Explore every episode of the podcast Are Drummers Musicians?

This week, I’m joined by Brayden Becher — a powerhouse drummer deeply embedded in Melbourne’s metal scene, particularly doom metal. Brayden doesn’t just play in one or two bands—he’s currently drumming for six different projects, including Ghost Smoker, Jack Harlon & The Dead Crows, Holy Serpent, KVLL, Aglobrutal, and Ahr Beka.

We dive into what it’s like balancing that many projects, his experience growing up with music—starting drums at age four but being banned from playing during high school—and the wild story of auditioning for a band. Along the way, we explore the Melbourne metal scene, the unique characteristics of doom metal, and some of life’s big questions.

We also talk about the importance of friends and family and the role they play in shaping a musician’s path. This was a really enjoyable chat, full of insight into a world of music I knew little about—don’t miss it!

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This week, I’m joined by the brilliant James Davies — drummer for Black Jesus Experience and a seasoned professional in the music theatre world. Originally from Northern Victoria, James moved to Melbourne to study at Box Hill Institute, where he trained under some of the best, including Dave Beck, Tony Floyd, and Robi Parolin. Since then, he’s built a career that spans jazz, funk, drum & bass, Ethiopian rhythms, and theatre drumming, performing on productions like Groundhog Day.

We start this chat a little differently—James is not only an amazing musician but also a dedicated listener of the podcast! We talk about his thoughts on how the show evolved over its first 30 episodes, and I share some of my own reflections on its direction, and what I’m trying to achieve with it. If you want to jump straight into James’ story, skip the first 10 minutes!

From touring China with Black Jesus Experience to blending traditional Ethiopian music with contemporary grooves, to life as a music theatre drummer, this conversation covers a huge range of topics. James is an insightful, versatile musician with a fascinating journey—don’t miss it!

This week, I’m joined by the absolute legend Jess Ellwood — a drummer, guitarist, and all-around great musician who has built a career touring and recording with some of Australia’s finest artists.

We talk a lot about tour life—the highs, the challenges, and what it takes to be a good hang on the road. Jess plays drums for Alex Lahey and guitar for Angie McMahon, and we dive into what it’s like shifting between roles, playing different instruments in different bands, and making the leap to full-time music.

Beyond performing, we chat about their time with The Sweethearts, their experience as a teacher, and the importance of long-term friendships with musicians—how growing together in the scene has shaped their career. This was a lovely, insightful, and inspiring conversation—don’t miss it!

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This week, I’m joined by the incredible Selene Messinis — also known as SOLUNE — a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, composer, and educator whose career spans genres from jazz and R&B to metal and circus performance. Based in Naarm/Melbourne, Selene has worked with artists including thndo, Nikodimos, Bumpy, NO ZU, Gordon Koang, Parvyn, Harper Bloom, Don Glori, Teether, and RAMEN, while also developing her own unique artistic voice.

In this episode, we discuss their journey with music, including the impact of the Blackburn High music program, their early years playing saxophone and piano, and how those foundations shaped their career. We dive into their experience writing and performing music for the circus, their work as an improvising musician, and their thoughts on the experience of women in the music industry.

Selene also shares their love of dressing in bright-colored clothes as an expression of personal freedom, as well as an exciting new project—working on their metal album! This was such a dynamic and inspiring conversation—don’t miss it.

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This week, I’m joined by Ellis — a drummer, multi-instrumentalist, and educator who has carved out a dynamic career in the Australian music scene. Best known as the drummer for GUSH (formerly Paper Tapir), Ellis has been playing alongside Louis Smith and Luci Floyd for the past decade, with Domenic Evans recently joining the band.

In this episode, we explore their journey through music—from growing up in a musical household to learning piano and drums, studying at VCASS, and being mentored by jazz legend Graeme Morgan. We also talk about their experiences in both jazz and pop-rock, forming GUSH, and working with other artists, including Garage Sale and Grace Robinson.

Beyond performing and recording, Ellis shares insights into their teaching philosophy, thoughts on the music industry, and how they approach finding balance between creativity, work, and life. And for those looking for some drumming inspiration, Ellis recommends checking out Steve Reich’s 1987 album Drumming.

This was an insightful and engaging conversation—don’t miss it!

This week, I’m joined by the extraordinary Nat Bartsch — a twice ARIA-nominated pianist, composer, producer, and advocate whose music blends neoclassical composition with jazz harmony, improvisation, and ethereal ambient effects. At the time of recording in 2024, Nat was the Artist in Residence at the Melbourne Recital Centre and was preparing for the release of her stunning album, Forever Changed.

I was lucky enough to get an early listen to Forever Changed before this conversation, and it’s absolutely beautiful. Since then, friends and I attended the album launch, and it was such a special experience. In this episode, we discuss the process behind making the album, its deeply personal themes, and how it was shaped by surround sound and Atmos mixing.

Nat also opens up about being a neurodivergent artist—reflecting on her autism and ADHD diagnoses and how they’ve influenced her creative process, career, and advocacy work. She shares how she’s been creating inclusive spaces, including neurodiverse-friendly listening experiences at the Recital Centre.

Beyond her work as a solo artist, we discuss her decision to self-manage, launch her own label (Amica Records), and develop Amica Familia, a mentorship program for emerging artists. From the challenges of being an independent musician to the evolving landscape of recorded music, this conversation is packed with insight, creativity, and inspiration—don’t miss it!

For more visit aredrummersmusicians.com

Strap in—this is a long one! This week, I’m joined by Gerry Pantazis, one of Australia’s most in-demand drummers, known for his incredible versatility across fusion, pop, session work, theatre, and TV performances. With a career spanning decades, Gerry has played with legends like Larry Carlton, Richard Marx, Tommy Emmanuel, Tina Arena, and The Seekers, as well as holding the drum chair for Carols by Candlelight for nearly 20 years.

We dive into a huge range of topics, from his work with the fusion powerhouse Damage (with Phil Turcio, Brett Garsed, and Craig Newman), to the evolution of the music scene, music relationships, and the balance of longevity and change as a professional musician. Gerry shares what it’s like performing on Carols by Candlelight at Sidney Myer Music Bowl, the pressure of playing live on national TV, and his thoughts on notation—specifically, the pet peeves that make charts a nightmare to read as a drummer.

We wrapped up the podcast after an hour… and then Gerry asked to keep going. Suddenly, another two and a half hours passed, packed with even more stories, insights, and laughs. If you’re a hardcore Gerry fan, the second half is a deep dive into everything from gear (DW Electric Drums!) to industry wisdom.

This was an epic conversation—enjoy the first hour, or stay for the full 3.5 hours of drumming gold!

This week, I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Danny Fischer — one of the most in-demand jazz drummers and educators in Australia. Danny spent a decade living and working in New York, playing with some of the world’s best musicians and building an incredible wealth of experience. He shared some brutally honest and often hilarious stories about what it was really like to be a jazz drummer in the world’s most competitive scene.

We also talked about his yoga practice and how it’s influenced both his drumming and the very practical challenge of carrying drums around New York. He opened up about the struggles and successes of his time overseas, what led him to move back to Melbourne, and how he brings a highly personalized approach to teaching—something I can personally vouch for, as he’s the best drum teacher I’ve ever had (and I’ve had some of the best!).

This chat was full of wisdom, humor, and insight into the reality of being a jazz musician. Don’t miss it!

This week, I’m joined by Jack Foy — a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and music teacher based in Melbourne/Naarm. Jack currently plays, writes, and records with Hobsons Bay Coast Guard, Great Falls, Sun Bazel, Smooth Brains, and his own project, Lafferty Daniel.

