Ep 15 of New Voices - Joseph Tawadros critiques Lorretta Jessop

New Voices #15 - Joseph Tawadros critiques Loretta Jessop - 5.30pm Monday on 2RPH

The Oud and the Ibis... the Sacred, the Profane .... and a few Profanities

By Maria Issaris, Producer, New Voices on 2RPH

In this episode, we cover the steep sides and deep ravines of the sacred and the profane, as that stunning virtuoso of the oud, Joseph Tawadros, critiques newcomer literary talent, Lorretta Jessop. Teaser link below!

Monday 19 October 5.30pm watch out for NV 15!. Yes, there are some swear words in this episode, so cover your ears now if you are faint of heart, or frail of spirit. Both Joseph and Lorretta are rule-breakers, but not in that traditional Bad Boy or Bad Girl type of way - it’s just that they ignore the traditional rules to follow the strong force of their creativity.

Lorretta is just brimming with originality. She has a quicksilver mind and makes razor sharp observations, and she targets society’s most sacred institutions; motherhood, government departments, politicians, and that most sacred institution of all....Sydney’s cafe society.  Loretta’s unfinished novel is sweet, its slicing, and takes her key character through the highs and lows of Sydney life, in the three days before the Martin Place siege in 2014. 

It is a wonderful exposition of modern life seen with clarity and curiosity, and a little bit of yearning for something better. It is inspired, she says, by that classic piece of literature, Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye. And talking of turning the classics on their head, we have as our critiquer, Joseph Tawadros. If you have ever heard of the oud, then you have definitely heard of Joseph, who is a master of this instrument. And if you have ever heard him play, well it is not something you would easily forget. He spreads himself around, playing throughout country areas, at the Opera House, and in dark bars at Marrickville in Sydney’s inner west. 

In between sets he engages his audience in banter that is, well, sweet and slicing and very funny. I knew that Joseph would cross that ravine between literature and music with one pluck of the string on his oud, the perfect person to critique an original talent such as Lorretta. His bio is daunting; Aria awards, performances with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, global acclaim. So how did he end up on this program? He’s a man of the people, says Joseph, he grew up in Redfern, and is about gathering experiences to enrich his music. 

Well, we are officially enriched, especially so since he agreed to be interviewed from London. And Joseph, Iike all Australians, claims his right to a unique expression of himself without fear or favour. I dress in colour, he says, shrugging nonchalantly about his bright tapestried blazers, his fez, and full-on, put-hipsters-to-shame beard. Well, he dresses in colour, he plays in colour and he critiques in colour. 

Welcome to Episode 15 of New Voices, and prepare as always (just as I do), for the surprises at hand. Especially Joseph’s valiant defence of the Ibis. Maria, [email protected]

Original broadcast date: 19 October 2020, on 2PRH, 100.5FM, 1224AM and Radio 2RPH on Tunein app. Repeated Sunday 25 October, 1.30pm

https://www.dropbox.com/s/gbfoq2tuxb6qsy7/NVTeaser%20Joseph%20Lorretta%20and%20Maria%20Episode%2015%20Teaser%20.mp3?dl=0

Previous Episodes here: https://www.2rph.org.au/listen/podcasts/new-voices

Lorretta Jessop - writing, novel called ‘Phoney’

Day job: Policy contractor

 Lorretta is a compassionate optimist, creative mind, covert cafe polygamist and reformed pen pusher. She admires the ibis, prefers the kids' table to sitting with adults, and sees life as a wonderful adventure. Outside of her nine-to-five, she enjoys volunteering with Sydney Story Factory, supporting high school students to find their voice, and loves wandering through the streets of Sydney crossing paths with intriguing people. She is interested in narrative that explores place and belonging, especially suburban identities and themes of social justice and power relations. Putting the magnifying glass on what it is to live in Sydney, she has set herself the task of writing her first novel, Phoney. Inspired by J.D.Salinger's Catcher in the Rye, it charts the course of an alienated millennial woman in the city over several days, unpacking different perspectives around who and what is seen to belong in the economic powerhouse of the nation. 

Joseph Tawadros: Critiquer

Day job: ‘I just play the Oud, man.’

Joseph Tawadros AM, born in Cairo in 1983, is a multi-award-winning composer and virtuoso player of the oud, a Middle Eastern lute. Born in Cairo, brought up in Sydney and currently based in London, he has received 4 ARIA Awards and dozens of rave reviews for his many albums of all-original music. Trained by Egyptian masters from an early age in traditional Arabic music, he also gained a Bachelor of Music (Honours) at University of NSW. 

 Joseph’s music brings middle-eastern, classical and jazz together seamlessly and he is considered to be a an original contemporary performer, an innovative composer – but with an understanding of Egyptian music also. As well as presenting solo concerts he works with jazz ensembles and orchestras including Sydney Symphony, BBC Symphony and the Australian Chamber Orchestra. 

www.josephtawadros.com

@josephtawadros Insta

@JosephTawadrosOud Facebook