Steve Pretty On The Origin of the Pieces

Steve Pretty
  • 5.0 (2)
  • MUSIC COMMENTARY
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

‘Wide-ranging and insightful’ - Guardian (pick of the week, January 2024) A show for anyone who has ever listened to, played, improvised, written, or just enjoyed music and wanted to know more about these mysterious sounds. Are they 'auditory cheesecake' as cognitive scientist Steven Pinker claims, or actually a fundamental part of what has made us into modern humans? With an enormous variety of guests ranging from well-known musicians, producers and industry figures through to those for whom music is central but who rarely have a voice, this show is unapologetically broad in scope. In 'entertaining noises', Steve has musicians explain and demonstrate their instrument, giving fresh perspective on everything from the piano to modular synthesizers, via lesser-known folk instruments from around the world. And in the flagship 'genre tombola' section, Steve is assigned a randomly-chosen genre from the list of 1334 music genres on Wikipedia, which he then goes away and researches, often talking to an expert in that music, before frequently attempting to make some music in that style... Whether he succeeds or not, there's lots of fascinating stuff to learn along the way! As fun as it is thoughtful, this show aims to help you hear and appreciate music in new ways. http://www.originofthepieces.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. Nathaniel Dye: Public Service Announcement

    FEB 11

    Nathaniel Dye: Public Service Announcement

    In this episode, I’m dedicating the show to Nathaniel Dye — musician, music teacher, brass band obsessive, ultramarathon runner, and one of the most quietly extraordinary people I’ve met. We begin with Nat performing his song “Public Service Announcement” (recorded live at my Wilton’s Music Hall show in November 2024) — a funny, furious, razor-sharp call to take bowel cancer symptoms seriously. Nat sadly died recently from complications related to bowel cancer. This episode is part tribute, part replay, part attempt to hold onto the actual substance of what he stood for: making things, teaching people, and choosing music — not as escapism, but as a meaningful way to use the time you’ve got. You’ll also hear excerpts from my “Listen like a musician” series, and then a replay of my earlier interview with Nat (from Episode 10), where he talks about his diagnosis, his fundraising, his trombone marathon plans, and what music became for him after everything changed. In this episode Nat’s live performance of “Public Service Announcement” Why he threw himself back into teaching and music-making after treatment The story behind Bowel Cancer Bucket List and the fundraising workA replay of our earlier chat: music, mortality, and doing the thing anywayThe episode outro: Nat’s music, accompanied by bass/tuba greats Guy Pratt and Theon Cross  Links & references Bowel Cancer Bucket List (Nat’s site + donation links): bowelcancerbucketlist.comMatters of Life and Death (album page): Bowel Cancer Bucket List – album page Matters of Life and Death (Spotify): Spotify album link“Public Service Announcement” (Spotify track): Spotify track linkDonate to Macmillan Cancer Support: Macmillan donation page Guy Pratt: guypratt.comTheon Cross who appears in Nat's closing song too: theoncross.com  Stay musically curious. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    55 min
  2. A Clap, a Slap and a Stomp (with Aluá Nascimento)

    JAN 22

    A Clap, a Slap and a Stomp (with Aluá Nascimento)

