The Apollo Audio Podcast

About The Apollo Audio Podcast

Each week on The Apollo Audio Podcast, Martin Lumsden and Billy Hills chat about what’s been catching their attention across the music and entertainment industries from industry news and cultural moments to creativity, production, and the realities of making music as working artists. Each episode we also feature a recommended listening section, where they discuss current releases and classic albums, breaking down what stands out, what resonates, and whether they think it’s worth your time. The Apollo Audio Podcast offers insight into how Martin and Billy think about songs, records, and the creative process, drawn from real-world experience in studios and as working musicians. Also available to watch on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@TheApolloAudioPodcast) and Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/2YC7RbUtO3Yu2NjgiVCBH4?si=a9ee81b7e2a24137) 📍 Recorded at Apollo Audio Hertford – www.apollo-audio.co.uk (http://www.apollo-audio.co.uk) 📷 Instagram: @apolloaudiopodcast 📧 Email: apolloaudiopod@gmail.com The Apollo Audio Podcast is hosted by Martin Lumsden (record producer and engineer) and Billy Hills (musician and studio owner), recorded at Apollo Audio Hertford. A Froody Music (www.froodymusic.com) Production with production and editing by Martin Lumsden. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-apollo-audio-podcast (http://supporter.acast.com/the-apollo-audio-podcast). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Publisher

The Apollo Audio Podcast

Category

arts · music

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

7 Dec 2021

Latest episode

8 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

111 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   8 Oct 2026

   Music Needs Real People

   Martin and Billy discuss remote recording, production collaboration, AI tools, real musicians, the Apollo recording grant and Keo’s Put A Smile On For Me. This episode looks at where technology helps, and where music still needs people in the room, or at least properly involved in the process. Remote vocal recording can solve a practical problem. AI can help an artist hear a version of an idea. Session tools can sketch drums, bass or keyboards when there is no full band available. But the question running through the episode is what happens next: who shapes the part, who performs it, who brings taste, instinct, judgement and feel? The studio discussion focuses on collaboration, arrangement, production support and the value of bringing real musicians into a project. The AI discussion looks at the difference between using a tool to develop an existing song and asking a machine to create the song for you. The album discussion is Keo’s Put A Smile On For Me, with a focus on guitar-band energy, artwork, emotional weight, vocal identity, live potential, influences, sequencing and the work behind a band building real momentum. Topics include: Remote vocal recording Production collaboration Apollo’s recording grant Using real musicians in studio projects AI as a sketch tool Where AI stops being songwriting The Pope, AI and the spark of human art Keo Put A Smile On For Me Artwork and album identity Guitar music and live momentum Why new bands still need to keep playing Find Apollo Audio online: apollo-audio.co.uk The Apollo Audio Podcast is hosted by record producer Martin Lumsden and musician and studio owner Billy Hills and is recorded at Apollo Audio Hertford. Each episode offers insight into songs, records, and the creative process, drawn from real-world experience in studios and making music. Also available to watch on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@TheApolloAudioPodcast) and Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/2YC7RbUtO3Yu2NjgiVCBH4?si=a9ee81b7e2a24137) 📍 www.apollo-audio.co.uk (http://www.apollo-audio.co.uk) 📷 Instagram: @apolloaudiopodcast 📧 apolloaudiopod@gmail.com A Froody Music Production. Production and editing by Martin Lumsden. www.froodymusic.com (www.froodymusic.com) Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-apollo-audio-podcast (http://supporter.acast.com/the-apollo-audio-podcast). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

2. 

   1 Oct 2026

   Build a World Around the Music

   Martin and Billy discuss running playlists, podcasts, vinyl buying, physical records, mastering for vinyl, artwork, sequencing and Björk’s Debut. This episode looks at what changes when music becomes a physical object. Vinyl brings its own practical demands: side length, sequencing, low end, loudness, high-frequency detail, artwork, bleed, metadata and the way a record is presented as something to hold, read, look at and own. A song is not just an audio file. It can have artwork, sleeve notes, credits, visual identity, physical format, merch, context and a sense of place around it. The album discussion is Björk’s Debut, with a focus on individuality, vocal identity, club influence, unexpected instrumentation, sampling, melody, experimentation and the creative confidence to make something that does not sound like everyone else. Topics include: Vinyl buying and record shops ElasticStage and physical releases Albums as objects Vinyl sequencing and side lengths Mastering for vinyl Artwork, bleed and metadata Building a world around a release Björk Debut Club culture and sampling Unusual instrumentation Vocal identity and melodic risk Why artists should lean into the weird Find Apollo Audio online: apollo-audio.co.uk The Apollo Audio Podcast is hosted by record producer Martin Lumsden and musician and studio owner Billy Hills and is recorded at Apollo Audio Hertford. Each episode offers insight into songs, records, and the creative process, drawn from real-world experience in studios and making music. Also available to watch on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@TheApolloAudioPodcast) and Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/2YC7RbUtO3Yu2NjgiVCBH4?si=a9ee81b7e2a24137) 📍 www.apollo-audio.co.uk (http://www.apollo-audio.co.uk) 📷 Instagram: @apolloaudiopodcast 📧 apolloaudiopod@gmail.com A Froody Music Production. Production and editing by Martin Lumsden. www.froodymusic.com (www.froodymusic.com) Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-apollo-audio-podcast (http://supporter.acast.com/the-apollo-audio-podcast). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

3. 

   24 Sept 2026

   Play Through the Mistakes

   Martin and Billy discuss live performance, mistakes, stagecraft, setlists, gear problems, rehearsal, audience connection and beabadoobee’s Pylon. This episode looks at what happens when songs leave the rehearsal room and have to work in front of an audience. A live set is not just a list of songs. It is the order, the gaps, the mistakes, the recovery, the tuning, the talking, the gear choices, the transitions and the way the band keeps going when something does not quite work. Martin and Billy talk about road-testing new songs, choosing what to cut, using setlist notes, building confidence through smaller gigs, planning for technical problems and learning how to play through mistakes rather than stopping every time something goes wrong. The album discussion is beabadoobee’s Pylon, with a focus on concise songwriting, vocal range, production choices, dynamic shifts, guest textures and the way short songs can still feel complete when the arrangement knows where it is going. Topics include: Live mistakes and recovery Road-testing new songs Setlist flow and stagecraft Talking to the audience Visual clicks, tempo and feel Pedalboards, amp problems and backup plans Playing through mistakes beabadoobee Pylon Concise song arrangements Vocal melody and dynamics Production details and guest textures Find Apollo Audio online: apollo-audio.co.uk The Apollo Audio Podcast is hosted by record producer Martin Lumsden and musician and studio owner Billy Hills and is recorded at Apollo Audio Hertford. Each episode offers insight into songs, records, and the creative process, drawn from real-world experience in studios and making music. Also available to watch on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@TheApolloAudioPodcast) and Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/2YC7RbUtO3Yu2NjgiVCBH4?si=a9ee81b7e2a24137) 📍 www.apollo-audio.co.uk (http://www.apollo-audio.co.uk) 📷 Instagram: @apolloaudiopodcast 📧 apolloaudiopod@gmail.com A Froody Music Production. Production and editing by Martin Lumsden. www.froodymusic.com (www.froodymusic.com) Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/the-apollo-audio-podcast (http://supporter.acast.com/the-apollo-audio-podcast). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Who has been a guest on The Apollo Audio Podcast

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Eponine
• Chris Sims
• Billy Hills
• Sid O'Brien
• Jay Hollis

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Spotify

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 19 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

39

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

0

Contact The Apollo Audio Podcast

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about The Apollo Audio Podcast