Justin LewisMorning, Mastodonors. Thanks for follows and follow-backs. I’m mid-series with a thing, a ‘textcast’ (like a podcast but you read it) called #FirstLastAnything, which is all about music and has special guests. Every Sunday there’ll be a new conversation.
But because of continuity, i want to upload links to the existing 19 episodes, so that they are all in one place. Hopefully I can still continue this on the other platforms as well. Do tell people about it if you think it may interest them. Thanks. #FirstLastAnything
Firstly, a link to explain what the hell #FirstLastAnything is.
I’ll add the existing episodes over the next few days. A brand new episode, ep 20, will be here on Sunday 9 July. #FirstLastAnything
#FirstLastAnything Episode 1: 29 May 2022: Conductor, birdwatcher and author Lev Parikian (@levparikian) on #TomAndJerry scores, his violinist father Manoug, the award-winning #FenellaHumphreys, and his own itinerary from musician to conductor. (Lev’s terrific new book is called Taking Flight.)
https://firstlastanything.squarespace.com/lev-parikian/levparikian
FLA 1: Lev Parikian — First Last Anything
It was such a privilege to have Lev Parikian as my first guest on this series of conversations. He is a birdwatcher, an author, a musician, and a conductor, as well as one of the finest, most dryly funny tweeters I know. One morning, in April 2022, we talked abou
#FirstLastAnything Episode 2: 5 June 2022: Novelist and artist Suzy Norman on #KateBush’s Aerial, the euphoria of sad music, the sound of silence in the big city, and getting into trouble in GCSE Music classes.
#firstlastanything Episode 3: 12 June 2022:
Stand-up comedian and writer Meryl O’Rourke joins me to talk about music, memories, and her eye-opening and funny show, Vanilla. (CW: We also discuss sexual behaviour, attitudes and consent in pop and pop videos.)
#FirstLastAnything Episode 4: 19 June 2022:
Award-winning Brubeck biographer and music writer Philip Clark me on the textcast to talk about music that refuses to resolve, about ‘sound and the city’, and presents his FLA selections.
#FirstLastAnything Episode 5: 3 July 2022:
The remarkable, acclaimed violinist Fenella Humphreys reveals her FLA record choices, and talks to me about performance, perfectionism, practice, and so much more. Since our conversation, her Caprices album has won a BBC Music Award.
https://firstlastanything.squarespace.com/fenellahumphreys
The remarkable, acclaimed violinist Fenella Humphreys reveals her FLA record choices, and talks to me about performance, perfectionism, practice, and so much more. Since our conversation, her Caprices album has won a BBC Music Award.
https://firstlastanything.squarespace.com/fenellahumphreys
#FirstLastAnything Episode 6: 10 July 2022:
Joining me this week is the incredibly prolific journalist, novelist and comedy writer David Quantick. Under discussion: K-pop, middle age, and how to review pop records. https://firstlastanything.squarespace.com/davidquantick
Joining me this week is the incredibly prolific journalist, novelist and comedy writer David Quantick. Under discussion: K-pop, middle age, and how to review pop records. https://firstlastanything.squarespace.com/davidquantick
#FirstLastAnything Episode 7: 17 July 2022:
This week, writer, DJ and my friend since 1990 Alasdair Mackenzie discusses his first/last/anything purchases, plus TV themes, Eurovision and Ukrainian pop, and an extraordinary moment at his first gig. https://firstlastanything.squarespace.com/alasdairmackenzie
This week, writer, DJ and my friend since 1990 Alasdair Mackenzie discusses his first/last/anything purchases, plus TV themes, Eurovision and Ukrainian pop, and an extraordinary moment at his first gig. https://firstlastanything.squarespace.com/alasdairmackenzie
#FirstLastAnything Episode 8: 31 July 2022: Writer Kirsten Parnell (@kirstofcomms) on #TheCalling, #BruceSpringsteen, #Lissie, #Dessa, #MichelleBranch, the school music syllabus, and the way music especially moves you during your teenage years. https://firstlastanything.squarespace.com
#FirstLastAnything Episode 9: 7 Aug 2022: Terrific Ivors winner Cheryl Frances-Hoad came on to talk about her career in composing, her Proms 2022 premiere, video game music, #Prodigy, #BernardHughes and her collaboration with #JenniferJohnston. https://firstlastanything.squarespace.com/cherylfranceshoad
#FirstLastAnything Episode 10: 14 August 2022:
Bunk Bed and BBC Radio 4 stalwart Peter Curran joined me on the music textcast to talk #DavidBowie, what ‘long hair music’ might be, and why Greater London Radio was a very special radio station. https://firstlastanything.squarespace.com/petercurran
Bunk Bed and BBC Radio 4 stalwart Peter Curran joined me on the music textcast to talk #DavidBowie, what ‘long hair music’ might be, and why Greater London Radio was a very special radio station. https://firstlastanything.squarespace.com/petercurran
#FirstLastAnything Episode 11: 21 August 2022:
Writer and editor @jennylandreth joined me on the textcast to select some choice recordings, and to banish once and for all the ‘naff vs cool’ discourse in music. https://firstlastanything.squarespace.com/jennylandreth
Writer and editor @jennylandreth joined me on the textcast to select some choice recordings, and to banish once and for all the ‘naff vs cool’ discourse in music. https://firstlastanything.squarespace.com/jennylandreth
#FirstLastAnything Episode 12: 28 August 2022:
Author, archive researcher and editor Ian Greaves joined me on the music textcast to discuss first impressions of #TheFall, why some avant-garde music is meant to be funny, and a 12” single classic. https://firstlastanything.squarespace.com/iangreaves
Author, archive researcher and editor Ian Greaves joined me on the music textcast to discuss first impressions of #TheFall, why some avant-garde music is meant to be funny, and a 12” single classic. https://firstlastanything.squarespace.com/iangreaves
