During Episode 4 of Making a Musician we meet singer/songwriter Ben Smith, who was born in the UK but spent ten years of his childhood in sunny Queensland playing regular gigs in pubs as a 10 to 13-year-old.

Listen in to how Ben returned from the UK after being signed by a record company at 16 to start his real musical journey in Melbourne years later.

During Episode 4 of Making a Musician we meet singer/songwriter Ben Smith, who was born in the UK but spent ten years of his childhood in sunny Queensland playing regular gigs in pubs as a 10 to 13-year-old.
Listen in to how Ben returned from the UK after being signed by a record company at 16 to start his real musical journey in Melbourne years later.

Making of a Musician is an independent music interview podcast hosted by Kristy Graham, a Melbourne-based singer-songwriter and musician. Since 2016, Kristy has been sitting down with musicians to explore the music that made them who they are. Season 1 featured eight Australian artists across a range of styles. Season 2, launched in October 2025, expands the conversation globally — covering protest music, international guests, and the stories behind a life in music. Produced, edited, and recorded entirely by Kristy, the show carries no paid advertising. The best way to support it is to support the musicians featured.

Making of a Musician is an independent music interview podcast hosted by Kristy Graham, a Melbourne-based singer-songwriter and musician. Since 2016, Kristy has been sitting down with musicians to explore the music that made them who they are. Season 1 featured eight Australian artists across a range of styles. Season 2, launched in October 2025, expands the conversation globally &mdash; covering protest music, international guests, and the stories behind a life in music. Produced, edited, and recorded entirely by Kristy, the show carries no paid advertising. The best way to support it is to support the musicians featured.

Making of a Musician is a podcast hosted by Kristy Graham, a Victorian singer-songwriter with a lifelong love of music. Kristy talks to musicians about the songs and sounds that shaped them. Independent, ad-free, and made with heart 

Making of a Musician

Making of a Musician is a podcast started in 2016.

Kristy talks to musicians about the music that made them.

 

Making of a Musician is a podcast started in 2016.
Kristy talks to musicians about the music that made them.
&nbsp;

Episode 4 Ben Smith

Here is a sneak peak into Episode 6 featuring Idge Hehir from Soundpark Studios.

Idge started producing music and recording bands out the back of Bakehouse studios before building his own studio and rehersal room in Northcote. 

Idge not only produces music but has been playing drums and hanging out in bands and with friends creating music since he was 15. 

Listen to hear some of the influences.

And what is it with Kiss and all the Australian men Musicians?

They definitely have had a roll in music created since the late 80s around here.  

All Music is used under fair use of The Australian Copyright Act (1968).

This is an educational podcast that collects no income, just talks about Music, hoping people will buy artists music.

Here is a sneak peak into Episode 6 featuring Idge Hehir from Soundpark Studios.
Idge started producing music and recording bands out the back of Bakehouse studios before building his own studio and rehersal room in Northcote.&nbsp;
Idge not only produces music but has been playing drums and hanging out in bands and with friends creating music since he was 15.&nbsp;
Listen to hear some of the influences.
And what is it with Kiss and all the Australian men Musicians?
They definitely have had a roll in music created since the late 80s around here.&nbsp;&nbsp;
All Music is used under fair use of&nbsp;The Australian Copyright Act (1968).
This is an educational podcast that collects no income, just talks about Music, hoping people will buy artists music.

dge Hehir from Soundpark Studios.  Idge started producing music and recording bands out the back of Bakehouse studios before building his own studio and rehersal room in Northcote.   Idge not only produces music but has been playing drums and hanging out in bands and with friends creating music since he was 15. 

Season 2 Episode 6 Intro Idge Hehir

Kira has an amazing story telling style in her song writing and just sitting with her on a cold Melbourne Summers day. She is a soul that finds music at 3am regularly and has some beautiful, moving, strong and delicate songs that we get to talk about in Part 2.

Sometimes being a musician means your hours are not the same as the 9 to 5 people and the quiet of the night or the start of a dream can get the creative spirits going. I find for me, I write a lot of songs in the shower which is not a handy way for someone with ADHD to remember them after.

In part 2 of Episode of 5 of Making of a Musician Kira explains how driven her father was for her to be successful in many things and I think he would be so proud at the passion she has developed for so many things including her talent on piano and guitar.

I am so privileged to get to share Kira’s story and song writing and the ups and downs of trying to be a mother and everything else. I loved getting to sing with her too and her influences are so wide and interesting too.

I do look forward to hearing her next recording featuring the Roddy Reid short listed song Slow it Down.

I hope you love listening to Kira and if you want to find out more or buy some of her music here are the links

https://music.apple.com/au/artist/kira-janowsky/1581401530

https://kirajanowsky.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/kirajanowskymusician

On Sunday’s old episodes of Making of the Musician are on Untidy Radiowww.untidyradio.com see my website for the dates. After each Episode is played at least an hour of music talked about during the show is programmed by Mark James from Untidy Music with a little help from me.

As usual I hope you like listening as much as I have enjoyed producing this episode.

All Music is used under fair use of The Australian Copyright Act (1968). This is an educational podcast that collects no income, just talks about Music, hoping people will buy artists music.

