Feels Like Healing: Recent Episodes
Al Lewis
In this podcast, I wanted to talk to creative people about how grief and loss has manifested itself in their work and how creativity can be an immense healing tool for all of us when dealing with grief and loss.
My Dad died back in 2006, when I was 21, due to Multiple Sclerosis. Yet it's only now, fifteen years on, that am I finally able to open up about him and how his death inextricably shaped my life from that moment on. Having posted online about my grief for the first time on the anniversary of his death last year, the level of responses from people made me realise that these were subjects that we all struggled to talk about.
Music had always been a big part of my life ever since I was a teenager and I first discovered the Beatles and Bob Dylan, but I'd never considered trying to do it as my job! However when my Dad died, I felt compelled to do 'something' in my life which would make me feel alive.
Little did I know then how much I needed music and songwriting in my life to help me process the death of my Dad, even if I wasn't writing about it directly, the simple act of being creative was a huge catharsis to me. I hope the listeners to this show will draw comfort in the commonality of all our experiences of struggling to deal with loss, but will see how that loss can be turned into something powerful and healing.
To round off the third series, I've compiled this highlights episode where we will hear once again from all of my guests from throughout this series:
Matilda Heindow, Curtis Stewart, Jude Rogers, Marcus Elliot, Suzie Fletcher, Si Martin, Dr Lesel Dawson, Stephen Wilson Jr, Jo Ritchie & Laura McDonagh, Turt Summers, Carly Attridge & Annie Frost Nicholson and Chris Kage.
Feels Like Healing is a show where I talk to individuals about how their creativity has helped them heal.
These conversations are here to show how those who have suffered loss have found comfort and solace through the act of being creative and how creativity can help us all better understand ourselves and reach a place of healing.
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You can follow Feels Like Healing on Instagram / Twitter / Facebook @flhpodcast
Produced / Edited by Al Lewis
Theme music by Al Lewis
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week my guest is Chris Kage, an artist/producer from Brooklyn New York. Through the years, Chris has primarily operated behind the scenes, as a songwriter in bands and as a backing musician, touring with the likes of Willie Nelson (and his sons Micah, Lukas) and Kris Kristofferson. In his mid-twenties, after ending up on a psychiatric ward for three days, Chris was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. But rather than be totally destroyed by this, Chris decided to turn it into a collection of songs to share with others; these songs would become his debut album 'Cycles'. Chris states that this album is about trying to emotionally communicate his truths, in a way that can support others with theirs.
In addition to inspiring the songs written for Cycles, Chris' experiences with his own mental health also led him to start Sound Mind Live, a non-profit organization whose mission it is to create a shared space where music and mental health can coexist.
You can find Chris on Instagram @chriskageofficial
Sound Mind Live - visit their website: https://www.soundmindlive.org/
Feels Like Healing is a show where I talk to individuals about how they've used creativity as a way of helping them heal.
These conversations are here to show how we find comfort and solace through the act of being creative and how creativity can help us all reach a place of healing.
::::
You can connect with Feels Like Healing on Instagram / Twitter / Facebook @flhpodcast
Produced / Edited by Al Lewis
Theme music by Al Lewis
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week my guests are Carly Attridge founder of the Loss Project and Annie Frost Nicholson a multidisciplinary artist from London. Both of them have worked on projects which have focused on how we can use creative practices as a catharsis for our grief. Carly started The Loss Project (a social enterprise focused on helping people find ways of processing grief) after she reflected on her own wellbeing struggles following various losses in her life and realised there was something lacking from what was on offer to support people.
Annie's own devastating loss happened in 2011 when several members of her close family died in a tragic accident. Ever since, grief has been a subject she’s explored in a myriad of ways, including a film ‘Into Your Light’, a monthly Grief Mixtape that she hosted on Soho Radio and more recently, the Fandangoe Whip, Skip and the Grief Rave, which in turn, would spawn the Fandangoe Discoteca, their latest touring collaboration where bereaved people could dance out their grief.
For more information on
The Loss Project visit their website: https://www.thelossproject.com/
Annie Frost Nicholson visit her website: https://www.anniefrostnicholson.com/
Feels Like Healing is a show where I talk to individuals about how they've used creativity as a way of helping them heal.
These conversations are here to show how we find comfort and solace through the act of being creative and how creativity can help us all reach a place of healing.
::::
You can connect with Feels Like Healing on Instagram / Twitter / Facebook @flhpodcast
Produced / Edited by Al Lewis
Theme music by Al Lewis
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week my guest is Turt Summers, a vocalist/rapper/songwriter from South London and one half of the jazz rap group Summers Sons. They have released 4 albums as well as working with some of the UK's and Germany's finest producers. They have also toured with Children of Zeus, Melodiesinfonie & Flo filzz - solidifying themselves as one of the UK's best underground trios. Their 2019 album The Rain focuses on the grief Turt felt following the loss of his stepdad Bill. In this episode we discuss the making of the album 'The Rain' and the impact opening up about his grief in song has had on Turt.
You can purchase 'The Rain' over on Summer Sons Bandcamp page here:
https://summerssons2.bandcamp.com
Songs featured in this episode include:
Never Walk Alone - Summers Sons
The Rain (pt.1) - Summers Sons
The Rain (pt.3) - Summers Sons
Feels Like Healing is a show where I talk to individuals about how they've used creativity as a way of helping them heal.
These conversations are here to show how we find comfort and solace through the act of being creative and how creativity can help us all reach a place of healing.
::::
You can connect with Feels Like Healing on Instagram / Twitter / Facebook @flhpodcast
Produced / Edited by Al Lewis
Theme music by Al Lewis
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week my guest is Stephen Wilson Jr. a singer/songwriter from rural Indiana (USA). As a teenager Stephen moved to Nashville to pursue a degree in Microbiology. After completing his degree, he worked for several years as an R&D scientist at Mars until one day, faced with the prospect of a life climbing the corporate ladder, Stephen decided to take a leap of faith and pursue his dream of becoming a songwriter. A few years later his father – Stephen Wilson Sr - died at 59 and this set Stephen on a path to becoming an artist in his own right. He is quoted as saying that music was the only thing that had any ability to help him understand grief. The proof of this is in Søn of Dad, his debut album which came out to critical acclaim in 2023
You can find more information about Stephen's music at https://www.stephenwilsonjrmusic.com
Songs featured on this episode include
twisted by Stephen Wilson Jr.
