Episode # 5: In conversation with BLANCMANGE's Neil Arthur

Blancmange are no strangers to fans of electronic music and have been described as an influence by many of their contemporaries from OMD to Gary Numan. Blancmange are touring the UK in May 2012 and POEM's Thomas Janak caught up with Blancmange's very own Neil Arthur to talk about their current album and tour. The conversation also touches on the then and now and how the new album came about and more ! Do not miss this. For information and tour dates visit www.blancmange.co.uk LISTEN HERE to the great interview

Episode # 4: How an encounter with electronic music changed the life of a teenager

By 1988 Erasure enjoyed their first # 1 album in the UK with "The Innocents", which has been certified double-platinum in the UK and platinum in the US. It was in the same year that a 16-year-old teenager encountered Erasure's music for the first time. Instantly hooked he decides to become involved in music himself. Now, years later, he himself is working on his first full length album and is heavily involved in remixing songs. His name is Mark 'Rasure' Robotham. This conversation touches on the influence Erasure has had on Mark's life and his music, how digital and analogue music production differs and more!! LISTEN HERE

Episode # 3: Still devoted - celebrating Depeche Mode and the heritage of Basildon

POEM's Thomas Janak caught up with Deb Danahay who organises a two-day-event celebrating electronic music and Depeche Mode in particular in their hometown Basildon. Deb used to run the Depeche and Yazoo fanclubs back in the early days of these bands. The conversation touches on the musical heritage of Basildon, Vince Clarke and Depeche and much more. LISTEN HERE The two day festival is happening on May 4th and 5th 2012. See BASPRODUCTIONS for details

Episode # 2: A closer look at ambient music - in conversation with Mark Prendergast

Music journalist and author of the magnificient "The Ambient Century" Mark Prendergast talks to POEM about the history and influence of ambient music on society. This fascinating conversation touches on artists like Brian Eno, Can, Tangerine Dream and more.

Unfortunately the audio quality of the interview is distorted yet can still be understood. Put on your listening ears!! (Technology can still be flawed in the 21st century :-) )




LISTEN HERE

Episode # 1: The influence of classical music on electronic music

POEM host Thomas Janak and musicologist Neil Arthur Williams

POEM takes a closer look at the influences of classical music on electronic music. POEM's Thomas Janak talked to musicologist and Gustav Holst expert Neil Arthur Williams in-depth about some of the most prominent influences of classical music on electronic music.

The interview also touches on some of the all time greats from Kraftwerk to Jean Michel Jarre, talks about music in film and games and more!

Listen here

Updates

Things are slowly taking shape here and we are delighted to announce our first confirmed guests.

POEM will be talking to acclaimed 'The ambient century - from Mahler to Moby' author Mark Prendergast about the impact electronic music has on the world as we know it.

Furthermore musicologist Neil Arthur Williams has agreed to be interviewed. He is a lover of classical music and an expert of all things Gustav Holst. Neil's debut album "The Hand of OMG" is an eclectic selection of electronically created compositions and we will explore the influence of classical music on electronic music.

Once the interviews are recorded we will go straight into putting together the first shows.

Watch this space

Meet your host

Meet Thomas "TJ" Janak. Himself an award - winning musician with 14 album releases under his belt, his love for electronic music started when he was a child. The first single he ever bought was Kraftwerk's "The Robots" when he was a mere 10/11 years old back in 1977/78.

Thomas is involved in radio since 2003 and his long running animal rights show WILD TIME enjoys much success.

He holds a FETAC accreditation in radio program making with merit and distinction and has hosted and produced many shows over the years.

He covered the Frankfurt Musicfair numerous times and one of his music shows was called "Boing Boom Tchak", obviously hinting at Kraftwerk's "Boing Boom Tchak" song from their 1986 release "Electric Cafe", another one was titled The Nighttrain.

He has recorded interviews with the likes of Gary Numan, Midge Ure, The Sparks and his idol Karl Bartos and now wants to do it all over again. Watch this space!!