    Episode 37 - A clap, a Slap and a Stomp What actually is musical time? In this episode, Steve kicks off 2026 with the first four days of his “12 Days of Listening” mini-series — all about pulse, groove, and how our brains latch onto patterns (sometimes to our advantage, sometimes not). Then we jump to Wilton’s Music Hall (January 2025) for a live guest spot from Aluá Nascimento — Brazilian percussionist, multi-instrumentalist, and former STOMP cast member — starting with a trumpet + pandeiro duet on “Brazil” and expanding into body percussion, Afro-Brazilian rhythm traditions, and the wonderfully low-tech joy of making music out of whatever’s around. Along the way, Aluá talks about growing up around capoeira, how culture and history shaped these sounds, and demonstrates instruments including berimbau (musical bow), caxixi (shaker), and pandeiro — with a bit of audience participation thrown in too. In this episode A practical listening upgrade: pulse vs rhythm (try it while walking)“The pocket”: groove as micro-timing, not just the patternWhy your brain is basically a pattern-hunting drummerShared time / entrainment: why humans sync up (and why it matters in music)Live at Wilton’s: trumpet + pandeiro on “Brazil”Aluá’s story: capoeira roots, Afro-Brazilian traditions, and the STOMP yearsInstruments you’ll hear: body percussion, pandeiro, berimbau, caxixi (and more) Find Aluá InstagramBeat Goes On (bio + workshops)Watch: Aluá Nascimento & Helene Jank – Body Music (YouTube) Also in this episode Steve mentions Episode 36 (breaking down how the My Friend Maisy theme was made)Wilton’s Music Hall shows: 24th January — kids/family show at 2pm, evening show at 7pm Support the show Explore episodes, transcripts, and more: originofthepieces.comJoin the Patreon: patreon.com/StevePrettyOnTheOriginofthePiecesIf you enjoyed this one, share it with a musically curious human (it helps more than you’d think) Stay musically curious! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    38 min
  3. Five Notes, Maisy Mouse and a Sacred Flute

    12/23/2025

    Five Notes, Maisy Mouse and a Sacred Flute

    From a Colombian ritual flute heard backstage at Oslo Mela to a children’s TV theme tune played on a London school playground, this episode explores why pentatonic scales turn up everywhere — and why they feel so immediately playable, memorable, and emotionally direct. Along the way, Steve unpacks the thinking behind the theme tune he wrote for My Friend Maisy (also available on NOW), based on the books by Lucy Cousins, and how five carefully chosen notes can shape an entire musical world. The episode takes a gentle detour into Colombian traditional music with a backstage conversation recorded in 2024 with El León Pardo of Mestizo Collective, exploring the gaita — a ritual wind instrument built around paired male and female voices, deep cultural symbolism, and tightly limited pitch material. That sound becomes a useful reference point for the episode’s main thread: how scales function less like theory and more like palettes of identity. Back in TV land, Steve breaks down the Maisy theme in detail, showing how pentatonic scales sit at the heart of children’s musical toys, playground instruments, and early musical experiences — and why avoiding semitone clashes makes music feel instantly safe, inclusive, and playable. Using live demonstrations, playground recordings, and some creative repitching in Melodyne, the episode shows how tiny changes to a scale can completely transform a melody’s emotional character. In this episode: • A backstage conversation with León Pardo about the Colombian gaita, its ritual use, construction, and sound-world. • How male and female gaita flutes are paired, and what that reveals about musical identity. • Why pentatonic scales appear in folk traditions, playground instruments, and children’s musical toys worldwide. • A breakdown of the theme tune Steve wrote for My Friend Maisy, based on the books by Lucy Cousins. • Why playground bells and boomwhackers are almost always pentatonic — and why that matters. • A live experiment repitching the Maisy theme into an Ethiopian-inflected pentatonic. • Why thinking of scales as identities or colour palettes can make musical listening feel less intimidating. Also in this episode, Steve reflects on why many people drift away from music when theory becomes detached from sound — and why listening itself is a learnable, creative skill, whether or not you play an instrument. Plus details of the upcoming Steve Pretty On the Origin of the Pieces live shows at Wilton’s Music Hall on 24th January, including the first ever Origin KIDS matinee at 2pm and the evening show at 7pm. Full details and tickets at originofthepieces.com/live. 🎧 Listen, rate and share to help more musically curious ears find the show. 💻 More episodes, transcripts, and extras at originofthepieces.com 🪶 Patreon: patreon.com/StevePrettyOnTheOriginofthePieces Stay musically curious. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    40 min
  4. Mulatu Astatke, Ethio-jazz and Pentatonic Worlds

