🎙️ Post-punk Heartstrings Episode 040
Transmissions from The Church: Steve Kilbey on Obsession, Myth, and Channeling the Music

In this landmark 40th episode, we sit down with Steve Kilbey — bassist, lyricist, and founder of the iconic Australian band The Church. From early musical beginnings to post-punk stardom, Kilbey walks us through the obsessions, mysticism, and myth-making that fuel his prolific output. We talk about Bowie, ambient textures, concept albums, and how songs like Under the Milky Way come to him like transmissions from another place.

• 🎸 Steve’s start in music, early band Baby Grande, and the urge to write more than play

• 🌀 The origin of The Church name — a nod to Bowie’s “Moonage Daydream”

• 🤝 Meeting the original lineup: Peter Koppes, Marty Willson-Piper, Nick Ward

• ⛪ The use of religious and mythological themes in his lyrics (Priest = Aura, “Kings”)

• 🌫️ The evolution of ambient textures in The Church’s music (“Summer,” Forget Yourself)

• 🥁 Drum loops, Richard Ploog’s final recordings (Gold Afternoon Fix)

• 🎧 Collaborations: Isidore with Jeffrey Cain and No Agenda with Hammock

• 📼 Outtakes & B-sides: Beside Yourself, Back With Two Beasts, So Love May Find Us

• 📖 The Hypnogogue saga: Eros Zeta, futuristic concept albums, and the companion novella

• 🛸 New album Lacuna coming late 2025

• 🛤️ The Road to Tibooburra - Steve Kilbey and band The Winged Heels and the theatrical story of Lord Jim.

• 💡 On AI, technology, and disillusionment in lyrics like in the song “Amanita”

• 🗣️ Reflections on legacy, autonomy, and what makes a “Church” record

  Tracks included for critique purposes:

• “Anchorage” – The Church

• “Swan Lake” – The Church

• “There and Back” – Baby Grande

• “Moonage Daydream” – David Bowie

• “Fly” – The Church

• “Field of Mars” – The Church

• “Metropolis” – The Church

• “Kings” – The Church

• “Summer” – The Church

• “No Agenda” – Hammock ft. Steve Kilbey

• “So Love May Find Us” – The Church

• “Musidora” – Isidore

• “Amanita” – The Church

• “The Hypnogogue” – The Church

• “Last Drinks” – Steve Kilbey & The Winged Heels

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In this episode, we dive deep into the career and creative journey of our guest, Steve Taylor, exploring his influence in the music industry, film, and beyond.

We start by reflecting on Steve's time at Squint Entertainment, a pivotal era that gave rise to major artists like Chevelle and Sixpence None the Richer.

Next, we discuss the 2012 film Blue Like Jazz and explore the process of curating a compelling soundtrack, featuring artists like Menomena, Katie Herzig, and Danny Seim.

We discuss how Steve Taylor and The Perfect Foil’s track "A Life Preserved" contributed to pushing the film past the finish line.

Speaking of Steve Taylor and The Perfect Foil, we delve into their 2014 album Goliath and the creative synergy between Peter Furler, Jimmy Abegg, John Mark Painter, and Daniel Smith. We break down key tracks like The Sympathy Vote, Rubberneck, and In Layers, analyzing lyrical themes and potential influences—There really was a Pixies reference in The Sympathy Vote!!

Our conversation continues with Danielson - How the partnership came about and how the recording experience was.

Shifting gears, we talk about Steve's experience teaching film at Lipscomb University.

The film Sketch also makes its way into our discussion. What it was like working on this project, which features Tony Hale (Arrested Development) and D’arcy Carden (The Good Place, Barry)? After seven years, will audiences finally be able to stream this film?

Then, we explore The Dead Sea Squirrels, an animated series collaboration with Mike Nawrocki and Disney animator Tom Bancroft.

We also talk about Russ Taff – Cover Story and Steve's involvement in the project alongside producer Matt Wallace.

Finally, we wrap things up with a look at what’s next. Are there plans for new music? Any upcoming projects we should keep an eye out for? Tune in to get all the details in this fascinating episode!

Sketch Movie Interview with Seth Worley and Tony Hale

Steve Taylor License to Rock video

Episode contains the follow clips for critique purposes:

Sixpence None The Richer - Track: Kiss Me

Menomena Track: Taos

You can find Post-Punk Heartstrings on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PostpunkHeartstrings

Post-punk Heartstrings can now be found on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjKWsuzqWiSY0vln1Py5ahg

Please come by and follow the page and say, “Hello!”

In this episode, JimOA and I got an opportunity to chat with legendary musician and film director, Steve Taylor. He is a pioneer of Christian new wave/post-punk music and has had a major influence on me and so many others throughout his career over the past 45 years. He is known for his satirical social commentary, clever lyrics and rapid-fire vocal delivery. This is part one of our conversation so please join us and listen as we talk about his music career from the post-punk perspective. Thanks for joining us!

PLEASE check out the music of Steve Taylor at the below links:

Spotify: Steve Taylor on Spotify

Facebook: Steve Taylor on Facebook

You can find Post-punk Heartstrings on Facebook

Post-punk Heartstrings can now be found at Post-punk Heartstrings on YouTube

Please come by and follow the page and say, “Hello!”