A chat with Craig Lauritsen Cymbal Smith, Musician, Drummer

01/28/21 • 54 min

Craig Lauritsen

“I’ve been a professional musician for more than thirty years and my obsession with cymbal sounds began soon afterwards.
Some time ago I began a quest to find the ‘perfect’ cymbal and this passion led to countless hours searching for as much information as I could about all aspects of cymbal creation. Part of my study included getting my hands on many hundreds of cymbals from almost all of the major manufacturers and many independent cymbalsmiths.
I studied cymbal weights, profiles, tapers, hammering and lathing techniques, chemical composition, sonic characteristics etc. I also travelled to many different countries, seeking out cymbal makers and master cymbalsmiths.

I applied this knowledge to perform my own hammering, lathing and surface treatment techniques to existing cymbals, all in the desire to create more musical pieces of bronze.

I’ve always been attracted to pursuits which reflect subtle differences which can only be attributed to individual input or unquantifiable differences between other factors. For example, I love cooking, coffee, red wine, art, film, literature etc.

Cymbal Smithing is certainly one of those pursuits, a craft where the individual imparts something unique into the final product.”

http://www.cymbalutopia.com/www.cymbalutopia.com/Craig_Lauritsen_Custom_Cymbals.html

Craig's website
http://www.cymbalutopia.com/
The Tracker - Movie Soundtrack Craig played on discussed during the podcast interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NgtXF21BmA

Some of the topics we covered:

Creating and managing a creative business including managing time
Importance of the connection with a mentor and how that relationship can work to benefit everyone
Problem solving within the creative business
Taking risks!

..... and much much more about being a creative person and creating an international creative business from a home workshop in Adelaide South Australia.

“Craig is that quiet achiever he works hard, thinks entrepreneurial and is true to his passion and core values. It was so much fun chatting with Craig, and I feel like Craig is someone you could talk for hours about so many topics, it was an absolute pleasure to have Craig on my podcast.”

Tania Ingerson Podcaster TEA/Creative Photographer

I would like to acknowledge that music played on my Podcast is an original tune by David Innocente, Jazz Musician/Artist

https://www.innocente.com.au/

I applied this knowledge to perform my own hammering, lathing and surface treatment techniques to existing cymbals, all in the desire to create more musical pieces of bronze.

Cymbal Smithing is certainly one of those pursuits, a craft where the individual imparts something unique into the final product.”

http://www.cymbalutopia.com/www.cymbalutopia.com/Craig_Lauritsen_Custom_Cymbals.html

Craig's website
http://www.cymbalutopia.com/
The Tracker - Movie Soundtrack Craig played on discussed during the podcast interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NgtXF21BmA

Some of the topics we covered:

Creating and managing a creative business including managing time
Importance of the connection with a mentor and how that relationship can work to benefit everyone
Problem solving within the creative business
Taking risks!

..... and much much more about being a creative person and creating an international creative business from a home workshop in Adelaide South Australia.

Tania Ingerson Podcaster TEA/Creative Photographer

I would like to acknowledge that music played on my Podcast is an original tune by David Innocente, Jazz Musician/Artist

https://www.innocente.com.au/

Previous Episode

A chat with Adam Page, Musician/Composer/Record Producer/Multi-intrumentalist

https://youtu.be/oV8EZwLujNg
“Adam Page is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, music educator and record producer based in Adelaide, South Australia. Known widely for his critically acclaimed solo multi-instrumental looping performances, Page has carved his path internationally as a composer. He has written major works for the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Wellington, Zephyr Quartet and co-composed on numerous occasions with celebrated Kiwi composer John Psathas.

Page has recently composed and performed with The Grigoryan Brothers, established the boutique record label - Wizard Tone Records, established and performed with his new 12 piece ensemble - The Adam Page Ensemble (TAPE), written and performed with The Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and also conducted the ASO in a concert featuring the music of Ross McHenry and Matthew Sheens.

His orchestral music has also been recorded and broadcast twice by ABC Classic FM.

Page's other musical collaborations stretch far and wide, working with artists and groups such as The Australian String Quartet, Tim Finn, Slava Grigoryan, Noel Gallagher, Katie Noonan, Riki Gooch, Jamie MacDowell and Tom Thum, Emma Pask, Ross Irwin, Ben Todd, The Shaolin Afronauts, 1.1 Immermann, Ross McHenry, Thomas Oliver, The Adelaide Sax Pack, Darren Percival, Mal Webb, Lisa Tomlins and the late Dr. Chandrakant Sardeshmukh. He has also recorded with artists such as Electric Wire Hustle, Julien Dyne, Mark de Clive-Lowe, Oisima, Spook City, The Shaolin Afronauts and Dave Whitehead (recording various sounds for The Hobbit films).

In 2014, Page co-founded Adelaide's 'Wizard Tone Studios' with fellow Adelaide musicians James Brown and Jarrad Payne.”

http://www.adampage.com.au/

https://www.wizardtonestudios.com/

So many topics covered in this interview including

The different pathways available for creatives
The power of dreaming
Saying YES to things that are super challenging
Seriously too many topics to list you just have to listen to the podcast

I just loved this interview Adam has so much positive energy and passion for all things creative as a musician he is also interested in other creative spaces as well including the Art Gallery and being inspired by all forms of Art.

Adam has an incredible gig really creative and something not seen before here in Adelaide as far I know. Its coming up soon which I can’t wait to share a mini podcast all about this gig and I will be posting this podcast in the next couple of weeks once dates and tickets have been confirmed.

Sundays you can see Adam play in The Ben Todd Band at the Gov see link for details.

https://www.thegov.com.au/index.php/gig_guide/gig/e120472

I think every time I feel like I am unsure of what I am doing as a creative person I am going to listen to Adam’s interview and be reenergised.

I would like to acknowledge that music played on my Podcast is an original tune by David Innocente, Jazz Musician/Artist

https://www.innocente.com.au/

Next Episode

A chat with Matthew Ives, Cultural Development Coordinator/Community Arts

In conversation with Matthew Ives
Cultural Development Coordinator at Unley Council

In this podcast Matthew shares his views and experiences working in community arts and cultural development both here in South Australia and in England.

We talk about

Community Arts projects
Cultural Development through the Arts
Youth projects, talking about topics around drugs, Aids and community story telling
Discussion about how Art is sold, online or in galleries and what the future may hold
A Community Arts Project at Kingston Community School “Kingston Drama Group” both Matthew and I (Tania Ingerson) worked together on many years ago with my friend Jane, teachers and members of the community. We talked about how we got funding and the experiences and outcomes for the students involved as well as the community.

......and so much more about the Arts in general covering many topics including SALA, Galleries, working with youth around social issues and much much more......

“Matthew has so much knowledge and experience in community arts, very passionate about the arts and a generous person that I am so thankful he popped into my life so many years ago. As Matthew says because we shared an experience in this case bringing the Arts through theatre to a country community we will always feel connected, which is wonderful.” Tania

This podcast is dedicated to my friend Jane, it is 10 years since she has been gone. Jane and I loved working on the Kingston Drama Group project and the time we spent with Matthew, many laughs, hard work and memories that continue to feel like a gift.
Jane will be forever remembered
I would like to acknowledge that music played on my Podcast is an original tune by David Innocente, Jazz Musician/Artist

https://www.innocente.com.au/