As It Comes Podcast: Life from a Musician's Point of View

Welcome back to the podcast! (Welcome back Davina, that is)

Producer/arranger/multi-instrumentalist/composer/cat lover Fred Thomas is my guest this episode. We spoke about his musical journey, which includes growing up in a household of a former CBSO concertmaster, making music playlists to fall asleep to, as well as how the key to learning lots of musical instruments is learning how to "cheat". Fred also spoke about his pandemic experience, as well as what he'd like to be if he weren't a musician.

If you fancy supporting the podcast, you can do so here: ko-fi.com/asitcomespod. Leave me a nice review or rating on Apple Podcasts!

Follow and like the podcast on Facebook and Instagram @asitcomespod

Featured track:

Overture no.3 BWV1068 ‘Air’

Fred Thomas

Find out more about Fred's work, including his new album 'Three or One'

Instagram: @fredthomasmusic Facebook: @fredthomasukmusic Fred's YouTube Channel Twitter: FredThomMusic Smartlink: https://fans.link/fred thomas music Three Or One: https://ECM.lnk.to/ThreeOrOneFP Find Fred on Bandcamp , Spotify or Apple Music

We're back! Episode 54 features flute player, pianist, teacher, musician Bethany Norman. We chatted about her anti-climactic graduation from music college mid-pandemic, the challenges of being a recent music grad in the current climate, being versatile (including teaching your secondary instrument) and what Bethany would be if she weren't a musician.

If you fancy supporting the podcast, you can do so here: ko-fi.com/asitcomespod. Leave me a nice review or rating on Apple Podcasts!

Follow and like the podcast on Facebook and Instagram @asitcomespod

Mentioned in this episode:

Bethany's Instagram: @bethanynmusic

Bethany's website: www.bethanynmusic.com

Just Playing It By Ear Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/just-playing-it-by-ear/id1554768830

George Wakerley aka Confidential joins me for Episode 53. He's a producer of lo-fi hip-hop beats and shared with me the story of his musical journey, struggles with his mental health, as well as being a role model for his son.

Content warning: depression, binge eating and suicide.

If you fancy supporting the podcast, you can do so here: ko-fi.com/asitcomespod

Mentioned in this episode:

George's socials:

Instagram: @confidential_lofi

Facebook: @confidentiallofi

Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/confidential_lofi

Pianist Sarah Nicolls and cellist Maja Bugge spoke to me about raising awareness of the climate crisis via their show “Ballad of a Changing World.” Listen to how they collaborated during the pandemic and how they’re able to push the limits of their creativity with Sarah’s Inside-Out Piano and Maja’s enthusiasm for jazz and free improv. We also spoke about the unspoken art of good pizzicato, as well as well-rotted manure (stay with me…) This is not indicative of the quality of the chat, by the way!

Like what you hear? Buy the podcast a coffee! ko-fi.com/asitcomespod

Mentioned in this episode:

https://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/music/whats-on/2021/ballad-of-a-changing-world/

Maja’s socials:

Insta: @buggemaja

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/cellomaja

Website:www.majabugge.com

Sarah’s socials:

Twitter: @sarahpiano

Insta: @sarahpianolife

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/sarah.nicolls.pianist

Website: www.sarahnicolls.com

KITTIWAKES: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kittiwake

Ellie Consta from Her Ensemble joins me for Episode 51. We spoke about how working with pop musicians opened her eyes to the many gender imbalances in the classical music world. Realising the various injustices, she set up Her Ensemble, the UK’s first all-female and non-binary string orchestra to provide a safe space for marginalised genders and create a platform for female and non-binary composers overlooked throughout history. Tune in for chat about how showcasing your vulnerability and learning from your mistakes can promote further growth and progression, as well as Ellie’s pandemic pastime that slightly blew my mind.

You’ll also hear about my personal experiences about being interrupted, as well as some interesting facts about composer Germaine Tailleferre.

