Why Make Music

Tim Shiel

Conversations with big thinkers about why music matters.

  1. 22/11/2024

    Montaigne

    If you are in Naarm next week and want to come see me interview Ella Thompson for the podcast, get your tickets here: https://events.humanitix.com/why-make-music-x-breakfast-club-2-with-ella-thompson- - - Montaigne has explored a truly eclectic creative career over the last decade, working across pop music, theatre, video games & more. They've represented Australia at Eurovision, picked up a GRAMMY nomination via Australian video game Stray Gods, and worked with diverse collaborators from David Byrne to Hilltop Hoods to Tom Cardy. A portrait of Montaigne even won the prestigious Archibald Prize in 2023. Jess is a role model to many, not just as a fiercely talented singer-songwriter and producer but as an activist and outspoken advocate across a wide range of issues.  In the past year, they’ve broken from their long-term management and label deals to start a new era of being 100% independent and self-managed.  What is that transition is like?  And over ten years to a full-time music career, what motivates Montaigne to keep going?  Follow Montaigne: https://www.instagram.com/actualmontaigne Follow Tim Shiel: https://www.instagram.com/timshiel/ (Side note: if you've been loving Why Make Music so far, you'll love Montaigne's new podcast Tank Time with Montaigne which is exploring a lot of the same stuff!) - - - Want to see our human faces?  Guess what: you can watch every episode of Why Make Music on YouTube here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1h 11m
  2. 13/11/2024

    Tim Hollo

    Tim Hollo is a musician, writer, environmental advocate and campaigner.  He's been playing viola in FourPlay String Quartet for almost three decades, releasing music and touring the world. He is also the founder of Green Music Australia, an organisation that strives to reduce the environmental impact of the music sector while empowering artists to use their platforms to drive social and cultural change.   Tim’s recent book Living Democracy is, in his words, an ecological manifesto. He outlines a vision of democracy that feels alive and humane, aligning it with ecological concepts like interdependence, diversity & the inevitability of change.  He draws on First Nations thinking, as well as modern experiments in municipalist governance in places like Barcelona and Syria, to pump life back into the idea of democracy itself and to show that positive change is not only possible, but is happening at a grassroots level in communities around the world. With faith in democracy feeling particularly low this week, I thought it was good timing to go deep with Tim as someone who is deeply passionate about democracy, climate & music.  Tim Hollo's book "Living Democracy": https://www.livingdemocracy.org.au/ Green Music Australia: https://www.greenmusic.org.au/ Follow Tim Hollo: https://www.instagram.com/timhollo Follow Tim Shiel: https://www.instagram.com/timshiel/- - - Want to come to our next live event in Naarm?  Register your interest here: https://forms.gle/1iYagq2ZPyzVFL8e8 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1h 5m
  3. 17/10/2024

    Noelani

    One last chance to join us for our first live event next Friday morning in Naarm, with literally only a handful of spots remaining at the time of posting this.  Head here for more info, and to register your spot:https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/spirit-level-presents-why-make-music-x-breakfast-club-tickets-1042447958907- - - -Noelani is a singer-songwriter, also known as MONRXE. Raised in Meanjin/Brisbane and currently based in Naarm/Melbourne, she is not just a formidable musician but also a fierce champion for representation and education across gender & race intersectionalities.

Noelani is driven by a desire to make the music industry more accessible to marginalised communities, championing safe spaces of mutual respect, equality, diversity & authenticity.   She is a committee member for Black Music Alliance Australia, a non-for-profit that advocates for education, equity & representation of Black music & culture from the African Diaspora within the Australian music industry. She also works with One of One, another non-for-profit organisation that empowers women and gender non comforming people within Australian music. We met just a few weeks ago, when we both took part in Green Music Australia’s climate leadership retreat. 

Note: Noelani’s views expressed in the conversation are her own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the various organisations that she is associated with. Follow Noelani aka MONRXE: https://www.instagram.com/noelani_thefaceaustralia/ Black Music Alliance Australia: https://www.blackmusicalliance.org.au/ One of One: https://oneofone.com.au/ Green Music Australia: https://www.greenmusic.org.au/ Follow Tim Shiel: https://www.instagram.com/timshiel/ Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/WCKKOcdoVPs   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1h 5m

Ratings & Reviews

4
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Conversations with big thinkers about why music matters.