Music Interviews

Where are you currently based?

I’m currently based out of beautiful British Colombia, Canada.

How did you first start playing music?

I switched schools in grade 3 to a school called Fraser Academy where my music teacher handed me a guitar. It was later that year I started singing and the rest is history.

What’s been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far?

I just released my latest single “The One” so my time has been revolving around that. otherwise its been nice spending time with my family and honing my craft.

Your new single ‘The One’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

We were going for a modern power ballad appeal with the sound and feel of the song. As for the songwriting the inspiration came from a little bit of heartbreak and of course.. a girl.

How did you go about writing The One?

I sat down with my co-writers/producers Brian Howes and Ryan Stewart, and opened up about being hung up on girl that had moved away. But she had helped me hold my head up and look for the good in people and experiences. It’s a bit bitter sweet bitter sweet but im thankful for the experience.

Where and when did you record/produce?

‘The One’ was recorded at Ryan Stewarts studio in North Vancouver, late summer of 2019

How did you approach the recording process?

We demoed the song right after writing it. When we went to record the official vocals we got some solid takes, But the emotion and execution of the demo vocals were just so raw and ended up being what we used for the final cut of the song.

Please tell us about the music video that’s on the way:

-The video was filmed around my hometown at some of my favorite places hangout. Due to covid-19 everyone on set was in my little bubble of people and was overall a day for the record books. The video plot is just as the song says.. a journey of heartbreak and finding the one.

You have a debut album in the works, can you give us an idea of what we can expect?

‘Richard’ is my introduction to the world. I just wanted to show people who I am and give them something to sing along too, maybe even something to sit back and think about.

What do you like to do away from music?

I love exercising and being outdoors! If I’m not at home or working on music, you can find me at the gym, in the mountains, or on the motorcycle.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I’ve had Sting, The Fixx, and The Kooks on repeat all summer.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021?

Hopefully releasing more music, maybe a couple shows, and putting time into mastering my craft.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

I love sushi, and I love riding my bike to the park I used to go to as a kid.

What’s been happening recently?

I just released my debut single “10 Out of 10”. I have been extremely fortunate to spend a lot of my time creating and collaborating with other artists on exciting upcoming projects.

How has you Covid experience been so far and how has it affected how you create?

So far, my COVID experience has been a complex and fascinating process. Initially, I was entirely unnerved by the lockdown. Pre-pandemic, it had never occurred to me how much of my work and lifestyle in general revolved around the gathering of people. This April was a time of deep reflection and re-evaluation. I took the opportunity to be honest with myself and take stock of which activities I was sad to miss, versus which activities I was relieved to be excused from. I have had to let go of a lot of stressors and instead focus on things which are in my control. I have been inspired by artists and arts organizations who have taken on trail blazing roles to transition musical opportunities into online/ COVID friendly experiences. Every day, I challenge myself and choose to think about what I can do rather than what I cannot do. 

How does living in Argenta, BC affect your creative process?

Living in a remote mountain paradise is a big part of my story. I was raised to respect the environment and appreciate spending time in nature. Many of my melodic and lyrical ideas are revealed to me whilst walking forest trails or swimming in Kootenay Lake. I have always valued  how much the space, quiet, and freedom of my surroundings have contributed to my creative process. 

How did you first start playing music?

Singing has always felt like the most natural way of expressing myself. When I was fourteen, my dad bought me my first guitar and I started teaching myself chords; I was inspired by the fantasy of being musically independent and accompanying myself with a travel friendly instrument. 

What instruments do you play?

Guitar 

How do you usually go about writing and recording music?

I use acoustic guitar and my voice as the main tools in my writing process, improvising until I land on something that resonates. Typically, first come the chords and melodies, then I begin negotiating the lyrics. When I record, I like to start with acoustic guitar and vocals as the bones of the song. I’ll listen back and sing along to discover ideas for instrumentation and parts. Sometimes it’s fast, and other times it takes longer, but sooner or later the arrangement takes form through trial, error, and experimentation.

Please tell us about any current music and or music that you have on the way:

My new single “10 Out of 10” is freshly released! This has been an incredibly inspiring season for me. I can barely keep up with all the songs I have been writing and reviving. There is so much music to come and I am so excited to share it.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

If the World allows, in 5 years, I see myself touring internationally, perpetually writing songs, and collaborating with some of my favourite musicians. 

How are you dealing with no live shows?

I do find it difficult. Despite all the incredible efforts to present performances virtually, I really miss connecting with audiences in person. There is no substitute for the magic of live music. One thing I have learned is I will never take an audience for granted ever again! 