We chat about his journey through music—learning guitar, studying jazz drumming at Monash, and how he’s juggled different instruments and projects over the years. Jack has also worked with various artists, including Hallie, Eileen Grace, Seamus McCorry, Suzi, and Marigolden, bringing his versatility to a range of musical settings.

Along the way, we talk about his paddle-pop socks, what it’s like being a left-handed drummer, playing bass with Great Falls, and the story behind the name Lafferty Daniel. This was a great conversation with an artist who’s explored so many sides of music—don’t miss it!

This week, I had a fun and insightful chat with Stilla — a rising pop artist from Naarm/Melbourne, known for her funky, relatable anthems and razor-sharp pop instincts. With influences like Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter, and Dua Lipa, Stilla blends pop, funk, R&B, and dance to create a fresh and unapologetically fun sound.

We talked about what it takes to build a career as an independent artist—her drive, mindset, and approach to content creation. Stilla also shared her thoughts on balancing creativity with the business side of music, staying authentic in an ever-changing industry, and how she pushes herself to level up with each new release.

Since recording this episode, Stilla has released her debut EP STILLAVERSE and put on a massive launch show at Northcote Social Club, marking a huge milestone in her career. Her rise in the pop world is only just beginning, and I can’t wait for you to hear this conversation!

This week, I’m joined by the incredible Raleigh Williams — a powerhouse vocalist, songwriter, and artistic producer with a deep and versatile career across jazz, soul, pop, world music, and more. Raleigh has led her own French jazz project La Nuit Blanche, headlined her own shows, performed with the ARIA Award-winning Cookin’ on 3 Burners, and was a vocalist with the rock-Americana-blues supergroup FOOLS. She’s also an in-demand session singer and artistic producer, curating and shaping Melbourne’s live music scene.

In this episode, we talk about the realities of being a working musician—the struggles, the passion, and the craft of music as a trade. We also dive into the technical side of singing, treating the voice as an instrument, and Raleigh’s personal experience with voice surgery. Her insights into the industry, artistic resilience, and musical adaptability make this a fascinating and inspiring conversation.

This one is packed with wisdom, honesty, and of course, plenty of laughs—don’t miss it!

This week, I’m joined by the legendary Kylie Auldist—singer, songwriter, and one of Australia’s most respected voices in funk, soul, and disco. You might know her as the powerhouse vocalist of The Bamboos, Cookin’ on 3 Burners, or from her incredible solo work. And of course, her voice took This Girl (Kungs vs Cookin’ on 3 Burners) to global chart domination, with over a billion streams and international acclaim.

This chat was an absolute blast—Kylie made me laugh so much! We dive into her journey through the music industry, her time playing in bars and bands, the realities of music rights and royalties, and what it means to be a headliner. We also talk about writing partnerships, longevity in the music scene, and how it feels to be considered ‘old’ in an industry that often prioritizes youth.

Kylie is as down-to-earth as she is talented, and this conversation is packed with insight, honesty, and plenty of fun. Don’t miss it!

This week, I had the pleasure of recording in Ben Edgar’s studio, overlooking the lush green surroundings of Belgrave. Ben is an incredibly talented guitarist, producer, and engineer with a fascinating approach to music-making—one that embraces challenges, limitations, and the unexpected creativity they bring.

We dive into his collection of guitars and related instruments, discussing how different tools shape his sound and push his playing in new directions. Naturally, we get into some serious sound nerd territory—talking pedals, recording techniques, and the nuances of capturing the right tone.

Beyond the gear talk, Ben shares stories from his experiences recording and touring the world with Gotye and Angus & Julia Stone, working with Dope Lemon, and engineering the latest record for The Cat Empire.

This episode is full of great insights, music wisdom, and good vibes—don’t miss it!

This week, I’m joined by Myles Mumford — a producer, engineer, composer, and musician who has been shaping the Melbourne music scene for over two decades. Myles has been making music and records since the late '90s, starting with trombone and composition before moving to Melbourne in 2002 to study at the VCA, where he later ran the recording studio. Since then, he has built an incredible career spanning record production, film sound, theatre sound design, location recording, concert production, and more.

Myles is known for his musical and collaborative approach to recording, creating a sense of space and presence that has made his work stand out. His productions have earned critical acclaim, including ARIA nominations, Bell Awards, Music Victoria Awards, a Green Room Award, and APRA awards. In 2014, he founded Rolling Stock Recording Rooms in Collingwood, which has become a hub for artists across genres, fostering community-driven music-making in Melbourne’s vibrant music scene.

Beyond the studio, Myles has worked internationally, spending a year in Swaziland through Australian Volunteers International, producing radio shows, building a recording studio, and helping develop local artists and content that dominated the Swazi Top 20 for over a year.

In this episode, we explore his journey through music, the philosophy behind making records, the balance of art and commerce in the music industry, and the importance of creative spaces like Rolling Stock. We also talk about his work as a composer, his thoughts on gatekeeping in the music industry, and his passion for making good music, regardless of genre.

This was an inspiring and deep conversation—don’t miss it!

This week, I’m joined by one of Australia’s great bass players—Lucas Taranto. With a massive resume of recording and touring work, Lucas has played some of the world’s most iconic venues and stages.

Of course, I couldn’t resist asking about his time with Gotye during the Somebody That I Used to Know era, and Lucas generously shared some incredible stories from that wild period of global success. But his career didn’t start or stop there—far from it.

We chat about how he first picked up the bass, how he established himself in the industry, working with different bandleaders, life as a working musician, and yes, even a bit of gear talk. Lucas is not only a phenomenal player but also an incredibly humble and thoughtful musician, and I’m grateful to have had him on the show.

(Disclaimer: Way too many nice things were said about me—Luke, the host—by Lucas in this episode. Clearly, he’s a class act.)

aredrummmersmusicians.com

This week, I had the absolute privilege of sitting down with virtuoso drummer and percussionist David Jones — one of Australia’s greatest musicians. Arriving with a case full of special instruments (some of which made their way into our conversation), David brought not just his incredible skill, but also deep wisdom, reflection, and generosity of spirit.

We discussed his early beginnings with the bongos, the power of mentorship, spiritual practice and meditation, the art of creating sound, recording, and so much more. Over 90 minutes, we explored a range of topics—musical, philosophical, and personal—with plenty of laughter along the way.

One of the most unexpected moments was David sharing how, despite his legendary status, he once felt a sense of inferiority due to his lack of harmonic knowledge when bringing his compositions to other musicians. It was a fascinating and deeply human insight into how even the most accomplished artists face insecurities—and, in many ways, it tied right back into the very question this podcast asks.

This was a truly special conversation—don’t miss it!

This week, we dive into the world of DJing and turntablism with the talented DJ Mizhap! After spending 10 years performing in Perth, Mizhap recently made the move to Melbourne, and we talk about everything from getting started on the decks to establishing herself in a new city, learning new skills, and connecting with the local music community.

Mizhap is a skilled artist who’s always looking to grow, and she shared her inspirations, both new and old, in the turntablist scene. While I’ve been around DJs before, turntablism is a whole different world, and Mizhap was generous in explaining some of the key techniques and terminology behind it. I learned a lot about the depth of this skillset and the artistry involved in this unique form of music-making.

We also discuss the differences between DJing in clubs versus other live settings where artistry and performance take center stage. This was such a fun chat, and I left feeling inspired to explore more about Mizhap’s work and the turntablism scene in general.

This week, I’m joined by the talented guitarist Beth Feik—inner-city local, indie punk rocker, and founding member of The Vovos. Rolling up on her bike in a corduroy jacket, Beth brought some serious cool energy to this chat as we dove into the Melbourne punk scene, her love for music, and the importance of community.

We talk about her journey with the guitar, her pivotal experience at Girls Rock! Australia, and how that led to forming The Vovos alongside Ada Duffy, Mika James, Ruby Ayliffe, and Lu Galente. Beth shares stories about mentorship, industry experiences, and what it was like performing at Sidney Myer Music Bowl at just 17 years old to a crowd of 4,000 people.

