Impropod Podcast

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."

Ep4 Turtle Genesis and Kibbutz - Galore Orr

Gal Or tells a turtle creation story, we discus fasting with a fever at vision quest and his upbringing in a Kibbutz in Israel.  
Galore shares his deep connection to improvisation, describing it as a liberating form of self-expression. The episode features a musical dialogue, where he responds to music with vivid imagery and a fictional story about a Tree of Knowledge. He also reflects on his upbringing in an Israeli kibbutz and a transformative vision quest, emphasizing themes of community, nature, and emotional exploration. The episode concludes with reflections on the power of music and storytelling.
Introduction to Galore (00:00:04)Galore introduces himself, explaining his name means "wave light" in Hebrew.
Improvisation as Life (00:00:23)Galore shares his view that improvisation is a liberating and vulnerable expression of life.
Musical Imagery (00:01:09)Galore describes vivid images and emotions evoked by the host's improvised music.
Storytelling Begins (00:03:15)Galore starts a fictional story about a cosmic tree and its significance in creation.
The Tree of Knowledge (00:05:36)The old man explains the importance of protecting the tree of knowledge from misuse.
Reflections on the Story (00:09:38)Galore reflects on the story's conclusion and its connection to the music.
Sacrifice and Joy (00:10:16)Discussion on the themes of sacrifice for community joy and the bigger picture.
Growing Up in a Kibbutz (00:11:23)Galore shares his experience growing up in a kibbutz and its sense of freedom.
Connection to Land (00:12:43)Exploration of the importance of community and connection to the land across generations.
Musical Progression (00:16:54)Galore discusses the emotional journey conveyed through music, reflecting on his childhood.
Vision Quest Experience (00:18:43)Galore recounts his vision quest, detailing the challenges faced during the experience.
Emotional Journey (00:20:49)Galore reflects on the emotions of surrender and acceptance during his vision quest.
Community and Return (00:24:56)Discussion on the importance of community and feeling valued upon returning from the quest.
Conclusion of the Podcast (00:26:32)The host thanks Galore for his insights, concluding the episode with an invitation to listeners.
 

Podcast Trailer

Ep3 Rooftops and India - Ben Boyd Taylor

Film-maker and teacher Ben BT tells stories of passion and confusion about a one night stand, his adventures in India involving a hair raising motorbike ride and a rooftop story. All with a unique soundtrack
Follow Ben on Instagram @benboydtaylor
Timestamps
Introduction to Ben Boyd Taylor (00:00:05)Ben shares his musical background and contrasts it with his sister's musicality.
Initial Music Response (00:00:41)Ben describes his emotional response and imagery evoked by a piece of improvised music.
Storytelling Prompt (00:02:17)The host prompts Ben to share a personal story that could have a musical soundtrack.
Traveling in India (00:02:23)Ben recounts a memorable and adventurous journey on a jeep and motorbike in India.
Narrative Structure in Music (00:03:46)Discussion on how music can mirror narrative elements like confusion and clarity.
Sense of Adventure (00:06:02)Ben reflects on the excitement and fear during his adventurous journey.
Improvisation Reflection (00:06:34)Ben shares thoughts on how the music could better reflect his decision-making moments.
University Rooftop Experience (00:07:34)Ben reminisces about a memorable night spent on a rooftop avoiding security.
Sunrise and Nature (00:08:30)Describes the beauty of watching the sunrise and observing wildlife during that night.
Conveying Time in Music (00:10:25)Discussion on the challenges of representing time and day in musical compositions.
Confusion in Relationships (00:10:49)Ben shares a personal story about the emotional complexity of a one-night stand.
Conflict in Emotions (00:11:31)Exploration of conflicting feelings and attachments arising from casual encounters.
Music Interpretation (00:14:12)Ben reflects on the emotional journey conveyed through music composition.
Narrative Clarity (00:16:41)Ben acknowledges a clearer narrative in the music during the second attempt.
Insight on Music Composition (00:16:56)Ben discusses the unique challenges of composing music compared to film and photography.
Final Thoughts on Interpretation (00:17:25)Ben highlights the subjective nature of music and its varied interpretations by listeners.
Conclusion (00:18:18)The host thanks Ben for the insightful conversation and invites listeners to the next episode.

Ep2 Cake and Runaway Cars - Alice Boyd-Taylor

Luke interviews and improvises for live wire and cake enthusiast Alice Boyd Taylor. With precarious car stories and experiments with dissonant chaos.
Follow Alice on Instagram: @alice_from_wandering_land
Timestamps 
Introduction to Improvisation (00:00:03)Alice shares her recent experimentation with improvisation through spoken word poetry.
Initial Musical Impressions (00:02:04)Alice reflects on the emotions evoked by the host's improvised music, likening it to nature.
The Word "Cake" (00:03:43)Alice recounts a humorous experience of eating cake while working at a busy cake shop.
Musical Interpretation of Cake Story (00:07:19)The host creates music inspired by Alice's cake story, capturing its chaotic essence.
Car Incident Anecdote (00:09:07)Alice narrates a bizarre story about her friend's car crashing into a tree after a beach outing.
Musical Reflection on the Car Story (00:12:52)Alice discusses the dynamics and humor present in the music created from her car story.
Tropical Travel Experience (00:14:47)Alice shares a memorable adventure in Meghalaya, India, involving a pickup truck and jackfruit.
Musical Depth of Travel Story (00:18:36)Alice appreciates the darker tones of the music played, reflecting the troubled atmosphere of her travel story.
Takeaway from the Session (00:19:52)Alice expresses her enjoyment of the spontaneity and playfulness inherent in improvisation.

Ep1 Crowds and healing - Carole Salmon

Artist and mother (to Luke!) Carole and Luke discuss the soundtrack to being chased through crowds, stories off loss and healing, and musical heartbeats. 
Introduction to Impro Pod (00:00:02)Overview of the podcast's purpose: exploring emotions and ideas through piano improvisation.
Initial Impressions of Music (00:00:59)Carole describes her feelings of suspicion and comfort in response to the music played.
Indecisiveness and Hesitation (00:01:20)Discussion on the emotional uncertainty evoked by the music, reflecting a sense of hesitation.
Word Association: Anxious (00:02:41)Carole shares a story about feeling anxious in a crowd while trying to avoid someone.
Crowd Dynamics and Emotional Weight (00:04:19)Carole reflects on the emotional heaviness of crowds and suggests musical adjustments for depth.
Musical Sequence Reflection (00:06:58)Carole describes how a second attempt at playing the music felt deeper and more engaging.
Word Association: Sadness (00:08:17)Carole recounts a poignant story about loss and remembrance involving white roses on the beach.
Musical Interpretation of Sadness (00:11:39)Discussion on how to musically convey the narrative of sadness and beauty in the story.
Feedback in the Improvisation Process (00:12:12)Exploration of how feedback shapes the improvisation, making it a collaborative experience.
Conclusion and Invitation (00:13:18)Wrap-up of the episode and an invitation to listeners to join the next discussion.