Very Excellent Habits

The Power of Practice and Knowing Your Shit with Kate Ceberano

It was 1992.  My bedroom was filled with lit candles. I’d strung one of my mother’s chunky pendants onto a velvet ribbon and had it tied firmly around my neck, hair badly flattened in a vain attempt to train it into the choppy layered look that was popular at the time. I’d swiped my dad’s Jesus Christ Superstar CD and I was preparing to sing Mary, Jesus and Judas simultaneously in my own bedroom rendition of ‘Everything’s Alright.’ My parents had taken me to see the production a few months earlier and Kate Ceberano had immediately become my Beyonce. Before Beyonce was even Beyonce.

Fast forward a few decades and I’m pleased as punch (literally – you can hear the joy in my voice on this episode!) to have the illustrious Kate Ceberano as a guest on the podcast this week.

The thing with celebrities and performers is that they make everything they do look so easy. Sing a few songs. Release an album. Be charming and amazing on TV. Done.

The truth is there is so much more that happens behind the scenes. Singing on stage to a packed crowd makes up about 1% of what singers do. The rest of it? Hours upon hours of practising scales, recording and re-recording songs, writing music and then promoting it… and often without any guarantee of a payoff. In money or accolades. It’s all a big gamble.

In this episode Kate and I chat about the power of practice, coping as a creative during lockdown, and why ‘Know your shit!’ is the best advice you’ll ever hear.

In this episode, we talk about

If you need a boost with your grit and stamina, this episode is for you.

Links mention in this episode

Let’s Talk
Everything’s Alright
New single Hold On
Sweet Inspiration pre-order

The best bits from Kate?

‘What I wanted more than fame was for someone else to notice I was here.’ 

‘Social media has coddled us a bit… it’s a superficial experience.’

‘We artists have lost a year, possibly more of our livelihoods.’

‘You can always improve and get better than you are.’

‘I want to see that primal scream of Brett Whitely, I want to hear that aching beauty of a Leonard Cohen song sung into the dark of a perfect night… I want that.’

‘I’m fearless when it comes to putting myself out there for an opportunity. I’m not afraid failure.’

‘Music forever sets the stage of life. It’s the mood of life… it’s the sound of humanity.’

‘It all comes down to… how well do you know it? Know your shit.’

Want more from Kate?

You can find her on Instagram @therealkateceberano and on the web here. 

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