Drowned in Sound

• New Single “Let’s Go”
• Watch the Music Video
• Tatty Devine Collab
• Guerrilla Girls

Join the Conversation:

• 🗣 Drowned in Sound Community
• 📩 Email Sean → sean@drownedinsound.org
• 🔵 Follow on Bluesky

About the Guest:

Becky Hawley is one-third of Stealing Sheep, a Liverpool-based band known for their innovative, genre-defying sound. The trio recently launched their own record label, G-IRL (Girl In Real Life), to support their own work and that of other boundary-pushing creatives.

About the Host:

Sean Adams is the founder of Drowned in Sound, a pioneering music webzine launched in 2000. He also manages artists like Charlotte Church and The Anchoress, and works across campaigns that support independent and ethical approaches to music and media.

In this episode of the podcast that maps what music will be like in 2050 by meeting cultural changemakers and pioneers, Sean Adams explores how the Fresh Hell zine - a collaboration between creatives from the agency Iris and Purpose Disruptors (download it here) - reframes our relationship with nature through goth culture, beauty, and imagination.

Featuring clips from Freya Beer’s special Gothic Disco radio broadcast recorded at Walthamstow Wetlands (listen to it on Mixcloud here), featuring reflections from Lira Valencia and Chris Packham, which inspired the zine, we explore what happens when goth culture meets the natural world.

This conversation with Purpose Disruptors who run the Agency for Nature & the creators of Fresh Hell zine, examines how creativity can help us move from awe of the natural world to cultural transformation—and what musicians, media, and fans can do to help shift the climate crisis narrative.

Aimee Brewerton – Comms & Engagement Manager at Purpose Disruptors, working across climate-focused storytelling, brand strategy, and cultural transformation.

Nicole Vanner – Designer at Iris, co-creator of Fresh Hell, blending gothic subculture with natural aesthetics in visual communication.

Andrew Hadley – Copywriter at Iris, co-author of Fresh Hell, exploring language that rewilds desire and reframes our connection to nature.

Purpose Disruptors – A UK-based network of 5,000+ creative professionals transforming the advertising industry to align with climate goals and societal well-being.

Iris – A global creative agency known for working with progressive brands and championing purpose-driven campaigns.

Agency for Nature – A project platform by Purpose Disruptors that reimagines communications through a regenerative, nature-first lens — including campaigns like Fresh Hell.

Episode Summary & Timestamps:

• 00:00 Introduction: Can Music Change the Climate Conversation?
• 00:31 Exploring the Goths in Nature Project
• 01:23 Meeting the Change Makers
• 04:20 Chris Packham's Punk and Nature Connection
• 06:52 The Future of Our Planet in 2050
• 11:27 Purpose Disruptors: Changing the Advertising Narrative
• 14:17 Creating the Goths in Nature Magazine
• 25:09 The Role of Nature in Mental Health
• 30:01 Spotting the Moor Hen
• 30:52 Goth Music and Personal Favorites
• 31:20 From Radio Show to Zine
• 32:44 Chris Packham's Contribution
• 35:04 Celebrating Nature and Subculture
• 38:49 Nature as a Client
• 40:00 Collaborative Efforts and Creative Freedom
• 48:01 Impact and Mindset Shift
• 58:39 Future Hopes and Accountability
• 01:08:32 Final Thoughts and Call to Action
  

Featured Links & Resources:

• Fresh Hell Zine
• Purpose Disruptors
• Freya Beer’s Gothic Disco
• Lira Valencia (Instagram)
• Bird Nerdeem (Instagram)
• Freya Beer (Instagram)
• Agency for Nature
• Walthamstow Wetlands
• Lawyers for Nature
• Earth Percent
• Creatives for Climate
• Good Life 2030 short film

Songs Mentioned:

• Something to Remember Me By – The Horrors
• This Corrosion – Sisters of Mercy
• Soundtrack to previous episodes by Sound Mirror now available on Bandcamp

Join the Conversation:

• Drowned in Sound Community
• Email: sean@drownedinsound.org
• Follow on Bluesky

