Headliner Radio

Nothing But Thieves guitarist and producer Dom Craik takes us inside the making of the band’s new album, Stray Dogs – their rawest and most organic record yet. As the album’s sole producer, Craik discusses capturing the band’s live energy in the studio, how he records Conor’s dynamic vocals, returning to Angelic Studios where it all began for them, working with drums, vocals and analogue gear, taking full creative control for the first time, and what fans can expect from the new album

Manchester-based tech house DJ, Lily C-D discusses the journey that has led her to carve out her own lane, from spending hours digging for tracks people haven’t heard to developing a distinctly niche taste. She reflects on the importance of finding your own path rather than simply following what’s big, the role TikTok can play in helping emerging DJs build an audience, the gear that has shaped her DJing, her biggest career moments, and where she wants to take things next.

Once a member of the ska band Reel Big Fish, two-time Grammy winner Carlos de la Garza pivoted into his true calling of engineering and mixing albums, racking up credits with the likes of Death Cab for Cutie, Jimmy Eat World, Wolf Alice, as well as his multiple award-winning collaborations with Paramore and Hayley Williams. He chats to Headliner about working with alt-J frontman Joe Newman and his new solo venture Jjerome87 on the debut album The Canyon.

Acclaimed singer-songwriter, cellist, composer and MOBO-nominee Ayanna Witter-Johnson discusses her new album, New Roots, an intimate exploration of British-Caribbean identity, lineage, self-discovery and renewal. She reflects on the central role of the cello in her songwriting, the inspiration behind key tracks from the album, navigating the music industry as a multi-disciplinary artist, and what she hopes listeners take from New Roots.

Four years after joining forces, Kristian Smith and Curt Lopez have quietly positioned Sonata Collective as one of the UK's most exciting names in deep house. The duo discuss the momentum behind Sonata Collective, why consistency matters just as much as talent, what "making it" as a DJ really means, their must-have DJ gear, and why their biggest chapter is still to come.