Reaching The Crescendo with Ben Mussell

Musician and old friend Bradley Cronk joined me for a well over-due catch-up to chat about all things music.We met in 2010 when we were both in the same band. Since we last saw each other, Brad is back performing again after an 8 year break, and is now recording his own songs using his own “janky” (his words not mine) recording setup.We chatted about things like:< Rediscovering passions< Joint band experiences< Life beyond the day job< Turning experiences into songs< Creating without the perfect setup< Rediscovering stage fright< The stories behind the music< Building a career independently, and as part of a duo 'Reveries' < Staying consistent< Chasing the dream- His CrescendoFollow the podcast, Ben and the guest on social media:Reaching The Crescendo Podcast:https://www.instagram.com/reachingthecrescendopod/https://www.tiktok.com/@reachingcrescendopod/https://www.facebook.com/reachingthecrescendopod/Ben Mussell:https://www.instagram.com/ben_mussell/https://www.linkedin.com/in/benmussell/Bradley Cronk:https://www.instagram.com/bradleycronkmusic/https://www.tiktok.com/@bradleycronkmusic/https://soundcloud.com/bradley-cronkhttps://www.facebook.com/bradleycronkmusic/https://www.instagram.com/reveries.duo/

What is it like filming professional wrestling highlights?In this episode, Ben sits down with cinematographer Ash J who went from knowing nothing about cameras to shooting live wrestling events. Ash chats about how he got started, practised and turned a passion for wrestling from a side-hustle to a proper freelance thing. If you’re into filmmaking, content creation, or just love behind-the-scenes insight of the wrestling industry, this has your name written all over it.Follow the podcast, Ben and the guest on social media:Reaching The Crescendo Podcast:https://www.instagram.com/reachingthecrescendopod/https://www.tiktok.com/@reachingcrescendopod/https://www.facebook.com/reachingthecrescendopod/Ben Mussell:https://www.instagram.com/ben_mussell/https://www.linkedin.com/in/benmussell/Grapsonfilm:https://www.instagram.com/grapsonfilm/https://www.tiktok.com/@GRAPSONFILM/Email address: [email protected]

In this episode Ben chats to percussionist and multi-instrumentalist Guy Courtie who opens up about the hidden pressures of building a creative career in a self-promoting economy in a small music scene, why rest can be a creative taboo equal to failure, and how musicians and creatives try to protect their headspace without losing momentum and opportunity.Ben and Guy chat about:< Escaping London & finding clear headspace as a creative< Social media overload & the pressure to always be “on”< Short-form & social media being your business card< Creative accountability in small scenes< Freelancing, burnout & never switching off< Obsession, passion & finding healthy balance< Music as a process, not perfection< The complication relationship between music & AI< Why music matters for accessability & community< Growing up in a musical household< Training, privilege & creative opportunity< Life after study & surviving as a creative< Guy's Crescendo< Anything else that cropped upFollow the podcast, Ben and the guest on social media:Reaching The Crescendo Podcast:https://www.instagram.com/reachingthecrescendopodhttps://www.tiktok.com/@reachingcrescendopodhttps://www.facebook.com/reachingthecrescendopodBen Mussell:https://www.instagram.com/ben_mussellhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/benmussellGuy Courtie:https://www.instagram.com/guycourtie

In this episode Ben sits down with West End drummer and percussionist Dan Day to chat about a career that’s taken him from learning drums at age 3 to playing on major theatrical productions like Evita, Mean Girls, Sunset Boulevard, Come From Away just to name a few...Ben and Dan chat about:< Dan starting to learn drums aged 3< Falling into musical theatre by accident< Earning your chair through depping, being good and just being nice< Life as a working drummer in the orchestra pit both in London and on tour< Surviving high pressure auditions when you really want the job< COVID< Getting the gig and behind the scenes of Dear Evan Hansen, Come From Away, Sunset Boulevard and Evita< Working with some of the biggest creative names in musical theatre today e.g. Pasek and Paul, Alex Lacamoire and Alan Williams MD< Working on The Greatest Showman Musical< His CrescendoStrap yourselves in for nearly 2 hours of drum and musical theatre goodness.Follow the podcast, Ben and the guest on social media:Reaching The Crescendo Podcast:https://www.instagram.com/reachingthecrescendopodhttps://www.tiktok.com/@reachingcrescendopodhttps://www.facebook.com/reachingthecrescendopodBen Mussell:https://www.instagram.com/ben_mussellhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/benmussellDan Day:https://www.dandaymusic.comhttps://instagram.com/danthedrummer12

Volunteer radio presenter, producer, music lover and all-round self proclaimed 'radio fanatic' Zinnia Bridgman joined me to chat about going from her lockdown student radio beginnings to co-presenting The South Coast Music Show on Voice FM.We chatted about:< Getting started in radio through university and student broadcasting,< The thrill (and terror) of being live on air on Voice FM,< Why volunteer community radio still matters in a de-localised industry,< The concept of celebrities with platforms / high follower counts being able to cut the line for mainstream radio shows over people who have put in the hours,< The goings on behind the desk and in the room where it happens,< Supporting emerging south coast musicians and venues,< Volunteering, passion projects, breaking into media, and other things...Follow the podcast, Ben and the guest on social media:Reaching The Crescendo Podcast:https://www.instagram.com/reachingthecrescendopod/https://www.tiktok.com/@reachingcrescendopod/https://www.facebook.com/reachingthecrescendopod/Ben Mussell:https://www.instagram.com/ben_mussell/https://www.linkedin.com/in/benmussell/Zinnia Bridgman:https://www.instagram.com/zinniaecbridgman/https://linktr.ee/zinniaecbridgmanhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/zinnia-bridgman/Voice FM: https://www.voicefmradio.co.uk/https://www.voicefmradio.co.uk/south-coast-music/south-coast-music-show/