Upgrade to support my work:

• Subscribe to the Drowned in Sound newsletter

• Article: Cafe Oto at Oscars - The Guardian
• Artist Recommendation: Nina Versyp
• Artist Recommendation: TTSSFU
• Artist Recommendation: Maella 
• Video: Apple on Dolby Atmos
• Ticket App: Dice
• Link: Tim Burgess listening party
• Article: Bjork immersive album Bowers + Wilkins 
• Drink: Icelandic drink Black Death
• Venue Recommendation: Trades Club in Hebden Bridge

Music by Sound Mirror, available on Bandcamp here: https://sound-mirror.bandcamp.com/album/lake-wind-water-mountain

Your Questions:

Alex Lee Thompson: Are ”scenes” over? Unpack that question as you like

Simon Marshall: After the excellent live bands to look out for article, sponsored by Seetickets, I would be interested in your views on the ticket selling part of the music industry - as a music consumer the DICE app was and is a revelation, what is your experience, and what is the best place to buy to support artists and venues? 

Ear Protect Req: What three bands or artists should we be checking out live?

Soundmirrorworld: Will the Atmos, immersive audio bubble burst? Or keep going ’til we’re full frontal?

Alex Botten: What do you think about the hoards of zombie cover bands eating up local venues. Are they helping or hurting the scene? (I believe profoundly hurting)

Eric Weiner: Would love to hear your thoughts on the listening party. Are they ever any good? What’s the perfect album release party?

Grimes quote in full: Honestly the thing I like most about k pop is its an actual scene - reminds me Canadian punk scenes or the indie scene  back in the day where like if your integrated enough there's like a constant feed of beauty with sort of known rituals, built in community, and like a collective excitement that is contagious and life affirming. I see how music scenes function effectively as a quasi religious institutions in a secular society. The extreme corporatization of music followed by Covid was very culturally harmful imo cuz a healthy modern music scene is actually a functional religious replacement - if one assumes the mind is better served by access to a healthy community that produces art, has events, shared morality and values, messiahs haha etc. Techno and emo rap similarly ensnared me over the last decade to an extent but they seem less "all ages"

In this episode of the Drowned in Sound Podcast, Sean Adams talks to Linda Coogan Byrne, activist and music consultant behind the Why Not Her? campaign.

Her reports have exposed gender and racial disparities in radio airplay, driving real industry change.

This conversation reveals how data is power or as Linda puts it,  “the data validates lived experiences.”

00:00 – Introduction: How One Report Changed Music
01:45 – Meet Linda Coogan Byrne & Her Data Reports
04:30 – The Shocking Gender Disparity in Radio
07:00 – Industry Reactions: Denial, Excuses & Pushback
11:00 – Thin Lizzy, Protest Billboards & Music Activism
15:30 – Has the Industry Improved or Is It Lip Service?
21:00 – Can Music Ever Be Equal?
30:00 – Why Not Everyone Can Be an Activist
38:00 – What Needs to Change for Lasting Equality?
45:00 – How Data Holds Power to Account
50:00 – Final Thoughts & Actionable Takeaways

Links

Why Not Her? Reports → https://whynother.eu/data-reports
Gender Bias in UK Radio – The Guardian → https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/aug/21/female-british-artists-underrepresented-on-uk-radio-survey-finds
Book More Women (Festival Representation) → https://www.instagram.com/bookmorewomen/
Activist Recommendations:

• Mona Eltahawy → https://www.instagram.com/monaeltahawy
• Emma Dabiri - Don’t Touch My Hair → https://uk.bookshop.org/a/14603/9780141986289
• Mary Beard - Women & Power → https://uk.bookshop.org/a/14603/9781788160612
• Ijeoma Oluo - Mediocre → https://uk.bookshop.org/a/14603/9781529353839
• Check My Ads (Ad Funding & Misinformation) → https://checkmyads.org/

🗣 Discuss this episode over on the Drowned in Sound Community → https://community.drownedinsound.com/
📩 Email Sean → sean@drownedinsound.org
🔵 Follow on Bluesky → https://bsky.app/profile/drownedinsound.bsky.social
📩 Get the DiS Newsletter → https://drownedinsound.org

