My name is Jack Carty, I like writing songs and playing shows, and I am a big fan of Bright Eyes, Smoked Salmon and Dr Seuss.

You have a show coming up at the Open Air Cinema in Bondi; do you have a favourite movie soundtrack?

The Pigram Brothers and Alex Lloyd did a pretty great job on the “Mad Bastards” soundtrack a few years ago.

If you were asked to write music for a movie, which genre would you want to write for?

Sci-Fi so I could use heaps and heaps of Theremin.

 ‘Fess up. What records have you stolen from your parent’s record collection and why?

“Pink Moon” and “Five Leaves Left” – Nick Drake.

“Murder Ballads” – Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds.

“Harvest” – Neil Young.

“A Portrait of Nikolai Kaufmann” – The Famous Bulgarian Voices.

“Ok Computer” – Radiohead.

“The Very Best Of The Pogues” – The Pogues.

“Sticky Fingers” – The Rolling Stones.

“Graceland” – Paul Simon.

“Songs From The South” – Paul Kelly.

Because my parents have a great taste in music and I have a light wallet.

Having done so much touring, what’s you’re favourite part about travelling and playing music?

Seeing new places whilst meeting and making friends with other musicians, music lovers and creative people from all over the place.

Who would you say has been your biggest influence either musically or in your life?

My family… I am the eldest of four.

You’ve been chosen to play SXSW; you must be excited to be part of such a big festival…

I am really looking forward to it. There is a tight knit group of Australian bands heading over this year too. Papa Vs Pretty, The Falls, Emma Louise and her band and Georgia Fair all contain some of my closest friends… Plus Tex-Mex is my favourite food ever.

With the critical success of ‘Break Your Own Heart’, are there plans to start thinking about another record?

I have just finished recording a new E.P produced by Casual Psychotic which is pretty different, so that will be seeing the light of day very shortly. Meanwhile I have been demoing heaps of songs at home that we plan to record for another full-length album later this year.

Because it’s more fun to do things together, which living Australian artist would you most like to collaborate with?

Dan Kelly.

“Dan Kelly’s Dream” is one of my favourite albums ever… It’s like some wonderful, psychedelic, funny and sensitive alien sex-jam.

Do you enjoy being on the road or being in the studio more?

I enjoy touring and writing the songs more than the actual recording of them. But I am getting more and more interested in the production side of things, so that is starting to change.

What is your band’s music the best soundtrack for?

Your next breakup or rainy afternoon.

What’s coming up next for Jack Carty?

About to go play a bunch of shows with Justin Townes Earle, before heading over to W.A for a show in Perth with The Falls and a weekend at Nannup Music Festival down near Margaret River. Then we are off to The U.S for SXSW, getting back in late March for a big National Co-Headline tour which will be announced later this week. The new E.P will be coming out shortly as well.

Catch Jack Carty at The Open Air Cinema in Bondi on Sunday 10th February – for more info on this show go to:  openaircinemas.com.au

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