What will you do once all the Covid restrictions are lifted?

Travel and tour internationally!

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Lukas Nelson, Lianne La Havas, Kacey Musgraves, Taylor Swift, William Prince, Ruby Waters, & Khruangbin

What do you like to do away from music?

I love travelling, meeting new people, seeing new things, hiking, and spending quality time with friends. 

Who or what influences your sound and style?

Joni Mitchell has been the single-most influential artist on my singing, playing, and songwriting. My sound and style is a culmination of the folk music of my childhood, my choral background/ affinity for vocal harmony, and elements of jazz music from my college education.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021?

So far on the agenda for 2020/ 2021: a handful of intimate and socially distanced concerts/ livestreams, and as much audio and video recording as possible!

Favourite food and place to hangout?

I could talk about food all day; it’s impossible to choose just one favourite! My list includes spanakopita, quinoa salad, traditional thin crust margherita pizza, and tacos! I like to hang out at a secret beach or a trail with a view.

Where are you currently based?

 We’re from inner Sydney Australia.

How did you first start playing music?

 Olive started playing violin at 5 years old and was in many orchestras/school bands, while I was a choir nerd. In high school we became band nerds that rebelled and dreamed of being in an indie rock band.

How did Egoism form?

So those two rebellious band nerds realised they had a really similar taste in music and decided that they could maybe sorta form a real band!

What’s been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far?

It’s been just busy with us recording, writing and producing this Ep as well as a whole bunch of other songs!

Your new single ‘Here’s The Thing’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

We’re both very influenced by British pop, particularly trip hop but also some modern artists like No Rome and the 1975. Just the idea of chopping up these dirty sampled instruments and putting them over the top of an emotional guitar based song feels so exciting.

 How did you go about writing Here’s The Thing?

 Olive wrote the song as a reflection on a really hard time in their relationship. They had this sad melody and lyrics but decided to play it on top of this cool breakbeat sample they were obsessed with at the time.

You have an EP on the way, please tell us what we can expect:

 A whole bunch of sad ass songs with good pop sensibilities!

Where and when did you record/produce?

It’s pretty darn DIY, cause recorded and produced pretty much everything (other than the drums) on this EP ourselves, at either Scout or Olive’s house. 

How did you approach the recording/production process?

Our songs almost always start off as weird little demo on Logic that we’ll show each other before the other says “hmm, it’s good but keep working on it”. Then we tinker and tinker until eventually it’s ready to be mixed and mastered! 

What did you find most challenging/rewarding during the creation on the EP?

Going into the production of each track we’d often have a really specific sound we wanted. So there was a lot of fiddling and trying wild stuff until we got the sound we were looking for. Matthew Neighbour mixed all the songs on the EP and honestly he’s a trooper for working with us to get it right. 

Who are you listening to at the moment?

 Really loving the singles from the upcoming Vacations album, but other than that I’ve been on a bit of an electronic binge so mainly Four Tet.

What do you like to do away from music?

 Olive has been really getting closer to their hipster roots by diving into the analogue photography world. I really love having a million other hobbies that I don’t take seriously nor get that good at (like baking, hand-sewing and gardening I’m terrible at them but they’re darn fun).

What’s planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021?

 Oh definitely writing and recording more, hopefully playing shows and just trying to enjoy ourselves as much as possible.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

I can say with confidence that our fav food is definitely banh mi and fancy woodfired margarita pizza. And I’d say we both like to hang out at either a friend’s house or on a walk in a really pretty place.

Website
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Spotify

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Apple Music
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Soundcloud
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Bandcamp
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Where are you currently based?

I live in the Czech Republic, and I like it here so far, but who knows what the future brings. 

How did you first start playing music?

I started playing music when I was about 2 years old because I was highly influenced by my siblings who are great musicians. They played at home often so I became familiar with different tones and sounds. They used to play punk, which may explain why my music is alternative.

What’s been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far?

I don´t know how to correctly explain that as it was a very new experience, but for me it has been a disaster. The economy is in trouble and Covid PR is unbelievable. We are constantly being fed information 24/7. There have been a lot of restrictions put in place and this has created a worldwide panic. It’ll be interesting to see the information and end result of everything once things settle down.

Your debut album ‘Discovery’ will be coming out in the next few months of 2020, what influences your sound and songwriting?

