If you love hearing artists and creators tell their stories in their own words, you’re in luck. One of our new podcasts, Spotify: Mic Check, connects creators with fans by doing exactly that. In each episode, artists and podcasters share exclusive recordings and personal stories in their own words.
In the inaugural Spotify: Mic Check, you’ll hear from JuliaWolf—a rising star from Queens, New York, whose refreshing indie-pop sound is influenced by her classical training and love of hip-hop. She’s a recent graduate of Spotify’s Fresh Finds program, which provides up-and-coming artists with the tools to build a long-term career.
In the episode, Julia speaks about how she overcame her severe shyness to become an artist.
“I only started writing because my music teacher at the time said, ‘If you want to participate in the final showcase, it has to be an original song,’” shared Julia. “And I was mortified, like so embarrassed. For me, I just thought no one wanted to hear what I had to think. I went home and wrote it anyway because I wanted to participate. And that’s when I really fell in love with the music and being able to let people know what’s going on in my head without having to talk to them.”
This past weekend, Julia sold out her first hometown show—something she had strived for despite the naysayers. And over the years, she’s learned a lot about her music and herself.
Daniel Johns is one of the most successful, controversial, and enigmatic artists in Australian music history. Best known as the frontman of Silverchair, Daniel and his bandmates first rose to fame at the age of 15 when their debut album, Frogstomp, was released in 1995. Buoyed by the single Tomorrow, Frogstomp topped the Australian charts and cracked the top ten in the U.S., making Silverchair the first Australian act since INXS to enjoy such success in the States. Daniel then went on to collaborate with PaulMac to create The Dissociatives in 2003—and endured constant speculation into his personal life throughout it all.
Today, some of the enigma around the musician disappears, as he takes part in our newest Spotify Original podcast in Australia, Who is Daniel Johns?
Fans can look forward to episodes with introductions from actor GuyPearce, deep dives into the life and times of the musician, and even special guests. The five-part documentary podcast gives the former Silverchair frontman—who notoriously doesn’t do interviews—a chance to tell his story as he addresses the tough questions that have surrounded his entire career. Produced by global podcast heavyweights KaitlynSawrey, AmeliaChappelow, and FrankLopez, the weekly series also includes a soundtrack of original, yet-to-be-released Daniel Johns music.
“I’m happy to do it because I think it’s a good vessel to release art,” explained Daniel Johns. “Above all things, I just want to make art, and I would really love for people to hear it. And the only way to get people to hear my art is through vessels like this because I don’t want to perform on stage.”
Following the first five episodes, the season will end with a series of bonus episodes where Daniel has one-on-one conversations with key figures in his life, including collaborators and luminaries NatalieImbruglia, KevinParker of TameImpala, and BillyCorgan of TheSmashingPumpkins.
Get a sneak peak at what each had to say about the elusive artist, whether ever-reverent, or initially skeptical:
Kevin Parker of Tame Impala
“My brother had Frogstomp and he’d just crank it out of his bedroom. Something blasting out of your older brother’s bedroom from behind a closed door—it’s always gonna sound awesome because you’re like, ‘Wow, what is that?’ you know? Yeah, so that was my first Silverchair experience.”
Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins
“I can see [Daniel Johns] at 15 to 16 years old singing on stage, singing in the Australian sun many summers ago. If you’d asked me, ‘You think this kid’s got a future?’ I would have said ‘No chance in hell.’”
Natalie Imbruglia
“Who is Daniel Johns? The first thing that springs to mind is musical genius. Also Peter Pan, maybe.”
Luke Steele of Empire of the Sun and The Sleepy Jackson, Dreamz collaborator
“I think Daniel is probably one of the last true enigmas of the world. He’s like a rare bird.”
In the first episode, Daniel tells the story of his life, capturing key figures, important locations, the formative events that led him on his journey—and the impact of fame on his life. Stream it now, only on Spotify.
