Evan Barton
Snap, Crackle & Pop
Evan hosts Snap, Crackle & Pop every Thursday from 8pm.
Tell us about yourself
Music has always been a huge part of my life, and I immediately gelled with electronic sounds when I really first started hearing them in the 80s.
By my teenage years, I had well and truly discovered the music that represented my feelings and interest. But, it was hard to get a hold of these tunes. Growing up in Riddell in the 80s and 90s, and even amongst our peers, rock, pop, and hiphop dominated our parties and the airwaves.
It was some close friendships that further cemented my love for electronica as we collectively sought to expand our exposure, and I am forever grateful to Melbourne community radio titans PBS and 3RRR for giving us some late night techno sessions (as well as ABC’s Rage).
Tell us all about your show
I think that there is a persistent myth that electronic music is simple, repetitive, soul-less. My aim for Snap, Crackle and Pop is to take listeners beyond the superficial, and hear incredibly talented individuals and groups create beautiful music, with depth and meaning and emotion that matches anything created by traditional instruments and song-writing processes.
For a long time, electronic music in general has been equated to dance and club music, but from artists such as Jon Hopkins, Bryan Eno, Jean-Michel Jarre, Max Cooper, listeners will have the opportunity to hear flavours of electronica that reward a deep engagement with the music.
There will certainly be the odd house music banger, or a whole evening devoted to drum ‘n’ bass or dark Berlin minimal techno. But for every four-to-the-floor rave tune, there will be a reciprocal downbeat, low-fi, headphone-only tune that will be contemplative and sure to evoke some feelings.
What’s your all-time favourite album?
How many can I list here? OK Computer by Radiohead, Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd, King for a Day Fool for a Lifetime by Faith No More, Lateralus by Tool, Abbey Road by the Beatles, Kind of Blue by Miles Davis (none of these are electronic!) … Immunity by Jon Hopkins, One Hundred Billion Sparks by Max Cooper, Elaenia by Floating Points, Leftism by Leftfield, Selected Ambient Works vol II by Aphex Twin, Supermodified by Amon Tobin, Psyence Fiction by UNKLE, All Melody by Nils Frahm… Okay, I’ll stop now.
Do you play a musical instrument?
I play bass, poorly, but practice is the only way anybody gets good at anything, so I’m keeping at it.
I also make music using Ableton and FL Studio digital audio workstations, and have recently gotten into emulated modular synthesis (the little boxes that have a bunch of coloured wires running to other little boxes and make wild sounds!).
What’s your favourite movie or TV show?
I couldn’t give you a favourite album, now you’re asking for favourite film? Blade Runner, Ghost in the Shell, Vertigo, The Shining…
What’s your advice to those thinking of volunteering at Sunbury Radio?
Do it. Just contact the station, and somebody will get in touch with you. There’s so much potential with this medium, and you end up feeling more connected with the community, which I think is pretty important in today’s climate.
Whatever reservations anyone has about presenting will pass quickly as you become comfortable – my first few shows were train wrecks. But you won’t regret it when you take the leap.
Social media
Other links and show downloads here.