Yours For The Making with Robin JohnsonGeorge Macdonald on Leaving Kid Kapichi, Finding Himself Through Music and Starting Again
British session drummer and producer George Macdonald, known as G-Mac, joins Robin Johnson for a deeply personal conversation about life as a professional musician, leaving Kid Kapichi, creative identity, meditation, mental health, flow state and starting again. George traces his journey from discovering drums as a teenager in Hastings to touring the world, playing major venues and building a career through years of gigs, recording and sacrifice.
George opens up about the difficult decision to leave Kid Kapichi while the band was still growing, explaining how his musical direction and personal identity had gradually moved elsewhere. He reflects on the strange experience of achieving success while feeling increasingly disconnected from the person he was presenting to the world.
Robin and George also explore creativity, social media, the pressure to perform, manifestation, overthinking and creative flow. George explains why some of the strongest creative work happens when artists stop forcing ideas and become completely absorbed in the present moment.
Key Topics Covered
✦ How Hastings shaped George Macdonald as a drummer and musician
✦ The years of sacrifice behind Kid Kapichi's eventual success
✦ Why George chose to leave Kid Kapichi while the band was growing
✦ Losing his musical identity and dealing with anxiety after leaving
✦ Travelling through Nepal, India and Thailand and discovering Vipassana meditation
✦ Creativity, presence, flow state, manifestation and overthinking
✦ Social media, constant craving and the pressure to perform for other people
✦ George and Ben Beetham's plans to create an immersive new music project
Check out George’s Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/macdonald_george/?hl=en
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Yours for the Making with Robin Johnson is the podcast that celebrates creativity, craftsmanship, and the art of making. Hosted by Robin Johnson, founder of Johnson Bespoke and BBC presenter on The Travelling Auctioneers, The Restorers, Woodland Workshop, this podcast dives into the stories of makers from all walks of life. From woodworkers, metal fabricators, and chefs to artists, designers, and hobbyists, each episode offers real conversations with the people behind the things we love.
Whether you're a hands-on creative, aspiring artisan, or simply curious about how things are made, this podcast offers inspiration, insight, and practical wisdom. Expect behind-the-scenes stories, lessons in process and passion, and a celebration of the maker movement in all its forms.
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Key Moments:
00:00 George Macdonald on discovering drums and beginning his musical journey
03:15 How Hastings created a thriving community of musicians and live music
08:53 Musical intuition, improvisation and learning through playing with others
11:39 The years of sacrifice before Kid Kapichi began gaining momentum
15:19 Why George and Kid Kapichi started moving in different creative directions
17:28 Success, ego and feeling disconnected from his identity
20:34 The difficult aftermath of leaving the band
21:16 Anxiety, uncertainty and deciding to leave Britain for six months
24:27 Ten days of Vipassana meditation and how the practice changed him
26:58 The emotional moment George experienced in the Himalayas
33:29 Why social media keeps people craving the next thing
34:14 The pressure George felt to constantly perform and entertain
39:58 The exhausting reality of maintaining a public persona
48:34 Manifestation, creativity and allowing ideas to emerge naturally
54:51 George and Ben Beetham reveal plans to create music together again
