Ep5 Tom Waits & the Old Bakery - Stuart Bell

In this Episode Luke Interviews songwriter Stewart Bell remotely in Scotland. Luke experiments with the sound of Tom Waits, Stoo tells stories of a surprise at Tower Records, an old family bakery (with a scotch oven!). And gives some great insight into his relationship with music. 

Check out Stoo on Instagram: @stoo.bell

Stoo's music On Spotify @goldfinch_songs

Podcast Timestamps and Topics

Introduction to the Episode (00:00:05)
The host welcomes listeners to the fifth episode of "Impro Pod," marking the first remote session.

Introduction of Stu Bell (00:00:15)
Stu Bell introduces himself, sharing his name and location in Scotland.

Musical Reaction Prompt (00:00:28)
The host plays a piece of music and asks Stu for his thoughts and feelings about it.

Imagery Evoked by Music (00:01:19)
Stu describes a vivid image of a woman escaping through a forest while listening to the music.

Personal Connection to Music (00:01:44)
Stu discusses his emotional and visual reactions to music, highlighting a visceral connection.

Stu's Musical Background (00:02:01)
Stu shares his experience as a songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist, emphasizing his improvisation style.

Improvisation Challenges (00:02:10)
Stu explains his struggles with improvisation and the importance of musical knowledge.

Story of Discovering Tom Waits (00:02:58)
Stu recounts a memorable night discovering Tom Waits' music at a friend's house in Glasgow.

Searching for Tom Waits' Song (00:03:51)
Stu shares his quest to find the song "Days of Roses" in a Tower Records store.

First Album Encounter (00:04:53)
He describes randomly picking Tom Waits' first album, "Closing Time," and discovering "Martha."

Tom Waits' Unique Style (00:05:21)
Stu reflects on Tom Waits' ability to blend beautiful lyrics with unique, often discordant music.

Composing Music Inspired by Story (00:05:40)
The host discusses composing music to accompany Stu's story about Tom Waits.

Describing Tom Waits' Piano Style (00:05:42)
Stu describes Waits' piano style as rhythmic with jazz undertones, likening it to a barroom piano.

Musical Experimentation (00:06:02)
The host and Stu engage in a musical game to refine the style based on Tom Waits.

Musical Discovery Theme (00:07:30)
The host summarizes the story as one of musical discovery and sets the scene for the music.

Feedback on the Music Composition (00:10:40)
Stu provides feedback on the effectiveness of the music composed for the story.

Another Story Idea (00:11:10)
Stu considers sharing a story about his grandfather's bakery, indicating a fond memory.

Memories of Granddad's Bakery (00:11:35)
Stu reminisces about visiting his granddad's bakery and the memories associated with it.

Special Cakes and Creativity (00:12:31)
He shares stories of unique cakes made by his granddad for family celebrations.

Musical Atmosphere for Bakery Story (00:15:35)
The host discusses the musical atmosphere inspired by the bakery's environment.

Reflections on the Podcast Experience (00:16:20)
Stu reflects on the value of storytelling in songwriting and the connection to music.

Conclusion of the Episode (00:17:01)
The host thanks listeners and invites them to join the next episode of "Impro Pod."