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For this episode, I’m joined by Colin Newman from legendary post-punk band, Wire and Malka Spigel to talk about the new Immersion album, WTF??. We dive into how the record came together, including their work with Matt Schulz (Holy F**k), and how collaboration, experimentation, and curiosity continue to push Immersion’s sound into exciting new territory. We also explore their long-running radio show Swimming in Sound, the origins of their label Swim (founded in the early 90s), and what it’s meant to keep an independent label alive through decades of constant industry change. Along the way, we discuss the making of the video for “Use It Don’t Lose It”, directed by their son Ben Newman, plus their move to sunny Brighton—and how life in this vibrant seaside town continues to fuel creativity, community, and fresh ideas.

This very special episode of Synthetic Dreams, features a conversation with legendary songwriter and producer Pete Bellotte. Pete’s extraordinary journey began in the basement of Munich’s Arabella Sheraton Hotel, home to Giorgio Moroder’s groundbreaking Musicland Studios. There, as Moroder’s right-hand man and a visionary in his own right, Pete helped shape a sound that would change music forever. Over the course of his career, he has co-written and produced more than 500 songs, earning two Grammy nominations for Donna Summer’s Bad Girls album and single. From his early days touring with R&B band Linda Laine & The Sinners to his first major hit, Son of My Father, Pete quickly emerged as a hitmaker. Yet it was his pioneering work with Donna Summer that solidified his legacy—blending electronic innovation with bold, conceptual storytelling inspired by his lifelong love of literature. It’s safe to say that I Feel Love stands as one of the greatest dance tracks ever—a legendary song whose influence on pop and dance music still resonates today. 'I Feel Love' Donna Summer Synthetic Dreams is presented and produced by Scott Zverblis Follow Synthetic Dreams on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Also, check out my monthly show Synthetic Sundays on Louder Than War Radio : ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.mixcloud.com/louderthanwar/synthetic-sundays-july-2025/⁠⁠

This week I'm joined by a true trailblazer in the underground electronic and avant-garde scene—Adi Newton, founder of Clock DVA and TAGC. In this episode, we’re diving deep into the newly remastered re-issue of White Souls in Black Suits, Clock DVA’s groundbreaking debut album that helped define the darker, experimental side of post-punk electronics. Adi takes us behind the scenes, sharing unforgettable stories from the chaos and excitement of past tours and live shows. Plus, we journey back to 1970s Sheffield, where the city’s industrial decay sparked a surge of radical creativity. We explore the early days of the electronic scene that shaped Clock DVA—an era of DIY experimentation, boundary-pushing collaborations, and performances with other visionary artists like Cabaret Voltaire.

Today's fascinating and insightful episode of Synthetic Dreams features electronic musician, Ian Boddy. We discuss the making of Caged, his collaborative album with Chris Carter (Throbbing Gristle) — now celebrating its 25th anniversary with a special Mute Records reissue, which is out onNovember 28th.   Ian also reflects on the origins of his iconic label DIN, founded in 1999 and now home to 100+ releases across physical and digital formats. We chat about his love for modular synthesis and some of his earliest, most formative musical memories. https://ianboddy.bandcamp.com https://dinrecords.bandcamp.com Synthetic Dreams is presented and produced by Scott Zverblis Follow Synthetic Dreams on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Synthetic Dreams on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Also, check out my monthly show Synthetic Sundays on Louder Than War Radio : ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.mixcloud.com/louderthanwar/synthetic-sundays-july-2025/⁠⁠

This week on Synthetic Dreams, I’m thrilled to share a conversation with Christopher Chaplin — composer, pianist, and electronic musician. Christopher’s music blends classical roots with experimental electronic textures — it’s atmospheric, layered, and deeply personal. We talk about how he first fell in love with music, learning piano as a kid, and how that early connection still shapes the way he writes and performs today. He also shares stories from his collaboration with Hans-Joachim Roedelius of Cluster and Harmonia — a creative partnership that’s produced some truly remarkable work and earned Christopher a unique spot in the world of ambient and electronic music. Creativity definitely runs in the family — Christopher is the son of the legendary comic actor Charlie Chaplin and actress Oona O’Neill. It’s a thoughtful, inspiring chat about creativity, curiosity, and finding your own sound. https://christopherjchaplin.com Synthetic Dreams is presented and produced by Scott Zverblis Follow Synthetic Dreams on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Synthetic Dreams on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Synthetic Dreams on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter / X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Also, check out my monthly show Synthetic Sundays on Louder Than War Radio : ⁠⁠⁠https://www.mixcloud.com/louderthanwar/synthetic-sundays-july-2025/⁠⁠

