Why do music and grief go hand in hand? For the season finale, we look at the role of music in death. We focus on music in Chinese death rituals, and spend time with the Green Street Mortuary Band — who for over 100 years — have been guiding spirits on their last journey through the streets of San Francisco’s Chinatown. Guests: Linda Sun Crowder, Lisa Pollard Coppola, and members of the Green Street Mortuary Band Intro Theme: First Kiss Goodnight - “Story One”Music Credits: Matthew &...

Songs serve many purposes and have an extraordinary power to unite us. But what about the way songs can divide us? How do we use music to document history and either conceal or tell the truth about our experiences? Songs are vital tools to refresh our collective memory and can tell us about how things were long after that time has passed. In this episode we take a deeper look at the utility of song and focus on its importance in First Nations cultures in Australia. Guests: Kutcha Edwards...

We spend time at a camp that takes the competition and exclusivity out of music making, to inspire confidence and connection. We hear from young people, musicians and mentors from Girls Rock! and hang out at the inaugural Rainbow Rock Camp to look at the transformative nature of group music making. Guests: Jen Cloher, Chiara Grassia, Shannon Driscoll, Charlie and Carla. Intro Theme: First Kiss Goodnight - “Story One” Music Credits: Sidharta - “Lightstream”, Lately Kind Of Yeah - “Pilot”,...

We’re consuming music in a personalised, multi platform, curated context like never before. Online music streaming services are the go to source for the music hungry masses, worldwide. Jump online and you can find a curated playlist to match any occasion, mood or moment. But who creates these, and how do they do it? In this episode we look at the human touch behind a massive online industry and hear insights from a “professional playlister”. Guest: Anthony Carew Intro Theme: First Kiss...

A unique tradition exists in towns along the Caribbean coast of Colombia. With their gigantic, technicolour speakers, the music and culture of Picós are distinctly Afro-Colombian and exist only in specific towns and neighbourhoods in the region. Now for the first time, a Picó Soundsystem is being built outside of Colombia —in Melbourne. In this episode we look at the distinct music and cultural diaspora that created Picos, the power of music to connect people and bridge class divides, and...

In ‘The (Other) Musical Fruit’, we go in search of music amongst the hills of the Yarra Valley to speak with a winemaker about the links between terroir and timbre. We look at how the sound around us can remix our sense of taste. Guests: Steve Flamsteed and Jo Burzynska Intro Theme: First Kiss Goodnight - “Story One” Music Credits: Podington Bear - “Love Song #1”, Podington Bear - “Massive Attack”, Annaliese Redlich - “She’s Lost Control”,  Davey Lane - “Photosynthetic”, Jo Burzynska -...

In ‘Bandstand to Grandstands: The Footy Song’, we look at group singing in one of the toughest games on the planet, the AFL. What makes a good club song, and a bad one? Why do these songs elicit such a deep response from footy fans? What does this tell us about our need to connect with other people?  Guests: Sarah Smith Intro Theme: First Kiss Goodnight - “Story One” Music Credits: Davey Lane - Richmond Tigers Theme, GWS Giants Theme, Fremantle Dockers Theme All Ears is produced and...

In ‘A DJ Saved My Life’, we join a surgeon and anaesthetist in the operating theatre for a look at the role music plays in a life and death situation. How can music help communication, creativity and stress management? Is there a link between pub-rock and microsurgery? Guests: Dr Ramin Shayan, Dr Anthony Singh, Dr Tara Karnezis Intro Theme: First Kiss Goodnight - “Story One” Music Credits: Davey Lane - “(Sittin On) the Dock Of The Bay” cover, Davey Lane - “Back In Black” cover, Podington...

Music marks our rituals, motivation, relaxation and distraction. It charts the passage of time and taste, or lack thereof. It simultaneously fills arenas, and soundtracks our solitude. Created by Annaliese Redlich, All Ears is a podcast series that looks beyond genres, styles and stars to see what our use of music says about us — our connections, rituals and sense of belonging.