The Roarcast

Our guest today is the incredibly talented and versatile singer/songwriter Morgan James, who has branched across many genres including Soul, Opera and Broadway.

In this candid episode, Morgan opens up about her fears, challenges and desires for herself and for the music industry. We discover how she has navigated the music industry, championed women artists and is ultimately striving to become the best version of herself she can be.  

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Podcast Episode Highlights:

• 01.30 - What is Morgan James’ worst ever job?
• 02.53 - Was Morgan aiming for where she is now? 
• 03.30 - How did Morgan start her career as a solo artist after a career in Musical Theatre
• 04.30 - Has Morgan always sung the way she has and does she feel authentic in her sound?
• 05.17 - Morgan James talks about her training at Juilliard and embracing her classical voice
• 06.11 - The importance of growing your skills but being selective with them
• 07.43 - What does Morgan think makes a great singer?
• 08.28 - What are the similarities/differences in the range of genres Morgan James sings in?
• 09.25 - Has Morgan been down the path of imitation?
• 11.34 - Why does Morgan James continue to train classically? Would she return to performing Opera?
• 13.09 - Why is Morgan an independent artist and what are the differences to being with a label?
• 16.06 - Quickfire Round
• 17.00 - Fun Fact 
• 17.54 - What has been Morgan’s greatest career challenge?
• 19.48 - How to handle rejection
• 20.09 - What is success and does Morgan feel successful?
• 22.23 - Does Morgan James doubt her ability?
• 23.07 - How much or Morgan’s journey does she think is talent and how much is hard work?
• 24.04 - Beth Roars asks Morgan James about ‘She is Risen’
• 26.11 - Morgan speaks about the importance of diversity across the music industry
• 28.42 - What quality would Morgan James take tomorrow, what would it be?
• 29.24 - Advice for entering the music industry
• 30.40 - How influential has the internet been in Morgan’s career?
• 31.45 - If Morgan could do one thing in the future, what would it be?
• 32.53 - Who or what inspires Morgan James?

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Resources Mentioned:

• Beth Roars: Website YouTube Instagram Twitter  Facebook Patreon 
• Morgan James: Website  YouTube  Instagram Twitter Facebook StageIt
• Singers mentioned: James Taylor, Paul Simon, Nancy Wilson, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Ethel Merman, Barbara Cook, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Joni Mitchell, Sarah Vaughan, Willie Nelson
• Juilliard
• Teddy (Who wrote a song cycle)
• She is Risen Volume One, Jesus Christ Superstar, Shoshana Bean, Cynthia Erivo
• Postmodern Jukebox (PMJ), Scott Bradlee, Morgan James’ Dream On
• Memphis Magnetic
• Doug Wamble (Guitarist and Morgan’s Husband)
• Beastie Boys Story
• Pledge Music going Bankrupt

This episode was recorded May 1st 2020

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The Roarcast returns for a second season! Beth chats to vocal coach to the stars and mentor Joshua Alamu. Not only does he teach some of the world's top singers, Little Mix, Rita Ora and Kelly Jones from Stereophonics but he is also founder and director of Ultimate Artists, a development camp for music artists entering the industry and is designer of Vocal Tubes.

In this inspirational episode, Josh speaks about his journey from litter picking to vocal coach, his thoughts on how we can achieve a mindset for success and what he thinks makes a great voice.

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Feedback and ideas for future videos/podcasts are always welcomed! Email [email protected]

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Highlights

• 1.28 - What is Josh Alamu’s worst ever job?
• 2.21 - How did Josh feel about having to clean a park at 4 am each day?
• 5.22 - How to approach non-creative jobs with a good attitude and feeling directionless
• 7.28 - Where did Josh’s musical interest come from?
• 8.24 - Was Josh naturally a talented singer?
• 9.27 - How did Josh Alamu become a singing teacher?
• 11.56 - Does Joshua Alamu believe in fate or choice?
• 15.09 - How does Josh define success?
• 22.10 - Beth Roars asks Josh Alamu “What makes a good voice?”
• 24.03 - Does Josh believe you have to experience pain to express emotion in your music?
• 28.34 - Quickfire Round
• 29.17 - How did Beth Roars come to know Joshua Alamu?
• 30.23 - Can anyone learn to sing?
• 31.14 - Does Josh experience self-doubt?
• 32.15 - The importance of choice and consuming the right things
• 34.57 - Does Josh believe people are naturally talented or have to work to develop skills?
• 37.32 - Perspective and maintaining motivation
• 43.35 - What’s more important, the plan or the purpose?
• 45.57 - Beth Roars asks Joshua Alamu what his greatest challenge has been and what he holds as his greatest accomplishment
• 52.10 - If Josh could gain one quality, what would it be?
• 52.56 - What advice would Josh Alamu give to someone wanting to enter the music industry?

