The XS Noize Podcast

In this episode of the XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar sits down with legendary U2 producer Steve Lillywhite to discuss his work on landmark albums including Boy, War, The Joshua Tree, Achtung Baby, All That You Can't Leave Behind, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, and No Line on the Horizon.
Across a career spanning more than four decades, Lillywhite has worked with some of the most influential artists in modern music. But his work with U2 — from their earliest recordings through some of their biggest albums — helped define the sound of one of the world's most important bands.
During the conversation, Lillywhite reflects on the creative environment around Achtung Baby, one of the most influential records in U2's catalogue, and explains what a producer actually does in the studio — describing his role as the "captain of the ship" guiding a band through the creative process of making an album.
He shares memories of first encountering U2 before the mythology existed, when four young musicians from Dublin were still discovering their identity — and explains why he immediately sensed something different about them.
The conversation explores the band's creative evolution across landmark albums including Boy, War, The Joshua Tree, Achtung Baby, All That You Can't Leave Behind, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, and No Line on the Horizon, and how U2's sound developed in the studio over the years.
Lillywhite also offers insights into the craft of record production — from capturing the distinctive guitar sound of The Edge to shaping Bono's vocal performances and finding the emotional centre of a song.
Along the way, he reflects on the collaborative nature of the studio, the controlled chaos of working alongside producers like Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois and Flood, and the moments when a record suddenly comes alive.
Whether you're a U2 fan, a musician, or simply fascinated by the craft of record-making, this conversation offers a rare look inside the creative process behind some of the most iconic albums of the last forty years.
About The XS Noize Podcast
With more than 270 episodes, the XS Noize Podcast has become a trusted home for music's legends, innovators, and trailblazers — a place where real conversations meet real stories.
Hosted by Mark Millar, the show has featured an extraordinary lineup including Paul Draper, Sleaford Mods, The Charlatans, Gary "Mani" Mounfield, Glen Matlock, Miles Kane, Matt Berninger, Saint Etienne, D:Ream, Gavin Rossdale, The Farm, Snow Patrol, John Lydon, Will Sergeant, Ocean Colour Scene, Gary Kemp, Doves, Gavin Friday, David Gray, Anton Newcombe, Peter Hook, Razorlight, Sananda Maitreya, James, Crowded House, Elbow, Cast, Kula Shaker, Shed Seven, Future Islands, Peter Frampton, Bernard Butler, Steven Wilson, Travis, New Order, The Killers, Tito Jackson, Simple Minds, The Divine Comedy, Shaun Ryder, Gary Numan, and Michael Head — among many more.
Explore the complete XS Noize Podcast archive.
New episodes drop weekly — subscribe for in-depth conversations with the artists who shape modern music.

In this episode of the XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar sits down with Zak and Matty from The Dream Machine to talk about Fort Perch Rock — the band's third studio album and a record shaped by instinct, friendship and a deep connection to place.
Formed in 2021, the band first emerged with their 2022 debut Thank God! It's The Dream Machine, followed by 2024's James Skelly-produced Small Time Monsters. With Fort Perch Rock, they move further into their own identity — self-produced and recorded between studios on the Wirral and in Liverpool.
Built with a DIY spirit, Fort Perch Rock leans into creative freedom. Zak and Matty discuss embracing a hands-on production approach, allowing songs to evolve naturally rather than chasing polish for its own sake. The local environment plays a strong role in the record's atmosphere, grounding it in memory, shared experience and the energy of the Wirral and Liverpool music communities.
In this conversation, they reflect on their songwriting process — how ideas often begin with a riff or a feeling before being shaped collaboratively. They also talk about balancing nostalgia with originality, making music primarily for themselves rather than trends, and why live performance remains central to how their songs continue to grow and connect with audiences.
About The XS Noize Podcast
With over 270 episodes, the XS Noize Podcast has become a trusted home for music's legends, innovators, and trailblazers — a place where real conversations meet real stories.
Hosted by Mark Millar, the show has featured an extraordinary lineup including Paul Draper, Sleaford Mods, The Charlatans, Gary "Mani" Mounfield, Glen Matlock, Miles Kane, Matt Berninger, Saint Etienne, D:Ream, Gavin Rossdale, The Farm, Snow Patrol, John Lydon, Will Sergeant, Ocean Colour Scene, Gary Kemp, Doves, Gavin Friday, David Gray, Anton Newcombe, Peter Hook, Razorlight, Sananda Maitreya, James, Crowded House, Elbow, Cast, Kula Shaker, Shed Seven, Future Islands, Peter Frampton, Bernard Butler, Steven Wilson, Travis, New Order, The Killers, Tito Jackson, Simple Minds, The Divine Comedy, Shaun Ryder, Gary Numan, and Michael Head — among many more.
Explore the complete XS Noize Podcast archive here.