Father's Søn by Stephen Wilson Jr.
Grief is Only Love by Stephen Wilson Jr.
Feels Like Healing is a show where I talk to individuals about how they've used creativity as a way of helping them heal.
These conversations are here to show how we find comfort and solace through the act of being creative and how creativity can help us all reach a place of healing.
::::
You can connect with Feels Like Healing on Instagram / Twitter / Facebook @flhpodcast
Produced / Edited by Al Lewis
Theme music by Al Lewis
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week my guests are Jo Ritchie and Laura McDonagh, the team behind 'Projecting Grief'. Projecting Grief tells the stories of people finding comfort, distraction or hope in a creative pursuit after losing someone they love. After losing her brother Jack in 2017, the last thing photographer Jo Ritchie wanted to do was pick up her camera. But as she started to search for others who had been through a similar experience, she was intrigued to meet many whose grief had been the catalyst for a creation. Fascinated and uplifted by this discovery, Jo began actively searching for people using a creative practice for distraction, relief or an expression and asked to take their portraits.
In 2019, she enlisted the help of writer Faye Dawson to interview sitters and write up their stories. Faye worked on the project for three years before deciding to take a step back from Projecting Grief in 2022.
Laura McDonagh’s mum Anne died suddenly in 2019. Afterwards, Laura felt compelled to write about family, identity and home; to get things down before anything else could be lost. Laura was featured on Projecting Grief in 2020, before joining the team as an interviewer and writer.
You can see more of Jo’s photography at www.joritchiephoto.com
You can find Laura at www.heylauramc.com
Feels Like Healing is a show where I talk to individuals about how they've used creativity as a way of helping them heal.
These conversations are here to show how we find comfort and solace through the act of being creative and how creativity can help us all reach a place of healing.
::
You can connect with Feels Like Healing on Instagram / Twitter / Facebook @flhpodcast
Produced / Edited by Al Lewis
Theme music by Al Lewis
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week my guest is Dr Lesel Dawson, an academic at the University of Bristol. Lesel is an Associate Professor in the English Department at the University of Bristol, her academic research explores grief, literature and the history of the emotions. She is currently writing a book on grief and creativity.
Her work includes co-producing two short films on children, grief and creativity; partnering with charities on an article on mandatory grief education; collaborating on an illustrated booklet on grief and baby loss; writing the screenplay for a fiction film about disenfranchised grief; and working with theatre company Crowded Room on an audio story. Lesel is also the Arts and Culture Lead of the Good Grief Festival.
In this episode we discuss what initially drew Lesel into exploring society's relationship between grief and creativity and what insights she's gained regarding the benefits of pursuing creative endeavours in the wake of loss.
Feels Like Healing is a show where I talk to individuals about how they've used creativity as a way of helping them heal.
These conversations are here to show how we find comfort and solace through the act of being creative and how creativity can help us all reach a place of healing.
::
You can connect with Feels Like Healing on Instagram / Twitter / Facebook @flhpodcast
Produced / Edited by Al Lewis
Theme music by Al Lewis
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week my guest is Si Martin, founder and managing director of Heads Above the Waves, a non-profit organisation whose mission is to help young people deal with the root causes of self-harm. Having experienced self-harm himself as a young person, Si wanted to share his experiences and let others know that they weren't alone. As well as spending his time creating what HATW does, Si Martin is also a drummer for his band Junior and renowned Welsh act Novo Amor.
In this special live episode we discuss how Si turned to drumming as his healthy coping mechanism and how music helped him overcome his desire to self harm. We discuss how this led him to want to help others find their creative outlet and healthy coping mechanisms.
During this conversation Si offers advice to those seeking ways to alleviate their stress, anxiety and harmful behaviour.
If you're affected by the issues covered in this episode; you can find more information about Heads Above the Waves on their website: https://hatw.co.uk
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Feels Like Healing is a show where I talk to individuals about how they've used creativity as a way of helping them heal.
These conversations are here to show how we find comfort and solace through the act of being creative and how creativity can help us all reach a place of healing.
You can connect with Feels Like Healing on Instagram / Twitter / Facebook @flhpodcast
Produced / Edited by Al Lewis
Theme music by Al Lewis
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week my guest is Suzie Fletcher, a Master English Saddle Maker and the resident leather expert on BBC One's The Repair Shop. Originally from Oxfordshire she has been in the restoration and repair industry for over four decades. She is an avid rider since early childhood, which lead to her career in saddle making, leather goods and leather furniture making. Through various commissions Suzie was offered a position in America and she soon found herself running her own business and working all over the US.
Suzie specialised in designing and making saddles for the female rider and settled on a homestead farm on the Eastern plains of Colorado with her husband Rob and a collection of horses, dogs and cats.
Her life all changed in 2013 when her husband passed away after a short illness. Suzie returned home to the UK and soon found herself in front of cameras for a new BBC program called “The Repair Shop” alongside her brother Steve.
In this episode we discuss Suzie's memoir, "The Sun Over the Mountains" in which Suzie writes about overcoming some of life's most difficult challenges, from complicated relationships to grief. She talks about how putting these experiences down on paper became an incredibly cathartic exercise and how her work as a master-saddler and her love of animals have brought her immense healing over the years.
Feels Like Healing is a show where I talk to individuals about how they've used creativity as a way of helping them heal.
These conversations are here to show how we find comfort and solace through the act of being creative and how creativity can help us all reach a place of healing.
