Rhyme & Reason by MMAD

On a previous episode we spoke with Eso about his crazy story of Bliss N Eso's trip to Afghanistan and his journey overcoming alcoholism. On this episode we spend some time talking with Bliss about his experience supporting his mate through that process and his lyrics that came out of that. We also talked about the glitz and glamour of the music industry and how things aren't always as they seem. In this conversation Bliss opens up about how he manages to stay focused and healthy even in the midst of the alluring - and potentially destructive - lifestyle many musicians fall into. Get your pen and pad ready, there is some absolute gold here to take note of.

Rhyme & Reason is proudly supported by the Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation.

Listen to 'Friend Like You' as discussed in this episode here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mezCOcC1Tug

Listen to 'Devil on My Shoulder' as discussed in this episode here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KC2Au6PJn54

Host: Will Small

Audio Production and Music: Rohan Parry

Recorded at: The MMAD Studio, Gosford

Nathan Cavaleri has lived one of those lives that sounds like it could be a work of fiction. At just 6 years old he was diagnosed with leukaemia and began chemotherapy. It was playing his guitar that helped him through this time, and it was his extraordinary skills with that guitar that would see him go on to tour with BB King, record an album with mentors like Jimmy Barnes and Tommy Emmanuel, and get signed to Michael Jackson's label. There's been a lot more to Nathan's story since he was a young prodigy though, and he shared openly about his journey with anxiety, and learning to move beyond fear, and take nothing for granted.

Rhyme & Reason is proudly supported by the Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation.

Listen to 'Demons' by Nathan Cavaleri as discussed in this episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z03cHNNI-p0

Host: Will Small

Audio Production and Music: Rohan Parry

Recorded at: The MMAD Studio, Gosford

Our guest on this episode grew up being the class clown, the funniest guy in the room, always able to make people laugh. But he's not afraid of real talk. He knows what it's like to fight giants, and he has one of the biggest hearts in the world for helping others to survive the battles they face. Evan Lawrie, AKA the Profit is an incredibly talented and humble emcee, and he's been a mentor at MMAD who has inspired thousands of young people over the last decade. We speak about the power music has to help heal wounds, and open up hard conversations. If you find it hard to talk about the way you feel - you're not alone. But there may be something in this conversation that could help you start your own. So listen close and take note.

Rhyme & Reason is proudly supported by the Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation.

Listen to 'Down' by The Profit as discussed in this episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mc7zwlLOGcg&feature=youtu.be

Host: Will Small

Audio Production and Music: Rohan Parry

Recorded at: The MMAD Studio, Gosford

Can you imagine rocking a show in a warzone, using military vehicles as your stage? When Bliss N Eso did a tour of Afghanistan, Eso was waging an internal war of his own. These guys are known for using their music to speak to real issues. They've written lyrics about poverty, politics and climate change, but when we spent some time with Eso he shared about one of the most personal songs he's ever written. Strap yourself in, this story is an incredible ride. To begin with, we asked Eso to share what life was like for him growing up.

Rhyme & Reason is proudly supported by the Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation.

Listen to 'Devil on My Shoulder' by Bliss N Eso as discussed in this episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KC2Au6PJn54

Host: Will Small

Audio Production and Music: Rohan Parry

Recorded at: The MMAD Studio, Gosford

There's nothing like live music is there? But how often do you think about the people who make those experiences what they are for us?

Louise Savileskij is an example of the kind of amazing human who has poured hours of blood, sweat and tears into creating incredible live music experiences - from producing shows in underground caves to running stages at festivals like 'splendour in the grass'

Lou understands the power of music. It's the kind of power that can spark up a revolution. Free us from our mental chains. Remind us why we are here. In this episode Lou and I talk about an iconic song that does each one of these things. But first, I asked Lou to share some of her backstory.

Rhyme & Reason is proudly supported by the Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation.

