Through The Creative Door

We're joined by Melbourne singer-songwriter Brooke Taylor, a powerhouse performer blending rock, blues, country, soul, and pop into her own unmistakable sound. Recommended by past guest Delsinki, it’s a pleasure to finally have Brooke on the show. Having spent years in the industry, Brooke shares honest insights into perseverance, staying true to yourself, and navigating uncertain times as an artist.  Raw, authentic, and full of heart, Brooke Taylor is a true force of nature.   If you’d like to see more, you can follow on instagram; @  brooketaylormusic This episode was recorded on 06/05/2026 on the lands of the Woiworung Peoples. We hope that this episode inspires you as a creative person and as a human being. Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for creative people to share their story and inspire others. Have you got someone in mind who would love to have a chat? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor … Creative resources:       Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikToc: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel

  Featured Artist: The Replacements Featured Vinyl:  Tim   Alexis’ Hot Pick  Swingin’ Party Sam’s Hot Pick Here Comes a Regular Gavin Bowles -  Hot Pick Kiss Me On The Bus Special Guest Gavin Bowles joins us for this episode. They were on Season 2, episode 8, go check it out!  Check out the Tom Taylor article in Far Out mag that Sam references… “is this the most crushing song of the 80s?” https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/here-comes-a-regular-the-most-crushing-song-of-the-1980s/ Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for an artist's vinyl to listen to, have you got one in mind that we should check out? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Co-Host: Sam Timmerman Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Voiceover: Ruby Miguel Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel

Alexis talks to Sasha Hennequin, a Melbourne-based actor and singer working across theatre, film, and television.  asha opens up about carving her own path as a multidisciplinary performer, embracing opportunities across Australia and the US, and stepping beyond the limits of being defined as just one kind of creative. She shares her journey as a woman of colour in the industry with honesty and strength, highlighting the power of representation, resilience, and self-belief. She also celebrates her recent casting as Tanya in AGT Theatre’s Mamma Mia!, offering a glimpse into the joy, courage, and dedication it takes to bring an iconic role to life.   If you’d like to see more, you can follow on instagram; @  sasha.hennequin This episode was recorded on 20/04/2026 on the lands of the Woiworung Peoples. We hope that this episode inspires you as a creative person and as a human being. Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for creative people to share their story and inspire others. Have you got someone in mind who would love to have a chat? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor … Creative resources:       Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikToc: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel

Featured Artist: Bruno Mars Featured Vinyl:  The Romantic   Alexis’ Hot Pick  Risk It All Sam’s Hot Pick Something Serious Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for an artist's vinyl to listen to, have you got one in mind that we should check out? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Co-Host: Sam Timmerman Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Voiceover: Ruby Miguel Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel

Alexis chat with Bri Emrich, a multidisciplinary performer whose work moves fluidly between dance, aerial arts, acrobatics, and physical theatre. Based in Melbourne (Naarm) with roots in Perth, Bri shares her journey from classical ballet training at WAAPA to developing a bold, distinctive voice in aerial performance. Bri shares her journey of aerial apparatus (hoop, net, and acrobatics) along with her immersive theatre and cabaret roles and deep dives into the reality of burnout as a creative and how she overcame hers.  If you’d like to see more, you can follow on instagram; @briemrich   This episode was recorded on 23rd of March, 2026 on the lands of the Kaurna Peoples. We hope that this episode inspires you as a creative person and as a human being. Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for creative people to share their story and inspire others. Have you got someone in mind who would love to have a chat? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor   Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel

Featured Artist: Crowded House Featured Vinyl:  Woodface   Alexis’ Hot Pick  Weather With You Sam’s Hot Pick It’s Only Natural Blake's Hot Pick Four Seasons In One Day Special Guest: Blake Williams    Aus Music Alert! Support this artists by purchasing this record: https://www.neilfinn.com/woodface  Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for an artist's vinyl to listen to, have you got one in mind that we should check out? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Co-Host: Sam Timmerman Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Voiceover: Ruby Miguel Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel

In this episode of Through the Creative Door, Alexis chats with Andrew Felix, a photographer, videographer, creative consultant, and fellow podcast host.  From starting in photography in both portrait and fashion to now expanding into drone work, Andrew shares how his creative path has evolved over time. He also talks about his passion for storytelling, both through his visual work and his own podcast featuring artists and creatives.   If you’d like to see more, you can follow on instagram;  @ felixdahaus.cat @ iamandrewfelix @ unbuttonedpodcast     This episode was recorded on 21st March 2026 on the lands of theWoiworung Peoples. We hope that this episode inspires you as a creative person and as a human being. Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for creative people to share their story and inspire others. Have you got someone in mind who would love to have a chat? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor … Creative resources:       Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikToc: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel

Featured Artist:Rickie Lee Jones Featured Vinyl:  Flying Cowboys   Alexis’ Hot Pick  Satellites Sam’s Hot Pick Satellites GUEST Hot Pick Satellites Special Guest Levi Russell joins us for this episode. They were on Season 2, episode 16, go check it out!  https://throughthecreativedoor.podbean.com/e/levi-russell/ Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for an artist's vinyl to listen to, have you got one in mind that we should check out? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Co-Host: Sam Timmerman Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Voiceover: Ruby Miguel Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel

Joe Laf is a singer-songwriter, producer, and session guitarist who believes in one simple rule: don’t overthink, just finish the work. In this episode, Alexis talks with Joe about his journey through music, the reality of working behind the scenes as a session player, and what it takes to actually complete creative projects instead of getting stuck chasing perfection. From songwriting and production to the mindset that keeps him moving forward, Joe shares honest insights from years in the studio and on the guitar. If you’d like to see more, you can follow on instagram; @ joelafmusic This episode was recorded on Monday 2 March 2026 on the lands of the Woiworung Peoples. We hope that this episode inspires you as a creative person and as a human being. Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for creative people to share their story and inspire others. Have you got someone in mind who would love to have a chat? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor   Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel

Featured Artist: Kaytranada Featured Vinyl:  Timeless   Alexis’ Hot Pick  Do 2 Me Sam’s Hot Pick Weird   Aus Music Alert! Support this artists by purchasing this record via Bandcamp: LINK Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for an artist's vinyl to listen to, have you got one in mind that we should check out? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Co-Host: Sam Timmerman Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Voiceover: Ruby Miguel Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel

Alexis sits down with Sarah Eida, an artist working at the intersection of music, embodiment, and performance identity. From her intimate work as a songwriter to commanding the stage as the leading force behind Howling Mountain, and stepping into the electrifying persona of Sassa Von Vuur, Sarah doesn’t compartmentalise her creativity, she multiplies it. Different stages, same nervous system. Together, they explore alter egos, authorship, vulnerability, and what it means to fully inhabit every version of yourself as an artist.    If you’d like to see more, you can follow on instagram;    @thereal_saraheida  @howlingmountainband  @ sassavonvuur   This episode was recorded on 15/02/2026 on the lands of the Woiworung Peoples. We hope that this episode inspires you as a creative person and as a human being. Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for creative people to share their story and inspire others. Have you got someone in mind who would love to have a chat? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor   Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikToc: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel

Featured Artist: Howling Mountain Featured Vinyl: All Talk, No Play   Alexis’ Hot Pick  Gaslight Sam’s Hot Pick I Got This! Aus Music Alert! Support this artists by purchasing this record via Bandcamp: https://howlingmountain.bandcamp.com/album/all-talk-no-play Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for an artist's vinyl to listen to, have you got one in mind that we should check out? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Co-Host: Sam Timmerman Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Voiceover: Ruby Miguel Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel

In this episode, we sit down with Melbourne hip-hop artist, singer, amateur producer, and street performer Michael Johnson, AKA Sliq Mick. Known as “The Mental Health Rapper,” he uses his music to spark conversations around awareness, self-reflection, and kindness, spreading the message that it’s cool to be kind. This episode was recorded on 9 January 2026 on the lands of the Woiworung Peoples. We hope that this episode inspires you as a creative person and as a human being. Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for creative people to share their story and inspire others. Have you got someone in mind who would love to have a chat? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor   Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikToc: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel

Featured Artist: Neat Beats Featured Vinyl: Cosmic Surgery   Alexis’ Hot Pick  I Hope I Think of Bike Riding When I’m Dying Sam’s Hot Pick Video Game Characters Josh WellsHot Pick I Hope I Think of Bike Riding When I’m Dying Special Guest Josh Wells joins us for this episode. He was on Season 1, episode 2, go check it out! https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-p5x9b-1562bb1  Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for an artist's vinyl to listen to, have you got one in mind that we should check out? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Co-Host: Sam Timmerman Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Voiceover: Ruby Miguel Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel

Step into the colourful, creepy, and creative world of Brandon Summers, AKA The Nether Noose. Horror-obsessed multimedia artist, streamer, and community-builder, Brandon creates vibrant monster characters, brings his street art to the public, and shares his love of horror through Twitch, YouTube, and his monthly midnight screenings at the Bonfire Horror Club in Adelaide. In this episode, we explore how he blends art, horror, gaming, and community, turning spooky fascination into interactive experiences you can see, play, and join.   If you’d like to see more, you can follow on instagram; @ thenethernoose   Twitch Channel: https://www.twitch.tv/thenethernoose YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@cursedviewing   This episode was recorded on 23 November 2025 on the lands of the Kaurna Peoples. We hope that this episode inspires you as a creative person and as a human being. Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for creative people to share their story and inspire others. Have you got someone in mind who would love to have a chat? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor

Join Alexis, Ruby, and Sam as they reflect on their favourite moments from Season 2! In this special holiday episode, we share laughs, highlights, and heartfelt stories from our incredible guests. We want to thank everyone who tuned in, our guests who shared their stories, and everyone who has supported the show this year. Our hope is that these episodes inspire you to create, celebrate, and embrace being a creative, we can't wait to see what you do next!  This episode was recorded on 29th October on the lands of the Wajuk Peoples and Naarm Peoples. We hope that this episode inspires you as a creative person and as a human being. Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for creative people to share their story and inspire others. Have you got someone in mind who would love to have a chat? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor   Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel

In this episode of Through the Creative Door, Alexis chats with Lara Deam, an Australian actress, dancer, director and writer based in Melbourne. Lara’s career spans film, television, theatre, commercials and presenting, with experience both in Australia and internationally, including time working and training in Canada. Before building her acting career, Lara spent almost 18 years as a professional classical ballerina across ballet, contemporary and jazz. She now brings that movement training and discipline into her screen and stage work, giving her a distinctive physical presence and versatility as a performer. Together, Alexis and Lara dive into her multi-disciplinary path, how dance continues to shape her creative process, and what it looks like to build a career across multiple artistic worlds. If you’d like to see more, you can follow on instagram; @ laradeam   This episode was recorded on 7th November 2025 on the lands of the Woiworung Peoples. We hope that this episode inspires you as a creative person and as a human being. Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for creative people to share their story and inspire others. Have you got someone in mind who would love to have a chat? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor   Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikToc: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel

Featured Artist: Sun City Featured Vinyl: Forever   Alexis’ Hot Pick  Into the Night Sam’s Hot Pick Forever Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for an artist's vinyl to listen to, have you got one in mind that we should check out? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Co-Host: Sam Timmerman Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Voiceover: Ruby Miguel Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel

Alexis chats with Chloe Mazzitelli, a painter from Lakes Entrance, East Gippsland, whose vibrant acrylic animal and pet portraits burst with colour and life. An “art-obsessed child” who studied Studio Arts and majored in Art History at the University of Melbourne, Chloe grew up surrounded by creativity thanks to her artist mum. After taking time away from painting to raise her three sons, she reignited her passion during the COVID-19 lockdowns and has been devoted to her art ever since. This conversation dives into her journey of rediscovery, balancing motherhood and creativity, and finding joy in returning to the canvas.   If you’d like to see more, you can follow on instagram; @chloemazzart This episode was recorded on 22nd October 2025 on the lands of the Kurnai Peoples. We hope that this episode inspires you as a creative person and as a human being. Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for creative people to share their story and inspire others. Have you got someone in mind who would love to have a chat? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor   Creative resources: The Creative Kind Podcast: https://shows.acast.com/the-creative-kind  Bold School: https://www.boldschool.com/    Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikToc: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel

Featured Artist: Jessie Gordon & Mark Turner Featured Vinyl: All The Rage   Alexis’ Hot Pick  Pastry Song Sam’s Hot Pick Linger Ever Longer Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for an artist's vinyl to listen to, have you got one in mind that we should check out? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Co-Host: Sam Timmerman Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Voiceover: Ruby Miguel Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel

Alexis chats with Valentina, the Colombian-born artist behind Nakdlines Tattoo and resident artist at More Than Tattoo Melbourne. After leaving her teaching career to follow her creative passion, Valentina now channels emotion and identity through both tattoo and digital art. Tune in as she shares her journey from the classroom to the tattoo studio, and what it truly means to live as a full-time artist.  If you’d like to see more, you can follow on instagram; @ nakdlines_ This episode was recorded on 28 September 2025 on the lands of the Woiworung Peoples. We hope that this episode inspires you as a creative person and as a human being. Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for creative people to share their story and inspire others. Have you got someone in mind who would love to have a chat? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor … Creative resources: Domestica    Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikToc: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel

Featured Artist: Electric Light Orchestra / ELO Featured Vinyl: On the Third Day   Alexis’ Hot Pick  Ocean Breakup / King of the Universe Sam’s Hot Pick Showdown Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for an artist's vinyl to listen to, have you got one in mind that we should check out? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Co-Host: Sam Timmerman Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Voiceover: Ruby Miguel Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel

In this episode, Alexis sits down with Helen Shanahan, an evocative Perth-based folk singer-songwriter whose music gently whispers tales of life, love, and longing. With a voice that captures vulnerability and truth, Helen has become a beloved figure in the local music scene, not only for her storytelling but also as the creator and host of The Songwriters Cafe, a performance series that celebrates original music and the art of songwriting. Together, Alexis and Helen dive into the creative process behind her songs, the emotional honesty that fuels her writing, and how she continues to nurture community through connection and melody.   If you’d like to see more, you can follow on instagram; @ helenshanahan and @ songwriterscafe This episode was recorded on 17 August 2025 on the lands of the Wajuk Peoples. We hope that this episode inspires you as a creative person and as a human being. Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for creative people to share their story and inspire others. Have you got someone in mind who would love to have a chat? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor … Creative resources: Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers   Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikToc: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel

Featured Artist: The White Stripes Featured Vinyl: Under Great White Northern Lights   Alexis’ Hot Pick  Just Don’t Know What to Do with Myself Sam’s Hot Pick Fell in love with a Girl Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for an artist's vinyl to listen to, have you got one in mind that we should check out? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Co-Host: Sam Timmerman Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Voiceover: Ruby Miguel Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel

Meet Shane Khin, better known by his evocative stage name The MEeck. Hailing from Perth, Shane is an alt-folk singer-songwriter whose music is a delicate blend of raw emotion, heartfelt storytelling, and stripped-back artistry, just voice, guitar, and musical poetry. But his creativity doesn’t stop at music. Shane is also a talented maker of handmade puppets, proving he’s a true all-round creative. Join us as we explore his artistic journey, the stories behind his songs, and what fuels his imaginative world.   If you’d like to see more, you can follow on instagram; @themeeck This episode was recorded on 16 August 2025 on the lands of the Wajuk Peoples. We hope that this episode inspires you as a creative person and as a human being. Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for creative people to share their story and inspire others. Have you got someone in mind who would love to have a chat? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor … Creative resources:   Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikToc: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel

  Featured Artist: Radiohead Featured Vinyl: The King of Limbs   Alexis’ Hot Pick  Bloom Sam’s Hot Pick Lotus Flower Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for an artist's vinyl to listen to, have you got one in mind that we should check out? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Co-Host: Sam Timmerman Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Voiceover: Ruby Miguel Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel

This week, Alexis is joined by the incredible Shayne Lowe, a true all-rounder in the arts with over 25 years of experience as a performer, vocal director, and producer. Shayne’s passion for music and performance has shaped not only her own career but also the journeys of countless singers through her work as a qualified singing teacher and founder of Sing It Now Geelong, a thriving vocal studio she established 15 years ago. Shayne shares insights from her decades on stage and behind the scenes, from the art of vocal directing to the joy of producing shows and mentoring the next generation of performers. And if you’d love to see her in action, Shayne will be taking the stage in Mamma Mia at the Geelong Arts Centre in October 2025. 👉 Learn more about Shayne’s work at Sing It Now Geelong.   If you’d like to see more, you can follow on instagram; @ business_in_lights or  @ singitnowgeelong This episode was recorded on 25th July 2025 on the lands of the Gulidjan Peoples. We hope that this episode inspires you as a creative person and as a human being. Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for creative people to share their story and inspire others. Have you got someone in mind who would love to have a chat? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor   Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikToc: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel

  Featured Artist: Haim Featured Vinyl: Days Are Gone   Alexis’ Hot Pick  My Song 5 Sam’s Hot Pick If I Could Change Your Mind Ruby’s Hot Pick Forever Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for an artist's vinyl to listen to, have you got one in mind that we should check out? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Co-Host: Sam Timmerman Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Voiceover: Ruby Miguel Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel

Alexis sits down with Katie, a powerhouse actor, singer, dancer, and teacher who lives and breathes musical theatre. From touring children’s productions that sparked vital conversations about anxiety, to overcoming challenges that reshaped her career, Katie shares the highs, lows, and lessons of a life on stage. With heart, humour, and a touch of sour-strap ritual, Katie reminds us to let our inner brilliance shine and embrace every opportunity to create. Catch her this October 2025 in Mamma Mia! at the Geelong Arts Centre. If you’d like to see more, you can follow on instagram; @ katie_lox This episode was recorded on 24th July 2025 on the lands of the Gulidjan Peoples. We hope that this episode inspires you as a creative person and as a human being. Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for creative people to share their story and inspire others. Have you got someone in mind who would love to have a chat? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor … Creative resources   Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikToc: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel

Featured Artist:  Aretha Franklin Featured Vinyl: Once in a Lifetime   Alexis’ Hot Pick  My Guy Sam’s Hot Pick Exactly like you Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for an artist's vinyl to listen to, have you got one in mind that we should check out? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Co-Host: Sam Timmerman Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Voiceover: Ruby Miguel Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel

In this episode of Through the Creative Door, Alexis chats with James Lee, musical theatre and cabaret performer, voice-over artist, director, producer, singing teacher, graphic designer, and digital video editor, with over 35 years in the entertainment industry. He is also currently directing Mamma Mia at the Geelong Art Centre for October 2025! From Les Misérables and Phantom of the Opera to The Producers and My Fair Lady (directed by Dame Julie Andrews), James shares the triumphs and challenges of a life in theatre, the resilience it takes to keep going, and the magic that makes it all worthwhile. He’s also contributed to the creative team for the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Party, showing just how versatile a career in the arts can be. If you’d like to see more, you can follow on instagram; @ jamesofthelee This episode was recorded on 24th July 2025 on the lands of the Gulidjan Peoples. We hope that this episode inspires you as a creative person and as a human being. Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for creative people to share their story and inspire others. Have you got someone in mind who would love to have a chat? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikToc: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel

Featured Artist: Kate Bush Featured Vinyl:  Never for Ever   Alexis’ Hot Pick  The Wedding List Sam’s Hot Pick Breathing Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for an artist's vinyl to listen to, have you got one in mind that we should check out? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Co-Host: Sam Timmerman Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Voiceover: Ruby Miguel Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel

Join Alexis as she welcomes Brisbane-based producer, engineer, mixer, and multi-instrumentalist Levi Russell for an inspiring conversation through the Creative Door. With 16 years of experience across genres, from indie rock to intimate acoustic, Levi opens up about his creative journey, the power of routine, embracing imperfection, and building safe, inviting spaces for artists to thrive. Together, they explore the art of turning a blank canvas into a finished song and the lessons learned from collaboration and feedback. Whether you’re a musician, producer, or creative explorer, this interview will leave you motivated to keep showing up and creating your own magic.   If you’d like to see more, you can follow Levi on instagram; @ levi_russel This episode was recorded on 21st June 2025 on the lands of the Yuggera Peoples. We hope that this episode inspires you as a creative person and as a human being. Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for creative people to share their story and inspire others. Have you got someone in mind who would love to have a chat? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor … Creative  resources: Recording Studio Rockstars Podcast Andrew Talks To Awesome People - Youtube Channel    Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikToc: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast

Featured Artist: Supertramp Featured Vinyl: Crime of the Century   Alexis’ Hot Pick  Bloody Well Right Sam’s Hot Pick Dreamer Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for an artist's vinyl to listen to, have you got one in mind that we should check out? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Co-Host: Sam Timmerman Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Voiceover: Ruby Miguel Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel

Meet Nate Eggins, musician, science communicator, and all-around creative force. In this uplifting chat, we sit down (on the floor, of course) to explore how curiosity, music, and critical thinking can change lives. From award-winning songs to sold-out planetarium shows, Nate shares how he found his voice by blending satire, soul, and science. and why creating from a place of joy, community, and authenticity is everything. If you’d like to see more, you can follow Nate on instagram; @conspiracyofone @inkindfolk   This episode was recorded on 19th June 2025 on the lands of the Yuggera Peoples. We hope that this episode inspires you as a creative person and as a human being. Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for creative people to share their story and inspire others. Have you got someone in mind who would love to have a chat? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikToc: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel

Featured Artist: Roberta Flack Featured Vinyl: The Best Of Roberta Flack   Alexis’ Hot Pick  Killing Me Softly With His Song Sam’s Hot Pick You’ve Got a Friend Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. You won’t find this record in its entirety anywhere but online as a YouTube playlist thanks to Rafael Martin—or spinning old-school on a purchased vinyl. Playlist:⁦https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1JmU8l-9JbWuH-VaQVI18TfiMs9rDW_9&si=_T_OKDBUA1KFcAK-⁩ Psst! We are always on the lookout for an artist's vinyl to listen to, have you got one in mind that we should check out? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Co-Host: Sam Timmerman Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Voiceover: Ruby Miguel

Featured Artist: Stevie Wonder Featured Vinyl: Hotter Than July   Alexis’ Hot Pick  Lately Sam’s Hot Pick Do Like You Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for an artist's vinyl to listen to, have you got one in mind that we should check out? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Co-Host: Sam Timmerman Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Voiceover: Ruby Miguel Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel

Alexis chats with Melbourne multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter and DJ from Naarm/Melbourne, the incredible Woody Samson. From the wild joys of live performance to writing an EP live on stage, Woody chats with Alexis about balancing gigs with rest, working through trauma, and the magic of letting curiosity lead the way. Woody brings trumpet, guitar, synths, percussion and serious energy to every stage,  and this convo is just as vibrant.   If you’d like to see more, you can follow Woody on instagram; @woodysamson    This episode was recorded on 27th May 2025 on the lands of the Woiworung Peoples. We hope that this episode inspires you as a creative person and as a human being. Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for creative people to share their story and inspire others. Have you got someone in mind who would love to have a chat? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor … Creative resources from Woody:  Equipboard.com    Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikToc: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel

