Are Drummers Musicians? is a weekly deep dive into the world of a musician—a captivating exploration of the diverse talents and experiences of musicians. Hosted...
39. Rod Wilson: Drumming with Sons of Korah, Touring the World, and Over 1000 Concerts of Musical Stories
In this episode, we welcome Rod Wilson, a seasoned drummer and percussionist with over 45 years of professional experience. Best known for his two-decade tenure with Sons of Korah, Rod has performed in over 1,000 concerts across nine countries and contributed to ten of the band’s albums.
Rod takes us on a journey through his incredible career, sharing stories from his time as one of the earliest students at the Victorian College of the Arts in the 1980s to touring with Bjorn Again and even playing drums at Russell Crowe’s wedding. A true storyteller, Rod reflects on the drummers who’ve inspired him, offers insights into drum history and technique, and discusses the dynamics of playing in worship bands for over 40 years.
Known for his humility and work ethic, Rod's anecdotes are as inspiring as they are entertaining. Whether it’s leading his own band, producing albums, or conducting clinics on serving others through music, Rod’s passion for drumming and his commitment to sharing his knowledge shine through.
Tune in for a lively, laughter-filled conversation that spans decades of musical memories, advice for drummers, and so much more!
For more info and links to the guest's work, visit our website: aredrummersmusicians.com
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38. Brett Garsed: A Guitar Legend, Growth Mindset and His First Experience with John Farnham
This week we welcome an Australian music legend to the podcast, guitarist Brett Garsed.
Surrounded by musical equipment and with a stunning view of regional Victoria, we sat down this week with Brett Garsed; legendary guitarist, session musician and all-round nice guy. Brett shared the story of how he started with the guitar, life in a small country town, the encouragement he received from various figures and his amazing growth mind-set to constantly seek the wisdom of experienced musicians which lead to his first true professional experience being working with the biggest selling Australian album of all time, Whispering Jack! And even when asked about his favourite venue to play in Melbourne, it was a fun surprise to hear which iconic stadium he chose!
Brett reminisces about the awe of some experiences with John Farnham, his guitar heroes, and shares the story of when he first discovered he was doing something special with his ‘hybrid technique’ and had a unique sound which was his own voice on the guitar.
Brett was so generous to host the podcast in the music room of his house, and I had a great time speaking with him and hearing his stories as we sat on two small couches surrounded by guitars, amps and even a drum kit stacked against the wall.
It has been really special to be able to include such Australian music royalty like Brett on the podcast.
There is so much more I wanted to ask Brett, as we really only got into stories of his origin, so hopefully there will be another opportunity to discuss his adventures in the USA, the return tours with Farnham, his slide technique and phrases - he’s just done so much!
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37. marigolden (Mel O’Neill): Songwriting, Creativity, and a Journey from Classical Voice to Jazz School to Indie-Rock
To kick off the podcast for 2025, the first episode of the year is with special guest marigolden (aka Mel O’Neill).
Consistent with Scout’s love of snuggling with guests, this week’s guest marigolden got comfortable with the pup whilst sharing her thoughts on music, some of her creative processes, and the journey through classical voice training and jazz school, to creating the music of Marigolden, an authentic and raw indie-rock-folk act.
We laughed, reflected, and listened deeply as Mel shared her experiences and perspectives as a musician. She spoke about the importance of listening and how it shapes her artistry, the challenges and joys of releasing albums, and the evolution of her voice over time. Mel reflected on the elitism often found in classical and jazz music and how she navigated these environments to ultimately find and embrace her own voice.
As a self-identified songwriter, Mel discussed the balance between striving for technical perfection and prioritizing the heart of songwriting. She shared insights from taking Adrianne Lenker’s songwriting course and her experience with The School of Song, which provided fresh perspectives on music creation. We also touched on the institutionalization of music education, with Mel humorously imagining legends like Miles Davis saying, “Okay, I’m off to jazz school!”
A special shoutout goes to producer Natasha Newling, who has worked closely with Mel to bring her music to life. This episode dives into the authenticity and vulnerability of Mel’s music and offers a heartfelt exploration of her creative journey.
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TRAILER: The Podcast Continues in 2025!
A new music interview podcast based in Melbourne/Naarm, continues in 2025! Luke and his dog Scout host conversations with artists & session musicians, emerging & established, on their couch in Brunswick (Naarm/Melbourne, AUS). We record a collection of meaningful conversations with musicians that resonate well beyond the immediate context of current events and promotional-cycles.
Thank you to everyone who has been on the show in 2024; you can listen to all 36 episodes that have been released already here or on our website. Visit aredrummersmusicians.com
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BONUS: Christmas Special 2024 - What is Your Favourite Christmas Album?
