CorrsCast

Simon Wilkie
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Music Commentary

Interviews and insights of The Corrs' music from those who helped create it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. Interview with Nigel Dick

    3d ago

    Interview with Nigel Dick

    In this episode, we’re joined by Nigel Dick, the acclaimed music video director behind some of the most recognisable videos of the MTV era, including work with Guns N’ Roses, Tears for Fears, Oasis, Britney Spears, Cher, and of course The Corrs. Nigel shares the journey that took him from training as an architect and busking on the Paris Metro to working at Stiff Records before eventually becoming one of the most successful music video directors of his generation. We hear how a chance recommendation from Andy Murray introduced him to Forgiven, Not Forgotten, an album he instantly fell in love with, eventually leading to a phone call that would see him direct four videos for The Corrs.  This episode's interview is focused on his work for the band on the music videos Only When I Sleep and What Can I Do. Nigel takes us behind the scenes of filming Only When I Sleep at Los Angeles’ historic Alexandria Hotel, revealing how the shoot came together on a modest budget and why he felt the videos from the first album hadn’t yet captured who The Corrs truly were. Nigel also discusses the story behind directing What Can I Do, from writing a treatment overnight in a New York hotel room to flying across the world to New Zealand for a one-day shoot squeezed into the band’s hectic touring schedule. Hear Nigel reflect on the realities of filmmaking in the pre-digital era, shooting on film, the art of music video production, and why The Corrs remain one of the most enjoyable bands he ever worked with! The location of the hotel used for the 'Only When I Sleep' music video can be found via the following link HERE The location of the church and surrounding areas used in the 'What Can I Do' music video can be found via the following link HERE See images from the set of the 'Only When I Sleep' music video at the following link HERE See images of the chair and bed used in the 'Only When I Sleep' music video as seen on location in 2025 before they were reupholstered HERE A link to Nigel's book 'Music Video Mischief' can be found via Amazon at the following link HERE Nigel's website can be found at www.nigeldick.com Special thanks to Russell Swanson for a copy of the 'What Can I Do' workbook. A copy of this can be seen via the following link HERE This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. CorrsCast.com Instagram Twitter Facebook Discord Patreon #CorrsCast on social media. #TheCorrs Please subscribe, rate and review CorrsCast on iTunes or a platform of your choosing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 8m
  2. Interview with Tricia Walker

    Mar 9

    Interview with Tricia Walker

    In this episode, we’re joined by Tricia Walker, who co-wrote the song covered by The Corrs, 'Looking in the Eyes of Love', a track closely connected to the writing and production era of Talk on Corners. Tricia takes us back to her roots in Mississippi, growing up along Highway 61 in the heart of the Delta. Classically trained and raised on soul, blues, and gospel, she shares how an early love of music and poetry led her to pursue songwriting seriously. In 1980, she packed up and moved to Nashville, entering a music industry that operated long before email, digital demos, or social media. We explore what Nashville was like in the 1980s and 1990s, how the co writing culture worked, and how songs were pitched, recorded, and circulated in a pre-digital world. At the centre of our conversation is the song 'Looking in the Eyes of Love', originally intended for Talk on Corners but ultimately not included on the final track list. The song would, thankfully for us, find its official release as a bonus track on In Blue in the year 2000.  Tricia shares with us how the song came to be written, what it was like to see it covered by a number of artists in the industry, and we discuss how it eventually became part of The Corrs story. At 00:21:46, you can hear a clip of the original 1989 female vocal demo for 'Looking in the Eyes of Love' as sung by Tricia Walker. At 00:37:39, you can hear a clip of the Corrs version of the song as released on the special edition of 'In Blue'. A photo of the Grammy Award certificate Tricia has hung proudly on her wall can be seen at the following link HERE Tricia's website can be found at: www.bigfrontporch.com and her work with Delta Deep Roots can be seen and heard via www.deltadeeproots.com This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. CorrsCast.com Instagram Twitter Facebook Discord Patreon #CorrsCast on social media. #TheCorrs Please subscribe, rate and review CorrsCast on iTunes or a platform of your choosing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    51 min
  3. Interview with Brenda Bergen

