My Music Podcast – Graham Coath with Beth & Clinton (Ma Polaine’s Great Decline)

This episode of My Music is proudly (and unapologetically) West Country–biased, as host Graham Coath welcomes Beth and Clinton from Ma Polaine’s Great Decline, joining him from just down the road in Frome, Somerset.

What starts as a neighbourly catch-up quickly turns into a warm, funny, and music-nerdy conversation about how the duo met (a late-night London band audition that accidentally became something far stranger), why their songwriting doesn’t feel particularly “UK” despite their roots, and how a shared love of American blues, soul and jazz helped shape the sound they’ve become known for.

You’ll hear:

• How Beth and Clinton met — and why some songs simply don’t belong in a midnight Soho set

• The pull of Cornwall, the pace of London, and why Frome feels like the right kind of “slow”

• Growing up with record collections, noisy rehearsals, folk clubs, and proper gig culture

• Why they record live in a room together (and why perfection can ruin the magic)

• A deep love for intimate venues where the audience is close enough to feel like family

• Their plans for 2026: gigs, festivals, album shows — and keeping it all workable with family life

There’s plenty of laughter, a few brilliant gig stories, and a real sense of two artists who care more about feel, connection, and the song itself than chasing trends.

🎶 The album gets a proper moment (vinyl held up and admired, naturally), including a nod to Beth’s artwork — and you’ll find links to Ma Polaine’s Great Decline right below the episode. Go listen, go follow, and go say hello.

My Music Podcast – Graham Coath in conversation with Gina Zo

In this episode of My Music, host Graham Coath is joined by LA-based artist Gina Zo for a thoughtful, funny, and refreshingly honest conversation about music, identity, and finding your own voice.

Broadcasting across continents (with coffee firmly in hand), Gina reflects on her journey from growing up as a musician, to appearing on The Voice at just 17, navigating record deals, rock bands, and the pressure to be “something she wasn’t” — before finally landing in Los Angeles and embracing her authentic solo sound.

Together, Graham and Gina talk candidly about:

• Life after The Voice and why reality TV doesn’t always create real artists

• The struggle (and relief) of stepping away from other people’s expectations

• Authenticity, imposter syndrome, and learning when less is more

• Why being liked by everyone isn’t the goal — and never should be

• Writing new music at her own pace and building genuine connections with listeners

It’s a conversation full of humour, self-reflection, and real insight into what it actually takes to grow as an artist — not just musically, but personally.

If you’re interested in the real stories behind the songs, the messy middle of creative careers, and what happens after the spotlight fades, this one’s well worth your time.

🎶 Links to Gina Zo’s music are right below — tap, listen, and say hello.

My Music – Millie Manders (Millie Manders & The Shut Up)

In this powerful and unfiltered episode of My Music, host Graham Coath sits down with Millie Manders & The Shut Up frontwoman Millie for a conversation that goes far beyond songs and setlists.

From decaf Earl Grey and dry January to punk, politics, mental health and the realities of being a woman in the music industry, Millie speaks with honesty, humour and razor-sharp insight. She reflects on how global unrest, genocide, misogyny, ageism and social injustice shape her songwriting, why she struggles to write “happy” songs, and how music becomes a place to process anger, grief and truth.

Millie also opens up about:

• The pressure placed on women’s bodies and ageing in music

• Mental health breakdowns and surviving creative vulnerability

• Online abuse, cancel culture, and finding power through humour

• The dangers of AI in music, media and creative livelihoods

• Why supporting independent artists has never mattered more

It’s a raw, funny, deeply human conversation about art as resistance, honesty as a survival tool, and why sometimes the loudest voices are the ones we most need to hear.

🎧 Listen now – and if the music resonates, go beyond streaming: support independent artists, buy the records, and keep the music alive.

