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The Podcast for the music industry Having been a broadcaster for many years I've witnessed some great stories in the music industry and now I want to bring as many 'Music Stories' to you as I can in this series of podcasts. My goal is that these will inspire and maybe help 'up and coming' musicians and maybe some experienced ones too! Feel free to share these episodes on your own social channels or sites. If you or someone you know would like to be considered for an interview email Hello@ton ...
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A pleasure to chat to Janet Devlin who's career has gone from strength to strength from the age of 16. She has toured with Russell Crowe in Australia, came 5th in X Factor in 2011, been on TV, and had her music played on BBC Radio 2 as just some examples. I find out all about those events and what it was like and much more in the interview. Janet t…
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Very good to catch up with Katherine from The Mediaeval Baebes (yes it's spelt like that!) We last spoke almost exactly a year ago as December is the group's busiest time as you will hear in the interview. I play a bit of their song ' Gower Wassail' and Katherine explains the origin of the song. Their music is quite special and they are in demand f…
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Music Stories is to hopefully help those in the music business with both publicity and to give tips and advice to others, in this interview with the inspirational Belen from Spain, I hear not only about her music ( which is excellent) but what it's like to start out in the creative music world too. During the interview her beautiful cat appeared an…
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Another first for Music Stories with a fascinating chat with Alan from the Dream Pop band ' Soft Cotton County' I find out what Dream Pop is all about and together with Shira and Sascha their new Album ' 10 Years of Travel' is out now (Nov 2024) and the brilliant single 'Somewhere there's a Jukebox Playing' is superb! I play a bit so you can hear i…
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Hattie is a professional Singer, Songwriter and Harpist with new music out now. A first for Music Stories as she is actually feeding her baby Noah throughout the interview! (Listen for the slurps and burbs!). Her single 'Ruined in The Rain' is about suicide and Hattie explains the inspiration behind the song, I play a bit for you, it's VERY good! T…
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Fantastic to catch up with the award winning Nashville Producer , singer songwriter Tony Mantor. We chat about how he started in the music business and transitioned from a performer to a producer. His new song is a cover of The Cascades sixties hit 'Rhythm of The Rain' and I play a bit for you, it's very good! Tony has valuable tips about becoming …
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It was a pleasure to catch up with Vince again as he has a new single out 'Passing By' inspired by his time during the Pandemic as a Festival Barista! Vince tells me how that all came about and I play a bit of the song for you in the interview. Vince is touring with Scouting For Girls (2024) and he tells me what that is like, and he has some very g…
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One of the nicest people I've interviewed and I've interviewed thousands. Chesney Hawkes chats to me about 'that' song which catapulted him to fame aged only 19, ( I play a few seconds of it to remind you!) and what he's been up to since then. His new single 'Get a Hold of Yourself' is awesome and as you will hear it's produced by the best too. I p…
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A pleasure to talk to the one and only Nick Battle - he is one of those people who has so much experience in the music industry it's difficult to know where to start! In the seventies he was bass and violin player in the band 'After The Fire' and since then he's run his own record business with a long list of impressive clients including George Ben…
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Andras Droppa is a Heavy rock & Blues guitarist singer songwriter who straight out of university more or less went on the road! With Hungarian and North Devon roots his music is amazing and he tells me how it all started. His band is on a massive tour of the UK - 'The Painted Ladies Tour' which is also the title of a track he has recently released.…
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Great to catchup with Miles again on Music Stories to find out what he and the band have been up to and what's happening in the future. Their latest release 'Black Hole' is sure to be a hit and I play a bit to show you what I mean. It's very good! We talk about the problems bands experience and he has great advice for others. Get more information a…
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A first for Music Stories I think, an interview with another DJ ! Of course Pete Sherriff and I have a lot in common and could have talked for weeks! In fact there will be a Part 2 interview as he has so many interesting and inspirational stories to tell. My wife Emma and I watched Pete very professionally DJ and Compare at a festival in the summer…
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A real pleasure to chat to the talented Dublin based Colm Gavin about his music and how it all started for him. He has just returned from performing in New York and festivals in the UK and has a new single released 'Song For Sam'. It's so good I played all of it in the interview which is a first for Music Stories! We talk about how and why the song…
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Sabina Chantouria is one of the new rising stars in Swedish pop music. Her sound is as eclectic as her Georgian-Swedish roots. In 2011, Sabina was selected for the World Championship of Performing Arts and was a 2017 Georgian National finalist for Eurovision! This year, she won the category best artist of the Year at Caucasus Music Her latest singl…
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A pleasure to talk again to the very talented Debby Campbell on Music Stories! Debby toured with her father Glen Campbell for 25 years and is still singing and performing. Her new release 'It looks like Rain' is beautiful and I play a bit for you in the interview. Glen suffered from Alzheimers and passed away 7 years ago, the song reflects what it …
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A pleasure to talk to the very inspirational Canadian Singer Songwriter Raquel Kiaraa about her career and new single 'Feel With Me' - I play a bit of it for you as a taster. With over 2 million streams her music is increasingly successful and listening to it you can hear why. We talk about the stresses musicians endure like rejection for example a…