This week's fun and insighful episode of Synthetic Dreams features Dutch electronic duo Weval. Fresh off the release of their fourth studio album, CHOROPHOBIA, on Ninja Tune, Harm and Merijn join us to talk about crafting their most club-focused, danceable record yet — full of driving beats, hypnotic acid lines, and that unmistakable Weval warmth. Despite its title meaning “fear of dancing,” CHOROPHOBIA is an album that practically dares you not to move. In this candid and inspiring conversation, we explore how the project came to life, the irony behind its name, and how Weval’s sound has evolved since their early days. Synthetic Dreams is presented and produced by Scott Zverblis Follow Synthetic Dreams on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Synthetic Dreams on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Synthetic Dreams on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter / X⁠⁠⁠⁠ Also, check out my monthly show Synthetic Sundays on Louder Than War Radio : ⁠⁠https://www.mixcloud.com/louderthanwar/synthetic-sundays-july-2025/⁠⁠  

This week on Synthetic Dreams, I’m celebrating the incredible legacy of synth legend Bob Moog with a very special guest: Michelle Moog-Koussa, his daughter and Co-Founder of the Bob Moog Foundation. We dive into Bob’s revolutionary contributions to music technology, his enduring impact on artists worldwide, and the amazing work the Foundation is doing to preserve his amazing legacy. For more information about the foundation, visit: https://moogfoundation.org/ Synthetic Dreams is presented and produced by Scott Zverblis Follow Synthetic Dreams on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ Follow Synthetic Dreams on ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠ Follow Synthetic Dreams on ⁠⁠⁠Twitter / X⁠⁠⁠ Also, check out my monthly show Synthetic Sundays on Louder Than War Radio : ⁠https://www.mixcloud.com/louderthanwar/synthetic-sundays-july-2025/⁠ If you can, please support the Synthetic Dreams Podcast by buying a coffee ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/syntheticdreams⁠⁠  

I'm thrilled to be joined today by legendary music journalist and Art of Noise co-founder Paul Morley, to talk about The Art Of This — a new offshoot, descendant, and subset of the pioneering electronic group. Art of Noise helped reshape the sound of modern music, becoming one of the most sampled acts in history   Paul has reunited with fellow founders Gary Langan and J. J. Jeczalik for The Art Of This, debuting live at London’s ICA on Saturday 18 October. The performance will feature words, music, and immersive visuals, brought to life through a 360° spatial sound system. It’s a rare return to the stage for this influential collective — and a chance to hear the past, present, and future of electronic music collide. For more information and to buy tickets visit: https://www.ica.art/live/the-art-of-this https://actualartofthis.bandcamp.com Art Of Noise - Close (To The Edit) Art Of Noise - Moments In Love J.J Jeczalik on the Synthetic Dreams Podcast

My guest this week is Jean-Michel Jarre, a true icon and pioneer of electronic music With a career spanning over 52 years in music, he is one of the most successful electronic artists ever, selling over 85 million albums and singles. Known for his large scale, elaborate live shows, Jarre has performed concerts at the Eiffel Tower, the Pyramids in Egypt and even the Sahara Desert. He’s also a UNESCO ambassador for education, science and culture and in 2017 was awarded the Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication We discuss the making of his new album and concert film ‘Live in Bratislava - an audio-visual record of his historic open-air concert-event 'Bridge From The Future', performed on May 12, 2024 in Slovakia. A truly spectacular live event that features all that you’d expect from a Jean-Michel Jarre concert - elaborate sets, stunning visuals, fireworks and for the first time, a drone display For more information or to pre-order the album, visit: https://www.jeanmicheljarre.com/live-in-bratislava Synthetic Dreams is presented and produced by Scott Zverblis Follow Synthetic Dreams on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Synthetic Dreams on ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠ Follow Synthetic Dreams on ⁠⁠⁠Twitter / X⁠⁠⁠ Synthetic Dreams title music by Chris Ibbott

I’m delighted to be joined by Swiss singer, songwriter,  composer and record producer, Franz Treichler, best known as the vocalist and founder member of the hugely influential industrial rock band The Young Gods. Franz formed The Young Gods in 1985 and the original lineup of the band featured  The original lineup of the band featured singer Franz Treichler, Cesare Pizzi and drummer Frank Bagnoud. Known for their innovative use of samplers in rock music, the band have influenced a number of artists, including Mike Patton from Faith No More, American industrial band, Ministry and even David Bowie, who cited the Young Gods as a direct influence on his 1996 album ‘Outside’. Impressive stuff!  We discuss, amongst other things, the making of The Young Gods ninth studio album, ‘Appear Disappear’ released in back in June. 