Desde su lanzamiento en noviembre de 2020, el podcast Original de Spotify Caso 63ha estado encabezando los rankings de podcasts y expandiéndose en nuevos mercados. La historia de ciencia ficción chilena de 10 episodios se ha convertido en el Podcast Original con guión más escuchado en América Latina e incluso fue adaptado para oyentes brasileños e indios. Para continuar con el cautivador dominio de esta historia, Spotify lanzará una adaptación en inglés en los Estados Unidos, que se estrenará a finales de 2021. Pero quizás la noticia más emocionante para los fanáticos y posibles fanáticos es que el equipo detrás de Caso 63 lanzará una segunda temporada a finales de este año, con el creador Julio Rojas a la cabeza.
La primera temporada de Caso 63 se centra en las interacciones entre la psiquiatra en la ficción Elisa Aldunate y el “Paciente 63”. Cada episodio marca una nueva “sesión” y a medida que avanza la historia, el tiempo, el espacio y la realidad comienzan a desdibujarse. A lo largo de 10 episodios, este misterio que invita a la reflexión juega con las mentes de los oyentes y les hace cuestionar qué es y qué no es real.
La popularidad de Caso 63 entre los oyentes lo llevó a alcanzar un nuevo hito dentro del podcasting: esta es la primera vez que un podcast Original de Spotify de uno de los mercados de habla no inglesa, se ha adaptado a varios idiomas. Protagonizado por los actores Antonia Zegers y Néstor Cantillana, fue tan bien recibido por el público que, menos de un año después de su lanzamiento, Spotify adaptó el emocionante misterio a una versión en portugués, Paciente 63, con los actores brasileños Seu Jorge y Mel Lisboa. A principios de este mes, Spotify India creó una adaptación en hindi del podcast llamado Virus 2062, protagonizada por los actores de Bollywood y el dúo de marido y mujer Richa Chadha y Ali Fazal. Ahora, el casting está en marcha para la adaptación al idioma inglés.
Pero incluso antes de romper un récord de Spotify, su gran número de seguidores también se reflejó en las listas de ranking con Caso 63 liderando las listas de Top Podcasts de Argentina y México durante un mes luego de su estreno. También alcanzó el número 1 en las Listas de Tendencias en Chile, Colombia, Argentina, México y los EE. UU.
Los oyentes no hispanohablantes también adoran el podcast: En la India, Virus 2062 alcanzó el puesto número uno en la Lista de Tendencias locales de Spotify y se ubicó entre los cinco primeros en la Lista de Podcasts principales locales de Spotify. Por su parte, la adaptación en portugués Paciente 63 ocupó el primer lugar en la Lista de Podcasts de Tendencias locales de Brasil al día siguiente de su estreno y permaneció allí durante más de dos semanas. También ocupó el primer lugar en las Listas de Ficción de Brasil y permaneció allí durante más de un mes.
El creador Rojas ha atribuido desde hace tiempo el atractivo de la serie a su formato. Rojas comenta que el medio de solo audio recuerda la forma en que se han transmitido las historias durante siglos, invitando a los oyentes a llenar los espacios en blanco con su imaginación.
“El equipo de Latinoamérica, dirigido por Javier Piñol [de Spotify], creó una historia universal que transportó a los oyentes a su propia imaginación junto con los protagonistas. Las adaptaciones tanto en Brasil como en la India, y pronto en los EE. UU., utilizaron equipos y talentos locales para recrear la historia para nuevas audiencias”, dijo Courtney Holt, Líder Global de Podcasts y Nuevas Iniciativas en Spotify. “El éxito que hemos visto en todas las adaptaciones hasta ahora refuerza la misión de Spotify de brindar a los creadores la oportunidad de desarrollar historias y ofrecer a las audiencias de todo el mundo las mejores historias, independientemente de su origen”.
¿Listo para aprovechar tu imaginación y comenzar tu sesión con la Dra. Aldunate? No te pierdas la primera temporada ya disponible en Spotify. Y quédate atento a la adaptación al inglés del fenómeno de este podcast global que estará disponible pronto.
Since its release in November 2020, Spotify Original podcast Caso 63 has been topping charts and taking on new markets. The 10-episode Chilean science fiction story has become the most-listened-to scripted Original podcast in Latin America and was even adapted for Brazilian and Indian listeners as well. To continue this tale’s captivating hold, Spotify will be releasing an English-language adaptation of this story in the United States, premiering in late 2021. But perhaps the most exciting news for fans and could-be fans is that the team behind Caso 63 will be releasing a second season later this year, with creator Julio Rojas at the helm.
