We speak with the amazing Rai Thistlethwayte on his incredible international career as an acclaimed keyboard player across a range of genres. As you’ll hear / see, Rai is an incredibly down-to-earth and insightful musician with some great perspectives on the keyboard playing life. Enjoy!

To listen / watch:

Discussion topics covered during the show (links will open in new tab):  

Rai’s website

Moving from ‘nerdy’ keyboard player to guitar wielding front-man of a rock band (and doing both)

Rai’s musical upbringing

Early exposure to the music industry and record contracts

Rai and Thirsty Merc in action – The Grind

Thirsty Merc Live

Balancing the different aspects of a music career in both Australia and overseas

Rai’s inspirations

Starting out in the US: ‘It’s Sixty bucks and a punch in the face’

Rai in action with Louis Cole and KNOWER: Overtime

Working with Joe Satriani

Rai with Joe Satriani – The Elephants of Mars

Rai’s Joe Satriani tour gear video

Cosmic Psychos – Better in the Shed

Working with Aaron Sterling

Aaron Sterling – Sound of Sterloid Vol 1

Sun Rai – San Franciso Street (featuring Aaron Sterling) 

Rai’s inspiring song Man Oh Man 

Dealing with imposter syndrome / times of feeling down

Lianne La Havas – Weird Fishes

On setting up sounds for a Joe Satriani tour using Nord keyboards only

The Embertone Walker 1955 Concert D

Love for Spectrasonics’ releases

Question from listener Walter Galindo on hand independence

Joe Satriani band pre-show ceremony

Tag a Keyboard Player:  Dennis Hamm, Aaron Parks

Desert Island Discs: Machine Head – Deep Purple, The Sixteen Men of Tain – Alan Holdsworth, Mr Bungle – Mr Bungle, Standards Vol. 2 – Keith Jarrett, Mama Said – Lenny Kravitz, honourable mention to Hejira – Joni Mitchell

Key links:

Buy some keyboard related merchandise

Drop us a line via the website, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Twitter , TikTok or LinkedIn

Complete our listener survey to help us improve the show, it only takes 90 seconds.

Support us on Patreon and receive bonus content

Check out our podcast guest playlist on Spotify to get a taste of each guest’s creations.

The post Rai Thistlethwayte – Thirsty Merc / Joe Satriani / Sun Rai appeared first on The Keyboard Chronicles.