In this episode of the XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar sits down with Dave Pen of Archive to talk about Glass Minds — the band's 13th studio album and a bold new chapter in a 30-year journey defined by reinvention, collaboration and creative risk.
Formed in Croydon, South London in 1994, Archive have evolved from trip-hop pioneers into one of Europe's most respected alternative collectives. Glass Minds, released Friday 27th February 2026 via Dangervisit through [PIAS], follows the ambitious 2022 triple-album Call to Arms & Angels, which charted Top 10 across Europe and culminated in their biggest headline show to date at Paris' Accor Arena.
Produced by Archive alongside long-time collaborator Jerome Devoise, and recorded in Brighton, London and Paris, Glass Minds marks a shift toward a more minimal, down-tempo sound — built on space and emotional weight. New textures emerge through Essex rapper Jimmy Collins on "Heads Are Gonna Roll," while Lisa Mottram shines on the title track and "The Love The Light." At its core is the eight-minute "So Far From Losing You," one of the band's most personal and expansive pieces to date.
In this conversation, Dave Pen reflects on joining Archive and becoming part of a true creative collective. He discusses the trust and experimentation that shape the band's process, the evolution of their sound over three decades, embracing AI in the album's visual identity, and why live performance remains the ultimate space where Archive's songs continue to grow and transform.
About The XS Noize Podcast
With over 250 episodes, the XS Noize Podcast has become a trusted home for music's legends, innovators, and trailblazers — a place where real conversations meet real stories.
Hosted by Mark Millar, the show has featured an extraordinary lineup including Paul Draper, Sleaford Mods, The Charlatans, Gary "Mani" Mounfield, Glen Matlock, Miles Kane, Matt Berninger, Saint Etienne, D:Ream, Gavin Rossdale, The Farm, Snow Patrol, John Lydon, Will Sergeant, Ocean Colour Scene, Gary Kemp, Doves, Gavin Friday, David Gray, Anton Newcombe, Peter Hook, Razorlight, Sananda Maitreya, James, Crowded House, Elbow, Cast, Kula Shaker, Shed Seven, Future Islands, Peter Frampton, Bernard Butler, Steven Wilson, Travis, New Order, The Killers, Tito Jackson, Simple Minds, The Divine Comedy, Shaun Ryder, Gary Numan, and Michael Head — among many more.
Explore the complete XS Noize Podcast archive here.
New episodes drop weekly — subscribe for more in-depth conversations with the artists who shape our lives.