::
You can connect with Feels Like Healing on Instagram / Twitter / Facebook @flhpodcast
Produced / Edited by Al Lewis
Theme music by Al Lewis
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week my guest is Marcus Elliot, a saxophonist, composer and educator from Detroit, Michigan, USA. He is the current director of the University of Michigan's Creative Arts Orchestra and his compositions and improvisations have been described by the New York Times as "convincing and confident, evolved in touch and tone...", and the Detroit Free Press has said that, "Marcus Elliot represents the next generation of jazz".
Marcus has experienced several pivotal life changing moments over the last few years. Not only was his first child, a son, Elijah born but also his father, who had suffered a debilitating stroke in 2017, sadly passed away. These experiences became the inspiration for a newly commissioned piece, “Fill the Room With Light” - which was performed for the first time last September with New Music Detroit.
In this episode we discuss the creation of the piece “Fill the Room With Light” and how Marcus' music has given him an insight into grief and the gifts that his father gave him.
Marcus says:
A week after I began writing the music, my father was put into hospice care. My visitations with my dad were filled with prayer, meditation, singing, listening to music, and playing music for him.
This commission allowed me to take the time to emotionally process the heavy, beautiful moments I had with my father. It allowed me to channel the emotions I was going through and transform them with music. For that, I am forever grateful.
You can find more information about Marcus by visiting his website: https://www.marcuselliotmusic.com
Feels Like Healing is a show where I talk to individuals about how they've used creativity as a way of helping them heal.
These conversations are here to show how we find comfort and solace through the act of being creative and how creativity can help us all reach a place of healing.
::
You can follow Feels Like Healing on Instagram / Twitter / Facebook @flhpodcast
Produced / Edited by Al Lewis
Theme music by Al Lewis
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week my guest is Jude Rogers, a Welsh journalist, lecturer, arts critic and broadcaster. She is a music critic for The Guardian and also regularly writes features and articles for The Observer, New Statesmen and women's magazines such as Red. Rogers published her first book, The Sound of Being Human: How Music Shapes Our Lives in 2022, an account of the emotional and psychological impact that music has on us as humans but also a part-memoir of Jude's own ever-evolving relationship to music.
In this conversation we discuss the impact that losing her Dad at the age of 5 had on Jude and how she has found comfort and inspiration in writing and in music.
You can find more information about Jude by visiting her website: http://www.juderogers.com/
The Sound of Being Human is available now from White Rabbit Books : https://store.whiterabbitbooks.co.uk/products/the-sound-of-being-human
Feels Like Healing is a show where I talk to individuals about how they've used creativity as a way of helping them heal.
These conversations are here to show how we find comfort and solace through the act of being creative and how creativity can help us all reach a place of healing.
::
You can follow Feels Like Healing on Instagram / Twitter / Facebook @flhpodcast
Produced / Edited by Al Lewis
Theme music by Al Lewis
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week my guest is Curtis Stewart, a four-time GRAMMY award nominated violinist from New York City, USA.
Stewart was born into a musical family – his father is avant jazz tuba pioneer Bob Stewart and his mother was Elektra Kurtis, a soulful Greek jazz violinist.
As a soloist, Curtis has performed at some of the most prestigious venues in the USA. He has made special appearances with Wyclef Jean; and sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden with Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, and Seal.
In this episode we talk about his latest album "of Love" which is a requiem of sorts, dedicated to Curtis' late motherwho died of brain cancer in 2021, aged 66.
We discuss how he turned to composition and music during the caretaking and grieving process for his mother.
Songs featured on this episode include
low by Curtis Stewart
Thalassaki Mou by Curtis Stewart
Embrace by Curtis Stewart
Drift to Wake by Curtis Stewart
You can find more information about Curtis by visiting his website: curtisjstewart.com
Feels Like Healing is a show where I talk to individuals about how they've used creativity as a way of helping them heal.
These conversations are here to show how we find comfort and solace through the act of being creative and how creativity can help us all reach a place of healing.
::
You can follow Feels Like Healing on Instagram / Twitter / Facebook @flhpodcast
Produced / Edited by Al Lewis
Theme music by Al Lewis
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week my guest is Matilda Heindow, an artist and mental health advocate based in Stockholm. She founded the much-loved Instagram page @crazyheadcomics, using it as a creative outlet for her colourful cartoons that cleverly skewer our collective experiences of mental health. She has shared over 700 unique pieces of art to her global following, which now totals over 500k, and her work is often used by mental health professionals and schools. In 2021, Matilda delivered a TEDx talk on 'The Art of Mental Health Advocacy'.
We talk about her new book "The Art of Feeling Better" in which Matilda shares personal stories and down-to-earth advice to help you understand:
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How to turn that negative inner voice into a friend
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How to recognise the habits that put you on a downward spiral
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What to do with difficult feelings, so that you invite better ones in
You can find more information about Matilda by following her on Instagram @crazyheadcomics
Purchase links for The Art of Feeling Better can be foundhere.
Feels Like Healing is a show where I talk to individuals about how they've used creativity as a way of helping them heal.
These conversations are here to show how we find comfort and solace through the act of being creative and how creativity can help us all reach a place of healing.
::
You can follow Feels Like Healing on Instagram / Twitter / Facebook @flhpodcast
Produced / Edited by Al Lewis
Theme music by Al Lewis
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
To kick off the third series of Feels like Healing, here's a taster of some of the conversations you can expect to hear over the coming weeks.
Featuring Matilda Heindow, Suzie Fletcher, Marcus Elliot, Jude Rogers, Curtis J Stewart, Jo Ritchie and Laura McDonagh.
Feels Like Healing is a show where I talk to individuals about how they've turned to creativity as a way of healing.
These conversations are here to inspire and to show how we can find comfort and solace through the act of being creative and how creativity can help us all reach a place of healing.
::
You can follow Feels Like Healing on Instagram / Twitter / Facebook @flhpodcast
Produced / Edited by Al Lewis
Theme music by Al Lewis
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
To round off the second series, I've compiled this "highlights" episode where we will hear once again from all of my guests from throughout this series:
Frank Turner, Carmody, Sam Genders, Jamie Lawson, Carys Eleri, Hannah Daniel, Gavin Porter, Jamie Adams and Tara Bethan.
