A new year means there are lots of new and exciting shows, music, albums, comedy and much around the corner and we have an exciting month for you! In true Phoenix Remix tradition we are chatting to lots of different acts all about what they have in store for 2022. Today we talk to Chazz all about the podcast Chazz Redhead’s Pilot Season and what is happening this year!

Hello Chazz tell us all about your podcast Chazz Redhead’s Pilot Season?

CRPS is a selection of audio comedy “pilots” (6 different ideas) with full casts and sound design. It’s all incredibly silly and weirdly ambitious. Episodes range from horror/sci-fi to Wild West to Power Rangers to Exploitation pastiches about a Reverend with a gun. That one is called ‘Reverend Gun’.

How did your show come about?

During lockdown, I found it hard to focus on a single idea (restlessness gets to us all, I suppose) and I thought that starting a fresh idea each episode would be appealing. After that, I knew I had talented friends with home studio set-ups, so they do their wonderful thing and the onus is on me to chop it all together. Making something fun with no deadlines or pressure from anyone but myself.

How did you get into comedy?

A great question. I think I got into comedy from cartoons if I’m honest. I enjoyed the silliness and joy of it and I would imitate the voices. After that, my grandpa had tapes of The Goon Show that I would listen to religiously. It just grew from there. I started performing at school and much preferred doing comedic roles. At uni I hit the ground running and never looked back

What are your plans for 2022?

I’ve got a couple of exciting things in the pipeline. Hopefully finishing the podcast series, launching another, and prepping for Work-In-Progress shows of a new stage show, plus some more collaborations. Oddly busy start to the year already. Plus I’ll basically be living at Vault Festival. So many awesome acts to see!

What other acts are you looking forward to seeing perform online or in person to this year?

I can’t possibly name them all! There are a few that come to mind cause I haven’t seen them perform in forever. Alice Marshall, Tom Neenan, Tamsyn Kelly, Luke Rollason, Olga Koch, Paul Foxcroft, the list could go on and on and on. Just to be in a room and laugh again. That’s heaven.  

What styles do you hope to see more of in comedy or in podcasts this year?

I’d love to see more narrative comedy in podcasting, and for more podcasts to dabble in darkness. The Sink (BBC Sounds) was mind-blowingly brilliant so basically more of that please.

What comedian is your ones to watch in 2022 and why?

There’s a lot to choose from and they’re all lovely. Let’s go by sub-genre-

Sketch: The Lovely Boys

Character: Kathy Maniura

Clown: Privates

Stand-Up: Lily Phillips/Tatty Macleod

Do you have any New Years resolutions? If so what are they?

Reply to texts and emails as soon as I receive them. I’ll break it by day 5.

Are you on social media? If so how can people find out more about you?

Instagram and Twitter @chazzredhead, or chazzredhead.com

Three words why people should come and see you this year?

Silly spooky nonsense.

Quick Fire Round

The movie or television show you are looking forward to seeing this year?

Season 3 of Ted Lasso. I love that show more than some family members.

Your favourite book?

Not entirely sure. I know my favourite play (which I do read fairly frequently) is Bug by Tracy Letts. And I’m very partial to a horror novella by Tony Burgess called People Still Live in Cashtown Corners

If you could paint anything what would you paint? 

Galaxies. Pulsating, evolving. That explosion of blues and purples. Beautiful

What is the most delightful word you can think of?

Pulchritudinous  

Favourite album?

Mean Everything to Nothing – Manchester Orchestra

Where would you love to go on holiday this year?

Somewhere distant. A cottage. You open the door and the sea is 6 steps away.

What is your favourite quote from a television show?

“This is the way we talk in Tucson, Arizona” – What We Do In The Shadows. Text doesn’t convey the beauty of a Matt Berry line delivery but trust me, it is glorious.

Who is your favourite film character and why?

Darth Vader. Blame in on pure nostalgia. I just think he looks cool as hell. The first movie villain I remember ever seeing.