My name is Stevie Taylor. I’m getting the stories of the musicians, producers, performers and industry people from Australia, NZ and beyond, and bringing them to you. I think we’re rolling...
Episodes
Thursday Dec 13, 2018
Thursday Dec 13, 2018
Jess Ciampa began his musical life as a trumpet player but changed to percussion halfway through a Bachelor of Music Education degree at the NSW Conservatorium. He is a multi instrumentalist at home in a variety of styles of music, ranging from mainstream orchestral through to jazz, latin and commercial. He has performed with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Synergy Percussion, the Seymour Group and the Sydney Dance Company and was also percussionist for The Lion King stage show. Jess has performed with several groups as part of the Musica Viva in Schools program. He currently plays with the group Zeeko as part of this program.
Recorded in Northmead, NSW Australia 22/11/2018
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRNYP6oKgEM
Thursday Dec 06, 2018
Thursday Dec 06, 2018
Yanya Boston: “Since the turn of the millennium I have spent a lot of time on the road all around the globe as both drummer and more recently drummer/musical director. As a strong supporter of upcoming original music, I'm happiest holding down the backbeat behind some of Australias finest upcoming talent, Thandi Phoenix, JOY, Thelma Plum, Karen Lee Andrews, but I also have had the pleasure of playing for the likes of Tina Arena, Danni Minogue, Human Nature, Ronan Keating, Jess Mauboy, Guy Sebastian, Emma Donovan… and I've done numerous television appearances with touring acts such as Katy Perry, Neo, Robyn Thicke, Jessie J, Megan Trainor, Anne-Marie, to name a few.”
Recorded in Alexandria, NSW Australia 06/11/2018
https://www.instagram.com/yanyaboston/
Thursday Nov 29, 2018
Thursday Nov 29, 2018
Diana Rouvas, most recently known for her appearance on the first Season of the Voice Australia… Has always embraced music as a way of life. Starting vocal training at the age of 4, and writing original material at the age of 8.
At the age of 17, Diana joined the multi ARIA award-winning Tina Arena on backing vocals on a tour of France, where she performed to capacity crowds at the legendary Olympia Hall. Diana has been invited to represent her home of Australia at the Annual Australia Week G’day LA Celebrations held in Los Angeles, celebrating US achievements by Australians including Mel Gibson, Keith Urban, Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett and Olivia Newton John.
Diana has also had the privilege of recording her original material with legendary soul funk band "RUFUS" from "RUFUS & CHAKA KHAN" in 2006.
Over the years her material sparked the attention of artists such as Mary.J Blige, The Pussy Cat Dolls, And Alicia keys.
This singer is bewitching in live performance mode…. And some have gone as far to say she superseded their expectations when seeing her live.
Currently working on a new material for a future release.
Recorded in Northmead, NSW Australia 23/11/2018
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyxCrTd-ERkQcGhOYptn95w
https://www.facebook.com/dianarouvas/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6DsnHe5DjvpuS4iFQgVypp?si=nuywRq0ORwONVTcfJ2E1wA
23/05/19 UPDATE!: Diana is now featuring on The Voice Australia Season 8 as a member of Team Boy George
Sunday Nov 25, 2018
Sunday Nov 25, 2018
Jonnie Adams. Long time drummer for Doug Williams & The Mix, and former staff member of the old Billy Hydes Drumcraft.
Recorded in Northmead, NSW Australia 20/11/2018
https://www.facebook.com/dougwilliamsandthemix/
Thursday Nov 22, 2018
Thursday Nov 22, 2018
Fran Kora. Vocalist, bass player and actor from the bay of plenty in New Zealand. Current front man and founding member of the band KORA, and also a member of the Modern Maori Quartet.
Recorded in Auckland, NZ & Sydney, Australia 15/11/2018
https://www.facebook.com/KoraOfficial/
https://www.facebook.com/ModernMaoriQuartet/
https://www.instagram.com/franciskora/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/modernmaoriquartet/?hl=en
Monday Nov 19, 2018
Monday Nov 19, 2018
Craig Calhoun. Award winning Composer, Producer, multi-instrumentalist, mentor, Music Technologist and creator of Eurofunk.