This episode is all about passion, punk, and the power of making music with your friends—don’t miss it!

This week, I’m joined by the laid-back and legendary Gormie — audio engineer, producer, and bass player. Rocking some seriously cool New Balance sneakers and blue-and-green socks, Gormie brought a great vibe to this conversation as we dived into his journey in music, recording concepts, and the art of getting a great sound.

We talked about his studio setups, working as an engineer and producer, and his experiences touring and recording with Angie McMahon. What I didn’t expect? A whole lot of Bruce Springsteen chat (which I did not mind one bit) and a little less tour talk than I anticipated, given that Gormie had just returned from a big run on the road. But what we did get was an authentic, thoughtful conversation about music, creativity, and life as an artist in Melbourne.

The second half of the episode takes a deeper turn—we open up about struggles with alcoholism, mental health, insecurities, anxiety, and how these challenges impact our lives and music. We also touch on my own experience with Long Covid. It’s an honest and vulnerable chat that I really appreciated, and I’m grateful to Gormie for his generosity, encouragement, and wisdom.

This week, I’m joined by Ruby Ester Mae — neo-classical, EDM, and ambient clarinetist, better known as Clariloops. Ruby’s journey is a fascinating one, from growing up on a steady diet of Steely Dan to wanting to be a drummer, only to end up falling in love with classical clarinet. She went on to complete a Bachelor of Music with Honours at Monash University, studying under David Griffith, before carving out her own unique space in the music world.

At the time of recording, her original music project had over 37,000 monthly listeners—a testament to her distinct sound and artistic vision. We talk about the evolution of Clariloops, taking a break from music after having a baby, and the excitement of getting back into performing, recording, and exploring new creative ideas. Plus, we touch on her experience playing music for the defence force.

It’s a deep, insightful, and inspiring chat—don’t miss it!

This week, I’m joined by the powerhouse that is Nitida Atkinson — singer, songwriter, performer, session musician, and multi-instrumentalist. We had a blast talking about her band Don’t Thank Me, Spank Me, their self-titled debut album, and the sold-out launch show at The Tote.

Nitida also shared insights into her creative process, balancing band life with solo projects and session work—including her incredible performance with Mark Seymour at the 2023 AFL Grand Final Halftime Show. We got into her passion for music, the fun of dressing up for performances, and plenty more, with lots of laughs along the way.

If you love rock, soul, or just great music stories, you’ll enjoy this one!

For more, visit aredrummersmusicians.com

This week, I’m joined by a true Brunswick local and staple of the Melbourne jazz scene—drummer Ronny Ferella. Arriving on his bike like the legend he is, Ronny shared his journey with the drums, from his early inspirations to the teachers who shaped him, his family heritage, and the pure joy of playing music after putting in the hard work to learn it.

We also dive into his new community record label, its unique approach to releasing music, and the challenges and realities of making a living as a musician. It was a fantastic conversation filled with insight, passion, and a few laughs. Plus, Ronny even gifted us two of his CD albums—what a guy.

(P.S. If you need a drummer for a blues gig, call Ronny.)

This week, I’m joined by the incredibly talented Jude Perl — singer, songwriter, comedian, and all-around creative force. Jude has built a reputation for her razor-sharp wit, insanely clever songwriting, and brutally honest yet hilarious observations about life. At the time of recording, she had just wrapped up a successful run of Share House: The Musical, an original production showcasing her unique blend of music and comedy.

In this episode, we dive into her journey from jazz school to musical comedy, how she crafts her songs and jokes, and the creative process behind her work. We also talk about the long road of bringing projects to life, the recent success of Share House, and what’s next for this multi-talented artist.

Whether you're a musician, comedian, or just love a good laugh, this one’s packed with insight, humor, and plenty of inspiration.

This week, I’m joined by the incredible Yael Zamir, a flutist and composer making waves in Melbourne’s jazz scene. Yael is one of the few musicians in Australia specializing in jazz and Brazilian flute, bringing a fresh and expressive voice to the instrument.

We talk about her journey from classical training to jazz improvisation, the role of music theory and solfège in her playing, and what drew her to the rhythms and melodies of Brazilian music. Yael shares insights into her experiences studying with renowned teachers, her time at The Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music, and how she approaches composition and performance.

From music theatre beginnings to playing with Panorama Brasil and beyond, this conversation is full of inspiring moments about finding your voice as a musician.

This week, I’m joined by Toby Peterson-Stewart, an incredibly humble yet immensely talented bass player from Melbourne, Australia. Toby is one of two bass players in the instrumental prog/metal band, The Omnific, a group known for their innovative and impressive approach to music.

Toby shares his journey from the hills of Mt Dandenong to performing on the global stage, including his experiences touring the world, attending NAMM, and honing his craft as a bass virtuoso. We discuss the dedication it takes to establish oneself in the music scene, his pre-gig rituals, and the unique dynamic of being one-half of a dual-bass band.

Beyond music, Toby reflects on his creative process, his desire to start a podcast, and his passion for making music that’s honest and true to the moment.

Join us for an inspiring and insightful conversation with a musician who’s redefining what’s possible on the bass.

For more info and links to the guest's work, visit our website: ⁠aredrummersmusicians.com⁠

This week on the podcast, we’re joined by Evan Englezos, a dynamic leader in both music and digital innovation. As the founder and musical director of Live in the Saddle, Evan has fostered a collaborative community project that has brought together over 140 musicians across 16 shows since 2011, recreating studio albums live and cultivating a generous and inclusive musical environment.

Evan’s passion for building connections extends beyond music. Through his work with Digital Team Coach, he helps organizations navigate digital transformation with training, strategy, and development. He’s also the host of Tomorrow Pod, where he explores grassroots storytelling and creative processes to build a better tomorrow.

In this episode, we discuss Evan’s journey from performing in rock bands and musical theatre to leading church music groups and disability support initiatives. We also dive into his experience balancing creativity, community, and innovation in both the musical and digital spaces.

Join us as we explore Evan’s inspiring dedication to music, collaboration, and connection!
For more info and links to the guest's work, visit our website: ⁠aredrummersmusicians.com⁠

This week, we’re joined by Kathleen Halloran, a brilliant guitarist whose talent and versatility have made her one of Australia’s in-demand musicians. As the guitarist for Australian music icon Kate Ceberano, Kathleen has toured the country, sharing stages with some of the biggest names in the industry. Beyond that, she has performed with Katie Noonan, Felix Riebl, Iva Davies, and many more, leaving her mark on countless recordings, festival stages, and major theatre productions.

Kathleen shares stories about her musical journey, from studying jazz performance at the VCA to carving out her own path as a session musician and bandleader. We explore her work with Kate Ceberano, her experiences at events like the Adelaide Guitar Festival and Melbourne Guitar Show, and her upcoming debut album—a project showcasing her artistry as a vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist.

Join us for an inspiring conversation with a rising star in the Australian music scene as Kathleen shares her excitement for the future, insights into the creative process, and passion for making music.

For more info and links to the guest's work, visit our website: ⁠aredrummersmusicians.com⁠

This week’s guest is multi-genre guitarist, producer, and mixer, Louis Smith.

Louis shares insights from his diverse musical journey, from mastering classical guitar to creating ambient soundscapes and playing in heavy and shoegaze bands. We discuss his academic work in integrating contemporary guitar styles into classical music, his experiences in bands Fuzz Meadows and Silurian, and his current projects, including GUSH, Resenter, and Lilivm.

