Alex The Seal: A new podcast about music, nostalgia and the 80s
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Did you grow up in the 80s? Love 80s music? Love reminiscing? Then do we have the podcast for you.
Presented by HerCanberra columnist Jo Pybus and host of The Good Girl Confessional podcast Sandy Lowres, Alex The Seal (and if you get the joke already, this is really the podcast for you) is all about how the music you grew up with shaped the person you are today.
We chatted to Jo and Sandy on the launch day of Alex the Seal about the power of nostalgia, the 80s’ impact on gender stereotypes and even ask them the hard questions—like Spandau Ballet or Duran Duran?
Tell us how the podcast came about?
Jo: I have a long history of finding a song in just about everything. There are often anthems playing in my head to suit my situation such as sitting in New York airport waiting for a flight to LA when a little earworm started singing “From LA to New York, from New York to LA”, and annoyingly Rick Astley repeatedly singing “Never gonna give you up” when I did my first triathlon.
Gwen Stefani telling me to “take a chance you stupid ho” has been on high rotation, and I often quote song lyrics in regular conversations—maybe I should see someone about that!?!
The pandemic has, if nothing else, given me time to reflect on what makes me happy, and listening to nostalgic music is high on the list. I wanted to share that with others, so I created Alex the Seal.
Tell us about you and Sandy—why does the chemistry work so well as co-presenters and how did you meet?
Jo: Sandy and I met when she interviewed me on her podcast, ‘The Good Girl Confessional’, and we hit it off straight away. Her enthusiasm when I mentioned my idea for Alex the Seal was palpable and I knew she was perfect for my co-host. We get to know each other during the first season of the show, and it is hilarious how much in common we have.
Sandy: We make each other laugh and we love music! Music is such a great way to connect, especially for two feminist Gen Xers.
When will it be released and what is its release schedule?
Jo: Our first episode is now live on all major podcasting platforms, with weekly episodes thereafter. Each season will have seven episodes. Our challenge was also not being able to play any original recordings without incurring huge costs and admin, so we have a music licence to cover us singing along to lyrics—we do apologise in advance!
Additionally, to help our listeners get into the groove we create Spotify and Apple song playlists before the beginning of each season so our listeners can tune into the songs we’ll be talking about for the season.
Why a podcast about the music you grew up with?
Jo: I guess it was a combination of two things; firstly, my love for nostalgic music. Sometimes my memory fails me but play a certain song and my recall is razor-sharp. I love listening to what my husband likes to call “Bland FM” which is any radio station playing all the oldies. I am unashamedly nostalgic.
Secondly, I love podcasts. I have listened to many in all different genres, produced very differently and the idea to produce a podcast that is just for fun, to take us down memory-lane, to reunite us with the music from our youth just felt right. Something joyous.
Was the 80s a genuine renaissance for the music industry?
Sandy: Absolutely! The 80s was like a revelation after the disco era. There were so many amazing UK and US acts that changed the fashion we wore and the songs we danced to. From new wave romantics to over-the-top rock ballads and androgenous artists, the 80s was outrageous.
Jo: I agree with Sandy, and I think the emergence of music videos becoming an integral part of a songs appeal starting with Countdown in the 70s then cemented with MTV in the 80’s, was another new frontier. We were dialled into so much more than just the music, it was the full immersion of image too.
How much did 80’s music influence fashion and disband gender stereotypes with the arrival of Boy George and all the eyeliner-wearing New Romantics?
Sandy: Everything I wore in the 80s was due to the musical influences of the time. I had long permed hair and wore tube skirts, like Madonna but I also had a long silver shirt and wore an oversize cross, influenced by Boy George.
I can’t remember another time when I wore so much make-up, including heavy black eyeliner and Fuschia coloured lipstick! Pointy toed stilettos were definitely the rage. Some of the fashion was incredible. Some of it, such as parachute tracksuits, are questionable!
Jo: (Abstained from answering, as too busy laughing at Sandy’s answer)
Of all the musical eras is the 80s the most glamorous?
Jo: When I think of glamour in music, I think of the crooners of the 50s and 60s like Sinatra and Tony Bennett. The 80s music was much more challenging, pushing boundaries on what a band was for example.
The traditional drummer, bass guitar, lead guitar and singer were now sharing the charts with synth-pop bands where synthesized music filled the tracks like the Pet Shops Boys, for example.
Does it say something about the sheer musical quality of 80s music that all the cool millennials know it and love it today?
Sandy: I believe good music stands the test of time for sure. My children are all fans of bands like Queen, Guns’n’Roses and Cyndi Lauper for example. They grew up listening to music. Just like I still love many songs my mum played when I was growing up.
Jo: Like Sandy, I agree there is some music that is timeless. In my adolescence, I loved albums that were released the year I was born. It does seem, however, that each generation seems to reach back further for their retro-vibes with my son recently playing Rolling Stones and Jimmy Hendrix, songs released 30 years before he was born.
What are three examples of crap 80’s bands and what are three examples of quality bands in your opinion?
Sandy: When I think about crap bands of the 80s, they were usually sugary, and over the top like Buck’s Fizz, Milli Vanilli and Twisted Sister. There were so many amazing artists that came out of the 80s who changed the vibe like Prince, Madonna and R.E.M.
Jo: The crap ones are long forgotten, but bands that I still play today are Australian Crawl, Eurythmics (most my beloved Annie Lennox), Kate Bush, Fleetwood Mac—I could go on and on.
Spandau Ballet or Duran Duran?
Jo: Spandau who? Just joking. Spandau Ballet were pretty cool, but Duran Duran had one thing they didn’t. John Taylor—be still my beating heart!
Sandy: I’m Team Duran Duran all the way! They were the first huge band I got to see in concert in 1982 in Melbourne, and I was totally smitten! Simon Le Bon was so crush-worthy!
Jo: Hilariously we discuss the idea of double-dating Simon and John in one of our episodes. If you are reading this fella’s, give us a call—LOL!