Kira has an amazing story telling style in her song writing and just sitting with her on a cold Melbourne Summers day. She is a soul that finds music at 3am regularly and has some beautiful, moving, strong and delicate songs that we get to talk about in Part 2.
Sometimes being a musician means your hours are not the same as the 9 to 5 people and the quiet of the night or the start of a dream can get the creative spirits going.&nbsp;I find for me, I write a lot of songs in the shower which is not a handy way for someone with ADHD to remember them after.
In part 2 of Episode of 5 of Making of a Musician Kira explains how driven her father was for her to be successful in many things and I think he would be so proud at the passion she has developed for so many things including her talent on piano and guitar.
I am so privileged to get to share Kira&rsquo;s story and song writing and the ups and downs of trying to be a mother and everything else. I loved getting to sing with her too and her influences are so wide and interesting too.
I do look forward to hearing her next recording featuring the Roddy Reid short listed song Slow it Down.
I hope you love listening to Kira and if you want to find out more or buy some of her music here are the links
<a href="https://music.apple.com/au/artist/kira-janowsky/1581401530">https://music.apple.com/au/artist/kira-janowsky/1581401530</a>
<a href="https://kirajanowsky.bandcamp.com/">https://kirajanowsky.bandcamp.com/</a>
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/kirajanowskymusician">https://www.facebook.com/kirajanowskymusician</a>
On Sunday&rsquo;s old episodes of Making of the Musician are on Untidy Radiowww.untidyradio.com see my website for the dates. After each Episode is played at least an hour of music talked about during the show is programmed by Mark James from Untidy Music with a little help from me.
As usual I hope you like listening as much as I have enjoyed producing this episode.
All Music is used under fair use of&nbsp;The Australian Copyright Act (1968). This is an educational podcast that collects no income, just talks about Music, hoping people will buy artists music.

Kira is an award winning songwriter and last year had 5 songs short listed in 5 different categories of the Australian Songwriting Competition last year!  Part 1 explores Folk Festivals and how Kira has found being short listed and winning at Maldon Folk Festival and I try and make jokes about Port Fairy.

Season 2 Episode 5 Kira J Part 2

Kira J is a multi-instrumentalist, who brings her own style to each song she produces. In this episode Kira shares her fantastic songs and what inspired her work like ‘Winter in Budapest’ and ‘Lassiter’s reef’. And I am glad to know why there was a place called Lassiter’s in Neighbours.

Kira is an award winning songwriter and last year had 5 songs short listed in 5 different categories of the Australian Songwriting Competition!  Part 1 explores Folk Festivals and how Kira has found being short listed and winning at Maldon Folk Festival and I try and make jokes about Port Fairy.

Listen to hear the different influences that have contributed to make Kira the amazing, funny musician she is today! Including being lucky to have a Dad being in a folk band back in the day.

This is another inspirational episode that can change your life too.

Find Kira here

https://www.bestofkira.com/

https://kirajanowsky.bandcamp.com/

https://music.apple.com/au/artist/kira-janowsky/1581401530

https://www.facebook.com/kirajanowskymusician

 

I am sorry it took so long to get this episode out, but I hope you enjoy part 1 of Kira J’s story. I feel so privileged to be able to bring this episode out and I hope you enjoy listening to Kira’s story and music as much as I have spent so much time with her in person and whilst editing this.

This episode is dedicated to Dorothy Anderson. My favourite strong women who I miss daily.  

All Music is used under fair use of The Australian Copyright Act (1968). This is an educational podcast that collects no income, just talks about music, hoping people will buy artists music.

Kira J is a multi-instrumentalist, who brings her own style to each song she produces. In this episode Kira shares her fantastic songs and what inspired her work like &lsquo;Winter in Budapest&rsquo; and &lsquo;Lassiter&rsquo;s reef&rsquo;. And I am glad to know why there was a place called Lassiter&rsquo;s in Neighbours.
Kira is an award winning songwriter and last year had 5 songs short listed in 5 different categories of the Australian Songwriting Competition! &nbsp;Part 1 explores Folk Festivals and how Kira has found being short listed and winning at Maldon Folk Festival and I try and make jokes about Port Fairy.
Listen to hear the different influences that have contributed to make Kira the amazing, funny musician she is today! Including being lucky to have a Dad being in a folk band back in the day.
This is another inspirational episode that can change your life too.
Find Kira here
<a href="https://www.bestofkira.com/">https://www.bestofkira.com/</a>
<a href="https://kirajanowsky.bandcamp.com/">https://kirajanowsky.bandcamp.com/</a>
<a href="https://music.apple.com/au/artist/kira-janowsky/1581401530">https://music.apple.com/au/artist/kira-janowsky/1581401530</a>
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/kirajanowskymusician">https://www.facebook.com/kirajanowskymusician</a>
&nbsp;
I am sorry it took so long to get this episode out, but I hope you enjoy part 1 of Kira J&rsquo;s story. I feel so privileged to be able to bring this episode out and I hope you enjoy listening to Kira&rsquo;s story and music as much as I have spent so much time with her in person and whilst editing this.
This episode is dedicated to Dorothy Anderson. My favourite strong women who I miss daily. &nbsp;
All Music is used under fair use of&nbsp;The Australian Copyright Act (1968). This is an educational podcast that collects no income, just talks about music, hoping people will buy artists music.

Episode 4 Ben Smith

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