Dr Sam Whiting is an academic and musician from Meanjin/Brisbane.  His research focuses on issues of capital, labour and value as they relate to the creative industries and the cultural economy more broadly.  He is an expert on Australia’s live music landscape, with a rare holistic perspective backed up by deep and exhaustive research. 

With festival cancellations and Live Nation in the headlines, it felt like a good time to pick Sam’s brain.  Is live music really in crisis in Australia?   Why are these small venues so important?  And what, if anything, can artists do about it?

Read some of Sam's articles on The Conversation:
https://theconversation.com/profiles/sam-whiting-1319313/articles

Follow Tim Shiel: https://www.instagram.com/timshiel/

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/qb_5PDwZbcs

Dr Sam Whiting is an academic and musician from Meanjin/Brisbane.  His research focuses on issues of capital, labour and value as they relate to the creative industries and the cultural economy more broadly.  He is an expert on Australia’s live music landscape, with a rare holistic perspective backed up by deep and exhaustive research. 
With festival cancellations and Live Nation in the headlines, it felt like a good time to pick Sam’s brain.  Is live music really in crisis in Australia?   Why are these small venues so important?  And what, if anything, can artists do about it?
Read some of Sam's articles on The Conversation: https://theconversation.com/profiles/sam-whiting-1319313/articles
Follow Tim Shiel: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/timshiel/">https://www.instagram.com/timshiel/</a>
Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/qb_5PDwZbcs

Conversations with big thinkers about why music matters.

Conversations with big thinkers about why music matters.

Why Make Music

Dr Sam Whiting

Are you in Naarm? Would you like to come to our next live event in November? Register your interest here and you'll be the first to know more details:
https://forms.gle/LWBP2CiyBXs4C6V18

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Tiana Khasi is a jazz-educated, community-focused singer/songwriter & musician based in Naarm/Melbourne. Drawing on both Samoan and Indian heritage, Tiana puts concepts of home & ancestry at the centre of her work, describing herself as "a bridge person.. doing what she can now, to be a good future ancestor."

We talk about family and growing up, we talk about the reality of being a working musician, balancing day jobs and corporate gigs alongside artistic work, and she shared with me why exactly she feels such a clear and strong sense of purpose about the music she’s putting into the world.

Follow Tiana Khasi: https://www.instagram.com/tianakhasi

Follow Tim Shiel: https://www.instagram.com/timshiel/

Listen to Why Make Music on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/why-make-music/id1765674352

Listen to Why Make Music on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6nymTiG4QX6NLJLJ7UKjeR?si=7ae0618af1b74c6c&nd=1&dlsi=5872f71f6172468e

Are you in Naarm? Would you like to come to our next live event in November? Register your interest here and you'll be the first to know more details: <a href="https://forms.gle/LWBP2CiyBXs4C6V18">https://forms.gle/LWBP2CiyBXs4C6V18</a>
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Tiana Khasi is a jazz-educated, community-focused singer/songwriter &amp; musician based in Naarm/Melbourne. Drawing on both Samoan and Indian heritage, Tiana puts concepts of home &amp; ancestry at the centre of her work, describing herself as "a bridge person.. doing what she can now, to be a good future ancestor."
We talk about family and growing up, we talk about the reality of being a working musician, balancing day jobs and corporate gigs alongside artistic work, and she shared with me why exactly she feels such a clear and strong sense of purpose about the music she’s putting into the world.
Follow Tiana Khasi: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/tianakhasi">https://www.instagram.com/tianakhasi</a>
Follow Tim Shiel: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/timshiel/">https://www.instagram.com/timshiel/</a>
Listen to Why Make Music on Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/why-make-music/id1765674352">https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/why-make-music/id1765674352</a>
Listen to Why Make Music on Spotify: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6nymTiG4QX6NLJLJ7UKjeR?si=7ae0618af1b74c6c&amp;nd=1&amp;dlsi=5872f71f6172468e">https://open.spotify.com/show/6nymTiG4QX6NLJLJ7UKjeR?si=7ae0618af1b74c6c&amp;nd=1&amp;dlsi=5872f71f6172468e</a>

Tiana Khasi

One last chance to join us for our first live event next Friday morning in Naarm, with literally only a handful of spots remaining at the time of posting this.  Head here for more info, and to register your spot:
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/spirit-level-presents-why-make-music-x-breakfast-club-tickets-1042447958907

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Noelani is a singer-songwriter, also known as MONRXE. Raised in Meanjin/Brisbane and currently based in Naarm/Melbourne, she is not just a formidable musician but also a fierce champion for representation and education across gender & race intersectionalities.  Noelani is driven by a desire to make the music industry more accessible to marginalised communities, championing safe spaces of mutual respect, equality, diversity & authenticity.  

She is a committee member for Black Music Alliance Australia, a non-for-profit that advocates for education, equity & representation of Black music & culture from the African Diaspora within the Australian music industry. She also works with One of One, another non-for-profit organisation that empowers women and gender non comforming people within Australian music.

We met just a few weeks ago, when we both took part in Green Music Australia’s climate leadership retreat.   Note: Noelani’s views expressed in the conversation are her own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the various organisations that she is associated with.

