Hello, My name is Jack Carty.
I am a songwriter and folk singer. I was born in Mebourne, grew up in Bellingen NSW and used to live in Sydney for a while, but the last year or so I have pretty much just been touring around since the release of my first album One Thousand Origami Birds.
My second album Break Your Own Heart came out last week and I am currently on a national tour with my band to launch it, which is pretty exciting. We are playing The Northcote Social Club on Tuesday the 8th of May.
What’s your earliest memory of performing and who inspired you to start?
My Dad used to sing in a big a’ Capella choir in Bellingen, where I grew up called “The Spangled Drongos”. I remember singing with them at the local hall when I was pretty young, and one year they went up to perform at Woodford Folk Festival and he took me with him. That inspired me a lot. I got to play Woodford earlier this year, which was pretty surreal, and a dream come true.
You must answer this question honestly or we steal your rider. What and where was the first gig you went to?
The first big gig I remember going to was Homebake in Sydney’s Domain when I was about 12 or 13. I was excited about it for weeks and my dad had to come along to chaperone us otherwise we couldn’t get in. I remember he was raving about Machine Gun Fellatio. I got too close to the moshpit and got punched in the head whilst Bodyjar were playing and I think The Living End headlined.
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‘Fess up. What records have you stolen from your parent’s record collection and why?
Nick Drake – Bryter Layter, Five Leaves Left and Pink Moon. Niel Young – Harvest. Bob Dylan – Pretty much all his stuff. Radiohead – OK Computer. The Pogues – The Very Best of The Pogues. Everything by The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Men at Work. The Cure. R.E.M. The “O Brother Where Art Thou” soundtrack… And I Just recently got this album of Bulgarian Folk Music from my step mum called “A Portait of Nikololai Kaufmann” and it is amazing! Why? – Because its amazing music and my parents wont call the cops on me.
What’s on heavy rotation on your iPod right now?
Bright Eyes. All his stuff,.. But especially the albums “Cassadaga” and “Lifted or The Story is in The Soil, Keep Your Ear To The Ground”. I rediscovered him by accident a couple of months ago and have become obsessed. What an incredible songwriter.
How do you find new music?
Through my friends word of mouth and music blogs mostly… I listen to the radio too.
Do you have any particular ritual before you go on stage, or even a lucky charm you take with you?
I like to have some quiet time if I can, so that I can get relaxed and level out… I haven’t had a lucky charm but I was given a dream-catcher to hang on my guitar at the Break Your Own Heart album launch show at The Vanguard in Sydney last Thursday, so I think thats it from now on.
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 (attractions/food/bars etc)?
It would be on a lake somewhere on New Zealand’s South Island because I have never been anywhere so beautiful in all my life. I’d have Bright Eyes, The Tallest Man On Earth, Gillian Welch and Ryan Adams play and definitely some Australian artists like The Rescue Ships, Josh Pyke, The Middle East (RIP), Emma Louise, Packwood and The Falls. Also – should probably add a rock stage, so I’d have Papa Vs. Pretty, Hell City Glamours and The Gaslight Anthem. Capacity would depend on the venue… But not too crowded. All beer included in the ticket price and a free Frisbee on entry.
When you’re Rolling Stones Big, what are you going to request on your rider: don’t be shy. We want specifics!
Natalie Portman.
Because it’s more fun to do things together, which living Australian artist would you most like to collaborate with? Tell us why?
Paul Kelly because he writes the best songs.
What is your band’s music the best soundtrack for?
Weekend breakups and makeup sex.
Where we can see you play next, what releases do you have available and where can we get them?
The band I are playing Northcote Social Club on Tuesday May 8th as part of a national tour launching my new album Break Your Own Heart which you can get from record stores and iTunes nationwide right now.
All the info and full tour dates are available from www.jackcarty.com or www.facebook.com/jackcartymusic
