The Femme Music Podcast by Mel Lathouras – Details, episodes & analysis

In this heart-filled, laugh-out-loud episode, I sit down with the glorious Sue Ray—a proud Gamilaraay woman, award-winning singer-songwriter, and total genre-bending powerhouse.

We talk about her roots in country and punk, her deep love for jazz, and the wild ride from 1AM Troubadour gigs to Nina Simone tributes at the Brisbane Powerhouse.

✨ Expect stories, Brisbane nostalgia, music memories, laughs, and so much heart.

🎟️ Come see us LIVE at Femme Jazz Sessions — Thursday 29 May @ The Cave Inn

Book Your Tickets Here 

Let's dive into the good stuff!

00:20 – Meet Sue Ray

01:55 – The Fondelles + band beginnings

06:52 – Musical roots in Toowoomba

20:52 – Discovering jazz + first influences

26:12 – Nina Simone tribute + the Powerhouse

28:21 – Toowoomba Jazz Club magic

31:09 – Social media vs. live audience

34:35 – Nashville sessions + new music

41:26 – Final reflections + what's next

📲 Follow Sue Ray: @sueraymusic | www.sueraymusic.com

🎧 More from Mel: @mellathouras | www.fearlesssinger.com

#FearlessSinger #SueRay #FemmeJazz #SingerSongwriterPodcast #WomenInMusic

In this inspiring episode of the Fearless Singer Podcast, I sit down with the brilliant
Alex Van den Broek—arranger, choral director, singer-songwriter, and vocal harmony legend.

We chat about everything from:

✨ Her creative process and how she builds those spine-tingling vocal arrangements

✨ Growing a TikTok following of nearly 300K (!!) through viral harmony videos

✨ The knock-backs, imposter syndrome and how she's navigated them with grace

✨ Her epic work with The Little Red Company and Lord Mayor's Christmas Carols

✨ Plus, she's joining us as one of our stellar line up of jazz vocalists at Femme Jazz on May 9 💃🎷

Alex is one of those rare artists who brings big inspiration and big heart—and keeps it real about the journey. This one's for singers, harmony lovers, and creatives chasing their dreams on the heart-and-soul path.

🎧 Prefer to watch this episode?

📺 Watch on YouTube 

🧿 More on Alex Van den Broek

Follow her on Instagram → @alexvandenbroek

TikTok → @avdbsings

🎟️ See Alex LIVE at Femme Jazz – 9 May in Brisbane

Tix & details → https://events.humanitix.com/femme-jazz-a-celebration-of-jazzy-femme-folk

✨ About Fearless Singer

Fearless Singer is a coaching platform and creative community founded by Mel Lathouras, helping singers reclaim their voices, overcome fear, and step into their artistry—with zero perfectionism and all heart.

🌐 Learn more → fearlesssinger.com

Follow Mel → @mellathouras | @fearlesssingers

❤️‍🔥 Loved this ep? Rate + review the pod, and share it with a fellow singer who needs to hear it!

#FearlessSinger #AlexVanDenBroek #FemmeJazz #VocalHarmony #JazzVocalist #ChoralMusic #CreativeJourney #SingerPodcast #VoiceConfidence #WomenInMusic

Unlock the unsexy (or sexy—depending on what you're into) truth about building confidence on the Fearless Singer Podcast! Mel Lathouras (that's me) explores practical strategies for cultivating confidence, which is essential for every singer's journey. Tune in for insights and actionable steps.

Plus, upcoming workshop details!

Her Voice: Vocal Confidence & Power Workshop - enrol here: 

Get started with the Fearless Singer Membership here.

Follow Me:

👌🏻 Insta: https://www.instagram.com/mellathouras

🧿 FB: https://www.facebook.com/mel.lathouras

🎤 Website: http://www.fearlesssinger.com

🎙️ Fearless Singer Podcast Episode 41: The Life-changing Magic of Turning 40 ✨ Embracing renewed fearlessness, authenticity, and taking risks! Tune in now! Make your dreams a reality, Singer!

Here's the Vocal Glow Up - FREE 8min Daily Singing Routine, ebook and course mentioned:

Here's info about the Fearless Singer Membership - weekly online group coaching and access to all Fearless Singer Courses. 

Let me know what resonated with you in the comments!

I LOVE hearing from you. 

Love
Mel ❤️‍🔥  X 

🎙️ An Inspiring Convo about Uncovering Your Creative Light: Meet Victoria Watson ✨

This Fearless Singer podcast episode is a  heartwarming chat with the talented Singer, Songwriting Coach, and creator of "Uke 'n' Bake," Victoria Watson. 

As a member of the seminal Brisbane band Some Jerks, Victoria shares her story about embracing her creative spirit and blending her passions for music, baking and fashion. 

