Podcast series featuring street musicians from Melbourne. Produced, recorded and edited by Daniel Bacchieri.

Beyond Bourke Street: Melbourne Buskers in the Digital World

UK Australian based singer-songwriter Poppy WS shares her busking experiences on the streets of cities like Melbourne and Manchester.

Interview recorded on October 28, 2020 (Zoom recording) by Daniel Bacchieri.

Music excerpts from the songs "Bella", "Drown", "Risky Business", "Someone Else". All songs written by Poppy WS.

https://poppyws.bandcamp.com/
https://soundcloud.com/poppyws
https://www.instagram.com/poppyws/
https://www.facebook.com/poppyws
https://open.spotify.com/artist/54TrVhukv6MXxisfFMVJXJ

[Beyond Bourke Street] #17 POPPY WS

Singer Shana Davenport explains how she got inspired by Melbourne buskers to become a street musician herself. 

Interview recorded on November 8, 2020 (Zoom recording) by Daniel Bacchieri.

Music excerpts from the song "Help", written by Shana Davenport and Amber Barry.

https://www.instagram.com/shanamusicc/
https://www.facebook.com/shanamusicc
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt4zXfydIOoDbx80LEw-sBw/featured

Photo​ Credit​: Jordan Barling

[Beyond Bourke Street] #20 SHANA DAVENPORT

Argentine composer and multi-instrumentalist Pablo Cravzov describes how busking in Melbourne helps him to improve his craft and why he enjoys the challenge of getting people's attention on the streets throughout his music performance. 

Interview recorded on June 28, 2021 (Zoom recording) by Daniel Bacchieri.

Music excerpts from the songs "Going Away", "Reborn", "Slumber". All songs written by Pablo Cravzov.

https://www.instagram.com/cravzov/
https://www.facebook.com/cravzov
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC806W85OZJC53KRIPW7MqJQ
https://open.spotify.com/artist/02jWGXdZnvZRnH0ykIImTd
https://soundcloud.com/cravzov
https://cravzov.bandcamp.com/music

[Beyond Bourke Street] #21 PABLO CRAVZOV

Colombian Melbourne based singer ALETHIA reveals how her busking experience in Australia influences her performance on stage.

Interview recorded on July 1, 2021 (Zoom recording) by Daniel Bacchieri.

Music excerpts from the songs "Closer", "Destino", "Recuérdame", "Sometimes I Feel That Way". All songs written by ALETHIA.

https://www.alethiamusic.com/
https://linktr.ee/ALETHIAmusic

[Beyond Bourke Street] #22 ALETHIA

Melbourne-based rapper J Verse presents a melting pot of Hip Hop, R&B and Afrobeats​. ​The artist, born in Dubai, became a social media sensation while rapping for street celebrities. His TikTok video with NBA icon/DJ Shaquille O'Neal has more than 12,5 million views (https://www.tiktok.com/@jversee/video/7135448272344288514). 

Interview recorded on May 20, 2023 (Swanston Street, Melbourne Central Business District) by Daniel Bacchieri.

Music excerpts from the songs "My Lil Dancer", "Take Too Long", "Star", "Why Can't We", "Losing You". All songs written by J Verse.

https://www.tiktok.com/@jversee
https://www.instagram.com/jverse/
https://www.youtube.com/c/judeeid
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4HGo8l4MbcAYghnxg5kZmB

[Beyond Bourke Street] #26 J VERSE

From station to station (especially Southern Cross and Flinders railway stations in Melbourne), freestyle hip-hop artist Joshua Caleb considers the streets his main stage to perform. The half-Irish, half-Ghanaian composer/producer/trumpet player enjoys improvising during his live busking sessions, inspired by his connections with an audience passing through his eyes.

Interview recorded on May 26, 2023 (outside Southern Cross Station, Melbourne Central Business District) by Daniel Bacchieri.

Music excerpts from the songs "Respect to TMH", "Two Edge Blade", "Soul Train", "Sadly Glad", "City Kids", "Flinders Street Freestyle (Live)", "LML (Live My Life)", "Blasphemy". All songs written by Joshua Caleb.

