Mel Bampton on the psychology of producing, festivals & mental health in music

Mel Bampton has spent over thirty years on Australian radio. She is an author, yoga practitioner and accomplished music journalist who began her career at triple j in Brisbane. In this conversation, Mel reflects on producing the radio series and book Off The Record, travelling the world to interview legendary producers like Steve Albini and Michael Beinhorn. She shares inside stories from her time as a key figure behind Soundwave Festival, once Australia’s largest touring music event. She also shares her origin story and how the music industry, drugs and alcohol are linked.

We explore the power of music and how it shapes identity, emotion and behaviour, along with the mental health impact of building a life in the industry. This is a conversation about creativity, psychology and what happens when music becomes more than something you listen to.

Experience the show on Spotify Podcasts, Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast platform.