Lawrence English
Conversations with Musicians, with Leah Roseman
04/20/25
•97m
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Lawrence English is a brilliant artist, composer and curator based in Australia. In this wide-ranging interview, Lawrence spoke to me about many topics, touching architecture, philosophy, field recordings, running a record label, and emerging biotech. One of his many projects is the record label Room40, which is celebrating 25 years, and punctuating this podcast are some clips from some of Lawrence’s albums, including Even the Horizon Knows it’s Bounds, Shell Type, and Observation of Breath. You’ll fine several links in the show notes so you can explore each project more fully.
Like all my episodes, you can watch this on my YouTube channel or listen to the podcast on all the podcast platforms, and I’ve also linked the transcript to my website where you'll also find all the separate links for the albums featured in this episode.
Buy me a coffee? Thanks! Podcast merch
Other episodes which I think may interest you: with Jesse Stewart
(00:00) Intro
(01:42) commission for Naalu Badu Art Gallery of New South Wales
(15:39) excerpt from Even the Horizon Knows Its Bounds
(20:00) architecture and design of cities, Metabolism, Japan
(28:24) Young Person’s Guide to Hustling in Music and the Arts
(34:03) sound art
(38:13) Room40 label, Akio Suzuki
(45:43) the importance of curiosity
(47:30) other episodes and ways to support this series
(48:20) about Field recordings, with clips, relational listening
(57:40) biotech cerebral organoids
(01:07:03) clip from Shell Thype
(01:08:35) Lawrence’s different musical phases and collaborations
(01:16:31) recording the organ Queensland
(01:21:28) And a Twist from Observation of Breath
(01:24:10) ambient music, harmony and pulse, Merzbow
(01:27:19) childhood musical memories
photo T. Pakioufakis
Previous Episode
Noam Lemish on Mentors, Bhutan & His Juno-Nominated Album “Twelve”
April 13, 2025
•77m
How did Noam Lemish’s experience living in Bhutan influence his outlook? A lot of Noam’s creative life is inspired by bridging cultures and being open to possibility, and you’ll be hearing some music from some of his many projects as well as hear his reflections on teaching and learning. It was fascinating to learn about his mentors including George Marsh and W.A. Mathieu, and how he started collaborating with so many incredible artists including the oud player and guitarist Amos Hoffman. I really wanted to shine a light as well on his fantastic Juno-nominated album Twelve, which is comprised of six original compositions for chamber jazz orchestra, and all the music you’ll be hearing is linked in the show notes. Dr. Lemish is a Professor at York University in Toronto, Canada and you can learn more about him on his website.
Like all my episodes, you can watch this on my YouTube channel or listen to the podcast on all the podcast platforms, and I’ve also linked the transcript to my website
Buy me a coffee? Merch Newsletter
Other episodes you’ll like: Tal Yahalom, Rachel Eckroth and John Hadfield, Peter Hum and Steve Boudreau, and Ariel Bart
(00:00) Intro
(02:30) album Twelve
(06:38) clip from Song for Lia
(08:01) Bhutan
(20:08) album Twelve
(23:58) clip from Rebirth, recording process
(27:05) W.A. Mathieu
(35:07) Transcultural Jazz
(37:56) Amos Hoffman, album Pardes
(40:53) Ishal Elohay
(43:37) Noam’s music education in Israel
(46:27) other episodes, ways to support this project
(47:19) York University, Jewish Music series
(41:34 )Soveit Jewry, Anna Shternshis
(56:07) clip from Between Utopia and Destruction
(58:04) access to emotions through music, improvisation
(01:01:59) Erlebnis 16
(01:04:55) George Marsh
(01:11:16) about Beethoven 7th Visit to Romania with clip, Lemish Klezmer history
photo: Dahlia Katz
Next Episode
Film Composer Christoph Zirngibl (120+ Films, Apple TV's Where’s Wanda)
April 27, 2025
•68m
Christoph Zirngibl is an award-winning German film composer who has composed music for over 120 films as well as many TV series including the Apple TV+ series Where’s Wanda. It often strikes me that even with something as specific as some of Christoph’s advice about work flow for fellow film composers, that it can apply more broadly to all of us, whatever our pursuits.. You’ll be hearing a few clips from some of his projects in different musical styles, as well as his reflecctions on his formative student years, the strengths of the apprentice system and his interest in many aspects of filmmaking. I have previously featured a few film composers on this series, and some of these episodes are linked directly in the show notes for you. It’s such an interesting career path, and I find that each of these composers have unique musical backgrounds.
Like all my episodes, you can also listen to the podcast on many platforms, and I’ve also linked the transcript to my website
Buy me coffee? Thanks!
Timestamps:
(00:00) Intro
(02:19) John Williams inspiration
(05:41) childhood Germany
(11:13) Flight of Bryan
(13:47) clip of Flight of Bryan
(14:47) Where’s Wanda, composing process
(22:35) clip of Where’s Wanda score Ralf Wengenmayr
(23:18) apprenticeship
(29:39) life balance and productivity for film composers
(32:02) other episodes you’ll like and how to support this series
(32:57) workflow organization
(37:12) the Unexpected Journey, love of orchestras
(42:04) life balance
(46:09) Hero of Centopia
(48:47) clip from Hero of Centopia
(49:50) filmmaking, reading
(55:35) Finis Terrae, Konstantin Ferstl
(58:18) excerpt from Finis Terrae score
(59:28) writing for voice, Finis Terrae, stollen
Photo: Steffen Rauschert
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