With an imprint on Australian music spanning over the last decade, Brisbane eight-piece Halfway return with their fourth LP Any Old Love, delving into a tragic love story travelling from country Queensland to Rockhampton.
With a handful of live shows playing through February and March, including the ever popular Apollo Bay Music Festival, Halfway perform with other influential Aussie artists such as rocker, Nick Barker and indigenous music legend, Vic Simms.
We caught up with Halfway to chat about their latest recording, working in the studio together and what to expect from their upcoming live shows.
It’s been 11 years since the release of your first record, what motivates you to keep making music?
It is just what we do. Like making toast in the morning. You don’t need motivation for it. We rehearse twice a week, every week. We talk about all the things (music/books/movies) we love and hate; and tell stories and play music. Sometimes the stories end up being songs.
Any Old Love is a tragic Australian love story; mind us asking who wanted to be a jockey?
The narrative in ‘Any Old Love” is loosely based on my Dad. He was a champion apprentice jockey and after he was hurt in a fall we moved to Barcaldine for a year or two. When we lived there he worked on a crew repairing rail bridges on the Central Western Line.
You’ve reunited with Robert Forster (The Go-Betweens) as your producer, how was it working with him after all these years?
Well it was a little different to last time as we are all good friends now. So things were more relaxed. In saying that his job is to make the big calls and he does that well. He is a very positive person and this record suited him as we were using 70s heartbreak country as a reference and he is right across all of that stuff. “I like those kinds of stories… You know like a guy getting served a beer in the front bar of the Central Hotel on horseback.”
Having eigh members must make it cosy in the studio, any fun stories to share?
Thankfully this time around we were in QUT’s Gasworks in Brisbane. It has a really big live room so space wasn’t an issue. Studio time doesn’t involve too much in the way of hi-jinx. Other than a few drinks to relax. The goal is to just to do your job… small stages/rooms cause more havoc than studios with an eight-piece band.
After touring with many international acts, who is most memorable?
[Sheffield singer-songwriter] Richard Hawley. Just because it was recent, a great room (The Old Museum, Brisbane) and he played a great show. Plus we are all really into his stuff. It is still fun to be side of stage at something like that.
You’ve just finished playing Apollo Bay Music Festival, which acts were the highlights?
The last time we played Apollo Bay, The Stems played which was fantastic! ..This time? Dallas Crane for sure.
For anyone who hasn’t seen you perform, what can we expect from a live show with Nick Barker?
Nick’s hits and some of our misses. I guess we play a set where we try to share common ground. So I guess: Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, The Band are definite reference points when we play with Nick. We just play a support role and let Nick do his job. He is good at it.
Then there’s Boogie Festival. Vic Simms is an acclaimed indigenous artist, how did you end up working together?
One of the Halfwayers, Luke Peacock, has been working with Vic on a tribute album of sorts. A re-make of Vics classic album The Loner. So the connection is there. The Boogie people asked if we wanted to play with Vic at their festival and it seemed to make sense. The record that Luke (the bird) is making sounds great by the way. I think it is due for release later this year.
The album tells tales of late nights, alcohol and regret but what’s your favourite bar tale?
Well I save these things for songs usually. Because I like those kinds of stories… You know like a guy getting served a beer in the front bar of the Central Hotel (Rockhampton) on horseback. That is the kind of story I like.
What does 2014 have planned for Halfway?
Just more touring. Letting more people know about the record we made.
Any Old Love is out now through +1 Records.
Halfway Australian Tour 2014
Sunday 23rd March – The Powerhouse, Brisbane QLD
Monday 24th March – Boogie Festival, Tallarook VIC (with Vic Simms)
Read the Tone Deaf Festival Guide to Boogie 8 here.