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Resources Mentioned

• Beth Roars: Website YouTube Instagram Twitter  Facebook Patreon 
• Josh Alamu: Website  YouTube   Instagram  
• Ultimate Artists: Website  YouTube  Instagram Twitter   Facebook
• Vocal Tubes: Website  YouTube  Instagram Twitter  Facebook Amazon UK
• David and Carrie Grant
• S Club 7 - Bradley McIntosh
• The Spice Girls: Wikipedia
• Akiane - Painter
• Tony Robbins
• Einstein, Mozart
• Oprah Winfrey

This Episode was recorded at One Fine Play in December 2019

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Roarcast returns for a second season. We're really excited to bring you this season full of wonderful guests.

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Feedback and ideas for future videos/podcasts are always welcomed! Email [email protected]

Support the Podcast

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the season finale of The Roarcast, Beth talks to Primal Fear’s and Gamma Ray’s vocalist - Ralf Scheepers. Ralf discusses how he developed his talent and the importance of staying grounded and humble. He also opens up about how he supported himself when starting out, what it takes to be a heavy metal singer and the way his voice and the music industry have changed since he began his career.

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Feedback and ideas for future videos/podcasts are always welcomed! Email [email protected]

Support the Podcast

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Highlights

01:14 - What was Ralf Scheepers’ worst ever job?

01:42 - How did Ralf first get involved in music?

03:14 - Has Ralf ever been nervous performing and does he still feel this now?

04:08 - What makes a good vocal?

04:58 - How has the industry changed over the years that Ralf has been singing?

05:36 - The bonding nature of metal music why people are attracted to it

07:59 - How has Ralf Scheepers managed to continue to improve his voice with age?

09:27 - Is it possible or desirable to live a ‘rock’n’roll’ lifestyle alongside keeping the voice healthy?

10:35 - How does Ralf Scheepers warm up?

11:16 - What has Ralf Scheepers' relationship with Judas Priest been like?

13:12 - Are people humble within the music industry and is that a quality that is important?

14:34 - How has Ralf Scheepers dealt with the difficulties of fame?

15:14 - What have been his best moments of Ralf’s career?

16:11 - What advice would Ralf give to singers at the start of their careers?

17:30 - Does Ralf Scheepers still support himself with jobs outside of music?

18:39 - Are Ralf Scheepers’ family supportive of his music?

19:38 - Who writes the songs for Primal Fear and does Ralf have advice for writing songs?

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Resources Mentioned:

• Beth Roars:  Website   YouTube  Instagram  Twitter  Patreon 
• Ralf Scheepers: Website  Instagram  Facebook  Twitter
• Primal Fear - Listen on Spotify
• Gamma Ray
• Judas Priest - Rob Halford, Tim Owens (referred to as ‘Ripper’)
• Phil Collins

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Beth chats to Sheena Ladwa - Director of Ultimate Artists Development Camp. Sheena and Beth speak about the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people, maintaining a positive mindset and addressing mental ill health. Sheena also opens up about her personal journey, growing up as a singer before transitioning into running an artist development camp, as well as the relationship between creativity and pain.

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Feedback and ideas for future videos/podcasts are always welcomed! Email [email protected]

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Highlights

• 01:01 - What was Sheena’s worst job ever?
• 02:03 - Where did Sheena Ladwa’s journey with music start?
• 03:14 - What was it like for Sheena to leave her family and move to London 
• 04:35 - Sheena’s experiences working in a 9 to 5 job to subsidise her dream of working as a singer
• 06:40 - How Sheena was signed by her first manager and what that experience was like
• 09:50 - How did Sheena Ladwa meet Joshua Alamu and why was he significant in her life?  
• 11:35 - Why did Sheena decide to call time on her career as a singer?
• 14:10 - Being malleable towards your goals and the importance of having a positive perspective 
• 17:57 - What was it like growing up with a father who sings Bollywood (Praful Ladwa with Bollywood Bandits)?
• 18:21 - The importance of discipline and practice 
• 20:36 - How much work do you need to put in to be an artist?
• 21:10 - Sheena gives insight into what you can learn from Bollywood
• 21:36 - How Sheena became Director of Ultimate Artists Development Camp and what do they seek to do?
• 25:13 - How mental ill health affects artists
• 26:21 - Why is mental health important in the music business?
• 28:39 - Sheena and Beth discuss the necessity of having great people around you to act as your foundation 
• 29:48 - What was it like for Sheena to be exposed to mental ill health and depression in her family at an early age? 
• 31:17 - Are pain and mental health struggles synonymous with creativity?
• 35:39 - Sheena Ladwa shares her experience of having an emotional block and how she worked through it
• 37:02 - Getting out of your own way and not holding yourself back
• 39:22 - The one piece of advice that Sheena Ladwa would give an artist