Feels Like Healing is a show where I talk to creative people about how grief and trauma has shaped their art.
These conversations are here to show how those who have suffered loss have found comfort and solace through the act of being creative and how creativity can help us all better understand our grief and reach a place of healing.
::
You can follow Feels Like Healing on Instagram / Twitter / Facebook @flhpodcast
Produced / Edited by Al Lewis
Theme music by Al Lewis
This week my guest is Tara Bethan. Born in North Wales, the actress, singer and presenter started out on the West End at the age 13 in Bugsy Malone. In 2008 she found herself in the final 10 of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s search for “Nancy” in BBC One’s “I’d do Anything”. Her latest musical incarnation is as 'Tara Bandito' a name she borrowed from her Dad's career as a wrestler nicknamed 'El Bandito'.
We talk about the origins of her song "Six Feet Under" which she wrote in the aftermath of losing her father in 2009.
You can find more information about Tara by following her on Instagram / Twitter @tarabandito
Music featured in this episode:
'6 Feet Under' by Tara Bandito
'Blerr' by Tara Bandito
Feels Like Healing is a show where I talk to creative people about how grief and trauma has shaped their art.
These conversations are here to show how those who have suffered loss have found comfort and solace through the act of being creative and how creativity can help us all better understand our grief and reach a place of healing.
::
You can follow Feels Like Healing on Instagram / Twitter / Facebook @flhpodcast
Produced / Edited by Al Lewis
Theme music by Al Lewis
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week my guest is Welsh film-maker Jamie Adams. A British Independent Film Awards [BIFA] nominated director and writer best known for his films Black Mountain Poets (2015), Love Spreads (2021) and Wild Honey Pie! (2018). Black Mountain Poets was nominated for the Michael Powell Award for Best British Feature Film and screened at SXSW in Austin, Texas. His latest film 'She is Love' was a BFI London Film Festival Official Selection for 2022 and is out now on general release.
We talk about the origins of the film "Balance, Not Symmetry", which was a collaborative project about the loss of a parent and was co-written with the singer Simon Neil from Biffy Clyro. We discuss the loss of Jamie's Mum, who died when Jamie was 19 and the affect this had on Jamie's creative output.
You can find more information about Jamie by following him on Twitter and Instagram: @Jamiedadams1 / @jdadams1
Feels Like Healing is a show where I talk to creative people about how grief and trauma has shaped their art.
These conversations are here to show how those who have suffered loss have found comfort and solace through the act of being creative and how creativity can help us all better understand our grief and reach a place of healing.
::
You can follow Feels Like Healing on Instagram / Twitter / Facebook @flhpodcast
Produced / Edited by Al Lewis
Theme music by Al Lewis
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week my guests are once again the Welsh actresses + writers Carys Eleri and Hannah Daniel and director/documentary maker Gavin Porter.
This is the second part of our conversation recorded live at St John's Church in Cardiff on the 25th January 2023 in front of a live audience.
Carys Eleri is a Welsh actress, singer, writer, composer and presenter. Her debut show - Lovecraft (Not the Sex Shop in Cardiff) – described as a one-woman science comedy-musical about the neuroscience of love and lonelinesswon her many accolades and was performed at the Edinburgh Festival and last year adapted into a radio show for BBC Radio 4.
Carys is also an accomplished singer and is a member of Charlotte Church's Late Night Pop Dungeon. Her memoir 'Dod Nôl At fy Nghoed' (To return to my trees) was released in 2021.
Hannah Daniel is a Welsh actress and writer from Cardiff, best known for her roles on TV series such as the dual language hits Hinterland and Keeping Faith and most recently in the Channel 4 drama 'The Light in the Hall'. In 2020 she co-wrote, directed and starred in the BBC short film 'Burial' in which she plays three identical triplets bashing out their grief at their father’s funeral. A story of love, pain and reconciliation. A grieving daughter’s attempt to make sense of the madness of grief.
Gavin Porter is a film/documentary/theatre maker from Butetown in Cardiff. He has previously won a BAFTA Cymru award as director of best short. He has worked for many years in collaboration with the National Theatre of Wales and in 2021 they put on hisfirst major theatrical workCircle of Fifths. A live documentary performance, told through real life stories, rooted in tradition, music and memory.
Together we discuss how my guests have used their creativity to help them through their grief.
Read Hannah Daniel's piece about grief and losing a parent on the VOGUE website here.
Feels Like Healing is a show where I talk to creative people about how grief has shaped their art.
These conversations are here to show how those who have suffered loss have found comfort and solace through the act of being creative and how creativity can help us all better understand our grief and reach a place of healing.
::
You can follow Feels Like Healing on Instagram / Twitter / Facebook @flhpodcast
Produced / Edited by Al Lewis
Theme music by Al Lewis
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week my guests are the Welsh actresses + writers Carys Eleri and Hannah Daniel and director/documentary maker Gavin Porter.
This episode was recorded live at St John's Church in Cardiff on the 25th January 2023 in front of a live audience.
Carys Eleri is a Welsh actress, singer, writer, composer and presenter. Her debut show - Lovecraft (Not the Sex Shop in Cardiff) – described as a one-woman science comedy-musical about the neuroscience of love and lonelinesswon her many accolades and was performed at the Edinburgh Festival and last year adapted into a radio show for BBC Radio 4.
Carys is also an accomplished singer and is a member of Charlotte Church's Late Night Pop Dungeon. Her memoir 'Dod Nôl At fy Nghoed' (To return to my trees) was released in 2021.
Hannah Daniel is a Welsh actress and writer from Cardiff, best known for her roles on TV series such as the dual language hits Hinterland and Keeping Faith and most recently in the Channel 4 drama 'The Light in the Hall'. In 2020 she co-wrote, directed and starred in the BBC short film 'Burial' in which she plays three identical triplets bashing out their grief at their father’s funeral. A story of love, pain and reconciliation. A grieving daughter’s attempt to make sense of the madness of grief.
