Miles Hunt on 40 Years of The Wonder Stuff, Burnout, Vent 414 and Starting Over (#281)
Release Date: 04/22/2026
MYSTERY JETS: Grief, Hope & A Hole to See the Sky Through (#295)
The XS Noize Podcast
In this episode of the XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar is joined by Mystery Jets’ Blaine Harrison and Ollie Taylor to discuss their seventh studio album, A Hole to See the Sky Through. Blaine explains how a postcard artwork by Yoko Ono became the album’s title, cover and guiding light. They also discuss recording with Leo Abrahams, the spontaneous creation of ‘Black Sage’ and how Ollie and his brother Eddie brought fresh energy to the band. Elsewhere, Blaine shares the deeply personal story behind ‘Soul River’, written for a much-loved friend who died during the pandemic, and...
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LE BOOM on Immersive Shows, Irish Identity & Community (#294)
The XS Noize Podcast
LE BOOM’s Christy Leech joins Mark Millar on the XS Noize Podcast ahead of the duo’s 360° immersive floor show at Limelight 1, Belfast. Christy explains how secret raves and unconventional venues inspired LE BOOM to perform in the middle of the audience, removing the separation between the band and the crowd. He also recalls an unforgettable show on a boat in Sydney Harbour and discusses the community that has developed around LE BOOM’s live performances. The conversation explores Christy’s creative partnership with his brother Andy, combining electronic music with spoken word, and...
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Danny O’Donoghue on The Script’s New Album, Songwriting & Being Human (#293)
The XS Noize Podcast
The Script’s Danny O’Donoghue joins Mark Millar on the XS Noize Podcast to discuss the ideas, stories and songwriting behind the band’s new album, "The User’s Guide to Being Human." Danny reveals how an unusual moment in Los Angeles inspired the album’s title, why he returned to the studio within a week of finishing the Satellites tour, and how sobriety has changed his approach to making music. He also discusses reuniting with longtime collaborators Andrew Frampton, Steve Kipner and Jimbo Barry, carrying Mark Sheehan’s influence forward, and why a great lyric remains at the heart...
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Tim Wheeler on Ash’s 1977 at 30, Girl From Mars & Coming of Age at 19 (#292)
The XS Noize Podcast
Tim Wheeler joins Mark Millar on the XS Noize Podcast to discuss Ash’s landmark debut album 1977, its 30th Anniversary Edition, “Girl From Mars,” “Goldfinger,” Owen Morris, young fame, Northern Ireland and taking the album back out on the road. Originally released in 1996, 1977 turned Ash from teenage upstarts from Downpatrick into one of the defining guitar bands of the era. Featuring “Girl From Mars,” “Goldfinger,” “Kung Fu,” “Oh Yeah,” “Angel Interceptor” and “Lose Control,” the album captured a young band moving at full speed — melodic, noisy, chaotic...
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Tony Visconti on David Bowie, Marc Bolan, Thin Lizzy & Blackstar (#291)
The XS Noize Podcast
Tony Visconti joins Mark Millar on the XS Noize Podcast to discuss David Bowie, Marc Bolan, T. Rex, Thin Lizzy, Phil Lynott, Blackstar, Scary Monsters, Holy Holy and the art of producing timeless records. Best known as one of the most celebrated producers in music history, Tony played on Bowie’s early records and went on to produce some of the most important albums of David Bowie’s career. He also worked closely with Marc Bolan and T. Rex, worked on classic Thin Lizzy records, and remains a vital part of Bowie’s musical legacy through Holy Holy. In this conversation, Tony discusses Holy...
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Rosa Walton on ‘Tell Me It’s A Dream,’ Let’s Eat Grandma and Cyberpunk 2077 (#290)
The XS Noize Podcast
Rosa Walton joins Mark Millar on the XS Noize Podcast to discuss her debut solo album, Tell Me It’s A Dream, out now via Transgressive Records. Best known as one half of Let’s Eat Grandma alongside Jenny Hollingworth, Rosa steps into a bold new chapter with her most personal and expansive work to date — a record full of light, colour, open skies, friendship, dreams and emotional honesty. In this conversation, Rosa talks about why Tell Me It’s A Dream did not feel like a solo project made to prove a point, but rather a natural space to explore songs that did not quite fit inside Let’s...
