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

Episode 45 features three cellists in the room! Two of which, Urška Horvat and Helena Švigelj perform collectively as Duo Furioso. We chatted about having to embody a whole string quartet within the instrumentation of two cellos, POPPER (yep), the challenge of capturing live spontaneity when performing in front of a camera, as well as Urška and Helena’s advice to ensembles for staying motivated during the pandemic. Topics also include sushi, humidifiers (OMG) and having cellos by the same maker.   Mentioned in this episode:   Facebook.com/celloduofurioso   Instagram: @duo_furioso   YouTube: Duo Furioso https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO4-EIyqvxydg-XKKAy9sOg

Episode 44 features international piano superstar Anna Tsybuleva. We chatted about her attachment to nature and the cosmos, recent motherhood, as well as her preparation for Leeds International Piano competition which she won in 2015 with her performance of Brahms’ Piano Concerto number 2. This is a piece very close to Anna’s heart, as she managed to record it shortly before the pandemic in 2020. She also shares a very valuable message of saving your power when performing a big work.   Like what you hear? Buy the podcast a coffee: ko-fi.com/asitcomespod   Don’t forget to like and follow the pod on Facebook and Instagram @asitcomespod.   Photo credit: Emil Matveev   Mentioned in this episode:   Facebook.com/annatsybuleva   Instagram: @anna_tsybuleva   First single from Anna’s upcoming album 28th May: smarturl.it/AnnaTsybulevaBrahms

Composer Oliver Davis joins me for Episode 43 to chat about finding his own compositional voice (via 1980s synthesisers), writing for ballet choreography, and the absolute mission of writing, recording and producing his new album Solace during a global pandemic; drawing inspiration from Greek mythology, traveling to the Isle of Bute, and curiously, a game of Scrabble. You’ll also hear about Ollie’s favourite live performance he ever went to!   Buy the podcast a coffee! ko-fi.com/asitcomespod     Like and follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook: @asitcomespod.   Mentioned in this episode:   Oliverdavismusic.com @oliverdavismusic   Solace: https://open.spotify.com/album/74VziC5rrMeen3wplY5f5q?si=OFdwRzwaSMG3eAvOJwRenQ   Photo credit: Frances Marshall

As a commentary on the times we currently live in, in preparation for some work this week, my nostrils have well and truly been penetrated. Horn player, conductor, researcher and fellow podcaster Dwight Pile-Gray is my guest for Episode 42. He’s the creator of “The Black Maestro” podcast, and recently we chatted about the way the pandemic is changing up approaches to classical music, creating space in the industry and promoting excellence. This episode is also accompanied by a Spotify playlist of Dwight’s musical picks by composers Nathaniel Dett and Florence Price.   Like what you hear? Buy the podcast a coffee! ko-fi.com/asitcomespod.   Remember to rate, review and subscribe, and give the pod a like and a follow on Instagram and Facebook @asitcomespod.   Mentioned in this episode:   Dwight’s website: http://blackclassicalmusic.uk/   The Black Maestro Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0KfWJQ0EUv4RISeh3xUpXV?si=Y4-9ikcNRGK-XWep1vDs_g   Episode 42 playlist – music by Nathaniel Dett and Florence Price: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/642aIKaq9EomT41WX7NlKJ?si=vN1cMg3-QMaWXj54ABXcAg   Colorado Symphony’s short excerpt of Florence Price’s Symphony no.1, 3rd movement, with dance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhXC3d46Po0

I had a chat with music researcher Leah Broad recently, about her journey into academia, the thrill of finding new music, and her upcoming book shining a light on four composers: Ethel Smyth, Rebecca Clarke, Dorothy Howell and Doreen Carwithen. Listen and learn a little more about these composers, including which social media platform we reckon they’d be suited to best if they were around today. Accompanying this episode is a special playlist including some pieces from these composers, plus some examples of the British Phantasy – something that I’ve been curious about for a while. Support the podcast at ko-fi.com/asitcomespod, and remember to rate, review and subscribe!   Mentioned in this episode:   @LeahBroad Leahbroad.wordpress.com   Episode 41 playlist: pieces by Smyth, Clarke, Howell, Carwithen, plus some Phantasies: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7etuKGvvpwbVK0FCowBMpO?si=RV2_3WbRT9qxSuZwZs4Viw   Laura Sneddon: “British Women Composers and Instrumental Chamber Music in the Early 20th Century”   BBC Radio 3’s Time Travellers podcast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p069vjyc/episodes/player

