Explore every episode of the podcast crackaud.io stories

The audio version of our Issue 142 cover story, featuring Jam City.

Jam City’s 2012 debut album rerouted UK club music, but a series of stylistic heel-turns and A-list collaborations in the years since have seen the self-proclaimed postmodern baby live up to his own billing. Now, the producer is returning to his roots to celebrate the transcendent power of a messy night out on his next record, 'EFM'.

Words by Will Pritchard and narration by Keziah Wenham-Kenyon.

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The audio version of our Issue 140 cover story, featuring Caroline Polachek.

“I feel like culture in general is suffering from a need for everything to be literal. It’s almost like we’ve forgotten that’s never why we were interested in art in the first place”

Caroline Polachek is no stranger to drama. Guided by her breathtaking voice, the experimental pop artist has written operas, earned a Grammy nomination and even inspired a TikTok dance craze. For her next chapter, she’s surrendering to chaos.

This cover story was written by Jake Indiana and narrated by Keziah Wenham-Kenyon.

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How do you tell the story of an inner-city London estate without compromising on authenticity and honesty? For Top Boy, the answer lies in music. We spoke to the show's music supervisor and members of the cast and writing team about telling stories through – and with – music.

Captured at Top Boy Live, a day of talks and workshops supporting the next generation of British talent in film, TV, music and beyond. Recap the day with advice, insights and assignments here: https://crackm.ag/3IVeqei

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Since the show first aired on Channel 4 in October 2011, Top Boy has been defined by its rich, unpredictable and most importantly authentic characters. But how do you build characters that are lasting? And how do you make sure what they are saying is believable? Stylists, writers, actors and casting directors from the show talk through the process.

Captured at Top Boy Live, a day of talks and workshops supporting the next generation of British talent in film, TV, music and beyond. Recap the day with advice, insights and assignments here: https://crackm.ag/3IVeqei

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What does it take to make generation-defining television? In this panel conversation we hear from Top Boy’s top table. The show’s creator Ronan Bennett, producer Alasdair Flind and the show’s star and executive producer Ashley Walters.

A live recording from Top Boy Live, a day of talks and workshops supporting the next generation of British talent in film, TV, music and beyond. Recap the day with advice, insights and assignments here: https://crackm.ag/3IVeqei

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We hear from the stars of the biggest show in British culture. Little Simz, Micheal Ward, Jasmine Jobson, Saffron Hocking and Araloyin Oshunremi explore representation, realism and the return of Top Boy.

A live recording from Top Boy Live, a day of talks and workshops supporting the next generation of British talent in film, TV, music and beyond. Recap the day with advice, insights and assignments here: https://crackm.ag/3IVeqei

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Filmmaker Joanna Hogg and singer-songwriter Anna Calvi connect for a conversation about mutual appreciation, similarities in their complementing crafts and the beauty of leaving space for creative serendipity. 

Their kinship is now immortalised on screen in The Souvenir Part II, the critically-acclaimed follow-up to Joanna’s semi-autobiographical 2019 film The Souvenir, where Calvi makes a cameo and delivers the closing soundtrack. Their conversation starts with Anna recounting the time she discovered Joanna’s work by watching her 2013 film, Exhibition.

Moderated by Iana Murray

Edited by Keziah Wenham-Kenyon

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“I think if I didn’t have music I’d be a really angry person and find life really difficult."

In a rare interview for The Collections Vol. 3, Mica Levi reflects on their fluid approach to creativity and how to infiltrate the mainstream while staying DIY. Written by Adam Quarshie and narrated by Eliza Lomas.

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“The internet can be cruel; it can make assumptions. I’m not trying to have assumptions being made about me that aren’t true.

PinkPantheress makes sense of her rapid-quick rise to alt-pop stardom for the cover of The Collections Vol. 3. Written by Jasmine Kent-Smith and narrated by Eliza Lomas.

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“You get afforded a lot of luxury as a somewhat successful musician, so you wanna feel like you’re giving something back.”