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Dea Matrona on ‘Hate That I Care,’ Self-Producing and Creative Independence (#289)
The XS Noize Podcast
Belfast rock duo Dea Matrona join Mark Millar on the XS Noize Podcast to discuss their second album, Hate That I Care — a bold, more personal and self-assured new chapter for Mollie McGinn and Orláith Forsythe. Written, recorded and produced entirely by the band, Hate That I Care finds Dea Matrona leaning further into alt-rock while exploring vulnerability, identity, pressure, friendship, self-production and the feeling of not fitting neatly into other people’s expectations. In this conversation, Mollie and Orláith look back on what they learned from their debut album, For Your Sins, how...
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Embrace’s Danny McNamara on The Good Will Out, Avalanche and 30 Years of the Band (#288)
The XS Noize Podcast
Danny McNamara from Embrace joins Mark Millar on the XS Noize Podcast to discuss the band’s new album Avalanche, 30 years of Embrace, and why he feels more inspired now than ever. In this conversation, Danny reflects on the band’s landmark debut The Good Will Out, the huge comeback with Out Of Nothing, and why new music — not nostalgia — is still what drives him. Danny also talks about the life lesson running through Avalanche: life doesn’t wait for you to be ready. He discusses marriage, fatherhood, learning to live in the moment, and how those changes have reshaped his songwriting....
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The Hoosiers on New Album ‘Compassion,’ Toxicity & Finding Joy Again (#287)
The XS Noize Podcast
In this episode of the XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar is joined by Irwin Sparkes and Alan Sharland from The Hoosiers to discuss their new album Compassion, the toxicity that inspired it, and how the band found joy, self-belief and purpose again. The band first broke through in 2007 with their debut album The Trick to Life, featuring huge singles including “Worried About Ray” and “Goodbye Mr A.” But this conversation is not just about looking back. It is about where The Hoosiers are now — creatively, personally and emotionally. Irwin and Alan talk about making Compassion, the ideas...
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Robert Arkins on The Commitments, Jimmy Rabbitte and Life After the Film (#286)
The XS Noize Podcast
In this episode of the XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar is joined by Robert Arkins, best known to millions as Jimmy Rabbitte in Alan Parker’s classic 1991 film The Commitments. Robert looks back on life before the film, his musical roots, fronting his own band Housebroken, and how his sister first introduced him to Roddy Doyle’s book. He reflects on why he initially saw The Commitments as a possible distraction from his music, before becoming the face and voice of one of the most beloved music films ever made. In this warm and honest conversation, Robert talks about working with Alan Parker,...
info_outlineMiles Hunt joins Mark Millar on the XS Noize Podcast to reflect on 40 years of The Wonder Stuff — from the band’s rise through the late ’80s and early ’90s to what it means to still be carrying it forward today.
With The Wonder Stuff set for a major 40th anniversary UK tour in October 2026, Miles looks back on audience loyalty, writing the early records, the impact of albums including HUP, Never Loved Elvis and Construction for the Modern Idiot, and why the band still feels like a real band rather than a nostalgia act.
He also talks about burnout, the point where life in the band started to feel heavier than it should, how Vent 414 gave him a different creative outlet, and what he learned from stepping away from music to work in a brewery.
It’s a warm, funny and insightful conversation about songwriting, survival, creative restlessness and starting over.
In this episode, Miles Hunt talks about:
- 40 years of The Wonder Stuff
- audience loyalty and the bond with fans
- writing the early records
- HUP, Never Loved Elvis and Construction for the Modern Idiot
- wider success and changing audiences
- burnout and the band’s first split
- why The Wonder Stuff still feels like a real band
- Vent 414 and the new album Second
- Things Can Change and creative exhaustion
- working in a brewery after music
- patience, ageing and starting over
About The XS Noize Podcast
Hosted by Mark Millar, the XS Noize Podcast features in-depth conversations with some of the most influential artists in modern music.
With over 270 episodes, guests have included Steve Lillywhite, Matt Berninger, Gary Numan, Peter Hook, Bernard Butler, The Charlatans, Sleaford Mods, Snow Patrol, Elbow, Travis and many more.
New episodes drop weekly.