Are Drummers Musicians?

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...

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 Caro...

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 drum...

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 instrument...

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 a...

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 supergr...

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 in...

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 differen...

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...

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....

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...

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 g...

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...

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, an...

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...

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...

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 la...

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 un...

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...

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 t...

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 pas...

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, leavi...

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...

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. Ow...

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...