Tiny Vinyl Sessions #9 | Ash Smith | Sam Fender, Milky Chance & the Whitsundays

Recorded live at Above & Below Gallery in Airlie Beach, this episode of Tiny Vinyl Sessions features Ash Smith — a musician whose journey through music has taken him from the UK to Australia. Following three live performances, Ash joins host Nick Di Gregorio for a conversation about songwriting, song interpretation, the Whitsundays music scene, and the role community plays in building a life through music. ⸻   💬 Conversation Highlights   • Why songs often mean something completely different to the listener than they do to the songwriter • Ash's journey from the UK to Australia and finding a home in the Whitsundays • Building a music career through community, relationships and word-of-mouth • The opportunities and challenges of creating music outside major cities • Songwriting, creative growth and learning to trust your own voice • How audiences connect with music through their own experiences • The stories behind Ash's original music and live performances • Why local music scenes matter and what keeps them thriving ⸻   ⏱ Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 06:15 🎵 "Let Go (Release)" — Original song 10:30 What Songs Mean to Different People 16:10 Ash Smith's Musical Journey 19:00 🎵 "Seventeen Going Under" — Sam Fender (acoustic cover) 22:05 Finding a Place in the Whitsundays Music Scene 28:20 Community, Reputation & Opportunities 34:22 🎵 "Stolen Dance" — Milky Chance (acoustic cover) 38:50 Songwriting & Creative Process 44:47 Where Songs Come From 49:12 Creative Growth & Finding Your Voice 56:30 Final Thoughts & The Future of Local Music ⸻   🎵 Tracklist Let Go (Release) — Original song Seventeen Going Under — Sam Fender (acoustic cover) Stolen Dance — Milky Chance (acoustic cover)   (All tracks recorded live during the session) ⸻   🎙️ Credits   Host: Nick Di Gregorio Guest: Ash Smith Recorded live at: Above & Below Gallery, Airlie Beach, Queensland, Australia Produced, filmed, edited & mixed by: Nick Di Gregorio Roaming camera: Mica O'Brien Label: Tiny Vinyl Collective ⸻   🎧 Listen & Follow Ash Smith Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashsmithmusic/ Youtube:  @ashsmith1546  Tiny Vinyl Collective Website: https://www.tinyvinylcollective.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TinyVinylCollective Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tinyvinylcollective/ Nick Di Gregorio Website: https://www.nickdigregorio.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickdigregorio.music/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1f5RB Brooke Miles Website: https://www.brookemiles.com.au Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brookemilesphotography/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brookemilesphotography Above & Below Gallery Website: https://www.aboveandbelowgallery.com.au Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aboveandbelowgallery/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aboveandbelowgallery ⸻   About Tiny Vinyl Sessions Tiny Vinyl Sessions is a live music podcast and video series documenting working musicians through stripped-back performances and candid conversations. Each episode is recorded on location at an independent venue chosen with the artist, pairing three live songs with an honest discussion about the realities of building a life in music. ⸻   Acknowledgement This project was made possible by the Australian Government's Regional Arts Fund, provided through Regional Arts Australia, administered in Queensland by Flying Arts Alliance. ⸻ 📍 Location: Airlie Beach, Queensland, Australia 🎥 A Tiny Vinyl Session — celebrating musicians through live performance and conversation. #TinyVinylSessions #AshSmith #AirlieBeach #WhitsundaysMusic #LiveMusic #AustralianMusic #SamFender #AcousticCover