Photo credit: Jacob Gower

https://www.instagram.com/thestoryofjoshua/
https://www.youtube.com/@TheStoryOfJoshua
https://www.abc.net.au/triplejunearthed/artist/joshua-caleb/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2GBVsvao92PsUfMLH665th

[Beyond Bourke Street] #28 JOSHUA CALEB

Indonesian-born Perth-raised and now based in Melbourne, pop/folk singer Leon Kroeber is focused on performing in the streets of the Central Business District to build his audience. Leon blends original songs with cover versions throughout his busking sessions on Swanston Street and Bourke Street.

Interview recorded on June 8, 2023 (Swanston Street, Melbourne Central Business District) by Daniel Bacchieri.

Music excerpts from the song "Red", written by Leon Kroeber.

https://www.instagram.com/imleonkroeber/
https://www.youtube.com/@imLeonKroeber
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2PLPYcevxqMkWYFW5y5DzV
https://www.tiktok.com/@imleonkroeber
https://soundcloud.com/imleonkroeber

Photo credit: Krish Miglani

[Beyond Bourke Street] #29 LEON KROEBER

Having worked every type of gig, from pubs to stadiums worldwide, singer-guitarist John Crosbie found new inspiration in the “naked honesty” of busking solo on Melbourne’s streets. 

Interview recorded on May 30, 2023 (Bourke Street Mall, Melbourne Central Business District) by Daniel Bacchieri.

Music excerpts from the songs "Brand New Day", "Eternal", "Here Close to You", "My Sanctuary", "Right Next to You", "I Need a Song". All songs written by John Crosbie.

https://www.johncrosbie.com/

[Beyond Bourke Street] #31 JOHN CROSBIE

Originally from Bairnsdale (East Gippsland, Victoria), guitarist Adam Seidel was inspired by Melbourne buskers from the 2010s like Tash Sultana. Nowadays, he performs at Bourke Street Mall, treating the act of busking as his full-time job.

Interview recorded on April 20, 2022 (Bourke Street Mall, Melbourne Central Business District) by Daniel Bacchieri.

Music excerpts from songs written by Adam Seidel.

Photo credit: bc.visuals_

https://www.instagram.com/adamseidelmusic/

[Beyond Bourke Street] #32 ADAM SEIDEL

Gareth Wiecko is a Welsh-born pianist and producer living in Melbourne, where his busking sessions helped him pay for college (at the Australian Institute of Music) and played an essential role in obtaining a permanent resident visa in Australia. 

Interview recorded on April 16, 2022 (Bourke Street Mall, Melbourne Central Business District) by Daniel Bacchieri.

Music excerpts from the songs "Pads", "IO", and "INNI". All songs were written by Gareth Wiecko.

Photo credit: Daniel Bacchieri

https://linktr.ee/garethwiecko

[Beyond Bourke Street] #33 GARETH WIECKO

A regular Melbourne busker since 2020, Indian-born Mukul Jiwnani produced 'an ethnographic inquiry of how the current culture of musical busking in Melbourne CBD accommodates innovation for a musician and its implications for one’s creative practice' as part of his Master of Music at the Australian Institute of Music (AIM).

Interview recorded on April 18, 2022 (Flinders Walk by the Yarra River, Melbourne Central Business District) by Daniel Bacchieri.

Music excerpts from the song "Brand New Tie", written by Mukul Jiwnani.

Photo credit: Rachel May

https://linktr.ee/mukuljiwnani

[Beyond Bourke Street] #34 MUKUL JIWNANI

Born in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (a union territory of India at the junction of the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea), Honeyboy Des has been busking in Melbourne since 2006. 

Interview recorded on April 16, 2022 (Bourke Street Mall, Melbourne Central Business District) by Daniel Bacchieri.

Music excerpts from the song "Lawrence School Reunion Song", written by Honeyboy Des.

Photo credit: Honeyboy Des personal archive

https://www.youtube.com/@HoneyboyDes
https://www.instagram.com/honeyboydes/

[Beyond Bourke Street] #36 HONEYBOY DES

Originally from Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley, the McDermott & North duo brought their Indie Folk Rock harmonies to the streets of Melbourne. While some buskers search the city's central area for recognition, Paddy (McDermott) and Rhys (North) look towards the suburbs of Melbourne and the countryside of Victoria to present their original songs.