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So good to catch up again with Pete from D-Ream, sadly Al MacKenzie was stuck in an airport somewhere and couldn't make it in time but I'm sure we will get him again in the future! Of course I had to start off by asking him about the ex Prime Minister's resignation speech in the rain when someone played 'Things will only Get Better' from the end of…
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Fabulous to chat to Dave from The Cathodes about his past, it turns out we have a bit in common making keyboards! The Cathodes have a great new single out ' Bye, Bye Love' and Dave tells me how it came about, I play a bit for you and you will hear that it's a great track! Dave has some surprising advice for fellow musicians, and he tells be about h…
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I interview the multi talented Georgina at Soho Studios in London about her career and projects so far. She has some great advice for other performers, I am sure we will see and hear much more from Georgina in the future! The video version of this interview can be seen at Backstagetony.tv here: https://www.youtube.com/@backstagetonytv/videos Her mu…
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I talk to Arlene who was in her kitchen, complete with a fabulous Jukebox and Mirror Ball! She worked as cabin crew for 25 years before realising her talent as a singer songwriter. What she has achieved since the change is astounding, recording in Nashville, working and collaborating with the best, professional musicians, and more. Singing mainly c…
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Louis and I hit it off straight away and we had lots of fun making this episode! His legendary father was huge in the jazz / swing / dance world ( he was the guy who sang 'I just Wanna Be Like You' as King Louis in the film The Jungle Book!) and Louis Junior is following in his footsteps! Louis tells me how he grew up in a musical family, his mothe…
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A pleasure to chat to Denise Marsa who is an award winning singer songwriter and has been producing music for decades. She has so much experience in the music industry and of course I ask her what advice she has for people starting out or trying to survive in the music world, she has lot's of great advice! Denise was the female singer on Dean Fried…
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I chat to Luke one of the brothers ( with Joel ) from the multi award winning 'For King & Country' ( listen to the list of awards!) about their inspirational family story from nothing to success. Their single 'Unsung Hero' from the album of the same name is beautiful and for the first time on Music Stories I play the whole track! They have also rel…
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Son of Bee Gee Maurice Gibb, Nick is a very accomplished music producer and singer, songwriter and it was a pleasure to catch up with him again ( listen to episode 10 ). He has released a new song 'Better Way' to raise funds and awareness for the fast disappearing Amazon Rain Forest and other areas and I play a bit for you, it's very good! We talk …
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It was fantastic to catch up with Gareth again, he tells me briefly what he's been up to in the last 12 months, including performing with Bonnie Raitt ! His new album 'Welcome to the House of I Don't Know' is out now and he tells me the meaning behind the title. Gareth's single from the album 'Go Down Swinging' is brilliant and I play a bit to give…
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Just 22 years old Allegra was signed when she was only 14 but listen to her music which is incredible and very mature. Her new single ' Love You Right Back' is out now and she explains the inspiration behind the song. I play a bit for you, turn it up! We discuss social media pros and cons in the music world and she has excellent advice for others t…
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Here's a man who knows the music business! Roger and his north London Ska and Punk band have been going for 45 years now and they still write great fun songs and perform regularly. I delve into Roger's past and find out how he started in music, he has plenty of really great advice for musicians, and a great story about Hank Marvin too! The False Do…
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Ok lets go back to 1977 and the opening sequence to James Bond - The Spy Who Loved me. "What's wrong james ? "Something came up!" "But I need you!" "So does England!" Susie was the 'Log Cabin Girl' with Roger Moore in the Bond movie and she has had an amazing acting career filming with people such as David Niven and Silvester Stalone and many other…
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I'm struggling to do justice to Annie's description here as she has achieved so much! A fully professional singer and voice coach Annie has worked with just about everybody in the business. Here's just a few people for you: The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, (and many other orchestras) George Michael, The Bee Gees, Robbie Williams, Beyonce, Elton Jo…
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It was a great pleasure to chat to the in demand and successful musician singer songwriter John Carr! John's amazingly distinctive voice has meant he has been in constant demand to work with other artists, and he writes and produces his own material too. His version of The Association's 'Never My Love' is as I put it "better than the original" (sor…
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Incredibly popular Eloise has been on tour supporting Anastacia and is about to tour with Rebecca Ferguson. Her new album 'Glasshouse' and the title single from it is out now and it's brilliant! I play a bit of Glasshouse for you to hear, and Eloise tells me how it came about on a writing trip a couple of years ago. It was fascinating to hear her r…
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Great fun to talk to the amazing Lyra who has a great new single out 'Queen' and I play a little bit for you to sample. The numbers we discuss that she has achieved on social media and downloads and streams are incredible and we chat about those and being 'Shazamed!' a lot! She is honest enough to tell me what inspired in her personal life to write…
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Always a pleasure to interview Nadia again ( see Episode 102) From Northern Ireland and with a career going from strength to strength, Nadia has released another fantastic single 'Catch Me If You Can'. She tells me how the song came about ( and I play a bit for you , should it be my theme song?) I ask her about nerves when on stage and she has some…
