Rescued

I’m Roz Pappalardo, a songwriter, storyteller and creative producer, and for most of my life I’ve made sense of the world by turning it into songs and theatre. My work has taken me across stages, communities and collaborations, but underneath it all, art has always been how I survive.In this final episode of Season 1 of Rescued, I hand the microphone to Cairns-based arts campaigner Melissa Robertson and step into the vulnerable seat myself. We talk about creativity as a lifeline, about loss and reinvention, and about what it means to keep showing up when things fall apart.At the heart of this conversation is Pebbles, my rescue dog, who came into my life when I most needed grounding. Pebbles taught me how to slow down, soften, and stay present. This episode is about being rescued, by music, by community, and by a four-legged friend who quietly and absolutely changes everything.

Claire Anne Taylor is a Tasmanian-born singer-songwriter whose hauntingly raw voice and vivid storytelling reflect her upbringing in the ancient Tarkine rainforest. Raised in a barn-turned-home alongside five siblings, music and creativity were woven into her childhood, with some saying her distinctive raspy tone was inspired by listening to Tasmanian devils growling beneath the floorboards. After winning the Byron Bay Bluesfest Busking Competition, she recorded her acclaimed debut album Elemental (2016), which was praised as “strong and assured” and she was dubbed “a national treasure”.  Her 2019 follow-up, All The Words, recorded in Tasmania’s Huon Valley, was lauded for its warmth and soul. In 2024, she released her third album, Giving It Away, a deeply personal record inspired by her son’s Angelman Syndrome diagnosis. The emotive, blues-tinged work was heralded as “authentic, organic, raw, and real,” with her voice described as “like cigarettes and whiskey”.Songs used in the podcast (written by Claire Anne Taylor)Keep on trucking Lay you down in the cold hard ground Giving it away The Fire (with Tessy the dog) SOCIALS ⁠https://www.facebook.com/claireannetaylormusic⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/claireannetaylor/⁠

Francesca de Valence is a multi-award-winning Australian songwriter, educator, and creative coach based in Brisbane. As the founder and CEO of the pioneering online community, I Heart Songwriting Club, she has sparked the creation of thousands of songs, empowering songwriters through weekly creative challenges. With a heroic catalogue exceeding 700 songs, including songwriting commissions by artists like Vika & Linda, Wendy Matthews, and more, Francesca’s influence stretches across continents.A recognised speaker and mentor, she’s delivered workshops and talks at major events and institutions including APRAAMCOS, Folk Alliance International and BIGSOUND. Her accolades include an International Songwriter of the Year Award from the LA Music Awards and an Australian Songwriting Award. Beyond writing music, Francesca hosts the thoughtful podcast The Magic of Songwriting, uses her Masters in Music Pedagogy to innovate in education, and is co-founder of the Whitsundays Songwriter Festival.And thanks to her I've written hundreds of songs.  Songs featured Beautiful Night Put One Foot in Front of the Other I’ll be there for you (unreleased at time of writing) The Seine Socialshttps://www.facebook.com/iheartsongwritingclubhttps://www.instagram.com/iheartsongwritingclubhttps://www.facebook.com/fdvmusichttps://www.instagram.com/fdvmusic/

Emily Wurramurra (also spelled Wurramara) is a celebrated Indigenous Australian singer-songwriter and producer, proudly Warnindhilyagwa, hailing from Groote Eylandt in the Northern Territory. Raised on the Gulf of Carpentaria islands before moving to Brisbane at age six, her artistry entwines stories of family, culture, and country, delivered in both English and her ancestral tongue, Anindilyakwa.Her debut EP Black Smoke (2016) earned her a Queensland Music Award, followed by her debut album Milyakburra (2018),named for her ancestral island, which won Best Independent Blues & Roots Album at the 2019 AIR Awards and drew ARIA and regional acclaim. In 2024, Emily released her bold sophomore album Nara, Anindilyakwa for “nothing”, on ABC Music. It won the ARIA Award for Best Adult Contemporary Album, making her the first Indigenous woman to do so.A multi-award-winning artist with six Queensland Music Awards to her name, Emily tours nationally while blending genres from folk and indie to R&B and electronic creating emotionally powerful music rooted in strength, healing, and cultural celebration. SONGS Black Smoke, Midnight Blues, Magic Woman Dancing, Ngarrukwujenama, Cruisin’STFAFMSOCIALSWebsiteInstagramSpotifyAppleMusicSoundcloudYoutube

Greta Stanley is a captivating indie-pop artist hailing from the lush landscapes of Far North Queensland. Raised in a small rural community of Mena Creek, south of Innisfail, North Queensland, she started writing songs in her early teens with her father’s guitar and what began as a private sanctuary in her bedroom quickly evolved into powerful storytelling honed through her debut EP Bedroom City.  Her voice is warm, honest, and richly textured and has become her signature, carrying emotional narratives of anxiety, heartbreak, resilience, and the serene beauty of her regional home.With two acclaimed albums (Full Grown and Real Love in Real Life) and a third, If I Get In, Where Would I Go?, released in late 2024, Greta continues to evolve with vulnerability and creative courage. Now moved back to Mena Creek and having had her first child, she continues to tour, write and collaborate with her partner, Bronson Diamond and has built a devoted fan base drawn to her deeply relatable artistry. SONGSKickHeavy Heat PourRed Earth DirtIt's Cool To Be In LoveSOCIALSFacebookInstagramSoundcloud

Meet LT - née Leanne Tennant - a UK-born, Papua New Guinea–raised, Cairns-based singer-songwriter whose music blendsdream-pop, indie, and alternative blues roots. After a childhood in Papua New Guinea and formative years busking the streets of Brisbane, she settled in Cairns, where the wild, tropical environment deeply inspired her songwriting.Under the recent moniker LT, she’s gained acclaim as a multi–Queensland Music Award winner, a Carol Lloyd Award recipient, and an International Songwriting Competition awardee—her evocative tracks “Gentle Annie,” “Bring It All Back,” “Cherry Cola,” and “Everspin” earned widespread recognition and sync placements on British Airways, ABC TV, and more. LT’s signature sound - haunting vocals wrapped in cinematic arrangements - has been lauded by Rolling Stone Australiaand Double J for its emotional clarity and dream-like atmosphere. Her music, shaped by Cairns’ intense landscapes, invites listeners into a space of reflection, tension, and lyrical intimacy - an artist who thrives in vulnerability while staying fiercely independentSongs featured RollercoasterBring it all Back Bear the crown Real Life = No FunMercy  SOCIALS FacebookInstagramSpotify