Interview recorded on April 25, 2022 (Banana Alley by the Yarra River, Melbourne Central Business District) by Daniel Bacchieri.

Music excerpts from the songs "Ally", "Broken Girl", "Everytime (I'm a Little Bit Like You)", "Georgia", "Sunshine Bank Holiday", "Through the Wind", "Anything Sally Says", written by McDermott & North.

Photo credit: Alex Minnie Hutchison

https://linktr.ee/McdermottAndNorth

[Beyond Bourke Street] #37 McDERMOTT & NORTH

The Sicilian-born Margherita Benincasa chose the streets of Melbourne to try out her first busking session. The singer-songwriter defined her experience performing at Southbank and Melbourne Central Business District as a positive turning point in her career as a musician. 

Interview recorded on April 15, 2022 (Southbank, Melbourne) by Daniel Bacchieri.

Music excerpts from the song "Inverno", written by Margherita Benincasa.

Photo credit: Henry Lim

https://linktr.ee/Margherita_bs

[Beyond Bourke Street] #38 MARGHERITA BENINCASA

Bosnian-born singer-songwriter V Don Dada has been busking in Melbourne for the last seven years, mixing street performances at the Central Business District with impromptu gigs by the seashore. The hip-hop artist celebrates the busking events promoted by the City of Melbourne and believes that such programs are pivotal to providing a stable income for buskers.

Interview recorded on June 26, 2023 (Zoom recording) by Daniel Bacchieri.

Music excerpts from the songs "Redlight", "I Am", "My Kriptnite", "Big Girls Pants On", and "Six Thirty-Five". All songs written by V Don Dada.

Photo credit: Jv Azores Carlos https://www.instagram.com/just.street__/

https://www.instagram.com/vdondada
https://open.spotify.com/artist/5erZAnNBiXmsWRV8rnGtrR
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtxNVgQG0YQn22XTdEk_kqw

[Beyond Bourke Street] #39 V DON DADA

​Cutting their teeth as buskers in Melbourne's Bourke Street Mall​ during the mid-2010s (along with local acts like Tash Sultana, Pierce Brothers, and Opal Ocean), "Heavy Flamenco"​ Malcura is ready to reconnect with the sidewalks of the Central Business District in 2023.  

Interview with guitarist Josh Voce recorded on June 26 and June 28, 2023 (Zoom recording) by Daniel Bacchieri.

Music excerpts from the songs "Ayendi", "Black Cloud Float, Pt. 1", "Black Cloud Float, Pt. 2", "Keyzer Soze", "Captain Snus", "Malcura (Malcura II)". All songs written by Malcura.

https://www.instagram.com/malcura
https://twitter.com/malcuraband
https://soundcloud.com/malcura
https://open.spotify.com/artist/7sCanc3ETQqtB9YhbWTiXh

[Beyond Bourke Street] #40 MALCURA (with Josh Voce)

Australian/Indian/Swiss/German/Spanish ​ISHAN takes his multicultural musical influences to the streets of Melbourne. The singer-songwriter​ believes the online ​environment has become crucial for street performances and also reveals how busking in the Central Business District can be compared with his street music experience in the Melbourne suburbs (for instance, Hawthorn in the City of Boroondara).

Interview recorded on June 30, 2023 (Zoom recording) by Daniel Bacchieri.

Music excerpts from the songs "Hello", "Apologies", "Bad Dream", "Go", and "This Blank Wall". All songs written by ISHAN.

Photo credit: https://www.instagram.com/ten.g.studios/

https://linktr.ee/ishanincaps

[Beyond Bourke Street] #41 ISHAN

Parisian guitarist Tezzmakk enjoys presenting his work on the sidewalks of Swanston Street. The Blues-oriented player also likes to experiment through impromptu performances with other Melbourne buskers, exploring the encounters in a busy street to create new sounds.  

Interview recorded on August 19, 2023 (Cocker Alley, Melbourne Central Business District) by Daniel Bacchieri.