Alexis chats with the wildly creative Hayden Dun, a Melbourne based classically trained pianist, composer, teacher, and long-time improviser with Impromptunes. They talk about staying curious, finding creative flow, and how to keep the joy in making art, even when it’s hard.  If you’d like to see more, you can follow Hayden on instagram; @ haydendunmusic This episode was recorded on 24th May 2025 on the lands of the Woiworung Peoples. We hope that this episode inspires you as a creative person and as a human being. Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for creative people to share their story and inspire others. Have you got someone in mind who would love to have a chat? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor … Creative resources from Hayden: Asuria: https://www.asuria.com.au/courses   Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikToc: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel  Oh my goodness, Hayden Dun What a glorious day this is to get to interview you. I'm so very excited.    I'm really excited to be here, Alexis.    Ah, I am coming through your creative door, your gracious, beautiful home. . You are a very talented bear. You are a classical trained pianist.   You are a composer of some phenomenal tunes. Might I add? And also you're a teacher.    Yeah.    Which I think is really beautiful. You are sharing your knowledge, sharing your gift.    Thank you.    Before we get started into the questions, 'cause I know that you're prepared, I love a man who's prepared. But I just wanted to mention, you got a young composer of the ward at, Victorian College of the Arts.   Is that right?    I did, yeah.    Oh, that is so impressive.     How does that come about?  Thanks. Is, I think it is much harder to get it for performing than for composing 'cause I'm pretty sure I also applied for performing and yeah, I didn't get anywhere close to being selected.   Yeah, it, competitive space. Yeah. Competitive space a hundred percent. I also        wanna mention,        obviously the rabbit hole of        going through your world, which is so much fun, I got to come across one of your beautiful music videos. Which is, for water dance. Yeah. Water dance. Water dance. Yes. Oh my goodness.   And I saw that the video is amazing, by the way, and I have a sneaking suspicion that was down the peninsula or somewhere in Victoria.    Yeah.    But the thing that I found really cool is you dedicated it to your sister. Yeah. Who's the videographer, right? Yeah.    She was. Oh    my goodness. Tell me a bit about this.   I'm intrigued.    My sister is a marine biologist and she's also an a photographer, underwater photographer as well. And yeah, she, yeah, she's really inspiring to me. I. She's my younger sister, but she still inspires me    and it makes sense being water dancer, that you would dedicate it to someone who's immersed her life around water.   Yeah.    Oh, I love that. How beautiful.    Yeah. Yeah. And it was her idea to go to the cliff. Pretty sure it was Half Moon Bay.    Yes. Okay. I thought it was down that way of Victoria. I was like,   yeah, it's a long way away.    Oh, beautiful.        Question one. Question, what does a creative space mean to you and why?    Great question. For me, it's definitely changed. When I was in school and when I was studying at uni, I was, it was by my piano. I could spend hours a week        there.            nowadays, now that I'm 30            music and teaching, my,        my full-time profession, so I don't get hours a week at my piano anymore.   So I've been forced to make it everywhere, especially when I am, especially when I'm driving. I spend, have a lot of dead time driving from gig to gig. So now, I make it my creative time, my creative echo chamber.    Interesting. And how do you, when is that you just getting inspiration, listening to different things?   Or are you having to pull up on the side of the road and do voice messages?        How do you harness that creativity in that space?    Yeah, exactly. That. If I get, a really great idea, I'll either, I'll try to quickly tell it to Siri to put it in. If that doesn't work, which it often doesn't, I will pull up on the side of the road.           And    you find that you are able to.        Imagine some of these melodies and that instrumentation, even though you are not at a piano.    I do it better at a piano, but yes, I can still get a rough idea of it. I'm driving   amazing. Oh, I can empathize with the car scenario. I love long.   Hall drives.    Yeah.    And I find that something        about doing the mundane task that your brain goes to this creative space. Yeah. I find the same when I go running. Yeah.    Yeah. A hundred percent. Running walks, traveling to other countries, that's all where it comes. So yeah, it comes when I'm not, when I'm not at my most convenient at the piano.   How    dare it not be convenient? Oh,    so inconsiderate.    Oh, the creative way, right?    Yep.    Now, you've been doing this for a long time.        And you'll be continuously be doing it for a very long time. But I'm curious, what is something. That you've created or released, that you are most proud of? And how has that come about?   I've actually got something really exciting and, it might even be released by the time people are listening to this, I'm gonna release my, piano album Terra Sonata.    Ooh, what does that mean?    It is, it's gonna have five songs. Usually a Sonata has three or four songs, but I'm cheating a little bit.   It's gonna have five songs that I've, written throughout the years and compiled together. Cut a little bit of the fluff that I wrote along the way. Wouldn't, yeah, even musicians sometimes write fluff here and there, but I cut it all out and. Yeah. Five piano solo songs that I'm really proud of.   Amazing. And when you say that you've written them along the way, is this a, a span of 10 years that you've been working on these compositions that are on this album or this record?    Actually, the oldest one I started writing 13 years ago, in, in my opinion, I don't think I wrote it too well.   It's something that I. Yeah, put in the bank and revisit it.    Amazing. I love those. I love those. Oh my goodness. Please tell me that your song until the end is one of those five.    It will be, yes. Oh my goodness.    Yay. For those listening. I was devastated when I listened on YouTube to this phenomenal song until the end.   Then I couldn't find it on Spotify and I was like, no, I wanna be able to listen to it all the time and yay. So hopefully when this episode lands, that song will be readily available. I'm sharing it straight away. Oh my God. I'm so excited.    Thank you so much. That's really kind.    Okay. On the flip side of things that you are proud of.   What is something that's challenged your creativity, do you think?    Being cocky and naive?        Oh my God. Tell me more. I'm so intrigued by this.    When I was fresh out of uni, so this would've been eight years ago, one of my best friends and myself started writing a musical. Cool. We had it finished in one and a half years.   So both of us, we studied music composition, which had a little bit of lyric writing, but hardly any at all. Yeah. That was our specialty. The music, little bit of lyrics, we had absolutely no experience writing, dialogue or story. But that didn't stop us. We put on our show, we wore it as a badge of honor that Okay.   It only took one and a half years to write. And yeah, sure enough, when the feedback came in, the. People thought the music was nice, the lyrics were good enough, the dialogue was a little bit clunky, and the plot was an absolute disaster.    No. What was the plot? What was the premise of the show? The    premise of the show was a girl, she is asexual and her trying to fit in into this sex crazed world.   The premise was people liked the premise. They just didn't like the delivery.    Interesting. Yeah. And I feel like sometimes if we realized how big the task at hand was, we would never start. But I'm curious like out        off the back of that,        what are the key takeaways?   Like how have you then come through that project and gone to the next project?    Yeah, no, it's a, it's a fine line between,        not wanting to scare yourself away by how daunting the task is. But, I guess for me personally, I didn't respect the disciplines, the other creative disciplines of lyric writing, dialogue, writing, and story I thought.   I thought, I studied music composition. Surely I'm good at, I'm good at everything else. But yeah, I wasn't she's    lucky we didn't meet 13 years ago. You'd be like, oh, so sing a songwriter, please.    Yeah. Yeah, definitely. Yeah. I learned the lesson for me was that each of these creative disciplines, they're an entire world.   And, yeah, they're exciting worlds.            For me personally, I was feeling that I was a little bit bored of, writing dialogue, writing a story. It's just something to get the job done.        yeah, that was a sign that I wasn't that good at it.   I think also too is as we get older, we recognize we're, our strengths. Like perhaps this project could have been an opportunity for you to realize another passion in another avenue, but it's also an opportunity for you go, maybe you didn't like that so much. Maybe next time I'm gonna    Yeah.   Collaborate with somebody else to do that part.    Yeah. Both, yeah. Both my co-writer and I, we've, ever since we've been studying, more about writing, creative writing and writing, writing music theater. So it's been. It's been really exciting to actually dig in and learn about how to do this properly.   Amazing. Oh, I love that. That's not, dampened your creativity in any way, and if anything, it's just made you pivot and learn more. I love that.    Definitely. What a    great lesson.    Yeah. Yeah. Thanks    for sharing.    Yeah.        Okay, my next question. I'm curious, what does or what is a object that you can't live without when you are creating, do you have one?   Oh, I don't, I could. I could give a cliche answer and say, my piano, my laptop, my music programs, but everyone needs those.    True.    Yeah. Should I, maybe I should.    No, I think it's a particular question that for some people it will truly be exactly what you said. Piano, a laptop, a.   Yeah. Headphones. Yeah. All those kind of things. All those things. And for others it could be a bit more sentimental. So you don't have any lucky socks that you wear when you do gigs?    I don't, yeah. Knowing me, if I did, I might freak out if I one day forgot them.    I Are you superstitious? I    don't think so.   I don't think so, but I can, sometimes things do get into my head.    Okay.   In that way.    Yeah. Yeah. Do you have like rituals when you go to gigs, like a particular process that you like to follow before you are like in the studio or before you go to gigs?    I will try to limit, limit any, anything that's gonna cause anxiety or stress, a couple of hours before any show or performance.   Yeah. I'll have two coffees straight away every morning.    Nice. Get that coffee into you straight away. Yeah.   I love that. I do that too. To be honest, I'm not good until I've                        If you could give one nugget of gold, one piece of advice. To another creative, what would it be?    It is orders of magnitude easier to critique something than it is to create something.    Ooh, okay. Let this sink in. Spell it out for us. Break it apart for us    for sure. It takes years, so many years to be bad at something and so many more years to become good at something.   And along the way you're going to hear, you might hear people say, it's, you are not made for this. You just don't have that natural talent. You're not a writer, you're not a singer. Et cetera. Yeah, don't listen to it. There is, there's a time and place for feedback. Of course. Yeah. People, if you do, if you have created something and you do want feedback, generally yeah, you can.   It's totally valid to get feedback from friends and family. Generally, people are very good at being able to tell when something's not right. But, in saying that if people do tell you. This isn't the right path for you, or you should just throw everything away. Never listen to that.   For example, Fur Elise, it takes about, five or six years of training before someone's ready to learn that song. Even the first page, the main theme that everyone knows, even that, at least two, usually about three years of training before someone's ready to learn that song, learn that page.       Yeah. So just 'cause you can't do it right now doesn't mean you can't do it a bit later. Exactly. You just gotta apply yourself.   Definitely.    So you mentioned just then about obviously getting feedback, which is something in the creative space we get, whether we ask for it or not.    Yes.    But if you could give our listeners, or even for other creatives, like how do you think is a good way for that feedback to come?   Or how do you think the best way as a creative person is to ask for that feedback? From our community and from our listeners.    If I have an idea that's not completely finished, not polished, then I will generally ask, other musicians or other creatives for, feedback or ideas. I'd only ask. Someone who isn't trained, who isn't a creative, for feedback.   Once, yeah, once the product is more polished and pretty close to finished. ' Sometimes people might hear that something's not quite right, but they might think it's, a problem with the content rather than a problem with the delivery. Now, if you could give another creative, or even someone who wants to do what you do, would you give any advice and recommend any resources that they could develop their creative process with?    A resource I've gotten into in this last year is repurpose. It's for social media. I find with creatives we rely heavily on promoting ourselves.   What it does is. If you post something on one platform, for example, on TikTok, you can set it to automatically post on YouTube shorts automatically on Instagram. Yeah, it does cost a bit, but it's, in my opinion, it's worth it. It gives, frees up a lot of time that you can be using for creating.   Amazing. And how did you find that?       I heard about it through my music business course. It's called Asuria.    How did you find that?    My sister again, the same one.   Oh,    amazing.    Yeah.    And that helps with the financial side of. Yeah. Creation, like creating content, being a teacher, doing gigs, that kind of,    yeah. Finances, promotion, business admin. Yeah.    Yeah. Cool. And is it like a. Night course or like a weekend course. How long does the course go for?    It was a nine month course.   Nine months? Yeah. Brilliant. Yeah,    it's brilliant. Brilliant. Yeah.    Oh, we'll have to give details in the show notes for that course. Sounds like that has been quite helpful for you.    Definitely. It doesn't cost anything either.    Oh really? Yeah.    Really. Oh,    brilliant. We like things that are free. Yeah, we do.           And last but not least, one last question. If you could hear another creative come on this podcast and answer these questions, who would it be and why?    I had love to hear next, a person I've worked with a few times over the years. Her name's Victoria Mantynen. She's an incredible, performer, singer, actor, creator.   She creates her own shows as well. She delivers her shows with, yeah, they're really polished and professional. I'd love to hear more about, what happens behind the scenes.    Cool. And what kind of genre is her craft?    She can do, I'm pretty sure she can do any genre. If you asked her, I'm pretty sure her main genre is like 1940s, 1950s.   Yeah, the kind of. Hollywood from back then.    That's cool. Yeah. Oh, I love that. What a vibe. What a vibe. Yeah.  Oh my goodness. Thank you so much for coming through the Creative door and having this beautiful chat   you are such a vibe.    Thank you so much for having me. It's been amazing.    Yay.  

Featured Artist: Christine and the Queens Featured Vinyl: Chris   Alexis’ Hot Pick  What’s-her-face (english) / Machin-chose (french) Sam’s Hot Pick Girlfriend Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for an artist's vinyl to listen to, have you got one in mind that we should check out? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Co-Host: Sam Timmerman Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Voiceover: Ruby Miguel Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel   ----------------    Hello from the  How are you?  Oh, very well, my friend. How are you?  I'm very well too. I am enjoying the vibe that's coming through the screen and this week there's so much dancing going on. I love it. Little  bit. I'm a happy little bear for multitude of reasons. One 'cause I'm mostly happy Beth, but I have an amazing offering for us. Chat about this week.  I cannot wait. I have been melting into this one. It's been so much fun.  My offering this week is a vinyl called Chris by Christine and the Queen  Second album, I believe.  Coolest  artwork, telling the story of what they're going for. Artwork is just bang on. It's on point for exactly what they're trying to convey with this record. It's so cool.  I have fallen in love with this record many moons ago for a multitude of reasons. One. Because Christine and the Queens did essentially a double of this record. So there are all English tracks and then I think all but one of them have a French version. by golly, is it stunning. So if you actually find this online, you will. Get all 23 tracks English and French. For me, I was very sad in the sense that, one, I got to have this vinyl love it, but I couldn't find the French version that sold out everywhere that I went looking. So very sad. But I'll take what I can get. It's fine. What was your top pick?  Okay. I have to qualify here before I went from my top pick. The first time I had listened through this, or the first time I got down to sit, to listen to this was in a hotel room at about 2:00 AM and I think I just didn't get to bed until another hour and a half afterwards because I only listened to a couple of tracks and they did not leave my brain. They're  so good.  It was, ah. What the, just that initial opening of Come see and I just went, oh my God, this is amazing. Just  slop these offerings. I'm just like opening you up to a very different world. It's  so much fun. The production on this is  very cool,  immaculate. It is a little bit synth wave. It's a little bit poppy. It's got. I cannot describe how much fun I had listening through this. Again, music brain took off, so I started listening to the lyrics about a week later. But Quick Hot Pick was Girlfriend.  Yes,  because, and again, it took me the entirety of the last two weeks trying to pick. A hot pick.   For the pure reason, if I had so much fun with the record, this one sat really grooved, sat really nicely and chilled out after I'd listened through the whole thing once. Coming back to the record again. After listening through it. Then getting to chill down to this was really cool. The message in its powerful as and it's, I've really love the fact that it will actually hit differently depending on how you're coming to it. But yeah, just sit back and melt into it. That's all I can say. That's the good version.  And one of the tracks that has a corresponding English and French. Yes. Yes.  Yeah, it's stunning being the way the  vocal work is incredible. Yeah, if you're, I have to say, if you're a fan of Prince      if you're a fan of Prince, 85% of these tracks are right up your alley. And they label because music, I had a quick little dig. They rereleased prince's, MPL sound as a limited edition. Fairly recently. So yeah, they've got that link and a lot of their artists have a similar kind of sound. They've got some Tame Impala on there. Major laser is on because music as well, label outta France. So much fun. Do you have a hot pick?    I do have a hot pick. And just like what you were saying, super hard to just choose one out of the 23 tracks essentially. But you've got the English and French versions. If I had to roll it down, it would be what's her face? What a  great title. Okay, I've got a few points here of why this is my favorite. So let me roll them out. I have got one, it's got real bare bones production, which I froth at. It's got this really heavy pulsing bass and absolutely adore bvs that are like uber haunting and ghosty that really support a main vocal one froth at that. Two, her main vocal line, holy hell, those runs are to die for. And they just are so emotive and they make me sad. They just make me sad, and I feel all the feels, and I fricking love it.  I love this because it makes me hurt.  Oh my God, it makes me hurt so much and I'm all for it. Oh my God. I don't know if I'm a sucker for punishment, but I search for songs and albums that have that in it. It's just, oh, because it, it transports you to a sad memory or time. Like it just, I don't mind visiting those places and being in that and a song like this. Oh, I always think it's songs like this. It's like when you are in your darkest, you'll search for songs like this. Or you're a sucker for punishment like me, and I just wanna revisit a sad moment. Exactly before you got to your third point. I was really interested in when you're talking about the way, the reason why this one spoke to you, and it sounds a lot like your track casualty.  Oh, really? Real  parallels there. Soon as I listened to it, I went, I've heard this before.  Do you know what that is? What, but if you go back and listen to  casualty,  what a compli Hey wait. Hang on. Wait. Is this a compliment because it sounds like it, or is this to say that I ripped it off? 'cause I know my shape is, oh no, you are.  I'm not accusing you of plagiarism whatsoever. I realize that now, but no. This is. It sounds like your sound in that chin. Oh  wow. What? It's oh, thank you.  Yeah, it, I can see exactly why it spoke to you. Yeah. And people listening, go and check out these two side by side. Listen to what's her face by Christine and the queens, and then go and put casualty on by the lady who's sitting in a screen in front of me. You're too kind brother, too kind. Okay, so my third and final thing to say about this it won't be my final, but I read somewhere that she did the final vocals in one bloody take.    Bam.  There is a lot there.  There's a lot  there. There's there.  One of the write-ups that I read talks about how they wanted to emulate the feeling of crying from the inside. Yeah. Oh, and really, again, hits that emotive button and I'm all for it.  Yes. When the creative process is deliberately telling a story, not just being there and recording something, oh, actually, your a hundred percent method of creating this sound is. Part of the storytelling.  Yes. Yeah. Yeah. There was a couple of quotes that I found and I'd love to read them. Yeah. One is that no matter what, you eventually become free, empowered, the lingering feeling of once an outsider, always an outsider. Was one of the quotes that I found from Christine and the Queens about this song. Wow. Okay. And another was, it's like a wound that sometimes wakes up bleeds, even when something really small happens a side eye to a feeling of betrayal. Wow.      No wonder why it speaks to me. This is  All me. there's just so much in this record that Yeah, if you are listening. Do yourself a favor and listen to this one. It is stunning. Absolutely stunning.  And read some interviews or read some articles about the record while you're listening to this one. There is so much detail and depth and consideration in how they created this on top of making it sound fricking amazing.  That's right.  There's depth to this one that I've not encountered in a long time. Well said, brother. Until next time for the next offering,  I cannot wait.   