This episode is all about Southbank Sinfonia, the one-year orchestral fellowship where 33 musicians from around the world come together to embark on a journey of professional development and creative fulfilment. I’m joined by two members of the 2020/21 cohort, Canadian percussionist Alec Joly Pavelich and British viola player George White. We spoke about their unusual situation of being part of the fellowship during the pandemic, what they can’t wait for in 2021, as well as their recommendations for keeping on top of your mental, physical and social wellbeing during this time. As a Southbank alumna, I share with you my (rather lengthy) tumultuous journey from Sydney to London that led me to taking up a place in the 2013 recruit. Special thanks to Marcus Norman and Kate Walker for their assistance in this episode.   Support the podcast! Ko-fi.com/asitcomespod   All episodes and transcripts here: asitcomes.com   Remember to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify   Like and follow the pod on Facebook and Instagram: @asitcomespod   Mentioned in this episode:   Southbanksinfonia.co.uk Instagram: @southbanksinfonia Twitter: @southbanksinf Facebook: @SouthbankSinfonia   @alecjoly @georgehenrywhite   Yoga with Adriene: https://www.youtube.com/user/yogawithadriene   “Wood Works” by the Danish String Quartet: https://open.spotify.com/album/2Wf5EwRWblXDs1aiAAvxal?si=Flc-mOpCSia5MnYGzCbOcg

Stop! Tax time! Doing your tax return for 2019-20 is a retrospective into another world... Episode 39 features composer, arranger and orchestrator Peter Riley. We met up in person in early-December (back when you could) for an al fresco park podcast, where we spoke about so many topics, including Peter's work arranging and orchestrating for Squarepusher, Pete Tong, Jules Buckley and the Heritage Orchestra, sticking to crazy deadlines, being a musician with a mortgage, and how making music is sometimes like gardening. We also spoke about the lovely distractions that help you get through when life is spent mostly in front of a computer screen.   Like what you hear? Support the podcast! Buy me a coffee/some treats for Assistant Purr-ducer Romeo: ko-fi.com/asitcomespod   Follow and like the podcast on Instagram and Facebook: @asitcomespod.   Mentioned in this episode: http://www.peterrileymusic.co.uk/   Peter’s Instagram and Facebook: @peterrileymusic Twitter: @musicpete YouTube: @musicpete86   Squarepusher Ufabulum: https://open.spotify.com/album/7ajrfqR7FCY4KuzZsVAFSH?si=0C_RDo2eTUqjlx2zdabE5w Excerpt with Southbank Sinfonia 2013: https://youtu.be/GMF-UOPMDFA Episode 31 with Daniel Rainey: https://www.podbean.com/eu/pb-xksnd-f0c20d

Welcome to the January slump, 2021 edition! My guest for Episode 38 is Lucy Drever. She’s a workshop leader and presenter who heads up musicianship at the Benedetti Foundation. We chatted in December 2020 about how she got into community-based music making, creating a music making environment with a level playing field, challenging prior perceptions of music education as well as how to stay motivated musically during times of fluctuating restrictions. Find out also about a delightful cheesy snack that you can find if you’re ever in Glasgow.   Like what you hear? Remember to rate, review and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.   Follow the podcast on Instagram and Facebook @asitcomespod.   Special thanks to Rebecca Driver Media Relations for their help in this episode.   Mentioned in this episode: Lucydrever.com @lucy_drever Benedettifoundation.org https://wigmore-hall.org.uk/learning/trainee-music-leader

Joe Di Fiore kicks things off for 2021. He’s an American sax and wind player who also composes and arranges. In a fantastic American accent, he shares some helpful tips about setting your home studio for remote recording (seeing as this is the reality for a lot of musos at the moment). We also chatted about the positives of smaller family gatherings, switching between different wind instruments, the importance for composers to have performing experience and being patient.   Mentioned in this episode:   @joedifioremusic   YouTube: JD Winds Mario Kart 8 Big Blue and Mute City Mash up: https://youtu.be/yHe8n9760I8   The Mario Kart Lick: https://youtu.be/3rD-tdEFKlg   Joedifiore.com

Merry Christmas and happy holidays! Bass player Mark Lipski joins me for this Christmassy, mince pie and mulled wine fuelled conversation. He also happens to be in my household bubble as he is my husband; collectively, we are known as “The Shimpskis”. Think of this episode as an audio Christmas card to you, for you to listen to if perhaps you’re spending Christmas alone or with fewer people than usual, or if you just want to hear voices from outside your own household bubble. We’re here to keep you company! Amidst giggles aplenty, listen to us discuss the weirdness that is 2020, performing with the Phacelia Ensemble in Germany mid-pandemic, the challenges of Zoom lessons, the ideal mango, Daily Romeo, and the differences between Christmas in the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere. Have a happy and safe holiday!   Mentioned in this episode:   https://www.facebook.com/mark.lipski.92   https://conwayhall.org.uk/event/online-sunday-concerts-phacelia-ensemble/   @phaceliaensemble