The Daily Jam

Jamal Salem

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Music

Join Australian musician and educator Jamal Salem for reflections on music, creativity, faith, vocation, and life. Honest conversations from the road, the classroom, and the heart. thedailyjam.substack.com

2d ago

Building What Comes Next

Recorded Tuesday, 11 August 2026. A project update from where I’m at right now. I talk about the evolving JAMVSMACHINE project and my idea of turning the computer into something that actively responds to my drumming, generating strange, heavy and unpredictable sounds in real time. I also get into the inspiration behind it, my love of industrial and cinematic sound, and the possibility of eventually turning it into a live solo performance. I also share where JAMETRONOME is at, including beta testing, getting it onto the app stores, and how programming has become a way of bringing together music, education, maths and computer science. Along the way, I reflect on balancing gigs, teaching, study and creative projects, and how my deepening Catholic faith has been changing the way I approach my work, sobriety and life in general. A snapshot of a lot of different things starting to come together. Get full access to The Daily Jam with Jamal Salem at thedailyjam.substack.com/subscribe
Aug 15

Episode 20: The Original Spark Is Returning

Recorded Wednesday, 5 August 2026. A midweek reflection on forgiveness, changing relationships, finding community through the Catholic Church, and learning to make space for new connections and possibilities. I also talk about creativity, the importance of surrounding yourself with encouraging people, and my unexpected return to drumming, particularly the heavy music and double kick playing that first made me fall in love with the instrument. Somewhere along the way, faith and music seem to be helping me reconnect with parts of myself I thought I’d lost. The original spark is returning. Peace and love, baby ✌️❤️ Get full access to The Daily Jam with Jamal Salem at thedailyjam.substack.com/subscribe
Aug 4

Episode 19: The Voice of Conscience

Recorded Wednesday, 29 July 2026. In Episode 19 of The Daily Jam, I share an honest update on the direction my life has taken over the past few months. I reflect on my decision to stop drinking and smoking, and on the deeper sense of clarity that told me it was time to make a change and begin attending church every Sunday, an experience a priest later described to me as the voice of conscience. I also talk about discovering the beauty and sacredness of the Catholic Mass, visiting different churches, learning the rituals and customs of the faith, and beginning to centre my life around devotion rather than temporary worldly satisfaction. More broadly, this episode is about presenting yourself honestly, navigating suffering without hiding from it, recognising that not everyone can receive every part of your story, and finding people who share your deepest values. It’s a reflection on sobriety, healing, faith, connection, meaning and the gradual process of becoming a more generous, gracious and truthful person. Thanks for watching. Peace ✌️ Get full access to The Daily Jam with Jamal Salem at thedailyjam.substack.com/subscribe
Jul 31

Episode 18: Freedom Is On The Other Side Of Fear

Recorded Wednesday, 22 July 2026. In Episode 18 of The Daily Jam, I reflect on attending a new weekly church group where I barely knew anyone and had no clear role to play. For someone who struggles with social anxiety, simply entering that environment felt confronting. The silences felt excruciating. I didn’t always know when to speak, what to say or where I fitted within the group. But I stayed, and on the drive home, I realised something: it really wasn’t as bad as my mind had made it seem. Sometimes we don’t overcome fear by conquering it or suddenly becoming fearless. We move through it gently, piece by piece. Through repeated exposure, the unfamiliar becomes familiar, and the psychological scripts we have been running for years begin to loosen. This episode explores those scripts, the roles we play, the projections of the mind and what might remain when we begin taking off the costumes of personality and ego. I also reflect on my gratitude for the Catholic Church, supportive community and the people who have given me the space and patience to work through these fears. I’m still in the thick of it. But I’m beginning to believe more deeply that life, and freedom, may be waiting on the other side of the things we are afraid to face. Thank you for joining me on the journey. Peace ✌️ Get full access to The Daily Jam with Jamal Salem at thedailyjam.substack.com/subscribe
Jul 19

