PIVOTAL SLICE: on writing & composing

Our guest today is Helen Bowie, a performer, multidisciplinary writer and creative facilitator. Through her work she explores the fluidity between these areas, and the way that words interact with the world. Jade speaks to Helen about puzzles and word games, interactive performance, and the comedy of mundanity.  Pre-order Helen’s new book  Exposition Ladies , ‘a love letter to the poorly-scribbled...

WARNING! This episode covers some deep, and possibly triggering, topics including drug addiction, alcoholism, suicide and mental illness. We also swear a lot. Please only listen if you are in a stable mindset.  ------- The story of the ‘tragic artist’ is a dangerous myth in our society, and carries a morbid fascination for many onlookers. But the true roots of addiction are rarely discussed; it is...

Our guest today is Melissa James, a singer-songwriter, activist and mind-health advocate. She has organised many charity projects and events, and brought together artists and influencers to discuss social issues through ‘Stronger on Sundays’. Jade talks to Melissa about finding her way to her truth and how she uses music, spiritual practice and authentic communication to heal the wounds of society...

David and Jade are in full deconstruction mode today, as they discuss how structure works in the contexts of storytelling, music and Hollywood movies. They ask the question: ‘How can we use structure to trigger emotional reactions in our audience?’ and talk about the works that have inspired their own process.  David shares his new release, ‘Virtuoso’, at the end of the episode. You can purchase t...

Jade and David speak to Mary in the Mirror, a singer-songwriter who weaves evocative storylines into her music, using her life experiences as inspiration in her writing process. With a distinctive Bristol sound, she infuses hip-hop, trap and drill beats with jazz soul vocals and a Celtic twist. Mary talks about her experiences as a woman in a male-dominated industry and how she has adapted her pro...

David talks to Rob MacDonald, a stonemason, sculptor, drummer, writer of poetry and political artist. Rob’s goal is to build an international movement of revolutionary artists. He does this through organizing Outa-Space arts podcast, community participation monuments like Solidarity Park, and creative teaching and workshops.  Discover more about Solidarity Park: https://solidaritypark.com/ Listen...

Welcome to Season 2 of Pivotal Slice! In this episode Jade and David reflect on Season 1 of the pod, talk about what they've learned and why 'the art life' is so important to them. They also discuss society's view of artists and the beliefs we carry about pursuing a career in the creative industries.  Music by David Mackenzie Follow your hosts: https://linktr.ee/davidmackenzie...

David chats to poet, photographer and filmmaker Janet Lees about her artistic process and the path she has taken through recovery and spiritual growth. Janet’s work is published in journals and anthologies around the world, and her own book of poetry and photography is entitled ‘House of Water’ (2019).  View Janet’s work and purchase her book: https://janetlees.weebly.com/ Follow Janet’s Instagram...

It’s ‘Childhood Month’ on Pivotal Slice! Your hosts discuss the link between past experiences and present beliefs about art, work and self-worth. They ask the question: ‘Are all children inherently creative?’ and explore the genesis of their own relationships to creativity.  In the second half of the episode, Jade and David share pieces of work inspired by childhood and talk about how they created...

Jade speaks to prolific writer Irenosen Okojie about her unique path into the literary world, finding a mentor and tips for staying inspired. Irenosen is the author of novel Butterfly Fish and two short story collections, Speak Gigantular and Nudibranch . She is known for her forays into surrealism, richly complex characters and vividly poetic imagery, and is one of the most exciting Black female...

David and Jade debunk the cringey corporate buzzspeak we all dread to hear as artists, and discuss how the principles of business can be applied to building a following.   CHAPTERS: 16:05 - Finding your unique story 30:45 - Writing a mission statement 40:30 - Marketing and self-promotion Support us on Patreon NOW and you can suggest a topic for an exclusive mini-episode, available only to Patrons!...

We’re overjoyed to be joined by Caitlin Durante! Caitlin is a writer, comedian and co-host of the hugely successful Bechdel Cast, a podcast about the representation of women in film. As a stand-up she has performed all over America as well as the Edinburgh Fringe festival. She teaches screenwriting workshops from her home in L.A., drawing on her knowledge as a story analyst and script expert. Jade...

Our guest today is writer and podcaster Zoe Fox, who founded ‘The Curl Squad’ with the intention of sharing stories about natural curly hair and empowering underrepresented women to become the best versions of themselves. Through conversation, community and self-development, Zoe inspires her audience to face their fears and overcome limitations that may be holding them back. In her podcast, she sp...

Today we are digging into David’s process of writing music. He has been working as a composer for over two decades and shares his wisdom, including tips for breaking through creative barriers and incorporating self-development practices into your work. David draws inspiration from many sources, and his recently launched brand fuses classical and electronic sounds. We’ll be playing a selection of h...

We’re mixing things up by putting our host, fiction writer Jade Green, in the hot seat. David talks to Jade about her process for planning and outlining a novel, how to form daily habits and set realistic goals, and the similarities between writing and running.  Jade is currently working on her second novel, a multi-generational story about three women coming face-to-face with their unresolved tra...

A very special guest joins us for an episode delving into the elusive process of comedy writing. Bill is known for his work as a writer, producer and showrunner on the ‘classic’ era of The Simpsons , as well as contributions to Futurama , Regular Show , Portlandia and his own creation Mission Hill . More recently he has made a name for himself as a connoisseur of fast food, becoming an Influencer...

On this episode we will be getting fluid as we talk about dance and movement with guest Lucie Lee, a dancer, artist and choreographer based in the North of England. Lucie leads an impressive life, balancing being a mother with running her business, teaching and studying for a PhD. Her work incorporates themes of psychology, meditation, neuroscience and digital technology, which makes for a fascina...

At the behest of the Halloween Gods, your hosts have put together this frightfully fiendish special episode where they discuss all things horror! Joining them to talk about indie horror filmmaking, and his new movie ‘Sacrilege’, is Bristol director David Creed. As a spooky bonus they will also play music from Indian short film ‘Twenty-five’, and exclusive sound design from an immersive theatre pro...