Gavin Porter is a film/documentary/theatre maker from Butetown in Cardiff. He has previously won a BAFTA Cymru award as director of best short. He has worked for many years in collaboration with the National Theatre of Wales and in 2021 they put on hisfirst major theatrical workCircle of Fifths. A live documentary performance, told through real life stories, rooted in tradition, music and memory.
Together we discuss how my guests have used their creativity to help them through their grief.
Read Hannah Daniel's piece about grief and losing a parent on the VOGUE website here.
Feels Like Healing is a show where I talk to creative people about how grief has shaped their art.
These conversations are here to show how those who have suffered loss have found comfort and solace through the act of being creative and how creativity can help us all better understand our grief and reach a place of healing.
::
You can follow Feels Like Healing on Instagram / Twitter / Facebook @flhpodcast
Produced / Edited by Al Lewis
Theme music by Al Lewis
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week my guest is the award-winning singer-songwriter Jamie Lawson. Jamie has so far released five studio albums and his single, "Wasn't Expecting That", became a word-of-mouth success firstly in Ireland before its popularity then began to grow further afield in 2015, when he became the first signing to Ed Sheeran's Gingerbread Man Records. The single went to number 3 in Australia and number 7 in New Zealand. The single hit the number 6 chart position in the UK on 8 October 2015 and was certified silver on 20 November 2015 by the British Phonographic Industry. Later in 2016 Jamie Lawson won the prestigious Ivor Novello award for 'Best Song Musically and Lyrically', beating his mentor and friend Ed Sheeran to the highly prized Ivor Novello award.
His self-titled third album, Jamie Lawson, was released worldwide on 16 October 2015, under Gingerbread Man Records and reached #1 in the UK Album Charts. It was certified gold by the BPI, denoting sales of over 100,000.
We talk about the origins of the songs "Wasn't Expecting That", "Sing to the River" and "The Years in Between" the latter two of which discuss the loss of Jamie's Dad, who died when Jamie was 19.
You can find more information about Jamie by visiting his website jamielawsonmusic.com or following him on Instagram / Twitter @jamielawsonmusic / @jamielawsonuk
Music featured in this episode:
'Sing to the River' by Jamie Lawson (Listen here: https://bit.ly/3YdLGFN)
'The Years in Between' by Jamie Lawson (Listen here: http://bit.ly/3wJhLcQ )
'Wasn't Expecting That' by Jamie Lawson (Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Dtcqdv )
Feels Like Healing is a show where I talk to creative people about how grief and trauma has shaped their art.
These conversations are here to show how those who have suffered loss have found comfort and solace through the act of being creative and how creativity can help us all better understand our grief and reach a place of healing.
::
You can follow Feels Like Healing on Instagram / Twitter / Facebook @flhpodcast
Produced / Edited by Al Lewis
Theme music by Al Lewis
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week my guest is Carmody, a singer-songwriter from South-East London. Carmody has collaborated with artists such as Tom Misch, Alfa Mist and Nick Leng. Her EP ‘Out to Sea’, written with Misch, gained a number of supporters - from DJs such as Annie Mac and Zane Lowe to one of YouTube’s biggest music channels, Majestic Casual. The track ‘With You’ was also crowned iTunes single of the week.
Her debut album “Imperfect Constellations” was released in 2022 and adds to her catalogue which boasts over 70 million+ streams.
We talk about the origins of the songs "Morning", "Stronger than my Love" and "Rise" which all address the grief Carmody felt following the loss of her father in 2019.
You can find more information about Carmody by following her on Instagram / Twitter @thisiscarmody
Music featured in this episode:
'The Last Song' by Tom Misch & Carmody (Listen here: http://bit.ly/3wqz0PX )
'Stronger than My Love' by Carmody (Listen here: http://bit.ly/3HqjOJ1 )
'Rise' by Carmody (Listen here: http://bit.ly/3J82A43 )
'Morning' by Carmody (Listen here: http://bit.ly/3wnYxt2 )
Feels Like Healing is a show where I talk to creative people about how grief and trauma has shaped their art.
These conversations are here to show how those who have suffered loss have found comfort and solace through the act of being creative and how creativity can help us all better understand our grief and reach a place of healing.
If you'd like to be in the audience for the special live episode of Feels like Healing at St John's Church in Cardiff on Wednesday 25th January.
You can reserve your place now (free of charge) by visiting https://feelslikehealing.eventbrite.co.uk
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You can follow Feels Like Healing on Instagram / Twitter / Facebook @flhpodcast
Produced / Edited by Al Lewis
Theme music by Al Lewis
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week my guest is the English singer/songwriter Sam Genders. Sam alongside Mike Lindsay founded the folktronica pioneers Tunng in 2005. His other songwriting and co-writing credits include artists such as John Smith, Mr Silla (Múm), Liam Bailey, Cibelle, Ben Ottewell (Gomez) and Kate Stables (This is The Kit).
Amongst various other projects and collaborations Genders has released several albums and singles under the name Diagrams, including his 2017 album ‘Dorothy’, the lyrics for which were written in collaboration with Orcas Island (US) poet Dorothy Trogdon and his 2019 single ‘Is This Real’ written in collaboration with two deep learning AI systems developed by Dr Maya Ackerman and her team at Wave AI in the US.
Tunng's latest album 'Dead Club' came out in 2020 and was designed to be a meditation on death and grief. To coincide with the album Sam and his bandmate Becky did a podcast series on the subject of death and grief ‘Tunng presents…Dead Club’, an exploration of society’s relationship to death, dying and grief that featured songs, spoken word collaborations and interviews with writers, philosophers and physicians such as Max Porter, AC Grayling, Dame Sue Black, Kevin Young, Derren Brown, Alain de Botton, Speech Debelle and Dr Kathryn Mannix.
In this episode we talk about how making 'Dead Club' changed Sam's viewpoint on death and dying and how he believes we should all be talking a lot more openly about these difficult yet inevitable subjects.
