Podcast Summary: "Cocteau Twins' Simon Raymonde on New Memoir"

Podcast: All Of It with Alison Stewart (WNYC)
Guest: Simon Raymonde (Cocteau Twins bassist, Bella Union founder)
Air Date: November 17, 2025

Episode Overview

In this engaging episode, Alison Stewart sits down with Simon Raymonde, celebrated musician from Cocteau Twins, music industry veteran, and founder of the influential Bella Union label. Raymonde discusses his new memoir, In One Ear: The Cocteau Twins, Ivor Raymonde and Me, exploring his musical heritage, career-defining moments with Cocteau Twins, the challenges of hearing loss, and his ethos as a label owner. The conversation delves into the intersections of family, creativity, health, and the ever-evolving music business.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Musical Heritage and Influences

Timestamps: 00:00–03:33

• Family Ties: Simon’s father, Ivor Raymonde, was a renowned arranger/songwriter, working with Dusty Springfield and others. Yet Simon felt removed from this legacy during his formative years.

  • "When Dusty had her first hit, I was two, you know, so I missed out on a lot of it." (01:47, Simon)
  • Punk’s arrival at age 14 was Simon's personal entry into music: "It changed my life. No doubt about that, because it was all the things that my brothers and sisters’ music wasn’t... It was chaos. And I think I just sort of needed that." (02:37, Simon)

• Reevaluating the Father-Son Dynamic: Only later in life, especially after turning 40 and following his father's death, did Simon see parallels and connections in their musical paths.

  • "I just sort of put him up here, you know, right at the top and I wasn't really in the frame... Now I feel like I'm more in the game with him there." (04:50, Simon)

2. Personal Challenges: Hearing Loss and Health

Timestamps: 05:43–09:27

• Opening With a Shock: Raymonde describes losing hearing in one ear due to an acoustic neuroma (a benign brain tumor), the same story that opens his memoir.

  • "I’m in the doctor's room looking at my brain up on the wall ... there is this whopping great tumor ... it’s called an acoustic neuroma, quite romantically to do with. I was like, oh, that sounds fun because it’s musical, isn’t it? He went, yes, but no." (06:25, Simon)

• Adapting to Adversity: At first, Simon feared for his career in music. Advice from others—and his own resilience—helped him keep moving forward.

  • "I talked to a load of people about it, loads of doctors ... and clever people who just said, you only need one ear to tell whether something's any good." (08:17, Simon)
  • He hid his hearing loss for years, fearing it would undermine his credibility in the industry.

3. Origins and Dynamics of Cocteau Twins

Timestamps: 09:27–14:16

• First Encounter: Simon’s accidental first meeting with Cocteau Twins occurred while working in a record shop; he delivered their cassette to the label upstairs.

  • "I opened the door. It was this band come down from Scotland to deliver their cassette ... That was our first meeting." (09:49, Simon)

• Songwriting Rules and Studio Process: The band's unique approach was built on three golden rules—no demos, no writing before sessions, and no music left unfinished.

  • "We went in the studio with literally nothing ... We had three weeks to make the Treasure album ... Once we picked up our instruments and started writing music, in improvising this music in the way we did it just felt the most natural thing..." (11:22–11:55, Simon)
  • Simon still creates music spontaneously to this day, valuing excitement and authenticity over polish.

• Band Dynamics: Navigating Frasier and Guthrie’s personal relationship was challenging but became normalized, especially in youth and the whirlwind of early success.

  • "Would you want to be in a band with [an ex]?" "No." (15:31–15:32, Alison & Simon)
  • Remarkably, Cocteau Twins produced two albums after the couple's breakup, which Simon sees as a feat.

4. Starting Bella Union and the Business of Music

Timestamps: 15:36–20:17

• Why Start a Label? Bella Union began out of a desire for creative autonomy, not a passion for the record business.

  • "The plan was to put out our own music without anyone else interfering ... having your own label means you don't ever have to invite anybody down to the studio." (15:51, Simon)

• Ethics and Artist Contracts: A direct reaction to restrictive major label contracts, Simon designed Bella Union’s artist deals to be fairer—even at the cost of long-term equity for the label.

  • "What I knew I didn't want to do was have contracts that were as restrictive as the label that I had come from ... I think it's ethically correct. And that's what I feel." (19:15, Simon)

• On Regrets and Solo Work: Listening back to his first solo effort, he's critical but honest:

  • "After you've been in a band with one of the greatest singers of all time, you really are inviting an anvil to drop on your head." (18:20, Simon)

5. Advice for Emerging Artists and Current Projects

Timestamps: 20:17–21:57

• Artist Development Today: Simon and his wife now manage and nurture young bands, like Brighton’s Congratulations, facing the harsh economic realities of touring.

  • "It’s almost impossible for young bands from the UK to come to America to tour ... visas ... $2,000 per person ... 25 to $30,000 before you’ve played one note." (20:57–21:16, Simon)

• On What Draws Him to New Talent: He emphasizes charisma and real, unique talent.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Parental Review:

  • "And I asked him afterwards, I said, what did you think?... And he said, yes, yes, it was interesting." (05:14, Simon, on his father attending a Cocteau Twins show)
  • "Oh no. The parental 'interesting.'" (05:33, Alison)

• On Resilience in the Face of Health Challenges:

  • "I just got up the next morning and just like, crack on. Not going to let it stress me out." (08:34, Simon)

• On Artistic Improvisation:

  • "No, don’t do that. Just try winging it." (14:14, Simon, advising new bands against rigid demoing)

• On Managing Bands and the Cost of Touring:

  • "No one’s paying you $30,000 to play your first shows in America, okay?... That ain’t gonna cut it." (21:16–21:57, Simon)

• On Reflection and Humility:

  • "Listening back, that I shouldn't have released it? ... I’m not—you know, after you've been in a band with one of the greatest singers of all time... it’s not a good idea, but I couldn’t help myself." (18:16, Simon, on his solo album)

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Family, Punk, and Musical Heritage: 00:00–05:00
• Hearing Loss and Health Journey: 05:43–09:27
• Genesis of Cocteau Twins Collaboration: 09:27–14:16
• Bella Union’s Ethos and Industry Insight: 15:36–20:17
• Advice for Up-and-Coming Artists/Challenges Facing Young Bands: 20:17–21:57

Tone and Closing Thoughts

Throughout, Simon Raymonde balances wry humor and candor with warmth. He’s disarmingly honest about the messiness of artistic careers—the family legacies, the tolls of health, the uneasy truths about business, and the ongoing struggle for integrity. Alison Stewart provides thoughtful, gently teasing questions that bring out both Simon’s vulnerability and his resiliency. The episode closes on an optimistic note, spotlighting Simon’s enduring belief in the creative journey and his support for emerging artists.

Recommended for:
Fans of independent music, memoir enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the nuanced layers of creativity, adversity, and the business that shapes beloved artists and albums.