In this episode of My Music, Graham Coath sits down with POLA

— a musician, songwriter, and creative spirit with one of the most distinctive voices (and stories) we’ve featured on the show.
From growing up in a deeply artistic family to stepping away from music entirely, POLA opens up about doubt, identity, and what it really means to return to your calling. The conversation explores creativity, faith, fame, authenticity, and the cost of making meaningful music in a world driven by algorithms, image, and noise.
We talk about:
Growing up surrounded by extraordinary musicians and feeling the weight of expectation.
Walking away from music, working in marketing, and what that break taught her.
Why today’s music industry demands artists be everything at once.
Writing songs that go deeper than romance and surface emotion
Working with legendary collaborators, including John Altman and @andysummers_official
Faith, spirituality, creativity, and the courage to speak openly about personal transformation.
Why POLA avoids celebrity culture, TV, and AI and what she chooses instead.
This is a conversation about purpose over performance, substance over surface, and making music that means something to the artist first, and then to the listener.
Thoughtful, honest, and refreshingly unfiltered, this episode is for anyone who believes music should still have soul.
🎧 Listen now via the links in my bio and discover why POLA believes these really are the best days.

Graham Coath sits down with singer-songwriter Julia Traser for a wide-ranging, curious, and genuinely human conversation about music, identity, timing, and community.

Julia talks about her journey from a small mountain village in northern Italy to the UK music scene, why the baritone ukulele became her instrument of choice, and how practicality, sound, and storytelling all collide in her songwriting. Along the way, we hear about busking across Europe, confusing passers-by with unusual instruments, and why sometimes the best creative decisions are the ones that just feel right.

There’s also a brilliant detour into names and identity — from Julia Pedrana to Julia Traser — inspired by artists she loved growing up, a nod to Pink Floyd, and an unexpectedly perfect ukulele-shaped full circle involving Sam Brown.

As the conversation unfolds, Julia opens up about turning 30, the pressure (and nonsense) of musical timelines, and why her debut album is really about letting things arrive when they’re meant to. Together, Graham and Julia explore the idea that music works best not as a solo sprint, but as a shared experience — built on collaboration, community, and stories that actually mean something.

Expect laughs, tangents, food-based merch ideas, gentle industry hot takes, and a reminder that music doesn’t need to shout to be powerful.

If you love thoughtful songwriting, unusual instruments, honest conversations, and the belief that art finds its moment in its own time — this one’s for you. 🎶

My Music with Graham Coath – Gabrielle Ornate

In this episode of My Music, host Graham Coath sits down with singer-songwriter and visual artist Gabrielle Ornate for a rich, thoughtful conversation about creativity, identity, and carving your own artistic path.

Broadcasting from Suffolk, Gabrielle invites us into her ethereal, bohemian world — where music, visual storytelling, and personal mythology intertwine. From childhood songwriting and classical influences to genre-bending production, analogue synths, and festival ambitions, this episode explores what it really means to build an authentic musical universe.

They talk inspiration (The Beatles, Radiohead, Jeff Buckley, Muse), the courage to resist trends, the power of escapism, and the joy of finding beauty in unexpected places — from burial mounds and ruined castles to chance encounters with dog walkers who change the course of a music video.

It’s a conversation about sound, style, self-expression, and trusting your instincts — with warmth, humour, and genuine curiosity throughout.

Perfect for anyone who loves music with depth, atmosphere, and heart.

🎶 Listen, discover, and step inside the world of Gabrielle Ornate.

My Music Podcast: Graham Coath with Felipe from Wild Violets

On this episode of My Music Podcast, host Graham Coath sits down with Felipe from Wild Violets for a wide-ranging conversation about music, identity, creativity, and the stories that sit behind the sound.

They talk about how Wild Violets came together during lockdown, why disco-era music still feels so alive today, and how style, visuals, and shared values matter just as much as technical talent when building a band. Felipe opens up about musical influences that stretch from Jamiroquai and Sister Sledge to Colombian rhythms, sampled classics, and the joy of tracing modern tracks back to their roots.

The conversation also wanders into podcast ideas, auditions gone wrong, the strange intimacy of music-making, and thoughtful reflections on AI, authenticity, and why human effort still matters in art.