You can find more information about Sam by following him on Twitter @samgendersmusic
Music featured in this episode:
'Death is the New Sex' by Tunng (Listen here: http://bit.ly/3ZH1lis )
'A Million Colours' by Tunng (Listen here: http://bit.ly/3XjsWEE)
Feels Like Healing is a show where I talk to creative people about how grief and trauma has shaped their art.
These conversations are here to show how those who have suffered loss have found comfort and solace through the act of being creative and how creativity can help us all better understand our grief and reach a place of healing.
If you'd like to be in the audience for the special live episode of Feels like Healing at St John's Church in Cardiff on Wednesday 25th January.
You can reserve your place now (free of charge) by visiting https://feelslikehealing.eventbrite.co.uk
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You can follow Feels Like Healing on Instagram / Twitter / Facebook @flhpodcast
Produced / Edited by Al Lewis
Theme music by Al Lewis
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week my guest is the English punk/folk singer-songwriter Frank Turner. Having made 2 albums over four years with post-hardcore band Million Dead, Turner decided to go-it-alone in 2005. He released various EPs and albums while touring and building his profile. In early 2011 Turner released his fourth studio album, and made the step up to the main stage at Reading & Leeds later that year. Spring 2012 brought Frank Turner’s sell-out headline show at Wembley Arena to a 12,000 strong audience. To date, Turner has released nine solo albums, Turner's ninth and most recent studio album, FTHC was released in February 2022 and reached number #1 in the UK albums chart in the week following its release.
We talk about the origins of the song "Miranda", which tells the story of how Frank's father has transitioned and is now living as a transgender woman. The track's lyrics discuss his and Miranda's previously tumultuous relationship and how they began to reconcile following her transition. We also discuss the song "A Wave Across A Bay" which is a tribute to his late friend Scott Hutchison from the band Frightened Rabbit.
You can find more information about Frank by following him on Instagram / Twitter @frankturner
For more information about the charity Tiny Changes visit https://tinychanges.com/
Music featured in this episode:
'Miranda' by Frank Turner (Listen here: https://bit.ly/3CvEJr2 )
'A Wave Across A Bay' by Frank Turner (Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Xjwqqu )
Feels Like Healing is a show where I talk to creative people about how grief and trauma has shaped their art.
These conversations are here to show how those who have suffered loss have found comfort and solace through the act of being creative and how creativity can help us all better understand our grief and reach a place of healing.
If you'd like to be in the audience for the special live episode of Feels like Healing at St John's Church in Cardiff on Wednesday 25th January.
You can reserve your place now (free of charge) by visiting https://feelslikehealing.eventbrite.co.uk
::
You can follow Feels Like Healing on Instagram / Twitter / Facebook @flhpodcast
Produced / Edited by Al Lewis
Theme music by Al Lewis
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week my guest is the record producer/guitarist/songwriter Hugo White. Hugo was one of the founding members of the Mercury prize nominated indie rock band The Maccabees. They released four albums between 2007-2015: Colour It In, Wall of Arms, Given to the Wild and their final album Marks to Prove It. Hugo has since gone on to work as a record producer, including on the latest #1 album by Jamie T 'The Theory of Whatever'.
We talk about how Hugo used songwriting to help him process the death of his Mum, who passed away when Hugo was just 16, following a 12 year battle with Multiple Sclerosis.
We discuss the role that MS has played in both our lives, the impact that parenthood has had on our grief and Hugo's new band with his brothers, 86TVs.
You can find more information about Hugo by following him on Instagram / Twitter @hugowhitenoise
For more information about the MS Society visit: https://www.mssociety.org.uk/
Music featured in this episode:
'Silence' by The Maccabees (Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rk4ik8 )
Feels Like Healing is a show where I talk to creative people about how grief has shaped their art.
These conversations are here to show how those who have suffered loss have found comfort and solace through the act of being creative and how creativity can help us all better understand our grief and reach a place of healing.
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You can follow Feels Like Healing on Instagram / Twitter / Facebook @flhpodcast
Produced / Edited by Al Lewis
Theme music by Al Lewis
Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week my guest is Trinidadian-born saxophonist Jesse Ryan. Jesse is a saxophonist and composer with a keen interest in the connections between jazz and Afro-Caribbean musical traditions and communicating transcendent ideas through his music. Ryan’s debut album Bridges (2020) was nominated for a JUNO award and he was the recipient that year of the Toronto Arts Foundation’s Emerging Jazz Artist Award.
Ryan grew up in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago surrounded by a rich heritage of music and is the grandson of one of the islands’ calypso veteran, the late Clifton Ryan, aka the “Mighty Bomber”.
When he moved to Toronto in 2013, he had this unspoken fear of losing a loved one while he was away. That became a reality in 2017 when his mother was diagnosed with cancer and passed away on July 27, 2017. He was in Toronto when she passed away and couldn’t travel home in time to be with her. When that happened, he knew that one of the ways that he could deal with the trauma and process his grief was to write some music. That’s how the song 'The Night Before She Passed' came about.
You can find more information about Jesse via his website: https://www.jesseryanmuzik.com/
or follow Jesse on Instagram @jesseryansax
Music featured in this episode:
'The Night Before She Passed' by Jesse Ryan (Listen here: https://bit.ly/3CC54EJ)
Feels Like Healing is a show where I talk to creative people about how grief has shaped their art.
These conversations are here to show how those who have suffered loss have found comfort and solace through the act of being creative and how creativity can help us all better understand our grief and reach a place of healing.
::
You can follow Feels Like Healing on Instagram / Twitter / Facebook @flhpodcast
Produced / Edited by Al Lewis
Theme music by Al Lewis
Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week my guest is former Disney illustrator Gary Andrews. A few years back Gary started keeping a 'doodle diary' of daily events, as a happily married father-of-two it involved documenting the joy of family life with his wife and children. Sadly, not long after starting this daily exercise, Gary's wife Joy contracted and tragically died from sepsis and Gary was suddenly thrown into a new life as a widower and a single parent. The night of Joy's death Gary opened up his diary notebook and simply drew a broken heart. This was to be the beginning of a new chapter for Gary's 'doodle diary'. Throughout the various stages of his grief, Gary continued to document his thoughts and emotions as drawings on paper, gaining himself a huge following online along the way.
