The Femme Music Podcast by Mel Lathouras
The Femme Music Podcast is hosted by Mel Lathouras and focuses on femme-identifying artists who are ready to stop fitting in and start making their own rules. It features conversations with musicians, creatives, and cultural leaders, along with solo reflections from Mel. The show explores voice, creativity, power, and what it takes to show up without editing yourself. It is honest, funny, and grounded, cutting through noise to discuss art, identity, and sustainable creative life without hustle culture or fix-yourself pressure.
Episodes
How Sam Buckingham Made an ARIA Top 5 Album Without a Label
Sam Buckingham is one of Australia's most respected independent artists. Her album Beautiful Machine debuted at #4 on the ARIA charts — entirely crowd-funded and self-released. In this conversation, Sam and Mel Lathouras get into the real mechanics of building a sustainable music career without a label: how she built her community, why she chose crowd-funding over traditional paths, and what
52. Meet Singer Songwriter Sue Ray: From Country Queen to Jazz Storyteller
In this heart-filled, laugh-out-loud episode, I sit down with the glorious Sue Ray—a proud Gamilaraay woman, award-winning singer-songwriter, and total genre-bending powerhouse. We talk about her roots in country and punk, her deep love for jazz, and the wild ride from 1AM Troubadour gigs to Nina Simone tributes at the Brisbane Powerhouse. ✨ Expect stories, Brisbane nostalgia, music memories, lau
Inside the Creative Mind & Life of a Harmony Queen – Alex Van den Broek
In this inspiring episode of the Fearless Singer Podcast, I sit down with the brilliant Alex Van den Broek—arranger, choral director, singer-songwriter, and vocal harmony legend. We chat about everything from: ✨ Her creative process and how she builds those spine-tingling vocal arrangements ✨ Growing a TikTok following of nearly 300K (!!) through viral harmony videos ✨ The knock-backs, imposter s
Ep. 50 Growing Pains & Creative Breakthroughs with Clare Hudson
🎙️ Ep. 50 – Growing Pains & Creative Breakthroughs with Clare Hudson Welcome to a very special milestone episode of the Fearless Singer Podcast! 💃 Mel chats with singer-songwriter and Fearless Singer member Clare Hudson ahead of her debut show Growing Pains—a beautifully curated journey through her originals, favourite covers, and pivotal life moments. From studying classical voice at the QLD Cons
Loving Your Voice & Letting It Take You Places: How?! ❤️🔥🧿🎤
Show Notes: In this episode of the Fearless Singer Podcast, I dive deep into what it really means to love your voice and how that love can literally take you places—on stage, in life, and in your creative career. ❤️🔥🧿🙌🏻 I also share: ♡ How Cyclone Alfred (yes, an actual cyclone!) pushed me into finally creating the Vocal Love Club 🎤 ♡ Why self-love and affirmations aren't just woo—they actually
Emboldening the Femme Voice: The New Era of Fearless Singer, Femme Jazz & Taking Up Space
This episode is a deep dive into the new era of Fearless Singer—a movement dedicated to emboldening the femme voice, taking up space, and redefining fear. I'm sharing what's been happening behind the scenes, why I've gone ALL IN on uplifting femme-identifying singers, and what's coming up next (spoiler alert: it's bloody exciting). In this episode, we cover: ✨ The shift in Fearless Singer—why this
Starting My Recording Career at 41: Why It's Never Too Late with Mel Lathouras
🎙️ Starting My Recording Career at 41: Why It's Never Too Late In this episode, I dive into a personal and transformative journey—returning to the studio to finish two original tracks after a two-year hiatus. Fear, self-doubt, and even money blocks held me back, but I share how EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and self-coaching helped me break through those barrie
The Transformative Power of Discomfort & Learning on the Bandstand
🎙️ Episode 46 of the Fearless Singer Podcast is live! Join me, your host Mel Lathouras, as I dive into my latest adventure—signing up for a Stand-Up Comedy Course and performing a routine in front of a live audience for graduation. There were many pearls of wisdom gained through this little old escapade.❤️🔥🙌🏻 🎤 I'll share the powerful lessons from this experience and how they relate to the magic
From Stage Fright to Spotlight: Paula Hackney's Jazz Hive Journey
Tune in to this week's Fearless Singer chat with jazz vocalist Paula Hackney. Her journey, from discovering a Billie Holiday boxset in a thrift shop to fronting her own band - Melody Graves and the Hokum Redemption - and creating the Jazz Hive, is INSPIRING! Early in her performing career, Paula grappled with her inner critic, which fueled her fear of the spotlight. A pivotal moment led her to re
Creating a Safe & Inclusive Stage for ALL performers with Singer & Disability Advocate Ella Doneman
