If These Walls Could Talk

In episode one of season two, Al Grigg sits down with Robyn Kennedy, a true pioneer and legend amongst Sydney's LGBTQI community. Robyn was involved in the organisation CAMP, which pre-dated and is considered a pre- cursor to the first Sydney Mardi Gras. She's a 78er who has served as director of the board of Mardi Gras and spearheaded the successful bid for WorldPride to come to Sydney.

Season two of If These Walls Could Talk is a five-part audio love letter to venues, parties & people both past and present which have shaped the Sydney LGBTQI landscape. Premiering March 2, 2021.

Looking at the infrastructure and culture of Melbourne as a music city, what are its strengths i.e. venues, interconnected scenes and community radio, and how has music culture changed over time?
This episode draws together many voices to reflect on Melbourne's identity - what's changed, what works, and why is Melbourne so unique.

Guy and Ben talk about the city as a home of genre omniverous punks with techno side-projects.

Suzanne talks about the energy that builds in certain areas, and how Melbourne resonates with a special frequency.

Robin Fox from MESS talks about the success of Melbourne as a place where multiple musicians from many genres come together
Becky Freeman/Sui Zhen talks about the shared values of an artistically engaged city, and the unique infrastructure that makes it possible to travel easily to gigs.

Remi, Sensible J and Chris talk about the evolution of Melbourne from a rock-only-region to a city the world looks to for fresh ideas in soul and funk.

In this episode we visit one of the world's epicentres of synth exploration, and speak with one of the world's most influential synth pioneers.


We learn about M.E.S.S.'s mission to make music accessible to everyone, the end of genre and the beginning of the future of sound.

We talk to Suzanne Ciani about how she invented a new vocabulary of music, her experiences of gender discrimination and overcoming barriers and what she's teaching to, and learning from, a new generation of artists.

We listen to Sui Zhen, a new generation of artist pushing electronic music into new territory as a form of musical and self-expression.

It starts with a simple question, "if you don’t know where you come from, how do you know where you’re going?"

We speak with Dallas Woods, Alice Skye and Neil Morris about themes of history and identity and home in music.

Dallas talks about the differences between life in Melbourne and his birthplace of Wyndham, and the important conversations he's having with audiences around the country.

Neil Morris and Alice Skye talk about a new generation of First Nations artists and the messages that need to be shared and heard through music. we also hear Rebecca Hatch, her celebration of heritage and empowerment through music.

Simona Castricum describes the evolution of Melbourne's queer music scenes, and the venues and parties that have helped shape the city.

Simona also looks at the barriers that have yet to be overcome in terms of creating an inclusive and safer city for everyone, and answers the question of what Melbourne would look like it we got it right.

As a DJ and event producer, Katie Pearson/Whiskey Houston shares her philosophy for inclusive events and the cultural changes that she's seen through online and advocacy groups like LISTEN."

G-Flip talks about her music as a way of creating what you wish to see in the world, her own experience of looking for queer/female role models, and the messages she's received from LGBTQIA.+ youth.

We finish with Simona and a look at the new frontiers of electronic music, and the change we can look forward to in the future from a new generation of artists.

We meet the individuals forming local and global music families. and visit the hubs where they gather.


Ruby Savage gives an account of how her musical journey has been guided by finding like-minded souls "in the dance", whether at record stores or in record labels.

We hear how Brownswood Records where she works has become a champion of soul worldwide, and how Melbourne found itself at the centre of the label's attention with a recent compilation called Sunny Side Up.

JNETT talks about how all eyes are on the new generation of Melbourne jazz artists.

Guy and Ben of Chapter Music talk about Melbourne's community from their perspective. we hear about some of their label's defining releases, and the conversation that's being had between the past and the present through reissues and rediscovered music scenes.

Speaking with Sampa The Great, Remi, Sensible J and Chris Gill of Northside, this episode is a celebration of community and the home that Melbourne represents to a growing soul scene. The theme of home is explored in many ways.

The episode centres on the energetic retelling - from multiple perspectives - of Sampa The Great's album launch of The Return. It's an event that literally stopped traffic on Gertrude St, represented a homecoming for Sampa, back to the place where she performed her first show in Melbourne back in 2015. Sampa also reflects on family and friendships and how these relationships are reflected on the new album.