The Keyboard Chronicles

Richard Barbieri is best known as the keyboardist for the pioneering British new wave band Japan, as a core member of the progressive rock group Porcupine Tree and a successful artist in his own right. He is known for his unique approach to synthesis, atmospheric sound design, and textural playing style. Richard chats with us on his career to date, his distinct approach to creating sounds, and a great deal more.

To listen / watch:


Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or:

Video: watch the embedded video below or check it and previous episodes out on our YouTube Channel




Discussion topics covered during the show (links will open in new tab):  

Richard’s latest album Hauntings

The inspirations that led to the recording of Hauntings

Discussion on the songs Anemoia, 1890,  Reveille / Last Post, and Artificial Obsession

A viewer question (thanks Matt G) on writing for film

Richard’s musical upbringing

Richard’s work with Japan and the mammoth Roland System 700

Richard’s keyboard rig with Japan

The unique creative relationship between Richard Barbieri and Steve Jansen

Choosing backing tracks over sequencing for less pivotal parts

One of Richard’s Japan compositions – Temple of Dawn

The transition from Japan to Rain Tree Crow

Red Earth (As Summertime Ends) – Rain Tree Crow

Formation of Jansen, Barbieri and Karn (JBK)

JBK live in 1994 – Bestial Cluster

Jansen / Barbieri and Karn – Stories Across Borders

Joining Porcupine Tree

The ‘Signify’ sessions – recording as a band

Porcupine Tree – Signify

Evolving with the heavier / more complex albums from a sonic viewpoint (and the importance of the Access Virus)

The influence of lyrics on sound design

Adjusting sound design approach for performing in larger venues

Getting used to In-Ear Monitoring

A tour of Richard Barbieri’s recording studio (see standlone studio tour video here)

Richard’s use of soft synths

Richard’s evolving approach to perforning his solo work live

Performing with The Bays

Ryuichi Sakamoto as inspiration and watching him record

Working with Marillion’s Steve Hogarth: Not The Weapon But The Hand and Arc Light

Creating presets for others and the challenges of them being applied in other people’s work

Richard’s wishes for his music in the far future

Discussion on another solo album and work to date on a potential Porcupine Tree album

Desert Island Discs: Rock Bottom – Robert Wyatt, Close To The Edge – Yes, A Moon Shaped Pool – Radiohead, Songs in the Key of Life – Stevie Wonder, Endtroducing…. – DJ Shadow

Key links:

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Check out our podcast guest playlist on Spotify to get a taste of each guest’s creations.
The post Richard Barbieri, Solo Artist / Porcupine Tree / Japan appeared first on The Keyboard Chronicles.

In this episode we speak with Christian Dinh Gulino, a UK-based keyboard player and musical director covering everything from pop tours to video game soundtracks. Aside from his arranging and production work for Square Enix Music, he has extensively toured with artists such as Bryan Ferry, Kylie Minogue and Sophie Ellis-Bextor, alongside a long-standing working relationship with Will Young. We chat on all that and more, including some great insights into weekend corporate gigs in other countries and an Andrea Bocelli train wreck anecdote for the ages….

To listen / watch:


Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or:

Video: watch the embedded video below or check it and previous episodes out on our YouTube Channel




Discussion topics covered during the show (links will open in new tab):  

Christian’s musical upbringing

Playing at 12 and getting ‘roasted’ by the pros

Moving from Italy to the UK 

Early career as a player

Joining Dennis Rollins’ Badbone & Co

Auditioning for, and joining Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Using a Nord keyboard, Reason and a Dell Laptop

Christian in action with Sophie Ellis-Bextor, 2009

Working with Will Young

Christian in action with Will Young, 2015

John Newman – Love Me Again

Christian’s thoughts on the key components of a Musical Director role

Negotiating disagreements on musical direction

Working with Kylie Minogue

Christian in action live with Kyle Minogue at Glastonbury 2019

When you have six days to get your driver’s license to be able to join Kylie Minogue in Singapore

