The Creative Juggle: Singer, Songwriter and Teacher

This week in Ep.263, Alexa Terry chats with artist, songwriter, choir leader, and vocal coach India Bourne about life beyond the stage. From touring the world with Ben Howard to building a thriving teaching career, India shares how completing the BAST Foundation Course deepened her understanding of the voice, transformed her songwriting, and enriched her work with singers. She also opens up about balancing creativity, teaching, and motherhood, revealing how life as a mum has shaped her artistry, sharpened her instincts, and helped her to continue creating a sustainable, fulfilling career in music. WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST? 1:08 What venues are India’s favourite to play? 3:38 What has India learnt through touring and being a human in the music industry? 6:06 Does teaching ever feel in tension with being an artist? 12:37 India’s experience with BAST 14:50 How has being a classically trained cellist influenced artistry and teaching? 18:10 Songwriting and creative ideas 25:07 Singing and training emotion in music 30:02 Being the creative juggler 33:26 Protecting your own creativity 35:35 India’s new music RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS Ben Howard Man and Superman by George Bernard Shaw Why Doing Nothing Can Change Your Life by Joseph Jebelli Heidi Moss Erickson Singing in the Brain: Ep.2: The Spaces in Between - Part1 Rest Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.256 The Neuroscience of Singing: What the Singer’s Brain Needs Middle Farm Studios Outside venue ABOUT THE GUEST India Bourne is a classically trained musician, songwriter and vocal coach whose voice has travelled the world as a long-time member of Ben Howard's live band. Singing and playing cello, bass and percussion, she has spent years immersed in shared stages and shifting landscapes. Alongside this, she has released music as Tender Central, where electronica and folk intertwine in songs that echo the emotional depth of Massive Attack, Lamb and Joni Mitchell. Now, India returns to releasing music under her own name. This new collection is shaped by long-standing musical relationships, featuring collaborators Mickey Smith, Nat Wason and Rich Thomas alongside her all-female choir, The Big Skirts. Recorded live to tape at Middle Farm Studios with producer Peter Miles, these are songs of initiation and becoming - of motherhood, grief, nature, and new life - held together by the rare chemistry of old friends playing in the same room. At the heart of the record is the voice, or rather voices. India writes with her women vocalists in mind, weaving their lines together as a living fabric from which melodies emerge. The result is music that feels both grounded and expansive, rooted in collective breath, resonance and connection. Website: https://www.india-bourne.co.uk Instagram: http://www.indiabourne_ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ 🎁 FREE RESOURCE: Grab your free guide — 'How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence.' Learn how to understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice and know exactly what to do next in lessons. 👉 https://singingteacher.basttraining.c... FUTURE PODCAST SUGGESTIONS Do you have a burning question on the voice or being a singing teacher? Maybe you have a topic you want us to explore or a guest you’d like to hear from? Let us know by completing the Podcast Suggestion Form: https://forms.gle/naUum9N3unzNMPLN8 ABOUT BAST TRAINING BAST Training is here to help singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher. Whether you are just getting started, have some knowledge gaps you want to fill or if you wish to gain a singing teacher qualification, we're here for you. https://www.basttraining.com QUALIFICATION https://basttraining.s3.eu-west-1.ama... BOOK A FREE CALL http://basttraining.com/bookacall CONNECT Updates: http://bit.ly/BASTUpdates Email: [email protected] Free Group:   / beasingingteacher   PODCAST Click here: https://linktr.ee/basttraining ___________________________________________________________________________________________ "This course is just amazing! There is everything you need to know to start working as a singing teacher or improve your teaching skills, from keyboard and scales knowledge to vocal health and even marketing! I definitely feel more confident now and I would definitely recommend it! " Roberta Roghini, UK “The course is packed with wonderful information. It's a really great launchpad that can take you in so many directions. After completing the course I feel 100 times more confident and qualified to really make a difference to my students. The support and resources available are extremely valuable. David Valks, Aust