Creative Portraits

Composer Ellen Kirkwood is rapidly gaining recognition for her imaginative and daring style. Her debut album with sextet Captain Kirkwood, released in 2013 and named Theseus and the Minotaur, featured a 5 part narrated music-story suite which received glowing reviews and critical acclaim. She has since been commissioned to write pieces for a variety of large ensembles, including works premiered at the 2015 and 2016 Sydney International Women's Jazz Festivals. Ellen's music has been performed by international jazz luminaries Lisa Parrott and Claire Daly (USA) and celebrated local artists including Sandy Evans, Paul Cutlan and Matthew Ottignon.

We met Ellen at Creative portraits to talk about her amazing work on the Jazz suite - [Apart].

Written by Kirkwood during her Australia Council-supported mentorship with renowned composer Barney McAll, [A]part is an evocative engagement with what it means to exist in a world facing climate change, a global refugee crisis and the omnipresence of the internet. The music descriptively explores Kirkwood's reactions to these tumultuous world issues, and is her comment on our society's complex and shifting relationships with them, as we in the Western world are both part of, and apart from, these problems in so many different ways.

You can Watch a full documentary about [Apart] here:https://youtu.be/OhgFWHhVNNk

And purchase the album - https://ellenkirkwood.bandcamp.com/releases

Also we spoke about her new work 'Rumble', recorded live by her band Underwards.

Watch the performance here -https://youtu.be/IBXvwGHHxME

Find out more About Ellen Kirkwood on her website : https://ellenkirkwood.com/index.php

Free sound, Improvisation & Prepared Ukulele - Bettina Schroeder

Born in 1950, Bettina escaped with her family from the former East Germany, and grew up in the VW car town of Wolfsburg. She studied in Berlin and moved to the UK in 1982. Bettina Schroeder has exhibited internationally, including solo and group shows in Britain, Germany, Switzerland and USA and performs sound art and music events throughout Europe.

( View full biography on https://www.bettinaschroeder.net )

"The transformation of ideas, feelings and impressions into sound, painting, lyrics or film, creating something new and original is the most exciting thing for me."

In this Podcast we spoke about her journey into finding music as one of the art forms to create in. About learning via playing in a group and improvisation and the creative vision of sound art and the extended possibilities of prepared Electric Ukulele.

We also discussed collaborative works with Jude Cowan Montague on Album Versus. Spoke about Creating music in Lockdown and the impact it has had on a musician.

Bettina is a highly inspirational artist composer and experimental musician and also a lyricist as proven in the tracks payed during our podcast and Bettina other works.

Featured/ played Works in the Episode:

Tracks from the album Versus :

The Car that Fell From Dreamboat To Hell I'm Worried About Buttons And Zips

ALL VIDEOS VERSUS: Wormholeworld youtube

Most recent collaboration music video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9F7iQu4Mha0 with collage by me.

'Only Happy When It Rains' (Garbage cover) by The Beach Bullies - that’s James A Smith, Leoncia Flynn and Bettina Schroeder with one of Bettina’s signature video collages.

'DESERT WAVES' (Film 2020) filmed + directed by Bettina Schroeder - Sound Composition and recording by Dorothee Schabert – additional filming + editing by James A. Smith. Previously shown at GEDOK Karlsruhe, Germany 2020 - KUNSTWOCHEN FÜR KLIMASCHUTZ (Art Weeks for Climate Protection)

Film about the art installation for exhibition 'Prince Charming' at Anna Göldi Museum, Ennenda, Glarus, Switzerland http://www.annagoeldimuseum.ch/ by BettinaSchroeder and Biggi Slongo Gastrich thttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoA3YNrKe5E&t=28s

Solo performance at SKRONK event where I was the feature act for the night: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GBsfDMrSHU&t=27s

' I follow my nose and find joy and meaning whatever meaning means.'

This first episode is a conversation with the fantastic composer, writer and artist Jude Cowan Montague.

We are talking about the excitement of organs ( and no not the ones in your body) !

The link of music and poetry, the inspiration behind Judes music making and collaborative work.

The influence of folk music, current projects as well as driving forces behind her art and composition.

'Make it sound alive! That is the thing!'

An absolutely amazing quote from Jude and our conversation and discussing the freedom in composition and development in art.

To find out more please tune in

More About Jude Cowan Montague and tracks Featured:

Jude Cown Montague - https://www.judecowanmontague.com

Hammond Hits
https://linearobsessional.bandcamp.com/album/hammond-hits

Saxifrage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKwKYTwcYso

Stray
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CdXChjy-VM

Flimwell Lights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GjunW4aSuw