Listen to 'Redemption Song' by Bob Marley as discussed in this episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrY9eHkXTa4

Host: Will Small

Audio Production and Music: Rohan Parry

Recorded at: The MMAD Studio, Gosford

There can't be that many graffiti artists who have thrown up pieces all around the globe and also happen to have Masters degrees in Fine Arts. And there are very few people who have been part of the Australian hip-hop scene for as long as Matthew Peet AKA Mistery.

One of the godfathers of Aussie hip-hop he's been breaking, graffing and spitting rhymes since the days of cassette tapes. And he can still remember first hearing a song born out of the Bronx New York that made a lot of sense where he was listening in Bankstown, Sydney. From the birth of hip-hop, it's always been a culture that amplifies the voices of the marginalised and helps people make their creative mark. Where ever you are and who ever you are, you've got a mark to make - and listening to Mistery might give you some ideas about how.

Rhyme & Reason is proudly supported by the Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation.

Listen to 'The Message' by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five as discussed in this episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PobrSpMwKk4

Host: Will Small

Audio Production and Music: Rohan Parry

Recorded at: The MMAD Studio, Gosford

Sometimes life is like an optical illusion. You can be so sure of the way you have always seen things, and then discover an entirely different angle which changes everything. Joel McKerrow is one of Australia's leading spoken word poets, a performing writer and educator who has shared his amazing creative work all around the globe. And this is a key theme of his work. We learn to see things a certain way - and tell stories the way we've always heard them. But what if your story could be seen in a different light? You could shift from being the victom to the victorious. You could begin to rewrite your identity. Joel shared with us his own journey and a particular song about this very process.

Rhyme & Reason is proudly supported by the Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation.

Listen to 'Both Sides Now' by Joni Mitchell as discussed in this episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCnf46boC3I

Host: Will Small

Audio Production and Music: Rohan Parry

Recorded at: The MMAD Studio, Gosford

It's amazing how music hits us where we are - and the same song can mean really different things to us depending on what's happening in our life at the time. We spent some time with the wonderful Jayne Denham - successful Australian country rock singer - and spoke about a song that she first heard in a really rough moment in her life that gave her the positive energy and strength to keep moving. Fast forward and the same song was cast in a different light when her circumstances changed. Life changes. Relationships come and go. But how do you learn to love yourself through those changes? This question is at the heart of our conversation with Jane.

Rhyme & Reason is proudly supported by the Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation.

Listen to 'Make Me Like You' by Gwen Stefani as discussed in this episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uljUDtv1Kw

Host: Will Small

Audio Production and Music: Rohan Parry

Recorded at: The MMAD Studio, Gosford

What do Michael Jackson, Nirvana and The Red Hot Chilli Peppers have in common? Apart from being absolutely iconic musicians, they've all spent time with Chris Cuffaro. Even if you don't know his name, you've definitely seen his work. Whether it's on the cover of a Rolling Stone magazine, or an iconic image of your favourite artist, Chris Cuffaro has dedicated his life to capturing authentic photos of the real person behind the 'famous face'. On this episode, he shares how he ended up spending time with artists he dreamed of meeting as a kid, and opens up about lessons he's learned along the way. Chris is a man with a million stories; we asked him to share where his own one began...

Rhyme & Reason is proudly supported by the Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation.

Host: Will Small

Audio Production and Music: Rohan Parry

Recorded at: The MMAD Studio, Gosford

Alli Simpson is an actress, singer, model, host and all-round creative who was one of the first people to be labelled a social media influencer. Despite having over 1.4 million followers on Instagram alone Alli herself posted: "so I think social media harms your mental health". Alli spoke with us about both the positive and negative sides of social media and how to stay present in the world. Alli also shared some of her experience being completely cut off from the online world, in a 10 day experience of homelessness on SBS's Filthy Rich and Homeless program.

Rhyme & Reason is proudly supported by the Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation.

Listen to 'Like a Prayer' by Madonna discussed in this episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79fzeNUqQbQ

Host: Will Small

Audio Production and Music: Rohan Parry

Recorded at: The MMAD Studio, Gosford