I understand why people do their podcasts over Skype. If you want to get good content and get it quickly then our 'connected' world makes it easy for you to do that. In time, I'll surely do interviews via Skype too. After all, it's the quality of the conversation you have which is important.
While using the internet to do interviews is great, you ultimately miss that human connection. The feeling of being in someone else's company, feeling an actual connection and really spending time with a person. You're also unable to have surreal, weird, memorable moments happen to you.
I've been a fan of Ignite since 2006 when 'Our Darkest Days' was released. I'm probably going on about that too much, but it's important that you understand the context: this band are one of my favourites, and way back then they hit me in a way that few others had before or have since. I love Zoli's voice, I love the message.
Interviewing him was a cool experience. He's clearly a very deep, thoughtful guy and he's got the unmistakable intensity in his eyes of someone who really cares about what they believe in. None of what was said in the interview was particularly unexpected to me - I knew there would be a lot of political chat, and my questions were designed to foster that.
But what I wasn't expecting was actually spending time with him afterwards. Usually you do an interview with someone and unless you know them, that's it. You leave. Go about your day and if it's a band from out of town, you'll see them and perhaps speak to them later on that night.
Highlights from the conversation include:
The tale of the exploding back and how that cut short the Pennywise album tour
Interviewing the guy from Sea Shepherd and how he got involved with the Sea Shepherds
The Pelican Rescue Team and how community service made him aware of environmental issues
His story of growing up in a communist country and moving to the US
The environmental damage the Russians wrought on Hungary
Communism is Ponzi scheme
Super capitalism and North Korea
The new album and writing what you know – believing in what you do.
Reflecting on his life, upbringing and family
People don’t talk to each other cause of technology
We celebrate the commonplace our phones
Positivity culture, how it’s okay to murder and bomb places for political ends but we’re afraid to voice our opinions and be critical of more common things.
Candide by Voltaire – there’s no hope to save the world, so tend to your own patch in order to make a bigger impact on the world. If we all tend our own garden, take care of our own and take responsibility we’d make a better world.
We’re selfish as human beings, but there’s ugly stuff going on.
Music and art can drive change just like back in the 60s.
Need a bigger audience to get to the message out.
After the interview we went to the Horseshoe Bar, had some Irn Bru, walked through to Princes Square, into the Argyle Arcade and along to Sloans. Taking photos along the way, me being some kind of tour guide. That's a surreal moment that you can't get from a Skype connection.
The conversation will always be king, and the human connection in that moment is what it's all about.
Spending time with someone you admire when you really weren't expecting anything more than 20 or so minutes of their time? That's something you can never account for but it is a personal moment you can treasure forever.
I hope you enjoy the episode. Featured Music Intro: Voodoo Puppets – Electric Chair Blues (used under CC licence, you can check it out here).
Ignite - A Place Called Home Ignite - Live for Better Days
'A Place Called Home' is taken from the album of the same name. 'Live for Better Days' is taken from Our Darkest Days. Links You can buy both of those Ignite albums mentioned above here.
And as ever, you can find the band on Facebook and Twitter. Their official website/Tumblr is here.
Picture courtesy of Salad Days Magazine. Thank you! My thanks are eternal to you and everyone else who has listened to the podcast and helped me get it to where it is. It’s no longer on the front page of iTunes but YOU can help me get back there. If you could take a second to rate and review this podcast on iTunes I’d love you forever and ever. Questions? Feedback? You can do either by dropping a comment in the comment box below. Or you can hit the contact link to show me some love by using the cool email form. Social Media I’m on a few social media sites, so it’d be pretty handy if you could show me some love over there. Check out the Facebook page. Or you can get me on Twitter.
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