Alexis chats with Mad Dame - a Melbourne photographer and artist specialising in nude glitter portraits celebrating all genders and bodies. She shares her grounding rituals, the story of how her business came about, and how she creates deep, intentional experiences for every client that steps into her world. Mad Dame talks about embracing imperfection, using every resource fearlessly, and offers her secret to authentic networking. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about creativity, connection, and self-expression   If you’d like to see more, you can follow Jess on instagram, all art @maddameart or glitter portraits at @maddameglitter    This episode was recorded on 11th May 2025 on the lands of the Woiworung Peoples. We hope that this episode inspires you as a creative person and as a human being. Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for creative people to share their story and inspire others. Have you got someone in mind who would love to have a chat? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor   … Creative resources from Jess: COPY from transcript   Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikToc: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel  Hello, my name is Alexis Naylor, and I am your host here at Through The Creative Door. On behalf of myself and my guests, I would like to acknowledge the traditional owners and custodians on which this podcast is recorded and produced. May we pay our respects to all First Nations people and acknowledge elders past and present. On this podcast, I'll be chatting to an array of creative guests, getting a glimpse into their worlds and having some honest and inspiring conversations along the way. I am delighted to welcome you to Through the Creative Door.   Thank you so much, Jess, for coming through the Creative Door. This is a beautiful space. There's a lot of visuals happening.    There's a lot of visuals happening. I mean, we could describe it with like really juicy words and let people like go into themselves and try to see what that looks like in their imagination. And then when they see it, they'll be like, oh my God, is it what I was thinking? It's better. Or it's like even more realistic and magical than I could have ever thought.    How do you describe this space?    This is called the Pink Palace. It's like an energy room. Like people will come in here, whether it's like the colored lights of pink or the colour of pink, that's everywhere.   That's really like, ah, like people feel like they're home or in a familiar space. Mm. So familiarity in a way.    So you are such a talented bear, such an amazing photographer, but you specialise in, how would I say, like nude, all inclusive, gender inclusive, like glitter portraits, right? Like that's your like, sort of niche.Yeah. You obviously are like this amazing creator and makes these amazing worlds around it as well.    So my, my creativity has brought me to this. Thing that I am mastering, and it is a niche of female identifying individuals that come in that feel like they need to move energy or celebrate or move through, move through something they're accepting, through having their body painted in glitter, specifically glitter.   And if anyone comes in with whatever they're dealing with, and as they are in their body, and as soon as I put this glitter on their body, their eyes light up and they're just like, who am I? What is this? I want this forever. And, and they be, they come back to themself, is the way they describe it. They forget about anything that's bothering them.   The things that that are going on in the outside world. They come into this. Pink sanctuary and go into play space and just come back to themselves. They say, this feels really familiar. And I'm like, how do I describe it? It sound sounds like what you're saying is like you are coming home to connecting with yourself.   It's fucking cool as shit and that's why it's privilege. Yeah, it's every time I do it, I'm just like, I know. Expanded with joy much more and. Yeah, I think when you know why you get up to do the creative thing. Mm-hmm. Then. It becomes juicier.    So where in your creative space, what does a creative space mean to you and why?   Yeah. Okay. So, uh, a creative space to me is the word sanctuary. This is my four walls where no one can come and fuck with me. No one can tell me what to do. No one's opinion matters, but my own, this is. My safe space and I can tell you how it came to if you like, I'd    love to hear it.    Literally, this is the rebel teenage girl's bedroom.   Is it not? Oh my God. We've got like dolly partner of a shotgun fuck year on the wall, paint anything I fucking want on the walls. This is teenage rebel girl bedroom. I started my portraits in my bedroom when I was 19. People would pay me and I'd just like pin up a bit of fabric and they'd come in and I'd do it.   But also like my bedroom growing up was. The safe space where I would go to close the doors, feel my feelings in private, and then decide what to use that energy for. But I was gonna spend so much time being an emotional being in my room. Um, the walls reflected that. So the walls, I would paint it. So my teenage bedroom was eggplant with like hot pink walls and then punk rock stuff.   And then I would change the walls, would change my space, my place to express myself. Um. And my work's very emotionally driven, like it comes from that, like I am honoring the rebel teenage girl that didn't know how to express herself. So that's where that key comes into this. The reason this room is pink, because we moved from one street over and I was really comfortable in that space.   I was really like after COVID, like bringing up, ramping up the energy again, and then we had to, we had to move out being artists. The buildings we choose are like kind of derelict and they get closed down. So I had to come into this room and it's a bit smaller and I looked at it when it was white and a boring office.   I was like, how am I gonna do my creativity in here? Like, I was leveling up. This is shit, what the fuck? And I was angry and I was upset, and I was ready to leave. And you know, just like tears were had, you know? And I was like, fuck this, I'm a fucking paint it pink. Um, you can all go to hell. Not that anyone was telling me not to.   I was just like, I'm gonna paint it pink. And that was what made me feel better. Like my creativity is an extension of my feelings. So I was like, I just wanna paint it pink. No rules, no thought really. I impulse impulsivity. And then I also was like, I also just wanna cut a love heart in the door. So I cut a love heart in the door and covered it in fluff and put like the clouds on the roof, like I've had clouds in like my teenage bedroom and other studios.   And I just did it in like three days and realized that. That dark, pissed off energy that it had turned into your transmuted space of like freedom. So when people open the door and look through the love heart, it's like a love portal. This room is a space of love because that's actually who I am and owning that is reflective in the space of what I give and who I am.   How's that?    Yeah, that's perfect. Yeah, but it's true. Like we spoke off mic about your little love heart portal through the door, and I think that's it. It's like when you are creating such a welcoming, inclusive space, others are gonna be super curious and wanna peep in, wanna see what's going on. Oh, I want them to    peep    in.   I don't wanna    hide.    It's just seamless that no one has to. I put the little. Privacy thing down so no one sees, you know, people getting their boobs out. Yeah,    yeah, yeah. Well, you know, we've, we've gotta look after everyone. Yeah. But   so it sounds like you are just so proud of the whole curating of this life and world and space, but I'm curious within that. Mm-hmm. Is there a piece or a body of work that you are most proud of creating and how did that come about?    Okay, so you're asking what's your favorite work from the past 25 years?   I mean, it's a hard one. Yes.    But it's always gonna come back to somewhere, you know? Yeah. Um, when it comes to something I'm proud of, I would have to say my art book's called Deed. So I created an art book. Which was, uh, sort of like a magazine, um, a fine art magazine in 2013. And it was really hard to do, but it came from a spark.   It came from soul work, spark. So if anything in my body, my nervous system lights up when I create something. That's the real shit that is like this is put going you towards the reason you exist and nothing's gonna stop you, which is also my attitude. So I created this book to get off the internet, um, as a, as a 2D image maker.   Oh, just, you know, putting things on the internet. I'm existing, it's being consumed. What next? I was like, there's gonna be so much more to being an artist or being a photographer than that. I'm a fine art photographer. I'm fine art trained, so I know how to print a book. I know how to present an artwork. So I was like.   Ah, let's do something with this. And there's a, there's a little backstory how it came about. It's the number one question I get asked all the time. And that number one question is like, how did you start glittering people? Can I tell you about it? I'd love to hear about it. Okay, so this will lead to what, the reason I made the book, so is to kind of do like fashion photography, um, what would you call it?   Uh. The one-off pieces people would make couture, and this designer had made, like an amateur designer had made these heel list shoes in like 2012, as was the style at the time, Jeffrey Star of Hunger Games. And they were all right. They were pink literature, like, I know you like glitter, so maybe you could shoot these.   I'm like, how am I gonna make these better? Okay. Like they were just a bit tacky. Why don't I just Photoshop that pink into the girl's leg. I'll just cover her in glitter. No big deal. I use glitter every now and then. So my model was big TDI athlete, six foot. I laid her down, covered her in glitter, and then she like rose, she like stood up and I was like, oh my fucking God, what have I created?   This is insane. And I ran around the whole studio. I was like, come on, look at my goddess. Holy shit. Um. And that was the spark moment, right? And I knew this was really special. I knew what I created. I'd never seen it before and it was mine. I wanted to present it to the world, but I just didn't wanna put it on the internet to be consumed.   And I didn't want anyone to just see it and just copy me because I do inspire a lot of people. So. One of my assistants was like, if anyone could make a zine or a magazine, you could. Two weeks later, I called him back. I was like, oh my God, we're doing it. We're gonna do it on glitter. We're gonna put glitter on the cover, and this is how I'm gonna show everybody this thing I'd created.   So from this Spark thing that I created, I created an editorial exploring all the different versions of individuals I could glitter and how it made them feel, and I learned everything about it. Um, and then I put it in the book. I launched the book, we had a launch party and it was full of like it. It was just, it was one of those IT parties.   I was like, wasn't even present in my brain. I'm like, how is this happening? Like, who am I to the world right now? And had eight women all covered in glitter, like on podiums and no one had seen anything like that before. And so that book. When it was out, it kind of leveled up myself as an artist and in my career as someone that's capable of doing more and bringing people together, which I never thought about it at the time that I'm really a great facilitator.   And so I went on and presented three more books and they align exactly with like my mental health and my journey, what I'm capable of. Everything that I feel like that I've learned about. Everything that I'm probably about to talk to you about and since the last book came out, my career exploded, like literally exploded.   You are busy, your calendar's massively busy. It's fantastic.    Yeah, so that is probably a, a pinpoint proud moment thing that I was able to do, even though it was a lot of hard lessons, a lot of really great life lessons. Um, it's eternal and people are still like, oh, I still have this book and it's. What year? In 2013? It came out 12 years. So interesting that you talk about that project having some challenges and some life lessons. Yeah. I'm curious, are some of those life lessons, would you say any of those, uh, challenged your creativity?    I've had so many challenges. And even like just before you come in, I was like thinking about challenges.I was like, I've had so many challenges, but also I'm fucking successful as fuck. So they go hand in hand. If you don't overcome a challenge, how are you gonna grow to become the version you wanna be? So all the challenges I've had at the time, yes, they were harder. Now I'm like, oh baby girl, look how funny.   Look how far you come, you adult.   And owning that and like putting that older version of myself that's had the challenges next to me with love and Grace, I feel like my number one challenge has been as a creative person and as a person that offers my creativity as a service, as a gift, as an exchange, as an, as, an, as a, as an energy exchange is boundaries.   I have had my creative boundaries and my personal boundaries pushed by people, um, that just wanna receive and take your creativity. And the thing I've learned about myself is that I never realized that I'm not a giver. I'm a fixer, and I am a love field person, especially the love field. I've been denying that based on my own personal challenges that I, I love, love, I love giving.   I just never knew that. And so when I stepped into that, you know, I was able to understand why people want my shit. Okay. Whoa. So when I think of boundaries being pushed, it could be feeling objectified as a thing rather than a person, and that can come in tune with. Saying, uh, like your identity as an artist, your identity as a person, identity as a business.   So as Mad Dame, which is my artist's name, I, a lot of people didn't know my real name for a long time, and I kept it that way 'cause I was playing a role as this being, rather than letting myself be human and have downtime, I just would step into this. Character, this alter ego that could do anything. And so I felt, yeah, really resentful to people being like, but you are this thing that does this thing, so give it to me.   And especially, yeah. No, no. And especially when, um, the glitter took off like I wanted to give it to everybody, can everybody have it? But that ended up looking like me working. 12, 15 hours a day. I think I photographed like 12 hours straight a day and was really exhausted, but outta my head and didn't even know that I had the ability to stop.   And that it's almost like what you were saying before about um, wanting to give things now, now, now, now, now kind of, um. And so not having boundaries of like, this is when I can give service or this is where the creativity stops. Creativity is feminine energy that just leaks out if it doesn't have a boundary or a wolf or stop, like eating and drinking doesn't exist because energy, uh, creative energy is on another level, like out of here.   So yeah, I was outta my head for like a year just creating until I burnt out and like was really sick. Like I didn't know I was sick. How did you, like, did you essentially have to absolutely burn out. Totally. For you to then go, oh shit, hang on, this is not work. I gotta find a better way.    Yep. Um, so I created the, the magazine and was working really hard on that and like, um, photographing 12 hours a day and then I did it twice with the second one.So we worked for six months straight on two books. And, um, so, so many more other projects in there. And I burnt out and my mom was like, you need to go and rest. Why don't you just go live in our holiday house and live off like the government and just take a break? And so I was like on zero energy with everybody that existed in my life.   And, um, people were taking and taking, and even though I was giving space for people to have their work put in a book for free, I was still like. Uh, people were still upset that I wasn't doing it the best for them, and I was like, whoa, what, what is going on? Um, and so I, I shut everything off. I, I might've even turned my, my Facebook off.   I mean, this is like 2013. This was a while ago. Um, I was really depressed. I was really sick. I was like seven kilos lighter and I didn't even know. And like there was a lot of, um, there was a documentary that came to one of the launches and I was saying stuff that's just like, what the fuck is she saying? Like, I wasn't even in my head. And they were just like, oh, okay. Yeah. Cool. So I was really mentally unwell and no one could see it unless they were around me all day long. If someone saw it for like a day or a minute, they would've been like, oh, she's really just eccentric and creative. Um, so I literally.   I felt like something needed to change in my body, in me. So I shut everything off, was worried everybody would forget about me, and I'm gonna tell you like, no, that doesn't exist. And I changed my, my diet and I actually probably leveled up in like spirituality completely by accident. So I'd stopped taking sugar and I thought, if this stops me from being depressed, I'm never gonna take sugar again.   And then as I changed my diet and was ready to come back to Melbourne, maybe six months later, I. I was a whole new person and I made my next book, and it was the best book. It was so focused, it was so intentional, and because I'd gone through such a dark phase, I made it about dark meets light. I. I still had to honor where I'd come from 'cause I didn't feel like that anymore.   All the dark things that I had like put together for this issue, I didn't feel it anymore. I was like, in this enlightened new phase, I was 29 or 28, sorry, I turned 28. So like that's an age where people like, woo, light up. Um, especially when you discover new things and new versions of yourself. So I honored it with the light side.   I let everybody come to the launch for free. I wasn't needing to receive anything from anybody. Everyone was amazing. Everyone was aligned where I was at. No one was trying to take anything from me, and people brought their creativity to the launch and were like, it was a liberated space. Yeah.    It's such an interesting transition, but like it's so relatable. Oh great.    Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So relatable.    Honour that dark side though. Honour where you come from. One thing that I have learned is like when you are feeling dark and like a piece of shit create, because you're gonna lose that and you're gonna feel really good again soon. And then you'd be like, why didn't I capture that energy when I had it?   Yeah. Yeah. And as a, I can only, I guess, put a lens of my own creativity over that. It's like you create a thing in that darkness. And then you share it in your light. Yeah. Like that's really a good way of saying it. You don't, you don't, you're not in it anymore. You visit it. Mm. But you, you can almost share it because you are not living it.   Yeah. Yeah. I think that's the best way. Yeah. Do you have an object or thing that you can't live without when you're creating?    There are like one or two objects that I can tell you about, but when it comes to really thinking about when someone walks through the door and like the, the thing's gonna happen.   Things have to be done in a certain way. It's not OCD, it's grounding. You walked in and I told you to pick a card. Yeah, this is one thing that I take to all shoots because I get a whole range of individuals that come into my space and it's about curating energy. So, um, I think my Oracle goddess deck of cards is something that I take with me.   Anyone can pick it if someone comes in and they're quite overwhelmed and excited. So after they get into like the different spaces and energy, I want to. Hone in on getting them focused and getting, like understanding how they're where they're at. So I ask them to pick a card and even the way they pick the card or respond to it or pick it or, and what it is.   They'll resonate with it. So it kind of is like a grounding things like, remember why you are here now let's get a reflection as to why you are here. So you can remember that you haven't just walked in for like a good time. You've walked in for an intentional time, and sometimes they just go deep for some people.   And I love that because I can expand on it for them and then start to gauge in such a deeper way, which is my innate. You know, self, you know, the thing that I do, I'm very intuitive. I'm like, Ooh, this is why you are here. Now let's like get right into it. And like, and the card will sometimes even reflect the glitter color they have chosen or, um, oppose they end up doing, it's very like, woo, let's happening.   There's a bit of something extra in the air, I think. So, um, having a, a card to help guide. The session. Yeah. And a physical object like duh. A camera, but, but I have a old film lens from a 35 mil camera. It was my granddad. So you would've had it from like the seventies. It's the first lens that I've ever taken a portrait on.   Like 25 years ago, and I still use it. I put it on a digital camera, it has like a little adapter, and I put this old film lens onto a digital camera and it just captures the essence and the, the glitter so much better than a digital lens.    Interesting.    Yeah. I've compared it and I'm like. Wow. Like the first portrait is to take, have this like depth to it.   What's changed? I'm like, it's this old glass lens and yeah, it's very sentimental. Like it's fallen apart and like, I love it and I feel like such a unique, uh, photographer. And I guess the, the, the camera is a tool is also kind of like. A tool to put between me and you. I'm taking a portrait to help you feel at ease that there's something happening, rather than me just staring at you and telling you, you are cool and beautiful.   I feel like. I can I just just say like, being a photographer and having this really great lens and having this camera in front of my eye for 25 years, people don't realize that I'm just been staring at humans for 25 years, like staring into their eyes. That's sort of creepy, staring into their souls.   I've literally been staring into people for 25 years that I've learned how to read people. So that lens has helped me have this tool to connect.    How beautiful. I love this. Mm. Well, speaking of people knowing exactly where they stand with you, I'm intrigued to know if you could give one nugget of gold to another creative, what would it be?   Uh, use your resources. Use the fuck out of them. Don't get stuck in any perfectionist way or that I need it to be like this. To be like this. Being creative is also a discovery, a work in progress. You need to make mistakes, you need to fuck up to discover something you didn't know you were looking for. I always have to say this to students, unlike any opportunity you have to use a resource like, um, like the studio or something at your school.   Use it. Even if you don't have an idea. Get in there and photograph anything. Use the lights, use the backdrop. Use yourself. Use your friends. It's not about the outcome at all. If you happen to create something, great, fuck yeah, but you need to practice. You need to fuck up. You need to do things outside of what you get taught, so then you can become a master of something new.   Okay. Note to yourself, Alexis. If someone wanted to develop their creative process, and this sort of goes off what you were saying about using your resources and, and just, you know, diving in, but if someone wanted to create, to develop their creative process and do what you do in any way, shape, or form, would you recommend any courses or resources, any books?   I thought about this and I was like, getting a mentor is like. Boss, but finding those mentors is hard. But in order to find a mentor, don't do any cold calling emails. I mean, give it a go. The best way, and I've seen it work, is go and knock on someone's door. Take a risk. Go to the party, get drunk, talk to the person.   I have literally given out so many jobs when I was in my twenties 'cause I was drunk at a party in my ego. Like, oh, I'm so important you can come work for me. Right. Um, and that was the advice that I got given in my fine art course, was like. Go to parties and talk to 'em. I'm like, fuck off. Like, gimme something I can use.   But it was true because networking baby. Yeah. So, so networking is a big deal, but do it with grace and like, I, I don't know, like intention instead of like trying to take something from someone. You'd be surprised at how many older, um, artists are in their phase of like, understanding to give, uh, give back to.   Young artists because we've been the young artist. Your mentoring works in a way to connect with an individual that you choose. School is like a blanket thing to like just get everybody covered. Doesn't know like one-on-one. I think people can actually receive more by having conversations, by being around people.   I've definitely seen people's lives change by, uh. Or like just take a different direction by connection, say connection to an individual that will give them time. For example, like a mentor. So I've had a few work experience kids back in the day come through and like seeing them thrive or even the reward as an individual that I get by having someone.   Take in things that I didn't know that they needed. So like we can be like shooting all day and they would've just learn heaps by doing, rather than me being like, blah, blah, blah, do it, do it, do this. They're just watching them and absorbing. I feel like there's a few, few artists in this building that are older, so older artists are probably ideal.   They've got some older ways of doing things. So it's more about creativity than about, oh, how do I exist on social media? Like I know how to exist on social media. I'm not that old, but there's, you know, life lessons in there about how to be a creative person in the world today. And what does that look like?   I think. Being able to have those conversations and that where that, where you can find that I guess, is yes, you'll have a great conversation at an art gallery, open with some dude with a wine glass, and then you'll know if that's the right conversation for you. Or you're like, oh my God, like stop talking to me about this thing I don't care about.   But if there's like some wacky artist that you're like. I wanna be that person. Guaranteed. They're probably just as scared of the world as you are. So don't, don't put anybody on a pedestal thinking that they're outside of your or, because we're all human.    Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I can see myself giving that advice to myself right now.   It's like, oh my god, you know? This other female artist is so powerful. I'm like, yeah, but they still have these like insecurities and doubts in their body. They just know how to get through it. So don't underestimate or be intimidated to take a risk and knock on someone's door of somebody that has, uh, is where you wanna be at.   I really think it works, like I've been around for a while. And people are too scared to like step outta their comfort zone. So if you are too scared to step outta your comfort zone, how are you going to get out there to the big, bad world and express yourself in ways that most people probably will or will not like?   It's down to how you feel. Yeah.    Well said. Well said. Yeah. Got one last question for you. If you could hear another human being on this podcast, maybe another creative or who knows, who would it be and why?    This studio is full of street artists. In a city like Melbourne, where it's everywhere. Getting to talk to someone that can tell you the history and the meaning and the why and the subculture of it.   It gets horny. It gets juicy. Like I am ready to like co-collaborate on how to take that. Aspect into my world and my world into that world and to, and to see what it means, you know, and the reason why, and like the, the hidden rules about putting artwork on the street over other people's artwork. And there's rules, there's rules, there's street rules to, you know, um, so there's quite a few people in this building that.   Would share something I think other people have never heard about. Wow. Okay. I'm intrigued. Yeah. I mean, I don't know which individual would be the best one to point out, but I think Melbourne Street artist.    Oh my goodness. Jess, thank you so much for this beautiful chat. It's been amazing. Thank you. No, thank you for coming into the Pink Palace.   Yay. Pink Palace Pink.   Thanks for tuning in for another episode of Through The Creative Door. If you enjoy our episodes and find value in them, consider supporting us by making a donation. Just visit buy me a coffee.com/throughthecreative door, or buy the link in our Instagram buy where you can choose an amount and even write us a little message. Every little bit helps, and we truly appreciate all of your support. But if you can't donate, no worries. You can still help us out by sharing our podcast with your friends and family, and leaving a review on your favourite platform. Thanks so much for being part of our community, and we'll catch you on the next episode. Bye.

Featured Artist: Tom Allen-Graham Featured Vinyl: Lake Tyers   Alexis’ Hot Pick  Lake Tyers Sam’s Hot Pick Beechworth Aus Music Alert! Support this artists by purchasing this record via Bandcamp: https://tomallen-graham.bandcamp.com/  Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for an artist's vinyl to listen to, have you got one in mind that we should check out? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor   Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Co-Host: Sam Timmerman Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Voiceover: Ruby Miguel Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel      Welcome to B Side, the mini series from through the Creative Door. Join Alexis and Sam as they dive into the timeless world of vinyl. For Alexis, vinyl was more than music, it was a Sunday ritual she shared with her dad, listening, talking, and soaking in the stories behind each album and the artwork on every sleeve. Though her dad is no longer with us, she continues this tradition with her friend Sam Timmerman. Join them as they share their passion for vinyl and the stories is records hold.    Hello brother.    Good afternoon. How are you?    I'm very well. How are you?    Very well. I'm enjoying your new scene. There's a little bit of a new background behind Alexis in the video version of this episode.    Yes. Well, it's just 'cause that's where my computer was set up.    Don't give away the secret.    All right, I'm gonna start our timer.   10 minutes. This is what we do, 10 minutes to talk about a new vinyl record. And this one, I'm very excited, I'm sharing. This is uh, Tom Allen Graham and his beautiful jazz trio record called Lake Tires,    and I believe that you have some connection to this.    Actually, I have a couple of connections. One, I went to school with Tom and was friends with his sister.   Fantastic. And also Lake Tires is a place in East Gippsland back where I grew up.    That's where y'all come from.    It is, yes. Well, I grew up in Paynesville, but Lake Ty is probably about 45 an hour away. So yeah, a place I've spent a lot of time in my childhood.    And it looks beautiful in, at least in the photo of,    well, this, the beautiful thing about the photo is, yeah, it is Lake Lake Tires.   It's exactly what it looks like, so it's amazing. Um, I also love that, uh, Tom himself did the artwork and design for this record. Which is really, really pretty.    Very cool. Now we need to know a little bit more about Tom as well, because he is, like you say, Victorian artist graduated from Victorian College of the Arts, I believe in 2011.   Yes. Very talented bear. Let's get into it. Okay, so I'm gonna start my. Top pick so difficult, so, so difficult to choose. This whole entire jazz record is just seriously, feels like a warm hug. It is restrained, it sets a beautiful mood. It just feels very comfy. Um, but my top pick would have to be tracks called Lake Tires.   So same title as the record. It is super groovy. It's super comfy. I just love how it builds. I love Tom's guitar at the end. It's really special. It's like, you know, the icing on the cake. I don't know. I just, I, I, I've always had a soft spot for jazz records and, and this is no exception. Um, but yeah, if I had to have a, a runner up, I would have to say it is the Um, opening track, which is the beginning.    Me too.    Oh, really? Interesting. Yeah. Okay. Well, for me, one, I'm a sucker for brushes on drums. Mm-hmm. So I really love how that makes me feel straight away. Um, but I, I definitely love the journey in that track. Because each of the players in that trio really sets the tone and adds that tapestry as the, as the song progresses.   And I think it just really sets the scene for the whole record, to be honest. So yeah, that's definitely, I, I found it very difficult to choose, but if I had to choose. They're my picks.    Yeah. Better one than the hard choice.    What is, I know. Does that make a better record if it's harder to choose?    Uh, I think it means that you've like solidified an idea and it's like, even though the songs, I don't think it's a very good answer to a very gotcha question.   Yeah. Like, I don't think that means that the songs sound the same, but I think he sets a beautiful mood and it's like chapters of a book. Love it. Really great chapters and book. Yeah.    I thought beginning was great at, um, just evoking the title scene. The, the actually mid imagery of the lake itself was beautiful and open harmony in a trio setting is stunning, harder than it seems. Mm-hmm. As well to pull off, which I thought was really cool. Um, for me it was beachworth. Modern jazz for me, tends to go too, sometimes it goes too far away from just sitting back and swinging and this is my kind of record where you get into your modern jazz mode and you get into all your open harmonies in your open field.   Lots and lots of rhythmic ideas and everything to have a track where they just sit back in two field for a head, go into a bit of a walking base for your B section, and just they sit back and they play. I just, um, basic, it almost feels like a standard and it's gorgeous.   really does feel like a standard.   Loved the B section melody, giving that real gerwin kind of really simple flowing melody over the top of just your four felt really good. And the melodic, so the rhythmic work in the head too in the A sections was just a lot of fun to listen to.    Yeah,    I don't have to listen to any lyrics in this one.   Right.    Are you saying that I, we need to pick some more records that are just instrumental so you don't have to worry about    Absolutely    Actually. I don't mind. I, I, I really, there's something really beautiful about, um, instrumental albums and tracks that just, yeah, takes me to another place for sure.   That's it. And I mean, the bass solo from Steven as well on this is on Beachworth is super tasty. Um, it sits in that real kind of valley of comfort where you can explore some ideas, but you're just sitting and you're not, you're not taking too much away from this. The idea of the tune. Yeah. Which I thought was fantastic.   I'll give an honorable mention to the outro as well. Descending harmony always holds a special spot for me, and this one is just. Next level on that, it's just, it's the entire idea of the tune is descending harmony, which is super cool. And the fact that there's heaps of ideas between the bass and the guitar while the drum solo is going on.   It's really clever rioting during the solo as opposed to, let's just play a four bar loop. Which is great, gives you something to actually latch onto as well. If you're not as versed in listening to jazz, then a drum solo has the potential to just kind of, you just glaze over.    Mm-hmm. But to have something, to latch back onto it at the end of each um, chorus is just fantastic and I really liked it.   I'd love to hear these guys play these records.    Ah, right, right. So what I need, I need Tom to play a show that I can get to.    Tom comes to Perth and then she'll fly over.    I found this really beautiful quote that was written by another jazz guitarist in Melbourne. Um, he wrote, like, he did a bit of a review of this record, and I love, there's like a sentence that he says about how, um, one might easily be tricked into thinking that this was just another jazz Guitar Trio record with its restrained mood and quiet character, and I was like, Ooh. That just like hits the nail on the head. Don't you reckon    Tricked is the perfect word for everything we just spoke about,    Right? Because it's not, it's not just another jazz record. It's just stunning. It's just stunning.   I love that. I was actually really, I loved checking out just the details behind the recording as well. I mean, the fact that it's recorded by a drummer. Mm, and mix and mastered by bassist. Slash pianist. I was really interested in how they brought that. I would love to find out somewhere from Nico what the mic setup was on the drums.   Mm.    Hearing    I'm like, I don't know how you got that kind of balance going.    I know it's stunning. Right.    Does not feel like a conventional miking setup on the drums, which I thought was really cool. True. Um, took me a minute to get into how light the drums were in the mix in a couple of tunes, but. Once I was there, I was just like, no, this feels good.   I'm into this.    He recorded this at Pug House Studios in Thornbury, in Melbourne.    Um, have you been there before?    I haven't. Uh, I know a few people that have and yeah. Have heard raving reviews.    Mm.    And Dave, well he's he's based outta New York, isn't he?    Correct, yeah. And 40 odd, close to 50 years of just exceptional credits.   Get this record in your ear holes, Tom Allen Graham Lake Tires,    links in the description    by the records on Band Camp. Support Australian Music. Australian Artists Peeps.    Fantastic. We'll see you again very soon.    Sounds good.   Thanks for tuning in for another episode of Through The Creative Door. If you enjoy our episodes and find value in them, consider supporting us by making a donation. Just visit buy me a coffee.com/through the creative door, or via the link in our Instagram buy where you can choose an amount and even write us a little message.   Every little bit helps, and we truly appreciate all of your support. But if you can't donate, no worries. You can still help us out by sharing our podcast with your friends and family, and leaving a review on your favorite platform. Thanks so much for being part of our community, and we'll catch you on the next episode.   Bye.

