Podcasts by Toucan Echo Podcast

James shares EXCLUSIVE Jams of new songs! from 2023-08-07T18:19:20

Want a sneak peak of some new Toucan Echo songs before they are released?

Or wondered what goes on at a Toucan Echo practice session? Well now you can find out!

Listen

Jungle Jams #1 - 28/07/22 from 2022-08-01T17:19:38

We've re-branded our regular live stream as 'Jungle Jams' - as they're too good to leave on Facebook.

So welcome to Episode 1, where we jam new songs and old!

Note - this is mostly...

We talk Festivals: Glastonbury & Love Supreme 2022, and our future ambitions from 2022-07-17T09:30:01

J&H discuss attending some festivals in the past few weeks - Harry was at Glastonbury and both James and Harry were at Love Supreme.

We also briefly talk about whether we want to play...

Behind The Song: Volunteer from 2022-07-13T16:25:25

J&H discuss our latest track 'Volunteer', which arrives on streaming Monday 18th July 2022. 

Bit of a rockier Jack White / Doors / Hendrix vibe to this one.

Behind The Song: Room Wide Mind from 2022-06-15T23:01:01

James and Harry discuss the new Toucan Echo single Room Wide Mind - with a preview at the end of the podcast!

Show Notes:

Zed and Two Noughts: https://en.wikipedia.org/...

What's Next for Toucan Echo? - Going to gigs and festivals, new singles, perhaps a tour?! from 2022-06-14T23:01:12

James and Harry discussing the latest Toucan Echo gossip and plans for the rest of 2022!

Gigging advice from a two piece jam band - A review of our gig at Northern Guitars 🤘 from 2022-06-13T11:29:23

James and Harry discuss their gig at Northern Guitars in Leeds UK, (13th May 2022), including:

- How we prepared for playing 2x45 minute sets!

- Some advice for bands (particularly...

Why did we make an album? Plus plans for 2022, thoughts on the Kemper, jamming & buying random vinyls! from 2022-03-02T15:44:03

The coolest podcast in the rainforest returns! 

In this first episode of 2022, James talks:

- Our new record Headless / Restless - why we made it, what we learned from it

Our take on 'Get Back' and our Spotify 2021 Unwrapped! from 2021-12-16T15:37:22

Toucan Echo Podcast #48

James and Harry discuss the new 3 part, 8 hour long Beatles documentary 'Get Back' and it's insights into the creative process of the greatest band of all time. &n...

What our new album title means, plus France, Britpop, Paul Simon, Songwriting, rugby and more! from 2021-11-22T11:25:57

We've been hidden away working on our album in recent weeks, but now we're back!

Tune in to a cosy fireside chat with James and Harry to find out: 

• Why we are in Fran...
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Lucky Dip Episode! Reflections on the past year, NFTs, Whiskey! from 2021-08-11T22:28:32

James and Harry having some drinks on Wednesday evening, discussing the past year living together in their London flat and making music. A real lucky dip episode covering lots of topics but sit ...

Getting through creative blocks: Vision, deadlines, limitations, junkyard dogs and more! from 2021-08-11T22:17:52

James and Harry sit down to discuss overcoming their current struggles with creative blocks finishing their current album, and come up with some gems/strategies for all you creatives out there!&...

Creative vision, how to create and promote a new album, whiskey and more! from 2021-06-25T23:07:29

Harry's back on the podcast! We're back to discuss the new album and how we plan to promote it, creative vision and how to make it come true in the real world, plus whiskey and other fun stuff!

New Album = New Guitars...? Yes, Apparently. from 2021-06-17T15:24:05

James returns on the Toucan Echo podcast to discuss why we're recording an album in 2021, plus some insights into the recording process and some new, erm, guitar purchases that helped along the ...

The Future of Music and Society, According to Toucan Echo from 2021-02-11T23:58:42

James read a great book by Kevin Kelly called 'The Inevitable', all about technology and the future. So Harry and James sit down to talk about the themes from the book and how some of his ideas ...

Digital Native, how audiences react to our music, the power of content, Linkedin, live streams, being weird, and more. from 2021-02-05T00:26:09

A sprawling Thursday evening conversation between James and Harry on a range of topics, including but not limited to our new single Digital Native. Strap in! 

Digital Native (our new song), the role of technology in our lives, is everyone creative? Plus tungsten lights, bonfire-tasting whiskey, the interludes and more! from 2021-01-29T00:28:21

Wow what a jam packed episode! James and Harry sit down to talk about their next single 'Digital Native', but the topic wheel spins out of control rolling down the winding highway and landing at...