We talk about how Gary has used drawing to help him process the untimely death of Joy and how his drawings have helped open up conversations online about widowhood and grief.
In 2020, Gary's grief inspired doodles were made into a beautiful book 'Finding Joy'. You can purchase 'Finding Joy' here : Amazon : https://amzn.to/3Pv2d3j
You can find more information about Gary via his website: http://www.garyscribbler.co.uk/
or follow him on Instagram / Twitter @garyscribbler
Feels Like Healing is a show where I talk to creative people about how grief has shaped their art.
These conversations are here to show how those who have suffered loss have found comfort and solace through the act of being creative and how creativity can help us all better understand our grief and reach a place of healing.
::
You can follow Feels Like Healing on Instagram / Twitter / Facebook @flhpodcast
Produced / Edited by Al Lewis
Theme music by Al Lewis
Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week my guest is English singer/songwriter Charlie Barnes. He has released three albums; the latest, Last Night's Glitter, was released in July 2020. As well as performing and releasing music under his own name, Charlie is also a touring multi-instrumentalist with indie rock band Bastille.
We talk about how Charlie has used songwriting and performing to help him process the untimely death of his Mum, who died of breast cancer when Charlie was just 15.
You can find more information about Charlie via his website: https://www.charliebarnesmusic.co.uk/
or follow Charlie on Instagram / Twitter @charliebarnesmusic
Music featured in this episode:
'Film' by Charlie Barnes (Listen here: https://bit.ly/3phTwPa)
'Young at Heart' by The Society Pages (Listen here: https://thesocietypages.bandcamp.com/)
Feels Like Healing is a show where I talk to creative people about how grief has shaped their art.
These conversations are here to show how those who have suffered loss have found comfort and solace through the act of being creative and how creativity can help us all better understand our grief and reach a place of healing.
::
You can follow Feels Like Healing on Instagram / Twitter / Facebook @flhpodcast
Produced / Edited by Al Lewis
Theme music by Al Lewis
Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.
My guest this week is English singer/songwriter Sam Brookes. Sam is a Bristol-based alt folk artist who has featured and collaborated with artists as diverse as Lucy Rose and Basement Jaxx. His 2011 eponymous debut saw him named as Sunday Times ‘Breaking Act’ and his independently released follow up Kairos was picked as one of the best albums of 2014 by The Independent. Considerable streaming success and support slots for the likes of Willy Mason, Scott Matthews and Joan Armatrading have also earned Sam a dedicated following.
Black Feathers, which was released in 2020, is Sam's first album in six years and is described as “a meditation on grief”.
We talk about how Sam began writing the songs for Black Feathers as a response to several significant (and traumatic) life events which all occurred within a short space of time, the end of a long-term relationship, the death of his Dad and also the loss of a friend to suicide.
You can find more information about Sam at: https://www.sambrookes.com/
or follow Sam on Instagram / @sambrookes
Music featured in this episode:
'18 and Sleeping' by Sam Brookes (Listen here: https://bit.ly/3vNyf3k)
Feels Like Healing is a show where I talk to creative people about how grief has shaped their art.
These conversations are here to show how those who have suffered loss have found comfort and solace through the act of being creative and how creativity can help us all better understand our grief and reach a place of healing.
::
You can follow Feels Like Healing on Instagram / Twitter / Facebook @flhpodcast
Produced / Edited by Al Lewis
Theme music by Al Lewis
Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week my guest is Scottish singer/songwriter Mary Erskine. Growing up in rural Fife in a big old house near the sea, she started writing songs when she was 13. Mary first came to prominence as the lead singer of band 'Talk in Colour', before embarking on a solo career under the moniker 'Me for Queen'.
Mary's excellent cycling inspired album 'Iron Horse' was released at the very apt Stratford Velodrome in 2014 where the stage electricity for the whole launch was provided uniquely by cycle power from the audience. Mary is also in demand as a theatre writer and session musician playing on recordings and live performances for various artists.
We talk about how Mary turned to songwriting to help her process the often unspoken trauma of miscarriage.
You can find more information about Mary at: https://www.meforqueen.com
Support her via her Ko-Fi page: https://ko-fi.com/meforqueen
or follow Mary on Instagram / Twitter @MeForQueen
Music featured in this episode:
'These Hands' by Me For Queen (Listen here: https://meforqueen.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-red-gables-ep)
'Inside' by Me for Queen
Feels Like Healing is a show where I talk to creative people about how grief has shaped their art.
These conversations are here to show how those who have suffered loss have found comfort and solace through the act of being creative and how creativity can help us all better understand our grief and reach a place of healing.
::
You can follow Feels Like Healing on Instagram / Twitter / Facebook @flhpodcast
Produced / Edited by Al Lewis
Theme music by Al Lewis
Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week my guest is English double bassist John Parker. John first came to prominence as one half of the band Nizlopi, which he formed in Leamington Spa with his best friend from school Luke Concannon.
In 2004, they released their first album Half These Songs Are About You, "JCB" became a single from that album and reached number one on the UK Singles Chart on the 18 December 2005. It eventually won the duo an Impala Platinum award recognising sales of over 500,000 copies of the song across Europe in 2007.
John now works as a freelance session player and has worked alongside artists such as Maz O'Connor, Polly Paulusma, Jake Morley and Paper Aeroplanes.
We talk about how John used creativity and music as an outlet to help him through the grief of losing his Dad when he was 14. John also talks about what life has been like as a full-time carer for his Mum before she sadly passed away last year.
You can follow John on Instagram @JP_Plays_Double_Bass_
Music featured in this episode:
'JCB Song' by Nizlopi (Listen here: https://bit.ly/3PvCdW8)
Feels Like Healing is a show where I talk to creative people about how grief has shaped their art.