We also explore Louis’s thoughts on identity, philosophy, art, and community, all framed by his personal perspectives and deep passion for music. The conversation kicks off with a chat about plugins (thanks to @officialjustinsheriff for free plugin recommendations) and flows into an engaging discussion about the many types of music Louis listens to, plays, and draws inspiration from.

Join us for a journey through Louis’s rich and varied musical world!

For more info and links to the guest's work, visit our website: ⁠aredrummersmusicians.com⁠

This week on the podcast we are speaking with another of Australia’s greatest bass players, Owen Downie.

Owen has a long list of artists he has performed and recorded with and he has been a member of many great bands over the years, but the focus of his musical pursuits being about making great music rather than any pursuit of fame or acclaim was a great point made throughout this conversation. Owen made me laugh a lot, shared some great stories about his musical beginnings and collaborations, and touched on the encouragement of his pursuits (but not always his taste) in music. We even touch on the legendary story of Owen being musical director of Cool Boys and the Front Man, the touring band of legends Hamish and Andy!

A very humble bass player and session musician, a massive inspiration of mine and, second only to my partner Luci, my favourite bass player in Australia.

Owen has performed with some of Australia’s leading artists such as Guy Sebastian, Jessica Mauboy, The Wiggles, Vance Joy, Shannon Noll, Ricki-Lee, Pez, Bill Chambers, Simon Philips, The Meltdown, Zoophyte, and The Veronicas. He has also played alongside international jazz luminaries like George Garzone and John Blackwell Jr., and K-Pop superstar Kim Tae-woo from G.O.D. In addition to his extensive live performance and recording credentials, Owen is passionate about music education and creating positive spaces for music-making. He has 15 years of experience as a guitar and bass teacher, has established and grown various music programs in Victorian schools, and recently created a music program for NDIS clients in regional Victoria. Owen is the leader of the bi-monthly Yarra Banks Open Jam Session, a night dedicated to encouraging people of all ages and skill levels to develop their improvisation skills and ensemble playing. It is a long-standing event, maintaining a supportive and inclusive culture appreciated by professionals, hobbyists, and students alike.

These days, Owen spends most of his time in Melbourne performing, writing, teaching, and trying to learn as many new instruments as possible. You’ll often see him playing around town at all manner of venues from jazz clubs to folk festivals, on many different instruments, and having the time of his life.

Join us as we discuss Owen’s passion for music, explore his current bands like Doc Halibut, The Higgs, and Andy McGarvie, and delve into his various musical experiences over the years - including being the musical director for the tours of podcasting legends Hamish and Andy’s band, Cool Boys and the Front Man.

For more info and links to the guest's work, visit our website: ⁠aredrummersmusicians.com⁠

This week we speak with Andrew Masutti, a talented audio engineer and musician. We do a bit of a deep dive into the world of audio engineering at live gigs, discussing various roles Andrew has held, the differences between roles, information sharing between engineers, and how he sets up a great vibe from the first impression with bands so everyone has a good time at the gig. We discuss a bit about his work with Australian band British India, as he is currently their front of house (FOH) mixer, production manager (PM ) and tour manager (TM), as well as the growth of his music journey from drummer/percussionist at VCASS, to composition student at monash and now to professional audio engineer specialising in the live music setting.

This week we speak with Andrew Masutti, a talented audio engineer and musician. We do a bit of a deep dive into the world of audio engineering at live gigs, discussing various roles Andrew has held, the differences between those roles, information sharing between engineers, and how he sets up a great vibe from the first impression with bands to make sure everyone has a good time at the gig.

We also chat about Andrew’s work with Australian band British India, where he’s the front of house (FOH) mixer, production manager (PM), and tour manager (TM). Alongside that, we explore his journey from being a drummer/percussionist at VCASS to studying composition at Monash University, and now working as a professional audio engineer specializing in live music.

Andrew also works as a house technician at some of Melbourne’s most iconic venues, like the Corner Hotel, Northcote Social Club, The Curtin, and many more. We get into his experience with stage, backline, and AV tech for local and touring shows, plus his time producing and engineering in the studio for Melbourne artists and filmmakers.

It’s a great conversation about the behind-the-scenes work that goes into live music and the journey of an audio engineer building a reputation in a competitive industry.

For more info and links to the guest's work, visit our website: ⁠aredrummersmusicians.com⁠

This week’s special guest is Yuri Pavlinov, a hard-working and mega-talented bass player. Yuri has been a key member of The Bamboos for over 20 years, an institution in the Australian funk and soul scene. I’ve been a fan of Yuri’s bass playing for years, so it was an absolute privilege to have him on the podcast. 

We discuss his early days in the 90s Melbourne music scene, getting thrown into the deep end with Renee Geyer on the mainstage at Bluesfest, and the natural high of playing great gigs. Yuri shares tales of tape dubbing, carrying a VOX AC30 on a tram, and hanging around Fitzroy during its vibrant music heyday. 

We also dive into his time gigging in suits with The Bamboos, costumes with his heavy-metal band Barbariön, community, and the music industry. Yuri offers candid thoughts on the future of live music in Melbourne and Australia, reflecting on the challenges and opportunities ahead. 

It’s a rich conversation with a true legend of the music scene, full of humour, insights, and passion for music.

For more info and links to the guest's work, visit our website: ⁠aredrummersmusicians.com⁠

Laid-back and sitting on the couch with Scout, this week’s special guest is Ben Cripps. A hard-working and super-talented bass player (electric and double bass), Ben shares his journey from skateboarding fanatic to bass-obsessed teenager and recounts his decades-long career playing with some of Australia’s and the world’s finest artists. From Lisa Maxwell to Human Nature and a long list of incredible musicians, Ben’s stories are as entertaining as they are inspiring.

We discuss his recent venture into original music, released under his producer name Cripptic, including the funky and bass-led single Muffin Pincher. We also chat about his time with Human Nature, performing with Motown legends Smokey Robinson and Mary Wilson in Las Vegas, and the challenges of being a touring musician with a young family at home.

We discuss the Big Red Bash, gear talk about Stingrays, GLs, Fenders, and more, and his path into Sydney’s professional music scene through hard work and word of mouth. Ben also shares his wealth of knowledge on records, producers, and bass mods—a true learning experience for me and, hopefully, for you too.

Don’t miss this episode filled with wisdom, stories, and a good dose of bass inspiration!

For more info and links to the guest's work, visit our website: ⁠ https://www.aredrummersmusicians.com/conversations/bencripps

In this episode, we welcome Rod Wilson, a seasoned drummer and percussionist with over 45 years of professional experience. Best known for his two-decade tenure with Sons of Korah, Rod has performed in over 1,000 concerts across nine countries and contributed to ten of the band’s albums.

Rod takes us on a journey through his incredible career, sharing stories from his time as one of the earliest students at the Victorian College of the Arts in the 1980s to touring with Bjorn Again and even playing drums at Russell Crowe’s wedding. A true storyteller, Rod reflects on the drummers who’ve inspired him, offers insights into drum history and technique, and discusses the dynamics of playing in worship bands for over 40 years.

Known for his humility and work ethic, Rod's anecdotes are as inspiring as they are entertaining. Whether it’s leading his own band, producing albums, or conducting clinics on serving others through music, Rod’s passion for drumming and his commitment to sharing his knowledge shine through.

Tune in for a lively, laughter-filled conversation that spans decades of musical memories, advice for drummers, and so much more!

For more info and links to the guest's work, visit our website: ⁠aredrummersmusicians.com⁠

Surrounded by musical equipment and with a stunning view of regional Victoria, we sat down this week with Brett Garsed; legendary guitarist, session musician and all-round nice guy. Brett shared the story of how he started with the guitar, life in a small country town, the encouragement he received from various figures and his amazing growth mind-set to constantly seek the wisdom of experienced musicians which lead to his first true professional experience being working with the biggest selling Australian album of all time, Whispering Jack! And even when asked about his favourite venue to play in Melbourne, it was a fun surprise to hear which iconic stadium he chose!