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club's third album Howl was a risk — one that nearly broke the band.
In this episode of the XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar sits down with Robert Levon Been to revisit the record that stripped away the noise and reshaped their identity.
Originally released in 2005, Howl arrived as an unexpected curveball. The reverb-drenched guitars and white noise that defined the band's early records were stripped back, replaced with folk, blues and gospel-inspired arrangements built around space, restraint and raw emotion. It was a risk — one that confused some at the time, but has since come to feel essential within the band's catalogue.
In this conversation, Robert Levon Been reflects on the creative decisions that shaped the album, the deliberate use of silence and atmosphere, and how stepping away from distortion opened up a deeper emotional register in the songwriting.
He discusses the impact of critical reception, the perspective that comes with revisiting the record years later, and what it feels like to bring that material back to life on tour.
Robert also shares insights into the band's current creative landscape, highlights key entry points for new listeners, and speaks about protecting the spirit of music in an era driven by speed and algorithms.
A thoughtful and reflective conversation about evolution, instinct, and trusting your creative compass — even when it takes you somewhere unexpected.

About The XS Noize Podcast
With over 250 episodes, the XS Noize Podcast has become a trusted home for music's legends, innovators, and trailblazers — a place where real conversations meet real stories.
Hosted by Mark Millar, the show has featured an extraordinary lineup including Paul Draper, Sleaford Mods, The Charlatans, Gary "Mani" Mounfield, Glen Matlock, Miles Kane, Matt Berninger, Saint Etienne, D:Ream, Gavin Rossdale, The Farm, Snow Patrol, John Lydon, Will Sergeant, Ocean Colour Scene, Gary Kemp, Doves, Gavin Friday, David Gray, Anton Newcombe, Peter Hook, Razorlight, Sananda Maitreya, James, Crowded House, Elbow, Cast, Kula Shaker, Shed Seven, Future Islands, Peter Frampton, Bernard Butler, Steven Wilson, Travis, New Order, The Killers, Tito Jackson, Simple Minds, The Divine Comedy, Shaun Ryder, Gary Numan, and Michael Head — among many more.
Explore the complete XS Noize Podcast archive here.
New episodes drop weekly — subscribe for more in-depth conversations with the artists who shape our lives.

In this episode of the XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar sits down with Mark Shaw of Then Jerico to talk about The Return — a moment that reconnects legacy, live energy, and purpose as the band bring their full show to Ireland for the first time.
Watch the full XS Noize Podcast conversation below.
Then Jerico are currently touring the UK and Europe, with debut full-band Irish headline shows at Belfast's Limelight 2 on Thursday 19 February and Dublin's Whelan's Main Room on Friday 20 February 2026. The tour features a 90-minute set spanning the band's classic first two albums — First (The Sound of Music) and The Big Area (Outside) — alongside material from Mark Shaw's 1990s solo releases.
In this conversation, Mark Shaw reflects on a four-decade journey through success, setbacks, and survival. He talks about the importance of audience connection, shaping setlists that balance momentum with meaning, and the breakthrough impact of Big Area. Shaw also opens up about carrying the legacy of Then Jerico as the sole founder, revisiting early recordings and B-sides with fresh perspective, and why he's still driven to write songs that speak directly to the present moment.


About The XS Noize Podcast
With over 250 episodes, the XS Noize Podcast has become a trusted home for music's legends, innovators, and trailblazers — a place where real conversations meet real stories.
Hosted by Mark Millar, the show has featured an extraordinary lineup including Paul Draper, Sleaford Mods, The Charlatans, Gary "Mani" Mounfield, Glen Matlock, Miles Kane, Matt Berninger, Saint Etienne, D:Ream, Gavin Rossdale, The Farm, Snow Patrol, John Lydon, Will Sergeant, Ocean Colour Scene, Gary Kemp, Doves, Gavin Friday, David Gray, Anton Newcombe, Peter Hook, Razorlight, Sananda Maitreya, James, Crowded House, Elbow, Cast, Kula Shaker, Shed Seven, Future Islands, Peter Frampton, Bernard Butler, Steven Wilson, Travis, New Order, The Killers, Tito Jackson, Simple Minds, The Divine Comedy, Shaun Ryder, Gary Numan, and Michael Head — among many more.
Explore the complete XS Noize Podcast archive here.
New episodes drop weekly — subscribe for more in-depth conversations with the artists who shape our lives.