The Listen Up! Podcast describes itself as showcasing some of the best and most diverse artists around. The show’s host, Arthur, seems to know the bands he is interviewing extremely well and they talk like they're old friends rather than doing an interview.
The format of the show consists of playing around four different tracks by the artists, framed by interview questions and the occasional random topic. The tracks are either presented as recordings or played live by the artist. The whole atmosphere of the podcast is unscripted, friendly and laid-back. There are basic questions Arthur asks every episode along the lines of sound, history, and the music-making process, but the whole interview is very conversational and occasionally will go off on small tangents about dinosaurs, relationships, etc. The podcast is not intentionally comedic, but often, due to the charisma of the band members and Arthur himself, there are a few laughable moments in every episode. Overall, the interaction within the interviews is funny and entertaining and they are quite enjoyable to listen to.
The genres covered in the podcast remain mostly in the realm of indie music with a more experimental and conceptual edge, but the music is very listener-friendly. Many of the bands are up and coming but are very much in the independent sector. One thing that is noteworthy is the variety of sounds brought forth among artists and even among an artist’s songs. It is clear there is careful selection as to who will be featured in a podcast episode. This podcast is a great way to learn about the best in new music, it is definitely worth subscribing!