This is something connected to my inner self. A bit of my life, but mostly, imaginary stories or ideas. I like imagination and the concept of dreaming. It’s as if you feel that there can be another part of yourself which is struggling through the world. Do we know who we really are? I think that there is a new phenomena in this world and we actually aren´t supposed to be ourselves. We are just parts of a machine and our inner selves are hidden somewhere behind that chaos of malicious thoughts and ideas coming from the outer world. And I suppose my songwriting is highly influenced by the unrecognizable inner motions that keep me alive, separated from things happening outside. I have to say, music is protecting me from going crazy sometimes, especially when I think about what´s been happening around the world.

How do you usually go about writing music?

Technically, I start with rhythm, then I do some music, like melodies and other components. Then I think about lyrics and so on. This is all technical, but there is the question of mood, a very important topic for me but it´s hard to say, this is a process of random behaviour.

Please tell us about the way you approach recording the process that you go through:

There is actually no process I go through. Our current state is the one we have been living in since birth and we have to just “enjoy and live”. The whole process is a manifestation of joy.

What programs/instruments do you use?

I play the bass, guitar, drums, piano and I use my voice mostly. As for programs, I use various ones that I discovered mostly one my own. Each artist has a different style so I’ve definitely found the programs that work for me personally.

What do you find most rewarding and challenging when creating and recording music?

To create the best piece of music I have ever heard.

What do you like to do away from music?

I like travelling, partying and meeting new people.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

It’s hard to say because there isn’t much that I connect with. The other day I listened to ZHU and Radiohead, who I’ve always liked. Apart from that, nothing brand new that has caught my attention.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021?

To save the world, maybe, because this is the most important thing, and I am not the only one. There are many people who would like to do the same. So, when we all try our best, we will achieve that, and everything will be fine. There are many ways to accomplish that.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

I love a lot of pubs here in the Czech Republic. One of the greatest Mexican restaurants is situated in Pilsen where I used to live. When I want to go out for a meal, I like to choose that one. When I want to hang out, I prefer going to Zach´s Pub, which is an Irish pub, or other local places such as Raven.

Keoni will release his first album ‘’Discovery’’ on October 12^th

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Where are you currently based?

Sydney.

How did you first start playing music?

I started playing the drums when I was 3 as my dad was already in two bands.

What’s been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far?

Personally For me Covid has been amazing creatively.  I went up to Byron in the beginning and recorded an EP with Veptune. Then came to Sydney and moved in with Ronald Fredricks and recorded another EP.

Your new single ‘Get Over Yourself’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

Get Over Yourself was the first song I recorded with Veptune. The hook I came up with after watching a friend battle his own Ego which in turn effected everyone around him.

Where and when did you record/produce and who did you work with?

We recorded and wrote the song in Wollongong in Veptunes old studio. With Veptune.

What programs/equipment did you use?

We use Logic.

Where can we listen to Get Over Yourself?

Spotify, Soundcloud and Youtube.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I am currently listening to Salt N Pepper ‘None Of Your Business’.

What do you like to do away from music?

The music doesn’t ever stop I guess the challenge is finding a break away from it. I do like to ride my bike but I’m Usually writing as I ride.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021?

I’m releasing my next single ‘It Makes Me ILL’ in 4 weeks .

Favourite food and place to hangout?
Sophia’s in Erko Lad.

Where are you currently based?

I’m currently based in the humble western suburbs of Sydney.

What’s been happening recently and how did you first start playing music?

I recently released my EP “Warm Blooded”  and very happy with the reception and attention it has been receiving.  I’m currently working on some photo shoots and collaborative projects with talented people, and hope to release more visuals to support the EP.

I started exploring music as a child playing piano, my mother enrolled me in piano lessons which I didn’t really like. From that point onward I started to teach myself music as a hobby which eventually led to creating  my own brand of music.

How did you first start playing music?

During high school I started to teach myself guitar and explored musical hardware. I purchased some synthesisers and started playing around with Garageband. A couple years later I picked up Ableton and taught myself how to create songs and produce. It’s the year of 2018 and at this point I wanted to learn how to rap and sing. I was very inspired by Brockhampton and their DIY approach to releasing amazing visuals and creating music, and I knew If I put some work in I could create projects which would could display everything I’ve taught myself.

Your new EP ‘Warm Blooded’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

The EP was highly inspired by Artists such as Brockhampton, Jpeg Mafia, Sade and various other artists. The song writing elements and theme of the EP is based around my personal experiences with people I’ve met, situations that tested me and love. I wanted to continue to create instrumentals that reflected the moods of my circumstances. The EP was created during some tough times, and for most artists trials and tribulations  have a strange way of  inspiring us to express and make something of the hardships.

How did you go about writing the EP and who did you work with?