In this special bonus episode, we ask the question: What is your favourite Christmas album, and why?
Short Taster Playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3UIMA3vM30NNYoI9Xbr3f4?si=5e6d1ab5531d4e62
Full Albums Playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1fScBcJ9KYQh4ppl7gBm9N?si=6a28863246f540dd
Ruby Lulham: The Beach Boys’ Christmas Album (The Beach Boys)
Holly Moore: Song - Christmas in LA (Vulfpeck)
Raleigh Williams: White Christmas Compilation (Bing Crosby); A Charlie Brown Christmas (Vince Guaraldi Trio)
Leroy Floyd: Jimmy Smith ‘64/Christmas Cookin’ (Jimmy Smith)
Alexis Naylor: I Want to Spend Christmas With You (Mark Turner and Steve Hensby Band)
Rodney Taylor: Song - How to Make Gravy (Paul Kelly)
Anna Hooper: Joy (Benjamin Amos)
Amelie Roussac: It’s A Holiday Soul Party (Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings)
Mezz Coleman: Wintersong (Sarah McLachlan)
A2K - Alex Kwong: A Very Laufey Holiday (Laufey)
Matt Wild: Let It Snow Baby…Let It Reindeer (Reliant K)
Murray Singleton: A Timeless Christmas (Israel & New Breed)
Anni Raggatt: The Sounding Joy: Christmas Songs in and out of the Ruth Crawford Seeger Songbook (Elizabeth Mitchell); Ella & Louis Christmas (Ella Fitzgerald; Louis Armstrong); A Very She & Him Christmas (She & Him); Favourite Carols from King’s (Choir of King’s College)
Fran Chong: Song - My Only Wish (This Year) (Britney Spears); Song - How to Make Gravy (Paul Kelly)
Kate McKevitt: The Nutcracker, Op. 71 (Pyotr Ilyich Tchaicovsky)
Briony Poole: Once Upon A Christmas (Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers)
Pana Ángel Castillo Moreno: Song - Soulsa Verde (The Winfield Road Experiment)
Lash78: It’s a Hi-5 Christmas (Hi-5)
Marien Singleton: Richmond AOG Federation Square Compilation (Jared Heschek)
Emma Hilton: Christmas (Deluxe Special Edition - Michael Buble)
Luci Floyd: Christmas Cookin’ (Jimmy Smith)
Greg Arnold: Song - White Wine in the Sun (Tim Minchin)
Nathan Liow: Christmas with PJ Morton (PJ Morton)
Myles Mumford: A record that you put on on Christmas Eve.
Ryan Griffith: Song - Pretty Stars (Bill Frisell); Song - Merry Christmas Baby (Lou Rawls); Song - Christmas Eve (Archie Roach, with Paul Kelly)
David Quested: A Bowtie Christmas and More (Johnny “Bowtie” Barstow)
Brayden Becher: A Heavy Metal Christmas (Christopher Lee)
Kate Van Nugteren: Christmas with the Rat Pack (Compilation; Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr)
Mal Sedergreen: Jazz For Joy: A Verve Christmas Album (Various Artists)
Brian Hingerty: Song - Happy Xmas (War is Over) (John Lennon, Yoko Ono)
Abbey Rose: 8 Days of Christmas (Destiny’s Child)
Jereme Clingan: A Twisted Christmas (Twisted Sisters)
Gracie Sinclair: Christmas with the Stars (Compilation - Various Artists); The Christmas Song (Nat King Cole)
Sidney - Jessie Singleton: A Timeless Christmas (Israel & New Breed)
Stef Roul: A Jolly Christmas From Frank Sinatra (Frank Sinatra)
Nan - Rosemary White: Messiah, HWV 56 (George Frideric Handel)
Luke (Host): A Charlie Brown Christmas (Vince Guaraldi Trio); Christmas Cookin’ (Jimmy Smith); Christmas (Deluxe Special Edition - Michael Buble); A Timeless Christmas (Israel & New Breed); and a special mention to Christmas (Mannheim Steamroller).
For more, visit aredrummersmusicians.com
Are Drummers Musicians? is a weekly deep dive into the world of a musician—a captivating exploration of the diverse talents and experiences of musicians. Hosted by drummer Luke Singleton, the podcast features relaxed, in-depth conversations recorded on a cosy couch in Brunswick. Each episode shares stories of a musician's journey and experiences, resonating beyond trends and promo cycles. Join us for timeless storytelling, community building and authentic insights into the music industry—your backstage pass to the music scene in Naarm/Melbourne, Australia, and beyond.
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