Alexis sits down with Craig Johnston (aka Delsinki) a Melbourne-based musician and creator/producer of Keep the Circle Unbroken and Sing A Song of Sixpence. They discuss overcoming perfectionism, why it’s okay to let go and release work even if it’s not “perfect,” and the importance of keeping momentum instead of getting stuck in “the waiting place.” Craig shares insights from his own experience, including the idea that prolific creators like Picasso made thousands of works, not all famous, but all part of the process. They also talk about how the act of creating often brings more fulfilment than the finished product, and why creativity is essential to who we are. If you’re a creative feeling stuck or unsure, this episode offers encouragement and practical wisdom to keep pushing forward.    If you’d like to see more, you can follow Craig on instagram; @ delsinki   This episode was recorded on 30th April 2025 on the lands of the Woiworung Peoples. We hope that this episode inspires you as a creative person and as a human being. Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for creative people to share their story and inspire others. Have you got someone in mind who would love to have a chat? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor   … Creative resources from Craig: Book: The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron    Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikToc: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel    Hello, my name is Alexis Nailer, and I am your host here at Through The Creative Door. On behalf of myself and my guests, I would like to acknowledge the traditional owners and custodians on which this podcast is recorded and produced. May we pay our respects to all First Nations people and acknowledge elders past and present. On this podcast, I'll be chatting to an array of creative guests, getting a glimpse into their worlds and having some honest and inspiring conversations along the way. I am delighted to welcome you to Through the Creative Door.   Craig. Oh my goodness. I am super chuffed that you have come through the creative door. Well, you come through my door. But we're gonna talk about your door in a literal sense.    Very good. Very good. Well, thank you for having me. It's nice to be here.    You are such a talented musician and you have such a repertoire a, a amazing career thus far. Not to put a stop to it, it's gonna keep going, but you're also, uh, a facilitator in so many ways. You organize some amazing events. Um, there's two in particular the keep the Circle. Is that? Yep.    Keep the circle on Broken. Yeah. Keep um,    yeah. Yeah. And then the other one that I loved, I just love the name 'cause it reminds me of, um, uh, like children's books.   Yeah. Yeah.    Singer a song of sixepnce. Yeah, yeah,    yeah. I love that.    Yeah.    Um, yeah, so it's just so lovely that you are putting back into community as well as obviously having your amazing career as well.    Oh, you're very kind to say. Well, yeah, those two shows were born out of the lockdown. Really. The first one, keep the Circle Unbroken was just a brainchild of, of, I played in a band, it's, it's pretty defunct now, actually row Jerry Crow because two of the band members, um, have passed on. But yeah, the fiddle player, John Kendall sort of said it. We were having like a Zoom chat, the six of us talking about recording and whatnot during the lockdown, and John said, gee, wouldn't it be good to do.   You know, like this, he'd just been watching the Nitty Gritty Dirt band Doco, uh, on SBS when he told I hadn't seen it. And then when he told me basically what it was, I just, my brain went rolling because no one was working. So the catalyst, I guess, was I called Tim Rogers and just sort of said, this is what we think you're doing, would you be involved?   And then he said, yes. And after the, that everybody having Tim involved meant that everybody else, I think everybody would've been involved anyway, but just having that, sometimes you need someone to, yeah, you need a monthly name. Yeah, that's right. So. And then, you know, we did the show at, um, at Memo Music Hall, which we had no rehearsal, we just all rocked up on the day.   There was, I think probably maybe 25 to 30 musicians and artists involved, and we recorded an album. In hindsight, we should have done it backwards. We didn't know we were gonna do a regional tour, so we did the show at Memo went really well. I applied for a grant and then we wound up doing this 16 date regional tour in March of 2021.   Yeah, it was just this really kind of accidental, magical thing that happened because. In all the other months or over two years, basically, we were locked down at certain points for X amount of weeks or days or whatever. But that month we didn't get locked down, so we were able to actually do the 16 dates, uh, apart from one or two where we'd lost our guitarist Dion.   Uh, he passed away after one of the gigs and Bundy Hall. Um, but yeah, and then the singer Song of sixpence one, was the same sort of thing again, it was just, we were just coming out of lockdown and we did a summer series and a winter series. Same deal, 16 date, a regional tour on both. So 32 dates and, and weirdly, the first one, the first thing of summer six months was, you know, really well attended.   I don't think anybody got COVID. It was all pretty straightforward. But the second one was like the winter one. It was just every second artist had COVID and people pulling out. And it was, it was really hard, the, the second one. But it was really good. And I think the, the sense of community was a really, the, the best thing that came out of it was really.   Not even for the audiences who were watching, it was more for the artists just to be playing again 'cause no one had done any gigs or, or, you know, over a big, big chunk of time.    One of the little write-ups about that sort of show series. There was a beautiful quote I think that you said, and I wrote it down 'cause it just, it really solidified such a beautiful message.   It's like in a world that seems to beat each other's throats every other second and not listening to each other. We wanted to create a musical message that would inspire everybody to stop and reflect on what's important in life.    Yeah, I just thought that was, yeah. A great circling of Yeah, those kind of shows and representing what you are, what you've been doing.   Yeah. And it was, it was good. It was, and obviously too, it sort of opened up my musical community, like to lots of people that I, 'cause you'd book somebody like Sarah Carroll for argument's sake, and Sarah Carroll would say, oh, there's this fantastic bluegrass guy down in, you know, Terrang. And then all of a sudden you're meeting all these other people just through other people.   And it was really good too. Putting people together. That's one thing I actually really do get a kick out of is sort of, for want of a better word, curating things like looking at people's personalities and styles and seeing who would, you know, suit who fit each other. Yeah. Who would,   It's like a puzzle piece.   Yeah. Yeah. So, you know, and sometimes you'll put one curve ball in and then that'll be like the best part of, you know, the collaboration of, of people. So yeah, it was good. Mm. Beautiful. Um, yeah, I'm really, um. I'm really glad that that happened in a way like that wouldn't have happened, had COVID. 'cause I mean a lot of people obviously had some, you know, there was very mixed experiences for the whole lockdown thing here in Victoria.   Um, some people loved it. Some people hated it. But for me, I do kind of go, I have that to thank for those projects. 'cause had we not had those lockdowns. Those projects wouldn't have happened. So, you know.    Yeah. And especially when, you know, I mean, I'm not sure what was happening with your Delsinki project at that time. Mm. You know, it's nice to evolve and, and go through and Yeah. How amazing that it was an opportunity for you to see a skill and like an area where, you know, yeah, you got to develop more. Wow. Yeah. How wonderful    it was.   And everyone else got to benefit from your, your talent.    Yeah, we all, yeah, I think everybody did have a, a lot of fun. It was, you know, it was all the summer one for, uh, for keep the circle in the summer, six months one. It was Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. So it was like four, four days away, you know, playing venues that they'd not played before. And yeah, it was good. I think everybody did. There was no. There was no, oh, there was a bit of inter band Argie bargie with Rodger Crow for the, but that was our band.   Everybody else seemed to have a really great, uh, really great experience.    Would it be a tour without some little bit of argie bargy. Yeah. Yeah, yeah,    yeah. Absolutely.    Now. Let's segue into, and it, I'm guessing this might be a bit different whether you are being a producer and, uh, cultivating shows or doing your own project as a musician, but what does a creative space mean to you and why?   Um, I don't know. It's different every time because, you know, I, I, I know I was talking to, I'm working on an album with Brooke Taylor. We've got a side project called The Deserters. We're recording with Mick Thomas at the moment. We've just finished actually. And, uh. Brooke just sort of mentioned about, oh, this is it.   This is the last song, you know, I'm gonna miss coming up. Mick lives in summers and I'm gonna miss coming up and being in this space. And, uh, I hadn't thought of it. And then I, and then it made me think of all those times that I've recorded in studios or, you know, spaces or whatever. And, and it is a really, uh, nes it has a nostalgia to it.   When you go to leave, you feel very connected to the space. And it's different every time too, depending on the space. Like if you are. Working on something in an area, and sometimes creativity happens in the most random of spaces, but I guess it is good for people to have a creative space, a standalone creative space.   I don't actually have that because I've got two young kids. I did have that, and then we had kids and it's like a palava. Our house is just like a junk den. It's like. Look, our house looks like we've been robbed all the time    With two little children. Yeah.    so yeah, having access to something like that in the future is, is, you know, just a little way down the road for me. Yeah.    And so when you had to give up or just compromise and obviously having that creative space, like is it more like a mental. Sort of space that you need to be is Well, this to to be able to create at home.    Yeah. So you become this kind of, you become very resilient I think when you've got kids depending, and you go through various stages, of course, but my process, I've always collaborated with people and enjoyed that.   But on my first album and my second album, there was probably at least half of the music, if there were 12 songs, a be at least six, that I wrote myself from go to wo. And then six co-writes thereabouts. But with this album, there's 12 songs on it, and this is over the last 12 to 18 months or however long.   I've only written two songs from go to woe myself, and 10 of them are collaborations. So what is working for me at the moment with the kids, it's like an idea. You know, we, we've always got these sort of random ideas, voice, memo, whatever, and then it's, or a lyric or whatever, and then it's sending it to someone.   And then they give something back. And it's almost like one of those puzzles where you draw a piece and then you fold it over and somebody adds a bit and you know, yeah. You get to the bottom and you go, what have we got here? Is this, oh my God, it's a, you know, Dr. Frankenstein's monster, or it's, or it's like, no, this is good.   You know? So I found momentum in really leaning into collaboration, and I think if I were to try and over the last. Year or two, try and create something just on my own in the space that I'm in. I don't think I would've been able to do it. So, so yeah. I think having a creative space is, you know, really important for the process of being able to be let your brain be free and not have any kind of.   Questions or just someone talking at you the whole time. But yeah,    Wanting a snack. Morning. Now, I feel like we've only just touched the surface of obviously the collaborations you've done. You've done all sorts of side projects and work with amazing people. Is there a body of work or something that you're most proud of creating?   Yeah, I, I would probably say this album, the, the, the, the latest album. Um, because I did it with the band, the Quiet Coachman, which is the, I've always sort of just recorded with all different people. And with this album we tried to keep just the, those guys doing the bulk of the work. And, uh, there's a horn player, a trombone player called James McCullough.   He wrote, wrote and arranged some standalone songs, some instrumentals on this album. And it's sort of given it a real theme and, uh, being that all the other tracks have. Brass arranged by him and Justin Fino throughout. It's got this real kind of, I've been using the analogy of a scene out of Russell Crowe, uh, what's called Gladiator.   Mm. Which sounds dumb, but, um. There's a scene where Russell Crow, where he says they're not sure they're all in the coliseum and they're not sure what's about to happen. And Russell Crow says, you know, who he's been in the Army and a few put up the hands. He says, we've got a better chance of surviving whatever comes out these doors if we stick together.   It's also a good analogy for artists in general, these songs. My point being, these songs on this album, uh, really do work as a whole from go to woe. So from, from, you know, listening to track one all the way through to track 12 in order it feels good. So, yeah, so I'm proud of that and especially in the day and age of, um, you know, just singles or people just, you know, sort of maybe not listening to, you know, a body of work and just listening to little bits and pieces here and there.   So, you know, and I, there's probably gonna be a huge portion of people that will never listen to this album from go to woe, and that's cool. It is what it is, but, you know, if, if you do, I feel like it's a, a good piece. So, yeah, I guess that's probably my most proud. I mean, I've, you know, I'm proud of all. I don't think I've put anything out that I go, that I'm horrifically embarrassed by because it is what it is.   You know, like you go, that was where I was at that point. So I've, I've done some pretty embarrassing stuff, you know, like, but, but the, my three albums, I feel like they're all, you know, good offerings. I would probably say to, to date that the, the album that I'm putting it now.    Beautiful. I can't wait to hear it.   On the flip side of things that you are proud of. Has there been something that's challenged your creativity and is there like a major way that you've sort of like a lesson or like how have you maneuvered through that?    Having kids has probably been not hard. I mean Yeah, hard of course, but as in, yeah, creatively you've got to work around that.   You can't sort of, you've gotta be able to multitask. So I guess that in a way, I don't think there's been anything that's happened. Where I guess playing in a band is always that sort of, you know, push and pull for the creative. I had a band called Gretchen Lewis, um, before I did Delsinki and um, yeah, I guess negotiating creativity can be challenging in a band, which is probably why I did started doing Delsinki because that was just a solo project at the start.   'cause then I, and I felt really free to just do whatever I wanted. Uh, and I really loved playing with the guys in Gretchen Lewis, and they, all the, their offerings were really excellent. But yeah, I guess that's probably just stock standard for every band, um, you know, with, with personalities in it. But, um, yeah, I don't think there's been anything that, apart from yeah, negotiating, um, family time around creative endeavors.   I am lucky that a lot of the touring, I guess, too. We, you know, we get paid to do the gigs and stuff, so I get to that, that can take a priority over the negotiation around family, but the actual creating of a record or an album or something that's, that definitely can't take front and center over family. So, yeah. That, that has been challenging.    Is it, has it surprised you of the challenge there? Or did you sort of come into it expecting it to be. That negotiation and that compromise?   Well, people say when you have kids, they go, oh, you, you know, blah, blah, blah. You, you can't prepare. You can't prepare. Mm. Like, you just dunno, like, yeah, like when Guthrie was born, my first, my 8-year-old, I was doing gigs seven nights a week. I was going to the gym five days a week and drinking at gigs and just living my life coming home and, and you know, he was four months old and it was our first kid and, you know, I'd come home and then I'd do a bottle feed and then I'd go to sleep and then I'd wake up at six with. With him and, and George, my wife.   And after about four months, I just imploded. Like, and I remember speaking to a psychologist about it and she was like, you know, there's, there's this thing, it was basically exhaustion. She was like, you know, also too, you, you're mourning your former self 'cause you have to change. You can't, you just can't keep doing what you were doing.   So I had to do, make some real life adjustments in order to be able to. Function again. So yeah, I guess that was a pretty big challenge. Just couldn't have prepared for it. I mean, I guess I should have just gone, well, you know, I do have to just cut back on certain things like, you know, you can't, you need energy, you need rest, you know, and the sleep, oh my God, you just, yeah.   Wow. I didn't know that that was gonna be the case. That was definitely a challenging time in in life, but. You know, you learn from things and then you can grow and, and move forward and, and see the signs later too with, I wasn't seeing the signs early on.    And I guess, um, circling back to, you know, what your therapist was saying, like, because you've never been there before, so you probably don't know what parts to.   Let go of Mm. You're trying to just hold onto all of it. Mm mm Until later. Like you said, you see warning signs of, oh, I'm tired, and, you know, family time is this. And yeah.    I'd never had anxiety before and I was, like I said before, I kind of collapsed into a heap. Um, I remember my wife, Georgie's parents came over and said, we'll, you know, we'll they're from Perth and we'll look after.   'cause we, we don't have any. Family in Victoria. They looked after Guthrie and we went out to dinner and I'd been going to the gym and deadlifting and there was, you know, it was this sort of, you know, army stuff and, and heavy weights. And I didn't know, I found out later that anything. Neurological or anything, um, that involves your nervous system.   If, if you're getting anxiety, the worst thing you can do is lift heavy weights. Like going for a jog is fine. Walking, you know, exercise is fine. Yeah. But don't lift heavy things because it activates your nervous system. Oh, and we went out to dinner and I just remember someone dropped a glass saying, I nearly jumped through the roof.   I was just. And I didn't know what was going on, that it was this really bad anxiety that was happening due to just exhaustion and, and me thinking I've gotta go to the gym and lift heavy weights and. Yeah. And that was really the worst thing I could, could've been doing.    I did not know that about heavy lifting and nervous system.   Mm. Note to yourself. Mm. Don't go lifting. Don't go lifting. Yeah. Just go. Go for a walk. Just go for a walk. Go for a run. Go for a walk. Yeah, that's good. 'cause I don't like lifting heavy things anyway. Yeah. Yeah.    Something definitely changed too, because I was all about it before Guthrie's Bond. It was all about, you know.   He, he doing how heavy you could go or whatever. And then, and now, you know, like a, after he was born, like a year or two later, I look at a 200 kilo barbell and I'd be like, oh, I'll call somebody to give me a hand lift. I'm not gonna try and lift that. You know?    Why would you, why would you do that? Why would you do that?   Are you nuts with that? Yeah.    But before, before kids, I was like, yes, come on.    Yeah. Now I know we've spoken a lot about space and headspace, about creativity. But do you have an object or a thing? Maybe it's like sentimental or maybe like it's a special instrument mm-hmm. That you can't live. Without, when you're creating,    I do have little things around my space and I've got a couple of things.   Like when Dion passed away, I spoke to his, uh, partner Lisa, and I got a little, uh, cappo from him and another one from Paul who passed and having those as a part of my,    the little anchors,    my little, yeah. So I worked in TV for 10 years before I started. Well, not started doing it before I did music full time.   And there was a guy there, Peter Mastriani, who, you know, we did a few short films and bits and pieces together and he passed away. I had his lead, this lead, this black lead, which I still use today, and that was like probably 20 years ago. And I pull it out at gigs and I always, every time I pull it out and I just think of Peter and I think that's good.   That's nice. That's so special. Yeah, it does. It keeps the people alive. Alive in your mind. Yeah.    Yeah. They're with you through all your gigs. It's interesting, like some of the people that I've interviewed. Until you actually ask that question about like what an object or thing is. It's like people have something around but they don't it.   Yeah, they have it with them, but they, until you ask a question like that, they're not like, oh, actually yeah, I have this, um, ticket from the first concert I ever went with with my dad, and it just sits near my computer and I never really think about it much, but yeah. Yeah. So it's really nice to like circle back and think about those Yeah, those objects.   Now you are such a clever bear. So I'm very excited what you're gonna say for my next question. Mm-hmm. If you could give one piece of advice, one nugget of gold to another creative, what would it be?    Putting things out there if you're stuck on something, but you've got this, like I know people who have thrown whole albums in the bin because it's not exactly what they wanted, but sometimes I think it can also work too, to just put it out there and go, it's gone, it's done now, and I can move on.   And if you want to circle back to it later and do it differently Sure. Do that. So, I don't know. I think I'd probably say to people I've just been reading, um, I'm trying to think of a Dr. Seuss quote, because I've been reading other places. You'll go to my kids for so long now. I just, every time I read it I'm like, oh my God.   This is the blueprint for life, the waiting place. You don't wanna go to the waiting place. No, that's probably the, the bit of advice I'd give. Don't, don't be stuck in the waiting place. Keep moving.    So if we circle back to one of the items that you talked about before about how you know you are proud of all the things that you've created, because it is a slice of time at that moment, and I think sometimes.   Sitting in too much of that perfectionism, you do yourself a disservice. 'cause it's not a slice of time. It's like, it's okay. Just put it out there. That is what it's    Well that's the thing. Yeah. I mean I look, I don't know, I do this thing called Rock Academy. It's like a mentoring thing for young musicians and uh, one of the guys who runs it, it's Alan Long and Phil Sobrano.   And Phil Sobrano, um, was talking about, I think might have been Picasso. It was some artist and, you know, there's x amount of their pieces of work that are famous. Like I. You know, for argument sake, you know, 10 to 20 pieces that are really famous. They created thousands, tens of thousands of pieces that nobody saw.   They just, they just put out there, put out, put out, put out, put out, but didn't sort of strike a chord with, you know, the rest of the world. But keep going, keep putting it out there. It doesn't matter, you know? 'cause Yeah, you're doing it for yourself really.    And I do think you are a lesser person just in, if you're not creating.Like just it's in the doing.    Mm.    That's, you know, well, that's right. Part of it. Right. Oh, look, you know, putting this album out now, the, the creating of it was the bit that was the one. Now it's kind of a pain in the ass. cause you have to do all the promo stuff. Yeah. Promo stuff. It's terrific. I hate it.    But, um, have you ever seen those diagrams where they talk about the best bit of like fulfillment and joy that people get?   Mm-hmm. It's like the hardest part sometimes is like obviously the start when you're trying to tug through the idea. Mm-hmm. And then it's like in that, in between when you're in the doing mm-hmm. That is the most fulfillment. Yeah. The most value add. And then when we actually get the quote unquote result mm-hmm.   It's actually less. Like impactful.    Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, that's right. Yeah. 'cause you're working hard at something. I mean, I guess, you know, you could argue that once you're doing the, the promotional stuff, you're working hard at that, but then it becomes like sales, you know, you're trying to sell things.   Yeah.    Whereas when you're creating, it's like, I don't care. Here it is. It's just, I'm just doing this. Yeah. You know?    Amazing.    Yeah.    Beautiful. Now, would you recommend. Any resources, books, videos, courses, if someone wanted to do what you do.    As far as the creative hat goes, The Artist’s Way I reckon is a good one for people as far as the creative process, especially too, if you are in a rut, I think it can be an excellent tool to navigate your way through.   That Ru. And then if you put on the producer hat for me, putting together those shows, the Keep Circle and the Six Pen and whatnot, all you need is a telephone. It's all you need and a bit of chutzpah as in get up and go. And I guess it's about, you know, if you are somebody who can't bear the thought of talking to somebody on the phone or whatever, then I guess it's gonna be a bit harder.   You could just do text or email or whatever, but it's just. Asking people and putting things together and it's just like, there are no rules. You can just don't ask, don't get. I think that's a good thought for, you know, producing stuff in the way of putting stuff together. Not necessarily music producing, but, um, yeah, I think people think that they've gotta get this qualification or whatever, but to be a producer.   But you don't, I mean, we need to dis dis the distinction between, you know, music producer is someone who. Produces albums, and then someone who produces live shows and, you know, puts things together, which is, we are talking the latter. Um, yeah, there's no rules. There's no, I don't think there's a course you need to be able to do.   It's just basically, what do you wanna do and how do you want to do it, and what do you need to do, and just basically start doing it.    Well said, well said. Okay. Now one last question.    Yeah.    If you could hear someone come on this podcast and answer these questions, who would it be and why?    I'm always interested in what my buddy Brooke Taylor has to say. So I would say Brooke Taylor. Do you know Brooke Taylor? I    do, yeah, I do.    So, um, she's that Emily South and our Parkinson's sort of, they're all, so you probably knew each other back in the Elwood days of, what was that? Yeah, that open mic that our used to run.    Oh, I can't remember the    Elwood Elwood Lounge, I think it was, but yeah.   Yeah. Um, yeah, I'd say Brooke Taylor.    Oh my goodness. Thank you so much for being so gracious with your time and letting me    No, no.    Pick your brain. Appreciate it. This has been such a joy. Thank you. Thank you.   Thanks for tuning in for another episode of Through The Creative Door. If you enjoy our episodes and find value in them, consider supporting us by making a donation. Just visit buy me a coffee.com/throughthecreativedoor, or buy the link in our Instagram buy where you can choose an amount and even write us a little message. Every little bit helps, and we truly appreciate all of your support. But if you can't donate, no worries. You can still help us out by sharing our podcast with your friends and family, and leaving a review on your favorite platform. Thanks so much for being part of our community. We'll catch you on the next episode. Bye.

