cuppa with a mate: the most prolific guy in music edition 🫖

I’m Phoebe, and I make sounds that help people settle their nervous systems - sometimes it’s at a sound bath, sometimes it’s amplified and live looped. I also love taking photos and hearing bad jokes. IKSRE stands for I Keep Seeing Rainbows Everywhere 🌈

Time for another “meet someone I like heaps and want you to know about too”. One of the nicest (and most prolific - seriously, he’s unstoppable in his output) guys in ambient music. So pour yourself a cuppa (for the non Aussies - this means a cup of Tea/coffee) and kick back.

Back in 2022, Sam from the excellent label, Ambientologist reached out to ask if I’d be keen to do a track for a compilation where he match-made me with another producer to make a new track. As luck would have it, he paired me up with someone who I was a massive fan of. anthène (aka Brad Deschamps).

I’ve always turned to Brad’s music in the morning. And for my evening, yin yoga sessions at home. Listening to his music makes me feel like I’m being hugged and want to cry and smile all at the same time. It’s magic. And I am so grateful to have made several things with him over the years.

The two tracks for the aforementioned compilation:

…a full album together, which we released in 2023

…and another album which we put out as “citrine” last year

(this seems like a lot but when you see how much music this guy makes, it checks out)

Anyway, it seemed high time we chatted about what he’s been up to and what things he’s digging. So here we go.

Share a book that you’ve read recently (or not so recently) and why you loved it

I’ve recently gotten back into reading graphic novels, particularly ones that are autobiographical. Been enjoying a few books by Luke Healy (“Americana” and “Self-Esteem and the End of The World”) as well as Kate Beaton’s “Ducks”. It’s such beautifully written and drawn book about her experience working in the oil sands in Alberta, Canada. It touches on her personal challenges as well as the environmental impact of humanity’s reliance on oil. Highly recommended.

What’s your go-to recipe at the moment? 

I’m going to go with my go to vegan pancake recipe. Delicious every time, add some banana and chocolate chips and it’s perfect. I have a sweet tooth, as does my daughter, and this is a pretty common snack in our household. Sometimes vegan sweets and baked goods don’t turn out great, but this works!

https://cookieandkate.com/simple-vegan-pancake-recipe/

Favourite album or mix, to play at home on a Sunday morning or when you’re cooking dinner.

I’m going to cheat and choose two albums that I’ve been playing a lot at home on a Sunday morning. The whole family has been enjoying these, music I can put on and everyone is happy to hear. First is Bill Callahan’s “My Days of 58”, this came out this year and is one of his best, “The Man I’m Supposed to Be” in particular is just an incredible song.

Second is Teenage Fanclub’s “Howdy”, which is one of their albums that took a bit to fully connect with me, but the songwriting is just brilliant. “Dumb Dumb Dumb” and “The Town and the City” are up there with my favourite Teenage Fanclub songs. One of the best bands ever.

A photo of the last time you were awestruck by somewhere, or something in the natural world. 

This is actually the inspiration for the cover of an album on Dronarivm coming out this month. I took this photo out of the window of my office in downtown Toronto of a hawk just taking a moment to rest. I love images like this, where nature and our human made environments meet.

Go outside and record the birds (or insects, frogs, rustling leaves - anything from the natural world) on your phone for 30 seconds

This is a recording of the rain on a spring day in the alleyway behind my house. I’m actually going to use some of this in a piece I’m working on.

FINALLY! Tell me what you’re up to and whether you have anything exciting coming up that you’d like to share.

I have lots of music coming out in May, a collaboration with Michael Scott Dawson on Home Normal:

…and a solo album on Dronarivm

…and a few other things lined up for later this year. I’m also going to be playing my first show in the United States in September in Kentucky as part of Louisville Experimental Nights, which is very exciting!

(told you he was prolific)

Hope you all enjoyed meeting Brad (aka Braddles) and, if you hadn’t already experienced his music, there’s a whoooooooole lot to dive into. Perfect for a wintery, long weekend (as we have here in SE Aust)

Meanwhile you can find him on Bandcamp and Instagram (and all the other streaming places).

AND I’d love to hear if you have any extra question(s) you’d like me to add into the mix for the next “cuppa”. I’m all ears.

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‘til next week, my friends!

x Phoebe