One of the most admired producers of his generation is searching for his own voice. Joy Orbison gives his only interview of 2021 for The Collections Vol. 3. Written by Richard Akingbehin and narrated by Eliza Lomas.

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"It’s my most powerful version of myself, the kind of demonic, B-movie vamp. That sounds like something that a male journalist would write, but I’m actually kind of into it.”

Charli XCX talks death, rebirth and what could be her final album in our Collections Vol. 3 cover story. Written by Sasha Geffen and narrated by Eliza Lomas.

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The relationship between UK poetry and music is up for discussion in this podcast episode, recorded live in November 2022 at Bars of Reassurance: Poetry and Grime.

The live conversation, presented by Royal Society of Literature and the Museum of London alongside Crack Magazine, was hosted by producer and writer Tobi Kyeremateng and features poets and storytellers Yomi Ṣode and Kayo Chingonyi. The talk was inspired by the museum’s display, Grime Stories: From the corner to the mainstream, which explored the enduring impact of the genre and its footprint in youth culture today.

This episode was edited by Keziah Wenham-Kenyon. Yomi Sode's reading of 'Distant Daily Ijó' is courtesy of the T. S. Eliot Prize.

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Kevin Richard Martin reveals the people and politics behind Fire, his first album in seven years under his heavyweight dub alias The Bug.

Hosted by Chal Ravens. To enjoy the full hour-long conversation, become a Crack Supporter now: crackmagazine.net/support

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The complex connections between music, violence, austerity and censorship are up for discussion in this Supporters Talk. Brixton rapper AM, a vanguard of the UK drill movement alongside his regular collaborator Skengdo, is joined by youth worker and journalist Ciaran Thapar, author of Cut Short: Youth Violence, Loss and Hope in the City, to talk about the streets, schools and scenes that birthed a genre. The full-length video of this talk is available to Crack Supporters.

Hosted by Nicolas-Tyrell Scott

Edited by Keziah Wenham-Kenyon

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When reflecting on the last 12 months in music, Bandcamp’s revolutionary artist initiative provides one of the few rays of light. To learn more about how they are reshaping the framework for independent artists and labels, and how best to use their platform, head of Artist and Label Relations Andrew Jervis and UK/EU label representative Aly Gillani will sit down for a special Supporters Week discussion.

Hosted by Chal Ravens

Edited by Keziah Wenham-Kenyon

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British rap has become a global superpower. Commercially, critically and culturally, UK artists no longer need American co-signs to reach hero status locally, and the sounds which have come to define the radio, charts and festivals circuits over here belong solely to British production innovators.

To dissect the various formulas which have paved the road to this imperial phase, Keziah Wenham-Kenyon touched base with some of the country’s most important beat makers. From nocturnal grime to R&B-infused drill, understand the science of the sounds in our audio report featuring Jae5 (J Hus, Burna Boy, Dave), Paya Beats (Enny), Ten Billion Dreams (Ghetts) and Bkay (M1llionz, Krept & Konan).

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KeiyaA’s debut album, ‘Forever, Ya Girl’, was one of the revelations of 2020. But the work is just beginning, and the Chicago-born artist is more than ready.

Listen to our Issue 117 cover story. Written by Ann-Derrick Gaillot and narrated by Eliza Lomas.

CrackMagazine.net

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Listen to our Issue 116 cover story. Written by Cameron Cook and narrated by Eliza Lomas.

It took five decades for Beverly Glenn-Copeland to be discovered. But his sublime transmissions speak to the times we’re living in.

CrackMagazine.net

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At the end of March, nightclubs and music venues around the country closed their doors in a bid to stem the spread of COVID-19. No one knew how long this period might last. Nine months later, many of these spaces remain closed. Some will never open again.

Those that were able to put on shows when restrictions lifted have struggled to break even whilst maintaining social distancing measures. Despite this bleak outlook – and faced with a mixture of apathy and incompetence from the government – music communities across the UK have continued to band together in support of one another. With the threat of further lockdowns looming, journalist Will Pritchard visited grassroots venues and spoke to artists in London, Hull, and Manchester to find out how they’re responding. This is a story not just about bricks and mortar, but community, resilience, and the fight to keep the lights on.