In this episode of Fearless Singer, join me (Mel Lathouras) in a conversation with Ella Doneman, a Singer, Educator, and Advocate for people, especially performers, living with a disability, including the less spoken about invisible ones. Ella shares her firsthand experiences with cerebral palsy and epilepsy, shedding light on the challenges of navigating life and the stage as a performer. She al
Getting Your Sparkle Back' in your Creativity, Singing & Biz with Emma Dean
How can you be creative when life feels a bit FKN crunchy? Tune into our Fearless Singer episode with the AMAZING @emmadeanmusic and me (Fearless Singer - Mel Lathouras)! ❤️🔥🙌🏻 In this episode, "Getting Your Sparkle Back" - we're diving into creativity, our singing projects and business, and reclaiming your magic in these crunchy times. So dive in to discover how we are navigating it, being easy
How to get Confidence in 3 steps (& live your FKN Dreams)
Unlock the unsexy (or sexy—depending on what you're into) truth about building confidence on the Fearless Singer Podcast! Mel Lathouras (that's me) explores practical strategies for cultivating confidence, which is essential for every singer's journey. Tune in for insights and actionable steps. Plus, upcoming workshop details! Her Voice: Vocal Confidence & Power Workshop - enrol here: Get sta
The Life-Changing Magic of Turning 40!
🎙️ Fearless Singer Podcast Episode 41: The Life-changing Magic of Turning 40 ✨ Embracing renewed fearlessness, authenticity, and taking risks! Tune in now! Make your dreams a reality, Singer! Here's the Vocal Glow Up - FREE 8min Daily Singing Routine, ebook and course mentioned: Here's info about the Fearless Singer Membership - weekly online group coaching and access to all Fearless Singer Cour
Embracing Your Creative Light: Meet Singer, Coach and Uke 'N' Bake Creator Victoria Watson
🎙️ An Inspiring Convo about Uncovering Your Creative Light: Meet Victoria Watson ✨ This Fearless Singer podcast episode is a heartwarming chat with the talented Singer, Songwriting Coach, and creator of "Uke 'n' Bake," Victoria Watson. As a member of the seminal Brisbane band Some Jerks, Victoria shares her story about embracing her creative spirit and blending her passions for music, baking a
Singer! The World Needs Your Voice for Healing!
htIn the latest episode of the Fearless Singer Podcast, host Mel Lathouras overcomes her own fear of speaking about the political and social division as well as the atrocities happening around the world. Mel dives deep into the interconnectedness of humanity, emphasising the importance of unity and peace. She candidly shares her own fear about addressing these crucial issues but realises that her
Overcoming Imposter Syndrome & Hacking Motivation for Singers
G'day Singer! 🎤 In this episode, I almost didn't hit that "share" button because I was wrestling with a #vulnerabilityhangover. You see, I've been in the trenches battling imposter syndrome and the relentless chatter of my inner critic these past weeks. Juggling multiple projects and being more visible online and onstage has a way of cranking up that inner noise. But here's the thing: the critica
The Power of Deadlines when Getting Shizzz done (for Singers & Creative Types)
This is my story on how deadlines and I became friends after a tumultuous relationship, starting back when I was 10. Yes, I have been deadline-resistant for most of my adult life until now. A few years ago, I had finished my music degrees, and the gigs that had come so easily to me stopped. I went quite a while without performing. And my self-confidence dwindled – I was a fish out of water. I
Unlock Your Creativity & Inner Unicorn with Emma Dean
As a long-time admirer of Singer-Songwriter Emma Dean, welcoming her to the Fearless Singer Podcast was an exciting fan-girl moment. Emma's impressive accolades includes multiple albums, iconic projects like the Cheap Trill community choir, and a standout appearance at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Beyond her thriving performing career, Emma is now a creativity coach, offering an upcoming 8-week
Girl From Greece: Aussie Women Connecting our Greek Stories with Music
Join us as we reunite with the AMAZING Katerini Manolatos, a singer, music therapist, now producer, and my dear friend. If you tuned into her episode last year, you might remember her story and insights into her Greek heritage and her music therapy journey. Since then, we've embarked on musical adventures together, including performances in Brisbane's Greek Choir, Ellinikes Fones, and the crea
Renaissance Woman: Singer Laine's Pivot from Dehiscence Diagnosis to Muti-passionate Creative
Laine Loxlea-Danann is the epitome of a Renaissance Woman – not only is she a Singer, Musician, Writer, Producer and Talent Manager – she even makes her wine out at her Cleveland Artists' Retreat. I first met Laine back in 2015 at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music when we were both studying Vocal Pedagogy. And not sure whether it was the Universe or the Instagram algorithm (I'm grateful ei
Innovate to Elevate: Josephine Lancuba's Journey from Starving Artist to Biz-Savvy Singer, Educator and Producer