Working with Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music on their 50th Anniversary tour

Christian playing with Roxy music in 2022

The keyboard rig for Roxy Music

Composing for games / film, including the Final Fantasy franchise

Kai Kaurismaki

Christian’s two notable train wrecks

Working on Name That Tune

Desert Island Discs: Speak Like A Child – Herbie Hancock, Hotter Than July – Stevie Wonder, Off The Wall – Michael Jackson, 1996 – Ryuichi Sakamoto, 

Key links:

Become a member of our YouTube channel and receive extra content

Buy some keyboard related merchandise





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Complete our audience survey to help us improve!





Check out our podcast guest playlist on Spotify to get a taste of each guest’s creations.
The post Christian Dinh Gulino, Roxy Music / Kylie Minogue / Will Young appeared first on The Keyboard Chronicles.

John Linnell is one half of  They Might Be Giants, an American alternative rock band formed in Brooklyn, New York, in 1982. The group is known for their unique blend of alternative rock, experimental pop, and highly unconventional songwriting. John chats with us on his career to date, recent album The World Is To Dig and a great deal more.

To listen / watch:


Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or:

Video: watch the embedded video below or check it and previous episodes out on our YouTube Channel




Discussion topics covered during the show (links will open in new tab):  

Pulling together a ‘pile’ of songs for The World Is To Dig

The Linnell / Flansburgh writing and album production process

The brilliant Patrick Dillett

Sound selection for The World Is To Dig

The Critter and Guitari Organelle

Bastl Instruments

John’s long-term love of Digital Performer

They Might Be Giants live – approach in the early years as a tape-backed duo

They Might Be Giants re-create the duo years in Brooklyn in 2015.

John in action with They Might Be Giants live in 2026: Spiraling Shape

John’s discovery of the accordion

Main Squeeze accordions in New York City

The late, great Walter Kuhr and the Main Squeeze Orchestra

John’s keyboard rig in ‘the early days’

Casio CZ-101

Casio FZ-1

John’s current virtual keyboard rig with They Might Be Giants after a long and healthy relationship with the original Roland Fantom keyboard

The Marxophone

The Marxophone in action on Alabama Song (Whisky Bar) – The Doors

They Might Be Giants’ cover of the Irving Berlin song Lazy

They Might Be Giants – Who Are The Electors?

They Might Be Giants’ intergenerational appeal

Mutual thoughts on Australia’s love for They Might Be Giants (and how JJJ made a difference)

The TMBG musical vault and why it will likely stay closed

Desert Island Discs: Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Books I & II BWV 846-893 – Glenn Gould, The Anthology 1931-1968 – The Mills Brothers, Songs of the Pogo – Norman Monath / Walt Kelly, The Biz Never Sleeps – Biz Markie, Oranges & Lemons – XTC

A shout out for This Might Be A Wiki

Key links:

Become a member of our YouTube channel and receive extra content

Buy some keyboard related merchandise





Drop us a line via the website, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, Threads, BlueSky, TikTok or LinkedIn

Complete our audience survey to help us improve!





Check out our podcast guest playlist on Spotify to get a taste of each guest’s creations.
The post John Linnell, They Might Be Giants appeared first on The Keyboard Chronicles.

Mark ‘Squeezebox Wally’ Wallace is an Australian-based accordion and keyboard player, who for more than forty years has played around the world with a range of outfits including Weddings Parties Anything and Mick Thomas’ Roving Commission.  We cover a lot of that career, in addition to some discussion on accordions in contemporary music, some great desert island disc selections and a whole bunch more.

To listen / watch:


Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or:

Video: watch the embedded video below or check it and previous episodes out on our YouTube Channel




Discussion topics covered during the show (links will open in new tab):  

Mark’s musical upbringing and earning his stripes in a Scottish dance band from age 12.

Auditioning and joining Weddings Parties Anything

Wedding Parties Anything live in 1988 – Under The Clocks

Weddings Parties Anything – Streets of Forbes

Early days gigging with Weddings Parties Anything, including a residency at Fitzroy’s Jike Jika Hotel.

