijaFlo-Nudeswww.facebook.com/iamBeijaFlo/www.nataliemccool.co.uk

I chat to music creators Tanya Mellotte (Killing Eve Seasons 1&2) and Mark Gordon (The Shape of Water, Lily's Driftwood Bay - Nickelodeon) about writing music for Film & TV, the creative scenes in Belfast & LA and working with the legend, Dolly Parton.https://www.tanyamellotte.com/http://www.scoredrawmusic.com/https://www.nataliemccool.co.uk

I chat to Welsh singer songwriter Dan Bettridge - who I met on a songwriting camp in Nashville. Tune in to hear about his musical project, performing in the US (SXSW), frankenstein music gear & the snow in Nashville.Listen to Dan Bettridge on Spotify: j.mp/DanBettridge-Spotifywww.danbettridge.comwww.nataliemccool.co.uk

I chat to Simon Maddison about his experimental music project 'Silent Cities' which spins ripples of lyrical obscurity tackling everything from death to geological world wonders. Tune in for chat on Sonic The Hedgehog, defying genres & a special live performance of our collaboration 'Daydream'.New single L-flo out now: https://j.mp/L-FLO-SCBuy recent Album 'Silent Cities' https://silentcitiesmusicstore.bandcamp.com/Watch the video for our collaboration 'Daydream': https://youtu.be/oju_HZg6lDIwww.nataliemccool.co.uk

I chat to BBC 6 Music DJ Chris Hawkins on the current music landscape, his own BBC Radio 4 series 'Art Of Now' & and how politically engaged artists are more prominent than ever before.Listen to Chris Hawkins on BBC 6 Music: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0072l8yListen to his Radio 4 show 'Art Of Now': https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09w14npwww.nataliemccool.co.uk

I chat to Dom Thomas, brainchild of Manchester collective Whyte Horses about their visual musical experience at London's Southbank Centre, psychedelic warfare & of course TWIN PEAKS.https://twitter.com/whytehorsesListen to 'Fear Is Such A...' in FULL on Spotify: http://j.mp/fearissuchaListen to New Album 'Hard Times' on Spotify: http://j.mp/wh-hardtimeswww.nataliemccool.co.uk

I chat to Hits Radio DJ Hattie about life as a music curator and what exactly it is about a band that grabs her attention.www.hattiepearson.co.ukwww.nataliemccool.co.uk