ABOUT THE GUEST

Linda Coogan Byrne is a music industry consultant, publicist, and activist known for her gender & racial disparity data reports. She is the CEO of Good Seed PR and founder of Why Not Her?, a campaign pushing for cultural change in music. Her work has influenced radio airplay, festival bookings, and policy decisions. She has been named among the Top 100 Most Influential Women in Ireland, inducted into the Music Week Hall of Honour, and recognized by IMPALA as a Top 20 Woman in Music Activism.

ABOUT THE HOST

Sean Adams is the founder of Drowned in Sound, a pioneering music webzine launched in 2000. Beyond editorial work, he manages artists like Charlotte Church and The Anchoress, operates the DiS independent record label, and contributes to strategic music industry and political advocacy projects. His passion lies in championing diverse music scenes and supporting artists worldwide.

In this episode of the Drowned in Sound Podcast, Sean Adams speaks with Shain Shapiro, founder of Sound Diplomacy and a leading advocate for integrating music into urban policy. Shain has advised cities and governments worldwide on how to invest in music, build better infrastructure, and ensure that artists and venues don’t just survive but thrive.

The future of music scenes isn’t just about artists - it’s about infrastructure, investment, and policy. Without real change, we risk losing the cultural spaces that make music thrive.

Topics Covered:

The future of music cities: Why local scenes are vital and how they can be protected

Music as an economic and public good: Why governments should treat music like any other essential sector

Emerging music markets: Where the global music hotspots of the future might be

Live Nation: How monopolies shape local music ecosystems

The importance of local media and community spaces in sustaining music scenes

How cities can future-proof music amid climate, economic, and technological shifts

Shain Shapiro explains: “We don’t make data-driven decisions about music the way we do about transit, healthcare, or housing, yet music is an essential part of a city’s fabric.”

Episode Highlights & Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction: Can We Save Our Music Scenes?

01:04 – The Future of Music: What Will 2050 Sound Like?

02:33 – The Big Challenges Facing the Music Industry

04:44 – Music as an Economic & Public Good: Why Governments Should Care

09:11 – Shain’s Journey: From Record Shops to Global Music Policy

14:08 – Music Cities: How Governments Can Invest in Local Scenes

19:51 – Global Music Growth: Why Africa & Southeast Asia Are the Future

28:25 – Community & Local Government’s Role in Music Sustainability

35:50 – The Live Nation Monopoly, Local Media, & How Cities Can Push Back

40:00 – Final Thoughts: What Needs to Change & What Fans Can Do

Further Reading & Resources:

Sound Diplomacy – Leading global consultancy on music and city planning

Making Places Better Newsletter – Shain Shapiro’s insights on improving urban spaces through music and culture

Music Venue Trust – Protecting grassroots venues

Cardiff Music Strategy – A model for city-led music investment

Fonds de la Musique Canada – Canada’s funding model for music exports

Live DMA – European network for live music venues

Join the discussion on the Drowned in Sound Community, message me on Bluesky, or email me at sean@drownedinsound.org.

Get More Music Insights – Subscribe to the Drowned in Sound Newsletter for deep dives into the future of music.

About the Host:

Sean Adams is the founder of Drowned in Sound, established in 2000 as a pioneering music webzine. Beyond his editorial work, Sean manages artists such as Charlotte Church and The Anchoress, operates the DiS independent record label, and contributes to strategic communications for music initiatives like Music Venue Trust. His passion lies in championing diverse music scenes and supporting artists across genres.

About the Guest:

Shain Shapiro, PhD is the founder and executive chairman of Sound Diplomacy, the leading global consultancy on music and city planning. He also serves as the executive director of the not-for-profit Center for Music Ecosystems. Shain has authored This Must Be The Place: How Music Can Make Your City Better, exploring the intersection of music and urban development. His work has influenced over 130 cities worldwide to invest in music and culture, redefining the value of music in urban settings.