Season one of Caso 63 centers on the interactions between fictional psychiatrist Elisa Aldunate and her client, “Patient 63.” Each episode marks a new “session,” and as the story progresses, time, space, and reality begin to blur. Over the course of 10 episodes, this thought-provoking mystery plays with listeners’ minds and causes them to question what is and isn’t real.
Caso 63’s popularity with listeners has helped the show reach a new milestone within podcasting: This is the first time a non-English-language Spotify Original podcast has been adapted to multiple languages. The Chilean show, which stars actors Antonia Zegers and Néstor Cantillana, received so much buzz that, less than a year after its release, Spotify adapted the thrilling mystery into a Portuguese-language version, Paciente 63, featuring Brazilian actors Seu Jorge and Mel Lisboa. And earlier this month, Spotify India created a Hindi-language adaptation of the podcast called Virus 2062, starring Bollywood actors and husband-and-wife duo Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal. Now, casting is underway for the English-language adaptation.
But even before breaking a Spotify record, its large following was also reflected in the charts with Caso 63 ranking number one on Argentina’s and Mexico’s Top Podcasts charts for nearly a month following its premiere. It also reached number one on the Trending Podcasts charts in Chile, Colombia, Argentina, Mexico, and the U.S.
Non-Spanish speaking listeners are loving the show just as much. In India, the adaptation, Virus 2062, reached number one on Spotify’s local Trending chart and landed on the top five on Spotify’s local Top Podcasts charts. The Brazilian adaptation, Paciente 63, ranked number one on Brazil’s local Trending Podcasts chart the day after it premiered and stayed there for over two weeks. It also reached the top spot on Brazil’s Fiction charts and stayed there for over a month.
Creator Rojas has long credited the show’s appeal to its format. He says the audio-only medium calls back to the way stories have been handed down for centuries, inviting listeners to fill in the blanks with their imaginations.
“The LATAM team on the ground, led by [Spotify’s] Javier Piñol, created a universal story that transported listeners into their own imaginations alongside the lead characters. The adaptations in both Brazil and India, and soon the U.S., utilized local teams and talent to reimagine the story for new audiences,” said Courtney Holt, Global Head of Podcasts and New Initiatives at Spotify. “The success we’ve seen in all the market adaptations thus far has reinforced Spotify’s mission to provide creators with the opportunity to develop stories and expose audiences worldwide to the best storytelling narratives, regardless of origin.”
Ready to tap into your imagination and start your session with Dr. Aldunate? Catch season one below. And stay tuned for the English-language adaptation of the global podcast phenomenon, coming soon.
Australians Matt Ford and Jack Steele may seem like a pair of average Joe’s, but their 1.2 million social media followers, modeling contracts with high-end brands, and spreads in magazines like GQ and Vogue tell a different story. The duo, known as The Inspired Unemployed, are not yet accustomed to their new lives, however—their ascent to fame only began when their comedy sketches started going viral in 2019. Now the two friends are taking on a new media format with their Spotify Original Podcast of the same name: The Inspired Unemployed.
Starting today, fans of The Inspired Unemployed account will get to listen to honest, real, and funny conversations that reflect on Jack and Matt’s feelings of being “fish out of water” in the world of internet stardom.
“The podcast is about us and how we are navigating the sudden whiplash of fame and success,” the best friends told For the Record. Apparently, that also includes changes in their family dynamics. “We have both overtaken our sisters and are now our mothers’ favorite children,” they added.
Their success didn’t come overnight, however. The pair took a big risk in quitting their day jobs once they started gaining a steady following in 2019. Now, even with millions of followers and 700,000 daily views, they’re still the bros-next-door who hit it off when they met in grade school over a decade ago.
That’s what makes them so engaging to watch and listen to. When it comes to finding creative inspiration, they shared, “Most of the time it’s just us sitting around talking about funny scenarios and then bringing them to life.”
And while their fan base is mainly concentrated close to home in the Australia and New Zealand regions, the pair hopes their weekly podcast will resonate around the world: “While you can see there is a very Aussie feel to our comedy, we still think it’s relatable. Humour is universal, after all.”