In this episode, Victoria delves into overcoming stage nerves, navigating the challenges of growing up as a quirky, creative kid in rural Gatton after emigrating from Scotland at five years old, and the transformative power of finding her passion in music but most importantly, finding her voice in music. 

Discover how she made the leap from a long-term career in childcare to pursuing her full-time creative calling.

Don't miss this inspiring episode of Fearless Singer, which nearly ended abruptly when a fly snuck into Vic's nose and down her mouth as she was chatting away. But it didn't - because Vic's a bloody legend. 

🔗 Subscribe for more inspiring conversations and to never miss an episode!

✍🏻 Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review for other like minded folk to find this podcast. 

 P.S. Apologies for some inconsistencies with mic levels - still getting my head around the tech! 

Love

Mel ❤️‍🔥🎵

Follow Mel 

💜🎤 Blog: http://www.fearlesssinger.com 

💜⚡️I share a lot about singing, and mindset adventures on Instagram. Come on over! https://www.instagram.com/mellathouras/

htIn the latest episode of the Fearless Singer Podcast, host Mel Lathouras overcomes her own fear of speaking about the political and social division as well as the atrocities happening around the world.

Mel dives deep into the interconnectedness of humanity, emphasising the importance of unity and peace.

She candidly shares her own fear about addressing these crucial issues but realises that her yearning for positive change surpasses any fear of 'getting things wrong'.

She urges Singers and Professional Voice Users to step into their "healing" roles and use their voices for positive change.

Follow Mel on Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Website  

G'day Singer! 🎤

 In this episode, I almost didn't hit that "share" button because I was wrestling with a #vulnerabilityhangover.

You see, I've been in the trenches battling imposter syndrome and the relentless chatter of my inner critic these past weeks. Juggling multiple projects and being more visible online and onstage has a way of cranking up that inner noise.

But here's the thing: the critical mind is a constant companion wherever you are on your spiritual or singing journey. And that's perfectly fine.

Embracing it as a normal part of the human experience is the key. I like to think of it as akin to popping a satisfying blackhead (pardon the analogy). Let's be honest; there's something oddly gratifying about that!

In this episode, I bare it all and share a deep-seated story that's been on repeat in my subconscious, like an old VHS tape stuck on replay. It's the tale of "nobody likes me, I had no friends in high school" – cue Pauly Shore. You'd get that reference if you grew up with 90s trashy high school comedies.

I had to confront this narrative head-on because it was gaining steam and hindering my efforts to promote gigs on social media.

I dubbed it my personal ball and chain, something I needed to let go of because it was holding me back.

And then there's the narrative of not being "Greek Enough" for a musical project with my best mates called "Girl From Greece." 😆

We're launching officially next week, and it's a big deal! We have members of our Greek community, my family, a bouzouki player from Melbourne, and a guitarist from Cairns all attending.

But here's the twist—I can't speak Greek, at least not fluently enough for meaningful conversations or even asking where the toilet is.

So, I'll walk you through my process of conquering these narratives. I'll also spill the beans on some nifty "motivation hacking" tricks I've picked up from Brendon Burchard and Mel Robbins. Plus, I even use classroom behaviour management tactics on myself.

So, if you're grappling with kickstarting your projects, this episode is a treasure trove of tools and tips.

 -----------------

Now, for some EXCITING news! We're hosting our first-ever Fearless Singer Jam this Sunday (note Jam, not Showcase).

After receiving numerous requests from talented souls wanting to perform at the showcase (which is exclusive to Fearless Singer members), we've decided to open up our performance opportunities to other singers who want to be part of our beautiful community.

 We've curated an AMAZING lineup, and you can check out all their profiles on Facebook and Instagram. If you're curious, join us at the Bearded Lady this Sunday, September 17th.

We kick off at 2 p.m., and it's just $10 at the door, with all proceeds going directly to the band. RSVP here: https://fb.me/e/3QWRt3Dbh

Let me know if you'd like to take the stage in the next one, sing your heart out, and be part of our magic!

And, of course, mark your calendars for Girl from Greece's debut concert next Saturday, September 23rd.

I'll sing in my great-grandparent's language, share family stories, and jam with the incredible Katerini, Christina Xydi Lignou, and our stellar band. You can snag your tickets here: https://bit.ly/GirlfromGreece

 I absolutely love hearing from you! If any of this resonates with you or if you have your own strategies for coaching yourself through similar challenges, drop me a line.

Let's connect and share the love!

Lots of love, Mel Xx ❤️‍🔥🎵

Follow Mel

💜🎤 Blog: http://www.fearlesssinger.com

💜⚡️I share a lot about singing, and mindset adventures on Instagram. Come on over! https://www.instagram.com/mellathouras/ 

This is my story on how deadlines and I became friends after a tumultuous relationship, starting back when I was 10.