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Some great stories from Gary Moat of rock band Burnt Out Wreck, including about playing Wembley Stadium and Ozzy Osbourne ! Gary tells me about how he rehearsed playing the drums years ago, sending vibrations to the neighbours across the street! He was part of the eighties rock band Heavy Pettin (no G)! I play a bit of the bands single ' Stand And …
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Max was in Las Vegas when we spoke about her career, she tells me how it all started for her and how she has 150 million views / downloads! Max has only been a professional singer songwriter for 7 years and has had amazing success, I play a bit of her latest single 'Keep You Waiting' and you will understand why she is so successful. I ask her what …
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Emma has had an incredible career already and to look at her you would struggle to believe that as she looks so youthful! She's opened on stage for amazing artists singing her own music for people like The Feeling, Sophie Ellis-Bexter and Take That! She tells me what that was like. One of her songs has had 3.5 million plays on Spotify so she's obvi…
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Warning ! This interview has SO MANY stories and advice you wouldn't believe it ! Bobby tells me his amazing story from when he was in the US Navy and how he got into performing his music, way before he discovered he was soul icon Jackie Wilson's son. I play a short piece of Jackie Wilson's Higher & Higher for you, and then some of his new single '…
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A pleasure to talk to Tom who has released a new single ' Keep Calling' (March 2024) and I play a bit in the interview, it's great! We talk about how he started busking on the streets of Oxford and what it was like, and about touring and the technology involved now in the music business. Tom has great advice for fellow musicians too. His music and …
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A great interview with the very talented Nathalie Miranda who gives a lot of valuable advice to other musicians during the course of our chat. Nathalie explains her policy of creating different styles of songs (which she does very well) and I play a bit of her excellent track 'Back to Life' to give you an idea of her professionalism and talent. It …
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I really got on well with award winning Vince, we ended up talking about tech so much before the interview we nearly ran out of time ! Vince has a harrowing personal story to tell and I ask him if his experience has inspired his music. He has appeared on the BBC's 'The Voice' and I ask him about meeting Tom Jones and what he gained from the show to…
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John's single 'Carolina California is a brilliant rock song about a relationship breakdown, he explains all about it and I play a clip from the single. John is described on his website as 'Unconventional, Unexpected and a little Unravelled' which is really cool and accurately reflects his life and music. He gives me an explanation! Extremely talent…
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An absolute pleasure to chat to Rachael about her music. She tells me she has played the piano since she was two and a half and is self taught too! She has worked with Howard Jones and Imelda May amongst others and her new single 'Darkest Deep' is available now. I play a bit of it and it's so good I played more than I should have ! Rachael has some…
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Ninuca is a 23 year old incredibly talented professional concert pianist, originally from Georgia and now based in Germany. She tells me what Georgia is like and apparently they make great wine there! I ask her how she started playing the piano. Remembering how myself and many others were sent to have piano lessons as children and didn't do particu…
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Well as you know I've interviewed some very talented people and Georgina is no exception! Singer, Songwriter, Actress, Performer, Multi Instrumentalist, Voice Coach, Model and much more! She's a very nice person too and you can see why she is so busy with work. Georgina tells me about how she started in music and drama, about the training she has h…
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I was thrilled to be asked to interview 80's Icon the one and only Tony Hadley, formally from Spandau Ballet of course, and as you will hear he's such a nice bloke! We chat about how he started singing as a school boy and what happened afterwards. He tells me what it was like when he appeared in Benidorm the popular hilarious TV series, and on Mich…
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We laughed and laughed ! Talking to the one and only Tony Christie was a real treat! He tells me about how he got into music as a child, and how he had the hit with 'Is This The Way To Amarillo', first back in 1971 and then with Peter Kay of course much later. I find out how that actually came about! We have a laugh at what Google Maps say about th…
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I talk to the very talented Christina Sako in California about her life and music, she's achieved so much in her 36 years! Her new single 'Warmth' is out now and I play a bit of it in the interview. It's very good! We talk not only about her career but also about modern recording techniques and how she gets her music made. Of course I ask her to gi…
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You may remember an instrumental hit in the seventies from Yvan called 'Winter Memories' , (I play a bit to jog your memory) well he is still going strong and I talk to his brilliant daughter Carolina in Belgium about her father's amazing life and music. We chat about the changes Yvan has seen over the decades and how he has coped, Carolina has som…
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I catch up with best selling author and Billy Joel Guru Jon Brett to chat about Billy's new music 'Turn The Lights Back On' and I play some of the track in the interview. We talk about how Billy is sounding these days, why he has released more music and his forthcoming gig in Cardiff, and a lot more. As ever Jon has all the details and truly there …
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I talk to the incredibly inspirational Sean Millis. Sean suffers from a rare condition called Hunters Syndrome and has to have regular treatment in hospital for the rest of his life. He also has an incredible voice! I play a bit of his new single 'Waiting For A Miracle' and you will see what I mean. Hi amazing rise to stardom has happened due to a …
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