The Documentary Podcast Auntie Flo: Making plants dance
Brian D'Souza, aka Auntie Flo, is a Scottish musician, DJ and sound recordist who has played at some of the biggest festivals and clubs around the world. His compositions fuse field recordings from around the globe with cutting edge production techniques to transport the listener to different places and states.
He has spent the last few years trying to bring together the natural and electronic worlds, experimenting with a complex setup of sensors and synthesisers to create music from plants. Last year he released an EP called Mycorrhizal Funghi that sampled the sounds of four different mushroom species and a full-length album called In My Dreams (I'm A Bird And I'm Free), built from field recordings and genres from across the world. Tom Raine follows Brian on a trip to Kenya and Goa to conduct field recordings and create plant music for a brand-new album and a listening app he is developing. This episode of The Documentary, comes to you from In the Studio, exploring the processes of the world's most creative people.
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The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
How in the name of the Pink Ladies can a rugby star play Danny Zuko?
But how in the name of the Pink Ladies can someone go from being a rugby internationalist to a charted engineer, and then end up starring in not only in Grease but in two other autumn theatre productions, The 39 Steps and Proclaimers musical Sunshine on Leith? 'My dream was of becoming a rugby player from a very early age,' Service recalls. 'My dad played rugby, and I wanted to follow him. But the problem was that at five feet ten I was relatively small. And as I progressed into the Scotland Under 18&19 team, I found the injuries were arriving hard and often. And every time I was sidelined with injury – a torn hamstring or whatever – I would lose even more weight during the recovery time. It was a vicious circle. So, just as a back-up, I talked it over with my parents and decided to go to university and study Mechanical Engineering.' Service at the Melrose 7s (Image: Sandy Service) Having finished his degree at Glasgow University, Service hadn't kicked the rugby dream into touch. He took off to New Zealand. 'I still wanted to play, and reckoned I would learn so much from being in the country where rugby is a religion.' To support himself, Service worked in cafes and bars in North Island. And he joined a band, singing and playing guitar. Meantime, he played and coached rugby, then a teammate suggested his chum for a job as a consultant engineer. Yet, it was the night-time work on stage that brought about a massive life change. 'I took a call at work one day from a theatre director called Heather Harrison who'd seen me perform with the band – we were doing stuff like Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne and John Farnham covers, that sort of thing – and wondered would I be interested in appearing in a play and come in for a reading? 'It's just a small role,' she added. And I was flattered and thought 'What have I got to lose?' and said yes straight off. I'd never actually acted before, except some small stuff at school, but I liked the idea of discovering if I could pull this off.' The theatre director however hadn't been entirely honest. It wasn't a small part. It was the lead role in My Boy Jack, the story of Rudyard Kipling's grief for his son (played in the TV movie by Daniel Radcliffe.) 'I was to be Jack,' he says, beaming in recall. 'I only had two weeks rehearsals. It was scary. And exciting.' Read more The virgin actor's reviews however were very good. He laughs. 'I began to think 'Maybe I'm not terrible at this.' And it wasn't too long before other Kiwi theatre producers came calling. The Scot was offered the role of Robbie in the Wedding Singer. 'I still hadn't thought of a career in acting. However, the likes of director Warren Bates sat me down and said, 'You should think about doing this full time.'' Service went on to land key parts in major productions of The Producers and Phantom of the Opera and this validation prompted him into thinking that perhaps, just perhaps, acting was worth a real shot. Yet, Alex realised that if he were to even consider a career in showbiz, he had to make the leap from New Zealand to London. Relocated, he took a weekend masterclass course with director/performer Michael Xavier, who was also hugely encouraging. Was this the planets again telling him his natural world was a spotlit hall showing off in front of an audience? 'Maybe it was, but I still didn't know for sure. Meantime, I needed to earn money and landed engineering work, having since become a Chartered Engineer, now working on some really big projects. And then I was asked to join West End Live, a showcase event and take over the role of Emmet (the male lead) in Legally Blonde.' Again, it went well, and Xavier pushed for his student to 'get real training'. Service was accepted into the London School of Musical Theatre and now determined to become a professional actor. He admits in sad voice however that he now had to let the rugby dream die. 'One director said to me, 'Alex, you are one kick in the face away from ever acting again.'' Service at work (Image: unknown) Service listened to the advice. He worked hard in shows such as Heathers. He worked on cruise ships, where he met his future wife, the Canadian actor Olivia Kustermans and the couple married in 2023. He smiles. 'Because of the work, we've spent more time apart since we married than we have been together.' But has rugby – or indeed mechanical engineering – played into his acting career. 'I think it has,' he says, pausing for thought. 'I've learned how to break things down technically. I can see where I'm supposed to be on stage. I'm a problem solver.' Yet, the life lesson Alex Service has learned is that it's a great idea to listen when others collectively say great things about you. And then be brave and run with your instincts. Even when they are taking you in an unimaginable direction. 'I guess that's it,' he says, grinning. Pitlochry Festival Theatre presents Grease, June 18 – September 27, The 39 Steps, July 11- September 26, Sunshine on Leith, July 25 – September 27.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Line-up unveiled for crime writing festival with guest programmer Sir Ian Rankin