Music excerpts from the songs "Finally" (feat. Adrien Cayu, MosWavey & Tezzmakk) by Jwittit, "Sunset" (feat. Tezzmakk) by Jwittit, "Exactly" (feat. Joshua Caleb, MosWavey & Tezzmakk), by Jwittit and Leyvi.

Photo credit: Daniel Bacchieri

https://www.instagram.com/tezzmakk/

[Beyond Bourke Street] #42 TEZZMAKK

Rapper and producer Jwittit discovered himself as an artist during the COVID-19 lockdowns in Melbourne when he decided to invest his time in learning the fundamentals of music production. He has been freestyling in the streets of Melbourne ever since. Originally from Brisbane, Queensland, Jwittit shares enthusiasm regarding the 'Melbourne busking scene' through his production with other local street musicians. 

Interview recorded on August 19, 2023 (Cocker Alley, Melbourne Central Business District) by Daniel Bacchieri.

Music excerpts from the songs "Climb", "Moment", "Soaring", "Watch Out", "Didn't I", "Mirror", and "Should've Know". All songs written by Jwittit. 

Photo credit: Nauman https://www.instagram.com/naumanbadar/

https://www.instagram.com/jwittit/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2XhIGArQu6tlQXkKEwaiAw

[Beyond Bourke Street] #43 JWITTIT

Multi-instrumentalist Umbra Moon believes social media changed the game for busking. The UK-born artist and producer has been a frequent street musician at the Bourke Street Mall, where their live sessions are constantly shared on social media platforms by passersby/fans. 

Interview recorded on August 10, 2023 (Bourke Street Mall, Melbourne Central Business District) by Daniel Bacchieri.

Music excerpts from the songs "Fool Me", "Only U in the End", and "Temporary Healing". All songs written by Umbra Moon.

Photo credit: https://www.instagram.com/k_sacco/

https://linktr.ee/umbramoon

[Beyond Bourke Street] #44 UMBRA MOON

Born in Japan (in Kuwana, 30km from Nagoya), Blues artist George Kamikawa has been playing on the streets of Melbourne since the early 2000s. His journey as a busker started in New Zealand after observing a musician performing on the sidewalks of Auckland. Nowadays, George blends busking sessions with shows in venues, corporate gigs, and festival appearances in Australia and overseas. 

Interview recorded on September 23, 2023 (Swanston Street, Melbourne Central Business District) by Daniel Bacchieri.

Music excerpts from the songs "Devil in Your Bed", "Sake Blues", "Black Water Blowing", "Early in the Morning", "Sandhill", "Mountain Rag", "Creeper". All songs written by George Kamikawa.

Photo credit: Daniel Bacchieri

https://www.georgekamikawa.com.au/

[Beyond Bourke Street] #45 GEORGE KAMIKAWA

4 decades of beats and drums, works with Gil Scott-Heron, Richie Havens and a daily history lesson on the NYC subway: StreetMusicMap Radio presents Michael Taliaferro aka 'Bongo'.

[USA] #2 MICHAEL TALIAFERRO aka Bongo

TOO MANY ZOOZ is a music group based in New York City, New York, United States, formed by Leo P. (baritone saxophone), Matt Doe (trumpet) and King of Sludge(drums). Leo P. and Matt Doe met at the Manhattan School of Music where they were attending and, having teamed up with King of Sludge from the band Drumadics, the trio started busking at various stations in the New York City Subway in their self-defined genre brass house. They gained fame when a video of one of their subway performances, recorded by a passer-by at Union Square station, went viral on YouTube in March 2014. The band is acclaimed for their originality, the members' playing abilities, and Leo P.'s characteristic dance moves while playing the sax.

The band has released 3 EPs and their first full-length studio album titled Subway Gawdz on June 27, 2016.

http://toomanyzooz.com/
https://www.facebook.com/toomanyzooz/
https://twitter.com/toomanyzooz
https://www.instagram.com/toomanyzooz/


Text: Wikipedia.
Photo: TOO MANY ZOOZ's Official Facebook Page.
Songs by TOO MANY ZOOZ.

[USA] #4 TOO MANY ZOOZ (with Leo P.)