Featured Artist: Sir Archer Featured Vinyl: LIVE Alexis’ Hot Pick  Standing Sam’s Hot Pick Heed the Call Aus Music Alert! You can no longer purchase this vinyl record as it is SOLD OUT, however you can watch the LIVE recording in full via YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DO1YBNtbO0g Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for an artist's vinyl to listen to, have you got one in mind that we should check out? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor   Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Co-Host: Sam Timmerman Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel   Good evening. How are you?  Good evening. I'm good. How are you?  I'm very well. I enjoyed the way we missed that. Cut that, that, um, that opening clap, but that's fine. That is, hello. It's good  to see you. It's been a couple of weeks now.  No, it has been a couple of weeks, but I have good offerings.  Oh, oh my God. You do. It's,  I agree. Should I start a timer?  It's so much fun. Start a timer. 10 minutes and four seconds. Go.  I mean, just 10 minutes now. It's 10  minutes.  Okay. Okay. Right, right, right. Okay. I have been excited to share this album with you for a very long time. This is very special to me. This is Sarah Archer  Live,  and they have done this phenomenal live sessions recording. Only a hundred of these finals went out in the world, and I am very excited that I have 76 out of a hundred. You own 76 of them?  No, no. Just the 76 number.  76,  yeah. So these guys did a beautiful show in Sydney. Which obviously had a limited edition of people that could come, but they, uh, put cans on everybody and you know, did this amazing recording. There is, for those who didn't get one out of the hundred vinyls that went into the world, they actually have this beautiful YouTube link of the whole entire. Show, um, which we will put in the show notes we will share because absolutely everyone needs to listen and watch it 'cause it's stunning. Mm-hmm. Um, but yeah, so this is my offering this week.  It's fantastic. Fully live recorded album, live audience in studio, watching the whole process live mixed, the whole thing. And it is gorgeous. I have had so much fun listening to that this week. Um. Oh, it's just, this is  why, this is why we do this. 'cause we come across like this. It's just, it makes me so happy. Makes me so happy.  This one made my music brain happy too, by the way. Ooh.  Not just lyrically.  No. Well, you know me if it's music brain, happy lyric brain takes a long time to keep up. I love it. So additional to, um. The YouTube video. That is stunning. Uh, I also went down a little rabbit hole having a look on their socials. Mm-hmm. And was able to find, because you brought up to me about. Their album artwork. And for the life of me, I couldn't find anything. So I actually went to the source. I went to one of their, uh, band members and was like, how did it come about? I can't see anything anywhere. What is it? And he pointed me to an actual Instagram reel that shows how they made what they did. Yeah. And I just shared that with you just before. 'cause you, it's really  cute. You've gotta go check it out. It's. The band. The band did the whole thing for their artwork. It's very, very cute. Each of the members had a contribution and Yeah, it's just, I think it looked like that they actually created it during the studio session.  Yes. So each of them had a letter and each of them was given a piece of paper and I think they had crayons or pencils, and they each got to do it, and then digitally they put them all together. So yeah. How. It's  super cute and it's, it's effective too. What is so effective? What do they, they call themselves? I have to remember what they said. Um, I'm gonna come back to their website again because the way they describe themselves is so much fun.  Oh, as in their actual synopsis of who they are as a band. Is that what you Yeah, and we're probably still for time here 'cause I'm gonna find it.  Oh no, I love it. But while you are looking for that, I just wanna share, there was a really lovely quote that I found that talks about the actual, you know, process of them doing this record. And they said it was a really, uh, a truly surreal experience that has taken three weeks to process as a band. We are very grateful to have the support and team around us to make such a thing possible. I just thought that's  beautiful.  Yeah.  Which is. It's old school recording. Yeah. You get, you go into the studio, you do it live.  Yeah, exactly.  You rehearse the hell out of it. You get it tight, you get it feeling great, and then you go in and you go, cool, let's go. Well, the beautiful thing that we spoke about off Mark is that. These tracks, not all of them had actually been released. So yeah. When people actually either were at the gig or watched the YouTube video or had this final, some of these songs, maybe you've heard them live, that they've played them, but this is the first time that you've actually Yeah. Heard a released version of them. Um, yeah, which is, and if  you go check out the YouTube recording, there's even one track played in the studio that didn't make it onto the album.  Ooh. Interesting. Which I'm  not sure how, if you knew that already or not.  No, I did not. Yeah,  it's called wolves and it's beautiful. Ah, interesting.  Worth checking out.  I always thought that wolves was on the Albert. It's not.  It's not.  Stop Secrets. Secrets. I love voice. So  here he is. And now I'm reading credit goes to Triple J Unearthed. Here I am reading their. Description of the band. Okay, let's go. Let's go from this section here. 'cause I love it with the energy of an under 10 soccer team and a sound described as eighties am radio rock. This six piece group is a refreshing, yet familiar experience that reminds you of dad's CD collection  five. And I was  like, yeah, that's it. That's the stuff I listened to when I was. 11 listening to Dad C Collection. Right. Well, this is this, this gonna feel this. I mean, this is what this pod, this podcast series is about. It's like, this is  what I mean, we heard in the intro, this is why we're here.  Exactly, exactly. That's very  true. Right.  Without further ado, 'cause we've actually, normally, we're already loaded into our top picks, but we haven't yet. Oh, are we running outta time?  No, no, like I'm just saying, we're like so excited about the whole entire album. But tell me, brother, what is your hot pick?  Oh my God, this took so long to pick.  It's so hard, right?  It's so hard. He, the call, I said it, I said it, he the call. Um, um, just a really, really great example of. A consistent build, pro tune, and really intelligent musical writing that compliments and contrasts a pretty simple melody that is sung powerhouse style. Um, the chorus starts and it's just synth base out of nowhere. And oh, it was very, very cool. Um, so. Really kind of heavyweight kind of feel to that chorus. And yeah, like I said, musical brain went nuts. I didn't listen to the lyrics. I was just going, this band is wicked.  Yay. I them as much as I  do. Um, honorable mention to brother because I said that about the synth base and the drive and that, but you put some reggae groove into a record as well,  and  you're gonna make a lot of people happy. Funnily enough that that's your runner up. 'cause that's my runner up too, brother. Just such a close second to me.  Yeah.  Musically, it just shines. Absolutely shines.  Mm-hmm. Little unison hook in the guitar and bass that just kind of ties it all together.  Yeah.  Which is lovely. What's yours?  It was so hard to choose. I was like, almost wanted to be like, don't make me choose. You can't make me choose. These are all absolutely stunning. This  was your idea in the first place.  I know. Stitch myself up a hundred percent. Um, but if I had to pick one, it would have to be standing.  Oh, the opening track.  Opening track.  Mm.  The, I mean, I'm a sucker as, as much as I'm a sucker for lyrics, I'm a bloody sucker for vocal lines, harmony lines, harmonies, using vocals as another instrument and building like it was like the vocals come in and then it was like the tapestry of each instrumentation layering upon, layering upon layering. And then suddenly you are like into this really robust sound, and then they just bring it back. And then they build it up again. Like I just, Ugh, those peaks and troughs, it just  mm-hmm.  Burns everything. I love it. I love it so much. Beautiful.  You talk about harmonies, you've just got close voicings around a melody that says on the same note. Exactly. Exactly. And what a great acapella  finished to the track always. Ah,  right. Mm-hmm. And I think setting what a beautiful setting of the scene for this album, like  Yeah. Yeah. When you watch the video, you really get that feeling, and I. It's my, one of my favorite ways to end a tune is create an en, an ending that the audience has to wait to realize that it's finished. The way this tune finishes, it has you hanging on just in case it might keep going and that that is  keep going.  Absolute genius going, yeah. It's fantastic writing musical brand. Very happy.  Yes, but we can't, we can't tell you to buy it unless you steal it off someone, which you definitely should. That is  true. That is true. You never know. Maybe one day it'll, um, make its way online and it'll be like three times as much. Who  knows, but  I hope that, so for these guys. But, uh, YouTube link  to the studio video is in the show notes. Yes, it is available as a single recording on YouTube music as well, the video recording. Go check it out. Thanks for tuning in for another episode of Through The Creative Door. If you enjoy our episodes and find value in them, consider supporting us by making a donation. Just visit buy me a coffee.com/through the creative door, or via the link in our Instagram buy where you can choose an amount and even write us a little message. Every little bit helps, and we truly appreciate all of your support. But if you can't donate, no worries. You can still help us out by sharing our podcast with your friends and family, and leaving a review on your favorite platform. Thanks so much for being part of our community, and we'll catch you on the next episode. Bye.

Meet Dr. Mike Metal – biochemist-turned-metal producer, touring guitarist, mixing engineer, and mentor to heavy bands chasing their own unique sound. In this episode, we dive into the art of creating safe creative spaces, building a career in a niche genre, and why letting go of the outcome can change everything. Mike shares insights on AI tools, his upcoming synth course, and the real value of mentorship in music.   If you’d like to see more, you can follow Mike on instagram; @ doctor_mike_metal   This episode was recorded on 26th April 2025 on the lands of the Woiworung Peoples. We hope that this episode inspires you as a creative person and as a human being. Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for creative people to share their story and inspire others. Have you got someone in mind who would love to have a chat? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor   … Creative resources from Mike: Podcasts: Courses: Diary planner / scheduler tool:   Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikToc: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel  Hello, my name is Alexis Nailer, and I am your host here at Through The Creative Door. On behalf of myself and my guests, I would like to acknowledge the traditional owners and custodians on which this podcast is recorded and produced. May we pay our respects to all First Nations people and acknowledge elders past and present.   On this podcast, I'll be chatting to an array of creative guests, getting a glimpse into their worlds and having some honest and inspiring conversations along the way. I'm delighted to welcome you to Through The Creative Door.   Hi Alex. How about today?    I'm very well. How are you? Really    good. Oh my goodness. Excited to be here.    Thank you so much for letting us come through your creative door.    Appreciate it. Oh, thank you for coming. I think there's a lot to share.    Who are listening, I just spoke to you off mic about how amazing your couch is.   Yeah. I feel like every producer, that's just like a given that you're gonna have a comfy couch.    Oh yeah. Absolutely. That you can just Nestle    That's right.    I think it's a good, uh, segue into the conversation. Yes. Because I noticed that some of my friends who don't play music that often come here and become inspired just by sitting here on the couch and they instantly want to pick up a guitar.   Like my musicians, uh, my clients come and I do the mix or we do something, track vocals, and then just sit here, chill, take the instrument. They play the gym. So somehow this plays. That I have constructed, I guess, uh, it inspires people and it channels their creativity here. Dunno why. Maybe it's. Comfy. Maybe you can let go here.   It's all of the above. It's the vibe. It's the fact that you have Yeah. This beautiful studio. Mm-hmm. Um, but before we launch into questions Yeah. Yeah. I just wanna do a lovely synopsis of you 'cause you are such a talented bear.    I appreciate it.    You are such a talented bear. Your, your start of creative spark started from classical piano when you were a kid.   Yeah. You've toured and been a gun on Qatar. I have. Yeah. You've been in lots of bands.    Yeah, a few.    And you are in this amazing space. And now as I wanna say, like AKA, what is it, Mike?    Yeah,    the, the, uh, master of metal,    I don't know about that. Um   But you specialize nowadays. Yes. In. You know, curating in developing Yeah.   And helping people. Yes. To find their sound as a metal, like hard, you know, music. Yes. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, in that space. A    A hundred percent. A hundred percent.    And one of the beautiful things that I love about what you are doing is not only are you being a producer and audio engineer in that space, but you're also, you know, putting up.   Uh, and holding space to be able to mentor people and help them through their journey as well. Yeah. Which is so beautiful.    That's nice to hear. Thank you for that. But also, I feel like, uh, that mental journey and psychological and the, just the personal inner journey and the music, they come together always.   And I even noticed some patterns that some albums for some people, you know, they sometimes are impossible to finish the drag. Uh, and people go in circles and loops and I can see that they need to grow underneath themselves as a person, do some inner A work, and that would be a turning point for the album.   So there are such synchrony synchronicities in life. I don't think it's, um, hard to understand why. It's just our brain projects everything everywhere around us. Yeah. So, yeah, that's been important for sure.    Oh, well, I'm very chuffed. And I, I'm, I bit starstruck, so    no, you, if you don't keep your ego in check, you burn and fall down.   Yeah.    You, you, you, you stop serving your clients. You start serving your ego not good.    Yeah,    not good. I'm very humble. I, I know how much more I need to learn to do better. We're, you know, we're trying to push the boundaries of the industry altogether, so. You can only be as good as you yourself, but then the others are doing better.   There will always be someone doing better. You have to strive and go there always. So I keep learning when I have the time. Different things, business aspects, uh, musical creative aspects. I keep playing guitar even though I don't have time properly, but I keep learning what is current so that I can help my clients become more current as well altogether.   Yeah.    Um, mixing all the time, lessons and mixing has been very hard. And it's been like that field is so competitive, it grows so fast, you've gotta keep on top of it. Otherwise you are not providing your clients the results that are, um, relevant. And if it is irrelevant, then nobody is gonna listen to it and it won't stand out.   Well, we were speaking off Mike about. Yeah. Just how competitive this Yeah. Sector is in the music industry. Yes, yes. Um, there's amazing people doing some amazing work like yourself, but Yeah. It's, it doesn't come without a lot of Yes. A lot of work. Yeah.    Yeah, for sure. Well, any non mainstream music is very hard to break in because the budgets are so small.   I wish it was different, but you know how we play against Spotify giving what? 2 cents per stream, less 0.0002 equally to rap artists who make millions, tens of millions of streams to pop artists, same or even more. And then to small indie bands like world, uh, kind of music or jazz music, which makes thousand streams.   What's the revenue? And, uh, so there is no contribution based on the genre, based on its complexity. So simpler genres to produce like, well, I'm, I'm not gonna. You know, shit on any genres, but some, like EDM or rap music is produced much, much faster than your Indie Prague, for instance. Much faster, like 10, 10, sometimes a hundred times faster.   Why is it being not, uh, you know, weighted in terms of payments. Yeah. So that's the world we live in. We have to    adjust. Yeah. Pivot.    Mm-hmm.    Yes. Well, speaking of pivoting,    yeah.    Let's launch into the first question.    Alright.    What does the creative space mean to you and why?    Uh, yeah. I was thinking about that because at first I couldn't understand because I have this space always at hand, right?   I live and work here. But then, then I realized that the first thing that comes to mind is safety, creative space is the space where you feel safe. To start creating because that can be a intimidating, fragile process because I think making music, being a musician is different from lots of thinking things in this world because, um, some things in the world are unfair, right?   Um, and then not sort of based on your contribution, but in music it is fair. You are only as good as in amount of work that you've put into master your craft. So the rewards, like respect of others, whatever, will only come based on how hard you work on this. And in order to work hard, you need to have a safe space where you can fail many times.   Um, and I was thinking about that, which is very cool. But you know, I've always had some sort of room. When I was a kid, I had my computer, so you can make music on computer, whatever, already a music place. Uh, my guitars, my synth. Just in my room, but it was often interfered with my parents coming in, uh, asking me where the hell is my homework?   And stuff like that. And so that created a lot of anxiety, like, I'm not doing the right thing doing music here. Um, and so over time, firstly coming about that within yourself, but then constructing the space that kind of well naturally just allows you to not experience that I think is very important. So safety.   In terms of, uh, focus, uh, being in the flow state, no one interrupting, not feeling like someone will come in and, uh, give you bad news and stuff like that. Uh, phone et et cetera. That's what is creative space for me.    Amazing. It's so true that yeah. Being able to be in like a stable space Mm. Allows you to have that room.   Yes. And hold space for creativity. Oh, well said. Well said. So my next question    Yeah.    And I feel like this is gonna be, well it's complex 'cause you, you repertoire mm-hmm. And your career thus far is, is vast and wide. Mm. But. If you had to pick something that you are most proud of creating Yeah. What would it be and how did it come about?   Yeah, so it's an interesting one. Um, it was hard to pick one 'cause I value my work equally for all of my clients. But I think the mo, the thing that I'm most proud of is my synth course, which is coming up soon. So that's where I think I fulfilled a lot of things that. Um, weren't sort of put together previously, I mean, where I can help people by educating them and put together my experience into some form of knowledge, like blocks, hopefully, I don't know the feedback yet.   But then, uh, um, then also creating some cool synth presets and synth lines for, uh, a metal track Pope, just a mashup of a few songs. Uh, yeah, that's something I'm very proud about and I hope that it helps a lot of people 'cause it's, um, you know, not that widespread and metal, uh, knowledge about sins in particular.   Uh, it's coming out eventually, uh, hopefully in a month or so. Amazing. We're working with a Christian color, uh, call it Audio Cult. Uh, he's a metal producer from Germany, so we are releasing it with them as soon as they're ready. That will be out there. So    love partnership.    Yeah,    collaboration, not easy    to create.   Like the best ones just come organically.    Yeah.    Like this podcast here.    Yeah, exactly. Yeah, exactly. So    you know, you stop planning things or reaching out and you just hang out in places where people are around and my connections.    Yeah, exactly. Mm-hmm.    Oh,    love it.    Yeah. On    the flip side of things that you are most proud of.   Yeah.    What's something that's challenged your creativity? And how do you think you've best sort of mitigated that?    Yeah, nice one. Uh, lately I've been definitely challenged with scheduling timing and my routine regime and discipline. That's been hard, especially when you start to burn out and things keep piling up because some of the things become out of your control.   Deliverables, uh, the amount of inquiries, um, some circumstances. And you just have to manage it all, and it just becomes quite a bit. Uh, so I guess realizing that it becomes a more progressive issue rather than me being shit at scheduling, which seems the case, but then you become better and that thing doesn't really improve.   So apparently it's a theme of my work rather than myself. And now the improvement is well. I have a, uh, an assistant, amazing Fabio from Germany. Uh, my good friend and he helps me with, uh, editing session preparation. And I wouldn't be able to be effective enough without him at this level, but I know that I have to give him more in terms so he would be, uh, helping me with my schedule and just being a second person.   'cause when you're by yourself, so I also faced a challenge when I'm just by myself. And I'm the one executing decisions, but there is no one to, you know, foolproof me. I can make stupid decisions or I can just become tired. So yeah, guess that's been challenging. And will we'll be doing more work with Fabio, but also there's a system called Motion.   It's an AI calendar, which Fabio introduced me to as well. It's like a hundred bucks a year or something. So you basically generate the structure of your projects. Uh, AI sort of gives you ideas how you break eight hour mix into. Two large chunks, one small chunk, add revisions, uh, add feedback from the client, and all of these things circle back automatically into your calendar and you can just tick them off as you go.   So having that kind of structure in place, uh, has been helping me, but then I burn out quickly when this happens. So, you know, things like that.    Yeah. But amazing, that tool that's, um, amazing that you Emotion Yeah, yeah, emotion.    It's good. So anyone's struggling with, uh, being organized that can help. It's not necessary.   You can just use your ordinary calendar, but can definitely help if you need improvement.    Especially to what, like you said, bite size. Yeah. A larger project.    Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And    especially in your line of work where you need to make sure that you rest your ears. Mm-hmm. You know? Mm-hmm. And to have scheduled breaks, it's probably, yes, I would say really beneficial to give you a bit more of a, a defined line to be like, oh, no.   X amount of hours. Hours. That's it. Yeah.    That's it. Yeah. That's it. That's it. Yeah. That's it.    Do you ever find, um,   do you ever find it difficult to schedule time to rest your ears between listening    a hundred percent. You get excited, you get into the zone, you get carried away, and then you wake up three hours later realizing that you can't hear shit. I've been there, and then I wake up next morning and I still can't hear shit.   Yeah. And so it's not fun. What, what's what, what do you do in those situations?    You start to try getting excited about something in the song because when you can't hear anything, it means that you lose, uh, the mental focus. Um, so you, if you start sort of finding that excitement again in some element.   You're like, oh no, it's actually a cool reef like, or a cool guitar lick. Uh, it, uh, gives you that energy that the song needs and off that you can start resonating in there. So, but, but to be honest, you should have, I should have taken instead of all of that a day off. Yeah. Just as simple as that. But,    and I think because as creatives we are self-motivating, self propelling.   Where, you know, you, you can always be doing something for our businesses. Yeah. It is hard sometimes to schedule that time. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. We were speaking off Mike about mm-hmm. You know, having time off and Yes. And days and working x amount of days in a row. But I think the messaging that, you know, we keep circling back to as creatives is like, it's just as important for us to s to schedule.   It breaks and time off.    Yes, a hundred percent. As    much as it is to absolutely, you know, obviously look after our projects.    Absolutely. But I gotta say that, uh, I accepted that I need to work more. Um, and I'm okay with that because this work fuels me and drives me, and it's not draining. I mean, obviously it's a job, so some parts would be, uh, complicated and consuming your resources.   But the reason I'm doing this in the first place is I can not do it. And so this drives me so much and for any creative, it's a fuel as well. So, uh, I guess my message is about the burnout and because at some point everyone will experience burnout if they're serious about their career. 'cause they will be pushing it so hard.   But to me, that burnout, yeah, physically it's a bit tough and you need time off, but mentally it's, it's fine. It's still, you are doing what you love. It's worth it. Hmm. And so you can just get down about, oh, I'm so burnt out. I don't like it anymore. But in reality, just remember how good the thing is in the first place.   So much worth it.    Yeah. And also it's, it's all about the, uh, tapestry of learning, right? Like you learn how to be resilient. Yeah. And how to be better at it. That's right. The next time round. That's right. Always, always, always.    Yeah.    Now. We are in a space at the moment where you have lots of amazing toys.    Mm.   And gadgets.    I know. Mm. Let's, right.    But I'm curious, is there something, an object mm-hmm.    Or    a    thing Mm.    That you can't live without when you are creating?    Yeah. There are two things that I, uh. I thought about because at first it was like a cohesive place and I, I don't really make music elsewhere. Yeah. When I try, when, when I have my laptop, it's not really working.   But, so there are two things. One is a musical instrument and another one is an object that has some memories, which would be cool to share. But for, uh, a thing that I create the best with and I'm most excited about when I touch, uh, I mean, I love my guitar for sure, but that, that's my profit here. Yes, so profit ref too.   When I was choosing a synth a few years back, I was still doing my lab work and I, I was working four days a week, uh, had some money, uh, making it that lab. And so I was pouring it into my business and I was searching for a synth and I went to the shop and I was playing them. And this one, I just get stuck into it for 30 minutes and I was.   Oh, I need to get the thing. It's that good. Literally like nothing else excited me as much because I'm a piano player. This is a very musical kind of synth, and even though I am not using it all the time, it's a bit retro sounding. It's still amazing.    Amazing. So,    but, but I use it all the time for media work, right.   For other things. So the keyboard is great. So that musical instrument is sick, but yeah. Um,    and your second, yeah.    Yeah. It's this thing here. No one knows about it. This is funny. So these things, I mean,    is it Lego?    No, it's not. So these are the blocks.    Oh, um, it's foam,    yeah. Foam blocks, you know. So these are valuable objects to me because you get one block.   Um, so I got two.    Yeah.    By writing down 5,000 words of your thesis at a thesis bootcamp at university. So these are two, so I wrote 10 over the weekend. There were people who wrote 40,000 words. I only did 10. Yeah, it's a physics bootcamp, right? So just to finish your PhD, you, they lock yourself with other students, they provide meals and you just dump it out.   Wow.    Yeah. And so this is a sentimental object for me, because you don't get that thing that easily.    Oh my goodness. And I love that you have it sitting in your studio. Yeah.    Well, to remember that. I've done quite a bit to get here, you know?    Yeah.    You all forget sometimes.    What a beautiful anchor. What a beautiful anchor.   I love that. Thank you so much for sharing that. My pleasure.    No one knows about it.    Oh my God. Well, people are gonna know about it now. That's    good. Never had an opportunity.    Oh, I love it. Now if you could give,    yeah.    One piece of advice, one nugget of gold to another creative, another human being, what would it be?   You, if you wanna make it in the music or whatever you call it, you wanna let it go, let go of the outcome, let go of the idea of making it. It's no such a thing. Many people talk about that and it's, uh, easy to, for the establish that people to talk about making it, it's very hard for someone who is a hobbyist or just starting out or on the, you know.   Plateau of their career, which can take years for me, it took like four years at least, maybe more. Um, for them to say, let go of the outcome is hard, but you have to because the idea of making music is enjoying, making music, enjoying sharing your music with others, enjoying performing music, enjoying creating records, whatever it is for you.   Videos. Uh, enjoying that process, enjoying learning, enjoying getting better, enjoying getting results, not enjoying being big known or famous or whatever. I've had that thought in the past. It's no point because that, that thing, it doesn't exist in the moment. It doesn't in the moment. Uh, all that exists is when you let go.   You forget about everything. You're in the flow, you're making music, and it is cool. And you can't do that without limits when you can make that space for yourself. I think that's it. So,    oh, well said. Now, before, when we were talking about, um, obviously time management and things, and you, um, showed, uh, spoke about a amazing tool that your friend put you onto.   Yeah. But if we could talk about, is there any, of course. You have got amazing, uh. This course that you are gonna come up.    Yeah. Yeah. Eventually. Yeah. But for you,    if you could put forth for anyone who wants to do what you do. Yeah. Or develop their creative process mm-hmm. In some way.    Mm-hmm.    Is there any resources Yes.   That you would recommend that someone could, uh, a book to read a course to do videos to watch?    A hundred percent. A hundred percent I'll recommend a podcast. It is called Six Figure Creative Podcast. It's an American podcast, which is relatively old. I think they started maybe 2016 or 17 or maybe even earlier, but it's an old one.   There are two seasons. First season is Golden, uh, by Brian Hood and Chris Graham. Brian Hood is an American producer who made, uh, a six figure home studio. Back in the day, and then he started teaching others how to do that with all the resources, technical stuff, systems, lots of that. That's very useful to implement in.   Well, anything you wanna manage. Tools like Trello, CRM Systems, following up with clients pricing systems. Uh, then lots of inspiration by, by Chris Graham. Who is a great, uh, American mastering engineer, and the second, uh, season is just Brian Hood himself. But it's all very useful. So for anyone who needs to put into some systems and, um, structure in their music or creative process, that's a podcast for you for sure.   Another thing that I would like to share is, um, well there is for people who want to do metal, uh, I recommend Unstoppable Recording Machine, the URM. And nail the mix. That's, uh, um, I would say so I neglected that place for some time and then I finally become a member and I went through a year of intensive one-on-ones.   My mixes got roasted big time, and uh, I saw some flaws in my work and I became better.    Amazing. And    now I'm better. I'm still not the best. At all.    We're always evolving.    That thing was humbling and that was, I would say it's a must for anyone who wants to do metal just because it's a closed, private community with, uh, all the resources that, uh, like multi-tracks, video walkthroughs of, uh, mixing.   Um, and it's about getting the best of the best. Share the tips and tricks and approaches and just taking what you like and implementing and learning how you can do your thing based on that. Mm-hmm. So. I, I think it's indispensable and I should do more of it. I mean, I've done a bit lately, but I just time.   Yeah, but you have to So that, uh, they also have a podcast where they interview those producers. It's a URM podcast and, uh, for letting go and things like that. I would recommend, there's a guy on YouTube called, called Aaron Doty. Um, and he gives some guided meditations for 30, 40, 20 minutes. It's amazing. I highly recommend that.   Amazing. And for those listening, you need to listen to or watch your YouTube videos.    Yeah, they can as well. Um, and    they are so informative about, um, you know, your, what, what would I call it? Um, your journey. You are so informative about, you know, recording about. Presets. Yeah, you are. Yeah. Very talented bear.   I appreciate it.    Sharing knowledge.    Yeah.    Now, one last question.    Mm.    If you could have anyone come on this podcast and answer these questions. Yeah. Who would it be and why?    Uh, two people come in mind there. There is a guy in Melbourne, his name is Dan bna, and he does mixing and producing in Dolby Atmos. Ooh, yes.   He also has a podcast he's launching about at work. Um, and he's been around for a bit, uh, doing film, audio, film, uh, scoring and, uh, transitioning from film audio to Dolby Atmo audio. And, uh, he can talk about creativity and spatial positioning of the sound and different format, how that, uh, affects the person and their, um, perception of music.   So, plus he's very creative of designing and building his spaces. Dolby Atmas, um, is quite a bit, as you know, few speakers around the place, and he's moved quite a few times. So it would be great to talk about that. And then, uh, I also have a friend called, uh, named Matt Wickens. And so, uh, he's a drummer and he's also a mental health, uh, enthusiast coach, and he's on his journey of helping people.   Uh, and I think he's just an amazing guy and I think you could share so much love in this podcast as well.    Oh, amazing. Well, I'll have to go and yeah. Google them and stalk them and find out more about them.    Yeah.    Oh my goodness. Mike, you have been such a legend.    I appreciate your time. Oh my    goodness. Thank you so much.   This is, uh, just, uh, what a beautiful chat.    Appreciate it.   Thanks for tuning in for another episode of Through The Creative Door. If you enjoy our episodes and find value in them, consider supporting us by making a donation. Just visit buy me a coffee.com/through the creative door, or buy the link in our Instagram buy where you can choose an amount and even write us a little message.   Every little bit helps, and we truly appreciate all of your support. But if you can't donate, no worries. You can still help us out by sharing our podcast with your friends and family, and leaving a review on your favorite platform. Thanks so much for being part of our community, and we'll catch you on the next episode.   Bye.  

