Best known as the writer/producer/guitarist behind the ARIA and multi award-winning artist Dan Sultan, Scott Wilson rocks with Stompy & The Heat, his new outstanding band and album release featuring Pete [The Heat] Marin on drums and Bow Campbell on vocals [2011 ARIA winner best hard rock album-Front End Loader].
Launching their eponymous debut album this Saturday at The Tote, we sit down with Scott Wilson to talk recording, live shows and why he plays music.
What inspired you to start Stompy & The Heat?
The first music I ever played was punk/rock ‘n’ roll. I missed the honesty and directness of it. It’s good to get back to it. I feel like I’m at home again.
With the release of the debut record in November last year, did it turn out the way you first envisaged?
It got a lot more complicated than I first planned, that’s the way it generally goes. I wanted to do an album on the cheap and do it quickly, it ended up rather expensive and took a long while. No regrets though, it turned out better than I expected.
Can you tell us about the recording process, and the guests you have on the record…
Me and Pete recorded the bed tracks live, just a guitar and drums. I would then take it home and try out some parts guitars, bass, vocals. I spent a lot of time on this stage, as I had plenty of time and wanted to be ready when in the studio. I like to know what I’m gonna do in the studio, I don’t wanna be trying to work out my parts in there. I did all the vocals and then decided to ask Bow Campbell if he wanted to sing.
I knew that he could do it better than me. He just had to sing the songs, the arrangements and lyrics were done. I’m glad I got him in, he caned it. Ken Eavel did two tracks on the double bass, Gina Woods did three on keyboards and Garrett Costigan played the pedal steel on three tracks. Emma Donavan did a great soul vocal on ‘Don’t Tell Me’.
I’m lucky to know such great players, and even luckier that they agreed to do it!
What’s your favourite track from the record and why?
That’s like asking which of your children you like the most. I’m very pleased with ‘Your Affections’, I think that it is one of the best songs I’ve written. It was pretty easy to write too; some songs take ages but often the best ones happen nicely. That said, I’m happy with all of them. I would not put them out if I didn’t think they were all strong tracks.
What do you feel is the most important aspect to the Stompy &The Heat sound?
Tough drumming and unusual guitar sounds. I used weird old guitars and all through one 5 watt amp running flat knacker.
Did these songs come easily once the idea for Stompy & The Heat came to fruition?
Once I had an accurate picture, the songs came along. I dropped two songs along the way for not fitting in. They were too complicated and too clever for their own good. I cooked up ‘Zombie’and ‘Badaling’ and that took care of the ‘highbrow’ problem.
Having worked on numerous records for other artists, is it more fun working on your own project?
I like it all, but it was well overdue to do my own thing. It’s always a compromise when collaborating, and that is often a good thing.
I’ve done plenty of that. I know how make it all happen myself these days, and one vision in a writing sense makes for a consistency that’s hard to beat. I have been a lone songwriter 95% of the time anyway, it’s only when someone runs with an idea of mine or when I’m asked to help when someone can’t finish a song that I end up with a co-write.
Which new Australian artists have been exciting you lately?
I like King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, they are sick.
If you could have any Australian artist appear as a guest on the next Stompy & The Heat record, who would it be?
Don’t need ’em, already got the baddest motherscratchers involved……then again, maybe Doug Parkinson.
Where we can see you play next, what releases do you have available and where can we get them? Our first album has just been released and is available at all reputable record stores and online. Check out www.stompyandtheheat.com
Hopefully we will have the album available on 180g vinyl real soon. The album launch is this coming Saturday at the Tote Hotel in Collingwood. The Exotics and Ritchie 1250 and The Brides of Christ as well… Be there!
Stompy & The Heat Album Launch
w/ The Exotics, Ritchie 1250 & The Brides Of Christ
Saturday 12th January 2013
The Tote Hotel
Tickets available here
