In the last of our series of episodes in collaboration with Help Musicians, I spoke to Liam Hennessy about how the charity is helping UK artists not just survive, but thrive. From career development and funding to health, hearing protection, and wellbeing support, this episode breaks down how Help Musicians is removing barriers and creating real opportunities for those working in music, and how you can take advantage of it.

If you like the podcast please give us a 5 star rating wherever you listen, it really helps people discover the show, thank you :)

What role can mentoring play in building a sustainable music career? In this episode, we’re joined by Saffie Halke from Help Musicians and Mike Spearman, drummer of Everything Everything and mentor on their Co-Pilot programme. Together, they unpack how mentoring helps artists gain confidence, fill industry knowledge gaps, and build meaningful connections. We discuss what makes a great mentor–mentee relationship, how to prepare for sessions, and what to expect from Help Musicians’ free Co-Pilot scheme, which matches creatives with experienced professionals from across the industry.Find out more about Co-Pilot here: https://www.helpmusicians.org.uk/get-support/develop-as-a-musician/co-pilot-the-musicians-mentoring-network

If you enjoy this episode please give it a five star rating if you can, it really helps me grow the show :)

Touring can be exciting, but behind the curtain it often brings sleep disruption, financial strain, poor diet, and long periods of isolation, all of which take a toll on mental health. In this episode, I’m joined by Grace Meadows of Music Minds Matter, the mental health arm of Help Musicians, to unpack the realities of life on the road before touring season begins this autumn.

We discuss why mental health issues are so prevlalent within the creative industries, the work Music Minds Matter are doing and talk through Grace's practical tools and tips for protecting your wellbeing on tour.

To find out more about Music Minds Matter, including their preventative resources and their 24/7 confidential support line, go to https://www.musicmindsmatter.org.uk/

If you like this episode please give it a positive rating wherever you're listening, it really helps me grow the show and keep making these episodes..

In this episode, I’m joined by singer-songwriter and music industry professional Ben Hutcheson to explore the power of live recordings for artists. Alongside his own career as a performer, Ben works with Setmixer, a company on a mission to make sure no live show is ever lost, capturing gigs in studio-quality audio within hours of the performance.

We talk about how artists can use live recordings to connect with existing fans, create lasting memories, and grow their audience. Ben shares stories from the road, insights from working with independent venues, and practical advice for any musician thinking about pressing record at their next gig.

What if a music video didn’t live on a screen, but unfolded around you in real time? In this episode, I speak to Phil Charnock from Draw & Code, a Liverpool-based immersive tech studio, about their groundbreaking AR collaborations with artist like Skepta and local rapper Koj.

This episode is all about how emerging technologies are changing the music industry, and whether that's for the better or for the worse. We also dive into the wider potential of augmented reality in music, from live shows to storytelling, fan connection and beyond.

Find out more about Draw & Code here: https://drawandcode.com/

In this episode, I sit down with music industry coach and UK hip-hop pioneer Basil Reynolds to explore the emotional and mental demands of building a creative career. From his early days on Top of the Pops to helping today’s artists navigate burnout, identity, and purpose, Basil shares powerful insights on resilience, self-worth, and how to thrive in the industry without losing yourself in the process.

Find Basil's work here: https://findingthemusicinside.com/

Please give us a follow and a 5 star rating wherever you listen, it really helps me grow the show :))

We're back after a brief hiatus to chat with local singer-songwriter Miles Temp, an artist who is picking up real momentum with performances at Sound City and Radio 1 Big Weekend, and praise from the likes of John Kennedy and Jess Iszatt to name just a few.

We spoke about his journey in the music industry so far, the Radio 1 Big Weekend experience and what's next for an 18-year-old already making waves in the local scene and beyond.

Check out Miles Temp here: https://www.instagram.com/milestemp_/

ICYMI, Sound Advice is going to be a bi-weekly podcast from now on to make things a bit more managable for me whilst I work full-time.

A short announcement on the future of the podcast.

This epiosde is probably the closest I'll ever come to vlogging...
Last week I was lucky enough to be invited down to The Great Escape in Brighton to make the most of the UK's biggest conference and festival combo. In this special episode I'm reporting live from my hotel room to debrief the biggest talking points and trends in the music industry today, plus introduce you to some of the hottest emerging bands in the country right now.
I really worked hard on this episode so if you enjoyed it please give us a nice rating wherever you're listening, it really helps me out :)

In the first of two music industry conference special, this week I'm recapping what went down at Liverpool's very own Sound City + conference. I debrief some of the best panels of the day, discuss some of the big takeaways and talking points of the music industry in 2025, and share my own experiences being a guest on a panel for the first time.
Next week will be a similar thing, I'll be covering The Great Escape conference AND some of the best new artists from the festival, so make sure to follow the podcast wherever you're listening now so you don't miss it.