Featured Artist: Gavin Bowles & The Distractions Featured Vinyl: Phoning It In   Alexis’ Hot Pick  I Get Bored Sam’s Hot Pick Here comes the Heartache   Aus Music Alert! Support this artists by purchasing this record via Bandcamp: https://gavinbowles.bandcamp.com/album/phoning-it-in  Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for an artist's vinyl to listen to, have you got one in mind that we should check out? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor   Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Co-Host: Sam Timmerman Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Voiceover: Ruby Miguel Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel —--------------------- Notes for Sam & Alexis:   00:09 - Introduction (Announcement) Welcome to B-Side, the mini-series from Through the Creative Door. Join Alexis and Sam as they dive into the timeless world of vinyl. For Alexis, vinyl was more than music. It was a Sunday ritual she shared with her dad, listening, talking and soaking in the stories behind each album and the artwork on every sleeve. Though her dad is no longer with us, she continues this tradition with her friend, Sam Timmerman. Join them as they share their passion for vinyl and the stories these records hold.    00:44 - Sam (Host) Hello brother, Good afternoon, how are we?    00:48 - Alexis (Host) Good how you doing.    00:50 - Sam (Host) Warm. It's a sunny 30 million something degrees in Perth.    00:55 - Alexis (Host) Perth, it's not.    00:56 - Sam (Host) Perth, it's hotness. We take it because it's meant to be winter and it's great to have glorious weather. Still, how are you?    01:02 - Alexis (Host) I am good, my, my love. I love that you're having your Melbourne vibes joining me in the black attire.    01:10 - Sam (Host) I was just gonna say Melbourne vibes for those listening, only we're just wearing black we're all wearing black.    01:16 - Alexis (Host) I mean, black is my mo, that is, that is the staple of my wardrobe. But for you, my friend, you are one of the most colourful people I know. Your wardrobe is lovely patterns and lovely colours I love it.    01:31 - Sam (Host) What can I say? I'm in my Wednesday phase at the moment. I love this, that's a multi-layered reference for those who get it.    01:40 - Alexis (Host) All right, what have you got for us this week?    01:46 - Sam (Host) I'm super excited because this one arrived much faster than I thought. It's Gavin Bowles and the Distractions, a little power pop band from Sydney, and it's the album Phoning It In, which I'm holding up right now for the camera. And it is a very special one because I got excited. I was looking online and the sticker said limited edition pink vinyl. And I went I must and so I got it and it looks like this oh my goodness, for those listening, it is bright look at the color of this thing right, oh yeah.    02:30 Well, that's their branding colors, right if bubblegum had a baby with a unicorn, this is what it would look like it looks amazing and it is, oh, it's so pretty see again visual media yeah, but also it circles back to what I said about you love colour.    02:45 - Alexis (Host) True, very true.    02:49 - Sam (Host) Have we put on our 10-minute timer yet?    02:51 - Alexis (Host) I did. I did a sneaky put it on while you were doing show and tell.    02:58 - Sam (Host) Yeah, so Gavin Bowles and the Distractions from Sydney, distractions from Sydney um, the full disclosure on this one. I listened to this record a couple of times at home, but majority of the listening I did was in the car, driving to and from many things. And it's such good driving music. This is just so much fun. I was listening to the other day and I went this is just a strange conglomeration, cross of and I'll say this, cross of green day and okay go. This is where my mind went with this thing. It's just if green day had listened to okay go for six months and decided they would turn their distortion pedals off, this is what that would sound like. It's so much fun.    03:49 - Alexis (Host) I actually find this album is actually a vibe to run to.    03:56 - Sam (Host) I like that.    03:57 - Alexis (Host) Yeah, so it's been on repeat for a few of my runs. Yeah it's a vibe.    04:06 - Sam (Host) It is. Do you have a favourite track? I do.    04:09 - Alexis (Host) I do have a favourite track. It's funny that you mention about what bands it actually sort of takes you into as reference, because, funnily enough, the song that I think is my hot pick no, not think, no, it's my hot pick. It's a song called I Get Bored. I Get Bored, yeah, I Get.    04:31 - Sam (Host) Bored yeah, I Get Bored, I Get Bored yeah.    04:33 - Alexis (Host) And I don't know why, but it has this essence about it that really lends itself to do. You know the Australian band the Skyhooks.    04:43 - Sam (Host) I do. I'm not familiar, but I know them.    04:50 - Alexis (Host) It just I'm not it's not a carbon copy or whatever but there's like an essence about this particular song and it just sort of brings me and I I just they're a cool aussie band and gavin bowles and the distractions fucking cool aussie band. I don't know it's a vibe, but yeah, I really this I get bored is like. I love the lyrics, I love the jabs in the music and the structure of it. It's a real vibe, just really angsty, and I love it.    05:21 - Sam (Host) I hadn't listened to that one as much as Here Comes the Heartache, and the reason was that is I went full music mode this one. I have to admit I didn't get deep into the lyrics a lot here because I was too busy just grooving Heartache I think I mentioned to you off camera just feels a lot like Boys Don't Cry. Oh, I mean, if we can sing it or not, I don't know. Do we have the rights?    05:53 - Alexis (Host) Who knows, but but I'd agree it's so much fun.    05:58 - Sam (Host) First listen was in the car and I went yes, it is sunset on the coast, windows down, it was just glorious. Um, a couple of other ones working class stiff is kind of it grew on me like it's. It's just balls to the wall. There's no pretense about it. It's this is what we're singing about and you're going to listen to it   06:24 - Alexis (Host)  Have you checked out that some of their music videos speaking of like?    06:29 - Sam (Host) I saw the, I saw the new one, the, um love has done one that you showed me    06:36 - Alexis (Host)  So for those listening, not on this record yeah, they've also got a brand new uh video and song out and it is a vibe. But that put me into the rabbit hole of looking at their back catalogue of music videos, which, by the way, next level, so much fun and I really love. They have this shtick where they don't have any, um, modern technology in any of their music videos. So you won't see a mobile phone, won't see a laptop cool.   07:09 - Sam (Host) So feels kind of, would you say, like 90s well, I think that's.    07:16 - Alexis (Host) I think that's the aim is that you could watch it and not really know where to place it because there's no yeah mmm    07:28 - Sam (Host) The style of that newest video that's out. It's um very much 80s vhs dating videos. It's it's amazing.    07:34 - Alexis (Host) So for the listeners it cannot. It is so amazing. It has this essentially like talk back dating doco mini series kind of vibes at the start of the music video and it's super entertaining, won't be disappointed. Go check that one out.    07:53 - Sam (Host) Love is dumb yes, and while you're at it, check out the entire album as well yes, this one, phoning it in the um photography on it. Just, it's just so much fun we have to shout out um ellie morgan, the photographer. For the record, I didn't get a chance to check out extensive catalog outside of this, but the concept behind it of just again, no modern technology, it's just bare members with phones but just absolutely phoning it in and just messing around with that idea.    08:32 - Alexis (Host) The joy on their faces in these photos word on the street is that they, yeah, had one of the phones and then had to go searching to try and find some more phones that look the same.    08:47 - Sam (Host) Well, Well, I think they do have one each. There are four phones there and if you have ever tried to get a rotary dial telephone, even if you know what it is or not, they don't exist very often anymore.    09:03 - Alexis (Host) I believe that they found them in Sydney somewhere.    09:07 - Sam (Host) In Sydney somewhere. They just walked into someone's house and said can we have your phone?    09:10 - Alexis (Host) No, no, no, I think they were like yeah yeah, I love it it is.    09:18 - Sam (Host) It's a real feel of just a band that has fun. They're having so much fun all the time.    09:27 - Alexis (Host) The drummer and the singer lead singer family, brothers, yeah, and then one of the other band members, I think went to school with them. Is like best friends with them that's fun yeah, and from what I understand, the band has had a couple of different iterations. So I think it used to have four members with a keyboard player, and then it was three of them and then now four of them.    11:14 - Sam (Host) It's just reminding me a lot of all of the and I keep saying Britpop purely because that's what I'm hearing but kind of that combination with that into your surf rock and roll as well, and I've never heard of a band describe themselves as power pop before, but now that I have, I absolutely agree and I want more bands to label themselves as power pop.    11:40 - Alexis (Host)  So you reckon your phone's now going to start giving you oh,    11:44 - Sam (Host)  My algorithm is going to send me all sorts of very, very strange things over the next three hours, but I should start turning it off before you record, and it might. Um, but there's. I think we'll wrap it up there, because the I think this album can speak for itself honestly. Just go check it out, have a listen, it's a lot of fun. Oh, actually, no, we'll say something else. I'm going to backtrack. The other fun fact I found out actually came from you is that Simon recorded the majority of this at home.    12:21 - Alexis (Host) I believe so. Yes, yes, because I think that was through covert that's something we can find out as well.    12:32 - Sam (Host) Yeah, but yeah, um, what a project to come up with home produced and mastered, externally mastered. I've found studios 301 who mastered this thing. Their catalog is just absolutely ridiculous. We keep stumbling across these records who have had the privilege of being mastered by absolute dream of the industry yeah um, if you go and I'm not going to start reading names off but if you go to studios 301 and just look at their release catalog, I think there are about 4 000 releases on their catalog ridiculous and we're talking big names there.    13:18 There's some rihanna remixes, there's some justin bieber stuff in there, amy Shark stuff, it's. Yeah, I said I wasn't going to say names, but but   13:24 - Alexis (Host) You know that you're in good stead if that's the caliber of work, oh, absolutely.    13:34 - Sam (Host) Yeah, you say yeah, we're going to send our record there and they're going to do their job and they're going to be amazing at it.    13:40 - Alexis (Host) Yeah.    13:41 - Sam (Host) No, it's not that we don't love our friends locally, who are incredible masterers as well.    13:52 - Alexis (Host) You know who you are very true, very true. But you know it's all part of it, right? no, love it.    13:56 - Sam (Host) Once I learn more about mastering, then I'll join that list.    13:59 - Alexis (Host) But you know we won't talk about that you talented bear, do you need to add more things to your bow?    14:05 - Sam (Host) I'd love to. It's interesting    14:06 - Alexis (Host) You'd be really good at it actually well, no, because I haven't learned about it yet.    14:12 - Sam (Host) But that's okay, I'm gonna hold up the record again yes, get amongst it finding it in by g Gavin Bowles and the Distractions. If you get there quickly on Bandcamp, their limited edition pink vinyls are still available as of recording.    14:32 - Alexis (Host) Yes, yes, Do it. And on their Bandcamp they also have some merch packages. So they have cool tote bags and mugs and word on the street is the tote bags fit the vinyl in them.    14:51 - Sam (Host) I should have bought a tote bag as well. I have one. You do so. Not word on the street, word in your face. Look at that, I have one. People, you've got to watch this video because it looks a whole lot better than it sounds.    15:09 - Alexis (Host) It's a beautiful tote bag with pink writing and a pink phone yeah.   15:16 - Sam (Host) Can you guys please sell phones as well?    15:18 - Alexis (Host) oh my gosh, can they? Sell phones that then have the attachment to go into the mobile so you can like have the mobile sitting there and you can like take a call I think we've just started a business venture. No one else is allowed to take this    15:39 - Alexis (Host) Do we patten it or something?    15:39 - Sam (Host) We'll think of a name and get back to you.    15:45 - Alexis (Host) I love it All. Right, brother, good job.    15:49 - Sam (Host) Thank you once again. Gavin Bowles and the Distractions, thank you for sending this super fast. I got this in about five days, if not less.    15:58 - Alexis (Host) Things take a little while to get over West, don't they? Yeah?    16:02 - Sam (Host) And it's been so much fun to listen to Check it out, Burning it In. We'll see you on the next one.    16:13 - Alexis (Host) Thanks for tuning in for another episode of Through the Creative Door. If you enjoy our episodes and find value in them, consider supporting us by making a donation. Just visit buymeacoffee.com/throughthecreativedoor or via the link in our Instagram bio where you can choose an amount and even write us a little message. Every little bit helps and we truly appreciate all of your support. But if you can't donate, no worries, you can still help us out by sharing our podcast with your friends and family and leaving a review on your favorite platform. Thanks so much for being part of our community. We'll catch you on the next episode. Bye. 