#FirstLastAnything Episode 13: 4 Sept 2022:
Earworms, mashups, #KirstyMacColl and the safe space of cheerful music, as selected by this week’s guest on the textcast, the hugely talented and entertaining artist and writer Juliet Brando (@sliderulesyou). https://firstlastanything.squarespace.com/julietbrando
Earworms, mashups, #KirstyMacColl and the safe space of cheerful music, as selected by this week’s guest on the textcast, the hugely talented and entertaining artist and writer Juliet Brando (@sliderulesyou). https://firstlastanything.squarespace.com/julietbrando
#FirstLastAnything Episode 14: 11 Sept 2022:
Piano teacher Lynne Phillips talks to me on the textcast about self-expression, her inclusive approach to teaching, about the difficulties of memorising music, and chooses some favourite pieces. Join us. https://firstlastanything.squarespace.com/lynnephillips
Piano teacher Lynne Phillips talks to me on the textcast about self-expression, her inclusive approach to teaching, about the difficulties of memorising music, and chooses some favourite pieces. Join us. https://firstlastanything.squarespace.com/lynnephillips
#FirstLastAnything Number 15: 18 Sept 2022:
Violinist, arranger and musical director Helen O’Hara on her superb new memoir What’s She Like, and her varied career in music, notably with Tanita Tikaram and of course as part of Dexys. https://firstlastanything.squarespace.com/helenohara
Violinist, arranger and musical director Helen O’Hara on her superb new memoir What’s She Like, and her varied career in music, notably with Tanita Tikaram and of course as part of Dexys. https://firstlastanything.squarespace.com/helenohara
#FirstLastAnything Number 16: 25 Sept 2022:
Author and musician Jonathan Coe ends FLA’s first series of textcasts in style: his teenage love for prog rock, his discovery of French classical music, and why music can access thoughts and emotions beyond words. https://firstlastanything.squarespace.com/jonathancoe
Author and musician Jonathan Coe ends FLA’s first series of textcasts in style: his teenage love for prog rock, his discovery of French classical music, and why music can access thoughts and emotions beyond words. https://firstlastanything.squarespace.com/jonathancoe
#FirstLastAnything Number 17: 11 June 2023:
To begin the second series of FLA, composer/educator Bernard Hughes joins me to discuss all sorts: choral music, the BBC Singers, Prince, Anna Meredith, and his own superb new album of piano music with the soloist Matthew Mills. https://firstlastanything.squarespace.com/bernardhughes
To begin the second series of FLA, composer/educator Bernard Hughes joins me to discuss all sorts: choral music, the BBC Singers, Prince, Anna Meredith, and his own superb new album of piano music with the soloist Matthew Mills. https://firstlastanything.squarespace.com/bernardhughes
#FirstLastAnything Number 18: 18 June 2023:
Writer and journalist Penny Kiley joins me to reflect on Marc Bolan, punk rock in Liverpool, her time in the music press, country music, and how a diagnosis of autism fuelled the writing of her memoir. https://firstlastanything.squarespace.com/pennykiley
Writer and journalist Penny Kiley joins me to reflect on Marc Bolan, punk rock in Liverpool, her time in the music press, country music, and how a diagnosis of autism fuelled the writing of her memoir. https://firstlastanything.squarespace.com/pennykiley
#FirstLastAnything Number 19: 25 June 2023:
Comedy writer and performer Moray Hunter (@morayh) talks about the Celtic comedy classic #Absolutely, his favourite singer-songwriters, from #RabNoakes to #ColinHay, and reveals first, recent and wildcard purchases. https://firstlastanything.squarespace.com/morayhunter
Comedy writer and performer Moray Hunter (@morayh) talks about the Celtic comedy classic #Absolutely, his favourite singer-songwriters, from #RabNoakes to #ColinHay, and reveals first, recent and wildcard purchases. https://firstlastanything.squarespace.com/morayhunter
NEW! #FirstLastAnything Episode 20:
Violinist Madeleine Mitchell on her new album, Violin Conversations, and on her remarkable career. We talk about #Menuhin, #Mozart, #MaxwellDavies, #MichaelNyman, #ErrollynWallen & her own #LondonChamberEnsemble.
https://firstlastanything.squarespace.com/madeleinemitchell
Violinist Madeleine Mitchell on her new album, Violin Conversations, and on her remarkable career. We talk about #Menuhin, #Mozart, #MaxwellDavies, #MichaelNyman, #ErrollynWallen & her own #LondonChamberEnsemble.
https://firstlastanything.squarespace.com/madeleinemitchell
NEW! #FirstLastAnything Episode 21:
This week my guest Sangeeta Ambegaokar (@mango_24) talks about her committed involvement in amateur music making, vocal and instrumental. Plus: what pop filtered through to the UAE in the early 80s? https://firstlastanything.squarespace.com/sangeetaambegaokar
This week my guest Sangeeta Ambegaokar (@mango_24) talks about her committed involvement in amateur music making, vocal and instrumental. Plus: what pop filtered through to the UAE in the early 80s? https://firstlastanything.squarespace.com/sangeetaambegaokar
Girl about village@whenisbirths @mango_24 I love this one - inspiring stuff 😍
Sang@girlabtvillage @whenisbirths thank you!
Paul Johnson 🎶@girlabtvillage @whenisbirths @mango_24 Yes, agreed! The only part of learning the violin at school that I really enjoyed was playing in orchestras. There's just something special about creating music in a group.
And I also had a friend at school who had hair over his ears and was able to conceal headphones which always made me envious.
@pjcj @girlabtvillage @whenisbirths yes, there’s something very special about making music with other people. A sense of togetherness and belonging which can be quite powerful. I love it.