The discussion of a person’s vulnerability is probably the most difficult conversation one could have, but it is through the break of this very barrier that one is able to exit the comfort zone and truly realise the real potential life gifts us with. Nurturing that creative part of our consciousness which permits us to dream and think ahead, not only in weeks or month but decades at a time, is only the first step to that self-improved version of ourselves. A more simple word which encompasses this entire concept may as well be goals, life-goals to be precise. But how does one actually reach a self-given goal? Is there a specific recipe which guides us to the successful completion of a goal or is it simple luck? And how many goals should one have in order to be able to achieve all of them?
Introducing Grace to the podcast was one of the funnest moments throughout the experience so far. As our first Duo Episode, we decided to talk about a very controversial topic, to which most of us feel some sort of attachment: relationships. Even more specifically situationships, chrushes, official relationships as well the un-official type, and much more.
How do we define a relationship? Is there a criteria? And why is it so difficult to connect with some people rather than others?
Grace and I tried to dig out some answers to these very complicated questions, but only scratched the surface so far…
We all have found ourselves lying in some situation. Whether one likes it or not, it’s part of our existence. But fewer people have found themselves stuck in a lying habit. A situation in which one snowballs from one lie to another without being able to pull the breaks. Is there a cure? Can it be fixed? In my experience, yes. But it’s not as simple as one would think…
Ever since I began middle school, my parents weren’t very forgiving with the way I looked. I definitely went through some periods in which I was clearly overweight and they didn’t hesitate to make it known that they would notice it. As much as that might seem usual to some people, it wasn’t for me. I was a very sensitive person - I still am to this day - but back then it was out of control. It made me very self-conscious and worried that I would never be “normal”.
But it also sparked some curiosity in me. I was curious to know: what would the actual “good body type” be?
My research wasn’t very helpful - nor was it long - because all I could find in the Internet were very fit bodies. Bodies which didn’t look like mine. And that’s when the hamster wheel began spinning in my head, never stopping to this day.
Is Unconditional Love a spontaneous thing or is it a decision someone makes? This topic has been debated by almost every media outlet known to humanity, but no one has really given an actual conclusion. So I decided to sit down and brainstorm on this matter. It was harder than I thought. Unconditional love is actually a multifaceted dilemma, which I thought to have understood a long time ago already, but I couldn’t be more wrong. I now understand the reason behind which no one has been able to give a single-faced conclusion. Please enjoy as I spiral down in a never-ending thought process which, to this day, still haunts me.
Mimi Karbal is an actress who currently lives in Italy. She began her career in the modelling industry only to realise her true passion lied in the acting industry. Struggling with her past, Mimi is a clear example of the self-made person. Only in her teens, she already began catching numerous producers’ attention and winning scholarships whilst booking brand new roles.
Our conversation was full of meaningful insights from Mimi’s perspective of the world she lives in. We rarely get to understand how a specific industry works, but we even more rarely get to have two very different industries compared back to back from someone who actually has experienced both sides of the isle.
We also had the chance to talk about the topic of racism in the modelling and acting industries, learning how difficult it can be for some people to succeed. From acting advices to mental health and trauma surviving skills to generational pressure, this episode covers a wide range of very sensitive topics which we believe aren’t spoken enough about.
Ever since he was a very little boy, it was clear that Nicholas Rich was going to have e a successful career in the music industry. After an unforgettable encounter with Kenny Rogers, Nick began his journey in music. Initially truly inspired by Country Music, he experimented and began writing his own songs until eventually shifting towards Pop culture. Heavily inspired by Adele’s song “Hello”, Nick developed an ever-growing ability in songwriting which ultimately brought him to achieve substantial attention onto the internet. With his song “Hot Mess” charting extremely high on TikTok and his more recent hit “Devil on My Shoulder”, Nick Rich has set a clear future for his career.
During this episode, we had the amazing chance to talk to him and truly get to know the person behind these very influential songs. Our conversations spanned from talking about the delicate process of writing and producing songs, to label signings and the pressure of maintaining a high level of success.
If there was one word which would describe Nick Rich, it would be “honesty”. Because throughout the entire interview, we couldn’t help but notice the true place from which Nick was taking inspiration, which not always may be a pleasant state of mid. But like every human being he, too, was faced with difficult moments in life from which he was able to create a treasure that we all can benefit from: music.
He is a true artist at heart who actively chooses quality over quantity, someone who would rather concentrate on the message rather than on the imagery. His songs are clear, direct and honest; just like writing a letter. We wouldn’t be surprised if in the near future we would spot him accepting some high-level global award, let alone becoming a celebrity himself.
Woody Pierre is one of the first Haitian musicians to ever have moved to the US to study music. His amazing ability in playing the trumpet brought him important life-changing opportunities such as meeting Wynton Marsalis or being invited to play at extremely important venues. Our conversation has been full of reflections on where does one’s motivation come from and the ability in keeping it alive throughout the years despite inevitable challenges.
Ever since the very beginning, Woody knew what it meant not having enough resources in order to follow one’s dream. He now makes it his life-long mission to give back and help the future generations of his home country and abroad, because he believes that it is by making all the necessary resources accessible that one is able to excel in music. As most of us, also Woody has dealt with many challenges such as language barriers or performance anxiety. In this case, he offered us a completely different view of reality and explained his own way of coping with such struggles.
Inspired only by the greatest, Woody aims to become a teacher and spread his amazing knowledge to others; hoping that he would leave a legacy in which no one will be denied to study music ever again.