Originally hailing from the North Country of New York, husband and wife duo Coyote & Crow have been described as the "White Stripes of Bluegrass." With velvet-meets-sandpaper vocals, high energy foot-stomping rhythms, and unconventional banjo picking, they play a blend of Rock'N'Roll, Folk-Americana and Old Time Mountain music on homemade and modified instruments. Their distinct roots sound, which they have coined "Old-Time Rock'n'Soul," is sure to make your heart smile and your feet move.

Currently living in Brooklyn, they have quickly become some of NYC's most well known buskers; considered the embodiment of Greenwich Village and the personification of NYC's creative soul. They have gained worldwide recognition from their viral YouTube video and their One of a Kind Upright Banjo Bass.

Thomas Kopie - Banjo, suitcase Percussion, Lead Vocals
Jaime Kopie - Double Banjo Bass, Back Up Vocals, suitcase snare

http://coyoteandcrow.com/
https://coyoteandcrow.bandcamp.com/music

[USA] #5 COYOTE & CROW

BRazaman is a reggae singer-songwriter from Brazil who has been performing his live looping act in the streets of Melbourne since 2015. 

Interview recorded on October 23, 2019 (Bourke Street, Melbourne Central Business District), and July 3, 2020 (Zoom recording) by Daniel Bacchieri.

Music excerpts from the songs "Ancestah", "Blind Leader", "Warfare" (feat. Belle), "King of Kings", "No Black No White" (feat. Ras JahKnow), "Under The Sun", "Keep The Faith".

https://www.brazaman.com
https://www.facebook.com/brazamanpage/
https://www.instagram.com/brazaman.music/

Photo Credit: Fernando Ximeno

[Beyond Bourke Street] #3 BRAZAMAN

Jesse Witney is an independent artist who mixes Soul, Brazilian and Roots music through his original songs. Born in a small town in Queensland called Gympie, Jesse currently lives in Melbourne, Australia, after living in Europe (Berlin, Germany) and South America (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil).

Interview recorded on July 30, 2020 (Zoom recording) by Daniel Bacchieri.

Music excerpts from the songs "Ao Seu Redor", "Apple of My Eye", "Australia", "Be It", "Hold You", "Make You Mine", "Paradise", "Rescue Me", "Teresa Teresinha", "The System".

https://www.jessewitney.com/
https://www.facebook.com/jessewitneymusic/
https://www.instagram.com/jessewitney/

Photo Credit: Ellen Burbidge

[Beyond Bourke Street] #5 JESSE WITNEY

R&B and Pop singer-songwriter JXCKY has been performing on the streets of Melbourne since 2017.

Interview recorded on August 12, 2020 (Zoom recording) by Daniel Bacchieri.

Music excerpts from the songs "Drive Thru", "Where You Been" and "Paper Town" (written by Daniel Roughley, recorded by JXCKY).

https://www.facebook.com/jxckymusic
https://www.instagram.com/jxckymusic
https://twitter.com/jxckymusic

Photo Credit: Jane Novella

[Beyond Bourke Street] #6 JXCKY

Melbourne’s blues talent Aaron Pollock, 2020 finalist at the International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis, USA, also performs his art on Bourke Street Mall.

Interview recorded on September 25, 2020 (Zoom recording) by Daniel Bacchieri.

Music excerpts from the songs "Brown Ave Blues", "Girl, You Make Me Feel So Lonesome", "All That Becomes", "Song At Sea", "Too Much Thinking", "Fear Of Flying", and "Damn". All songs written by Aaron Pollock.

https://aaronpollockmusic.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Aaronpollockmusic/
https://www.instagram.com/aaronpollock.music/

[Beyond Bourke Street] #7 AARON POLLOCK

Multi-instrumentalist Steph Strings enjoys performing on Sundays at the Camberwell Sunday Market, a few kilometers east from Melbourne's Central Business District. The 20 year old virtuoso guitar player is one of the best examples why Melbourne's street music scene goes beyond Bourke Street.

Interview recorded on October 27, 2020 (Zoom recording) by Daniel Bacchieri.

