Great to be back this week with another wonderful interview.

This week I am talking with John Kelly. John is a musician, singer, actor, activist and much more besides.

I first met John at The Orpheus Centre, Richard Stilgoe's residential creative hub for young adults with disabilities.

John was program coordinator and I was running music technology sessions in the main.

John has had an amazing career to date, working as a youth worker, music educator, actor - John toured the Ian Dury show "Reasons to be cheerful" in the Dury role.

John made a surprise appearance at the opening ceremony of the 2012 Paralympics opening ceremony, singing the sometime controversial "Spasticus Autisticus", Dury's banned anthem to equality.

John talks passionately about the Social Model of Disability as opposed to the Medical Model. Some fascinating insights come from this including John's childhood exposure to Music Therapy as his only access to music.

John talks about his role in shaping the National Plan for Music with a greater emphasis on both technology and mixed inclusive approaches.

We talk about the development of the "Kellycaster", John's bespoke guitar/software system that was developed with Drake Music.

John talks about wanting to address the expectations of disabled people in education and greater diversity.

John has an album out soon and his new single, 'Which side are you on?' is out now, is challenging, beautiful and you really should listen and download!

John Kelly's Linktree

"Which side are you on?" - John's new single

Eternal Guitars

My Links

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This week I suffered overwhelm. Too many deadlines converging on the same week. End of term deluge! Something had to give and i promised that I would never compromise on editing and content on this show. Hence no show!

Next week an amazing conversation with the wonderful John Kelly.

See you there!

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Welcome to episode 13.

This week I am in conversation with Leon Clowes, a transdisciplinary artist. Using autoethnography, self-compassion and Brechtian techniques, Leon's creative practice is informed by lived trauma.

This is a very honest conversation and I can only thank Leon for the integrity and openness that takes place.

Our conversation begins at Drake Music, where we met in 1995 and quickly moves into addiction, growing up queer in the 80's against the backdrop of AIDS and then family trauma. Leon maintains perspective and humour throughout and it is a real testament to his creative practice and the formalising of this through his creative practice research PhD.

I really believe that this is a very important conversation and although difficult at times, Leon's unwavering belief in the creative process is, ultimately, uplifting.

Leon has just won a commission - The British Music Collection's LGBTQ+ Composers Open Call which is due to premiere in September 2022.

Leon's Website

Soundcloud

Twitter

Instagram

Commission details

Eternal Guitars

My Links

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