As always, My Music isn’t about hype — it’s about connection, curiosity, and the moments that shape how musicians find their voice.

🎧 Listen now and discover Wild Violets — then go digging through the music that inspired them.

In this episode of My Music, Graham Coath sits down with Mina Walkure, the voice behind epic heavy metal band Bronze, for a wide-ranging and refreshingly honest conversation about music, identity, creativity, and staying human in a noisy world.

From discovering Iron Maiden as a teenager to fronting a band rooted in myth, metal, and DIY artistry, Mina shares her journey into music — including perfectionism, the pressure to perform, and the importance of remembering that music is meant to be fun.

The conversation dives into:

• Growing up metal in a world that didn’t always understand it

• Gender, image, and the sexualisation of women in heavy music

• Why “epic” doesn’t have to mean long (and her mission to finally write a 6-minute track)

• Live performance, community, and the importance of supporting artists properly

• Health, resilience, and how creativity changes when your body pushes back

There’s humour, passion, a few rants (the good kind), and even an unexpected detour into medieval brass rubbings — because this is My Music, after all.

If you love heavy metal, thoughtful conversations, or hearing artists talk honestly about the realities behind the riffs, this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen now, and if you like what you hear — support the artists, buy the merch, and keep real music alive.

My Music Podcast – Katie Nicoll

In this episode of My Music Podcast, host Graham Coath is joined by Scottish singer-songwriter Katie Nicoll for a thoughtful, honest, and uplifting conversation about growing up with music, finding your voice, and staying grounded in a fast-moving industry.

From picking up a guitar at the age of ten, inspired by Taylor Swift, to playing pubs every weekend as a teenager and finding her feet during lockdown, Katie reflects on what it really means to build a life in music. They explore Scotland’s vibrant grassroots scene, the importance of community, and why live performance remains such a powerful force for connection.

The conversation also dives into the realities of being a young independent artist today – navigating social media pressure, writer’s block, and the tension between creating for joy versus creating for algorithms. Katie shares how podcasts, documentaries, and simply listening differently have helped her reconnect with songwriting as a craft, not a commodity.

Along the way, Graham and Katie discuss:

• Starting young and learning in public

• Why pop music can be both meaningful and fun

• Writer’s block, creative lulls, and trusting the process

• The value of collaboration, curiosity, and lived experience

• Big plans for 2026, including new recordings and major live shows

Warm, reflective, and quietly inspiring, this episode is a reminder that music isn’t just about success metrics – it’s about community, expression, and remembering why you picked up an instrument in the first place.

🎧 Listen now and discover one of Scotland’s most exciting emerging voices.

In this episode of My Music Podcast, host Graham Coath sits down with singer-songwriter, pianist, and musical polymath Caro Kelley for a wide-ranging, funny, and thoughtful conversation about life in music.

From the story behind her name (and why she can’t always pronounce it herself), to growing up classically trained on piano, Caro shares how music became second nature before language ever did. The conversation explores teaching, musical “genius", practice versus talent, and why great teachers matter more than perfect technique.

Caro also dives deep into her ambitious project of listening to 1,000 albums a year. What it’s taught her about taste, nostalgia, noisy music, and why not liking something doesn’t mean you’re “not listening”. Along the way, Graham and Caro unpack modern music culture, streaming habits, live performance, social media burnout, and the reality of being an independent artist in 2026.

Expect reflections on:

• Learning instruments later in life (including Caro’s brand-new guitar)

• Why albums still matter in a singles-driven world

• The difference between hearing music and truly listening

• Finding joy (and sanity) while creating content as a modern musician

• Playing live, making records, and staying curious as an artist

Warm, honest, occasionally opinionated, and full of laughter, this episode is a reminder that music isn’t about perfection – it’s about curiosity, connection, and showing up.

🎧 Listen now and discover why Caro Kelley is one of the most thoughtful voices in modern music conversations.