Geoff Barrow grew up in Portishead. He named his band after the town on the outskirts of Bristol. You probably know what happened next.
There was the award-winning Dummy, then the critically adored Third, followed by a long silence from the band.
In the meantime Barrow produced records by acts like The Horrors and created some of the most distinctive film scores of the last decade with Ben Salisbury (Ex Machina, Annihilation, and Civil War, amongst many others).
Alongside all this, since 2001 he's run the independent label Invada Records, which releases extraordinary soundtracks (Mica Levi, Nick Cave & Warren Ellis, the era-changing Drive, and so many more) and brilliant acts like Billy Nomates, Tim Hecker, Anika, and record DiS podcast guest Gazelle Twin.
For this week's podcast, I went to Portishead (the place) and sat outside in the sun to find out why he's produced and co-written his first film.
If you weren't aware of the movie, which has been touring around cinemas and film festivals ahead of its release on Thursday (see premiere details below): GAME is a rural thriller set during the British rave scene of summer 1993, made entirely with Invada's £150,000...
GAME co-stars Jason Williamson from Sleaford Mods as a poacher who finds a raver in the Somerset woods.
It's a film literally on tenterhooks. And I promise we don't spoiler anything in the podcast.
Have a gander at the trailer:
On the Drowned in Sound podcast, our conversation covers a lot of ground, from running an independent label, and the role music plays in films. I also really enjoyed discussing local identity (I grew up South of Bristol) and national pride that veered into Geoff pondering how some of the people who went to those raves in 1993 ended up voting Reform.
Download this episode for free and listen on Apple, Pocket Casts or wherever you get podcasts.
Watch GAME
There's a live stream premiere of the film this Thursday 18 June at 7:30pm BST. It's only £5. However, it's not available in North America. Geoff Barrow, director John Minton, actor Marc Bessant and screenwriter Rob Williams will be in the live chat taking your questions, hosted by Paul Weedon.
Tickets available here:
Podcast Companion playlist
A companion to our DiS Podcast interview with Geoff Barrow, founder of Invada records, member of Beak, record producer, and - perhaps most notably - from the band Portishead. Listen in Hi-Res lossless on Qobuz by getting a free 30-day trial at qobuz.com/dis.
Bye for now
Sean