Tim sits down with veteran songwriter and artist Simon van Gend to discuss his 2025 album, Dream I’m A Bird. After a decade-long hiatus since his last release, Simon reveals how a high-pressure “song-a-week” challenge in 2017 provided the raw material for an album that took nearly eight years to mature. We dive into the “musical archaeology” of his writing process, the respectful listening culture of Cape Town’s best venues, and why sometimes, the best album art is the piece you’ve already painted.

• Show notes: go.timsmal.com/simonv