I collaborated with Thinkbot films  for the production of the film clip, and also worked with Evergreen Artists to push the release. In relation to the  musical and graphic elements of “Warm Blooded” I worked alone. I love working on musical projects because I can produce and write the story of the project with full control. I am also a digital artist and designer, and love that I can make two worlds collide under one concept.

Where and when did you record/produce/master and who with?

I have a home studio where I do all of the above. The project was written during late 2019 and the duration of 2020.

How did you approach the recording process?

It changes with every song I create, Sometimes I jump straight into the booth, other times I spend a lot of time crafting the lyrics and then build the song around the narrative.  Having constant access to my studio is a highly valuable resource and I do my best to spend as much time as possible recording or writing. At times I do hit obstacles and have to encourage myself to keep working.

What programs/instruments did you use?

I use a variety of instruments and software to create my music. I love Ableton and software instruments, having a  whole orchestra at your finger tips is pretty wild. I liked to use my Roland electronic piano to start melodies and occasionally pick up my Electric and acoustic guitar to also lead the direction of my songs.

What did you find most challenging and rewarding during the creation of Warm Blooded?

The challenging part was to create something that still had elements of my last album  “Planet Cool” whilst evolving it at the same time. I don’t like boxing myself in and want to be able to grab elements of all the genres I like to create my work. When I wrote “Genuflect” and “Apple” I knew I was on to something different and I started to nourish that seed.  Releasing “Aversion” was very  fulfilling and I was stoked that I finally let the project loose into the world.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

A lot of Latin lounge/jazz, Freddie Gibs, Action Bronson, Brockhampton, Soulection radio and Nujabes.

What do you like to do away from music?

I love creating art both digital and traditional, I read a lot books and comics and love video games and film. Any form of digital entertainment really. I’m always on my road bicycle and spend a lot of time with my friends.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021?

At this point in time I can’t really say, I tend not to think too far ahead. I’d like to release some more film clips possibly for songs from “Warm Blooded”. I’m currently working on another musical project with a friend of mine and plan to release that hopefully this year or early next year.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

I am a fiend for dumplings and you can often find me lurking around Parramatta CBD.

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What is your name and role within Pelts?

Hello! I’m Ralph, and I play keys in Pelts. I also run Iffy Folk Records, our record label.

Where are you currently based?

Just outside Glasgow (Scotland), near the river Clyde. The rest of the band are also based in or around the edges of Glasgow. It’s a great city for playing music.

How did you first start playing music?

I don’t remember there being a specific moment of clarity, but I was around 17 and really wanted to learn to play the guitar. We had a piano in the house, and I ended up learning piano and guitar at the same time, which turned out to be a good combination. I couldn’t get a handle on reading music, so I used to work out how to play songs by ear, which was pretty good prep for being in a band.

How did Pelts form?

Pelts rose from the ashes of a band where many of our paths crossed. The driving force was Graham, who was looking for something fresh and new, and wanted to play with old friends again. Graham, Stu, and Olly had been in bands together years before, and Ben and I met Graham along the way. Natasha met Graham through a book group and discovered that their voices worked realty well together. That became a great focal point.

You have an album coming out on the 18th of September, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

We’d like to think the album has a ‘Pelts’ sound, that only really happens when we all make music together. We all bring our own individual influences to the melting pot. The 8 songs on the album are thematically linked, and there’s a lyrical thread that runs throughout, charting the last few years of our lives, big and small life events, hope, redemption, and love.

How did you go about writing the music?

We’re a very open band when it comes to ideas. Some songs arrive from a single source fully formed – ‘Haunted’ was written by Graham and was the very first Pelts song. Songs like ‘Dolphin Road’ have existed in various, mad incarnations until we found the right fit. ‘London Runner’ was one of my home demos, then Ben added lyrics and melody and the band worked it up in the studio to make it an album-closing behemoth! So, pretty much anything goes, and nobody is too precious about music & lyrics ideas, which makes it a joy to make music with this band.

Where and when did you record and who with?

We recorded the album in autumn 2019, at Anchor Lane studios in Glasgow with Luigi Pasquini & Melanie Dutton in the control room. It was great working with that team. The bulk of the recording went quite quickly, but we spent some time recording our vocals, editing and mixing. We all have day jobs, so that slows things down a bit. We mastered the album in early 2020, so it’s amazing to finally hold it in physical format, especially with that beautiful artwork (by Beth Cowey).

How did you approach the recording process?

We spent a long time on these songs, rehearsing in practise rooms and road testing at gigs, so when we took the songs to the studio we wanted to record as live as possible. So, drums, bass, guitars and keys were all recorded live, with guide vocals, to give everything the right feel. Then we added additional layers of instrumentation, and Graham & Natasha’s vocals.