Get inspired by an incredible journey on this episode! Meet Josephine Lancuba, a Performing Arts Business Coach, Studio Owner, and Producer who turned her life around through music. From a turbulent childhood, Josephine's love for singing changed her life's course. Discover how she landed a studio scholarship and embarked on a career as a performer, even playing Sporty Spice in tribute shows. But
My Jazz Singing Story: How it Changed My Life & Can Change Yours Part 1
In this episode, I share my personal story of how I discovered my love for Jazz and ventured into the world of jazz singing and how it has profoundly impacted my life. While my journey has been anything but linear, there were signs along the way that hinted at my affinity for this genre. It changed my life and can also change yours – if it hasn't already! The seed was planted at seven when m
Give Yourself Permission to Shine (Meet Karen Gunton - Creator of the Lighthouse Oracle Cards)
"Lighthouses don't go running all over an island looking for boats to save; they just stand there shining." Anne Lamott It was these words that produced a seismic shift in this week's Fearless Singer Podcast guest – Karen Gunton. I am beyond thrilled to have my favourite hip sage from Radelaide (haha didn't mean for that to rhyme so hard) on our 30TH EPISODE!! I honestly can't believe I'm typing…
How to Make Creativity Your Life's Work - Find out from Artist Amy Dzufer
Making the space to spend time with your creativity is tricky when navigating responsibilities – paying the mortgage, tending to family – let only making it your "life's work". This Fearless Singer podcast episode featuring the multi-talented artist, musician, and founder of Spoony Joe – Amy Dzufer – uncovers the process it takes to make art daily. She says it all starts with giving yourself permi
What We Can Learn From Tina Turner - and it's Life Changing!
This latest Fearless Singer episode is a tribute to the late great Tina Turner and the many reasons she was a living Saint. I've always been obsessed with her! She was a part of the soundtrack of my childhood – I think most Australians have a soft spot, especially as The Best was constantly blaring from our TV sets with that enduring Rugby League ad. But I remember watching the biopic film made
Mistakes are Creative Opportunities
You know that fear of making mistakes? And making them publicly… It's what holding us back from the stage or showing up in life as our full creative expression. In this episode, I encourage you to do the thing you're scared of (singing, telling your story, presenting, speaking up) and aim to make mistakes. Go on… Deliberately and purposefully make mistakes. Mistakes are fun. They're an opportunity
Singers Get Paid Big $$$ to Speak - Jaimie Abbott tells us how
🎙️ Get ready for an INSPIRING episode of the Fearless Singer Podcast featuring the incredible Jaimie Abbott! SUBSCRIBE and REVIEW this Episode! Jaimie is an award-winning keynote speaker, coach, and creator of the sought-after Paid to Speak Online Course. She joins us to share her insights on the world of paid speaking work and how Singers can tap into this lucrative avenue of creativity and
From Overwhelm to Empowerment: Alpha says Fearless Singers Can be Wealthy
In this Fearless Singer episode, Alpha Schulte from Money Made Simple shares her expertise on how singers and creatives can navigate the current financial crisis and take control of their wealth. We explore mindset shifts, practical money management tools, and the intersection of finance, mindset, and personal growth. Brace yourself for inspiration and empowerment like never before! Like content
You Were Born to Create
Fearless Singer's latest podcast episode, "You Were Born to Create," is a must-listen for anyone interested in creativity and performance. Host Mel shares all the exciting updates from Fearless Singer, including a massive website upgrade that brings together all aspects of her creativity in one place. Mel discusses how society undervalues the arts, but standing on stage and delivering a performanc
Fearful to Fierce - Meet Singer & Entrepreneur Kylie Stephenson
In this Fearless Singer podcast - we're talking about one of the biggest challenges many of us singers face - performance anxiety. And we have a special guest, Singer, Actor & Entrepreneur Kylie Stephenson, who shares her journey of overcoming it. Kylie is a natural performer but struggled with anxiety and fear blocks, making it difficult to pursue her passion for singing and performing. This led
Emotional Freedom Technique for Singers: Sing with Confidence & Live Them Dreams
As singers, our voices and our mind are our instruments. And really, it's our brain that is calling all the shots. The voice is also intrinsically linked to our nervous systems, so if we are suffering from stress or not expressing our truth often enough, a physical manifestation will appear in the voice. One of our lovely and talented Fearless Singer Members – Bernie – calls it her 'glitch'! I lov
From Crippling Anxiety to Fearless Performer: Emma Sparks' Journey to Singing with Confidence - thanks to EFT!