Produced and Edited by Will Pritchard.

Narrated by Eliza Lomas.

crackmagazine.net.

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Crack Magazine has been collaborating with BIMM Institute Bristol on a series of talks featuring some of the most influential and inventive voices in contemporary music.

In this episode, we welcome DJ, label-boss and general future-thinker Elijah. As the co-founder of Butterz, Elijah has been instrumental in uplifting the rise of artists like Flava D, Royal T and DJ Q. Beyond the label, his work with Youth Music and his iconic yellow squares insights on social media have established him as an important and imaginative voice in British independent music. Here, Elijah chats to Crack’s Audio Manager, Jasmine Kent-Smith, over Zoom about his entry into the music industry, Butterz, and supporting artists in 2023. 

This episode was moderated by Jasmine Kent-Smith and edited by Keziah Wenham-Kenyon.

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Crack Magazine has been collaborating with BIMM Institute Bristol on a series of live talks featuring some of the most influential and inventive voices in contemporary music.

In this podcast episode, we hear from Pau Cristòful, who works on the booking team at Primavera Sound. For the conversation series, Pau sat down with Crack co-founder and director Thomas Frost at BIMM Institute Bristol to discuss the planning, creativity, and ambition that it takes to programme Primavera Sound – one of Europe's largest music festivals – ahead of its 2022 edition. Listen until the end to hear Pau answer questions from the conversation audience.

Our podcasts are also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other audio platforms. This episode was moderated by Thomas Frost and edited by Keziah Wenham-Kenyon.

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Last year, Crack Magazine collaborated with BIMM Institute Bristol on a series of live talks featuring some of the most influential and inventive voices in contemporary music.

Here, Eliza Rose – the east London artist and DJ behind 2022 smash hit, 'B.O.T.A. (Baddest of Them All)' – and DJ and broadcaster Vanessa Maria connect for a conversation about the song and its success, Rose’s career thus far, her relationship with social media, performance anxiety and future plans. Stay tuned to the end to hear Eliza answer some questions from the audience.

Our podcasts are also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other audio platforms. This episode was moderated by Vanessa Maria and edited by Keziah Wenham-Kenyon.

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“We are trying to combine Polynesian culture and electronic music, halfway between tradition and modernism.”

In Tahiti, the main island in French Polynesia, music is an integral part of the culture. As essential to everyday life as water or air. But there’s one style of music that reigns supreme: sapa’u, also known as ori deck.

For Issue 132, Tiare Tuuhia connects with some of the style's biggest players and delves into the story and culture behind the emerging genre. Written by Tiare Tuuhia and narrated by Keziah Wenham-Kenyon.

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“I struggled with my religious upbringing for years after I became an adult and right now, right at the tail-end of this record, I’ve realised I’ve made peace with everything.”

As Ethel Cain, Hayden Silas Anhedönia calls upon memories of her strict religious upbringing to create her own Southern epic. We catch up with the Preacher's Daughter artist for Issue 132. Written by Emma Garland and narrated by Keziah Wenham-Kenyon

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“Making music is not something I do because I want to make money. It’s something I do because it’s what I am. I don’t feel like I can detach myself from that as an identity.”

Mr. Mitch talks fatherhood, functional club music and his new working process for the Issue 132 feature. Written by Will Pritchard and narrated by Keziah Wenham-Kenyon.

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The audio version of our Issue 132 cover story, featuring Arooj Aftab.

"I think of a thing, and then I ask, ‘What is the history? Is there a depth behind it?’"

Composer, vocalist, Grammy-award winner, storyteller. Arooj Aftab is reimagining the music of centuries past, and making history as she goes. We meet the Pakistani artist for our June cover story. Written by Michelle Hyun Kim and narrated by Keziah Wenham-Kenyon.

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