Rhyme & Reason by MMAD

Australian hip-hop artist, director and community worker Morganics fell in love with a developing art form on the streets of Sydney and ended up producing one-man hip-hop theatre shows and performing in places like New York, Tanzania and Prague. A couple years ago he pulled all his creative passion together to write, direct and star in a feature-length Australian hip-hop film, "Survival Tactics". But on the other side of creative success, Morganics found himself wrestling with depression in an unfamiliar city, and this was where he found survival tactics of his own.

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

Listen to 'Black Magic' by Morganics as discussed on this episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcAQHGXzYbg

Host: Will Small

Audio Production and Music: Rohan Parry

Recorded at: The MMAD Studio, Gosford

Have you ever heard a song that breaks all the rules and changes your idea of what music can be?

That was the experience of Melisa Bester AKA E^ST when she first heard the song we talk about in this episode. It's a haunting, beautiful song and one that has influenced E^ST's own songwriting, as she's continued to break the rules. She's made her mark on the music industry with dreamlike singles such as ' I Don't Lack Imagination' and 'Life Goes On'.

We spoke about endings and how things can change without you even noticing. But before that, I asked E^ST to share about the beginning of her journey into music...

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

Listen to 'Hide & Seek' by Imogen Heap as discussed on this episode here:

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

Host: Will Small

Audio Production and Music: Rohan Parry

Recorded at: The MMAD Studio, Gosford

Do you ever feel like you want to make a real difference in the world - but you have a long list of reasons stopping you? You grew up in the wrong postcode, you don't have enough money, you don't feel like anyone hears you?

Dominic Brook is the co-founder of Musicians Making a Difference, otherwise known as MMAD - a charity that reaches tens of thousands of young people around Australia nationally through cutting edge music and mentoring programs. But it all started with a simple dream, a bit of belief - and a secondhand guitar.

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

Listen to 'With My Own Two Hands' by Ben Harper as discussed on this episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEnfy9qfdaU

Host: Will Small

Audio Production and Music: Rohan Parry

Recorded at: The MMAD Studio, Gosford

"It is a feeling of relief, almost of pleasure, at knowing yourself at last genuinely down and out. You have talked so often of going to the dogs - and well, here are the dogs, and you have reached them, and you can stand it." - George Orwell, Down and Out in Paris and London.

Australian singer-songwriter Dustin Tebbutt found himself alone in the harsh Winter of Sweden - with plans that had gone south...and that was where he began to create his incredible solo music, which now has over 200 million streams on Spotify.

Listen to Dustin's powerful and inspiring story on this episode of Rhyme & Reason.

https://www.dustintebbutt.com/

Books Dustin recommends in this episode:

"Emotional Intelligence", Daniel Goleman

https://www.amazon.com/Emotional-Intelligence-Matter-More-Than/dp/055338371X

"The Brain that Changes itself", Norman Doidge

https://www.amazon.com/Brain-That-Changes-Itself-Frontiers/dp/0143113100

Listen to 'Bones' by Dustin Tebbutt as discussed on this episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OysNiYXWga0

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

What do you do when your dream comes true - and then gets taken away from you? It's been a familiar experience for this episode's guest, who has walked an incredible road of both successes and setbacks, over the last decade. For charismatic Melbourne MC Pez, one thing is clear though; watching life happen from the sideline isn't an option. If you've got dreams gathering dust on the shelf, then listen in, Pez's story and attitude is a reminder that we only get one shot at the game called life.

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

Listen to 'The Game' by Pez, as discussed on this episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UyGdzx2yRA

Host: Will Small

Audio Production and Music: Rohan Parry

Recorded at: The MMAD Studio, Gosford

Who are you? Have you ever experienced other people telling you who you are supposed to be based on the colour of your skin, or your age or gender? So often we live out other people's expectations of ourselves. But there's nothing more liberating than embracing your own identity.

If there's anyone who knows about this, it's inspiring hip-hop and soul artist Mirrah. If you were going to describe her in one word....you might use a word like Authentic. Or Vibrant. Radiant. You might find it hard to settle on one word, but you walk away from a conversation with Mirrah feeling a little more empowered to be yourself.

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

Listen to 'Lil Vickie' by Mirrah as discussed on this episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNuDX7LfiJU

Host: Will Small

Audio Production and Music: Rohan Parry

Recorded at: The MMAD Studio, Gosford

On Rhyme & Reason we explore the stories of inspiring artists and individuals and the songs that have helped them live to tell them. Check out the trailer for a taste of what to expect!

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

Host: Will Small

Audio Production and Music: Rohan Parry

Recorded at: The Lounge Room Studio, Gosford