Get ready to be inspired by Emma Sparks' remarkable journey from crippling anxiety to confidently slaying iconic Julie London songs. In the latest episode of the Fearless Singer podcast, Emma shares her transformational experience with Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) and Quantum Energetics, which helped her reprogram old beliefs that no longer served her and adopt the persona of a confident and
Unlock Your Singing Potential with Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) for Singers: A Quantum Leap to Your Best Voice
In this episode of Fearless Singer, you'll discover how to use Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) to take your singing to the next level and build a career around your passions. Fearless Singer Mel Lathouras shares her personal experiences with EFT and how it helped her become a full-time singer and coach. You'll learn how EFT can help you become a detective to old narratives embedded in your psych
Meet Kerri Layton - the Humble Diva❤️
Looking for some inspiration to follow your passions and carve your own path? Look no further than this week's episode of our podcast! Our special guest, Kerri Layton, is a UK-based jazz singer and business coach who has followed her passion for music, jazz, and education to create a thriving business helping female musicians achieve balance, joy, abundance, and creative impact. Kerri's unconventi
How Stories Can Reconnect Us to Magic
In this episode of the Fearless Singer Podcast, Mel Lathouras talks about the power of stories and how they can help us reconnect with our childlike sense of wonder and magic. Mel shares how her family's gifted storytellers influenced her, and how storytelling can transport us to new worlds, inspire us to imagine new possibilities, and deep dive into magical thinking. She discusses the importance
Embrace Your Inner Child and Unleash Your Voice: Overcoming Anthropophobia to Sing Fearlessly
I'm back with another Fearless Singer episode about recognising our shadow artist traits and embracing our inner child to create, sing and show up more freely! Before we dive into this episode, I want to give you the heads-up that I'll be discussing anthropophobia, relating to my mental health struggles as a young one. I understand this can be a sensitive topic for some, but please be assured that
The Question that Changed my Life
I know I'm not alone in feeling that life can be a rollercoaster, and the journey of a creative is no exception. From tech troubles to feeling drained, I had a doozy of a week leading up to this podcast episode. I did my head in with troubleshooting a lot of sticky tech stuff, which you will hear about. And I did a number on my life force – I felt pretty defeated and detached. But luckily, the Un
Sing Your Way to Abundance: Shatter the Illusion of Lack and Discover Your Hidden Resources.
In this latest episode of the Fearless Singer Podcast, I dive into overcoming the illusion of lack. I share my personal story of how a simple sign on an electricity box changed my perspective and opened space for opportunities! As creatives, it's easy to fall into the trap of believing that external things we don't have are stopping us from bringing our dreams to life. But what if I told you, you
Hey Singer! Three Things that will Change Your Life in 2023.
