Luke chats with filmmaker and visual artist Ash Farkas about two extraordinary travel experiences that changed the way he sees the world. From battling fierce winds and snow on an unexpected hike in Iceland to facing illness, isolation and night terrors deep in the Amazon jungle, Ash shares stories of delirium, survival and unexpected personal growth.

Luke improvises piano soundtracks to both stories, capturing the brutal struggle of the Icelandic hike, the triumphant discovery of an ancient volcano, and the oppressive atmosphere of the jungle. Together, they explore how music can transform memories, bring emotions back to life and reveal deeper meaning in experiences that might otherwise become just another anecdote.

Ash also reflects on his evolving relationship with photography, the importance of being present in the moment, and how difficult experiences can leave us with a renewed sense of purpose.

In this episode:

• Ash’s unexpected journey into an Icelandic volcano, complete with snowstorms, delirium, fairies and a lesson in putting the camera down.
• How a serious illness deep in the Amazon jungle led to night terrors, isolation and one unforgettable, ice-cold soft drink.
• How Luke uses improvised piano to capture the struggle, oppression, triumph and recovery within Ash’s stories.

• Why revisiting memories through music can change how we understand the past and help us find meaning when the road ahead is unclear.

  Follow Ash:
  On Instagram: @ash_farkas

  Follow Impropod:
  On Instagram: @impropodpodcast
  impropod.com

  Filmed at Blanket Studios Bristol
  www.weareblanket.com/studios

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Luke talks to Bob Martin, a trial lawyer, meditation teacher and podcaster, who describes himself a taoist, buddhist christian. They talk about the surprising connections between music, spirituality and relationships. Through piano improvisations, Bob explores the emotions and imagery that emerge from listening, discovering how music can express complex ideas and tell stories without words.

Bob shares the story of a turning point in his life, when an encounter with the ancient Chinese divination text, the I Ching, led him towards Taoism, Tai Chi and a deeper understanding of himself and others. He also reflects on the unexpected discoveries he made about his father after his death, uncovering hidden family history and a mysterious book that challenged his understanding of faith and the past.

Along the way, Luke and Bob explore how musical notes can be like people! By the end of the episode, Bob has discovered a new way of listening to music.

In this episode:

• How improvised piano music can evoke unexpected imagery, emotions and moments of awakening.
• Bob’s journey into Taoism, Tai Chi and the I Ching, and how it transformed his approach to life and his work with clients.
• Discovering hidden family history, his father’s mysterious possessions and a book exploring the lost years of Jesus.
• How music expresses closeness, distance and emotional tension, and how listening more attentively can transform our relationship with music.

Follow Bob:
His website: https://theflowmedia.com/
His Podcast: https://podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1709207503972027227d53af2

Follow Impropod;
https://impropod.com/
Instagram: @impropodpodcast

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Luke chats with South Carolina based synthwave producer Matt Hancock, about creativity, modular synthesis and the ways music can transform personal experiences into something completely new. As Luke creates improvised piano soundtracks in response to Matt’s stories and ideas, they explore the sounds and influences behind his experimental synthwave project DecoLux, drawing on 1980s and early 1990s music, analogue gear and cassette textures. Matt shares two memorable stories from his military training: the moment he discovered that perfect snowflakes really do exist, and a chaotic winter field exercise where a blizzard knocked over their tent, leaving the group scrambling outside in their underwear in sub-zero temperatures.

The stories inspire live musical collaborations across the internet, with Luke on piano, Matt uses his modular synthesizer to create atmospheric, playful and unpredictable sounds. Along the way, they discuss modular synthesis as both a compositional tool and meditative practice, the unique character of analogue instruments, and how improvisation can uncover new emotional dimensions in familiar memories. The episode also offers a glimpse into DecoLux’s upcoming album Eventide and its fusion of synthwave, pop and experimental sound.

They discuss:

◼ How Matt's synthwave project DecoLux draws inspiration from 1980s and early 1990s sounds, analogue gear and cassette recordings

◼ How an improvised piano piece inspires Matt to imagine an isolated author struggling with writer's block before finding a sudden spark of inspiration

◼ How stories from Matt's military training — discovering a perfect snowflake and surviving a blizzard — become soundtracks combining tension, curiosity, chaos and humour

◼ How Luke's piano improvisation and Matt's modular synthesizer create a unique musical collaboration, exploring different ways of using sound to capture emotion and atmosphere

Follow Matt:
◼ On Instagram: @deco.luxe.music
◼ On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2j3K8z15j2LdBX0pHafEwD?si=EFEfI2D0Qk6sQcZoUfmjJg

Follow Impropod:

◼On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC34WsYcP0CO0urZJJLz1tOw

◼ See this episode on the podcast map at: https://www.impropod.com/

Follow Luke
◼On Instagram: @lukeymeankeys

◼On LinkedIn @luke-tomlinson-917ab6252/

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