    11/28/2025

    Mulatu Astatke, Ethio-jazz and Pentatonic Worlds

    From Addis to the Barbican and back again, this episode dives into the sound-world shaped by Mulatu Astatke — the father of Ethio jazz. With Mulatu having recently completed his farewell tour, Steve goes back to a long, previously-unreleased interview he recorded with him during the making of Hackney Colliery Band’s Collaborations: Volume One. What emerges is a portrait of a true pioneer: a composer trained in London and at Berklee, a collaborator with Duke Ellington, and the architect of a style heard across film soundtracks, samples and stages worldwide. Expect discussions of Ethio jazz’s roots in traditional modes and tribal instruments; a journey through pentatonic and diminished scales; and Mulatu’s deep reflections on African musical heritage and collaboration. There’s even a live extract of Derashe from HCB’s Barbican show — the tune he discusses in the interview. In this episode: • How Mulatu fused Ethiopian pentatonic traditions with jazz harmony and improvisation. • Why some Ethiopian tribes use diminished (whole–half) scales, and how that changes the emotional palette. • The story of Duke Ellington’s Jazz Ambassadors tour — and how Ellington ended up performing one of Mulatu’s arrangements in Addis. • The embilta, washint and other Ethiopian wind instruments that parallel trumpets, trombones and baritone sax. • The link between African “bush” instruments, mbira/“African piano” traditions, and Western harmonic thinking. • A rare 2018 interview captured at Livingston Studios during the HCB/Mulatu recording sessions. • A live performance of Derashe from the Barbican, featuring Hackney Colliery Band and Mulatu Astatke. Also in this episode, Steve welcomes listeners from the New Scientist Podcast and explores the science–music crossover behind shell acoustics, underwater sound, and the physics of musical evolution. Plus a reminder that the new Origin of the Pieces website now includes full transcripts, an interactive world-map archive of every episode, and a growing library of extras. And don’t miss the upcoming Wilton’s Music Hall shows on 24th January 2026, including the first ever Origin KIDS matinee at 2pm and the evening performance at 7pm. TICKETS. 🎧 Listen, rate and share to help more musically curious ears find the show. 💻 More episodes and extras at originofthepieces.com 🪶 Patreon: https://patreon.com/StevePrettyOnTheOriginofthePieces Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    49 min
  5. Ciphers, Picks and the Art of the Jam

    11/13/2025

    Ciphers, Picks and the Art of the Jam

    From the high lonesome sound of Appalachia to the flow of a Bronx cipher, this episode explores what happens when two traditions of storytelling and rhythm collide. Recorded at the WOMEX 2024 world-music gathering in Finland, Steve talks with Gangstagrass — the trailblazing American group fusing bluegrass instrumentation with hip-hop lyricism and beats. Expect fiddles, banjo and beats; live sessions that blur the line between folk jam and freestyle; and a conversation about community, curiosity and the shared language of groove. There’s even a spontaneous rap about Origin of the Pieces and a bus-ride performance that somehow turned into a cipher on wheels. In this episode: How Gangstagrass blend banjo, fiddle and MCs without losing the soul of either style.Why hip-hop ciphers and bluegrass picks are closer than you might think.The jam session as a universal language — connecting folk musicians, rappers and improvisers worldwide.How genre boundaries were drawn by history, and how artists can redraw them.A stripped-back version of Do Better plus a freestyle that plugs their UK tour entirely in rhyme. Gangstagrass UK Tour — November 2025 Also in this episode, Steve launches the new Origin of the Pieces website — featuring full transcripts, an interactive world-map archive, the Darwin-trumpet T-shirt shop, and exclusive extras via Patreon. And don’t miss the upcoming Wilton’s Music Hall shows on 24 January 2026, including the first ever Origin KIDS matinee and an evening performance featuring new guests and experiments in sound. 🎧 Listen, rate and share to help more musically curious ears find the show. 💻 More episodes and extras at originofthepieces.com 🪶 Patreon: patreon.com/StevePrettyOnTheOriginofthePieces Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    54 min
  6. Malawian Madalitso, Vampire Vamps & Sofa Songs