Ready for your weekly dose of tongue-in-cheek humor, spontaneous dares, and hilarious musings directly from the minds of Matt and Jack? Listen to the first episode of The Inspired Unemployed podcast below.
The fall season has arrived and at Spotify France, that means one thing: podcasts. Between this September and last, podcast listenership and consumption have both doubled in France, and the nationwide enthusiasm shows no signs of slowing. To help meet the growing appetite for audio entertainment, French creators have been hard at work in the studio developing more unique shows to love.
Listeners can say bonjour to 13 new releases in the coming months that run the gamut from history storytelling to wellness to investigative journalism. That includes more episodes of fan favorite La Poudre, a fresh concept from beloved Coming Out hosts Elise Goldfarb and Julia Layani,and a new show from former basketball star Tony Parker. Plus, Spotify France is launching its first video podcast (or vodcast), featuring influencers Bilal Hassani, Sulivan Gwed, Sundy Jules, Johann (aka SparkDise),and Wesley Krid. There’s also a historical fiction podcast that reckons with France’s colonial past and much more.
Here’s a look at the full slate of French-language podcasts debuting this fall through early next year, sorted into themes so you can easily find whatever you’re looking for.
The journalist, author, and cofounder of the production studio Nouvelles Écoutes, Lauren Bastide,has become one of the leading voices on the French podcast scene and of France’s continuing feminism movement. Now, she joins Spotify France Studios as a creative partner to launch a rich and multifaceted collaboration. Her podcast, La Poudre, will now be available exclusively on Spotify, with a new season where she will interview artists, activists, and political figures.
“This collaboration with Spotify is a great pride and a big shift for me,” Lauren told For the Record. “When I launched La Poudre in 2016, I had no idea how big the show would get or how much the podcast world would evolve. By creating Season 6 with Spotify, I want to lead the way to new business models, new ways of making media, and of consuming it. The Spotify interface won me over as a listener. I’m also proud to be one of Spotify’s first creative partners in France, and I’m looking forward to many exciting projects in the future with the goal of continuing to broadcast and defend women’s freedom of thought, which will always remain at the heart of my work as a journalist.”
Meurice Recruiting (Meurice Recrute), premiering this November
In a parallel universe, humorist Guillaume Meurice is running for president in 2022. To find his future minister of economy (and environment, sexuality, etc.), the freshly elected president of the French Republic must interview members of his ideal government. You can follow along as a fly on the wall as Guillaume speaks with academics, politicians, artists, and activists. Each humorous conversation along Guillaume’s fictional presidency campaign gives the host and his guests a chance to share their positive visions of society, propose alternatives to today’s challenges, and stir things up.
“This podcast comes from a desire to discuss issues that are not the same as those tirelessly repeated in political speeches, in the company of personalities who bring new ideas without stopping us from having fun,” Guillaume said.
Oyez Oh Yeah is a history podcast like you’ve never heard before! Hosts historian Manon Bril and comedian Alex Ramirès bring humor to history as they revisit the past. Each episode, Manon and Alex interview experts about a specific time period or historical fact. Their offbeat approach makes academic knowledge accessible and interesting to all.
COMING TOGETHER
Brazza Report (Le Rapport Brazza), premiering this October
This podcast walks the line between documentary and fiction and focuses on an essential but taboo part of France’s collective memory: colonization. The show focuses on a fictional character named Johan, a young Franco-Gabonese man in search of his missing mother in 1930 who discovers the real and highly confidential “Brazza Report.” Its contents will change his life. The explosive document, written 20 years earlier by the explorer Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza, denounces the ravages of colonization in equatorial Africa. Brazza Report features actor Gaël Kamilindi of the Comédie Française and Beninese singer-songwriter and activist Angélique Kidjo, as well as exclusive insights from author Lilian Thuram.
Family silences, unreadable clues, and questions about identity—39% of young French people have an enduring and complicated connection to colonization and the Algerian War. When podcast host Paul, a doctoral student in sociology, learns this by chance one day, he becomes curious to understand whether the new generation can redefine the way France lives its relationship with its Algerian memory. And so, he sets out to meet five young people whose history has been marked in one way or another by this common past. Sauce Algérienne is a documentary that lifts the veil on a fundamental social issue and marks the point where the personal and the political merge.
