Are Drummers Musicians?

13/08/2025

🎙️ 68. Ellis: Drumming, Band Life, and Finding Balance in Music

This week, I’m joined by Ellis — a drummer, multi-instrumentalist, and educator who has carved out a dynamic career in the Australian music scene. Best known as the drummer for GUSH (formerly Paper Tapir), Ellis has been playing alongside Louis Smith and Luci Floyd for the past decade, with Domenic Evans recently joining the band.

In this episode, we explore their journey through music—from growing up in a musical household to learning piano and drums, studying at VCASS, and being mentored by jazz legend Graeme Morgan. We also talk about their experiences in both jazz and pop-rock, forming GUSH, and working with other artists, including Garage Sale and Grace Robinson.
Beyond performing and recording, Ellis shares insights into their teaching philosophy, thoughts on the music industry, and how they approach finding balance between creativity, work, and life. And for those looking for some drumming inspiration, Ellis recommends checking out Steve Reich’s 1987 album Drumming.

This was an insightful and engaging conversation—don’t miss it!

The full conversation is now available on all podcast streaming platforms, YouTube and our website aredrummersmusicians.com



Checkout Ellis playing with .band.melb and .obinson

12/08/2025

https://www.aredrummersmusicians.com/conversations/ellis

Drumming, Band Life, and Finding Balance in Music

06/08/2025

🎙️ 67. Nat Bartsch: Music with Purpose, Neurodivergence, and Creating Forever Changed

This week, I’m joined by the extraordinary Nat Bartsch—a twice ARIA-nominated pianist, composer, producer, and advocate whose music blends neoclassical composition with jazz harmony, improvisation, and ethereal ambient effects. At the time of recording in 2024, Nat was the Artist in Residence at the Melbourne Recital Centre and was preparing for the release of her stunning album, Forever Changed.

I was lucky enough to get an early listen to Forever Changed before this conversation, and it’s absolutely beautiful. Since then, friends and I attended the album launch, and it was such a special experience. In this episode, we discuss the process behind making the album, its deeply personal themes, and how it was shaped by surround sound and Atmos mixing.
Nat also opens up about being a neurodivergent artist—reflecting on her autism and ADHD diagnoses and how they’ve influenced her creative process, career, and advocacy work. She shares how she’s been creating inclusive spaces, including neurodiverse-friendly listening experiences at the Recital Centre.

Beyond her work as a solo artist, we discuss her decision to self-manage, launch her own label (Amica Records), and develop Amica Familia, a mentorship program for emerging artists. From the challenges of being an independent musician to the evolving landscape of recorded music, this conversation is packed with insight, creativity, and inspiration—don’t miss it!

The full conversation is now available on all podcast streaming platforms, YouTube and our website aredrummersmusicians.com

05/08/2025

https://www.aredrummersmusicians.com/conversations/natbartsch

Music with Purpose, Neurodivergence, and Creating Forever Changed

30/07/2025

🎙️ 66. Gerry Pantazis: Fusion Drumming, TV Pressure, and 3.5 Hours of Drummer Wisdom

Strap in—this is a long one! This week, I’m joined by Gerry Pantazis, one of Australia’s most in-demand drummers, known for his incredible versatility across fusion, pop, session work, theatre, and TV performances. With a career spanning decades, Gerry has played with legends like Larry Carlton, Richard Marx, Tommy Emmanuel, Tina Arena, and The Seekers, as well as holding the drum chair for Carols by Candlelight for nearly 20 years.
We dive into a huge range of topics, from his work with the fusion powerhouse Damage (with Phil Turcio, Brett Garsed, and Craig Newman), to the evolution of the music scene, music relationships, and the balance of longevity and change as a professional musician. Gerry shares what it’s like performing on Carols by Candlelight at Sidney Myer Music Bowl, the pressure of playing live on national TV, and his thoughts on notation—specifically, the pet peeves that make charts a nightmare to read as a drummer.

