“THIS Album…” with William Hann

In this episode of This Album on Islington Radio, host William Han sits down with Austin “Ozzie” Williams of Swim Deep for a deep dive into one of the most experimental records of all time — McCartney II by Paul McCartney.
From Birmingham beginnings to shaping dreamy indie music over 13+ years, Ozzie opens up about his journey with Swim Deep, the creative process behind their new album Hum, and the realities of making music today. Together, they explore the legacy of McCartney II — a genre-defying album that helped pioneer bedroom pop, electronic music, and DIY production long before it became mainstream.
Expect stories about first hearing McCartney on a surreal trip to LA, reflections on songwriting, creativity, and collaboration, plus honest insights into life as a working musician balancing art, family, and ambition.
🎧 In this episode:
The influence of McCartney II on modern indie and electronic music
Swim Deep’s evolution and new album Hum
Songwriting, creativity, and musical inspiration
Life in bands, touring, and staying driven after 10+ years
Personal stories, laughs, and unexpected tangents
If you love artists like The Beatles, LCD Soundsystem, or Hot Chip, this episode is for you.
Subscribe for more deep dives into classic albums, artist interviews, and music culture conversations.
#PaulMcCartney #McCartneyII #SwimDeep #IndieMusic #MusicPodcast #AlbumReview #BedroomPop #MusicInterview #NewMusic #UKMusic

This week on THIS Album… with William Hann, we’re joined by Ned Newman from Islington Radio to explore Vampire Weekend.
We dive into how Vampire Weekend changed the landscape of indie music in 2008 — blending sharp songwriting, global influences, and a completely new aesthetic that challenged what guitar music could be.
From MySpace discovery to festival nostalgia, we unpack the album’s legacy, standout tracks like “A-Punk” and “Oxford Comma,” and why it continues to resonate with new generations of listeners.
A conversation about music, memory, indie culture, and the power of a debut album that still feels timeless.

Pass the Paela, Pour me an Estrella and for gods sake let me get a siesta, Skepta's not on until 4am... It's a Primavera special!

With  return guest / ocassional co host Robert Ball, we dive into everything Primavera Sound a full breakdown of the Primavera Sound 2026 lineup and a look back at the classic line up from 2018.

If you love music festivals, live music, and waffling nostalgic nonsense this episode is packed full of it.

Why Primavera Sound is one of the best festivals in the world Crazy festival stories, solo missions & no-sleep experiences.

Artists Discussed:The Cure, The XX, Gorillaz, Skrillex, Peggy Gou, Fontaines D.C. Chappell Roan, Arctic Monkeys, A$AP Rocky, Skepta, IDLES, Björk, Father John Misty, Haim…and many more.

The Strokes are BACK and I have full blown Strokes fever. So there's only one thing for it.... solo podcast!

We've had two Coachella performances full of talking points, a world tour announcement, brilliant comeback singles… and honestly, I’m in full-blown Strokes euphoria.

In this special solo episode of THIS Album Podcast, I dive deep into my lifelong obsession with The Strokes — from discovering Is This It and Reptilia, to seeing them live for the first time, to watching both of their brilliant Coachella 2026 performances from the sofa, their new single, and what makes them one of the most important indie rock bands of all time.

It’s a m idly self indulgent personal story about music, identity, growing up, and capturing every fleeting performance from The Strokes when they can be bothered to get on stage.

The Strokes at Coachella 2026 – performance breakdown & reaction
New Strokes single – first impressions
Why Is This It changed indie music forever
Seeing The Strokes at Hyde Park, Primavera Sound, Bennicassim, The Roundhouse
Reptilia, Last Nite, Under Cover of Darkness, Barely Legal or Red Light?
The evolution of Julian Casablancas and the band
Why The Strokes still sell out instantly in 2026

The Strokes, Julian Casablancas, Coachella, Indie Rock Revival, NYC scene, Meet Me in the Bathroom, Interpol, LCD Soundsystem, Arctic Monkeys, The Killers, Oasis, live music culture, festivals, guitar music comeback.

Normally, THIS Album is a guest-led podcast where each episode dives into a classic album.

This time? No guest. Just me talking about one of my all-time favourite bands, it’s my podcast, I’ll do what I want.

Indie rock / alternative music
The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys, The Killers
Music documentaries & deep dives
Festival culture Coachella, Glastonbury, Primavera Sound
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Let me know, what’s your favourite Strokes song?
Leave a 5-star rating if you enjoyed it

#TheStrokes #JulianCasablancas #Coachella #IndieRock #IsThisIt #Reptilia #LastNite #MusicPodcast

What happens when you try to listen to 500 of the greatest albums ever made… in just a few months?
In this special episode of This Album, William Hann kicks off an ambitious music challenge inspired by the NME 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list — aiming to listen to every single album, in full, before summer.
No skipping. No shortcuts. Just pure music discovery.
The 500 albums challenge explained
How to listen to 4–5 albums a day
First impressions after starting the journey
Discovering new genres outside indie & rock
Early standout albums & surprises
Can you really appreciate an album in one listen?
Kendrick Lamar – good kid, m.A.A.d city
Outkast – Stankonia
Bruce Springsteen – The River
Billie Holiday
MC5 – Back in the USA
Foo Fighters
The Beatles
Frank Sinatra
…and many more from across decades and genres.
500 albums
Full listens only
Deadline: before Truck Festival
Can it be done?

And more importantly — what will it change about how we listen to music?
With so much music out there, it’s easy to stay in your comfort zone. This challenge is about:
Expanding your music taste
Revisiting classic albums
Understanding what makes a “great” album
00:00 Intro – Not your usual episode
02:00 The 500 albums challenge explained
08:00 First albums & early reactions
15:00 Standout artists & surprises
25:00 Can you rate albums after one listen?
35:00 Should YOU try this challenge?
Have you listened to the NME Top 500 albums?
Drop your favourite albums in the comments.
Music podcast episodes, album deep dives, and unique music challenges every week.
500 greatest albums of all time, NME 500 albums list, music challenge, best albums ever, album review podcast, music discovery, classic albums, indie rock, hip hop albums, music podcast UK
#MusicChallenge #BestAlbums #NME #MusicPodcast #AlbumReview #IndieMusic #HipHop #ClassicAlbums #MusicDiscovery