Calista Richlen is one of the countless examples of young teachers trying to make a difference in the musical industry. Even if for a brief moment, she gave us a true glimpse of the lifestyle teachers lead. We uncovered the truth of the financial situation teachers are faced with and some horrifying stories some are forced to deal with. We also discussed the importance of becoming a role model to the upcoming younger generation, trying to break the stigma and teach them to also cope on a mental health level.
Our conversation mostly began from a very simple question: are academics necessary in order to become successful? The truth is that there is no right or wrong answer, but it certainly did deserve the philosophical attention.
Calista is just a very tiny - but vital - witness to our Education System and proved herself to be a very promising mentor to our future generation.
Grace moved to the us at an extremely early age. At only 16 she was faced with a life changing choice. She was given the possibility to either stay home in Singapore and continue with academics or travel abroad and give music a chance. Given her young age, it was difficult for her to find a University which would accept her into its musical program, but luckily she made it to the US. Her strong determination and excellent skills on the piano guaranteed her a future she always wanted. We spoke about her experience when moving into her first apartment and the struggle of making friends, as well as fighting negativity with positivity and the importance of choosing the right people. Grace’s story truly reflects the one of thousands of students who bravely follow their dreams at the cost of leaving their previous lives behind.
Nicoleta Savvidou came to the United States with a very clear idea in mind: be an ambassador for music. Her story is truly remarkable as she has discovered the world of music through a passionate and rather unusual route. Her story began on the island of Cyprus, where she had her first encounter with the piano. She then quickly climbed up the ladder and gained full control of her career. Her ambitious plans had proven to be not only much more than others had expected, but had brought her to achieve whatever she sets as a goal. Our conversation has been full of meaningful and constructive advices, centred on the fundamental ideal of believing in yourself. She reminds us of the importance of being our own best friends and trusting ourselves with honesty. We also discussed the true power that music has, such as its curative abilities and potential in modern society. Very few see music as a form of activism, led alone as medicine!
Nicoleta is a true representative of a future where music is at the centre of it all. She knows how to speak a universal language which unites peoples and attracts interest. She is a true leader and an upcoming artist in her very own way.
Nicoleta Savvidou website: https://nicoletasavvidou.com
Charlotte Koonce is a young composer who has caught our attention with the process she uses in order to achieve her projects. We can all agree that music is one of the few arts which can be considered as a constant form of innovation. We took a moment to reflect on the real effects innovation has within the music industry and compared the way it was perceived in the past with the way it’s accepted in the present.
Charlotte explains how important it is to break from the conventional ideal of “composing” and gives us a completely new point of view on her compositional process. From the relationship between imagery and sound to the discovery of that very thin - but yet unbreakable - silver lining which connects music and nature, Charlotte is able to explain how music can be a very strong form of mass communication.
As a young composer in her early twenties, she also opens up about her day-to-day life, explaining how difficult and time consuming the life of a composer can be. The constant fight against procrastination is something we all deal with in some way or another and it is important to remember that we all have limits and deserve a break - both physically and mentally. The countless hours flying by, coupled with endless deadlines can be overwhelming, but the amazing reward of curating and completing a project is what keeps Charlotte going.
We also spoke about literature and the powerful healing effects music has in one’s mental health when coupled with amazing words. This episode is probably the most “spiritual” one we’ve had so far, opening our minds to endless possibilities we didn’t even know of.
Richard Bortolan is one of the most prominent upcoming pianists in Italy. He has taken part in countless piano competitions leading the poles to his advantage given his extraordinary magical touch with the piano. His career began quite early and progressively gained momentum until becoming the star he is to this day. In this episode, we have the wonderful chance to connect with Richard all the way across the Atlantic Ocean and into Italy. We spoke about his half-Filipino heritage coupled with the struggles he personally endured with accepting it and, eventually, learning how to love it. But the topic of love didn’t stop there. Whilst opening up about his sexuality in a context of difficulty and discrimination, Richard also talks about learning how to embrace his true colors, despite substantial risks…
In addition to all this, Richard gave us his unique perspective of the classical music industry and the role it played in his life until the present day; bravely pointing out its strengths and weaknesses. But what might strike the most about Richard isn’t just his talent or bravery. It’s the example he chooses to lead with that catches our attention. He dreams of a better tomorrow, promoting an example of an open-minded musician whose vision sees no borders between musical genres, sexuality, mental health or one’s heritage.
We had the unique opportunity to sit down with one of the most promising opera singer and actress in Boston (MA), Isabel Randall. Our conversation spanned from her busy early life to her hard work and dedication in beating all odds and pursuing her dream career: being an opera singer. Isabel gives us a true insight of what her career actually entails, and describes her journey step by step to the present day. Her personality is quite unique: she isn't easily discouraged and her motivation is extremely contagious - to say the least. Isabel's knowledge in languages, travel, medicine, music and culture leaves us astonished. This episode may as well be interpreted as a "masterclass", in which we discuss the importance of making the right decisions and standing up for yourself as well as dealing with failure and anxiety which link to one's mental health and its healing process.
Isabel Randall:
https://isabelrandall.com/lets-connect/
Mental Health Resources:
• Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org (http://www.988lifeline.org/)
• Disaster Distress Helpline
(https://www.samhsa.gov/disaster-preparedness)
: CALL or TEXT
1-800-985-5990 (tel:1-800-985-5990)
(press 2 for Spanish)