George 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