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We speak with the amazing Rai Thistlethwayte on his incredible international career as an acclaimed keyboard player across a range of genres. As you’ll hear / see, Rai is an incredibly down-to-earth and insightful musician with some great perspectives on the keyboard playing life. Enjoy!
To listen / watch:
- Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or:
- Video: watch the embedded video below or check it and previous episodes out on our YouTube Channel
Discussion topics covered during the show (links will open in new tab):
Moving from ‘nerdy’ keyboard player to guitar wielding front-man of a rock band (and doing both)
Rai’s musical upbringing
Early exposure to the music industry and record contracts
Rai and Thirsty Merc in action – The Grind
Balancing the different aspects of a music career in both Australia and overseas
Rai’s inspirations
Starting out in the US: ‘It’s Sixty bucks and a punch in the face’
Rai in action with Louis Cole and KNOWER: Overtime
Working with Joe Satriani
Rai with Joe Satriani – The Elephants of Mars
Rai’s Joe Satriani tour gear video
Cosmic Psychos – Better in the Shed
Working with Aaron Sterling
Aaron Sterling – Sound of Sterloid Vol 1
Sun Rai – San Franciso Street (featuring Aaron Sterling)
Rai’s inspiring song Man Oh Man
Dealing with imposter syndrome / times of feeling down
Lianne La Havas – Weird Fishes
On setting up sounds for a Joe Satriani tour using Nord keyboards only
The Embertone Walker 1955 Concert D
Love for Spectrasonics’ releases
Question from listener Walter Galindo on hand independence
Joe Satriani band pre-show ceremony
Tag a Keyboard Player: Dennis Hamm, Aaron Parks
Desert Island Discs: Machine Head – Deep Purple, The Sixteen Men of Tain – Alan Holdsworth, Mr Bungle – Mr Bungle, Standards Vol. 2 – Keith Jarrett, Mama Said – Lenny Kravitz, honourable mention to Hejira – Joni Mitchell
Key links:
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Check out our podcast guest playlist on Spotify to get a taste of each guest’s creations.