EXCHANGING
Tony Parker, premiering this November
He is the greatest French basketball player in history, a U.S. sports legend, a recognized businessman, and now a podcast host. Tony Parker, one of the most respected Frenchmen in the world and a model of success for several generations, welcomes athletes, artists, and leaders to join him in the recording studio. Together, Tony and his guests give listeners a front-row seat to their unfiltered conversations about success, commitment, and the common values that help them stay grounded.
Elise & Julia, premiering early 2022
After concluding their successful podcastComing Out, hosts Elise Goldfarb and Julia Layani and the Spotify Studios team are continuing their collaboration on a new talk show project. The two outspoken entrepreneurs invite public figures, artists, and activists to discuss topics close to their hearts: fashion, ecology, politics, the LGBTQIA+ community, and even celebrities.
“Many brands and advertisers are unfortunately still shy when it comes to supporting the LGBTQIA+ cause,” explained Julia and Elise. “Spotify trusted us right away by producing Coming Out. We’re super excited to be working together again with this new project, an interview podcast where we’ll talk about all the topics we care about!”
Eighteen years ago, nine-year-old Estelle Mouzin disappeared on her way home from school. In The Shadow, Chloé Triomphe, an investigative journalist from Europe 1 radio, leads a fresh investigation of the shocking case. Chloé speaks at length to Estelle’s father on the podcast and follows the trail of Michel Fourniret, a well-known serial killer. This unbiased counter-investigation brings new elements and a new light to the official investigation and tries to answer a terrible question: Could we have known the truth earlier?
Journalists Adèle Humbert and Emilie Denètre, known for their investigative podcast 1000 degrees (1000 Degrés) on the tragedy caused by a parcel bomb, explore a new, unsolved legal case: the sinking of the Breton trawler Bugaled Breizh in 2004 off the British coast. This documentary miniseries is the result of a year-and-a-half-long investigation. Together, the hosts unveil the mysteries behind the unsolved disaster and bring to light original testimonies on the inexplicable case.
“Our new series is the culmination of several months of fieldwork in France and abroad; it’s a very ambitious piece that we couldn’t have done without the support of Spotify,” added Adèle and Emilie.
Damien, premiering early 2022
Following the successful run of podcast Sex Club (Sexe Club), Samia Basille and Spotify Studios are collaborating again. This time, Samia is taking on a challenging narrative documentary project: the educational trajectory of a special needs child. She launched a year-long investigation to meet Damien, an engaging young fifth grader in a Parisian public school who is approaching a milestone in his young life as he enters sixth grade. Will he get the accommodations he needs to adapt to his new school? The podcast follows Damien’s journey as he navigates Paris’s educational system.
GROWING UP
Animalia, premiering this October
Animalia is Spotify France’s first podcast dedicated to children. Host Cyril Dion leads the playful miniseries, which focuses on endangered animals and bestows them with unique personalities, all while raising awareness about extinction. Actes Sud will also release illustrated albums this fall to accompany the show and bring the animals to life.
“Today, 38,543 species are threatened with extinction,” Cyril shared. “This is a huge number, but there is hope, provided that we all act together and rethink our way of being in the world. This is Animalia‘s ambition: to accompany children in their discovery of the animal world while giving them the knowledge and tools to become adults who respect living beings.”
La Fabuleuse is the first video podcast, or vodcast, from Spotify Studios France! Each week, a new episode will be available exclusively on Spotify in both audio and video format. The show follows Bilal Hassani, Sulivan Gwed, Sundy Jules, Johann (aka SparkDise),and Wesley Krid, who together make up a team of influencers living under the same roof. The fivesome has been collectively nicknamed “The Fabulous.” But they are much more than that; they represent a free and modern next generation. Friendship, success, mental health, astrology, pop culture, sexual, and gender identity . . . With humor, lightness, and maturity, the group offers a glimpse at the issues that concern today’s youth.
RELAXING AND UNWINDING
Zen Zen, premiering at the end of the year
Meditation gets a musical refresh. Singer and influencer Chloé Stafler invites listeners to join her in soothing meditation sessions. Each session is led by a different artist from the French music scene and focuses on a theme that is dear to them.
