Explore every episode of the podcast Original Material

Welcome to Original Material! I’m Gemma Syme, and on this podcast I talk to some of my favourite musicians about three songs that inspired, defined, or absolutely blew their minds back in high school.

We also dive into the three words that described them as a teenager, and I ask for the one track they believe every young person should hear today.

The guests in this series are all incredible artists who have each remixed a track for my band Instant Fantasy. Those remixes make up the upcoming release, The Wet EP (Remixed), coming out through Sunreturn in 2026.

Introducing Today’s Guest

From dodging "playground justice" as a cheeky, undersized nerd to discovering a world of Japanese avant-garde and the "Greek Chorus" of 60s girl groups—Karl Sölve Steven joins me today to unpack the tracks that shaped him.

You’ll know his music from his legendary work in Supergroove, The Drab Doo Riffs, and Heart Attack Alley—or more recently, his collaboration with Anna Fält. Karl is also the mind behind award-winning cinematic scores that provide the soundscapes for both New Zealand and international films.

Karl is an epic human and a sophisticated sound explorer, and it was a total pleasure to sit down with him.

Chapters:

0:00:00 Welcome to Original Material

00:01:35 What were three words that you would use to describe yourself as a teenager

00:05:22 How did you discover new music in high school?

00:11:25 Song #1: The Shangri-Las - "Leader of the Pack"

00:19:01 Song #2: George Clinton - "Atomic Dog"

00:26:27 Song #3: Devo - "Beautiful World"

00:30:56 One song all teens today should hear: Hildegard von Bingen - "O Virtus Sapientiae"

Stream or buy the tracks featured in the podcast here: https://www.tunemymusic.com/share/y52lUirnAg

https://karlsolvesteven.com/

https://instantfantasy.bandcamp.com/

https://www.sunreturn.co.nz/

This podcast is for educational purposes. Any opinions and all that jazz is the hosts only, and not their employers and such.

Created, recorded by Gemma Syme

Edited by Gemma Syme and Daif King

What are your top three songs that inspired, defined, and blew your mind when you were in high school? 

Kia ora, my name is Gemma and Original Material is a podcast where I interview guests about what music captured their teen spirit. 

Please subscribe, so when the podcast is released you will be the first in line!

In high school I had so many moments where music jolted something within me that gave me connection to something beyond the conventional… something bigger than myself. Something that sounded like me. 

I release music under the musical username of Instant Fantasy, and as I celebrate the release of remixes of my original recording of The Wet EP coming out through Sunreturn, now felt like the perfect time to talk to some of the artists and people involved with the original EP about their original material.