These conversations are here to show how those who have suffered loss have found comfort and solace through the act of being creative and how creativity can help us all better understand our grief and reach a place of healing.
::
You can follow Feels Like Healing on Instagram / Twitter / Facebook @flhpodcast
Produced / Edited by Al Lewis
Theme music by Al Lewis
Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week my guest is Welsh singer/songwriter Sarah Howells. Sarah first came to prominence in the Welsh music scene with her band 'Jylt', which she formed with her best friend from school Nia George.
Just as the band were beginning to make waves, Nia was diagnosed with leukaemia and sadly died at just 21.
Sarah continued in music and went on to form the band 'Halflight' with Richard Llewellyn which would later become 'Paper Aeroplanes'.
The band achieved great success in the UK and Europe, touring extensively and releasing 4 albums between 2009-2015.
Sarah now releases music under the moniker 'Bryde' and with around 10 Million streams on Spotify alone and a nomination for the Welsh Music Prize, Bryde has taken Sarah to several corners of the globe.
We talk about how Sarah has used her creativity and songwriting to help her through the grief of losing Nia at such a young age.
You can find more information about Bryde at: https://www.brydemusic.com/
or follow Sarah on Instagram / Twitter @BrydeOfficial
Music featured in this episode:
'Silence' by Bryde (Listen here: https://bit.ly/3yILpPV)
'The Ending' by Halflight
'Days We Made' by Paper Aeroplanes (Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Ppy2L2)
Feels Like Healing is a show where I talk to creative people about how grief has shaped their art.
These conversations are here to show how those who have suffered loss have found comfort and solace through the act of being creative and how creativity can help us all better understand our grief and reach a place of healing.
::
You can follow Feels Like Healing on Instagram / Twitter / Facebook @flhpodcast
Produced / Edited by Al Lewis
Theme music by Al Lewis
Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week my guest is Welsh singer/songwriter Ywain 'Yws' Gwynedd. Yws first came to prominence in the Welsh Language music scene with his band 'Frizbee', who released 3 albums before Yws took a break from music to work in television. In 2014, Yws returned to music with a brand new band, singing under his own name. The band have achieved huge success since then with well over 1 Million streams on Spotify after their debut album Codi / \ Cysgu won Best LP at Y Selar music awards and was nominated for best Welsh-language album of the year at the National Eisteddfod in 2015.
We talk about how Yws has used his creativity and songwriting to help him firstly, through the grief of losing his brother, who died in a car accident when Yws was just 19 and then how the grief of losing a child during pregnancy inspired Yws to write one of his most famous songs 'Sebona Fi'.
You can follow Yws on Instagram / Twitter @YwsGwynedd
Music featured in this episode:
'Sebona Fi' by Yws Gwynedd (Listen here: https://bit.ly/3AFx21z)
'Deryn Du' by Yws Gwynedd (Listen here: https://bit.ly/3c2DXYp)
Feels Like Healing is a show where I talk to creative people about how grief has shaped their art.
These conversations are here to show how those who have suffered loss have found comfort and solace through the act of being creative and how creativity can help us all better understand our grief and reach a place of healing.
::
You can follow Feels Like Healing on Instagram / Twitter / Facebook @flhpodcast
Produced / Edited by Al Lewis
Theme music by Al Lewis
Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week my guest is Welsh author Manon Steffan Ros. Her first novel for adults Fel Aderyn (Like a Bird), reached the shortlist for Wales Book of the Year in 2010 and her novel Blasu won the Fiction Prize at the 2013 Wales Book of the Year. Ros translated Blasu into English with the title The Seasoning and was published by Honno in 2015. As well as her books for adults, Ros has found great acclaim in her children’s writing. She has won the prestigious Tir Na N-Og prize for Welsh children’s literature four times, with her novels Trwy’r Tonnau (2010), Prism (2012), Pluen (2017) and Fi a Joe Allen (2019). Her latest novel is the award-winning 'The Blue Book of Nebo'.
We talk about how Manon has used creativity and writing to help her through the grief of losing her Mum, who died of cancer when Manon was just 19.
You can follow Manon on Twitter @ManonSteffanRos
Feels Like Healing is a show where I talk to creative people about how grief has shaped their art.
These conversations are here to show how those who have suffered loss have found comfort and solace through the act of being creative and how creativity can help us all better understand our grief and reach a place of healing.
::
You can follow Feels Like Healing on Instagram / Twitter / Facebook @flhpodcast
Produced / Edited by Al Lewis
Theme music by Al Lewis
Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week my guest is English singer/songwriter Jake Morley. Born in London, his debut record Many Fish to Fry led to a residency at Ronnie Scotts, headline tours across the UK, Europe and Canada, airplay across BBC Radio and live performances on national television. This Autumn Jake will be bringing his distinctive songwriting and implausible guitar playing to towns and cities across the UK to showcase material from his upcoming third studio album.
We talk about how Jake used creativity and songwriting to help him through the grief of losing his Dad, who was killed in the 7/7 bombings in London.
You can follow Jake on Instagram / Twitter @jakemorley
Find more information about Jake and sign up to his mailing list by visiting: https://jakemorley.com/
Music featured in this episode:
'Dead Fathers Club' by Jake Morley
Feels Like Healing is a show where I talk to creative people about how grief has shaped their art.
These conversations are here to show how those who have suffered loss have found comfort and solace through the act of being creative and how creativity can help us all better understand our grief and reach a place of healing.
::
You can follow Feels Like Healing on Instagram / Twitter / Facebook @flhpodcast
Produced / Edited by Al Lewis
Theme music by Al Lewis
Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feels Like Healing is a show where I talk to creative people about how grief has shaped their art.
These conversations are here to show how those who have suffered loss have found comfort and solace through the act of being creative and how creativity can help us all better understand our grief and reach a place of healing.
You can follow Feels Like Healing on Instagram / Twitter @flhpodcast
Produced / Edited by Al Lewis
Theme music by Al Lewis