Follow Noelani aka MONRXE: https://www.instagram.com/noelani_thefaceaustralia/

Black Music Alliance Australia: https://www.blackmusicalliance.org.au/ 

One of One: https://oneofone.com.au/


Green Music Australia: https://www.greenmusic.org.au/

Follow Tim Shiel: https://www.instagram.com/timshiel/

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/WCKKOcdoVPs

One last chance to join us for our first live event next Friday morning in Naarm, with literally only a handful of spots remaining at the time of posting this.  Head here for more info, and to register your spot: <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/spirit-level-presents-why-make-music-x-breakfast-club-tickets-1042447958907">https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/spirit-level-presents-why-make-music-x-breakfast-club-tickets-1042447958907</a> - - - - Noelani is a singer-songwriter, also known as MONRXE. Raised in Meanjin/Brisbane and currently based in Naarm/Melbourne, she is not just a formidable musician but also a fierce champion for representation and education across gender &amp; race intersectionalities.  Noelani is driven by a desire to make the music industry more accessible to marginalised communities, championing safe spaces of mutual respect, equality, diversity &amp; authenticity.  
She is a committee member for Black Music Alliance Australia, a non-for-profit that advocates for education, equity &amp; representation of Black music &amp; culture from the African Diaspora within the Australian music industry. She also works with One of One, another non-for-profit organisation that empowers women and gender non comforming people within Australian music.
We met just a few weeks ago, when we both took part in Green Music Australia’s climate leadership retreat.   Note: Noelani’s views expressed in the conversation are her own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the various organisations that she is associated with.
Follow Noelani aka MONRXE: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/noelani_thefaceaustralia/">https://www.instagram.com/noelani_thefaceaustralia/</a>
Black Music Alliance Australia: <a href="https://www.blackmusicalliance.org.au/">https://www.blackmusicalliance.org.au/ </a>
One of One: <a href="https://oneofone.com.au/">https://oneofone.com.au/ </a>
Green Music Australia: <a href="https://www.greenmusic.org.au/">https://www.greenmusic.org.au/</a>
Follow Tim Shiel: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/timshiel/">https://www.instagram.com/timshiel/</a>
Watch this episode on YouTube: <a href="https://youtu.be/WCKKOcdoVPs">https://youtu.be/WCKKOcdoVPs</a>

Noelani

If you live in Naarm and are free on the morning of Friday October 25, please join me for the first ever live recording of Why Make Music!  I'll be talking to local duo SHOUSE about their commitment to communitas and collective joy, and their surreal transition into EDM superstars. This event is in collaboration with Breakfast Club, and Francesca Gonzales will be helping to facilitate some discussion groups on the day so we can get to know each other better.

Tickets are limited, and it is a very intimate event, please register below:
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/spirit-level-presents-why-make-music-x-breakfast-club-tickets-1042447958907

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Jen Cloher is a song-writer and performer living on unceded Wurundjeri land in Naarm/Melbourne.  Over the course of five albums, Jen has established themselves as an incisive songwriter, dynamic performer & outspoken advocate across a wide range of issues.

Many Australian musicians would think of Jen as a mentor, from many years steering the indie label Milk! Records and faciliatiing DIY workshops for selg-managed artists. Jen has won the acclaim of their peers, toured the world, and in recent years been immersed in a personal journey of discovery, retracing their matrilneal Maori heritage.

A few weeks ago, Jen generously dropped a Google Doc into the world called the “DIY Releasing Music Handbook.” It's a free handbook of knowledge that provides practical advice on releasing music, but also challenges artists to think about why they are releasing music, not just how.  Seems like perfect timing to have a chat with Jen for this podcast.

This podcast was recorded on Wurundjeri land in October 2024.

Jen Cloher's DIY Releasing Music Handbook:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QVuCF4xAhc5N6rTM-kywNarGnG79os41XGhlIPxMQjw/edit

Follow Jen Cloher: https://www.instagram.com/jencloher/

Follow Tim Shiel: https://www.instagram.com/timshiel/

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/csI62-C0CBM

If you live in Naarm and are free on the morning of Friday October 25, please join me for the first ever live recording of Why Make Music!  I'll be talking to local duo SHOUSE about their commitment to communitas and collective joy, and their surreal transition into EDM superstars. This event is in collaboration with Breakfast Club, and Francesca Gonzales will be helping to facilitate some discussion groups on the day so we can get to know each other better. Tickets are limited, and it is a very intimate event, please register below: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/spirit-level-presents-why-make-music-x-breakfast-club-tickets-1042447958907 - - -  Jen Cloher is a song-writer and performer living on unceded Wurundjeri land in Naarm/Melbourne.  Over the course of five albums, Jen has established themselves as an incisive songwriter, dynamic performer &amp; outspoken advocate across a wide range of issues.
Many Australian musicians would think of Jen as a mentor, from many years steering the indie label Milk! Records and faciliatiing DIY workshops for selg-managed artists. Jen has won the acclaim of their peers, toured the world, and in recent years been immersed in a personal journey of discovery, retracing their matrilneal Maori heritage.
A few weeks ago, Jen generously dropped a Google Doc into the world called the “DIY Releasing Music Handbook.” It's a free handbook of knowledge that provides practical advice on releasing music, but also challenges artists to think about why they are releasing music, not just how.  Seems like perfect timing to have a chat with Jen for this podcast.
This podcast was recorded on Wurundjeri land in October 2024. Jen Cloher's DIY Releasing Music Handbook: <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QVuCF4xAhc5N6rTM-kywNarGnG79os41XGhlIPxMQjw/edit">https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QVuCF4xAhc5N6rTM-kywNarGnG79os41XGhlIPxMQjw/edit</a> Follow Jen Cloher: https://www.instagram.com/jencloher/ Follow Tim Shiel: https://www.instagram.com/timshiel/ Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/csI62-C0CBM

Dr Sam Whiting

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