    11/17/2025

    Interview with Brenda Bergen

    In this episode, we speak with Brenda Bergen, the art director behind Talk on Corners, about her creative journey and the story of shaping one of The Corrs’ most iconic visual eras. Brenda shares the path that led from graduate school in the Midwest to New York’s entertainment industry, working with Vibe magazine, VH1, and MTV, before joining Atlantic Records as an art director. She explains the role of art direction in music, which includes building the band’s “brand”, to capturing the essence of an album through imagery, design, and visual storytelling. We hear the story behind the artwork for Talk on Corners: scouting Dublin locations, assembling a creative team, and collaborating with photographers Damien and Layla of Blinkk, whose layered, dreamlike imagery helped define the album’s look. Brenda discusses working with the band and management to shape the final cover, how different versions evolved and the balancing act between creative vision and commercial direction. It’s a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at how Talk on Corners’s visual identity was created. To view the early concepts for the cover artwork click HERE Brenda was kind enough to look through her journals from 1997 and found the dates for the photo shoot for the album cover shot in Ireland between May 29th - June 3rd, 1997. To see polaroids of Andrea taken during the photoshoot please follow the link HERE The later PR Photoshoot in L.A. was shot on July 24th 1997 and yet more shots were taken on Sept 14th 1997. For a more visual understanding of how Brenda adapted the fonts 'Osprey' and 'Entropy' to create the Talk on Corners era logo, click HERE At 00:24:50 you can hear a clip of the demo of the song 'When He's Not Around'. At 00:41:37 you can hear a clip of the early mix for the song 'Intimacy'. Brenda mentioned a photo of her with the band which can be seen HERE Brenda now runs Wink Design.  More examples of the work from the wonderful photographers Damien and Leila, who shot the cover of the album, can be seen on their website: damienleiladeblinkk.com Special thanks to Shiela Oliveros for laying out the font progression image shared with this episode. Find her incredible work on Instagram via @shielaoliveros / @thehardcorrfans This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. CorrsCast.com Instagram Twitter Facebook Discord Patreon #CorrsCast on social media. #TheCorrs Please subscribe, rate and review CorrsCast on iTunes or a platform of your choosing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1 hr
  4. Interview with Billy Steinberg

    09/29/2025

    Interview with Billy Steinberg

    In this episode, we speak with legendary songwriter Billy Steinberg, co-writer of Talk on Corners’ “Intimacy,” about his remarkable career and the story behind his work with The Corrs. Billy recalls how he first discovered his passion for songwriting, from his breakthrough hit “How Do I Make You” for Linda Ronstadt, to writing some of the most iconic songs of the 1980s including Madonna’s “Like a Virgin,” Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colors,” and Heart’s “Alone.” He takes us inside the origins of the song “Intimacy,” written with Rick Nowels and Neil Giraldo for Pat Benatar before finding its way to The Corrs through David and Jaymes Foster. Billy reflects on hearing the band’s version, the lyrical changes that surprised him, and gives us details regarding recording the track at A&M Studios with the band which included a guest appearance by David Foster on synth bass. We also hear about his friendships with Andrea, Sharon, and Caroline Corr, the unreleased track “In Love So Deep,” and the unique experience of working with one of Ireland’s most successful groups during their rise to international fame. At 00:10:06 you can hear a clip of the demo for 'Intimacy' created by Billy Steinberg and Rick Nowels and sung by Marc Nelson. At 00:21:42 you can hear a clip of the unreleased song 'In Love So Deep'. In this interview Billy mentions a photo taken by his late friend Robert Zuckerman at A&M Records, to see this image please see the link HERE. A copy of this photo is still proudly hung in Captain Americas on Grafton Street, Dublin. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. CorrsCast.com Instagram Twitter Facebook Discord Patreon #CorrsCast on social media. #TheCorrs Please subscribe, rate and review CorrsCast on iTunes or a platform of your choosing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    30 min
  5. Interview with Stacey Piersa