Can’t wait to start listening? Kick off the new season of podcasts with the vodcastThe Fabulous (La Fabuleuse), which premieres today. And stay tuned for plenty more releases to come!
¿Por qué pensamos que no estamos solos? Un nuevo podcast original de Spotify, Extraterrestres, explora historias de encuentros alienígenas en todo el mundo. Un número asombroso de personas afirman haber visto vida extraterrestre, pero nadie puede probarlo. ¿Existe una explicación más realista para estos incidentes, o realmente hay algo al acecho?
Una nueva adaptación en español de Parcast, Extraterrestres es el primer podcast de Parcast que incluye a los mejores talentos de América Latina. En cada episodio, Raiza Revelles y Magnus Mefisto examinan los informes de una ocurrencia alienígena diferente y llegan a las explicaciones más plausibles.
No podemos negar la obsesión colectiva que provoca lo desconocido sobre si hay vida en otros planetas. Tampoco sabemos con certeza si es cierto o no que, durante siglos, los extraterrestres han volado por nuestros cielos, afectaron nuestros campos y borraron nuestros recuerdos. Pero nuestros anfitriones están aquí para desentrañar todas estas preguntas, comenzando con la historia del Hombre Polilla, que sucedió en Virginia Occidental en los Estados Unidos a finales de los 60, y explorar otros lugares extraterrestres alrededor del mundo.
Para promover el lanzamiento del podcast en México, Spotify lanzó una campaña que sorprendió a los fanáticos de la Ciudad de México con luces en el cielo formando mensajes y círculos en los cultivos en los campos con pistas sobre el podcast.
For the Record habló con Raiza y Magnus sobre lo que los oyentes de América Latina pueden descubrir en el nuevo podcast.
¿Crees que hay pruebas de visitantes extraterrestres en nuestro planeta?
Raiza: Creo que hay vida en otros planetas. Pienso que el universo es muy vasto; hay demasiados planetas y satélites naturales para pensar que no existe vida en ninguno de ellos. Quizás todavía no nos hemos dado cuenta.
¿Qué pueden descubrir los oyentes que siguen el fenómeno y la cultura OVNI en este podcast?
Magnus: Creo que uno de los puntos fuertes de este podcast es la originalidad de los casos. Cuando se habla del fenómeno OVNI, siempre se discuten los mismos casos. En Extraterrestres probablemente oigas hablar de esos cuatro o cinco casos además de otros 40 que son originales, interesantes y puede que no sean tan conocidos.
¿Cómo te interesaste por los OVNIs y los fenómenos paranormales?
Magnus: Cuando era niño, era un gran admirador de la serie Expedientes Secretos X y, obviamente, el Agente Mulder. Cuando crecí, todavía era fanático del programa, pero comencé a entender mucho más a Scully porque me volví más escéptico. Esto sucede porque de niños tenemos una forma de percibir el mundo de una manera más fantástica. Como adultos, el pensamiento racional a menudo gana. Hoy estoy en ese lado más racional. Sin embargo, no he dejado de creer que hay vida más allá de este planeta.
¿Puedes compartir algunos de tus podcasts favoritos del género?
Raiza: Me metí en el mundo de los podcasts hace relativamente poco tiempo, pero tengo varios que me encantan. Recomiendo encarecidamente Mitología y Lugares Embrujados de Parcast.
Al explorar la cuestión extraterrestre, la gente suele decir “ver para creer”. ¿Cuáles son los desafíos de contar estas historias en formato de audio?
Raiza: A veces subestimamos cuánto significa el audio cuando se trata de contar una historia. Creemos que en una gran película, lo que nos atrae es lo que vemos. Pero es la música y los efectos de sonido los que crean la emoción. Así que creo que en este podcast van a encontrar todos los elementos para que pase justamente esto: que su mente los lleve con nosotros a los casos que les vamos a contar y su imaginación vuele.
Over the last three years, the more than 70 songs recorded in Stockholm’s Spotify Studio have generated over 400 million streams, and it doesn’t stop there. Sweden’s top creators have been hard at work developing even more for you to love. This fall, listeners can expect seven new Spotify Originals and five studio releases from some of the most popular artists and talents in the country.