The Supremes, Chris Hinze, Marcia Hines, Wa Wa Nee, Renee Geyer, Kevin Borich, Marks Williams and Erana Clarke to name just a few.
Recorded in Forrestville, NSW Australia 12/11/2018
https://www.facebook.com/craig.calhoun.9480
https://www.youtube.com/user/ccbass16/videos
https://www.instagram.com/craigcalhounofficial/?hl=en
Friday Nov 16, 2018
Friday Nov 16, 2018
Terepai Richmond. Arguably, Australia's most recorded and toured drummer. D.I.G (Directions in Groove), SWOOP, Professor Groove and the Booty Affair, The Whitlams, Savage Garden, Missy Higgins, Soul Decision, Pete Murray, Guy Sebastian, Poppy Galactic and the Beat and many, many more.
Recorded in Cronulla, NSW Australia 11/11/2018
Poppy Galactic and the Beat:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/3FwZjYvDXp3uA9nTFtkWt0?si=sdehotjbQWenR00JDF4ecA
D.I.G:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2s5nNM5jiZD7NhsqxeXuQj?si=t3uj5tHiSS-As_OAPjz4Fw
https://www.instagram.com/thepaiman/
Wednesday Nov 14, 2018
Wednesday Nov 14, 2018
Daniel March is an exciting new face taking his place amongst the independent soul music movement with his debut self titled album. Released October 17 in Japan via a deal with acclaimed label P-Vine and in Korea through Leaplay Records (Angus & Julia Stone, Brian McKnight) the 10 track long player showcases a rich blend of soulful sounds that is both lyrically refreshing and musically appealing.
The first single ‘Magic’ from his latest release is a breezy, intoxicating slice of pop-soul produced by Daniel and Simon Cohen (Justin Bieber, Guy Sebastian, Jessica Mauboy) that will be accompanied by an animated video by Isaiah FiftyFour Design in London.
Splitting his time between London and Sydney, the well-respected multi-instrumentalist has been honing his craft working with the likes of Grammy nominated singer, songwriter, and MC, Maimouna Youssef aka Mumu Fresh (The Roots, Common), Chantae Cann (best known for her work with Grammy Winners Snarky Puppy and Foreign Exchange), Jordan Rakei, Wallace, Thandi Phoenix, Young Gun Silver Fox’s Andy Platts and rising UK star Tiana Major 9 to name but a few.
Influenced equally by the likes of Prince and Van Hunt as he is the soulful acoustic work of Ben Harper and John Mayer, Daniel’s organic early recordings took place in Atlanta, Georgia USA alongside the likes of Khari Cabral Simmons (Donnie, India Arie), acclaimed songstress Julie Dexter and Bugz In The Attic’s Daz-I-Kue but it was his 2015 single ‘Nina’ that saw him mentioned as one to watch in soul circles. In December 2017 Daniel followed up ‘Nina' with the single 'Falling For You' and a remix by Ashley Beedle through Ramrock records. ‘Falling For You’ landed Daniel substantial airplay on UK radio such as Mi Soul, Solar, Jazz FM and BBC.
Recorded in Cronulla, NSW Australia 11/11/2018
www.soundcloud.com/DMarchSounds
https://www.facebook.com/DMarchSounds/
https://www.instagram.com/danielmarchmusic/
Friday Nov 09, 2018
Friday Nov 09, 2018
Dave Goodman. Jazz critic John Clare has described Dave Goodman as ‘one of the leading drummers in the country’ and ‘[one of] the most intriguing drummers recording anywhere’. At just eighteen, Dave received an invitation to join the renowned Mike Nock Quartet and, at twenty, came second in the prestigious National Jazz Awards. Today, he is, undoubtedly, one of Australia’s most important jazz drummers.
This is evident in the long list of luminaries – both Australian and international – with whom Dave has worked: Joe Lovano, Paul Bollenback, Bernie McGann, James Morrison, Don Burrows, Vince Jones and Mark Isaacs, to name just a few. At present, he is a key member of several of Australia’s finest ensembles, including Ten Part Invention, Kevin Hunt Trio, Steve Barry Quartet, and Matt Keegan Trio. ‘Dave’s infectious love of music, his dedication to jazz drumming and his melodic approach to the drumset have been a source of inspiration to me for twenty years,’ Matt says.