    08/18/2025

    Interview with Stacey Piersa

    In this episode, we speak with Stacey Piersa, singer, songwriter, and performer, about her early career, creative journey so far, and the surprising path that led to her connection with The Corrs. Stacey shares how she began writing songs as a child, her first break at just 16 when she signed to Arista Records with producer Elliott Wolff, and the whirlwind of the 1990s — from winning a BMI award to appearing on a music video for the Beverly Hills 90210 soundtrack. She reflects on the hard graft of breaking into the pre-social-media music industry, navigating record deals, and with the full support of her parents, learning the business along the way. We discuss the full story of how she came to co write for “Love Gives, Love Takes”, working alongside her husband Elliot Wolff, and the unexpected way that session became part of the multi-million–selling album ‘Talk on Corners’. Stacey also talks about stepping away from the spotlight, why this is her first interview in years, and how she looks back on her time in the industry today. It’s an inspiring and candid conversation that captures both the excitement and the challenges of chasing a dream in the music business and a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into the making of one of The Corrs’ most beloved tracks. At 00:17:15 you can hear a clip of the demo of 'Love Gives, Love Takes' with chorus lyrics by Stacey Pierca. At 00:26:09 you can hear a clip of the demo of 'Love Gives, Love Takes' with vocals by Robbie Brown. (Mixed by myself from the original 24 track tape transfers) At 00:35:14 you can hear a clip of Stacey Pierca playing the piano and singing her original lyrics to 'Love Gives, Love Takes'. To see a scan of the lyrics to 'Love Gives, Love Takes' hand written by Andrea Corr for use while developing the song in the studio with Oliver Leiber click HERE This episode is dedicated to the memory of Elliot Wolff. More information about his incredible musical legacy can be found over at www.elliotwolff.com This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. CorrsCast.com Instagram Twitter Facebook Discord Patreon #CorrsCast on social media. #TheCorrs Please subscribe, rate and review CorrsCast on iTunes or a platform of your choosing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    52 min
  6. Interview with Sean Hosein

    06/23/2025

    Interview with Sean Hosein

    In this episode, we speak with songwriter Sean Hosein, whose credits appear on two standout tracks from Talk on Corners: “Queen of Hollywood” and “Love Gives, Love Takes.” Sean shares the remarkable and surprising story of how these songs first came to be. From writing sessions in L.A. with Glen Ballard and Elliott Wolff to a connection through David Foster’s sister, Sean explains how demos written years earlier ended up becoming key tracks on The Corrs’ multi-platinum album—without him ever meeting the band. We also hear about Sean’s early journey into songwriting, the grind of breaking into the publishing world, and the creative process behind co-writing with heavyweights like Steve Kipner. He gives behind-the-scenes detail on the writing and demo sessions, including how “Queen of Hollywood” was originally built around a much heavier, guitar-driven track, and how “Love Gives, Love Takes” came together in a day at a North Hollywood studio. Packed with great anecdotes, industry insight, and a behind-the-scenes look at the global rise of Talk on Corners. At 00:18:19 you can hear a clip of the backing track originally created for the song that would become 'Queen of Hollywood'. At 00:25:16 you can hear a clip of the backing track for the song that would become 'Love Gives, Love Takes'. Special thanks for this episode go to Dane DeViller This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. CorrsCast.com Instagram Twitter Facebook Discord Patreon #CorrsCast on social media. #TheCorrs Please subscribe, rate and review CorrsCast on iTunes or a platform of your choosing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    47 min
  7. Interview with Siedah Garrett and Glen Ballard