Yes, I have been deadline-resistant for most of my adult life until now.

A few years ago, I had finished my music degrees, and the gigs that had come so easily to me stopped.

I went quite a while without performing. And my self-confidence dwindled – I was a fish out of water.

I then realised I had to take responsibility for making my opportunities.

These brilliant ideas I kept telling people about (mostly my Mum and my best friend Amy, who I FaceTime daily) wouldn't be manifested without action.

So, I reached out to JMI Live and asked for a gig. It was a few months into the future, so there was enough space not to freak out but a clear deadline.

And I found my new method to make things happen – book the show even when you're not ready!

This method can apply to any project really. Set a date and tell people about it!

In this episode, you can learn about how to:

✨ Bite the bullet and give yourself a clear date (even if you don't feel ready), and then reverse engineer your project. 

✨How to ask for a gig at a Venue - ask for what you want! 

✨Uncover resistance and coach yourself out of it.

I also let you know about all of our exciting Fearless Singer Events. If you want to stay posted, go to www.fearlesssinger.com/events 

As always, let me know what resonates with you!! 

Lots of love

Mel ❤️‍🔥🎵

Follow Mel 💜🎤 

Blog: http://www.fearlesssinger.com 

💜⚡️I share a lot about singing and mindset adventures on Instagram. Come on over! 

As a long-time admirer of Singer-Songwriter Emma Dean, welcoming her to the Fearless Singer Podcast was an exciting fan-girl moment.

Emma's impressive accolades includes multiple albums, iconic projects like the Cheap Trill community choir, and a standout appearance at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Beyond her thriving performing career, Emma is now a creativity coach, offering an upcoming 8-week course that delves into creative expression.

In this episode, we explore Emma's journey, temporarily stifled by pre-teen bullying.

She shares how her high school music teacher helped her reclaim the stage, leading to her role as Audrey in The Little Shop of Horrors.

Emma discusses how bullying can foster a fear of standing out and stifling creativity, which ties into managing the inner critic. She offers practical techniques for breaking free from self-doubt and rediscovering creative flow.

'We also talk about the importance of creative communities, self-acceptance, the power of storytelling, pursuing happiness, and reframing success.

Emma also shares how her creative output now looks different with baby twinnies and how she has learnt to embrace her new pace.

Don't miss this beautiful episode! You can also watch it on Youtube here. 

And if you've ever doubted your creative abilities, Emma's 8-week course, Exploring Creativity, might be your answer – with early bird pricing ending today. Follow Emma on Insta. 

Love
Mel ❤️‍🔥🎵

Follow Mel 💜🎤

Blog: http://www.fearlesssinger.com

💜⚡️I share a lot about singing, and mindset adventures on Instagram @mellathouras. Come on over! 

Join us as we reunite with the AMAZING Katerini Manolatos, a singer, music therapist, now producer, and my dear friend. 

If you tuned into her episode last year, you might remember her story and insights into her Greek heritage and her music therapy journey. 

Since then, we've embarked on musical adventures together, including performances in Brisbane's Greek Choir, Ellinikes Fones, and the creation of our very own production company, Girl From Greece.

🎤 Highlights of the Episode:

✨ The Birth of Girl From Greece: Delve into how Katerini and I established "Girl From Greece," a dynamic project driven by a profound purpose. Discover the driving force behind this project and how it fuels our passion for music and community.

✨ Our debut Girl From Greece concert: Here about all the behind-the-scenes as we prepare for our debut concert on Saturday, 23 September 2023. 

✨ Greek Connection and Beyond: Explore the incredible power of friendship, family, and community as we share personal stories that reflect the profound influence of Greek culture on our lives and music.

✨ Manifesting Dreams: If you dream of bringing a project to life, this episode is your source of inspiration. Uncover the secrets to turning your aspirations into reality as we discuss our journey from idea to creation.

 🎟️ Join the Journey: Curious about our Girl From Greece Concert or eager to book tickets? Find all the details you need here. Immerse yourself in the power of music and culture as you experience the beauty of our upcoming concert.

📻 Extra Treat: Discover the enchanting world of Greek stories beyond our podcast! Catch us on Kate O'Toole's Music Rabbit Hole segment on ABC Brisbane Radio. We share tales of the Lathouras diaspora story and how music rekindled our connection to our Greek roots. Listen in at the 1:00:00 mark here.

🌍 Share Your Story: We're eager to hear your cultural background and how music influences your connection to it. Leave a comment or DM me on Instagram @mellathouras 

Love
Mel ❤️‍🔥🎵🎤

P.S. Prefer to watch our interview, you can do this here.