As It Comes Podcast: Life from a Musician's Point of View Davina Shum

Welcome back to the podcast! (Welcome back Davina, that is)
Producer/arranger/multi-instrumentalist/composer/cat lover Fred Thomas is my guest this episode. We spoke about his musical journey, which includes growing up in a household of a former CBSO concertmaster, making music playlists to fall asleep to, as well as how the key to learning lots of musical instruments is learning how to "cheat". Fred also spoke about his pandemic experience, as well as what he'd like to be if he weren't a musician.
If you fancy supporting the podcast, you can do so here: ko-fi.com/asitcomespod. Leave me a nice review or rating on Apple Podcasts!
Follow and like the podcast on Facebook and Instagram @asitcomespod
 
Featured track:
Overture no.3 BWV1068 ‘Air’
Fred Thomas
 
Find out more about Fred's work, including his new album 'Three or One'
Instagram: @fredthomasmusic
Facebook: @fredthomasukmusic
Fred's YouTube Channel
Twitter: FredThomMusic
Smartlink: https://fans.link/fred thomas music 
 
Three Or One: https://ECM.lnk.to/ThreeOrOneFP
Find Fred on Bandcamp, Spotify or Apple Music

We're back! Episode 54 features flute player, pianist, teacher, musician Bethany Norman. We chatted about her anti-climactic graduation from music college mid-pandemic, the challenges of being a recent music grad in the current climate, being versatile (including teaching your secondary instrument) and what Bethany would be if she weren't a musician.
If you fancy supporting the podcast, you can do so here: ko-fi.com/asitcomespod. Leave me a nice review or rating on Apple Podcasts!
Follow and like the podcast on Facebook and Instagram @asitcomespod
 
Mentioned in this episode:
Bethany's Instagram: @bethanynmusic
Bethany's website: www.bethanynmusic.com
Just Playing It By Ear Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/just-playing-it-by-ear/id1554768830
 
 

George Wakerley aka Confidential joins me for Episode 53. He's a producer of lo-fi hip-hop beats and shared with me the story of his musical journey, struggles with his mental health, as well as being a role model for his son.
Content warning: depression, binge eating and suicide.
If you fancy supporting the podcast, you can do so here: ko-fi.com/asitcomespod
 
Mentioned in this episode:
George's socials:
Instagram: @confidential_lofi
Facebook: @confidentiallofi
Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/confidential_lofi
 

Pianist Sarah Nicolls and cellist Maja Bugge spoke to me about raising awareness of the climate crisis via their show “Ballad of a Changing World.” Listen to how they collaborated during the pandemic and how they’re able to push the limits of their creativity with Sarah’s Inside-Out Piano and Maja’s enthusiasm for jazz and free improv. We also spoke about the unspoken art of good pizzicato, as well as well-rotted manure (stay with me…) This is not indicative of the quality of the chat, by the way!
 
Like what you hear? Buy the podcast a coffee! ko-fi.com/asitcomespod
 
Mentioned in this episode:
 
https://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/music/whats-on/2021/ballad-of-a-changing-world/
 
Maja’s socials:
Insta: @buggemaja
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cellomaja 
Website: www.majabugge.com
 
Sarah’s socials:
Twitter: @sarahpiano
Insta: @sarahpianolife
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarah.nicolls.pianist
Website: www.sarahnicolls.com
 
KITTIWAKES: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kittiwake

Ellie Consta from Her Ensemble joins me for Episode 51. We spoke about how working with pop musicians opened her eyes to the many gender imbalances in the classical music world. Realising the various injustices, she set up Her Ensemble, the UK’s first all-female and non-binary string orchestra to provide a safe space for marginalised genders and create a platform for female and non-binary composers overlooked throughout history. Tune in for chat about how showcasing your vulnerability and learning from your mistakes can promote further growth and progression, as well as Ellie’s pandemic pastime that slightly blew my mind.
You’ll also hear about my personal experiences about being interrupted, as well as some interesting facts about composer Germaine Tailleferre.
Like what you hear? Buy the podcast a coffee! ko-fi.com/asitcomespod
 
Photo credits: Noëmie Bottiau and Shane Benson
 
Mentioned in this episode:
Herensemble.org
Instagram: @herensemblemusic
Facebook and Twitter: @herensemble
 
https://www.wildcardbrewery.co.uk/
 
Germaine Tailleferre: https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780199757824/obo-9780199757824-0275.xml

Sonja Schebeck joins me for this milestone episode. She’s an Australian violinist based in Vienna, who is also a fire performer as well as the founder and artistic director of The Freestyle Orchestra – an ensemble that combine their skills as classical musicians with their curiosities in other performing art disciplines. Expect acrobatics, theatre, costume design, and much more! We spoke about artistic versatility, keeping your skills alive during lockdown, and Sonja’s recent commemoration of six years being sober.
 
Trigger warning: alcoholism, addiction, substance abuse, some explicit language.
 
Like what you hear? Buy the podcast a coffee: ko-fi.com/asitcomespod
 
Photo credit: Andrej Grilc.
 
Mentioned in this episode:
 
@sonja_schebeck_pyroviolinist
 
@freestyleorchestra
 
Russell Brand documentary “From Addiction to Recovery
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2qjvjbjepQ