Joost of Catapults joined me into the cave.
We first dive into the lyrics of Enter Shikari’s One True Colour and talk about where we come from, where we stand as individuals and as a collective, and how science and spirituality can exist side by side.

We also talk about the influences behind their latest album, I Hope You Heal, and their song Soft Bite, written after a small moment that might seem insignificant, but ended up meaning a lot.

Follow Catapults: @catapultsband

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I sit down with J from Hacktivist to talk about lyrics, identity, and what it means to feel different, and to choose to embrace it.

Starting from a line inspired by the movie The Burbs, we talk about being an outsider, representing the “weird side,” and how humor and everyday details can live alongside heavier themes. J reflects on blending grime, rap and metal, on making music that feels honest rather than strategic, and on staying true to yourself.

We also talk about how the world is changing: news overload, anxiety, racism, polarization, and how he navigates all of it without letting it consume him. About choosing when to speak, and using music as a way to process frustration while still leaving room for fun.

Follow Hacktivist on IG: @hacktivistuk

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I sit down with Sophie Smith of Hamartia to talk about breakups, growth, and what it really means to choose yourself.

We start with Bloom, a song about leaving a relationship that wasn’t toxic, just not right, and the moment you realise you’ve been shrinking yourself to be loved. Sophie opens up about emotional maturity, self-worth, and why some endings are acts of care rather than failure.

We then dive into Hamartia’s latest release Synthetica. From performative feminism to microaggressions in the music industry, Sophie speaks about misogyny that doesn’t look obvious anymore but that is still very present.

This conversation touches on feminism, mental health, grief, safety for women and trans people in music, burnout, and the power of community, all through the lens of songwriting and lived experience.

Follow Hamartia on IG: @hamartiabanduk

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I sit down with Andy from Pleiades to explore the song No Living Thing, and especially into the line “I’m caught on the claw of a single thought and it’s keeping me in all of the space I’ve realigned” and how it captures the pain of watching someone decline before their time, the weight of responsibility, and the reminder that we are not invincible.

Then we shift to “LA1 (Left Aimless)”, where Andy unpacks the imagery behind “On the ground I found myself hiding from the tortoiseshell shadow cast a shade of black from the windowsill”, a metaphor born from his hometown of Lancaster, a family of blackbirds, and the quiet, persistent danger that shaped the way he writes about resistance and home.

Follow Pleiades: @pleiadesband

Follow Into the Cave: @intothecavepod

In this episode, Casper from Paleskin dives deep into the writing behind Absence of You and Honey Poison, songs that explore grief, depression, friendship, and the moments when you can’t see the light even though it’s right beside you. We talk about breakups, how depression can make you blind, grief, and how expressing pain through lyrics can help you move forward.

If you love bands like Loathe, Deafheaven, or anything emotional, atmospheric, and heavy, PALESKIN is right for you. Casper opens up about being “blind” to the beauty around him, carrying fragments of light from the people he loves, and learning to accept the constant ups and downs of life.

A heartfelt, reflective conversation for anyone who listens to music to feel something.

Follow PALESKIN on IG: @paleskinofficial

Follow Into the Cave on IG: @intothecavepod

Aaron Akeredolu of incaseyouleave joins me for an honest conversation about lyrics, identity, and finding your place in the DIY scene.We dig into the writing of Ink Labyrinth, how reality and fear start to blur when things get heavy, and the small practices that help him pull himself back from the spiral.

Aaron also opens up about growing up as a person of colour in predominantly white punk and screamo spaces, and what it meant to finally see people who looked like him in the music he loved.We finish by exploring a line from Elliott’s Blessed by Your Own Ghost, and how that song shaped his view of choosing your own path.

Follow incaseyouleave on IG: @incaseyouleave

Follow Into The Cave on IG: @intothecavepod

fiio joins me from Vienna to talk about his new album Athena., a mix of humor, melancholy, and honesty.We talk about love, distance, and why doing things with intention still matters.

Vienna-based artist Fiio joins me to talk about his new album Athena., a record that somehow manages to sound both playful and deeply melancholic. We talk about the song “Athena.,” the idea that we all see the world differently, and how that shapes love, distance, and connection.

He also opens up about self-doubt, the internet, and the small moments that keep him curious and grounded. Later, we dive into “Au Pays du Cocaine” by Geese, a song that brought him back to memories of his father and reminded him why music can still feel like magic.

It’s a quiet, thoughtful conversation about being an artist, being human, and trying to do things with intention.

Follow fiio on IG: @findetfiio

Follow the podcast on IG: @intothecavepod

Fynn Gillions of Take Breath joins me to talk about turning emotion into art. We dive into their song “Writhe”, the short story that inspired it, and how “Canvas” captures the highs and lows of being an artist. Fynn opens up about burnout, self-doubt, and learning to fall back in love with music again.

Follow Take Breath on IG: @takebreathx

Follow Into the Cave on IG: @intothecavepod