Episode 17: The Heaviness I Couldn’t Name

I recorded this episode shortly after coming home from Sunday Mass. As I was leaving the church, I put on my glasses and started heading towards the street, hoping to avoid too much social interaction. The priest saw me, called out, shook my hand and asked how I was going. I gave the standard answer. But in that moment, I realised I wasn’t actually going very well. There was no single event or crisis I could point to. It was more like an emotional and spiritual heaviness, a sadness I had been carrying without fully recognising. In this episode, I reflect on: * the moment the priest stopped me outside the church * realising I was not as okay as I thought * emotional and spiritual heaviness without an obvious cause * social anxiety and the instinct to hide * the masks we wear around other people * feeling alone even when people are around us * why speaking honestly through videos and podcasts gives me freedom and connection * the strange power of simply being noticed by another person This is not a cry for help, and it does not arrive at a neat conclusion. It is simply an honest reflection on sadness, faith, loneliness and a heaviness I could not name. Peace ✌️ Get full access to The Daily Jam with Jamal Salem at thedailyjam.substack.com/subscribe
Jul 13

Episode 16: The Courage to Be a Beginner

After another weekend of gigs, I found myself reflecting on something I’ve noticed over the past year: every meaningful step forward has required becoming a beginner again. In this episode I talk about solo acoustic gigs, singing while drumming, learning harmonies, compliments that caught me by surprise, social anxiety, studying computer science after COVID, and how building JAMETRONOME has become another creative outlet alongside music. If you’ve ever felt uncomfortable learning something new or wondered whether growth is supposed to feel this difficult, I think you’ll relate to this one. Peace ✌️ Get full access to The Daily Jam with Jamal Salem at thedailyjam.substack.com/subscribe
Jun 25

Episode 15: Making Practice Cool Again

Making Practice Cool Again JAMETRONOME, innovation, and why the world needs more drummers Episode 15 of The Daily Jam with Jamal Salem is an update on the unexpected response to JAMETRONOME, my metronome project combining music, mathematics, software, practice, and timing. What started as a prototype has suddenly opened up bigger questions around creativity, entrepreneurship, innovation, and the value of building things that make people excited to participate in life. I also talk about a new idea I’ve been exploring: Drums for Non-Drummers, a possible workshop, course, video series, ebook, website, or maybe all of the above, designed to help singers, guitarists, pianists, bass players, producers, songwriters, and other musicians learn basic drumming skills. The goal is simple: break down some of the myths around drumming, help more musicians understand rhythm from the inside, and maybe even create more capable drummers in the world. In this episode: - The overwhelming response to JAMETRONOME - Making practice feel exciting again - Innovation as a way of inspiring people - Why musicians need better tools - The shortage of drummers - The idea behind Drums for Non-Drummers - Balancing music, teaching, software, gigs, and physical limits Try JAMETRONOME at jamalsalem.com.au/jametronome Interested in Drums for Non-Drummers? Send me a message or email music@jamalsalem.com.au. Thanks for listening to The Daily Jam with Jamal Salem. Peace. Get full access to The Daily Jam with Jamal Salem at thedailyjam.substack.com/subscribe
Jun 20

Episode 14: Music as a Vocation

Episode 14: Music as a Vocation In this episode, I share the story of a difficult turning point that occurred about a month ago. After a period of heavy drinking, smoking, illness, and feeling increasingly disconnected from myself, I experienced what I can only describe as a profound inner call to change course. That experience led me to make some major changes in my life, including giving up alcohol and cigarettes and attending Mass for the first time in many years. Since then, I've found myself on an unexpected journey of faith, community, and self-discovery. I talk about: - Reaching a personal rock-bottom moment - The inner experience that prompted me to change - My first month attending Catholic Mass - Meeting priests and the bishop of the local diocese - How faith has deepened my understanding of vocation - Seeing music, teaching, and entrepreneurship in a new light - Why I'm considering music performance workshops - New software tools I'm developing for musicians - Reading St Augustine and exploring Christian thought - The relationship between faith, purpose, service, and creativity This isn't a polished testimony or a set of answers. It's simply an honest reflection on where I'm at right now and the changes that are unfolding in my life. If you've experienced a turning point, a spiritual awakening, a renewed sense of purpose, or are simply searching for meaning, I hope something here resonates with you. Peace, Jamal Salem #faith #vocation #music #christianity #catholic #personaldevelopment #purpose #creativity #musician #podcast Get full access to The Daily Jam with Jamal Salem at thedailyjam.substack.com/subscribe
05/04/2025

