Through The Creative Door
Welcome to Through The Creative Door. Join Alexis Naylor as she chats to an array of creative guests, getting a glimpse into their world and having some honest and inspiring conversations.
Listen on:
Episodes
41 minutes ago
41 minutes ago
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
Tuesday Jul 15, 2025
Tuesday Jul 15, 2025
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
Tuesday Jul 08, 2025
Tuesday Jul 08, 2025
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
Tuesday Jul 01, 2025
Tuesday Jul 01, 2025
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
Tuesday Jun 24, 2025
Tuesday Jun 24, 2025
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.
Tuesday Jun 17, 2025
Tuesday Jun 17, 2025
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.
Tuesday Jun 10, 2025
Tuesday Jun 10, 2025
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.
Tuesday Jun 03, 2025
Tuesday Jun 03, 2025
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
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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.
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Tuesday May 27, 2025
Tuesday May 27, 2025
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.
Tuesday May 20, 2025
Tuesday May 20, 2025
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
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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.
Welcome, creative souls!
I'm Alexis Naylor, and I'm thrilled to be your guide through the enchanting realm of creativity on “Through The Creative Door.” Whether you're passionate about cooking up delectable dishes or letting your imagination run wild on a canvas, the way we express ourselves speaks volumes about who we are. In this podcast, I invite you to join me in delving into the fascinating minds of a diverse array of creative guests.
Together, we'll explore their worlds, unravel the stories behind their artistic endeavours, and engage in candid and inspiring conversations. So, buckle up for a journey filled with insights, laughter, and a celebration of the boundless possibilities that lie “Through The Creative Door.”