In this episode of Through the Creative Door, Alexis sits down with Steph AKA Cheersthanxalot a Melbourne-based lino print artist and podcaster, who shares her inspiring journey from hobbyist to full-time artist. Steph discusses how the process of printmaking itself fuels her creativity and how we often get in our own way of success. She also talks about her mission to make art more affordable and accessible for everyone with her series Sevens Collection as well as some advice for the creatives out there who aren’t mathematicians!    If you’d like to see more, you can follow Steph on instagram; @cheersthanxalot   This episode was recorded on 12th April 2025 on the lands of the Woiworung Peoples. We hope that this episode inspires you as a creative person and as a human being. Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for creative people to share their story and inspire others. Have you got someone in mind who would love to have a chat? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikToc: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel   00:09 - Alexis (Host) Hello, my name is Alexis Naylor and I am your host here at Through the Creative Door. On behalf of myself and my guests, I would like to acknowledge the traditional owners and custodians on which this podcast is recorded and produced. Owners and custodians on which this podcast is recorded and produced. May we pay our respects to all First Nations people and acknowledge Elders, past and present. On this podcast, I'll be chatting to an array of creative guests, getting a glimpse into their worlds and having some honest and inspiring conversations along the way. I'm delighted to welcome you to Through the Creative Door.  00:09 - Alexis (Host) Hello, my name is Alexis Naylor and I am your host here at Through the Creative Door. On behalf of myself and my guests, I would like to acknowledge the traditional owners and custodians on which this podcast is recorded and produced. Owners and custodians on which this podcast is recorded and produced. May we pay our respects to all First Nations people and acknowledge Elders, past and present. On this podcast, I'll be chatting to an array of creative guests, getting a glimpse into their worlds and having some honest and inspiring conversations along the way. I'm delighted to welcome you to Through the Creative Door.  Hello, steph.    00:52 - Steph (Guest) Hello   00:53 - Alexis (Host)  Welcome to Through the Creative Door. I have come through your creative door.I'm very excited. Thank you for having us here. I want to start with the fact that one you are, steph.   01:08 - Steph (Guest)  I am Steph.    01:09 -  Alexis (Host) However, aka    1:14 - Steph (Guest)  Cheersthanxalot   01:17 - Alexis (Host) Right?    01:19 - Steph (Guest)  Which is just, if you're going to ask where the name came from,    01:21 - Alexis (Host)  How did you know I was going to go there?    01:21 - Steph (Guest) I know because it's so random, all right, but I love it it's so easy to remember cheers. Thanks a lot except I put an x in it okay so no I like that.    01:29 Oh, thank you, Yeah, it's it all. So it started because in ab fab absolutely fabulous, one of the greatest tv shows the character patsy says um, like cheers, thanks a lot. The way she says it is just. I used to think so funny. Originally the handle was going to be is it a baby shower? Because this handle is just my Instagram handle from day one, Like so back way back when Instagram was starting.    02:04 - Alexis (Host) Long, long time ago.    02:05 - Steph (Guest) Yeah, starting, we were putting terrible filters on all of our photos. That was just my Instagram handle and then, as I just kind of started going and building things and making stuff, I was like, well, it's just this now, and now it's too far gone. So it's actually just an AbFab quote and it just so happened yeah, it just so happens to now be my artist name as well and I'm like, well, that works, I'll keep it that way.    02:28 No, but yeah, my actual name is steph so it's not as exciting as cheers thanks a lot, is it? I'm like. I can't wait till one day to be like someone. Be like are you cheers thanks a lot and you're like yes my name is steph. Yes, so silly. Yeah, fab. If you haven't watched it, highly recommend.    02:45 - Alexis (Host) So you're an amazingly talented artist,    02:48 - Steph (Guest)  Oh thank you    2:49 - Alexis (Host)  And I feel very privileged that I do own some of your outfits oh which one did you and I, you know was fangirling from afar. I was interested to know, like, obviously you're an artist but you predominantly do line print, like lino print work, but in your sort of world of art, are there other things that sort of fall into that space?   03:18 - Steph (Guest) I mean, yeah, it didn't start off as lino printing. It started off. I probably started doing stuff I want to say like maybe pre-pandemic cheersthxalot was a bit more like embroidery art and like I was making like earrings out of like shrinky dink stuff, and like it was very different. And then, during covid, I got back into lino printing, which we all did at school. You all sliced your fingers open at school and did that. But then I got into it again during lockdown, because we had so much time on our hands I wasn't going to work anymore because I was lucky enough to work in retail at the time, so we couldn't go into work, literally. And so I got back into it and I was like, oh god, I really love this. And then, since 2020, it's kind of turned into this lino printing thing.    04:10 So I do lino printing, I paint, you know, do podcasts. I, you know, try and do as much as I possibly can, but I haven't gotten into like pottery or anything. I don't have the patience. I don't think never say never, I know, and then, like, next year I'll be like, and so now I'm doing pottery as well. But yeah, I feel like I'm just. I just want to do as much as I can in the time that I'm given.I think.     04:34 - Alexis (Host) yeah, well, I'm gonna start into my questions, go for it. I love this, obviously, with these two wonderful projects that you've got, cheers, thanks a lot and framed, yes, but this could be, this question could be anything, all of the things. What does a creative space mean to you? Oh god?    04:57 - Steph (Guest) um, I think a creative space like I am currently. I work in my house, so I work in the spare room, sometimes the garage, and then we frame, we film the podcast literally over there. I'm looking at it as we speak. So I am lucky that, a we live in a rental that's big enough to house all of that and, b we've kind of got. I've gotten to a point where I do need all that space. I didn't need it before. It was like probably just a desk.    05:23 I drive my partner crazy because there is stuff everywhere in this house when I'm in like full creative mode. So I think that it's just like wherever you can park yourself and find a little bit of space to do it like. That's what a creative space is. It's like wherever you can like, regardless of where you are in life. You should be able to like, even if it's in your bed, even if it's. You know, I sometimes go on a walk with the dogs and then I'm like an idea has come to me. Quick, quick, quick get home, got to write it down like. I think it's just like wherever you can give yourself a little spot to like breathe and just I don't know be a bit, little bit disconnected from everything. Um, that's probably where it is, I don't know. I my dream, though, like my ultimate dream, is to have a factory. Like Andy Warhol, that is like the dream. So I'll get there one day.  06:15 - Alexis (Host) With all the projects that you've done over the years and continue to do. Is there something that you're the most proud of creating?    06:18 - Steph (Guest) yeah, I do a thing called the sevens collection, which is a affordable art print that's released from the first to the seventh of every month, and then the kind of print gets destroyed, the lino block gets destroyed, so it can't be made again. So it's kind of just making that whole art affordable. And honestly, it only happened I was about because I'd gone to part-time work. I'd kind of started to be like all right, I can make up my income and I'd gone to part-time work and then everyone kind of went back to work as well and then no one was spending online anymore. It kind of dipped a bit. So I was like, oh shit, I'm going to have to go back to full-time work. And then I kind of dipped a bit. So I was like, oh shit, I'm gonna have to go back to full-time work.    07:04 And then I kind of came up with this idea and I was like I'll try it for one month and see what happens. So I did it the first month and it went well. And I was like all right, try it the second month, and it didn't go so well. And I was like look, you've still got enough money to make it through a third month. See if you can do it again, and now it's been running for like two, two years, which is wild. So, yeah, I get, that is something that I'm like. A that I stuck to it, like usually I'd lose momentum at some point. But b it's just like keeps growing and you know you get to make something new every month.    07:30 - Alexis (Host) On the flip side of things, that you're proud of, what's something that's challenged your creativity, and how do you think you've navigated and maneuvered through that?    07:44 - Steph (Guest) You just kind of like you know, like you just get in your own way. Like it's so dumb, like you like sometimes I wish and I think maybe this should be my mentality like I wish I could just be like a business white man sorry to none of them listening like like. I just wish like I could just have the audacity to like go out and do it like like and just be like I'm not wrong, I'm fine. I could do it like. Sometimes I think we have to be white men and it's like and just like have the have the audacity to be like I can do that.    08:16 Not to make it about this, but like I did go through a patch where I was like really struggling to just even have a shower and like brush my teeth and like I went and got help and got medication and I think that is really important.    08:28 Like you don't have to be a struggling artist. You can actually be happy and healthy and I think sometimes you know when you're an artist you can play into that. I can still pull on my experiences in life, but I don't need to like be sad to create work. And I think sometimes it's like we feel like we've got to be like crying into our pain, it's like no, but yeah, getting in your own way, just to really tie a bow on that question, just like don't get in your own way, it's okay. It's like art, it's not that serious, it's not that deep, it's really not that deep. You can go and get a job at coles if you need to like. You can find a way to supplement your income if you need to like. I can go back to work full-time if I need to, it's okay relax.    09:16 - Alexis (Host) So with creating. Do you have something sentimental or something that is useful? Is there an object that you can't live without when you're creating?    09:29 - Steph (Guest) I was noise Like it's so silly, but like actual noise around me. So I've always either got to have a podcast on or something on television or like I've got to have noise around Interesting. It's like the voices in the head get quieter, like it's very that, isn't it like? Oh, like a bit deep, but yeah, people like I've got to have talking around all the time    09:51 - Alexis (Host)  Could you have someone working alongside you chatting to you, or is it like?    09:55 - Steph (Guest)  No, if you've got to ask me a question, I will get frustrated with you. If I'm in the middle of something, like my partner, she'll come in and she'll be like, hey, what are you doing? I'm like get out. But yeah, it's just. I think, yeah, there's just noise around Like I think that's like I don't really listen to music. Even I love listening to music when I'm thinking of ideas, but not necessarily when I'm creating. To music when I'm thinking of ideas, but not necessarily when I'm creating, like I'm I don't know why. It's like I'd much rather have like housewives fighting in the background than like some kind of nice calming sound um, what else do I have all the time? That's probably the consistent uh. And then there's just the basic tools, like investing in quality tools and stuff and putting that money back into the art, I think.     10:44 - Alexis (Host) If we delve into the creative. If someone wanted to do what you do, what piece of wisdom, what nugget of gold would you give to them?    10:55 - Steph (Guest) Probably two things. The first thing is really boring. But get yourself a tax agent. It's so boring, but you have to get yourself someone who's willing to like just do your taxes for you because, okay, nine times out of ten, you don't want to do it because you're a creative. Maths is not our strong suit nine times out of ten unless you're like an architect, but also like paying someone three hundred dollars to do your taxes is so much better because they can tell you what to claim. You won't get in trouble in the long run. Please, just pay someone to do your taxes for you because you're going to get more out of it. You'll either have to. And also, when you start making money and running your own business, you don't realize that, like, all right, I've got to put x amount away to therefore pay in taxes, because my bit like when I used to work for someone, they used to take it out of my pay. I never had to worry about it and then I get a refund at the end of the year. Guess what? You don't do that when you're a sole trader. So, yeah, get yourself a tax agent. Don't get in strife later down the track, because I think you could get yourself into a bit of trouble and then you owe too much money at once. That's my first bit of advice.    12:01 The second bit of advice is delegate where you can. Um, because as a creative you want to control everything yourself and sometimes you have to like, let go of the reins a little bit and go all right, I can actually give that to someone to do. I can. I don't have to have a hand in, like for me, I have to have a hand in whatever I create, like printing wise, you know, painting wise, that kind of thing. But I think that you know I don't need, I don't have, to make every box. I don't have to edit every podcast. I don't. You know, my partner now edits the podcast first I watch it through, clip it together like I didn't have. You know, my partner now edits the podcast first I watch it through, clip it together.    12:42 Like I didn't have to do all of it myself, like I was able. Like Joel, who does the podcast with me, I said can you help with, like, doing a promo shoot? He did it all himself. It looks fabulous, like he came up with a great concept, got a photographer like got it all lined up. I just had to turn off on the day and like act a goose and you know he just I could trust him to do it and you know what, it was better than what I would have come up with.    13:07 Like you know what I mean you can delegate, it's fine, rely on other people, start networking and like getting getting the team, yeah, and like how cool it when you get. Like my next thing is like I want to be able to because I still work part-time, you know, for other people, because I can't let go and do it all my, you know, and it's going to come to a point where I get to hire myself. But like the first person that you get to hire, like how cool is that, you know, when you're able to do that. Like you get to build your own team and it, you know that'll be cool.    13:39 So, yeah, delegate, where you can call up your friends, like if you need help, and like say I'll pay you in pizza, come over and build some boxes for me because I've got some orders to pack, like you need it. And also it makes it like not so solo, you know, because being a creative can be really solo and you get in your head. So, yeah, get a tax man, get a friend. A friend who's willing to work for very little, I mean not pizza. Yeah, pay you in pizza until I can pay you properly.    14:13 - Alexis (Host) Question, if you could give someone, maybe, like I don't know, resources like if someone wanted to develop their creative process of what you know, you sort of do. If they wanted to go down that pipeline like what book should they read, what video should they watch, is there courses that they could do um mentors that they could have. Oh god, uh, throwing it all at you.   14:38 - Steph (Guest) I like it. I think, like I did not go to uni for art, I didn't go to uni at all. I will preface this like I'm a self-taught biatch, so like, if you cannot afford to go to, like, go to a class or go to uni. Youtube, the school of YouTube and the school of like finding an artist and like watching their reels and watching what they do, like how they do something differently and then going and trying it yourself. Like I think that sometimes is so overlooked because it's like well, there's so many free resources, like you know through that, like you can watch so many people. Like there is a guy in Japan. He went from Canada to Japan and now he works in Japan as a woodblock maker. He's's like the Bob Ross of like wood printing. His voice is really calm, the videos are really slow and I just watched him for hours and I was like I reckon I could do that with lino printing. Like how does he do this? How does he line up his registration points? Like yeah, just learn from that. That's really I think.    15:39 Yeah, sometimes we have to think we've got to go to somewhere or go to a uni, and that's great If you're a uni gal or guy or person like go and do that. But yeah, for me it was. I had to, I learned by doing and sometimes school isn't good for that. So, yeah, go on, go into the YouTubes. There's also, like so many like free resources online, like like pictures and stuff to use as references through, like like a lot of the big galleries, because, you know, things get to a certain timeline I think 1920s. Now we're at where it's like free domain so you can actually use that stuff in your work if you need to. But there's a lot of free resources like that. Like, obviously don't copy, like, but you know like what is it? Good artist copy great artist, steal    16:29 - Alexis (Host) Appropriate yeah.    16:33 - Steph (Guest) And it's like, yeah, just go and like, yeah, there are a lot of like galleries that have those free domain images. You can use them as well. I'm trying to think where else do you go? I don't know. Like, yeah, I'm chronically online, which is where I learn everything. But I visual, I'm a visual learner. I have to watch a video and then go and do it myself. I can't read, like I can't, I can't. It's here and now on this podcast.    17:00 I must confess I cannot read, like sorry, but yeah and like, watch documentaries on other artists, like or what you're interested in at home, like, oh, my god, there's so many good ones. I'm such a doctor documentary watcher I love, I love. But you can learn so much from like what was happening at the time, who they were, you know creating with, like what's. You know what's the connection between, like Keith Haring, andy Warhol and Basquiat, because they're all you know. Because they're all up and coming at the same time. Like just seeing who's around, like that's really cool and learning how they just live their lives. I think you can learn from that too. Yeah, resources, just watch, watch everything watch everything.    17:40 Consume as much as you can and like saying that though, like, if you're finding that you're over consuming, like cut it off and like play a game or go and do something else, because sometimes you can over consume, and then you're like I'm gonna do this and you're like, or like you, you, you convince yourself that you can like go and do something or start a business and stuff, and you're like whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Okay, I've over consumed, take a break, I don't need to learn anymore. It's okay to not learn. Yeah, it's okay to stop the learning for a bit, so you can just like recalibrate, because otherwise we take on board too much and we go and then have a panic attack and, you know, burn out and don't do anything at all. Yeah, yeah, but yeah, where do you find it? What do you? What are your resources?    18:29 - Alexis (Host) oh, I very much agree with the youtube thing. I I want to say tiktok, but it's more in the sense of again finding the people who you resonate with and what they do, and whether that be across mediums, yeah, just be like.    18:55 I love how they talk to camera yeah, I love how they, you know, pull the curtain back on whatever they're doing, like how their storytelling goes, because really it doesn't matter whether you're a musician or you know painting a mural or whatever, it's the buy-in and how you, you know, bring people into the world.    19:17 - Steph (Guest) Yeah, people give tiktok so much jive right like I feel like back in the day we'd be like I read an article online like, as opposed to saying like I saw this tiktok video. That's like you can learn so much. There are so many smart, creative people on there. Like you know, always when it's news or facts, please go and like double check it. Like sometimes we get like we can watch something and be like I actually learned this like news fact and you're like, hang on, I need to go and actually double check that that's truth. But like that you so many smart, intelligent, creative people are on there.    19:49 Oh, my god, it's so cool, like, even like, like someone like gary v, who is not an artist, who just runs a big media company, I say just, it's like a conglomerate. You can learn stuff from him too, like he's got nothing to do with our, what we do. But you can be like oh, that's how you storytell. Oh, that's how you sell something to someone you know, because at the end of the day, that's kind of what you have to do like you're either selling selling yourself, um, or selling your art like, or selling your music. There's got to be some element of storytelling there. Yeah.    20:25 - Alexis (Host) Well said. Last question yes, if you could hear someone come on to this podcast and answer these questions, who would it be and why Can you resurrect?    20:37 - Steph (Guest) people from the dead.    20:38 No, I cannot, that's not fair, don't do that to me. Who would I like? There are probably a few. There is one of my friends, lambrini Lambrini Studios, I think she goes by. She's a resin artist. She does a lot of workshops. I think it would be really interesting to hear from her, because I don't do workshops, I'm not a teacher. She is. She's really really, really good. So I would love to hear from her because her business is. She obviously makes art and stuff, but her business is very different to mine so I'd love to hear her.    21:13 Um, who else? Uh, bromley? Get Bromley and his wife on the podcast. That's like I. There is a documentary, I think, art in the Dark or something. There's a great documentary on him and then you realise how much his wife is involved and how they do have a bit of like a factory going of, like how they make these big because like it feels like everyone's got a Bromley in their house, like I don't yet, but one day, but like how they kind of create this big conglomerate and how he kind of takes care of the art and she's the business and it's really interesting.    21:49 Power couple oh yeah, she's so switched on, like very, very smart, and like how they're building this business, so like it's almost like one day their kids will take over, and I think that's really when the art name becomes bigger than the person itself. That's always fascinating.   22:09 - Alexis (Host)   I love it yeah, oh, my goodness, steph, thank you so much. Thank you through the creative door and being on the podcast. This is the best.    22:15 - Steph (Host)  Amazing, thank you, thank you. Thank you.   22:21 - Alexis (Host) Thanks for tuning in for another episode of Through the Creative Door. If you enjoy our episodes and find value in them, consider supporting us by making a donation. Just visit buymeacoffeecom, forward, slash through the creative door or buy the link in our Instagram bio where you can choose an amount and even write us a little message. Every little bit helps and we truly appreciate all of your support. But if you can't donate, no worries, you can still help us out by sharing our podcast with your friends and family and leaving a review on your favourite platform. Thanks so much for being part of our community and we'll catch you on the next episode. Bye being part of our community. We'll catch you on the next episode. Bye. 

Featured Artist: The Reductors Featured Vinyl: Graphic Novel   Alexis’ Hot Pick  Code Variant Sam’s Hot Pick Body Scan Aus Music Alert! Support this artists by purchasing this record via Bandcamp: https://thereductors.bandcamp.com/album/graphic-novel  Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for an artist's vinyl to listen to, have you got one in mind that we should check out? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor   Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Co-Host: Sam Timmerman Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Voiceover: Ruby Miguel Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel     00:09 - Introduction (Announcement) Welcome to B-Side, the mini-series from Through the Creative Door. Join Alexis and Sam as they dive into the timeless world of vinyl. For Alexis, vinyl was more than music. It was a Sunday ritual she shared with her dad, listening, talking and soaking in the stories behind each album and the artwork on every sleeve. Though her dad is no longer with us, she continues this tradition with her friend, Sam Timmerman. Join them as they share their passion for vinyl and the stories these records hold.    00:45 - Alexis (Co-host) Hello Sam.    00:47 - Sam (Co-host) Good afternoon evening.    00:50 - Alexis (Co-host) How are you brother?    00:52 - Sam (Co-host) Good, we are Surviving is the wrong word. We're thriving.    00:58 - Alexis (Co-host) Thriving.    00:59 - Sam (Co-host) How are you going? Anyone on the video can say you've got a haircut and it looks amazing.    01:04 - Alexis (Co-host) Yeah yeah it'll grow back. Hair grows back how's life?    01:11 - Sam (Co-host) I'll be well I'm good.    01:12 - Alexis (Co-host) I'm good, I'm excited for the offering you have for us today.    01:19 - Sam (Co-host) Oh yeah, this one was. I'm gonna show it straight away.    01:22 - Alexis (Co-host) Shall I start the 10-minute timer   01:27 - Sam (Co-host) 10 minutes.    01:28 - Alexis (Co-host) Go what you got?   01:31 - Sam (Co-host) This is one by a Perth Bolly local band called the Reductors and it's called Graphic Novel and I've got some personal connections to it, which is how I came across this in the first place. But this has been an absolute adventure and it's been so fun and so interesting and just the art just grabs me straight away as well, by the way, which we'll talk about in a minute. But I think you have some personal connections and musical connections to these guys as well, which is super exciting.    02:07 - Alexis (Co-host) I didn't know that you told me about this record. It wasn't until I started listening to it and actually looked at some of the promo and I was like I know that guy.    02:19 - Sam (Co-host) You know these people.    02:21 - Alexis (Co-host) I know some of these people. Yeah, which was lovely, and yeah, so I didn't realize that this project of theirs, yeah, they'd release this stuff.    02:31 - Sam (Co-host) so, yeah, it was really lovely to have a listen recorded last year I believe, last year being 2024 at one of my favourite studio names ever at, at Poonshead Studio in Fremantle. It is Fremantle in Western Australia, so this is absolutely an Australian artist alert and we've just been starting a deep dive on the studio, which we'll also talk about in a sec. But do you have a hot pick in the album?    03:04 - Alexis (Co-host) Oh my goodness, I definitely have a hot pick.    03:05 The album oh my goodness, I definitely have a hot pick my hot pick is um code variant fantastic I all of these tracks were such a vibe, but there was something about this sort of tension building in this song that really got me. So, um, listeners, you really need to listen to this track. It's very interesting, builds really well, but I quite enjoyed. It was almost this like speech singing, conversing sort of um, because the the imagery around this album is confronting themes of body image, disillusionment and the battle to preserve individuality. So that's weaved through all of the 10 songs.    03:55 - Sam (Co-host) We will say as well this is. Reductors are a post-punk band and this is my first foray into the punk world and it's been eye eye-opening. It's glorious it's the right way to describe it.    04:08 - Alexis (Co-host) By the way, yeah but, yes, the description of the album is perfect as well yeah, exactly, and I think this for the song that I is my hot pick, it really leans into that, because it's the imagery of the lyrics that are sort of spoken and sung and then the instrumentation really just brings that tension but holds space for those words to really, you know, they're really articulate and you can really, you know, have that land, and then suddenly vocals step aside and you've got this full band and this full energy, yeah, and it just sort of takes you through this journey and just as quick as it all comes together to the forefront, it's like right back down and then there's more, you know, vocals. So yeah, I don't know, I really enjoyed the journey of that song, really enjoyed the journey. But definitely, if I'm allowed to have a close second, I would say Implant was my close second, yeah, I really enjoyed it. There was Spoken Word, a female guest collaborator feature that was on there.    05:14 - Sam (Co-host) In that kind of military style almost, which was kind of fun.    05:24 - Alexis (Co-host) Really enjoyed that tapestry and that timbre. So yeah, I don't know a great vibey song, yeah.    05:31 - Sam (Co-host) I agree with that. I loved I was in full music brain for this one. I read the lyrics after listening to the entire record. Which was kind of a fun way to do it.    05:44 - Alexis (Co-host) Me too, and that's very rare for me.    05:47 - Sam (Co-host) Yeah, you're not wrong, you're a lyrics girl all the way. The amount of space that is given to the music to say something is very cool. A lot of the lyrics are written kind of not necessarily train of thought but kind of through composed kind of feel. It's not a lot of verse, chorus, structure going on, which is kind of fun, and they allow so much space around that particularly a bunch of these tracks are. They say their, their piece and then it's a minute and a half of music I really enjoy it.    06:25 I really enjoy it and if you're, if you're a harmony brain and you want to go and analyze this stuff, there is some crazy stuff going on. It was a lot of fun to listen to um musically. My favourite was body scan. It had a um slightly different feels. The rest of them a tiny little bit more poppy, I thought um, but I had a lot of fun with that. So that, very quickly, was my hot pick, which I thought was cool. We've got to talk about this artwork, though.   06:54 - Alexis (Co-host) Hot pick, though, like from the minute that you heard it, or was there something in the song? Yeah, okay, cool.    07:01 - Sam (Co-host) Absolutely, absolutely. I'm going to talk about this, the artwork which, if you're only listening, you're going to have to find it and find a photo, but I am holding it up right now, as we always do. What are these characters?    07:18 - Alexis (Co-host) Wait, these characters have their names on it and I can't remember what they were so to to put the picture, we've got two characters that are having a boxing match, and it's more in that sort of um cartoony, would you say, style yeah it, it's a little bit, I mean, hey, graphic novel. Yes.    07:43 - Sam (Co-host) Which is literally the style that we're talking about. It is leaning into that real graphic novel style. It's two kind of larger than life characters, but very, very different. Duking it out, Hard to describe.    08:00 - Alexis (Co-host) What's the name?     08:01 - Sam (Co-host) So you're're gonna have to find a photo of this thing, which are they? I can't remember because I can't see it, because I'm hiding it off the camera. Names are grin and scratchy love it, love it grin is a gray-skinned, purple haired, I'm guessing, six ish feet tall, probably 60 odd years old man with a mustache, getting his face absolutely punched in by one of the most powerful female figures I've ever seen in cartoon form, ever seen in cartoon form. Just yeah, right, jab straight to the face, that's all I can describe it    08:44 - Alexis (Co-host) Jab jab, uppercut that's it.    08:51 - Sam (Co-host) We are not fighters. I'm sorry, we do not have terms UFC fans. I'm so sorry.    08:57 - Alexis (Co-host) I had actually I think I looked up this artist that the cover art was done by    09:05 - Sam (Co-host) Tom Hoskisson.    09:06 - Alexis (Co-host) Yes, and I wrote you a note to say check him out on Instagram. It's up your alley, you will love him.    09:22 - Sam (Co-host) So Tom's work or his publicly published work is all reimagined superhero work and superhero and fantasy and that kind of again that graphic novel kind of style, super fun, really, really heavily characterized work where, like you've said, when it's coming right up my alley in that if you understand the context of these characters, you're looking at this stuff going, ah, I know what you're talking about. Super, super fun. A couple of really fun ones that I found from a couple of years ago when I did a full scrolly.    09:55 - Alexis (Co-host) Oh, so you did a full old scrolly.    09:57 - Sam (Co-host) I did a full the whole thing. I found some stuff from 2022 and it looks amazing.    10:03 - Alexis (Co-host) Amazing, so we're going to dive into the studio.    10:09 - Sam (Co-host) Oh, please, can we. Can we Just quickly? I don't know how much time we've got, but I reckon we've got a minute to go. Mr Rob Grant, who also did some backing vocals on Implant, by the way, was yeah, this studio Poons Head Studios in East Fremantle, western Australia is. I just want to go there. I just want to go there.    10:35 - Alexis (Co-host) For those listening, you need to jump on the website for this studio because there's actually fantastic photos of all of the equipment actually fantastic photos of all of the equipment. He's got a list and breaks down the consoles, the analogue, the digital, the recorders, like everything that you could ever possibly need in a studio. Plus, he's got photos of all of the excellent equipment, which is just like a kid in a candy store. I think I had a moment when I was looking through and I started with, obviously, some of the digital analogue stuff, but when I got through to a screen which it had like all of the keyboards and synths.    11:22 I nearly weed my pants.    11:29 - Sam (Co-host) That's a timer, but very quickly, we'll try and link it in the show notes as well, if we can. That'd be fantastic. Go and check it out, rob and his studio. Looking at the client list that he has worked with as well. There are some names. There are some names which I will not read out because you've got to go to the website.    11:51 - Alexis (Co-host) That's a great segue. I love it.    11:55 - Sam (Co-host) But also, yes, graphic novel by the Reductors.    12:01 - Alexis (Co-host) Yeah, on.    12:01 - Sam (Co-host) Bandcamp, I believe.    12:03 - Alexis (Co-host) It is 100% on Bandcamp. So, like we say most times, support Australian artists, get on Bandcamp, buy all their things.    12:14 - Sam (Co-host) Buy all their things.    12:15 - Alexis (Co-host) All of their things.    12:17 - Sam (Co-host) Lovely to see you again, as always, my friend.    12:24 - Alexis (Co-host) Thanks for tuning in for another episode of Through the Creative Door. If you enjoy our episodes and find value in them, consider supporting us by making a donation. Just visit buymeacoffee.com/throughthecreativedoor or via the link in our Instagram bio where you can choose an amount and even write us a little message. Every little bit helps and we truly appreciate all of your support. But if you can't donate, no worries, you can still help us out by sharing our podcast with your friends and family and leaving a review on your favourite platform. Thanks so much for being part of our community. We'll catch you on the next episode. Bye. 

