Podcast - Soundtracking with Bruce Springsteen

“We’re always trying to find someone whose broken pieces fit with our broken pieces.”

Last Autumn I spent a quiet afternoon hiding out at the cinema watching Bruce Springsteen’s film Western Stars. I have to confess I don’t know his music too well but the movie, well, the movie is just beautiful. It’s a sweeping meditation. A performance film intercut with stories about the songs and stunning footage of the American landscape. It makes you feel like you’re out on the open road, under an endless starry sky and in a bar with your best friends at the same time. The songs are accompanied by a 30 piece orchestra and Springsteen’s unmistakable vocal.

This gorgeous interview digs deeper into why he made the movie. Springsteen talks about how he wanted to immerse himself in thoughts about “love and difficulty of love” and asks “how do you move from being an individual into a life that’s filled with… communal experience.” The discussion is dotted with clips of music from the film and it’s just lovely. A perfect listen for a walk out in the fresh air.

Episode 177: Bruce Springsteen & Thom Zimny On The Music Of Western Stars

It's been a very good week for Soundtracking, with our little film music podcast nominated for two gongs at the UK's premier audio industry awards, the ARIAs. And who better to celebrate with than one of the biggest names in the music business, Bruce Springsteen.

Sunday Song - Blackbird

A bit of loveliness for a Sunday. Fantastic on headphones.

Sunday Song - This Is The Point

My sister brought this beautiful song by Alex Cornish to my attention as we drove back from Cornwall. I love the simple nostalgia of the lyric, “I was in the crowd with you.” It inspired me to paint as soon as I got home.

Sunday Song - Pacific 202

I’ve heard this on Mary Anne Hobbs’ show on 6 Music a couple of times and each time it’s made me stop in my tracks to listen. Something in how the brass builds and then drops to a quiet rumble really resonates with me. A beautiful listen for a Sunday.

Sunday Song - Wichita Lineman (cover)

A lovely discovery for a Sunday.

Sunday Song - Shine

I’ve been thinking about light a lot lately and have been starting to put together a playlist of songs to capture the creative thoughts I’m having. This version of Shine by Years & Years, covered by Ward Thomas fits right in. The harmonies are perfect for a Sunday. The picture is a corner of a painting from the Golden Age exhibition at the SMK in Copenhagen that really captured me.

Sunday Song - I See You

This song opened the Art Is Everywhere show this weekend and is 8 minutes of retro loveliness. It’s exceptional on headphones. You can see my piece of art inspired by it below the video.

Sunday Song - Kindling (Fickle Flame) by Elbow ft John Grant

"The silence and the waiting and the rush of all aboard
Fifty souls to a carriage I’m trying hard to be ignored
Then my telephone shakes into life and I see your name
And the wheat fields explode into gold either side of the train..."

A perfect discovery for the first Sunday in September...

Sunday Song - Still Life

"I am here. Waiting. It's happening
The moment that you want is coming
If you give it time..."

Sunday Song - Open Up Your Door

This song, it just makes you stop. So beautiful and so perfect for a Sunday.

 Love is so hard to find... And even harder to define.