Like what you hear? Buy the podcast a coffee! ko-fi.com/asitcomespod

Photo credits: Noëmie Bottiau and Shane Benson

Mentioned in this episode:

Herensemble.org

Instagram: @herensemblemusic

Facebook and Twitter: @herensemble

https://www.wildcardbrewery.co.uk/

Germaine Tailleferre: https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780199757824/obo-9780199757824-0275.xml

Sonja Schebeck joins me for this milestone episode. She’s an Australian violinist based in Vienna, who is also a fire performer as well as the founder and artistic director of The Freestyle Orchestra – an ensemble that combine their skills as classical musicians with their curiosities in other performing art disciplines. Expect acrobatics, theatre, costume design, and much more! We spoke about artistic versatility, keeping your skills alive during lockdown, and Sonja’s recent commemoration of six years being sober.

Trigger warning: alcoholism, addiction, substance abuse, some explicit language.

Like what you hear? Buy the podcast a coffee: ko-fi.com/asitcomespod

Photo credit: Andrej Grilc.

Mentioned in this episode:

@sonja_schebeck_pyroviolinist

@freestyleorchestra

Russell Brand documentary “From Addiction to Recovery

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2qjvjbjepQ

Soprano and Spice Girls fan Channa Malkin joins me for this episode. We spoke about her experiences of motherhood, which has influenced her freshly released album “This is not a lullaby.” Find out which Spice Girl Channa wished she could be, as well as advice to new parents during the pandemic.

Like what you hear? Buy the podcast a coffee: ko-fi.com/asitcomespod.

Remember to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts! Give the podcast some love on Instagram and Facebook @asitcomespod.

Photo credit: Brendon Heinst.

Mentioned in this episode:

Website: channamalkin.com

Bandcamp: channamalkin.bandcamp.com

Social media: @channamalkinsoprano

Julia Ward Howe: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julia_Ward_Howe

Flute player and food blogger Katharine Carter joins me for Episode 48. The parallels between music and food are endless, as you will hear from our chat we had in-person (outdoors, in my garden). We chatted about the types of recipes that get Katharine through her busy days as a freelance performer and teacher, as well as a mother; the value of making mistakes and how music and food are best shared. We also talked about teaching during the pandemic, as well as special travel destinations that as freelance musicians, we are/were very lucky to go to.

Keep listening for a special recipe at the end – perfect for on-the-go musicians (fingers crossed we’ll start being a bit busier soon!)

Like what you hear? Buy the podcast a coffee: ko-fi.com/asitcomespod

Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts!

Mentioned in this episode:

Instagram: @katharineflute

Facebook: facebook.com/Katharineflute

Taking time out of his busy schedule of being a UK Ambassador for Steinway and Professor of Piano at Guildhall School of Music and Drama, concert pianist Charles Owen had a chat with me on the one-year anniversary of the UK lockdown. Charles reminisces about fond times performing at Fidelio café in the summer of 2020 as well as performing down in Cornwall for the St Endellion Festival and International Music Seminar at Prussia Cove before the mess of the pandemic; in addition to challenges that pianists and concert-goers face in the future. As another guest with a liking to 1000-piece puzzles, we talk about the parallels between that, literature, and music-making.

Like what you hear? Buy the podcast a coffee! ko-fi.com/asitcomespod

Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe. Give us a like and a follow on Facebook and Instagram @asitcomespod.

Photo credit: Sim Canetty-Clarke

Mentioned in this episode:

Charlesowen.net

Instagram: @charlesowenpiano

Johannes Brahms: A Biography by Jan Swafford https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/479146.Johannes_Brahms

Join me and trumpeter Tine Thing Helseth for Episode 46, where we explore topics such as the wonderful world of Norwegian traditional instruments and the language, attempting to stay motivated during a pandemic and acting our age, whatever that means. Tine also shares her musical journey and recollections that led her to select special pieces for her upcoming album, Magical Memories.

Photo credit: Anna-Julia Granberg.

Like what you hear? Buy the podcast a coffee! ko-fi.com/asitcomespod

Remember to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, and gizzus a like and follow on Facebook and Instagram @asitcomespod.

Mentioned in this episode:

http://www.tinethinghelseth.com/

Instagram: @tinethinghelseth

Facebook: @tinething

Twitter: @tinetrumpet