Brett reminisces about the awe of some experiences with John Farnham, his guitar heroes, and shares the story of when he first discovered he was doing something special with his ‘hybrid technique’ and had a unique sound which was his own voice on the guitar.

Brett was so generous to host the podcast in the music room of his house, and I had a great time speaking with him and hearing his stories as we sat on two small couches surrounded by guitars, amps and even a drum kit stacked against the wall.

It has been really special to be able to include such Australian music royalty like Brett on the podcast.

There is so much more I wanted to ask Brett, as we really only got into stories of his origin, so hopefully there will be another opportunity to discuss his adventures in the USA, the return tours with Farnham, his slide technique and phrases - he’s just done so much!

To kick off the podcast for 2025, the first episode of the year is with special guest marigolden (aka Mel O’Neill).

Consistent with Scout’s love of snuggling with guests, this week’s guest marigolden got comfortable with the pup whilst sharing her thoughts on music, some of her creative processes, and the journey through classical voice training and jazz school, to creating the music of Marigolden, an authentic and raw indie-rock-folk act.

We laughed, reflected, and listened deeply as Mel shared her experiences and perspectives as a musician. She spoke about the importance of listening and how it shapes her artistry, the challenges and joys of releasing albums, and the evolution of her voice over time. Mel reflected on the elitism often found in classical and jazz music and how she navigated these environments to ultimately find and embrace her own voice.

As a self-identified songwriter, Mel discussed the balance between striving for technical perfection and prioritizing the heart of songwriting. She shared insights from taking Adrianne Lenker’s songwriting course and her experience with The School of Song, which provided fresh perspectives on music creation. We also touched on the institutionalization of music education, with Mel humorously imagining legends like Miles Davis saying, “Okay, I’m off to jazz school!”

A special shoutout goes to producer Natasha Newling, who has worked closely with Mel to bring her music to life. This episode dives into the authenticity and vulnerability of Mel’s music and offers a heartfelt exploration of her creative journey.

A new music interview podcast based in Melbourne/Naarm, continues in 2025! Luke and his dog Scout host conversations with artists & session musicians, emerging & established, on their couch in Brunswick (Naarm/Melbourne, AUS). We record a collection of meaningful conversations with musicians that resonate well beyond the immediate context of current events and promotional-cycles.

Thank you to everyone who has been on the show in 2024; you can listen to all 36 episodes that have been released already here or on our website. Visit aredrummersmusicians.com

In this special bonus episode, we ask the question: What is your favourite Christmas album, and why?

Short Taster Playlist:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3UIMA3vM30NNYoI9Xbr3f4?si=5e6d1ab5531d4e62

Full Albums Playlist:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1fScBcJ9KYQh4ppl7gBm9N?si=6a28863246f540dd

Ruby Lulham: The Beach Boys’ Christmas Album (The Beach Boys)

Holly Moore: Song - Christmas in LA (Vulfpeck)

Raleigh Williams: White Christmas Compilation (Bing Crosby); A Charlie Brown Christmas (Vince Guaraldi Trio)

Leroy Floyd: Jimmy Smith ‘64/Christmas Cookin’ (Jimmy Smith)

Alexis Naylor: I Want to Spend Christmas With You (Mark Turner and Steve Hensby Band)

Rodney Taylor: Song - How to Make Gravy (Paul Kelly)

Anna Hooper: Joy (Benjamin Amos)

Amelie Roussac: It’s A Holiday Soul Party (Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings)

Mezz Coleman: Wintersong (Sarah McLachlan)

A2K - Alex Kwong: A Very Laufey Holiday (Laufey)

Matt Wild: Let It Snow Baby…Let It Reindeer (Reliant K)

Murray Singleton: A Timeless Christmas (Israel & New Breed)

Anni Raggatt: The Sounding Joy: Christmas Songs in and out of the Ruth Crawford Seeger Songbook (Elizabeth Mitchell); Ella & Louis Christmas (Ella Fitzgerald; Louis Armstrong); A Very She & Him Christmas (She & Him); Favourite Carols from King’s (Choir of King’s College)

Fran Chong: Song - My Only Wish (This Year) (Britney Spears); Song - How to Make Gravy (Paul Kelly)

Kate McKevitt: The Nutcracker, Op. 71 (Pyotr Ilyich Tchaicovsky) 

Briony Poole: Once Upon A Christmas (Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers)

Pana Ángel Castillo Moreno: Song - Soulsa Verde (The Winfield Road Experiment)

Lash78: It’s a Hi-5 Christmas (Hi-5)

Marien Singleton: Richmond AOG Federation Square Compilation (Jared Heschek)

Emma Hilton: Christmas (Deluxe Special Edition - Michael Buble)

Luci Floyd: Christmas Cookin’ (Jimmy Smith)

Greg Arnold: Song - White Wine in the Sun (Tim Minchin)

Nathan Liow: Christmas with PJ Morton (PJ Morton)

Myles Mumford: A record that you put on on Christmas Eve.

Ryan Griffith: Song - Pretty Stars (Bill Frisell); Song - Merry Christmas Baby (Lou Rawls); Song - Christmas Eve (Archie Roach, with Paul Kelly)

David Quested: A Bowtie Christmas and More (Johnny “Bowtie” Barstow)

Brayden Becher: A Heavy Metal Christmas (Christopher Lee)

Kate Van Nugteren: Christmas with the Rat Pack (Compilation; Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr)

Mal Sedergreen: Jazz For Joy: A Verve Christmas Album (Various Artists)

Brian Hingerty: Song - Happy Xmas (War is Over) (John Lennon, Yoko Ono)

Abbey Rose: 8 Days of Christmas (Destiny’s Child)

Jereme Clingan: A Twisted Christmas (Twisted Sisters)

Gracie Sinclair: Christmas with the Stars (Compilation - Various Artists); The Christmas Song (Nat King Cole)

Sidney - Jessie Singleton: A Timeless Christmas (Israel & New Breed)

Stef Roul: A Jolly Christmas From Frank Sinatra (Frank Sinatra)

Nan - Rosemary White: Messiah, HWV 56 (George Frideric Handel)

Luke (Host): A Charlie Brown Christmas (Vince Guaraldi Trio); Christmas Cookin’ (Jimmy Smith); Christmas (Deluxe Special Edition - Michael Buble); A Timeless Christmas (Israel & New Breed); and a special mention to Christmas (Mannheim Steamroller).

For more, visit ⁠aredrummersmusicians.com⁠

Scout was a big fan of this week’s guest, Mick Meagher, immediately climbing onto his lap once the podcast started. We dive into chats about Mick’s eclectic music taste over the years and his journey into bass from a high school battle of the bands competition to jazz school to playing with some of Australia’s biggest names. Mick shares some stories about playing with the Black Arm Band, his studious research for creating the vibes and sounds on the latest Emma Donovan album which he co-wrote and co-produced, and much more.

Mick shared a bunch of interesting stories and thoughts, including:

• Starting on the bass - last minute call up for battle of the bands; and winning best bass player of the night!

• The underground, niche and DIY Australian soul/funk music scene

• Balancing various projects as a working musician

• Plans and taking opportunities

• Touring remote Australia with the Black Arm Band, and

• Working with Emma Donnovan on her latest Record. 

It was a massive learning session for me, hearing of all the metal, grunge and jazz references of music that I didn’t know but had influenced Mick’s playing and interests as a young musician. He also shared some recent albums from drummers Jim White and Maria Moles, as well as a bunch of other great musicians and producers that I needed to go check out. 