Episode 13: The Messy Reality of Learning

Welcome to Episode 13 of The Daily Jam! This episode is an attempt to lay down some groundwork on my experiences with “learning” and “understanding” throughout my time as a drummer of 20+ years. I intend to further elaborate on this in future episodes, but the overall gist I’m getting at is: * We can attempt to analyse and control learning as much as we like, but it’s not until we’re thrown into the deep end that we face the reality of what really stuck in our understanding and what was ineffective. * I’m not saying that we shouldn’t listen to what research suggests as effective methods for learning, it’s more that I’m enquiring as to whether there is some fundamental unknowable aspect to “understanding” which may or may not be different for each individual. * It would be convenient if humans were like machines, and that we could install and run whatever we were attempting to learn as though it were like software. However, reality proves to be far more messy than this simplified process. * Guided methods are useful, but eventually one must let them go and essentially hack their way through the forest like a caveman with blunt materials. This is how you arrive at an intuitive understanding that is deeper than any analytical understanding. Remember to subscribe, and let me know what you’d like to hear in future episodes. Thank you for your support, Jamal Salem Get full access to The Daily Jam with Jamal Salem at thedailyjam.substack.com/subscribe
04/21/2025

Episode 12: Approaching a Rhythmic Vocabulary

Welcome to Episode 12 of The Daily Jam! This episode is in response to questions I get asked by my audience regarding how I play drums the way I play drums. ** Topics ** * Drum kit freedom: Improvising while keeping a steady pulse with one limb. * Inner-Metronome Development: Improvising while keeping a steady pulse with your voice. * Working through Ted Reed’s “Progressive Steps To Syncopation For The Modern Drummer” and Benny Greb’s “The Language Of Drumming”. * Jamming with a metronome. * Listening to and loving Afro-Cuban music. * Storytelling and expression through your instrument. Remember to subscribe, and let me know what you’d like to hear in future episodes. Thank you for your support, Jamal Salem Get full access to The Daily Jam with Jamal Salem at thedailyjam.substack.com/subscribe
02/11/2025

Episode 11: Balancing Disciplined Practice with Creativity

Feeling stuck in your practice routine? Does your drumming feel like it's plateauing? Struggling to find clarity in your practice sessions? In this episode, we dive into: * The power of structured practice for musicians. * How to plan practice sessions with intentional goals. * The importance of mindful, purposeful practice. * Finding a balance between discipline and creativity. * Embracing flexibility in your routine. * Exploring your unique voice as a drummer. * Aligning your practice with personal growth and progress. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE! I’d love to hear your thoughts—COMMENT below with your feedback! GET IN TOUCH and let’s connect: 📧 jamalsalemdrums@gmail.com Thanks for watching, Jamal #drumming #mindfulpractice #practicepracticepractice #drumlessons #practicetips #drumtips #musictips Get full access to The Daily Jam with Jamal Salem at thedailyjam.substack.com/subscribe

11 Episodes

Join Australian musician and educator Jamal Salem for reflections on music, creativity, faith, vocation, and life. Honest conversations from the road, the classroom, and the heart. thedailyjam.substack.com

Creator

Jamal Salem
Years Active

2026
Episodes

11
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© Jamal Salem
Show Website

The Daily Jam