Planning: Necessary, But Naïve from 2021-01-25T11:04:59

James One Man Mindset Rant back today with some thoughts on planning - its useful turning dreams into reality, but is nothing without execution and often doesn't account for the challenges of actua...

Live streams and minimalism. . .J&H discuss! from 2021-01-22T01:48:24

Sort of combined Toucan Echo catch up on what we've been up to and James exploring some recent discoveries on minimalism and aiming for less while recording, buying music gear, etc.

Show ...

Welcome...2021! New music coming, new years resolutions, Haruomi Hosono and more from 2021-01-14T21:18:45

While a curry simmers on the stove, James and Harry sit down to chat about Toucan Echo plans for 2021! This includes... recording a bunch of new songs (that might become an album), minimalism an...

Uncertainty is the root of the problem from 2021-01-08T13:23:17

Massive HT to Leo Babauta. But having a realisation that uncertainty often drives our decisions and insecurities. We think we are solving the problem but we are treating a symptom. So we need to ge...

Comparison Kills Creativity from 2021-01-04T19:52:19

Welcome to 2021! First podcast of the year is back to James one man rants where we cover a range of topics including: 

- New years resolutions and forming new habits

- Minimal...

Time to Take Responsibility. from 2020-12-15T13:11:22

James out on a walk reflecting on understanding the concept of something (being proactive, taking ownership) vs living it. This could be the best podcast yet!

Why multiple income streams are the future, also, are biscuits bad? from 2020-11-21T13:33:21

James and Harry sat on their podcast studio (read: corner sofa) on a lazy Saturday morning sipping a decaff coffee discussing the evolution to the connection economy, factories, jobs, COVID and ...

Why we're not getting a bass player. . .also a new flat, new practice space, and a NEW ANNOUCEMENT! from 2020-11-16T22:00:03

James and Harry back together on the podcast, from the sofa of their new flat, updating you on the last few months of Toucan Echo. Topics include. . .sorting permanent practice space, our latest...

My Guitar Tone Journey - From distortion to clean, from tube amp to Kemper, now DIY guitar builds! from 2020-10-25T17:28:04

James talks through the history of his guitar tone (yes, this is one for the guitar geeks only. Well, non guitar geeks allowed but you have been warned). He discusses starting guitar at 9 years old...

How Minimalism Can Inspire Better Music - The Police, Jack White. . .Toucan Echo? from 2020-10-25T15:39:08

James discusses minimalism in music, and some of his favourite influences including The Police and The White Stripes, how limitations can make you more artistic and how we've applied this to Toucan...

Should I Be A Minimalist or A Guitar Collector? from 2020-10-23T22:20:26

Hey Toucan Echo fans, here's me (James) dishing out some rambling incoherent thoughts on moving house, minimalism and how that balances with wanting more music gear, decluttering, clothes, guitars,...

Waiting won't get you anywhere (James' one man mindset rants are back!) from 2020-10-22T12:30:46

Mini rant on how you're either you're gonna do it or you won't...hat tip to Gary Vee, and how if you overcome the initial hurdles stopping you acting and start working on your passion, you'll get p...

Live Jams or Studio Recordings? Coffee Shop Conversations - Part 2 from 2020-09-28T23:24:36

James and Harry sipping black decaff coffee trying to get to the bottom of a Toucan Echo identity crisis. What do 'records' mean these days that recording is so cheap and music is less often phy...

Should We Make Singles Or Albums? (Coffee Shop Conversations - Part 1) from 2020-09-28T21:26:34

James and Harry stop at a coffee shop to discuss the Toucan Echo music release strategy. So let's kick off this blockbuster two parter with a textbook 2020 musician question - should we make sin...

Practice space, the importance of metronomes and a balanced groove diet, pub review, should we watch the news, and more... from 2020-09-27T12:31:51

Normal Times making of vid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hVYqGko6Jg

White Stripes, Black Math live

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B44vvNGXuHo

James Brown 70s Funk...

That time a roadtrip inspired a song! (Mono Lake) from 2020-07-14T23:49:31

James and Harry chat about their new single 'Mono Lake' - how it was first inspired on a roadtrip out of San Francisco and how we brought it to life during lockdown. We also talk about how natur...

When you're starting out, all you control is quantity from 2020-07-14T14:39:50

A mini rant about creative output - are you putting out as much content as the successful people in your field? You should. Because that's within your control

Why you'll never be fearless (but fears are flimsy) from 2020-07-08T12:37:25

Inspired by an amazing zenhabits article called The Path of Fearlessness https://zenhabits.net/fearlessness/, James (me) rants into his phone about resistance, fear holding us back, possible techni...