Mick Meagher has established a long career on bass duties for a roll call of Australia's best bands and artists. He can boast several critically acclaimed albums with Emma Donovan and the Putbacks, as well as Andrea Keller, Wave Riders, Eugene Ball 4tet, and Wolfa (a collaboration with vocalist Jenny Barnes). Mick has a long and impressive career; after graduating from the VCA he went on to work with Kate Cebrano, and joined the Black Arm Band, where he performed with Australian icons Archie Roach, Paul Dempsey, Emma Donovan and Gurrumul Yunupingu and international stars Mavis Staples and Ricki Lee Jones.

He was a founding and committed member of The Putbacks until the end of 2022, where he has gone on to the next chapter in his career. Mick has recently co-written and produced the latest album with Emma Donovan, ‘Til My Song Is Done’, which was released in April this year.

Join us as we delve into Mick's musical journey, his wide range of genre crossover and experiences, and discuss where this new chapter of his music life is headed.

For more info and links, including video's of a bunch of Mick's different work, head to www.aredrummersmusicians.com

Today on the podcast, I'm here with Josh Manu, a genuinely lovely human being, awesome session bassisist, and member of Honey.

Join us as we dive into Josh's musical journey, exploring his diverse experiences, his insights on teaching and performing, and his passion for music. 

In this conversation Josh shares how he started with the bass, growing up in a family of musicians and being thrust into playing in the church scene at a young age. We discuss modes and his recent honours thesis, his exploration of the synth bass, his love of music, playing with family, and much more!

Josh's musical journey has seen him collaborate with a wide range of artists and events, including Ben Abraham, Michaela Jayde, Tony Gould, Lanni Zimmer, RnBabe, Uncomfortable Science, Kenny Werner, Vince Jones, and Enrico Rava. 

After years of performing as a sideman for a wide range of artists, bassist/composer Josh Manu recently made his debut as bandleader on the 10th of November with a gig at Jazzlab. Alongside him were musicians Julien Wilson (Tenor Saxophone), Daniel Waddingham (Guitar), James Bowers (Piano), and Luke Andresen (Drums). His collection of songs are an exploration of the opportunities afforded to musicians through modal jazz, both in improvisation and composition.  Check out his self-titled debut EP, Manu.

Through the Monash Sessions, Josh has recorded with renowned jazz artists such as Kenny Werner, Vince Jones, Enrico Rava, Paul Grabowsky, and Mike Nock. In 2023, he completed his Honours at the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA), where he recorded his original composition and wrote his thesis, ‘Where the Tensions Lie: Searching for Emotional Expression through the Colours in the Modes.’

Josh regularly performs with well-known Melbourne establishments RnBabe and Uncomfortable Science, showcasing his ability to blend into various musical settings seamlessly.

Josh has also been teaching bass to all ages and abilities for eight years, drawing on his breadth of practical experience and completion of a Bachelor of Music at Monash University in the jazz and improvisation stream.

For more info and some clips of Josh performing, visit our website:

aredrummersmusicians.com

This week’s conversation is with multi-instrumentalist, David Quested, a.k.a. Local the Neighbour.

With Scout sitting in his lap, David shares about how he started on the drums, shares about the shock of moving to Melbourne, moving to the US to study at UCLA, and the freedom and creativity of his indie-rock solo project.

David has played drums with many notable artists, including 3-time ARIA winner Andrea Keller, Jimalxndr, Fletcher Gull, Garage Sale, Floozy, Angus Legg, and is part of Theo Carbo’s band Dragonfruit.  We have a great chat, sharing about learning to like the music of our parents, lots of drummer talk, jazz school, teachers, - and have quite a few laughs along the way. 

David Quested, known artistically as Local the Neighbour is a Melbourne-based musician of both Taiwanese and Australian heritage. Originally from Darwin, NT,  David relocated to Melbourne to study jazz drumming, where he became infatuated with the limitless creativity and self-expression found in the art form.  

David completed a music degree at the Victorian College of the Arts, supplemented by further study in New York and LA, which led to both local and international performances. 

His extensive experience as an artist and sideman have shaped his persona, Local the Neighbour, allowing him to express his outlooks through his ultimate musical passion—indie rock; written in bedrooms, lounges, or backyards, often inspired by the emotional confusion familiar to us all.  

Join us as we delve into his journey through music, from studying jazz to embracing the indie rock scene, and discuss how he achieved, what in my opinion, is the best snare drum sound I’ve ever heard at the Northcote Social Club.

For more visit aredrummersmusicians.com

This week’s special guest is composer, improviser and saxophonist Holly Moore.

We discuss her journey with music, from her early exposure to music education, their path from high-school to tertiary music student and now professional musician. We discuss lots of music, labels, jazz and improvised music, and what she thinks of the future of the Australian Jazz scene.

Holly Moore, a Melbourne-based saxophonist, composer and educator, is making waves in the Australian jazz scene. Holly's recent debut release, ‘REUNION,’ was launched in November 2023 through the ABC Jazz Composer Commission and showcases her talent and vision in contemporary jazz.

Holly performed with the Australian Art Orchestra at the 2023 Melbourne International Jazz Festival, where she premiered new work for ‘Raw Denshi’. Her career has been marked by significant achievements, including being the recipient of the Melbourne International Jazz Festival’s Take Note program in 2020. This honour led her to compose a new suite of music and perform it with a jazz sextet during the festival's digital event, ‘These Digital Times’.Her performance credits include appearances at the Melbourne International Jazz Festival, the Melbourne Women's International Jazz Festival, NGV’s Summer Series at M-Pavilion, and Melbourne Music Week, along with regular gigs around town. 

Committed to music education, Holly developed a series of online jazz workshops for Victorian high schools during Melbourne’s second lockdown in 2020.

And an honourable special mention to the unknown saxophone busker that inspired Holly to pick up the saxophone in the first place (legend says it was the great Julian Wilson)!

The conversation is now available on all streaming platforms, YouTube and our website.

https://www.aredrummersmusicians.com/hollymoore

On the Zombeaches World Tour of Melbourne’s front bars, Dominique Garrard drops by Brunswick to share some stories. Dominique is a super talented singer and songwriter, and after achieving major success with her duo N.Y.C.K., has continued to make great music with that project, as well as joining punk-rock band Zombeaches as a synth player and backing vocalist, and recently starting her own indie-rock band, Mutual Colour. She has received critical acclaim with her bands and supported various prominent artists including Meg Mac, Amy Shark and Dope Lemon. Dom is also Head of Voice at the Box Hill Institute.

Dominique Garrard is a captivating vocalist whose recent venture, Mutual Colour, has swiftly captured the attention of the indie music scene. Their singles released in 2023 and earlier this year have already garnered a keen interest from fans awaiting the next release and upcoming live shows.

Dominique has been a vital component of two other critically acclaimed projects, Zombeaches and N.Y.C.K. 

Zombeaches have recently returned from an epic Euro tour, performing 15 shows in 15 days across France, Switzerland and Germany.

N.Y.C.K. has garnered attention for its intimate and narrative-driven music, achieving over a million streams on Spotify and receiving coverage from major outlets like Rolling Stone Australia.

Beyond performing, she holds a Bachelor of Music from Monash University and brings her expertise to various educational and community settings, directing choirs and teaching voice.

For links and videos of Dom's various bands
https://www.aredrummersmusicians.com/conversations/

This week’s special guest is drummer Joseph Batrouney.

We discuss his latest original album, ‘At Hand’, teaching, various styles of music, his hybrid cajon-drumkit, travel, practice, Melbourne, New York, Spain, and so much more! Joseph shares some of his ponderings about music education, the romanticism of being a professional musician and pursuing excellence on your instrument - and even touches on the good v bad of ‘the whiplash thing’. This was a really interesting conversation with a very talented musician who has lived, worked and studied with musicians across the world.