Weddings Parties Anything’s first album – Scorn of the Women

The Infanticide of Marie Farrar

Weddings Parties Anything – Away Away

The second album – Roaring Days

Discussion on Weddings Parties rise and rise and supporting acts like Stevie Ray Vaughan, Robert Cray, Steve Earle and U2.

The third album – The Big Don’t Argue

The Ballad of Peggy and Col

The fourth album – Difficult Loves

The fifth album – King Tide

Changes in band lineup and making Australia the ‘new Europe’ touring-wise.

The sixth album – Donkey Serenade

The last album – River’esque

The ending of Weddings Parties Anything, the final gigs and stage diving with an accordion

Touring with U2 and BB King

Mark in action with Sally Dastey

The brilliant Tiddas

Playing on Mick Thomas and The Sure Thing albums – including Big Geographical

The formation of Mick Thomas’ Roving Commission

Three Roving Commission songs to check out: Back in the Day, Build This, Anything You Recognise (which in part retells the discussion with Mark on the breakup of Weddings Parties Anything)

Mark’s accordions and go to keyboard: the Nord Electro 3

The solo album: Squeezebox Wally

Thoughts on musical legacy

The The – This Is The Day

Desert Island Discs: Kite – Kirsty Maccoll, Five Leaves Left – Nick Drake, Dancer With Bruised Knees – Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Moon Safari – Air, How Will The Wolf Survive? – Los Lobos, Nina Simone At Town Hall – Nina Simone.

Key links:

Become a member of our YouTube channel and receive extra content

Buy some keyboard related merchandise





Drop us a line via the website, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, Threads, BlueSky, TikTok or LinkedIn

Complete our audience survey to help us improve!





Check out our podcast guest playlist on Spotify to get a taste of each guest’s creations.

A special thanks to Tim Pyers who introduced me to Weddings Parties anything way back in 1989. Do get in touch Tim!
The post Mark ‘Squeezebox Wally’ Wallace, Weddings Parties Anything, Mick Thomas’ Roving Commission appeared first on The Keyboard Chronicles.

Julian Emery is a UK-based songwriter, producer, and guitarist whose credits include work with artists such as Nothing But Thieves, McFly, and Lissie. This episode is a little different as Julian doesn’t play keyboards himself, but he joins the show to share his unique perspective from the producer’s chair and offers some interesting thoughts on the role keyboard players play in songs.

To listen / watch:


Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or:

Video: watch the embedded video below or check it and previous episodes out on our YouTube Channel




Discussion topics covered during the show (links will open in new tab):  

Julian’s website

Jules’ musical upbringing

Moving into production and recognising the importance of synths / keyboards in the process

Hear’Say

Working with Matt Willis and co-writing his first three singles, including Up All Night

Co-writing with McFly, including Star Girl

Building rapport and co-writing with people you are meeting for the first time

Jules’ long-term collaborative relationship with Jim Irvin

Collaboration mistakes made the hard way

The longstanding ‘gift’ of working with Nothing But Thieves.

One of Jules’ co-writes with Nothing But Thieves (and #1 hit) Trip Switch

Nothing But Thieves – Welcome to the DCC

The WASP synth

Working with Lissie across multiple albums and co-writing songs, including the breakout hit When I’m Alone

A discussion on Jules’ passion for talking on creativity and resilience.

Desert Island Discs: Back in Black – AC/DC, 2112 – Rush, Hemispheres – Rush, Denim and Leather – Saxon, Chicago X – Chicago.

Key links:

Become a member of our YouTube channel and receive extra content

Buy some keyboard related merchandise





Drop us a line via the website, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, Threads, BlueSky, TikTok or LinkedIn

Complete our audience survey to help us improve!





Check out our podcast guest playlist on Spotify to get a tas te of each guest’s creations.
The post Julian Emery, Songwriter and Producer appeared first on The Keyboard Chronicles.