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The Ukulele Podcast — Music
The Ukulele Podcast

Welcome to The Ukulele Podcast.

Whether you want to hear how James Hill put together his famous arrangement of Billie Jean, or how Jake Shimabukuro played the ukulele for the Queen, it’s all in this podcast.

Join me, John Atkins, for long-form uke-centric chats with everyone from Cynthia Lin, Bernadette Teaches Music and Victoria Vox, to Nick Cope, Bakithi Kumalo and Will Grove-White.

There’s also stories recorded on-the-go such as my behind-the-scenes account of a local ukulele festival in England, and audio diary of my trip to the NaMM music convention in Los Angeles.

Plus listener contributions about your favourite ukuleles and what they mean to you.

The Ukulele Podcast is sponsored by Kala Brand Music.

Sign up to my Patreon page for bonus content, early access and behind the scenes gossip!

Want to be on the show? Have a suggestion for someone you’d like to hear me chat with? Drop me an email to uketeacher1@gmail.com and let’s chat!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Copyright: © John Atkins

Latest Episodes:

Victoria Vox Mar 22, 2023

Show notes

Victoria Vox is a true independent spirit! I met her at the L.A. Ukulele Festival last year and we had a great chart about what it means to be an independent artist, how she played mouth trumpet on the Jay Leno show, how and why she came up with the name Victoria Vox, and lots and lots more besides.

We also talk a great deal about her phenomenal latest album, Nirvana In R.E.M. - including where the title comes from (it's nothing to do with Kurt Cobain or Michael Stipe...), the original artworks that inspired the songs, and the exciting directions she's taking the ukulele with the use of sampling, octave pedals, and other cool effects.

We chatted for nearly two hours, so this hour-long episode is just the edited highlights! But if you want more I'll be posting some extra inserts on my Patreon page very soon - so be sure to sign up for that if you want bonus content and to get a warm fuzzy feeling that you're helping support the show!

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Ukulele Tales is sponsored by Kala Brand Music! For a 10% discount on anything on the Kala website, just click on my special link!

If you want to support the podcast, please share it with your ukulele friends and communities. You can also help fund it by signing up to my Patreon where you'll get additional content, occasional bonus mini episodes and the chance to ask questions to future guests.

LINKS:

Kala Brand Music: https://kalabrand.com/uketeacher for a 10% discount on any Kala products.

Victoria Vox:

Official Website: https://www.victoriavox.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/victoriavoxlovesyou/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/70xVEpgMP5GXlfPHRRP7yI

Twitter: https://twitter.com/VictoriaVox

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victoriavox/

Ukulele Tales:

Patreon: https://www.Patreon.com/UkeTeacher

Twitter: https://www.Twitter.com/UkeTeacher

Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/UkuleleTales

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheUkuleleTeacher

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vince Esquire + rare George Formby banjolele Mar 15, 2023

Show notes

Vince Esquire has played guitar and ukulele with the Allman Brothers, Willie Nelson, G Love and Adam Sandler - as well as being an excellent musician in his own right. We talk about his rock influences - including how the Eddie Vedder ukulele album changed things for him. We also talk about his band Kanekoa, their new album Songs from the Great Disruption, and all the collabs they did for it, including one with Jake Shimabukuro. We also talk about playing Hot Cross Buns on the recorder!

There's also a great ukulele story from listener Nick Witherow who tells us all about the limited edition signed George Formby banjolele that his father left him - and whether or not it would be a good idea to get it fixed.

Ukulele Tales is sponsored by Kala Brand Music! For a 10% discount on anything on the Kala website, just click on my special link!

If you want to support the podcast, please share it with your ukulele friends and communities. You can also help fund it by signing up to my Patreon where you'll get additional content, occasional bonus mini episodes and the chance to ask questions to future guests.

LINKS:

Kala Brand Music: https://kalabrand.com/uketeacher for a 10% discount on any Kala products.

Vince Esquire:

Official Website: https://vinceesquire.com/

Kanekoa Official Website: https://kanekoa.live/

Ukulele Tales:

Patreon: https://www.Patreon.com/UkeTeacher

Twitter: https://www.Twitter.com/UkeTeacher

Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/UkuleleTales

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheUkuleleTeacher

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inside a Local Ukulele Festival! Mar 08, 2023

Show notes

This week's episode is a bit of a break from the norm, as I take a trip to a local ukulele festival in Box - a small village of less than 400 people in the South West of England. Let me know what you think of the format, I'd love to do some more shows like this in the future if you enjoy them :)

Ukulele Tales is sponsored by Kala Brand Music! For a 10% discount on anything on the Kala website, just click on my special link!

If you want to support the podcast, please share it with your ukulele friends and communities. You can also help fund it by signing up to my Patreon where you'll get additional content, occasional bonus mini episodes and the chance to ask questions to future guests.