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Resources Mentioned:

• Beth Roars: Website  YouTube  Instagram  Twitter Facebook  Patreon 
• Sheena Ladwa: Instagram  Twitter  Facebook
• Ultimate Artists: Website Twitter  YouTube  Instagram 
• Joshua Alamu: Website Twitter Facebook Instagram
• Wendy Parr (Vocal Coach) - Website
• Praful Ladwa - Bollywood Pandits

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beth chats sound engineer, producer and musician Brian Kehew. At the time of recording, Brian is on a world tour with The Who, having previously worked with fantastic artists such as Aretha Franklin, Black Sabbath and Fiona Apple - producing Fiona’s album ‘Extraordinary Machine’. Brian opens up with his stories about the world’s greatest musicians and why they succeed and also shares his tips for singers and producers to get the best sound in the studio.

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Feedback and ideas for future videos/podcasts are always welcomed! Email [email protected]

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Highlights

• 01.20 - What has been Brian’s worst job? 
• 02.17 - How did Brian Kehew get into music for the first time?
• 02.52 - What was Brian’s first professional music job?
• 03.22 - As a multi-skilled person, what is Brian’s favourite sector of the music industry to work in?
• 03.36 - What is involved in mixing?
• 06.07 - How did Brian come to work with ‘The Who’ and what's it like touring with them?
• 10.59 - Brian opens up about working with Fiona Apple on her album ‘Extraordinary Machine’
• 12.36 - How does Fiona Apple approach writing music and performance?
• 13.16 - What is Brian’s favourite trait in a singer?
• 14.30 - Using 'limitation' to your advantage
• 15.22 - The difference of recording in a studio vs performing for an audience
• 18.59 - How do compressors work and are they important?
• 20.27- Beth asks Brian about the books he’s written
• 22.14 - How was it different for the Beatles recording compared to artists today
• 24.20 - The importance of believing in your vision
• 24.47 - Advice for singers and producers
• 26.40 - Brian imparts some advice for nerves and stage fright

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Resources Mentioned:

• Beth Roars: YouTube Instagram Twitter Patreon BethRoars.com
• Brian Kehew: Website Instagram Twitter     
• Brian’s Books written with Kevin Ryan: Recording the Beatles, Kaleidoscope Eyes
• Henry Grossman - Beatles Photographer 
• The Who - Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend 
• Fiona Apple - Extraordinary Machine (album)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beth’s guest is music producer, Ted Talk speaker and composer for Cinematic Prog Rock band Ostura, Danny Bou-Maroun. Beth and Danny explore the differences between composing for yourself versus for someone else and also working as an independent artist compared to with a label. Danny gives his advice about how to keep motivated on a long term project and speaks about the process involved in creating The Room, Ostura’s latest album.

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Feedback and ideas for future videos/podcasts are always welcomed! Email [email protected]

Support the Podcast

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Highlights

• 01.02 - What was Danny’s worst job?
• 01.53 - Beth and Danny chat about the challenges of being a freelancer and wanting to take work which can compromise you artistically
• 02.14 - How does Danny Bou-Maroun find composing music for visual media - commercials, tv and film vs writing music for his band?
• 04.32 - How a chance encounter led to Ostura end up working with Universal Music and the changes that brought compared to being an independent artist
• 06.05 - What motivates Danny Bou-Maroun to make music with Ostura?
• 07.04 - Why don’t Ostura play many live shows?
• 08.10 - Does Danny prefer writing or playing live for people?
• 08.33 - Danny tells the podcast about the lives of himself and Elia Monsef in the film industry
• 10.00 - Beth asks Danny why Ostura chose to release their latest concept album The Room as a continuous story
• 12.33 - What can listeners expect from the next Ostura album?
• 13.19 - How personal to Danny are the themes behind The Room
• 15.05 - Challenges of creating and finding the Ostura sound
• 16.16 - Danny speaks about finding a balance in creative collaboration with Elia Monsef - do they always agree?
• 18.59 - What advice does Danny have for anyone who wants to produce their own album? 
• 20.09 - How does Danny Bou-Maroun stay motivated?

