Sydney: October 12, 2018 – Musicians Making a Difference (MMAD) today launch a powerful new podcast for Australian youth and young adults called Rhyme & Reason by MMAD.
The series deep dives into themes of grief and loss, mental illness, self-identity, alcoholism and addiction with influential Australian and international artists and guests as they openly share their personal experiences and the music that helped them find their path.
Watch the Trailer Here
The 16 episode series delivers intimate and candid interviews with Australian and international guests including pop maverick E^ST, Instagram influencer Alli Simpson, hip hop chart-toppers Bliss N Eso, Australian Idol winner, singer/songwriter/ actor Casey Donovan, American photographer Chris Cuffaro and Australian music producer/engineer Scott Horscroft (Silverchair, Paul Kelly, Birds Of Tokyo, 360, Empire Of The Sun, Alison Wonderland & owner The Grove studios), each talking openly and passionately about their journey.
Host, Will Small says: “Everyone has that song. The one that helped you get out of bed when nothing else could. The one that inspired you to pursue your dreams. On Rhyme & Reason, I explore their life stories and the songs and music that helped them through”.
The first four episodes dropping today include a candid conversation about hitting rock bottom and determination with singer/songwriter/engineer, Dustin Tebbutt, stories of resilience with rapper Pez, a journey towards self-love with hip hop artist Mirrah Reflects and revelations about making your own difference with MMAD co-founder Dominic Brook.
“You don’t know what lessons you’re learning when you’re learning them” says Dustin Tebbutt opening up during his interview on Rhyme & Reason. Tebbutt, who has amassed over 200 million streams on Spotify with successful singles including The Breach and Bones is talking about his own winding path into writing and releasing music as a solo artist. But it’s also an accurate statement about Rhyme & Reason itself.
Woven through his episode Tebbutt shares vulnerably about his own experience with depression, as well as a creative within the music industry. He observes that whilst musicians can seem larger than life, everyone can experience the same anxieties. “We are people and we’ve come from somewhere. We can still have insecurities and doubts and addictions and bits of our life that we’re embarrassed about and don’t want to talk about.”
Pez (aka Perry Chapman) first dreamt of being a US college basketballer but an injury changed that dream and his direction. When diving into this change a decade ago, he shifted his focus to music, writing and rapping encouraged by his friend and rapper 360. He had spent a lot of time struggling to work out where his life was leading him and he says he “turned to lyrics as an outlet at the time.”
He penned a summer anthem called The Festival Song featuring 360 which made its way onto a Triple J playlist. “We had no idea what we were doing then suddenly this song was number 7 on the hottest 100. Suddenly you’re in this different circle. I think I lost myself in there.” Life was taking him on an urgent journey of touring and success and during this time he was diagnosed with Graves disease, an autoimmune condition affecting the thyroid. He was becoming increasingly anxious about fame and making and releasing music. “I was battling this thought – can I even do this anymore and I had a huge phobia of performing live”.
Pez’s advice is to stay true to yourself, “actually really listening to what you want and what you feel – your heart, your soul – beautiful things will come from that.”
“Rhyme & Reason was created to give a platform for artists and people within the industry to share stories about struggles, strength, and how music has helped shape them.” MMAD co-founder Dominic Brook explains. “Music is a powerful tool to connect people from all walks and can inspire aha! moments that empower change. This podcast has the potential to spark realisation and personal growth for listeners, too.”
Proudly supported by Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation, the first season of Rhyme & Reason is launching on October 12 with weekly episode releases until the end of 2018
MMAD is a unique grassroots charity that exists to change young lives through the power of music and mentoring. We create a sense of family for these vulnerable young people and offer a creative safe-haven where they are not only supported in breaking negative cycles, they are empowered to use their own unique talents to make a difference within the wider community.
About Rhyme & Reason by MMAD
Everyone has that song. The one that helped you get out of bed when nothing else could. The one that inspired you to pursue your dreams. On Rhyme & Reason we get up close with influential artists and explore their life stories and the songs that helped them live to tell them.
About Dustin Tebbutt
Dustin Tebbutt is an Australian musician. “The Breach” reached #76 on the ARIA singles chart and was #44 in 2013 Triple J Hottest 100 His albums Home and First Light reached #34 and #13 on the ARIA albums chart. He was nominated for the 2014 ARIA Music Award for Engineer of the Year for his EP Bones. He has just released new single Satellite with a new EP due Oct 26.
About Pez
Pez (born Perry Chapman) is an Australian hip hop recording artist from Melbourne, Australia. He attended Kew High School in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. His debut album, A Mind of My Own peaked at No.19 on the ARIA Urban albums chart.
About Mirrah
Mirrah is a passionate female performer who started as a hip hop dancer and developed into a hip hop rapper/singer. MIRRAH has performed and recorded with L-FRESH THE LION (Australian Artist) as well as releasing her own music. Mirrah,also a youthworker and MMAD ambassador, is an artist with a strong message of self-empowerment, positivity, and unity.
About Dominic Brook
Dominic Brook is the co-founder of music charity Musicians Making A Difference (MMAD). Hip-Hop was a way of expressing himself when young & remains his outlet. Dominic is no stranger to adversity, with childhood challenges that many young people at MMAD could relate to. “It’s important that young people have a positive and safe form of self-expression and for me, music has always been therapeutic; it shaped me as a person and gave me purpose. That’s why MMAD was created – to give other young people some of the tools that were life changing for me.”
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