James Halstead aka TEJAVU

Lexe, multi-instrumentalist, and emerging pop-soul super star. She believes in musics ability to comfort others and wields the pop genre for heart-felt connection with a wide audience. We talk about the transition between high school to full time work and balancing that with creating music. She told me about the heavy pressure she was putting herself under to get high grades so she could obtain a scholarship and the hindsight she had after she quit high school. We also talk about the inspiration behind her debut song Empathy, which has been a byproduct of having therapists as parents. - Listen to Empathy by LEXE here. - Access exclusive content via Patreon. - Follow LEXE on Instagram. - Follow Why Did You Make It on Instagram. - Learn more about the host here.

Timothy Fairless, multi-instrumentalist composer and producer. Much more prolific than myself, all the while incorporating enviable audio visual performance and exhibitions. Timothy and I talk about the importance of balancing music creation and socialising. Engaging with other musicians can be more than networking. It can be the single best part of making music. We also talk about working in bands in comparison to solo work and remote collaboration. - Listen to Timothy Fairless here. - Access exclusive content via Patreon. - Follow Timothy Fairless on Instagram. - Follow Why Did You Make It on Instagram. - Learn more about the host here.

Julia R Anderson, musician, engineer from Meanjin (Brisbane). Known for their self titled solo project. Beautiful art rock recorded on a portable 4 track with Julia's vocals soaring throughout. Their approach to production is a part of the ambient, lofi, acoustic world I often love finding myself in. She's now drumming with alt-country band Camping and working on more noise experimental music as well. We talk about the grey in everything when balancing life decisions from working part time to support your creative outlets, to choosing to walk away entirely from music to pursue a white collar career. There are sacrifices to be made in life especially when the creative field is your destination. Toward the end we hear Julia's suggestion to relight your creative fire when it starts to go out. - Listen to Julia R Anderson here. - Access exclusive content via Patreon. - Follow Julia on Instagram.  - Follow Why Did You Make It on Instagram. - Learn more about the host here.

Henry Reese, the human vessel for Lite Fails;  scrappy ambient music which "could fall apart at any moment". We have an enlightening talk about breaking rules in music and the often overlooked but strong experimental practices of musicians in Meanjin. It's a big deep dive into Henry's brain and some observations they've made from the past decade or so. - Listen to Lite Fails here. - Access exclusive content via Patreon. - Follow Lite Fails on Instagram.  - Follow Why Did You Make It on Instagram. - Learn more about the host here.

James Halstead, Meanjin (Brisbane) based producer who goes by the name Tejavu. Known for their creative pop sensibilities which has helped WIGZ and BRIA release a handful of well listened singles. A ball of good energy with a touch of chaos. We talk about their transition into working as a producer full time, the methods behind helping musicians make their music, and their approach to working in the music industry. - Listen to TEJAVU here. - Access exclusive content via Patreon.  - Follow TEJAVU on Instagram.  - Follow Why Did You Make It on Instagram.  - Learn more about the host here.

John Russell is the owner of 4000 Records. He's the legs for many musicians and a helping hand for our community in general. Humble, and often hidden behind the admin curtain; I was very excited to have him agree to come on the podcast. This marks our first episode with a guest who is not primarily a musician. As the podcast has progressed I've realised inviting people who are part of the background of the music scene could be great! We talk about Johns progression into running a record label, some side projects he's a part of, and some tips for indie musicians. - Listen to 4000 Records Catalogue. - Access exclusive content via Patreon. - Follow 4000 Records on Instagram. - Follow Why Did You Make It on Instagram. - Learn more about the host here.

Andrew Tuttle, our own powerfully self confident experimental folk artist. Andrew is well known to the musicians in Meanjin as the familiar, bubbly banjo playing, APRA/AMCOS representative. In the Autumn of 2020 Andrew released his fourth studio album through Someone Good, with the help of Aidan Hogg, Chuck Johnson, and Lawrence English. An album which immediately takes me to a distinctive Australian dry Eucalypt forest, with a light sweat on my forehead, and cicadas surrounding me. Andrew and I talk about the importance of loving your own music and avoiding overworking songs. We touch on evaluating when and when not to play shows, and setting boundaries for yourself. - Listen to Andrew Tuttle's music. - Access exclusive content via Patreon. - Follow Andrew Tuttle on Instagram. - Follow Why Did You Make It on Instagram. - Learn more about the host here.

Kate and I talk about keeping a kind perspective when it comes to self reflection. Realising the hurdles young artists are facing due to pandemic study, shifting performance styles and bands, continuing to do what you do while remembering that it's not about being the 'best', it's about just doing a little better than you did yesterday. - Access exclusive content via Patreon. - Follow Margot Fenton on Instagram. - Follow Why Did You Make It on Instagram. - Learn more about the host here.

Millie and I talk about their experience living in New York and how people connect to music. Millie warns of falling in the trap of writing for someone else rather than yourself, and the physical damage that can have on someone. - Access exclusive content via Patreon. - Follow Millie Khalu on Instagram. - Follow Why Did You Make It on Instagram. - Learn more about the host here.

Kirra and I talk about their experimental vocal recording approaches, musical burnout, and creative tourism. - Access exclusive content via Patreon. - Follow Kirra Lily on Instagram. - Follow Why Did You Make It on Instagram. - Learn more about the host here.