Included in the upcoming launch are exclusive studio recordings from artist Veronica Maggio and the hip-hop sensations A36 and B.Baby, as well as shows exploring the three biggest trends in Swedish podcasting: comedy, true crime and documentaries, and fiction. The Spotify Originals also innovate within the traditional podcast format. Comedian Filip Dikmen, for example, is launching Spotify’s first Swedish video podcast, or “vodcast,” while influencer Edvin Törnblom and his friends star in an audio sitcom that blends reality and fiction.
“Music and podcasts have been and continue to be an important source for entertainment, information, and joy,” Nordic Head of Content Johan Seidefors shared with For the Record. “And Spotify continues to invest to be the platform that offers the best user experience and content. This fall, we’re proud to offer a series of unique recordings from our Stockholm music studio and seven podcasts with some of Sweden’s most interesting voices right now.”
That’s just the start. Take a look at the upcoming premieres and start rearranging your schedule.
Musicians and identical twin brothers Bill and Tom Kaulitz, known for their band Tokio Hotel, are taking their talents to a new realm in audio: podcasting. The pair are freshly minted hosts of German Spotify Original podcast Kaulitz Hills, a recorded weekly conversation in German about pop culture and their lives in Hollywood. The brothers—well known by fans for their close relationship—will tackle a range of topics, from personal confessions to gossip, accompanied by a few rounds of drinks and a heavy dose of sarcastic humor.
Bill and Tom made their boy band debut in Magdeburg, Germany, in 2001. Four years later, they reached number one with their first single, “Durch den Monsun” (“Through the Monsoon”). After touring for five years and becoming the biggest boy band in Germany, the Kaulitz twins moved to Los Angeles, where they have been living ever since. The show’s name, Kaulitz Hills, is a nod to their Hollywood Hills recording studio, where they record music and will be capturing their conversations for the podcast.
In preparation for the big launch, For the Record asked Bill and Tom to jointly answer a few burning questions about what we can expect from this new project.
What do you get when you put a pair of video personalities in front of a microphone with no cameras in sight? According to German social media star Rezo, “We can just sit naked in front of the microphone and no one cares.”
Combine Rezo’s humor and personality with that of best friend and cohost Julien Bam, one of Germany’s biggest creators, and the result is Hobbylos. In German, “hobbylos” refers to people who are generally so busy that they don’t have time for a hobby.The Spotify Original podcast gives Julien and Rezo a chance to slow down in an honest and stripped-down format that includes current event recaps, clever bouts of humor, and occasional musical sidelines.
Photo Credit: Harald Schaack
Rezo and Julien have been making videos together for years, and it’s safe to say they’re familiar with putting it all out there. But as Julien shared, “A podcast is something new for both of us thematically.” It has them exploring a new, more intimate way of interacting. “With a podcast, we can talk at the drop of a hat and at the same time go deeper into the subject matter.”
“We look forward to just being heard and not seen,” added Rezo. “That’s one thing we aren’t used to.”
Fans can expect weekly episodes where the pair recaps current events and what’s trending online, from hotly debated social media topics to political headlines. “Sure, sometimes [our conversations] will be about $h*tstorms or trends that happened during the week, but we’ll also get to talk about personal things,” Julien told For the Record.
Listeners will get to know the hosts as they share personal stories and show off their entertainment skills.
Check out the Hobbylos trailer below and stay tuned for the first episode, dropping July 17 exclusively on Spotify.
On this week’s episode of our podcast Spotify: For the Record, we look at the live audio space to see where it’s headed and how Greenroom is part of the equation.
Earlier this year, we introduced Spotify Greenroom, our new live audio app. Available on iOS and Android in over 135 markets, the app offers creators and users a whole new way to connect. From real-time sports reactions to instant interactions with your favorite artist, live audio is providing a new avenue for listeners to engage with content that interests them.
On the podcast, Spotify’s Head of Creation Platform, Michael Mignano, brings us up to speed on live audio and the appeal of joining the conversations taking place in these virtual rooms. Next, mixed martial arts journalist and The Ringer’s Ariel Helwani shares how he’s using Greenroom as a way to provide live sporting event coverage and connect with an international audience. Finally, Hot Pod News founder Nick Quah talks about the live audio medium, how it differs from traditional podcasting, and where he expects it to go from here.
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