    11/02/2025

    Malawian Madalitso, Vampire Vamps & Sofa Songs

    From living-room experiments to Malawian street stages — and a brief stop-off in Transylvania. This week, Steve explores what it means to sing what you see: making music that’s spontaneous, handmade and gloriously human. There’s a Halloween detour into his live Nosferatu score, a new Clip n Mix, and a look at the brilliant Madalitso Band from Malawi — two musicians whose home-built instruments and hypnotic grooves turn simplicity into joy. Plus: the mystery of a slightly windy theme tune proves that accidents can be the best kind of inspiration. 👇 Full timestamps + links below! ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 – A suspiciously familiar theme 02:30 – Living-room experiments & musical accidents 06:40 – Clip n Mix – turning everyday sounds into music 10:45 – Vampire Vamps: Nosferatu score (watch) 16:30 – Introducing Madalitso Band (Malawi) 22:00 – Homemade instruments & street recordings 32:00 – Singing what you see 44:30 – Finding beauty in simple sounds 55:20 – Wilton’s shows, Patreon & Universe of Music tour 🔗 Links & Extras 🎧 Listen / Watch YouTube | Apple Podcasts | More platforms 🎬 Nosferatu live score → Full video 🎛 Support / Extras → Patreon 🪐 Universe of Music Tour (with Chris Lintott) Corsham (20 Nov) | Cambridge (27 Nov) | Shoreham-by-Sea (15 Jan) 🎟 Full info → universeofmusic.co.uk 🎟️ Live at Wilton’s Music Hall – 24 Jan 2026 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 KIDS matinee (2 pm) – interactive family show 🌙 Evening show (7 pm) – live podcast with guests & musical surprises 💸 Code SPRETTY15 = £15 best available seats Book Kids | Book Evening 💬 Got a weird sound you’d like Steve to turn into music? Email podcast@stevepretty.com or comment with #ClipnMix. 🙌 Like, subscribe & stay musically curious. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    31 min
  7. RE-UPLOAD: Sampling Firepits, Feeling Flamenco, Finding Tonás

    10/21/2025

    RE-UPLOAD: Sampling Firepits, Feeling Flamenco, Finding Tonás

    ⚠️ Note: This is a re-upload The original episode was taken down due to a copyright strike on the theme tune — even though I wrote and produced it myself. While I sort that out, you’re treated to a gloriously bad placeholder version. Also, I’ve trimmed down the Clip n Mix segment — I was clearly having too much fun with firepits last time, and it got a bit… indulgent. This one gets to the good stuff faster. 🔥 Can you make music from a campsite firepit? And what is Tonás — the raw, unaccompanied flamenco style with roots in secrecy, survival, and soul? In this episode, I launch a new segment called Clip n Mix, where I turn everyday sounds into music. This time? A campsite firepit. My son and I hit it with sticks, sample it using Ableton Note, and turn it into a crunchy little beat — which you’ll hear later in the episode. Then we dive into one of flamenco’s most haunting styles: Tonás. My guest is the brilliant Josie Sinnadurai, a flamenco dancer based in Seville, who helps unpack the history, sound, and emotional depth of this unaccompanied vocal tradition. 👇 Full chapters and links below! ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 – Intro + why the theme tune sounds different 02:20 – Clip n Mix: sampling a firepit in Dorset 09:45 – What is Tonás? 10:20 – Interview with Josie Sinnadurai 34:50 – Why I didn’t make a Tonás track 35:20 – Turning firepit samples into music 49:15 – Sound, play, and curiosity 54:25 – Live shows + Patreon + sign-off 🔗 Links 🎬 Watch the Tonás video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7vpU5zLl-A 👣 Follow Josie Sinnadurai: Website: https://www.josielaurelflamenco.com/ Instagram: @josie_sinna 📱 Try Ableton Note (free app): iOS: https://apps.apple.com/app/ableton-note/id1611814758 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ableton.note 🎧 Download the firepit samples + Ableton Note session: https://www.patreon.com/StevePrettyOnTheOriginofthePieces 🎟️ Live at Wilton’s Music Hall – 24th Jan 2026 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Kids show (2pm): https://wiltons.org.uk/whats-on/steve-pretty-and-friends-on-the-origin-of-the-pieces-kids/ 🌙 Evening show (7pm): https://wiltons.org.uk/whats-on/steve-pretty-and-friends-on-the-origin-of-the-pieces-2/ 💬 Got a weird sound you’d like me to turn into music? Drop it in the comments or email podcast@stevepretty.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    53 min
  8. Earwax, Echoes and Entropy