We wrapped up the podcast after an hour… and then Gerry asked to keep going. Suddenly, another two and a half hours passed, packed with even more stories, insights, and laughs. If you’re a hardcore Gerry fan, the second half is a deep dive into everything from gear (DW Electric Drums!) to industry wisdom.

This was an epic conversation—enjoy the first hour, or stay for the full 3.5 hours of drumming gold!

The full conversation is now available on all podcast streaming platforms, YouTube and our website aredrummersmusicians.com

29/07/2025

https://www.aredrummersmusicians.com/conversations/gerrypantazis

Fusion Drumming, TV Pressure, and 3.5 Hours of Wisdom

23/07/2025

🎙️ 65. Danny Fischer: Jazz Drumming in New York, Yoga, and a Personalised Approach to Teaching

This week, I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Danny Fischer—one of the most in-demand jazz drummers and educators in Australia. Danny spent a decade living and working in New York, playing with some of the world’s best musicians and building an incredible wealth of experience. He shared some brutally honest and often hilarious stories about what it was really like to be a jazz drummer in the world’s most competitive scene.
We also talked about his yoga practice and how it’s influenced both his drumming and the very practical challenge of carrying drums around New York. He opened up about the struggles and successes of his time overseas, what led him to move back to Melbourne, and how he brings a highly personalised approach to teaching—something I can personally vouch for, as he’s the best drum teacher I’ve ever had (and I’ve had some of the best!).
This chat was full of wisdom, humour, and insight into the reality of being a jazz musician. Don’t miss it!

The full conversation is now available on all podcast streaming platforms, YouTube and our website aredrummersmusicians.com

22/07/2025

https://www.aredrummersmusicians.com/conversations/dannyfischer

Jazz Drumming in New York, Yoga, and a Personalised Approach to Teaching

21/07/2025

🎙️ Coming up this week on Are Drummers Musicians?
�Danny Fischer joins the podcast for an insightful chat. ✨�Coming out Wednesday!

16/07/2025

🎙️ 64. Jack Foy: Multi-Instrumentalism, Jazz Drumming, and the Story Behind Lafferty Daniel

This week, I’m joined by Jack Foy — a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and music teacher based in Melbourne/Naarm. Jack currently plays, writes, and records with Hobsons Bay Coast Guard, Great Falls, Sun Bazel, Smooth Brains, and his own project, Lafferty Daniel.
We chat about his journey through music—learning guitar, studying jazz drumming at Monash, and how he’s juggled different instruments and projects over the years. Jack has also worked with various artists, including Hallie, Eileen Grace, Seamus McCorry, Suzi, and Marigolden, bringing his versatility to a range of musical settings.

Along the way, we talk about his paddle-pop socks, what it’s like being a left-handed drummer, playing bass with Great Falls, and the story behind the name Lafferty Daniel. This was a great conversation with an artist who’s explored so many sides of music—don’t miss it!

The full conversation is now available on all podcast streaming platforms, YouTube and our website aredrummersmusicians.com

15/07/2025

https://www.aredrummersmusicians.com/conversations/jackfoy

Multi-Instrumentalism, Jazz Drumming, and the Story Behind Lafferty Daniel

09/07/2025

🎙️ 63. Stilla: Independent Pop, STILLAVERSE, and the Art of Making Hits

This week, I had a fun and insightful chat with Stilla—a rising pop artist from Naarm/Melbourne, known for her funky, relatable anthems and razor-sharp pop instincts. With influences like Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter, and Dua Lipa, Stilla blends pop, funk, R&B, and dance to create a fresh and unapologetically fun sound.
We talked about what it takes to build a career as an independent artist—her drive, mindset, and approach to content creation. Stilla also shared her thoughts on balancing creativity with the business side of music, staying authentic in an ever-changing industry, and how she pushes herself to level up with each new release.
Since recording this episode, Stilla has released her debut EP STILLAVERSE and put on a massive launch show at Northcote Social Club, marking a huge milestone in her career. Her rise in the pop world is only just beginning, and I can’t wait for you to hear this conversation!

The conversation is now available on all podcast platforms, YouTube and our website