Are Drummers Musicians?

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 differ...

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 v...

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 learn...

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...

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...

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...

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 ha...

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 approac...

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 se...

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 ab...

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 ...

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 ...

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 t...

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, spi...

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,...

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 form...

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 record...

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...

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...