All songs written by Steph Strings.

https://www.instagram.com/stephstringsmusic/
https://www.facebook.com/stephstrings/
https://soundcloud.com/user-674315187
https://open.spotify.com/artist/39qxIdIb1R6se4J3X6nRPB

[Beyond Bourke Street] #9 STEPH STRINGS

Round About Amy keeps looping on the streets of Melbourne, bringing up original songs by the sidewalks.

Interview recorded on October 28, 2020 (Zoom recording) by Daniel Bacchieri.

Music excerpts from the songs "Cord Line" and "Don't You Grow Up". All songs written by Amy Cumming.

https://www.facebook.com/roundaboutamy/
https://www.instagram.com/roundaboutamy/

[Beyond Bourke Street] #11 ROUND ABOUT AMY

Los Angeles Melbourne-based Noah Peters shares his experiences about busking in Australia and in the USA.

Interview recorded on October 16, 2020 (Zoom recording) by Daniel Bacchieri.

Music excerpts from the songs "Double Edge Blade", "Help Me Stand", "Ray", "The Man", "The World Won't Change ". All songs written by Noah Peters.

https://www.instagram.com/therealnoahpeters/
https://www.facebook.com/noahpetersmusic/
https://soundcloud.com/user6217251
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6QfVJrUYAkjH2gaYOHT1YP

[Beyond Bourke Street] #13 NOAH PETERS

Since his arrival in Melbourne 5 years ago, Colombian singer-songwriter Sebastian Lugo has been performing rock ballads and electronic vibes around the Central Business District's sidewalks.

Interview recorded on November 3, 2020 (Zoom recording) by Daniel Bacchieri.

Music excerpts from the songs "Nena" (feat. Sebastian Lugo & MC Seba), "Please Come Back " (feat. Ruby-Sofia & Sarah Ryan), "Un Par De Palabras". All songs written and produced by the Anunnaki production team. 

Sebastian Lugo
https://www.instagram.com/sebastian_lugo_oficial/
https://www.facebook.com/SebastianLugoOficial/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/5S6q5QV7WSD8NfhDJHIUMQ

Anunnaki
https://www.instagram.com/anunnaki_official/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwOxeM5DE84iUN69NHqEqww/about

Photo Credit: Alistair Wallace

[Beyond Bourke Street] #14 SEBASTIAN LUGO

Born and raised in Far North Queensland, based in Tasmania and a regular Melbourne busker, singer-songwriter Tasha Zappala released 4 albums in the last 4 years, a body of work full of post-folk blues and gypsy melodies. 

Interview recorded on October 23, 2020 (Zoom recording) by Daniel Bacchieri.

Music excerpts from the songs "Sweet Love", "Flores", "Dreambox", "Glass Eyes", "It's Always Morning Time", "Kafka", "Reflections", "Dreamstate", "Murakami Love Song". All songs written by Tasha Zappala.

https://www.instagram.com/tashazappala/
https://tashazappala.bandcamp.com/
https://soundcloud.com/tashazappala
https://open.spotify.com/artist/29nt3JakWZaavFuVNKAdS1
https://www.facebook.com/TashaZappalaDotCom

[Beyond Bourke Street] #15 TASHA ZAPPALA

Multi-instrumentalist Ben Fumi (singer of Mojo Jacket) shares his busking experiences in Melbourne (Victoria), Byron Bay (New South Wales), and Queenstown (New Zealand).

Interview recorded on October 19, 2020 (Zoom recording) by Daniel Bacchieri.

Music excerpts from the songs "The Movie Song", "Scarlet Woman", "Offering", "Magic Rendezvous", "3 Girls", "Stay". All songs written by Ben Fumi.

https://mojojacket.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/mojojacket
https://www.instagram.com/mojojacket/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/5N5ue6YmMVKwhspEXKSN49
https://soundcloud.com/ben-fumi/sets/mojo-jacket-offering-ep

[Beyond Bourke Street] #16 BEN FUMI

StreetMusicMap Radio, a global research on street music. Produced, recorded, and edited by Daniel Bacchieri. Newest podcast series: 'Beyond Bourke Street: Melbourne Buskers in the Digital World'.

Beyond Bourke Street

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