Suzanne Vega's Spark Is Lou Reed's Berlin

Suzanne Vega's Spark Is Lou Reed's Berlin

Author: Adam Unze - Music & Film Interviews April 23, 2025 Duration: 28:42

Legendary singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega joins Adam to discuss her deep connection to Lou Reed’s 1973 concept album Berlin — a haunting, operatic record that became a major influence on her songwriting, especially her iconic hit “Luka.”


Suzanne shares how seeing Lou Reed live for the first time at Columbia University blew her mind, how Berlin’s brutal honesty shaped her approach to writing about difficult subjects, and why pairing dark lyrics with upbeat melodies can create something truly powerful. She also reflects on Reed’s raw, confrontational style and how it taught her to be fearless in her own artistry.


Whether you're a fan of Lou Reed, Suzanne Vega, Berlin or behind-the-scenes stories of iconic songs like Luka, this episode is a must-listen.


Suzanne's new album Flying With Angels is out on May 2nd.





The Spark Parade is a podcast that dives deep into the films and albums that have inspired today’s creative icons. Hosted by Adam Unze, each episode features a unique conversation with an artist about their chosen film or album, and how it sparked their artistic journey.


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What single piece of art-an album, a film, a television show-fundamentally altered your creative path? That's the central question of The Spark Parade, a podcast hosted by Adam Unze. This isn't a standard interview format; it's a focused excavation of a singular, transformative work. Each conversation with an actor, musician, or cultural icon revolves entirely around that one catalytic piece of culture that ignited their journey. The discussion delves into the personal history and emotional resonance of the work, whether it's a cult classic or a mainstream hit, tracing how its influence continues to echo through their life and career. Listeners are invited into these intimate reflections, hearing stories from artists like Margaret Cho and Maya about the moments of inspiration that sparked everything. The podcast operates at the intersection of music, film, and personal narrative, offering a unique lens on the creative process. By concentrating on a single artifact, each episode provides a deep, nuanced portrait of both the artist and the art that made them. You'll come away from the podcast not just with a recommendation, but with an understanding of how art shapes identity.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Spark Parade
Podcast Episodes
Lubalin's Spark Is ET [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:50
Singer and musician Lubalin has been infatuated with Steven Spielberg's classic sci-fi family movie E.T. The story's emotional depth and (for a kids movie) surprisingly complex character development stuck with him from t…
Bastille's Spark Is Wes Craven's Scream [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:08
Bastille front man Dan Smith first saw Scream as a pre-teen and instead of being terrified, he was instantly hooked on the horror genre. It was also his gateway to a whole world of cinema, including films by directors li…
Rosie Lowe's Spark Is Erykah Badu's Mama's Gun [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:29
Singer and songwriter Rosie Lowe became infatuated with Erykah Badu's second album Mama's Gun at an early age. She's continued to love its eclectic musicality and powerful melodies into adulthood. But it's the lyrics tha…
Good News, Bad News [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:18
The Spark Parade is a podcast that dives deep into the films and albums that have inspired today’s creative icons. Hosted by Adam Unze, each episode features a unique conversation with an artist about their chosen film o…
Orla Gartland's Spark Is Imogen Heap's Ellipse [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:32
Irish singer, songwriter and musician Orla Gartland has always been fascinated by Imogen Heap's unique approach to music making. Her use of ambient sounds and new technologies has always pushed Heap's work to the forefro…
KIMBRA's Spark Is The Love Below [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:09
Singer/songwriter KIMBRA loves the creativity and experimentation that runs through The Love Below, Andre 3000's half of Outcast's monster hit double album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. She loves his fearlessness and its…
Travis' Fran Healy's Spark Is Aftersun [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:04
Travis front man Fran Healy first heard about the Academy Award nominated film Aftersun in an interview about the importance of music in film. This reference would resonate through Healy's relationship with the film. It…
Noga Erez's Spark Is Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp A Butterfly [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:09
Singer, songwriter and producer Noga Erez first taste of Kendrick Lamar's masterpiece To Pimp A Butterfly came when its smash hit single Alright was played for her on the set of one of her music videos. From there, she q…