Alexis sits down with the ever-charismatic Gavin Bowles – frontman of Sydney’s power-pop band Gavin Bowles and The Distractions. Gavin opens up about the rollercoaster ride of creating his latest album Phoning It In, navigating lockdowns, lineup changes, and personal challenges to craft a record that feels raw, real, and wholly his. With cheeky lyrics, punchy hooks, and a catalogue rich in visual storytelling, Gavin’s music is a celebration of fun, freedom, and feeling everything in between. In this episode, he shares how vulnerability, humour, and creative persistence have shaped his work – and how he’s stayed true to his voice through it all.  If you’d like to see more, you can follow Gavin on instagram; @ gavinbowlesmusic   This episode was recorded on 15th March 2025 on the lands of the Woiworung Peoples. We hope that this episode inspires you as a creative person and as a human being. Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for creative people to share their story and inspire others. Have you got someone in mind who would love to have a chat? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor   Let’s get social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/  TikToc: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast   CREDITS Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel   00:09 - Alexis (Host) Hello, my name is Alexis Naylor and I am your host here at Through the Creative Door. On behalf of myself and my guests, I would like to acknowledge the traditional owners and custodians on which this podcast is recorded and produced. Owners and custodians on which this podcast is recorded and produced. May we pay our respects to all First Nations people and acknowledge Elders, past and present. On this podcast, I'll be chatting to an array of creative guests, getting a glimpse into their worlds and having some honest and inspiring conversations along the way. I'm delighted to welcome you to Through the Creative Door.  Gavin Bowles is in the house.    00:51 - Gavin (Guest) Hello, thank you for having me.    00:54 - Alexis (Host) Welcome to Through the Creative Door. I am super chuffed to have you here.    00:59 - Gavin (Guest) I'm chuffed to be here.    01:00 - Alexis (Host) You're actually, we're not at your abode or studio or creative space. You've come into my abode and it's.    01:09 - Gavin (Guest) And it's lovely. I would. I would also love to invite you to my space, but it's, it's not in it's not in melbourne where we currently are. Yes, that's right, it's in sydney, so maybe another time, but this is lovely. Thank you for having me.    01:21 - Alexis (Host) Oh, it's so lovely to have you here. Oh, my goodness, your tracks, your music, because you're a singer-songwriter, you're a musician. You've been doing this for a very long time. You have played in lots of ensembles, but what you're doing at the moment is under your name and you have a band yeah, so it's Gavin Bowles and the distractions, and I was just about to say yes, yes, yes amazing um can I just say your music is very catchy oh, it's like super fun and I would assume that it's in that.    01:56 What do you call like power, pop, power is like the best way to describe it that's fun yeah fun. The content is cheeky.    02:03 - Gavin (Guest) Yes.    02:03 - Alexis (Host) And I'll be honest the thing that I find super striking is like I vibe a music video, so like your catalogue of music videos. What a vibe. Yeah, they are amazing. They're so cool.    02:18 - Gavin (Guest) They're good fun.    02:20 - Alexis (Host) So much fun who have you directed all these music videos?    02:24 - Gavin (Guest) I'd say that I co-directed them all, so I've been lucky enough, or we've been lucky enough, to have a relationship with the director, Tom Roberts. Shout out to Tom. Yeah, I met Tom a little over a decade ago when he worked with my previous band, Picture Perfect, did a few videos for that band and then a few for myself solo, uh, and now, gosh, I think maybe we've done five as gavin bowles and the distractions with tom, uh, and he just has such. I give him these really crazy, sometimes bizarre, stupid ideas.    03:05 - Alexis (Host) No, they're fantastic.    03:06 - Gavin (Guest) For these videos and he always finds a way to bring it out, bring out a story or these visual cues, ideas, into a really fully thought out, engaging you know thing.    03:19 - Alexis (Host) See, I love this so cool. All right, are you ready to launch into these questions?    03:25 - Gavin (Guest) Yeah, please, please.    03:28 - Alexis (Host) Well, normally I'm at my guest's creative space, so normally I have a little bit of insight because I'm in it.    03:35 - Gavin (Guest) Yes.    03:35 - Alexis (Host) But what does a creative space mean to you, and why?    03:41 - Gavin (Guest) Yeah, I've had a few different creative spaces over the, I guess, like the past decade, where I've moved house, a lot. Moving house, yeah, yeah, as I'm sure a lot of creative people would understand the struggle of you've set up your creative space and then you know you, you need to move, you need to leave that place for some reason. Um, yeah, I think for me it's just about it's not necessarily about things being um in a specific place, like obviously functional, but I think it's just more about creating a relaxed environment in which you can sort of zone out everything else. And I have lived in some places where I've had a big half a house or I've had half of a spare bedroom.    04:53 So it doesn't always require heaps of physical space, you just need to be able to have a designated space, a designated space and just you know, quite often it's just a little, it's the little things, maybe just a couple of kind of you know sort of knickknacks or picture frames or posters or something to just kind of remind me that I'm in my work space.    05:22 - Alexis (Host) Okay, what's in these picture frames that I'm in?    05:25 - Gavin (Guest) The main one that has been in pretty much all of my creative spaces is I did mention them before. So Green Day is my favourite band. Always has been. The first time I saw Green Day was on the American Idiot Tour, so that was, that was 2005. I saw them at one of the Sydney Superdome, which I think now has some silly name, that's. That's a computer company or something like they most of them do now and at the time there was a record store in Western Sydney, in Penrith, near where I lived I grew up in the Blue Mountains, so it was about 20 minutes away from home and at that point actually having a record store that sold vinyl records in 2005 was a pretty niche, especially for a place like Penrith where there wasn't really, you know, it was, I'm sure, like in, you know, in in Melbourne during that time there was probably a few, a few record stores, but it was pretty niche at the time. But I noticed one time when I walked in there that there was a lot of photos, photos on the wall and that they had the guy who ran the store. He had a mate who was a photographer and he went around and took photos at concerts, would make prints of them and they'd sell them at the shop. And I walked in maybe the week after I'd been to that green day show and there was a bunch of photos that his mate, his mate had taken. So I've got a few little sort of taken.    07:07 So I've got a few little sort of smaller prints. But there's actually a really large front-on print of um, of billy joe performing with the big like american idiot logo behind him in like just bathed in blue light. It's just, it's a really, really magic photo. Um, yeah, and it's just, it's. It's been with. Funnily enough, it was always just like blue tacked on the wall. It's, you know, it's a glossy, you know, print of a photo. Until a few years ago my partner was like I think you should frame this and she framed it for me and I was like Bless her cotton socks.    07:36 Yeah, and I just went, never thought of it.    07:40 So helps to have a feminine touch sometimes, or just helps to have a feminine touch sometimes, or just somebody who thinks about maybe actually preserving the thing, so that one, that one always kind of is sort of there there with me.    07:53 I feel like it just kind of whether it gives me inspiration, uh, directly or not, it's probably irrelevant, it's just always grounding. Yeah, yeah, and it kind of it reminds me of, you know, just like a, I think, a simpler time for me, maybe for everyone, just when I went to that show and I was just so enamored by seeing, like you know, one of my of my idols perform and buying the photo in the shop and that was also kind of like we were talking a lot about community off mic. That was another thing too that I'd bought the photo from a local photographer at a local store that I frequented, and, yeah, I think that's also maybe a part of it too. So, yeah, I think my creative space just has just things like that that just remind me who I am and where I come from. Maybe is probably the main dot point.    09:03 - Alexis (Host) Beautiful. Yeah, love that. Now, you have been doing this for a long time, being a creative bear. So this question it could be something from your back catalogue, it could be something that's more newish, but what's something that you're most proud of creating?    09:25 - Gavin (Guest) I actually would say, though, that it's probably the first, the last full record that I did, which is the first album under the name Gavin Bowles and the Distractions, because the first album that I fully self-produced was just under my name, which was five years ago.    09:47 It came out in the middle of COVID, which is a feat in itself but then, self-producing this record with the band it's called Phoning It In, because the album sort of almost didn't happen so many times, because when I was writing it, we went into the uh, we went into I think there were two, two lockdowns involved in it, um, and then I also had a lot of like personal afflictions happen within that time frame too.    10:17 Um, and then we also had a band member leave just before we were gearing up to start the album, and then we had to get a new band member and sort of like reconfigure the band, which ended up being the best thing for the band in general, but for those songs and that record. And then it just so happened that when we actually got our act together to start recording it, and then it just so happened that, when we actually got our act together to start recording it, that I didn't actually have a creative space that was big enough to record things like drums on that guitar amp, because I was in a small apartment with a housemate with no soundproofing, all of those things Good old challenges.    10:59 Yes. So what we did was I packed up my brother, who's the the drummer, simon um, he, he obviously being a drummer, one of the things about every time that he moves house same deal, moving all of his creative things is he always needs a space where he can set up his drum kit and make some noise. So at the time he was living in a house where he was able to do so. So what I did for every, every band's parts for that record was recorded by myself where I packed up my computer, microphones, interface, everything brought it to their house, set up. So I had to set like the amount of times that I packed up, you know, my all of my stuff, uh, brought it to their houses and then and the kind of thing that also ended up bringing that album home was that it was finished, a couple of little things recorded but sort of mixed and edited and properly finished, sent off to be mastered and everything. At my current place where I've been for a little over two years. That's where I was also to finalize because I basically, after everything was recorded, then I moved into this place where I had the space and it kind of felt like a the perfect way to finish up the album, because I was suddenly in this space where I could, you know, like have all my things set up and stretch my legs and uh and uh, it just kind of felt like the perfect place to finish up. And now it's the place where we're starting to record our new record.    12:33 So the couple of songs we talked about before they, they're the first tracks to be recorded in my new space, my new house, my new home studio. So that record just had so many roadblocks but I just kind of never. I never wanted to not make it. I knew that it was a record that I always, once the songs were written, I kind of went I think this is actually the album that I've always wanted to write. So the album formed itself through a lot of hardship and then, like within the writing of it and then actually of the recording of it, so, um, I'm really proud of it because it's just, uh, it's such a, it's such a moment in such a moment in time and it all just kind of came together almost despite itself. Um, and we're super proud of it. We love playing those songs live. It's really connected with people, which is something that you, just you, you, you can never orchestrate those things like just you never know you never know, there's babies that we create yeah once they go out into the world, you just never know how they're gonna ricochet yeah    13:36 affect people and you always and you always hope that they, that they land with people and people enjoy it. But some of of these songs just have really touched people and that's just been amazing and to see people singing them back at us and everything it's just been.    13:50 - Alexis (Host) On the flip side of things that we're proud of, that you're proud of, what is something that's happened in your life or, like circumstance whatever. What's something that has challenged your creativity?    14:04 - Gavin (Guest) It’s probably actually a lack of challenge I think, I think I think when the stars are aligned and when I'm doing really, really well, uh sort of mentally, emotionally, things are good with, you know, with All the other pillars of your life. Yeah, it's hard to sometimes get in a creative space to make something that's that truly represents me.    14:45 - Alexis (Host) Okay.    14:47 - Gavin (Guest) I think that's just because, as I've become like as I've gotten older, I want what I'm writing about to be really honest. That doesn't mean it has to be heartbreaking or it has to be about mental health struggles or something like that. It just means that it has to be really, really honest. Yeah, and when you're in a really good space, when, like I've, you know, I've been like, um, I'm going like family, things are well, me and my partner are really great, me and the band are really great, works great, you know. You know, I mean I've actually been going for a few runs or whatever it is. You know the stars are aligning. Sometimes it's hard to admit the things that are, because obviously we have hardships every day, but I normally find that I'm at my most honest when I'm having to face, when you have to ask yourself hard questions. That's when I'm at my most sort of honest and vulnerable and I kind of I'm not going to say force myself, but I sort of get myself in those spaces and times to create.    15:59 - Alexis (Host) Now we sort of covered a little bit about objects when we were talking about your creative space. But I'm curious do you have a particular object or thing that you can't live without when you're creating?    16:15 - Gavin (Guest) I'm not really. I'm not really sure otherwise I mean not that I can sort of think at this point you don't have to.    16:21 - Alexis (Host) I was just curious if you do yeah, I mean I do.    16:28 - Gavin (Guest) Uh, I was actually writing something. This morning I actually went out of my way to go and buy a pad of paper and a pen because I came up with an idea for something. Because I do make a lot of phone memos but it's kind of like when it gets serious when I said I go to those phone memos and turn into a fully like. When it gets serious when I said I go to those phone memos and turn into a fully fleshed song. I always do it with pen and paper because for some reason it's the physicality of writing something down yeah I can empathize with that one so that might be it, that could that.    16:56 That could be it in terms of writing songs and doing doing certain, even like organizing things like a track list on a record or kind of things like that. It you can talk to anybody who's lived with me or near me that I'm a list person. Oh, you're my kind of guy, then you'll find there's lists on my phone, but there's written lists around if you head into my office, you'll see a multitude of lists on both sides of my yeah. So maybe it's lists, maybe the answer is lists.    17:33 - Alexis (Host) So uh, we are cut from the same cloth yes, my friend yes, if you could give one creative, one piece of advice, one nugget of gold, yeah, what would it be?    17:46 - Gavin (Guest) It’s really do the work yeah because there's so many other things that bombard us, not even necessarily just as creative people just as humans just as humans, we obviously get sucked into our phones, into social media, uh, into and this isn't a thing to do with being a creative person either. We're all self-branding constantly. Every time that you put up a picture or make a post or something like that, you're kind of doing something for your brand, whether you intend to or not. So we all get a little bit stuck in the story that we're telling about ourselves, um, but especially as um creative people who self promote. You know, we can get caught up in that kind of rat race and comparing ourselves to other people, to our contemporaries, to whoever it may be, and I struggle with this all the time.    18:59 But the thing that always brings me back I've got a little sign in my studio that says do the work, because when you turn all that stuff off and you just focus on the thing that you still love and you tap into that place and that feeling that, for me, I've had since I was a kid, then all of that other stuff is gone, it just melts away. So, yeah, that's super important to me. Yeah, and there's gonna be hardships all the time. There's gonna be things to overcome. Time there's going to be. There's going to be things to overcome. There's going to be problems, um. Not everything's going to go your way, um, but you can always just rely on just doing the thing that you love.    20:01 - Alexis (Host) Well said, well bloody said. It's so true. If you could recommend any resources for someone to develop their creative process to do what you do, what would you recommend?    20:18 - Gavin (Guest) I mean, one of them is just get like a really basic recording program. There's a program called audacity, it's just a really simple, user-friendly recording program, but you can sort of learn how to multi-track and learn how to do this and do that easy way to yeah get you sink your teeth into it before you go into any crazy software yeah, because I because I just did it totally without any any previous knowledge or experience just got this program, started messing around with it, um, and I ended up, you know, using it for years and years and years and just kind of um, discovering how to, yeah, do a little. You know, like what happens if I put this guitar sound over this guitar sound, or what happens if I put this melody over this vocal bit. Because I was really just experimenting with being creative at itself, because it's one thing to sit down and write a song and write a part or write a lyric, but it's another thing to start layering.    21:21 - Alexis (Host) That's, I guess, the transition from, you know, singer-songwriter through to, like, producer,    21:30 - Gavin (Guest) Recording artist. Yeah, that's right. That's right and it's fun. It's really, really fun. You can really sink your teeth into it. So I think that because it will often just give you a little bit of like the spark of inspiration to just start messing around with things, and I mean, look, just if you've got a question, go to Reddit, and if you need a tutorial on how to use a piece of equipment, go to YouTube. And you know, if you need to learn how to clean the electronics in your guitar, there's, there's a youtube. Shout out to my mate, Dave Webb. He, he runs a youtube channel and one time I needed to figure out how to clean the um, the volume pots in my guitar because they were crackling, and the first thing that came up was perfect was dave.    22:17 So you know, like there's just there's a wealth of information out there, so just. But it's also it's almost kind of the same thing, like just don't be afraid to ask for help, because you're sort of doing it yourself if you're doing it that way. But it's really no different. It's just that there's actually a community of people who have just answered your question before you asked it. But don't be afraid to ask for help.    22:39 - Alexis (Host) Well said Well yeah. Yeah, well said, well said. One last question.    22:43 - Gavin (Guest) All right.    22:47 - Alexis (Host) If you could hear another creative, come on this podcast and answer these questions, who would it be and why?    22:51 - Gavin (Guest) I've got to say Emily South, because Emily's great and I would be very interested to sort of know a little bit more about, yeah, her process and yeah, sort of her background and, yeah, just hear her answer those questions yeah, amazing, because she's great.    23:12 - Alexis (Host) Oh my goodness, Gavin, you have been an absolute delight. Thank you so much for coming on the podcast.    23:18 - Gavin (Guest) Thank you for having me. This is great. I love this kind of stuff.    23:26 - Alexis (Host) Thanks for tuning in for another episode of Through the Creative Door. If you enjoy our episodes and find value in them, consider supporting us by making a donation. Just visit buymeacoffeecom/throughthecreativedoor or buy the link in our Instagram bio where you can choose an amount and even write us a little message. Every little bit helps and we truly appreciate all of your support. But if you can't donate, no worries, you can still help us out by sharing our podcast with your friends and family and leaving a review on your favorite platform. Thanks so much for being part of our community. We'll catch you on the next episode. Bye. 

Featured Artist: Emilee South Featured Vinyl: LUXURY   Alexis’ Hot Pick  Weekend Sam’s Hot Pick Tower Aus Music Alert! Support this artists by purchasing this record via Bandcamp: https://emileesouth.bandcamp.com/album/luxury-2  Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode. Psst! We are always on the lookout for an artist's vinyl to listen to, have you got one in mind that we should check out? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor     00:09 - Intro (Announcement) Welcome to B-Side, the mini-series from Through the Creative Door. Join Alexis and Sam as they dive into the timeless world of vinyl. For Alexis, vinyl was more than music. It was a Sunday ritual she shared with her dad, listening, talking and soaking in the stories behind each album and the artwork on every sleeve. Though her dad is no longer with us, she continues this tradition with her friend, sam Timmerman. Join them as they share their passion for vinyl and the stories these records hold.    00:44 - Alexis (Host) Hello Sam.    00:47 - Sam (Host) Hello, hello, hello, hello, welcome back.   00:51 - Alexis (Host) Happy, Next, another week of fun   00:55 - Sam (Host) Episode what seven yeah seven seven, seven. I cannot count anymore. How are we. Are we well, I'm very well, good   01:05 - Alexis (Host) Good Shall. I start the timer.    01:10 - Sam (Host) Yeah, start the timer, do it. What do you have for me after you start the timer?    01:13 - Alexis (Host) It's time to go.    01:15 - Sam (Host) What do you have?    01:17 - Alexis (Host) I am so excited for this one. This is very special.    01:22 - Sam (Host) This. It's so red.    01:24 - Alexis (Host) It's so red it's so red. It's beautiful. It is a beautiful red, black and white cover for Emiliee South, Luxury.    01:39 - Sam (Host) Yeah it's beautiful.    01:41 - Alexis (Host) And if we pop it out? Look at this glorious shiny.    01:45 - Sam (Host) That is wow. Okay, everyone who's listening. You've got to get on the video Because this is so glorious. That is some sheen on a record right there. Boop, boop, boop, boop. Amazing who's Emilee South? Where's she from?    02:02 - Sam (Host) So I saw an Australian Artist Alert right.    02:04 - Alexis (Host) Yep Australian artist alert. She is in Victoria. She's absolutely killing it. I may have met her at uni.    02:17 - Sam (Host) That's a weird noise.    02:18 - Alexis (Host) That is not why we're doing this. We're doing this because she has this absolute banger of a record and it deserves everyone talking about it and listening luxury luxury.    02:29 - Sam (Host) This is so much fun, by the way I, I'm.    02:33 - Alexis (Host) I so love that I get to, because this is not something, a genre that you would normally listen to.    02:38 - Sam (Host) So no, but then every now and again I really get into it like I'll just, I'll just sit there and just right, amazing.    02:49 - Alexis (Host) Well, segue into rocking it out. My hot pick is a track called weekend. One, because it is so upbeat and infectious and such driving guitar. It's absolutely powerful. But I love the premise of the lyrics and like she's hit it out of the park with the music video as well, it's absolutely amazing. But for Weekend it's essentially lyrics talking about, um, you know, working a nine to five, wasting your youth away, waiting for the weekend is like the nutshell there you go ah, the music video killer. The song's an absolute banger. It's an earworm. Get to me head,   03:41 - Sam (Host) See that I didn't get to watch that music video because I was too busy watching the music video for Control.    03:48 - Alexis (Host) Oh, that's another banger of a song, yeah.    03:51 - Sam (Host) Great song, great tune, really cool video.    03:55 - Alexis (Host) Yeah, how impressive Like rolling around with roller skates.    04:00 - Sam (Host) We'll clarify roller skates. She's not rolling around on the floor. She's on roller skates and it's yeah, it's super cool. It was a lot of fun, Did we? I don't know if we found out who directed that, or was it self-directed.    04:20 - Alexis (Host) Actually didn't go down that rabbit hole to see.    04:22 - Sam (Host) That can be another rabbit hole for next time, I think.    04:25 - Alexis (Host) I will take that off. But what was your hot pick?    04:31 - Sam (Host) Oh, my hot pick was Tower and with this record, I genuinely almost didn't hear the lyrics because I was too busy going nuts to the music. So, Emilee I apologise, I was too busy going nuts to the music. That was so much fun. I put it on while I was answering emails or something, and it helped me through the. I love my clients.    04:59 - Alexis (Host) Control yes.    05:05 - Sam (Host) It was beautiful. It was so much fun. Just am I allowed to say balls to the wall, balls to the wall, absolute energy, just in your face. I loved it. I don't have much else to say apart from yes, it was great yeah, so much um, and I got my own little rabbit hole looking at um Anna Laverty, the producer, because far out as she does some stuff very, very cool.    05:32 - Alexis (Host) I'm not going to go down the whole list, but I'm just about to say, like I prior to our chat off my I wasn't like. I recognized the name, but I didn't know just how much her work is like, spread far and wide and like how many.    05:51 - Sam (Host) Absolutely. Since doing this record, she's also done stuff with Jebediah and Missy Higgins, which is super fun, but she's worked with everyone from our own dear friends Stella Donnelly, meg Mac, tania Harper, all the way through to people like Missy and Jebediah, and also up to she was assistant engineer on Lady Gaga's record. She's done stuff. She is fantastic, and what a a sound, what an absolute sound. It's very very cool. Talk to me about the artwork.    06:20 - Alexis (Host) I just want to say Emilee’s not only just knocked it out of the park with, like, the sound and the team that she's had with her, because obviously her, um, her band is super solid. So her partner, matt, plays guitar with her in this ensemble, will, who plays bass she's known will since she went to uni and like they've they've done lots of different projects together and they're super tight and, um, dan barry's on drums. So like, yeah, what a solid basis.  So, yeah, so the artwork. How amazing. We went down a little rabbit hole to work out where it had all come from. Who was responsible for this amazing work?    07:56 - Sam (Host) Whose fault was this?    07:58 - Alexis (Host) Whose fault was this? And we came across some information about, yeah, who the illustrations were done by, which is Celeste Mountjoy, which I didn't know who that was, and then did a bit of a rabbit hole and it was like aka filthy rat bag and I was like who is this? Oh my goodness and holy moly that lady. We could talk about her on a whole other podcast   08:30 - Sam (Host) Is there such a thing as seaside where we can talk about. Actually, that's weird, that sounds weird. We're not talking about beaches here, um, but yeah anyway, talking about artwork, oh my goodness yeah.    08:32 - Alexis (Host) How amazing what a style everyone needs to go and check out her work as well, and what an amazing collaboration for emily to have for her artwork. And, um, obviously that was in alongside um sebi white, who helped design the artwork. So, yeah, I think on Emilee’s website, when she talks about the cover art, she, I think she says something like it's a work of art in itself, which is so true, which is so lovely that she got inspiration.    09:10 - Sam (Host) So but yeah, check out celeste at filthy rat bag on instagram and, I believe, on tiktok as well, possibly yes that's all I can say. Just style out the ears, that's great oh yeah so.    09:30 - Alexis (Host) But I don't know. There's just so much to talk about this record because obviously the body of work, the sound's amazing. The shoot-offs of the music videos for all these tracks are just stunning. Yeah, such bangers.    09:44 - Sam (Host) So much fun I have to bring it back to the control video for a second, because I believe I recognise that space.    09:52 - Alexis (Host) What do you mean? Because?    09:55 - Sam (Host) Someone that we know and love dearly recorded in that space as well, I believe.    10:01 - Alexis (Host) It is a popular room. Here in Melbourne. It is a popular space.    10:05 - Sam (Host) That's such a cop-out answer and I love it.    10:10 - Alexis (Host) It might look familiar to you, Sam, because I have possibly done.    10:13 - Sam (Host) Yes, there we go.    10:15 - Alexis (Host) I have done a music video in there.    10:16 - Sam (Host) We dug it out of her.    10:20 - Alexis (Host) But this podcast is not about me.    10:23 - Sam (Host) No, it's not until I make it about you.    10:27 - Alexis (Host) But you know I'm in good stead if I have picked a location for music videos in the same calibre.    10:35 - Sam (Host) It's very true. It is very true.    10:37 - Alexis (Host) Yeah, but do you have any runner-ups of your special picks?    10:47 - Sam (Host) To be honest, I could pick four or five, so not really yeah, I spent the whole time on the, on this record again, bouncing up and down, just going. Yeah, control was a lot of fun. It was a little bit more um for me, I got to chill a little bit more to it, but again, just fun. I was looking at, actually just looking at a couple bits of info. Oh, that's time Looking at a bit of info about Emilee in general.    11:26 Just in terms of where they've performed for the EPs before Luxury as well, Stuff like your Lily Palooza, Big Sound Americanas and Kilderfest in Brunswick. They're not small festivals either. We're talking about people who are releasing stuff after playing really solid shows, and I would love to see these guys live. Emilee, please just bring me to Melbourne or come to Perth Either way.    12:00 - Alexis (Host) Let's harass her. Make her do a tour over in. WA yeah,    12:03 - Sam (Host) Absolutely Jump in a van, go around the country. I love it, I love it.    12:11 - Alexis (Host) All right, all right, brother, that's it for this week.    12:13 - Sam (Host) Thank you very much for having me. As always, Emilee South Luxury, get your hands and your ears on it    12:28 - Alexis (Host) Thanks for tuning in for another episode of Through the Creative Door.  If you enjoy our episodes and find value in them, consider supporting us by making a donation. Just visit buymeacoffeecom. Forward slash through the creative door or via the link in our Instagram bio where you can choose an amount and even write us a little message. Every little bit helps and we truly appreciate all of your support. But if you can't donate, no worries, you can still help us out by sharing our podcast with your friends and family and leaving a review on your favorite platform. Thanks so much for being part of our community. We'll catch you on the next episode. Bye.