Half Hour Mentor

In this short, bonus episode, I fire my quick-fire questions at founder of Sounds Just Fine artist management and development business, Neil Pearson. For someone who has worked with some of the biggest names in the international folk and roots world, you will learn here who would be his ideal dinner guests, amongst other things.

Please follow / subscribe to the podcast series and leave a review where you can. You can learn more about the series by following @halfhourmentor on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, or by visiting halfhourmentor.com. 

Sounds Just Fine website: www.soundsjustfine.com

Twitter: link here

Contact Ian Cleverdon directly: [email protected]

Original theme music composed and performed by Ian Cleverdon.

Copyright 2023 Karona Sound

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Neil Pearson, founder of artist management and development business Sounds Just Fine, joins us to discuss how he got into the music industry and how he deals with managing the wealth of high-profile music projects and collaborations he is, and has been, responsible for. It’s a perfect listen for those wishing to pursue a management role in any sector, but especially in the music business.

Please follow / subscribe to the podcast series and leave a review where you can. You can learn more about the series by following @halfhourmentor on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, or by visiting halfhourmentor.com. 

Sounds Just Fine website: www.soundsjustfine.com

Twitter: link here

Contact Ian Cleverdon directly: [email protected]

Original theme music composed and performed by Ian Cleverdon.

Copyright 2023 Karona Sound

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this shorter, bonus episode, I fire my quick-fire questions at Scottish singer-songwriter, Findlay Napier. If you missed the entertaining full episode in which he discusses his career and how he balances songwriting, performing and teaching, go back to the previous episode in this series.

Please follow / subscribe to the podcast series and leave a review where you can. You can learn more about the series by following @halfhourmentor on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, or by visiting halfhourmentor.com. 

Findlay Napier website: www.findlaynapier.com

Spotify playlist of Fins’ back catalogue, which includes his favourite song: link here

Contact Ian Cleverdon directly: [email protected]

Original theme music composed and performed by Ian Cleverdon.

Copyright 2023 Karona Sound

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Scottish singer-songwriter Findlay Napier join us to discuss his career journey, how important mentors have been to him, and how he balances songwriting, performing and teaching, all in a delightfully entertaining interview.

Please follow / subscribe to the podcast series and leave a review where you can. You can learn more about the series by following @halfhourmentor on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, or by visiting halfhourmentor.com. 

Findlay Napier website, where you can sign up to his newsletter: www.findlaynapier.com

Spotify playlist of Fins’ back catalogue: link here

Other useful contacts mentioned in the podcast:

Watercolour Music Studio website: www.watercolourmusic.co.uk

Boo Hewerdine website: www.boohewerdine.net

I Heart Songwriting Club: www.iheartsongwritingclub.com

Contact Ian Cleverdon directly: [email protected]

Original theme music composed and performed by Ian Cleverdon.

Copyright 2023 Karona Sound

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this shorter, bonus episode, I fire five quick-fire questions at million-selling crime novelist, Simon McCleave including what he thinks is the best book ever written.

Please follow / subscribe to the podcast series and leave a review where you can. You can learn more about the series by following @halfhourmentor on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, or by visiting halfhourmentor.com. 

Simon McCleave website: www.simonmccleave.com  

SImon’s Amazon bookshop: link here

Harper Collins website: link here

Simon’s favourite book: link here

Contact Ian Cleverdon directly: [email protected]

Original theme music composed and performed by Ian Cleverdon.

Copyright 2023 Karona Sound

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, I catch up with million-selling crime novelist, Simon McCleave, widely known for his DI Ruth Hunter and the Anglesey series, both centred around North Wales. However, crime fiction success has only come relatively recently, and prior to that he has had successful careers in TV script writing and production, and in teaching. You can learn about his career journey and writing techniques in today’s episode.

Please follow / subscribe to the podcast series and leave a review where you can. You can learn more about the series by following @halfhourmentor on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, or by visiting halfhourmentor.com. 

Simon McCleave website: www.simonmccleave.com  

SImon’s Amazon bookshop: link here

Harper Collins website: link here

Contact Ian Cleverdon directly: [email protected]

Original theme music composed and performed by Ian Cleverdon.

Copyright 2023 Karona Sound

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, singer, songwriter and guitarist Katie Spencer joins me to discuss her career, musical inspirations and mentors, songwriting techniques and guitar tunings. It’s a fascinating insight into the development of a young musician who is playing at the top level of the progressive folk and acoustic music circuit. This main episode also contains the bonus questions I have been asking most of my Series 2 guests.

Please follow / subscribe to the podcast series and leave a review where you can. You can learn more about the series by following @halfhourmentor on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, or by visiting halfhourmentor.com. 

Katie Spencer website: www.katiespencer.net

Katie Spencer YouTube Channel: link here

Half Hour Mentor Katie Spencer Playlist: link here

Contact Ian Cleverdon directly: [email protected]

Original theme music composed and performed by Ian Cleverdon.

Copyright 2023 Karona Sound

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this shorter, bonus episode, I fire five quick-fire questions at literary agent Matthew Smith, director of Exprimez. This time, I had a few other questions up my sleeve in addition to the normal five; his answers were so good I had to include them!

Please follow / subscribe to the podcast series and leave a review where you can. You can learn more about the series by following @halfhourmentor on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, or by visiting halfhourmentor.com. 

Exprimez website: www.exprimez.com

Matthew’s Twitter profile: link here

Contact Ian Cleverdon directly: [email protected]

Original theme music composed and performed by Ian Cleverdon.

Copyright 2023 Karona Sound

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s episode features Matthew Smith, director of Exprimez (pronounced ‘ex-pree-may’), a literary agency and consultancy for both new and established authors.

Matthew has nearly 30 years’ experience in the publishing world and, in that time, has developed over 3,000 titles, spanning print, digital and audio, in fiction, popular reference, academic, professional and business markets. With that experience and pedigree, there are few more qualified to help emerging writers and authors develop their careers.

Please follow / subscribe to the podcast series and leave a review where you can. You can learn more about the series by following @halfhourmentor on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, or by visiting halfhourmentor.com. 

Exprimez website: www.exprimez.com

Matthew’s Twitter profile: link here

Contact Ian Cleverdon directly: [email protected]

Original theme music composed and performed by Ian Cleverdon.

Copyright 2023 Karona Sound

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this shorter, bonus episode, I fire five quick-fire questions at award-winning crime fiction author, Malcolm Hollingdrake, including what he thinks is the best book ever written.

Please follow / subscribe to the podcast series and leave a review where you can. You can learn more about the series by following @halfhourmentor on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, or by visiting halfhourmentor.com. 

Malcolm Hollingdrake website: www.malcolmhollingdrakeauthor.co.uk

Contact Ian Cleverdon directly: [email protected]

Hobeck Books website: link here

‘The Feather Men’ by Sir Ranulph Fiennes on Amazon: link here

Original theme music composed and performed by Ian Cleverdon.

Copyright 2023 Karona Sound

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.