    04/21/2025

    Interview with Siedah Garrett and Glen Ballard

    In this episode, we have the incredible opportunity to sit down with two music legends—Siedah Garrett and Glen Ballard—whose contributions have shaped some of the most iconic records of the past four decades. Siedah Garrett shares her journey as a powerhouse vocalist and songwriter, from co-penning Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror” to working with an array of world-renowned artists. She reflects on the creative force behind her songwriting, her experiences collaborating with industry giants, and some of the moments that have defined her career so far. Glen Ballard, a producer behind era-defining albums, gives us a deep dive into his approach to music production, his role in crafting unforgettable hits, and how this all started for him from the age of four.  This episode is packed with insights from two of the most influential figures in contemporary music. Whether you're a fan of their work or curious about the magic behind the music, this conversation offers a rare glimpse into the creative process of two extraordinary artists and their affect on The Corrs’ most successful album to date, ‘Talk on Corners’ with specific focus on the tracks ‘Queen of Hollywood’ (Where the album derives it's title) and ‘What I Know’. At 00:21:14 you can hear a clip of the demo by Siedah and Glen for 'What I know' as played to The Corrs for consideration. At 00:27:22 you can hear a clip of the demo of 'What I know' by The Corrs (All vocals and background vocals by Andrea). At 00:33:50 you can hear a clip of the demo by Glen and Andrea for 'Queen of Hollywood'. Siedah later released her own version of 'What I know' and this appears on the 2003 OmTown Records album entitled "Siedah": A photo of a provisional running order of 'Talk on Corners' (then untitled) including 'What I know' (Originally shared by Andy Murray in Episode 17) can be seen HERE Siedah Garrett mentioned her podcast 'The Uppity Knitter' which can be a heard HERE (Opens in Spotify) Special thanks for this episode go to Erik Nuri, Chloe Pang and Scott Campbell. This episode is dedicated to the memory of Quincy Jones. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. CorrsCast.com Instagram Twitter Facebook Discord Patreon #CorrsCast on social media. #TheCorrs Please subscribe, rate and review CorrsCast on iTunes or a platform of your choosing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    43 min
  8. Interview with Leo Pearson

    02/24/2025

    Interview with Leo Pearson

    In this episode, we have the great privilege of speaking with industry veteran Leo Pearson, who played a role in shaping the sound of Talk on Corners with a production credit on the album. Leo takes us back to where it all started—his mum’s basement —where The Corrs recorded demos that would eventually make their way onto the multi-million-selling album. He shares the unexpected journey that led him to work with the band, from experimenting with electronic music and samplers to suddenly finding himself recording a band, engineering, and programming for one of the biggest pop acts of the era. Leo recounts some of the creative process behind key tracks, his experience working with the band, and the whirlwind energy of their manager, John Hughes. He also reveals the difficulties of getting his recordings into the hands of legendary producer David Foster, just one of the many challenges the band faced in translating demos into polished album tracks. We hear firsthand about the evolving music industry of the late ’90s, the intersection of traditional and electronic sounds, and the lessons Leo carried forward into his career. Packed with behind-the-scenes stories and insights plus clips of unused demo songs, this episode gives greater insights into the music we have loved for decades.  At 00:14:09 you can hear a clip of the song '23'. At 00:19:52 you can hear a clip of the demo mix for 'Little Wing'. At 00:26:36 you can hear a clip of the first demo version of 'Radio'. At 00:31:51 you can hear a clip of the demo for 'What Can I Do'. At 00:39:24 you can hear a clip of the demo for 'Remember'. At 00:45:35 you can hear a clip of 'Paddy McCarthy'. At 00:52:36 you can hear a clip of the song 'Uncanny'. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. CorrsCast.com Instagram Twitter Facebook Discord Patreon #CorrsCast on social media. #TheCorrs Please subscribe, rate and review CorrsCast on iTunes or a platform of your choosing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 3m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Interviews and insights of The Corrs' music from those who helped create it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Simon Wilkie
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    29
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Simon Wilkie
  • Show Website
    CorrsCast