A big thank you to The Mother Pluckers for putting on this incredible event and being so welcoming and friendly!

LINKS:

Kala Brand Music: Click here for a 10% discount on any Kala products.

Mother Pluckers: Facebook

Sad Ken: YouTube

Dorothy House: Official website

Ukulele Tales:

Patreon: https://www.Patreon.com/UkeTeacher

Twitter: https://www.Twitter.com/UkeTeacher

Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/UkuleleTales

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheUkuleleTeacher

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anthony Ka'uka Mar 01, 2023

Show notes

Anthony Ka'Uka Stanley - is a ukulele virtuoso, and also an incredible hula dancer. He's been playing the ukulele since the age of 4 and dancing since the age of 2! I had a chat with him at NAMM and he spoke openly about what it was like growing up in a musical family, as well as Hawaiian musical culture in general.

As well as this, there's also our first Uke-Story! Listener Nick DiSanto shares with us the incredible story of his favourite ukulele, and why it will always be special to both him and his son. I'd love to hear the story of your favourite ukulele, so if you want to message me, drop an email to uketeacher@grabyouruke.com and I'll read it on air. Please include pics if possible.

Ukulele Tales is sponsored by Kala Brand Music! For a 10% discount on anything on the Kala website, just click on my special link!

If you want to support the podcast, please share it with your ukulele friends and communities. You can also help fund it by signing up to my Patreon where you'll get additional content, occasional bonus mini episodes and the chance to ask questions to future guests.

LINKS:

Kala Brand Music: Click here for a 10% discount on any Kala products.

Anthony Ka'uka:

Heali'i's Polynesian Revue Website: https://www.healiis.com/

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@anthonykauka

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anthonykauka/

Ukulele Tales:

Patreon: https://www.Patreon.com/UkeTeacher

Twitter: https://www.Twitter.com/UkeTeacher

Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/UkuleleTales

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheUkuleleTeacher

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Boris Mogilevski - aka Boris Ukulele Feb 22, 2023

Show notes

Boris Mogilevski - aka Boris Ukulele - is a musician, composer, and performer, based in the Netherlands, where he teaches the ukulele at the University of Delft.

We spoke at NAMM last year about how he got started playing the ukulele, finding his audience on social media, what other musical instruments he plays, and taking his ukulele on safari to raise money for musical instruments for schoolchildren in Kenya.

Ukulele Tales is now sponsored by Kala Brand Music! For a 10% discount on anything on the Kala website, just click on my special link!

If you want to support the podcast, please share it with your ukulele friends and communities. You can also help fund it by signing up to my Patreon where you'll get additional content, occasional bonus mini episodes and the chance to ask questions to future guests.

LINKS:

Kala Brand Music: Click here for a 10% discount on any Kala products.

Boris:

Official Website: https://www.borisukulele.com/

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@borisukulele

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boris.ukulele/

Ukulele Tales:

Patreon: https://www.Patreon.com/UkeTeacher

Twitter: https://www.Twitter.com/UkeTeacher

Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/UkuleleTales

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheUkuleleTeacher

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Abby Lyons Feb 15, 2023

Show notes

Singer-songwriter Abby Lyons is a classically trained musician who wrote her first song at the age of 12. After toiling for five years on YouTube, she was recently commissioned to perform on the soundtrack for The Wheel Of Time, an Amazon Prime Original TV show.

We spoke after the L.A. International Ukulele Festival and she opened up to me about all sorts of fascinating stuff including how she got the opportunity to perform on an Amazon show, recording the music in her closet during the pandemic, navigating the choppy waters of social media, and working for Fender.

We also talk about a conversation we had at NAMM a few years ago that sent me into the depths of existential despair - although it turns out that I may have misremembered some of what she said!

If you want to support the podcast, please share it with your ukulele friends and communities. You can also help fund it by signing up to my Patreon where you'll get additional content, occasional bonus mini episodes and the chance to ask questions to future guests.

LINKS:

Abby Lyons:

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@helloabbylyons

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helloabbylyons/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helloabbylyons/

Ukulele Tales:

Patreon: https://www.Patreon.com/UkeTeacher

Twitter: https://www.Twitter.com/UkeTeacher

Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/UkeTeacher

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheUkuleleTeacher

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andrew Molina Feb 08, 2023

Show notes

Andrew Molina is a Hawaiian-born musician, from a rich musical heritage. He started learning the ukulele at the age of 13 and within a year was touring the islands playing to crowds of over 800 people.

Now a full-time musician, Andrew is a composer, performer and teacher, having recently launched his own online Andrew Molina Ukulele Academy.

I got to chat with him at the L.A. International Ukulele Festival last year and we spoke about all of this and more, including:

* Which ukulele star inspired Andrew to start playing (hint: she's already been on the show!)

* Which ukulele star challenged Andrew to a fight at GNUF!

* What it's like to perform with your Dad

* His initial fear of live-streaming during the pandemic.