    10/03/2025

    Earwax, Echoes and Entropy

    What can a lump of whale earwax tell us about human history? What does the end of the universe sound like? And how do you play the sea like a synthesiser? This episode of Steve Pretty On The Origin of the Pieces goes from marine mammal physiology to cosmological heat death, taking in hydrophones, cultural transmission in humpbacks, the physics of underwater sound, and an improvised trumpet elegy for the end of everything. My guests are: Chris Lintott – astrophysicist, broadcaster, and co‑host of The Sky at Night. We open with a live extract from our Universe of Music show, performed at Gresham College — exploring what sound and music can tell us about the ultimate fate of the cosmos.Richard Sabin – whale expert and lead curator of mammals at the Natural History Museum, who shares sonic insights from the deep — including how 150 years of whale earwax is helping scientists track stress in marine life. We also: Hear vintage 78 rpm whale recordings, played on a £60k system at Audio GoldUse filters to “play the sea” like a scaleDrop a hydrophone into a water tank and see how sound behavesDiscuss echolocation, underwater acoustic pollution, and whale “culture”Recreate underwater acoustic effects via processing and pitch shiftingReflect on what it means to really listen — to whales or the cosmos Recorded live at the brilliant First Light Festival in a sweltering tent by the sea (thanks again to them for hosting us). 🧠 Bonus content 🎥 The full, uncut interview with Richard Sabin — including audience Q&A and extended hydrophone demos — is available on Patreon. 👯 Mentioned in this episode Sonic Collaborations – project by Colin Riley & teamAudio Gold – London hi‑fi / vinyl emporiumNatural History MuseumFirst Light FestivalChris Lintott 💌 How to support the show Join the mailing list: www.originofthepieces.comBecome a patron: patreon.com/StevePrettyOnTheOriginofthePiecesShare with a musically curious friendRate & review on Apple or Spotify — it genuinely helps 🎧 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    57 min
See All (40)

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

‘Wide-ranging and insightful’ - Guardian (pick of the week, January 2024) A show for anyone who has ever listened to, played, improvised, written, or just enjoyed music and wanted to know more about these mysterious sounds. Are they 'auditory cheesecake' as cognitive scientist Steven Pinker claims, or actually a fundamental part of what has made us into modern humans? With an enormous variety of guests ranging from well-known musicians, producers and industry figures through to those for whom music is central but who rarely have a voice, this show is unapologetically broad in scope. In 'entertaining noises', Steve has musicians explain and demonstrate their instrument, giving fresh perspective on everything from the piano to modular synthesizers, via lesser-known folk instruments from around the world. And in the flagship 'genre tombola' section, Steve is assigned a randomly-chosen genre from the list of 1334 music genres on Wikipedia, which he then goes away and researches, often talking to an expert in that music, before frequently attempting to make some music in that style... Whether he succeeds or not, there's lots of fascinating stuff to learn along the way! As fun as it is thoughtful, this show aims to help you hear and appreciate music in new ways. http://www.originofthepieces.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information