Authors Kate Atkinson, Kathy Reichs and Jo Nesbo will be among those appearing at an 'incredibly welcoming' crime writing festival guest programmed by Sir Ian Rankin. The Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival schedule unveiled on Thursday also features Horrible Histories author Terry Deary, doctor turned comedian Adam Kay and broadcasters Steph McGovern, Jeremy Vine and the Rev Richard Coles. Sir Ian, creator of the detective John Rebus, is the first guest programmer for the festival, which takes place in Stirling in September. In a nod to the police officer, the programme also includes James McPherson who made his name in Taggart and narrates the Rebus audiobooks, and former Coronation Street star Gray O'Brien, who recently played Rebus on stage. Scottish writers on the line-up include Chris Brookmyre (with Marisa Haetzman as Ambrose Parry), Denise Mina, Graeme Macrae Burnet, Alex Gray, Lin Anderson and Judy Murray. Sir Ian said he has some experience of programming as he has been involved in a small festival in Cromarty, and he was thrilled everyone he asked to take part in Bloody Scotland agreed. He said: 'You get in touch with writers you admire, you say we've got a festival going on, would you fancy coming along? I'll be interviewing you on stage, and nobody said, no, which is a real thrill. 'So we've got everybody from Philippe Sands, who's a human rights lawyer, talking about human rights violations in South America, to Kate Atkinson talking about Edinburgh and other things as well, Kathy Reichs coming from North America. 'We've got a whisky and music night, which will be fantastic with two musicians who've turned their hands to writing books, and a bunch of other stuff besides.' Sir Ian said the festival includes a wide selection of authors ranging from the cosy to the 'hard-boiled', as well as non-fiction writers. He added: 'It's an incredibly welcoming festival. The fans, the readers, the authors all mingle. There's no differentiation between them because all the authors are also fans.' Festival director Bob McDevitt said: 'It has been an absolute joy working with the legendary Sir Ian Rankin on this year's programme and I think he has helped to deliver one of our strongest-ever line-ups. 'There are so many treats in store for our audiences this year, from established names writing at the very top of their game to brand new voices bringing a different perspective to the crime genre – roll on September.' Others appearing include actor Joey Batey who was in The Witcher on Netflix, Chris Chibnall, creator and writer of Broadchurch, and American crime writer Laura Lippman who will be on stage with Mark Billingham. Fringe events at the festival this year will include a 'Day of the Deid' procession led by Sir Ian and the winners of the two prizes, and Sir Ian's Whisky Night with songs from James Yorkston and Colin MacIntyre. Alan Bett, head of literature and publishing at Creative Scotland said: 'Bloody Scotland brings the big names of crime writing to Stirling each year, and 2025 offers an incredible list of authors, enhanced by Ian Rankin's role as guest programmer. 'Of huge importance is the platforming of emergent writers. Bloody Scotland provides new Scottish authors the opportunity to launch their careers and build readerships, and for Scotland's fans of crime fiction, the chance to find their next favourite book.' The festival takes place in various venues including the Albert Halls, Trinity Church, Central Library and The Golden Lion Hotel in Stirling from September 12-14. Sir Ian previously said: 'Bloody Scotland manages to remain the world's friendliest and most inclusive crime fiction festival while also attracting the biggest and brightest names in the business to the city of Stirling. It's epic.' The author has been involved in Bloody Scotland since its inception, has captained the Scotland crime writers' football team and has led the event's torchlight procession through the streets of Stirling.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Bloody Scotland festival announces line-up
Authors Kate Atkinson, Kathy Reichs and Jo Nesbo will be among those appearing at this year's Bloody Scotland crime-writing festival in creator Sir Ian Rankin is the first guest programmer for the festival, which runs in the city from 12 to 14 festival also includes Horrible Histories author Terry Deary and broadcasters Steph McGovern, Jeremy Vine and Rev Richard Ian described the event as "the world's friendliest and most-inclusive crime fiction festival." The author said he had some experience of programming as he had been involved in a small festival in Ian said: "You get in touch with writers you admire, you say we've got a festival going on, would you fancy coming along? "I'll be interviewing you on stage, and nobody said, no, which is a real thrill."The festival, which began in 2012, takes place in various venues including the Albert Halls, Trinity Church, Central Library and the Golden Lion HotelScottish writers on the line-up include Chris Brookmyre (with his wife Marisa Haetzman as their pseudonym Ambrose Parry), Denise Mina, Graeme Macrae Burnet, Alex Gray, Lin Anderson and Judy Murray. Fringe events include a "Day of the Deid" procession led by Sir Ian and the winners of the two festival prizes and Sir Ian's Whisky Night, with songs from James Yorkston and Colin director Bob McDevitt said: "It has been an absolute joy working with the legendary Sir Ian Rankin on this year's programme and I think he has helped to deliver one of our strongest-ever line-ups."Alan Bett, head of literature and publishing at Creative Scotland said: "Bloody Scotland provides new Scottish authors the opportunity to launch their careers and build readerships, and for Scotland's fans of crime fiction, the chance to find their next favourite book."
