The Rider, with Becko

I've been hearing over the years that Chris Emerson ('What So Not') was someone I had to interview - they said we 'were really similar people' and would just click when it came to talking about music, life and the challenges of the last couple of years. 

'What So Not' has just released his 3rd album, Anomaly and it proves that these isolation albums recorded during the pandemic aren't all 'bedroom demos'. This is a masterpiece with some brilliant collaborations from Killer Mike, MØ, and DMA's. 

In this episode of The Rider, Chris will give his reasons for relocating to LA, how the early post-pandemic festivals were awkward and of course, what's in his rider! 

The is The Rider with Becko, and What So Not. 

This week on The Rider we have two massive artists who both have some incredible new music out. 

First up, Orianthi who is about to release her next new album, Rock Candy. 

We talk about why she didn't do an album with Prince, after he offered (but songs recorded with him are in a vault somewhere), how she has kept her Aussie accent after 17 years in LA and of course what is in her rider. Tequila???

Then it's a chat with Gavin Rossdale from Bush. It's his 2nd appearance on The Rider after coming to Australia for "Under the Southern Stars" and at the time revealing he had a new album in the works. "The Art of Survival" is out now and it's incredible. Check out the first 3 tracks, it will blow you away. 

Gavin reveals how Bush have stayed true, even after their family lives have changed so much since their debut, "Sixteen Stone" and what advice his kids have given him. 

This is The Rider with Becko and Orianthi .... and Gavin Rossdale from Bush

We all remember how huge Sheppard's 'Geronimo' was, in fact it was so big it almost became a meme of itself. The song took Sheppard around the world 5 times over and a tour run that simply exhausted them.

Amy Sheppard has gone it alone for a new project, her EP 'Nothing but wild' - which is out now. No doubt you have heard her song 'Blue Guitar' already, recorded in Nashville. 

We talk to Amy to find out how scary this step has been and what was it like playing her hometown Brisbane at the famous 'EKKA'. 

This is Amy Sheppard, on The Rider with Becko.

(Also stick around to hear a bonus interview with Rob Hirst from Midnight Oil as they wrap up their farewell world tour this week in Sydney).

The Darkness are about to touch down to kick off the Motorheart Aussie tour, and this is a big deal. The band love Australia, our pub rock and our pubs! 

Hear Frankie's response when I reveal to him one of his favourite rock bars in Sydney is closing down. 

Motorheart, The Darkness' latest album was recorded in isolation and we hear the struggles of this process - lucky they will be back in the studio for the next one. Frankie also reveals why he left London, right in the middle of the pandemic. 

This is Frankie Poullain from The Darkness, on The Rider with Becko. 

‘MOTORHEART’

The Mundi Mundi Bash is a real team effort - The Empire Touring family, Marc and Issy to Greg Donovan, the Promoter and his team. Then there's the roadies and stage managers, the security guys and of course the amazing musicians. 

The Rider speaks to them all backstage and find out what goes on. 

We celebrate the final day on the Mundi Mundi plains with Kasey Chambers, Daryl Braithwaite, and the team behind the festival. 

This is The Rider with Becko at The Mundi Mundi Bash. 

So what makes a music festival work - we go behind the scenes at the Mundi Mundi Bash at Broken Hill and talk to everyone, from the managers, promoters, artists, caterers and security. 

Hear from Eurogliders, Sarah McLeod, Marc from Empire Touring, Melanie Dyer and more... 

This is The Rider with Becko at the Mundi Mundi Bash

It's crazy when you realise how young Daniel, Chris and Ben were when they formed "Innocent Criminals" which would become Silverchair. These 15 year olds went into the studio to create one of the greatest debuts as we know it, "Tomorrow" (the album version is a little different as you'll find out). 

The band would grow and in a way, we grew up with them. 

After Silverchair, Ben took a break but never stopped working on music. His 'Bento' release showed so much promise and later he would finally record music under his own name. 

Hear the ups and downs, from Silverchair to solo. 

This is The Rider with Becko, and Ben Gillies

Chit Chat Von Loopin Stad: Member of Machine Gun Fellatio, journalist, composer and now movie maker. 

He was deep in the Sydney indy music scene back in the 90s and has a million stories to tell. 

He is also a great example of someone who has the intelligence and drive to try anything - and nail it. From composing music for porn, to high budget movies. 

Then there was the big step into music tv and being respected as one of the most talented interviewers in the game clocking up over 1000 interviews for Max TV. 

This is one of the great interviews, and you have to hear his 'Rider' story from an infamous gig in Darwin.... 

This is The Rider with Becko and Chit Chat

Live touring has been taken for granted since covid. We don't understand the risk involved in touring regional areas as it is now - the rising costs and you are just one sniffle away from a gig being cancelled. 

Thirsty Merc have been one of the hardest working bands in the last 20 years and their new Aussie covers album, "Celebration" is literally that -  an incredible collection of Australian songs. 

Their tour continues and we take this interview right into the tour van as they head West into regional NSW. 

This is Rai Thistletwayte & Thirsty Merc, on The Rider with Becko