I’ve been playing in bands (Staying At Home, Animal Shapes, Lights Out) for the past 12 years. A couple of years ago I decided to record some songs that I had kicking around that didn’t fit into any of my previous projects and my solo project was born. I released my debut ep “The Benefit Of The Doubt” at the end of 2011 and hit the road. Last year I released a song “Think About” which will be the B side to my new single “The World And The Everyday” which is coming out on Catch Release Records. I’ll be hitting the road in June and July in support of it along with my new banjo project, Pinch Hitter.
What’s your earliest memory of performing and who inspired you to start?
It’s hard to know really. It probably would’ve been some concert that my older sister bullied me into performing for our parents. I would’ve been about 4. I was (un)lucky enough to grow up in a very musical family which had me performing from a very early age. A lot of my memories from early on involve my family singing/playing together. Think of the Von Trapp family but replace the Austrian hills with the suburbs of Sydney.
How would you describe your music to someone who has never heard it?
I’d shy away from the question and then offer some sort of awkward answer that offers no real explanation. Some sort of acoustic pop? Think Josh Pyke with more time signature changes.
You’ve played in several other bands, why did you choose to go solo?
It was something I hadn’t done before. The two bands I was in at the time sort of fell apart and I wanted to keep playing live. I figured there was no better opportunity to work on all of the stuff i’d written over the years that hadn’t seen the light of day.
What is your most memorable moment from working with Dylan Adams on your debut EP?
Finishing the damn thing! It was a massive challenge as I’d only ever recorded with bands. I sort of underestimated the amount of work that was needed. Dylan is great to work with though. We drive each other insane on a regular basis but he always manages to squeeze the best out of me.
How did the EP change from being acoustic to more of a full band sounding recording? And did you play all of the instruments on the recording?
I played most of the instruments (guitar, bass and drums) and had some great people come and add some of the things I couldn’t. Some vocals were added by Sam Buckingham and Geraldine Hakewill and I was also joined by Joe Manton on double bass, Gus Gardiner (Papa vs Pretty) on cello and Daz (Sticky Fingers) on keys. Developing the full band sound came about because I didn’t want it to be just me and a guitar. I had access to a lot of instruments and people so I thought why the hell not?
Acoustic or Electric guitar?
Such an unfair question!!! Would you compare beer and whiskey? No, you wouldn’t. You’d just drink them at the times you thought were most appropriate.
What other Australian artists are you currently diggin’ right now?
I’ve had the pleasure of playing a fair bit with Lincoln LeFevre and Jen Buxton over the past few months and I’ve got a few shows coming up with them on this tour. They both write amazing songs and we’re all really lucky to have them on our stages.
If you could curate your own festival, where would it be, who would be on the bill, how many people would you let in and what features would it have?
It would be somewhere in the countryside on the banks of a river, no more than 500 people. Tickets would include all your food (vegan) and booze.The line up would include all the acoustic acts who played at All Tomorrows Shoeys and the upcoming Weekender festival. The main attraction would be my good friend Tina Havelock Stevens who would be lowered into the river whilst playing drums like she did at this year’s MONA FOMA in Hobart. Extreme drumming is a thing now.
Because it’s more fun to do things together, which living artist from anywhere in the world would you most like to collaborate with?
Tom Waits. I was actually born to his album “Closing Time”. I feel that this explains a few things about my life. We’d set up in a barn somewhere with a banjo, an old piano and a crate of moonshine.
Where we can see you play next, what releases do you have available and where can we get them?
I’m about to embark on a tour in support of my new single “The World And The Everyday”. Come and buy me a beer… or a whiskey.
June 7th- Canberra, Aurora w/Pete Ackhurst, zzzounds/Pinch Hitter
June 9 – Pure Pop Records, St Kilda, VIC (arvo)
June 9 – The Workers Club, Fitzroy, VIC w/ The Evening Cast, The Bellastrades
June 16 – Blackwire Records supporting Wil Wagner
June 20 – Yours & Owls, Wollongong, NSW supporting Wil Wagner
June 21 – Lass O’Gowrie, Newcastle supporting Wil Wagner, Jen Buxton
June 29 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney w/ The Evening Cast
July 12- Rat Palace, Hobart w/ Lincoln LeFevre, Ben David, Isaac Graham, Tyler Richardson, Max Goes To Hollywood, The Flying So High-Os
July 13- The Royal Oak, Launceston w/ Ben David, Isaac Graham, Tyler Richardson, Max Goes To Hollywood, The Flying So High-Os
July 18 – The Hideaway, Bris, QLD w/ Jen Buxton, zzzounds, Lindsay Roser,
July 19 – The Treehoue, Byron Bay, w/ Jen Buxton, zzzounds, Lindsay Roser
July 20 – Pacific Hotel, Yamba w/ Jen Buxton, zzzounds
July 25 – The Front Bar, Canberra, ACT, supports tba.
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