British flautist and composer Eliza Marshall joins me to celebrate her new album Eternal Birth — a bold, genre-defying project blending classical, folk and world traditions into a rich cinematic soundscape. Recorded in the UK and Senegal, the album features haunting flutes, whistles, bansuri, spoken word, percussion and electronics, alongside an exceptional cast of world-class and Grammy-winning musicians. Eliza shares stories from her wide-ranging career — from The Lion King and touring with Peter Gabriel to loop pedals, Ranagri, and her project Freedom to Roam — as well as reflections on creativity, risk-taking, re-wilding, and living a deeply connected musical life. This transcript is linked to the podcast.

Transcript of interview with singer Olcay Bayir. The podcast and video versions are linked here. Olcay is an extraordinary British singer-songwriter of Kurdish Alevi origin, originally from Turkey. Olcay opens up about the challenges of immigrating as a teenager, her classical training in opera, and how she has forged her own unique musical path.

You’ll hear clips from her 2024 album Tu Gulî, along with selections from her earlier projects, featuring songs in several languages. Her rich voice and evocative arrangements breathe new life into Anatolian folk traditions, offering a vibrant and powerful reimagining of this timeless music.

In our conversation, Olcay shares:

• Insights into Alevi culture and spirituality

• How she honours the strength and stories of Anatolian women

• her creative process and inspiration from masterful collaborators