Combining technical mastery with profound musicality, Dave’s drumming is celebrated for its powerful melodic sensibility and, most importantly, its distinctive voice. Chief influences include Jack DeJohnette, Vinnie Colaiuta and Andrew Gander. ‘Each of these guys come out of Tony Williams, Elvin Jones and Roy Haynes in their own way,' Dave explains. 'I love them fundamentally because they are uniquely creative and original in playing only the essence of what each piece of music requires. I aspire to this in my own work.'
Following in the footsteps of his predecessors, Dave is a genuine innovator: relentlessly imaginative and constantly evolving. His professional experience has been augmented with extensive study, both formal and informal. He holds a First Class Honours degree in Jazz Performance and a PhD in Jazz Drumset Performance Studies from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, and has studied under several world-class musicians, including Billy Hart, Joe Morello, Jim Chapin and Chad Wackerman.
As a bandleader and composer in his own right, Dave counts numerous creative projects under his belt. Previous undertakings include Dave Goodman’s Strange Loop, featuring guitarist James Muller; eleven-piece ensemble Game 1A: Chess; Ad Infinitum, which, in 2002, was commissioned for a recording by the ABC’s Jim McLeod’s Jazztrack; and the Dave Goodman Quartet, which performed at the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz and Blues.
As an educator, Dave draws on over twenty years of teaching experience from previous appointments at prominent institutions such as Sydney Conservatorium of Music, and his pedagogical vision is ‘to help aspiring drummers to realistically evaluate and improve their own rate of progress over time by establishing and adhering to a regular practise routine that includes technique, repertoire, improvisation, and performance studies’.
Dave plays Sonor Drums, Bosphorus Cymbals, Remo Drumheads, Vater Drumsticks, DW Pedals & Hardware, and Roc-N-Soc Thrones exclusively.
Recorded in Sydney, NSW Australia 31/11/2018
https://www.facebook.com/dgoodmanmusic/
Sonor Drums: http://www.sonor.com/artists/dave-goodman/
Bosphorus Cymbals: http://bosphoruscymbals.com/
Remo Drumheads: https://remo.com/
Vater Drumsticks: https://www.vater.com/
DW Hardware: http://dwdrums.com/hardware/6000/
Roc-N-Soc Thrones: https://rocnsoc.com/
Modacity Practice App: https://www.modacity.co/
Monday Nov 05, 2018
Monday Nov 05, 2018
Karen Lee Andrews (Formerly known by her stage name Ms Murphy) came into the public’s awareness in 2013, through her soul slaying performances on TV’s hit show, The Voice Australia. Ms Andrews has that rare gift to communicate the unspeakable. Cameron Adams, from the Herald Sun, says, “Ms Andrews has one of those authentic sounds you hear, even through the gloss of TV, you can tell she has lived and loved.” Her sensibility allows the audience to surrender to the music, the experience is mutually warm and commanding. Paul Sheehan from Sydney Morning Herald states, “She is one of the most original and dignified talents to emerge in Australian popular entertainment in a long time. She manages to be both imperial yet vulnerable “.
In a church hall that Karen discovered the depths of her voice. As a young woman, she dedicated herself to gospel hymns and was called upon to lead the church band as music director. The duty was a natural fit: growing up around her mother’s large Polynesian family had instilled in her the role of music in bringing people together.
The responsibility also became, in large part, Karen’s musical education. In charge of delivering a moving hymn from a group of players and singers with varied abilities, she herself needed to know the ins and outs of piano and guitar, leads and backing harmonies. Karen had to know how to get the best from every instrument, every singer. To do so, Ms Andrews called upon the music she loved as a young girl: Soul and Gospel. In the crowded Andrews family home in Koonawarra, a young Karen listened to her brother’s Motown records and to the satin voice of Stevie Wonder. Singing along to those golden hits, and to traditional Polynesian songs, was simply part of everyday family life.
This would become the foundation of her original style – Oceanic Blues.
Recorded in Northmead, NSW Australia 05/11/2018
https://www.karenleeandrews.com/home
https://www.facebook.com/karenleeandrews/