Australian-born Lebanese drummer Joseph Batrouney’s music reflects his rich and diverse journey across Middle Eastern, jazz, and flamenco genres. His formal education includes a Bachelor of Jazz and Contemporary Music from Monash University, with additional studies at New York University. He has been taught by notaries such as Tony Moreno, Nate Smith, Israel ‘Piraña’ Suarez, Bandolero, and Simon Barker.

Joseph's performance history includes collaborations with the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra, a feature performance with Zourouna for Multicultural Arts Victoria, performances at Cafe Berlin in Madrid, and international tours with Arte Kanela Flamenco. He has also performed with Riley Lee, a Shakuhachi Grand Master, and Diego Guerrero, (Latin Grammy-nominated).

His work draws heavily on early childhood listening experiences with Middle Eastern music, the theoretical foundation gained through formal study of the drumset, and the rawness of flamenco, as showcased in his recordings as an accompanist, freelance performances, and original EPs,'Salt' and 'At Hand.'

Special shoutout to the excellent drum tutorship of Paul Matcott, the high school drum teacher at BHS for both Joseph Batrouney and podcast host Luke.

The conversation is now available on all streaming platforms, YouTube and our website.

For more info and links to music, visit:

aredrummersmusicians.com/conversations/josephbatrouney

Today on the podcast, we’re diving into the dynamic musical world of Alex Kwong (A2K). 

We start the podcast with Alex raising the recent (at the time of recording in May this year) Drake and Kendrick Lamar beef, before diving in his thoughts on hip-hop, pop music and EDM. Alex walks us through his journey from young classical music student playing piano and cello to his current musical output as a highly successful producer.

We discuss so much, from his DJ, production, music and creative processes, collaborations, music for running, musical influences, his journey with various musical instruments, practice, hard work, and so much more. There’s a lot of discussion of music from the EMD, House and Drum & Bass worlds that I got to learn a lot about from what Alex was listening to and working on which expanded my musical knowledge a lot too. Alex shared some really interesting things about his multiple DAW process, separate creative and production tasks, making his sessions in ProTools look perfect, and balancing his music success with his other career.

Alex is such a kind hearted and humble human being, and having not seen him for 10 years since we were music friends at high school, it was so lovely to catch up with him and have my mind blown by all his production success on top of his medical career.

Known in the music industry as A2K, Alex is an independent producer from Melbourne whose tracks have amassed over 45 million streams. Alex's music has been shazamed more than 117,000 times and has garnered over 13 million views across TikTok and YouTube shorts.

A talented multi-instrumentalist, Alex's skills extend beyond the studio to live performances, where he captivates audiences as both a DJ and a musician alongside various artists. His notable collaborations include work with artists such as Zuhair, Will Singe, Rini, and Jereena Montemayor.

In addition to his prolific production career, Alex co-founded Amplified Entertainment; the culmination of three friends’ mutual passion for music, bringing professional DJ services and a platform for emerging musicians and performers to grow.

Alex's unique blend of skills and excellence spans beyond the arts as well. Not only a talented musician proficient on cello and piano, Alex excelled academically, achieving dux of his high school. Remarkably, alongside his music success, Alex is also a practising medical doctor.

The conversation is now available on all streaming platforms, YouTube and our website.

For more info and links to music, visit:

aredrummersmusicians.com/conversations/a2k

In Melbourne whilst hosting an all-female hip hop event, multidisciplinary artist Grace Chia stops by Brunswick to share some of her stories on the podcast.

Grace is very talented and successful in various artistic endeavours, so in our conversation we focus mostly on her journey with music making. We discuss her move to Tasmania where she established herself as a spoken word artist to where she has gained widespread attention for her performances as rapper and singer in the hip-hop scene.

We cover a lot of ground, as Grace shares inspiring and vulnerable experiences as a young female performer in male dominated spaces, and her success in creating safe events and supporting female and other identifying artists in the current hip hop scene in Tasmania and across Australia. Grace is also one of the first touring guests I’ve had on the podcast which is special as it’s expanding the show but also maintaining the very special in-person conversations here in Melbourne with musicians.

Grace is a self-made multidisciplinary artist who’s been making waves across the Tasmanian music scene, regularly releasing music and video content, including more than a single each month this year! With roots in spoken word poetry, Grace infuses her lyricism with deep thought, blending R&B melodies and old-school boom-bap beats to create raw, soulful performances. She uses the stage as a platform to address political and social issues often overlooked in mainstream hip-hop, empowering those who feel alone and voiceless.

Regularly performing at local hip-hop, queer-allied, and female-led gigs around Hobart, including MONA, Grace recently headlined MONA FOMA and has shared the stage with artists like Drapht, Allday, and international poets such as Alok Vaid-Menon. In collaboration with the all-female and non-binary band, FFLORA, Grace has taken her performances to new heights, reimagining her tracks for live band settings.

On top of her music career, Grace organises and promotes local hip-hop gigs, open mic nights, and facilitates tour stops for interstate artists in Tasmania. She’s just wrapped up an intense two-month run of 15 shows and is joining us today while in Melbourne for a special Australian hip-hop event she’s organised.

The conversation is now available on all streaming platforms, YouTube and our website.

For more info and links to music, visit:

aredrummersmusicians.com/conversations/gracechia

This week’s special guest on the podcast is drummer Holly Thomas.

Holly is an absolute legend and we chat about so much, from her time growing up and studying music in Adelaide, to moving to Melbourne, and all her various recording and touring gigs in between! There’s so much, but I hope you enjoy the conversation with this talented drummer as much as I did!

Holly is currently touring in the US with her band, Quivers. The day after we recorded this episode earlier in the year, Quivers signed a record deal, planned an international tour and began releasing music from their latest album ‘Oyster Cuts’ - which has been rapidly gaining global attention ever since!

Holly wore a hilariously loud jacket, both because of it’s bright red colour but mostly because of the very loud rustling - which turned out to be completely overshadowed by ‘Scout’ (our cohost and puppy) making so much noise in the background of this episode!

After relocating from Adelaide in 2017, Holly Thomas has quickly become a sought-after freelance drummer in Melbourne, known for her collaborations with a diverse range of artists and bands, including Husky, Quivers, Henry Wagons, and Freya Josephine Hollick. Holly has earned both bachelor and master’s degrees in music performance from the Elder Conservatorium of Music in Adelaide and has received various awards.

She has a rich background of musical experiences, including performances with Adelaide locals like Tkay Maidza, Leo Sayer, Courtney Act, and Peter Combe. Her talent extends to cabaret shows, having performed with Eddie Perfect, Hugh Sheridan, and Bob Downe. Additionally, she has showcased her skills in musical theatre, drumming for 'Ghost - The Musical' and 'Dusty - The Musical.’ Holly has toured nationally and internationally, performing at major festivals across Australia. Her extensive recording credits have earned her radio play worldwide. 

Holly is also passionate about supporting young women and gender non-conforming teenagers in music, as demonstrated through her involvement in the recent ABC TV show ‘Turn Up The Volume.’ I was looking forward to discussing this but we ran out of time, so hopefully Holly will come back for another episode and we can discuss that and hear all about her recent tour experience!

Join us as we discuss Holly’s journey with music, what she appreciates about the Melbourne music scene and her drumming on the latest Husky record.

The conversation is now available on all streaming platforms, YouTube and our website.

For more info and links to music, visit:

aredrummersmusicians.com/conversations/hollythomas

This week’s guest on the podcast is Kim Beales, a talented singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.

Kim started his day recording at Pughouse Studios in Melbourne, tracking drums, acoustic guitar, and vocals for his latest album. It was a fun morning recording drums for his latest project, and a relaxing afternoon having a chat over a cup of tea with Kim on the podcast.

