Founder and principal of Sonic Lawyers and Sonic Rights Management, with broad international experience in various corners of the realm of the law and music rights (J. Albert & Son, Sony Music, PPCA, CSA, Oracle Corporation, Telstra...), Damian Rinaldi is recognised as one of Australia’s most trusted and connected music industry legal executives, shortlisted as “Music Lawyer of the Year” in The Industry Observer Awards 2018. Listen in as we chat to Damian about all things Aussie music and navigating the complexities of copyright.

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(Music) Law & Order with Damian Rinaldi

And we return from somewhere in deep space with a throwback to our chat with South-West Sydney's rising hip hop wordsmith (and renaissance man), L-FRESH The LION. Passionate about social justice (but seemingly more passionate about music than his law degree..), ARIA-nominated L-FRESH uses hip hop as a medium to tackle a range of issues such as racism and prejudice head on, while being an active mentor and contributor within local arts communities and broader grass-roots community programs. Drawing from his Sikh-Indian heritage, L-FRESH is helping to shape the evolving face and sound of Australian hip hop, in ways that have ultimately seen to his emergence and celebration not only across the wider Australian community, but also the international stage. Get inspired!

Fresh from the South-West: L-FRESH The LION

In this ep, host Michael Szumowski muses with multifaceted music biz whiz Rob Cannon on all things music, marketing and creativity. British-born Cannon’s insights come from a literal world of experience, starting in New York at Clive Davis’ J Records, followed by roles in A&R and marketing for several Sony and BMG labels spanning the US, UK and Australia. Cannon has worked in various guises with artists ranging from Rogue Traders to Rod Stewart, Alicia Keys to Augie March and Gavin DeGraw to Guy Sebastian, and has even sat as the Head of Entertainment & Arts Management at AIM Sydney overseeing Diploma and Bachelor degree programs. He continues to work in marketing and creativity coaching in the music industry on a freelance basis, as well as writing for various music publications and teaching at AIM. Cannon holds a BA from Cambridge in Modern Languages, Masters degrees in Music Business from New York University, and in Coaching Psychology from Sydney University and is currently working through a PhD focused on creativity in the music business.

Head on: ROB CANNON - multifaceted music-biz machine

If you hadn't already guessed, turns out MERMAID + VAMPIRE = a multi-talented MERPIRE. With such a moniker befitting of the singer/songwriter's hauntingly beautiful melodies and intricate harmonies reminiscent of Bat For Lashes, Beach House, Mitski and Angel Olsen, Rhiannon Arkinson-Howatt has quickly risen to local fame and supported the likes of Didirri, Angie McMahon, Olympia, Phantastic Ferniture and more. Listen in as MERPIRE chats with host Michael Szumowski to explore the ins and outs of musical life across Sydney and Melbourne, building a sturdy band, and her creative processes.

Meet the artist: MERPIRE - singing/songwriting mermaid/vampire

Displaying honesty and self awareness beyond her years, singer/songwriter and Sydney-sider, PETA MAI, has quickly enraptured fans and musicians alike with her soulful voice, storytelling lyrics and stirring musicality. In this episode, Peta sits with host Michael Szumowski to reveal her process for building and blending driven grooves with soaring vocal melodies and classic instrumentation to form a bold sound that is not only rich and memorable, but completely her own. With five songwriting trips to Nashville under her belt and a debut EP that is both strong and vulnerable, and driven by inspiration from boundary-busting artists such as Maren Morris, Paramore and John Mayer, we find out how Mai is creating a fresh spin about timeless pop, rock, country and R&B sounds.

Meet the artist: PETA MAI - boundary breaking pop

In the hot-seat this ep is writer and indie-electronic producer BILLY FOX. Born and raised in Sydney, Billy has been turning heads with spacious and glimmering intricately textured productions. Infusing his electronic sound with R&B, funk-laden grooves and new kind of soul, Billy's style sits comfortably amongst the likes of James Blake, Blood Orange, Frank Ocean and Chet Faker and has placed him as a supporting act to Glass Animals, Harts, and The Aston Shuffle and more.After having caught the ears of multiple tastemaker blogs and broadcasters including Triple J, FBi Radio, Spotify Playlists, Pilerats, Acid Stag, Purple Sneakers, The Line of Best Fit, Indie Shuffle, Fox snagged a top ten spot on Hype Machine’s acclaimed “NOW” charts with more exciting news to come. Listen in as Fox explores how family, spaces and places inform his unique style.

Meet the artist: BILLY FOX - a nu kinda soul

Sydney-based singer, producer and multi-instrumentalist, Jessica Nitties, chats with host Michael Szumowski about her emergence out of her final year of study at AIM Sydney as “SPARROWS” – a fusion of skills, passion and influences resulting in pop-laden melodies with percussive ingenuity alight with child-like vocals that give SPARROWS electronica-based fusions a rare edge. Sending waves across audiences local and abroad, SPARROWS debut single ‘Over & Out’ has collected over a million streams, sat at number 23 on Australian Shazam Charts and reached number 1 on Hype Machine proving that this high flying songstress is one to watch. Likened to her influences including Grimes, Santigold and Bonobo, SPARROWS, also an Ableton advocate and masterclass teacher, is pushing the boundaries of local pop toward the world stage.

Meet the artist: SPARROWS - high-flying electro-pop

Youngtribe brings to the table two Aussie industry heads – Josh Pyke (ARIA award-winning singer/songwriter, musician, producer and APRA Ambassador) and Wonderlick's Gregg Donovan (Artist Manager – Amy Shark, Montaigne, Grinspoon...) – for a dual perspective on what it takes to sustain a successful long-term career in the music industry.With a collaborative relationship in excess of 10 years, and between them, a lifetime’s worth of stories and experience from various pockets of the music business, listen in and enjoy insights into the artist / artist manager dynamic of Josh and Gregg as they explore telling perspectives from both sides of the fence with host Michael Szumowski.

Tête-à-Tête: JOSH PYKE & GREGG DONOVAN - on long-term success in the music biz

In this episode, host Michael Szumowski chats with “future pop machinist” Sophie Hanlon (a.k.a. TROPHIE) who's fast making a name for herself as a result of her rapid fire approach to making some of the harshest, hard-hitting pop this side of the web’s ever seen. With a stellar EP, a heavy run of singles and exceptional live shows under her belt, TROPHIE continues to prove that she’s not only one to watch, but she can damn well do it all. Listen in as TROPHIE talks us through her sound, creative processes and her love of Rick and Morty.

Meet the artist: TROPHIE - future pop machinist

Tune into SOUNDWISE for telling conversations between emerging artists and industry insiders from every facet of the music business as they kick about first-hand stories, ideas and advice. Hosted by Sydney-local sound connoisseur, Michael Szumowski.

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