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Rescources Mentioned

• Beth Roars: Website YouTube Instagram Twitter  Facebook Patreon 
• Danny: Instagram Facebook  Youtube TED Talk 
• Ostura: YouTube  Instagram Facebook  Twitter  Website    
• The Room Album
• Elia Monsef: Facebook Twitter 
• Charles Assaf: provided artwork for Ostura - Facebook

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beth Roars talks to singer and West End actor Dan Buckley, who has starred in shows such as ‘The Book of Mormon’, ‘Loserville’ and ‘Eugenius’. Dan discusses scrubbing everything from dirty dishes to combating body image issues in the industry and what it takes to perform in London's West End. Dan’s insights also include his experiences coping with performance anxiety and nervousness and how to decide whether or not a career in music and theatre is right for you.

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Feedback and ideas for future videos/podcasts are always welcomed! Email [email protected]

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Highlights

• What was Dan’s worst job?
• Could the younger Dan imagine that he would have made it this far in his career?
• Dan discusses growing up in a rural town in Scotland and what it was like moving into London 
• Has Dan ever had any doubts?
• What is it like going to many different jobs as an actor and having to build friendships with different people each time? 
• How does Dan find the unpredictable nature of being an actor?
• Does winning an award guarantee you other work and success?
• How has Dan Buckley supported himself in-between jobs? 
• Did nervousness affect Dan’s performances in The Book of Mormon? 
• Is it different to be part of a production as a lead role compared to an understudy?
• What performance situations make Dan Buckley the most nervous?
• What was it like for Dan Buckley performing in Eugenius and how did he come to be in it?
• Struggling with confidence
• How has Dan come to play the outsider a lot and how does he feel about it? 
• Dan discusses his body dysmorphia surrounding his weight
• Beth and Dan talk about fighting physical stereotypes in casting and the importance of having a diverse range of body types for different roles 
• Dan Buckley speaks about working alongside Scott Paige and the rapport they have
• What have been Dan’s greatest moments up until this point? 
• Why was playing Ferris in Eugenius so influential on Dan’s life?
• What motivates Dan to keep moving forward? 
• What advice would Dan give to up-and-coming performers? 
• How to be resilient and not let rejection get you down
• Dan advises not to be afraid to go towards ‘your happy,’ whatever that might be
• Is taking time out ever a good idea for an actor?

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Resources Mentioned:

• Beth Roars: YouTube Instagram Twitter Patreon BethRoars.com
• Dan Buckley: Spotlight Twitter YouTube
• Scott Paige - Dan and Scott’s Youtube Channel
• Cadogan Hall
• Sydney Opera House
• Dan’s Shows: Eugenius - Book of Mormon - Loserville

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Beth chats to Rasmus Bom Andersen. Rasmus is a vocal coach, producer and lead singer of the legendary band - Diamond Head. They talk about his journey, honouring the Diamond Head legacy and pick apart some of the technique he uses for metal singing.

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Feedback and ideas for future videos/podcasts are always welcomed! Email [email protected]

Support the Podcast

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Highlights

01.01 - What was Rasmus’ worst job ever?

01.29 - What was it like for Rasmus Bom Andersen moving from Denmark to London and why did he come here?

01.55 - How did Rasmus get into music? What were his musical inspirations?

02.42 - Was Rasmus a natural singer?

04.43 - Rasmus tells Beth the variety of genres he performs in aside from metal

05.20 - What was it like for Rasmus Andersen joining the established and iconic power metal band ‘Diamond Head’

07.05 - Did Rasmus Andersen feel pressure to do justice to the Diamond Head brand and songs? What impact has that had on him vocally?

09.23- Taking opportunities

09.37 - How Rasmus unexpectedly came to do a gig for White Wizard and how long did he have to prepare?

11.43- How does Rasmus switch between different vocal styles?

13.30 -The importance of having energy behind a note and finding ways to stand out in amongst powerful live instruments 

14.01 - Rasmus delves into the technical side of singing high notes with demonstrations

16.10 - Approaching Distortions and CVT

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Resources Mentioned

• Beth Roars: Website YouTube Instagram Twitter  Facebook Patreon 
• Rasmus: Instagram  Twitter  Website
• Diamond Head: YouTube  Instagram  Twitter Website
• White Wizzard 
• Freddie Mercury 
• Suzi Dian with Saving Grace
• Dave Mustaine and Megadeth
• The Coffin Train

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.