We cover a lot of ground, from discussing his 2023 album Nine Portraits, to concepts of life, purpose, fulfilment, and a love of music and connection. 

Kim was also just back from a tour to China and Japan with artist Tamas Wells, both as a solo act performing his songs on a telecaster, and then with the band, playing guitar, vocals and his new Hofner bass. Kim shares his experience performing music with his friends across the globe, signing autographs, journaling, inhabiting the song, and his love for family, songwriting and the shared experience of music.

This is a lovely conversation with a lovely human. It’s interesting to hear Kim’s adventures with music across the years, from the tough music teacher swearing and hitting his hands as a young piano student, to moving at 15 and starting to play gigs at venues across Melbourne, and most recently the international tours.

Kim Beales is an Australian singer-songwriter, currently living in Tasmania, and is also a co-founder of Melbourne music label, North Fitzroy Records. 

In 2023, Kim released ‘Nine Portraits’, which features narrative songs inspired by characters from life, literature, and film. This release is accompanied by a series of line drawings, each a unique portrait representing a song. Through their stories and conversations Kim explores universal themes of friendship, desire, life, death and rock and roll. 

Kim’s earlier works include “Tambourine Sky”, a vibrant and uplifting record Inspired by artists of the sixties and integrating indie pop sounds. And more recently, Kim has been working on a follow up to “Nine Portraits” developing material both at home and abroad, during a time of long service leave.  

Special shoutouts in this episode include Tamas Wells, Niko Shauble (yes, another recent podcast guest - checkout episode 25!) from Pughouse Studios,  Jefry Yikwa, and Pete Carolane (episode 7), who mixed “Nine Portraits”.

The conversation is now available on all streaming platforms, YouTube and our website.

You can find “Nine Portraits” on all major streaming platforms. Stream on Spotify here.

Checkout North Fitzroy Records here.

Listen to the song “Emmanuel” on youtube here.

For more info and links to music, visit:

aredrummersmusicians.com/conversations/kimbeales

P.S. At the end, I asked Kim where he’d like to perform. He said later, “By that point in the interview my brain was going to fuzz! I’d just got to play a set at the Melbourne Recital Centre the night before (hard to beat that venue). Here in Tassie I’d like to do a gig someday at the Hedberg (a beautiful little theatre with a great sound). 

This week’s guest on the podcast is Caitlin Thomas, a talented songwriter, drummer, bandleader, and educator

Having arrived on an awesome motorbike, we start our conversation with Caitlin’s first love of music: Green Day. The conversation then expands ever onward and traverses her thoughts on writing, bandleading, playing drums, studying jazz, composing, session drumming and lots more. It is serious and fun, contemplative and humorous. She completed her music degree at Monash University at the same time as me and so it was really nice to hear all of Cailtin’s thoughts and experiences since we had last caught up. The conversation was also raw at times, as Cailtin was still processing the recent loss of her father who was a major inspiring and encouraging figure in her life (and that of many others).

Caitlin Thomas has toured nationally with production companies Skinnyfish Productions and Pop-Up Globe, and internationally  with Australian International Productions. She has gigged around Melbourne, performing her original music with bands, as well as playing drums for other local artists. She also completed a Bachelor of Music majoring in Jazz Performance at Monash University, graduating in 2018. 

Caitlin is a passionate teacher with over 10 years experience teaching drum students of all ages and experience. 

Join us as we explore Caitlin's musical journey, delve into her experiences on stage and in the classroom, and discuss her starting a maths degree to assist with lyrical accuracy for a musical she was composing.

You can also see Caitlin perform with her band Alpaka Maraka on the 2nd of November 2024 at The Penny Black in Brunswick.

The conversation is now available on all streaming platforms, YouTube and our website.

For more info and links to music, visit:

aredrummersmusicians.com

This week’s guest on the podcast is Niko Schauble, an award-winning drummer, composer, producer and audio engineer.

Full of incredible experiences, Niko sits down with us and reminisces on an incredible 40+ year career as a musician, composer and recording engineer/producer. Niko recalls memories from growing up in Germany, the joy and challenges of recording reel-to-reel on tape, playing with incredible musicians, moving to Australia, exploring sounds on the drums, writing music and building his recording studio in Thornbury - Pughouse Studios. We also chat about being a contemporary jazz drummer in the Melbourne scene, touch on the business and experience of building his recording studio and have a laugh too!

With a practice spanning the full range of contemporary notated and improvised music, Niko Schauble has many long lists of awards, recording and composition credits. He has performed with many of the world's leading artists including Wynton and Branford Marsalis, Sam Rivers, Lee Konitz, Dewey Redman, Enrico Rava, Greg Osby, Arthur Blythe, Palle Mikkelborg, Paul Grabowsky, Trilok Gurtu, Karaikudi R. Mani, Deborah Conway and Archie Roach. His work as a musician and composer is documented on over 60 albums. Niko’s compositions span film and television scores, ballet, interdisciplinary works, chamber and symphonic music, with major commissions from the Australian Art Orchestra, West Australian Ballet, Radiosinfonieorchester Frankfurt, Queensland Festival, the Berlin Jazz Composers Orchestra and the University Orchestra Ulm.  Niko was commissioned by the University of Ulm in Germany to create his work, ‘Clear Waters’, for Jazz Trio and large Symphony Orchestra. This work premiered in 2023.

Niko has held teaching positions in jazz and film music at Melbourne and Monash Universities,  University of Melbourne, Monash University, Melbourne Polytechnic and has been a guest lecturer at ANU, UTAS, WAAPA, Universities of Adelaide and Queensland, JIB (Jazz Institut Berlin) and the Sommerakademie der Landesmusikschule Berlin.

In 2012 Niko opened Pughouse Studios, a professional recording studio in Melbourne, Australia, producing more than 160 albums to date.

Join us as we discuss his journey with music, being born into a family of musicians, travelling the world, and establishing a special space for artists at Pughouse Studios in Thornbury.

The conversation is now available on all streaming platforms, YouTube and our website.

For more info and links to music, visit our website:

aredrummersmusicians.com/conversations/nikoschauble

This week’s special guest is Ryan Griffith, a renowned guitarist, composer and sound artist. 

We really cover a lot of ground on this conversation with Ryan, from his beginnings, the ‘creation hall’, bands, jazz, writing, music, education, mentorship - I wish we could have kept speaking for hours. Ryan has an infectious smile and a huge heart, and it really comes across I think through all his different work, most recently highlighted by his creation of the Hurstbridge Jazz Club and album with his music and life partner Kimba - ‘Turn Up The Quiet.’ Ryan even makes me sing along - so it’s lots of fun, really deep, contemplative and exciting all in a quick hour! Ryan is really cultivating some amazing spaces and encouraging young musicians too. Join us for a great chat and insights about music and life from this authentic human and amazing guitarist.

Since graduating from The Victorian College of the Arts in 2001, Ryan has captivated audiences across Melbourne with his diverse musical styles, ranging from bebop and big band swing to funk and blues. He has graced stages large and small—from jazz clubs and  the Spiegeltent at the Melbourne International Festival to opening for iconic acts like Silverchair and You Am I.  

Ryan’s talents extend beyond performance; he's composed works for theatre, film, and major events such as the 2000 Olympic Games. His compositions have reached international audiences, released through labels in the UK, Australia, and America.

He's also a respected music educator, imparting his knowledge to the next generation of musicians. 

Recently, Ryan has been making waves with the Hurstbridge Jazz Club, a community initiative born out of the pandemic's impact on live performances. This venue provides a platform for both seasoned jazz musicians and emerging talents, fostering a vibrant local music scene.

The conversation is now available on all streaming platforms, YouTube and our website.

For more info and links to music, visit our website:

aredrummersmusicians.com/conversations/ryangriffith