Retro Synthetic!  Another chance to listen to this previously unavailable interview with DJ and musician, Mark Archer, Altern 8. The duo, known for their signature fluorescent yellow dust masks and green boiler suits, released a series of hugely influential  techno records before achieving massive chart success with Altern 8. It was great to speak to the man behind the mask about the early rave scene, playing Top Of The Pops and how he came up with their distinctive look. Actually, this interview was recorded back in 2021, a time where everyone was wearing masks! Top one, nice one, get sorted! Synthetic Dreams is presented and produced by Scott Zverblis Follow Synthetic Dreams on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ Follow Synthetic Dreams on ⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠ Follow Synthetic Dreams on ⁠⁠Twitter / X⁠⁠ Also, check out my monthly show Synthetic Sundays on Louder Than War Radio : https://www.mixcloud.com/louderthanwar/synthetic-sundays-july-2025/ If you can, please support the Synthetic Dreams Podcast by buying a coffee ⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/syntheticdreams⁠⁠ ⁠ ⁠

Today’s extremely fun and insightful episode features multi-talented musician, Gwenno, plus her musical partner and husband, Rhys Edwards.  We discuss the making of Gwenno’s brilliant new album,‘Utopia’, which is out now on Heavenly Recordings.  The record, which is one of my favourite releases of 2025, has received some truly amazing reviews and is well worth checking out.  Gwenno is doing some very intimate gigs to promote the release, including an album launch show at The Lower Third in London tomorrow evening (Wednesday 16 July) and an in-store gig at Resident Music, Brighton on Thursday.  She will be performing at Greenman Festival next month, before heading out on a UK tour in October. For more information and tickets, visit: https://www.gwenno.info https://gwenno.bandcamp.com/music Gwenno - Utopia (Official Video) Synthetic Dreams is presented and produced by Scott Zverblis Follow Synthetic Dreams on ⁠Instagram⁠ Follow Synthetic Dreams on ⁠Threads⁠ Follow Synthetic Dreams on ⁠Twitter / X⁠ Also, check out my monthly show on Louder Than War Radio : https://louderthanwar.com/louder-than-war-radio/scott-z-synthetic-sundays/ If you can, please support the Synthetic Dreams Podcast by buying a coffee ⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/syntheticdreams⁠

Today’s fascinating and insightful episode features a conversation with Phil King, curator of ‘All The Young Droids: Junkshop Synth Pop 1978-1985’, a wonderful double Vinyl / Double CD compilation that charts the underdogs of the 80s electronica and synth-pop scene.  There’s a very special album launch happening this Monday at Spiritland in London. The evening will include a conversation  chaired by Philip, featuring a few artists from the record, including Andy Beaumont (Vision) and Joe Murphy (Dream Unit) Plus, music by Dj Martin Green. For more info and to but tickets, visit:  https://ra.co/events/2197026 

Delighted and truly honoured to be joined by Cosey Fanni Tutti on the podcast this week. Cosey talks about the making of her brilliant new solo album, '2t2" which comes out this Friday, 13th June. We also discuss the early days of Throbbing Gristle, music technology and her excellent books 'Art Sex Music’ published in 2017 and ‘Re-Sisters’, which came out in 2022.

Delighted to be joined by multi-talented musician, Steve Queralt on the podcast today Steve, best known as the bass player of the influential shoegaze band Ride, talks to me about the writing and recording of his first ever solo album, 'Swallow'  which comes out next Friday, June 13, on Sonic Cathedral 'Swallow', which is already one of my favourite albums of 2025, features beautiful guest vocals from Emma Anderson (Lush) and Verity Susman (Electrelane). For more information or to pre-order the album, visit: https://stevequeralt.bandcamp.com/album/swallow Steve Queralt feat. Emma Anderson - Lonely Town (Official Video) Synthetic Dreams is presented and produced by Scott Zverblis Follow Synthetic Dreams on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Synthetic Dreams on ⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠ Follow Synthetic Dreams on ⁠⁠⁠Twitter / X⁠⁠⁠ Synthetic Dreams title music by Chris Ibbott If you can, please support the Synthetic Dreams Podcast by buying a coffee ⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/syntheticdreams