Kanye West, Through the Wire & the Problem of Loving Art by Problematic Artists
This week on The Last Mixed Tape, I explore my personal connection to Kanye West’s Through the Wire, a song that helped me survive a near-fatal accident 20 years ago and reckon with what it means to love a piece of art when the artist behind it becomes indefensible.Kanye West’s most recent release, featuring praise of Hitler, crosses every line and forces a deeper conversation about artistic intent, freedom of expression, and what we do with the work left behind when creators betray their own legacy.This episode is about survival, memory, and the uneasy space between loving a song and condemning the person who made it. It’s also about choice and why it should be ours, not the state’s, to make.00:00 Intro00:25 Through The Wire02:21 Kanye04:25 The Road to Ye07:26 20 Years Later09:35 The Art & The Artist23:13 Moving On24:52 Conclusions 25:37 Outro🔔 Subscribe for weekly deep-dives into music, culture, and creative legacy.🎙️ Hosted by Stephen White | The Last Mixed Tape#KanyeWest #ThroughTheWire #ProblematicArtists #MusicCriticism #TheLastMixedTape
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26:18
The Stage Vs The State: Kneecap, Mo Chara & The Criminalisation of Art
Irish rapper Mo Chara of Kneecap is facing terror charges in the UK for a performance in London. But what does this case really say about freedom of expression, cultural identity, and the criminalisation of art?In this episode of The Last Mixed Tape, I explore the history of artists on trial from John Lennon to Pussy Riot and ask what happens when the state decides where art ends and extremism begins. This is about more than a flag it’s about the boundaries of dissent, the weaponisation of performance, and the ongoing legacy of censorship through legal means.We’ll look at past precedents, why Mo Chara’s anglicised name was used in the charge, and how artists like the Pogues, Siouxsie Sioux, and Ice-T have walked similar lines before.This is where art, politics, and power collide.00:00 Intro00:25 Biko01:17 Mo Chara04:00 The Slippery Slope06:51 Art vs the State09:25 What this means…16:04 The Future17:06 Final Thoughts 17:45 Outro
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18:25
Ghosts in the Reverb: Maria Somerville’s Luster and the Rise of Irish Dream Pop
One of modern music’s most haunting voices is Maria Somerville, whose new album Luster captures the tension between dreams and memory, tradition and distortion.In this episode of The Last Mixed Tape, Stephen White explores how Irish artists like Somerville, Katie Kim, and Virgins are carrying the echo of shoegaze, dream pop, and drone into something uniquely Irish. With nods to My Bloody Valentine, Joyce, Beckett, and even ancient mythology, this is a story of sound shaped by place where ghost notes linger in every reverb trail.00:00 Intro00:26 Anthony Bourdain 01:16 Maria Somerville 03:08 The Mythology of Dreams 04:55 Ghosts in the Reverb07:26 Luster Review 14:30 Recurring Dreams?15:55 I Am Certain of Nothing16:58 Outro
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17:38
ANSEO: Redefining Irishness Through Music
From rebel ballads to queer anthems, Irish folk and protest music are being reborn for a new generation. In this episode, we explore how artists like Lankum, Lisa O’Neill, Pillow Queens, the Mary Wallopers, Kneecap, Bambi Thug, and more are reclaiming Irish identity from right-wing ideology, rewriting what Irishness sounds and looks like. ANSEO, here, in the present tense.We trace the roots of modern protest music, look at the immigrant and LGBTQ+ voices redefining tradition, and ask: in an age of rising fascism, who gets to call themselves Irish?00:00 Intro00:25 Seamus Heaney 01:16 ANSEO 02:32 Fighting the Far-Right03:10 New Voices 04:18 Skinty Fia 05:06 All Voices 06:30 Why?13:01 Defining Modern Ireland14:16 The Count of Monte Playlisto’s Irish Music Picks21:37 Outro
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22:19
Kneecap, Glastonbury & the Cost of Speaking Out
Kneecap are facing calls to be dropped from Glastonbury Festival after backlash over controversial past performances. In this episode of The Last Mixed Tape, I explore the deeper implications of this moment not just for Kneecap, but for the future of protest in music.Using comedian Josh Johnson’s quote “Everything you thought was revolutionary was approved by a corporate lawyer” we look at how true rebellion is often punished once it slips past the gatekeepers.00:00 Intro00:25 Josh Johnson 01:17 The Story so far…04:18 Provoking Art06:41 Glastonbury 07:58 Why this matters?17:04 What happens next17:59 Outro
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