What if I'm wasting my time? (You're not) from 2020-07-05T13:44:19

Part 3 of me, James, on a windy countryside walk, discussing why we are scared of doubling down on creating art and content because we fear it might be a waste of time. I argue about what we mean a...

Be selfish about your happiness. It's best for everyone. from 2020-07-05T12:45:17

A Gary Vee inspired rant on why doing what makes you happy is best for you, and for everyone else. Also, why money is important but not the priority, and how if you're happy you can work harder (ti...

Don't pursue your dream by doing the opposite thing from 2020-07-05T12:41:28

I synthesised some thoughts from Colin Wright on why doing the opposite thing to your dream (eg. not travelling...in order to travel) is a bad strategy. Recording on a windy countryside walk so apo...

Choose Your Audience from 2020-06-16T22:28:32

You draw the map for people to follow, not the other way around.

Know Your Limits from 2020-06-08T11:46:40

Do you actually know them? What if you went out and tested them in the real world? A thought on why we should get more comfortable with discomfort

The entirety of Toucan Echo back on the podcast... What a blast. from 2020-06-07T18:14:23

Hi this is Harry writing this podcast description, how are you? 

I swooped back in on this episode to chat about our new Jam EP, the things James and I have been up to during the UK ...

Face it - you're afraid to try. from 2020-06-01T12:29:01

James giving some thoughts on fear of failure and fear of succeeding, including how Elon Musk launching a space shuttle should help your creative goals!

Rewrite your stories. Step into Possibility. from 2020-05-27T12:23:52

I've been reading the fabulous book the Art of Possibility and it's helped me break out of a rut this morning. So I thought I'd share some insights with you!

Now is the best time ever to be a creator from 2020-05-22T12:05:10

I think this is a good one. It's about how we shouldn't crave legitimacy in a world where everyone has access to the tools to create art, and instead get on with building your own set of rules, you...

Make People Happy from 2020-05-21T18:31:21

James here again. Ranting into a phone again. I had a difficult couple of days which got me in a bad mood. Here's me reflecting on it and how we should try to put positivity and making people happy...

Be more junkyard dog, be less robot. from 2020-05-19T11:37

James ranting into his phone again after re-reading the War of Art and getting some ideas about how not hitting your schedule is okay and if it's a bit of a battle/fight to create something good, t...

The Importance of Focus and Consistency from 2020-05-11T12:54:07

Some thoughts about running, live streams and podcasting. How important it is to get started, then use that to keep going and improving in small increments, building on your progress, even if yo...

Future of Live Music (Part 1) - Why do we have setlists? from 2020-05-07T17:49:13

Some thoughts on the future of live music - including how live music has evolved, what makes live shows unique, The White Stripes, the origins of Toucan Echo, a West African bar band in Belgium, no...

Future of Recording Part 1 - We should record multiple 'studio' versions of songs. from 2020-05-05T17:00:01

A rant about the history and future of recording, questioning whether we should still be in a singles, albums, 'studio version' world

The future of guitar music...some thoughts from 2020-04-28T22:11:06

A ramble on the future of guitar music. From me, James, a guitar player, who has thought about it a lot but isn't necessarily that qualified apart from that 😂

Are We Really Starting From Square One? from 2020-04-05T13:35:26

James and Harry discuss their new song 'Square One', their experience of recording REAL DRUMS again, bringing back the Toucan Echo crowd track, and how life is like constantly being a beginner.<...

Home Sweet Home Studio - tales of recording Toucan Echo from 2020-03-28T01:18:08

James and Harry discuss how they record their music and how it has evolved over time, culminating in the Toucan Echo debut album Walk To Circus. They also discuss how they're going to use this t...

Two piece bands are awesome! from 2020-03-18T23:18:12

In today's podcast we discuss how Toucan Echo became a two piece band, the history of growing up making music together, jamming, The Police, bass players, The White Stripes, Febueder, The Centre of...

How Can A Band Survive In Lockdown? from 2020-03-17T22:48:18

Harry and James discuss how to keep Toucan Echo going during COVID 19 lockdown. Other topics include Harry escaping lockdown to go to the pub, exchanging song demos, growing beards, Slipknot, stayi...

Small Hardships (James walking back from band practice) from 2020-01-18T00:58:11

Mini rant on not letting the small hardships, the small annoying parts of doing what you love. . . stop you doing it. Even the best stuff has some bad bits attached. That's the message!

Just Start! from 2019-11-04T23:04:59

James from Toucan Echo talks briefly about the band, why he loves podcasts and the struggle of getting himself to start one