I have to say - I love giving 'Learn From my Mistakes' advice. I have been a reactive creator for mmmm 😆 all of my life. And until now, I've got a way with it. However - it's time to go to a new level of functioning and thriving as a singer/entrepreneur/creator - if I want to fit all of my juicy projects into my life. The reality is that our jobs as creatives aren't straightforward. We manage mult
The Power of Not Aiming for Perfection
I give you my last podcast episode for the year! One of my 2022 goals this year was to start a podcast, and now I have 14 episodes, which you can stream from Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube or on Instagram. I'm telling you this podcast would never have happened if I had carried on with my previous conditioning and wiring that convinced me that everything I created had to be perfect before putti
The Power of 'I AM' for Singers
One of the most potent mindsets shifts I made to get to where I am today - a gigging singer, show producer and creator of Fearless Singer – is playing with I am statements. Even while working in completely unrelated fields, I would tell myself and others that I am a successful singer and creative entrepreneur. Even when I was not actually "successful". 😆 In fact, I wasn't even gigging. Also,
Jazz Queen Sharny Russell on Creativity, Music and Ebbs & Flows
Award-winning Jazz Singer, Songwriter, Educator and Entrepreneur Sharny Russell is lovingly regarded as our Jazz Mumma here in Brisbane and on the entire East Coast of Australia. She is the epitome of a Fearless Singer in every sense of the term. Despite being told that she would never sing again after a horrific car accident, Sharny has gone on to have a celebrated career as a singer, an ABC reco
Singer Bernie Talks about Turning 60 & Being Fearless
In this episode, Bernie speaks candidly about turning 60 and realising that her dreams of performing and living a full-time creative life would not happen without her taking some kind of plunge. Living in New York for several years, Bernie and her partner returned to Brisbane in the wake of Covid. It was then that Bernie realised she was at crossroads. She could continue along the path she was goi
Joy First PLUS Investing in Yourself
If you would like 1:1 coaching with me, check out my Level Up Sessions.
It's Your Time to Level-Up!
Learn more about 1:1 Levelling Up Sessions: Energetic Vocal Coaching & Mentoring here.
When Imposter Syndrome Strikes!
In this episode, I share with you how my fear of dancing and being a part of the iconic Brisbane Powerhouse show Women In Voice gave me a good old dose of it. It felt real and downright disempowering however, I got through it with some metacognitive questioning and the powerful self-healing modality Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT Tapping). If this resonates with you, please let me know! I love
Remove the Shame Splinter & Sing!
In this episode, Fearless Singer Mel Lathouras talks about how the emotion of shame can manifest in so many ways in relation to our singing and performing and often stops us from doing so. She gives examples from her own singing and performing practice as well as what she encounters from students. This episode gives strategies on how to clear this from our psyche so we can get on with doing what w
Harvey Blues - a Fearless Guitarist
A journey from London Boy Singers to Soul Jazz - guitarist Harvey Blues has followed the call to make music his life's work. A punk at heart, Harvey taught himself the Blues as a 14-year-old, was a full-time gigging musician in London in his early 20s to starting over again in Australia in his 30s. After sustaining an injury from factory work in Australia, Harvey made the life-changing decision to
Singer Stories: Katerini Manolatos
In this Fearless Singer episode, we hear from Greek Singer, Ellinikes Fones Co-Founder and Music Therapist Katerini Manolatos. We discover where her love for music and singing came from as well as her journey from singing classical repertoire to singing and performing Greek music. She shares about her experience as a music therapist and how singing can enhance our lives and how it can connect us w
Singers Change the World: You have that super power!
In this episode, Fearless Singer Mel Lathouras talks about how when we align with service as singers, no matter what our ability level is, it switches off our critical mind. It doesn't matter if you are a shower singer or perform to the public, we are putting good energy out to the world and changing lives in the process.
Want a Singer's Chops? Follow Their Recipe.
In this episode, I talk about how our greatest singing teachers are often our favourite singers! The best part is that we can dive into the treasure trove of their teaching by listening to their recordings. If you want to learn to sing jazz, start by listening to Ella Fitzgerald. This idea was inspired by Cardi B who said if we want to be successful we need to "watch the recipe" of successful peop
Stop the Singing Shame Spiral
In this episode, I talk about how we can learn to be the 'music producers' of our singing voices - taking a more impartial approach when listening back and experimenting with our voices in "practice". Rather than letting a shitty recording or performance spiral us into emotional turmoil. 😆 I also talk about the Fearless Singer Jazz Retreat coming up on June 4 and 5th 2022. Find more details and e
It's here - Fearless Singer Podcast!
Be sure to head over to www.mellathouras.com for the show notes or go to www.fearlesssinger.com.au for a treasure trove of free resources to get you started or help you with your singing journey.