In this episode, I’m joined by author and academic Dr Rosemary Lucy Hill to discuss her new co-authored work 'Unsilenced', a powerful new book exploring gender-based violence in the popular and live music industries. We talk about how abuse is enabled by structures within the industry, the stories of victims like Ke$ha, and what artists, promoters, and fans can do to create safer, more inclusive spaces in their local music scenes.
TW: this episode contains discussions of sexual violence and abuse
If you like the podcast please give it a rating and send it to your music friends, it really helps me keep the show going. thank you :)
Get your copy of Unsilenced here: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/unsilenced-9798765101742/

THE AUTHORS
Rosemary Lucy Hill: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/rosemary-hill-04644126a
https://scholar.google.co.uk/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=rosemary+lucy+hill&btnG=
Cath Strong: https://academics.rmit.edu.au/catherine-strong/publications
Biance Fileborn: https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/profile/145825-bianca-fileborn

RESOURCES
Safer Spaces zine: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iMZUoSuo_LxvPqxJ3Di1FA8snxE88oCU/view?usp=sharing
Good Night Out Campaign (for safer spaces training): https://www.goodnightoutcampaign.org/
Where Are The Girlbands: https://www.instagram.com/wherearethegirlbands/

In this episode, I sit down with Tom Williamson, founder of Ripe Records – a new independent label born out of a love for Liverpool’s vibrant music scene. We talk about the realities of launching a label from scratch, what it really takes to support emerging artists, how artists can get noticed by labels, and Tom’s vision for putting Liverpool back on the world music map.

If you enjoy the show please tell your musician friends and give us a 5-star rating wherever you're listening from :)

Check out Ripe Records: https://www.riperecords.uk/

This week Sketch Benjamin is back on the show to give you an expert guide on creating video content for TikTok and Instagram that looks great, feels good to create and gets people listening to and talking about your music. We talk about the affordable bits of gear that makes a huge difference to your video quality, how to make sure the algorithm serves your song to people who will love it and unlocking your creativity with video so that making TikTok videos doesn't have to feel like selling out.Check out Ben's work here: www.instagram.com/sketchbenjamin

If you enjoy the show please tell your music mates and give it a 5 star review, it really helps me out :)

In this week's episode (part 1 of 2) I spoke to local videographer Sketch Benjamin about the challenges of building a freelance career, adapting work to the algorithm and why copyright law is so confusing. A really enjoyable chat that goes on lots of interesting tangents.

If you enjoyed the show please give us 5 stars and tell your music friends :)

Check out Ben's work here: https://www.instagram.com/sketchbenjamin

Want to get your music featured in the press without hiring a PR team? In this episode, I’m joined by Rachel White – founder of Brick PR and House of DIY – to share 5 essential tips for doing your own PR. From finding your strengths to nailing your key messages and attracting press opportunities, Rachel breaks it all down in a way that’s accessible, affordable, and totally doable for independent artists.

Check out more of Rachel's PR resources here: https://houseofdiy.co.uk/resources-musicians

If you enjoy the show please tell your music friends about it, I bet there's someone else you know who would find this useful :)

This week I sat down with one of the lovliest people in Liverpool's music community, Dan Astles, who releases muswic under his last name. We spoke about finding your path as an artist, working with managers and booking agents, the struggle of giving up creative control and releasing his debut album on vinyl next month.

You can listen to Dan's gorgeous new single here: https://ditto.fm/remember-us-astles

And buy the vinyl for 'Soundtrack For The 21 Bus Home' here: https://astles.bandcamp.com/album/soundtrack-for-the-twenty-one-bus-home

If you could do me a massive favour and just rate this show wherever you're listening, it really helps me out, thank you :)

This week I'm joined by Mia Thornton, the creator of the fantastic new BBC Sounds podcast Instrumental: Black British Trailblazers, which explores the Black artists who have shaped British music in genres often seen as 'white.' In this conversation, we discuss Mia's journey in the northern creative industry, the impact of desirability politics on Black female pop stars, the process of creating Instrumental and loads more. I really enjoyed this conversation, so I hope you do too :)

Listen to Instrumental here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0kqbv5l

If you like the show please rate it 5 stars wherever you listen to help people discover future episodes, thanks :)

The music industry is facing a mental health crisis. Research has shown that people working in music are more prone to mental health problems than the general population, with musicians being up to three times more likely to suffer from depression. But why is this the case, and what can be done to change this?

This week I spoke to Grace Meadows, music therapist and head of Music Minds Matter, to find out why mental health is such a huge issue in the music industry, the impact freelance work and touring has on wellbeing, the tools and mechanisms musicians can use to cope, and what Music Minds Matter are doing to try to solve the roots of the issue.

Access mental health support here: https://www.musicmindsmatter.org.uk/

If you like this episode please give it a good rating, it really helps me out :)

After a brief hiatus of life getting in the way, we're back with a brand new episode. This week I wanted to discuss what has become a real buzzword in the music industry recently: superfans. I broke down why they've become such a lucrative market, how artists are shifting their strategies towards the top 1% of their fanbase and what you can do to build a die-hard fanbase without exploiting your most loyal supporters.

Putting on gigs isn’t just about booking bands—it’s about creating moments that stick with people. In this episode, I sat down with Tom Hardie of Bus Stop Promotions to uncover what makes a local show feel special, the fair way to pay artists and how to sell out your local venues. Whether you're an artist, promoter, or just love live music, this conversation reveals the highs, lows, and behind-the-scenes chaos of independent gig promoting in the heart of Liverpool's local scene.

Check out Bus Stop Promotions' upcoming shows: https://linktr.ee/busstoppromotions

If you liked this episode please give the podcast a rating to help others find the show :)