Jade sits down with Denise Santos and David Mackenzie to talk about their recent collaboration on a new piece of music, ‘Transition’, which you can hear at the end of the episode.

They discuss drawing on emotional experiences, balancing work with mental health, and how the story of the music came together during the making of the piece.

Support the track on Spotify.

Find out more about Denise’s work here.

Music and production by David Mackenzie

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Jade and David discuss the art of storytelling through writing and music. They talk about:

• How stories can be made into a somatic experience
• Understanding character motivation and creating ‘real’ people
• The perfectly ambiguous ending of Twin Peaks: The Return
• How we can make stories that will change the world for the better

‘The universe is made of stories, not of atoms.’ Read The Speed of Darkness by Muriel Rukeyser

Music and production by David Mackenzie

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Jade talks to writer Eva Aldea about living a creative life while managing the impacts of neurodivergence. They also discuss the ‘brand’ Eva has built on Instagram, where she is posing nude as a way of querying aging, masking, and perceptions of the female body.

Eva Aldea is a writer, lecturer and editor. Her first novel Singapore (Holland House Books 2023), and her book in progress, Stockholm, explore migration and belonging.

She is @to_write_like_a_dog on Instagram (and Substack for unredacted photos) and she is writing a pamphlet about the process and experience of taking nude selfies, forthcoming with Intergraphia Books. Eva is also working on a collection of essays on neurodivergence and mental health, forthcoming with Broken Sleep Books in 2025, and she edits writers’ reflections on diagnoses, psychological and physical, on the website Dx: Diagnosis and Writing.

Music and production by David Mackenzie

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David and Jade talk about the uses of trauma in the creative process. They explore:

• how we are reflected in the art we make and consume
• the inner journey of the artist
• using creativity to surrender control
• how trauma transforms us, for better or worse

Music and production by David Mackenzie

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David chats with musician, composer, researcher and sound explorer Dolores Catherino about her mission of expanding musical consciousness.

They discuss:

• Finding your unique voice through exploration, not imitation
• How AI is impacting the landscape of music
• Dolores’ research and development into a new ‘pitch colour’ system
• Uses of meditation and intuitive practices to study music

Find more of Dolores on her website, YouTube channel and Bandcamp. You can also find out more about PolyChromatic Music here.

Music and production by David Mackenzie

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Jade speaks to writer Inés G. Labarta about her latest novel, The Three Lives of Saint Ciarán, and how she develops stories from identity, place and intention. They discuss:

- Rewriting myths from a queer, immigrant perspective

- The process of publishing and dealing with rejection

- The role of ego and mental and spiritual health in writing

Find out more about Inés on her website, and purchase her book here.

Read 'Oatman', the short story she published on oranges journal.

Music and production by David Mackenzie

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Content warning for strong language.

Jade and David talk about their recent cinema experiences, including Luca Guadagnino’s ‘Challengers’, and try to get to the bottom of why so many stories are emotionally immature.

They discuss:

- The role of open-mindedness in creativity

- Depicting healthy relationships in film

- How we ‘project our demons’ into what we create

- Approaching work with beginner’s mind

Music and production by David Mackenzie

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David sits down with renowned music producer, composer and writer Michael Beinhorn to discuss his unique approaches to collaboration and the creative process. Michael has worked with legendary artists including Herbie Hancock, Soundgarden, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Hole, and it’s an honour to have him on the show.

David and Michael discuss:

- The power of creative visualisation

- Somatic techniques for approaching creative work

- The uses of neurodivergence, and how ‘obsessive thinking’ can help or hinder an artist

- Evolutions in music production, technology and songwriting

Find out more about the artist development services Michael offers here.

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Music and production by David Mackenzie

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Buy us a coffee or join our Patreon for exclusive content and 1:1 artist support.

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Follow your hosts, Jade Green and David Mackenzie