We also talk about the importance of visualisation, and how Andrew uses it to accomplish his musical goals.

If you want to support the podcast, please share it with your ukulele friends and communities. You can also help fund it by signing up to my Patreon where you'll get additional content, occasional bonus mini episodes and the chance to ask questions to future guests.

LINKS:

Andrew Molina:

Official website: https://andrewmolinaukulele.com/

Andrew Molina Ukulele Academy: https://andrewmolinaukuleleacademy.teachable.com/p/home

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AndrewMolina

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewmolina/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndrewUkulele/

Ukulele Tales:

Patreon: https://www.Patreon.com/UkeTeacher

Twitter: https://www.Twitter.com/UkeTeacher

Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/UkeTeacher

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheUkuleleTeacher

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christopher Davis-Shannon - Banjolele Tinman Feb 01, 2023

Show notes

Christopher Davis-Shannon is not your typical musician! Based in Philadelphia, he plays soprano ukulele and the double bass, somehow managing to alternate between one of the smallest and one of the biggest instruments you can possibly play. With a unique fashion sense, and a love of music old and new, the Banjolele Tinman is quite a character.

In this hour-long walk through Hyde Park in London, we talk about everything from the meaning of the 'Tinman' nickname, the third wave of ukulele, his impeccable fashion sense, and the great Roy Smeck.

I think Chris might be the first musician I've ever come across whose merch includes his own line of ukulele strings.

Chris has also just released an album of jazz standards "FIFTY/50" with French accordion player, Jacques Pellarin.

If you want to support the podcast, please share it with your ukulele friends and communities. You can also help fund it by signing up to my Patreon where you'll get additional content, occasional bonus mini episodes and the chance to ask questions to future guests.

LINKS:

Christopher Davis-Shannon:

Official website: https://www.thetinman.co/

Bandcamp: https://music.cdavisshannon.com/

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Banjoleletinman

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/banjoleletinman/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cdavisshannon

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cdavisshannon/

Ukulele Tales:

Patreon: https://www.Patreon.com/UkeTeacher

Twitter: https://www.Twitter.com/UkeTeacher

Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/UkeTeacher

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheUkuleleTeacher

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brittni Paiva Jan 25, 2023

Show notes

Brittni Paiva is an award winning half-Portuguese, quarter-Danish, eighth-Japanese, and eighth-Hawaiian musician who started learning classical music at the age of four! She picked up the ukulele at 11 years old, using her classical training to teach herself, and hasn't looked back since.

We talk about how she released her first album at 15, and how it inspired another famous Hawaiian musician to take up the ukulele.

We also cover all kinds of topics including producing music for herself and other artists, her EDM side-projects, and of course her unique image.

We also find out why having perfect pitch is both a blessing and a curse!

If you want to support the podcast, please share it with your ukulele friends and communities. You can also help fund it by signing up to my Patreon where you'll get additional content, occasional bonus mini episodes and the chance to ask questions to future guests.

LINKS:

Brittni Paiva:

Official website: https://brittnipaiva.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iambrittnipaiva/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/brittnipaiva/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brittnipaivamusic/

Ukulele Tales:

Patreon: https://www.Patreon.com/UkeTeacher

Twitter: https://www.Twitter.com/UkeTeacher

Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/UkeTeacher

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheUkuleleTeacher

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bakithi Kumalo (bass player on Paul Simon's Graceland) Jan 18, 2023

Show notes

Bakithi Kumalo is the South African musician who shot to fame as the bass player on Paul Simon's Grammy award winning album Graceland. This album was part of the soundtrack of my childhood and it was a thrill to chat to him about all sorts of topics.

As well as performing with the likes of Sting, Gloria Estefan and the Grateful Dead, we also talk about Bakithi's impoverished childhood, and how music was his passport to a better life. We also talk about his relationship with Paul Simon, and, of course, that solo in You Can Call Me Al.

As well as playing the bass guitar, in recent years he's also taken to playing the U-Bass (electric bass ukulele) and is even working on his own signature model.

Bakithi is a hero of mine, and after this conversation I'd like to think of him as a friend too. He's also the first ever Grammy Award Winner we've had on the show, as far as I'm aware!

It was an absolute thrill to have him on the podcast and I think you're going to love listening to this episode.

If you want to support the podcast, please share it with your ukulele friends and communities. You can also help fund it by signing up to my Patreon where you'll get additional content, occasional bonus mini episodes and the chance to ask questions to future guests.

LINKS:

Bakithi Kumalo:

Official website: https://www.bakithikumalobass.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bakithikumalobass/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bakithikumalo

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bakithikumalomusic/

Ukulele Tales:

Patreon: https://www.Patreon.com/UkeTeacher

Twitter: https://www.Twitter.com/UkeTeacher

Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/UkeTeacher

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheUkuleleTeacher

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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