What programs/instruments did you use?

I love technical questions, but I’ll keep this short, and not take us down a guitar pedal or plugin rabbit hole! Logic was the DAW of choice in the studio (although I prefer ProTools in my home studio). I got to play a beautiful upright piano, and the two synths I used were my trusty microKorg and the amazing Waldorf Streichfett String Synthesizer.

Your single ‘Throwing Sticks’ is out now, how do you go about deciding on which track to release as a single?

Doodle poll! Although Throwing Sticks was a unanimous choice, and it’s a song we’ve always known would be a single – it’s a real favourite to play live. Deciding on the second single will be trickier.

What do you like to do away from music?

The label means I’m never far from music, but I do love running. I never listen to music when I’m running (I’ve never liked that), so I use it as a chance to power down my brain for a while.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Our label recently released Pure Concrete, an amazing new album by Kevin P. Gilday & The Glasgow Cross, so that has been played a lot in our house as we tested the vinyl & CD pressings (sorry for the plug!). But I’ve been listening to a lot of other great stuff this year, new and old, and a lot of beautiful instrumental and ambient albums since working at home became a thing. This is a short list of current favourites, in no particular order; Björk, Nils Frahm, Alice Coltrane, Le Groupe Obscur, Brigid Mae Power, William Basinski, Jill Lorean, Julianna Barwick, KOKOKO!, Khruangbin, Tindersticks, Joanna Newsom. Loma are my favourite band in the world right now, and I can’t wait for their new album to come out.

What’s planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021?

A Little Less Lost comes out later this month, so we’ll be trying to get that into as many ears as possible. It would be lovely to play live, but that doesn’t look like it’s going to happen for a while, unfortunately. We’ll be releasing another single (or two) from the album and making some home-made videos. We’ve already got a healthy-looking demo folder for Pelts album #2, so there will be a lot to get our teeth into when we eventually all get together as a band again and start making some noise.

Favourite food and place to hang out?

Seafood at Inver, a rural restaurant on the west coast of Scotland, would be a perfect meal. I’m going to pick some Glasgow gig venues, which we miss so much! The Hug and Pint and The Glad Café are two of our favourites – great food, and great venues. We’ve all had so many good nights there.

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Favourite place to hang out is Junk Bar! Such a wonderful atmosphere, great staff, amazing drinks. Just an overall cool vibe. It’s a shame that we’re probably a bit loud for it but maybe we could re-arrange the set to something a bit more acoustic and stripped-back.

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Where are you currently based?

Toronto, Ontario

How did you first start playing music?

My mom put me in guitar lessons when I was younger and I actually hated them! Crazy, right? It made me put the guitar down for years. Funny that I’d figure out my passion was music years later. After I graduated highschool, I started putting covers up on youtube and that was it! I was in love with music. I didn’t want to do anything else, especially when I started writing my own lyrics.

What’s been happening recently and how  has your Covid experience been so far?

A lot of writing, my goal right now is one song a day! The covid experience has been an emotional rollercoaster for sure. At the beginning it was tough, my anxiety was pretty bad- I had a lot of fear around the whole situation, but as time went on I started to get into a great routine. I learned how to manage my anxieties by exercising more frequently…also, I go for long walks and listen to new music and I’ve been connecting with friends(distanced and outside). Finding ways to make this new normal feel like the old normal.

Your new single ‘Can’t Stop’ is now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

YES! Well, I’m obsessed with arpeggiated bass. If I could have it in every song, I would. At the time, I was listening to a lot of ‘Now, Now’ – they’re this amazing indie band that I love. I was inspired by their lo-fi 80’s pop sound, so at first I wasn’t even trying to write a song. I was just trying to produce a beat that kind of emulated what the songs on their album made me FEEL. They made me feel care-free, that hands up, driving through the night, wind in your hair type of vibe.  

How did you go about writing ‘Can’t Stop’?

After I made the beat, It kind of sat there for a while, not really inspiring anything but one day, out of nowhere -one line and a melody popped into my head. “can’t stop lovin you” just spilled out. A couple months after that, I held a writing camp in a log cabin in the middle of the woods with zero reception (a recipe for a horror film) and finished the song with my artist/producer friends. I think it’s pretty obvious what it’s about haha. It was just one of those songs that had to be written. 

Where and when did you record and who with?

The song was actually written last November 2019. It stayed a demo until the middle of July 2020. In order to get this song to the world, we basically worked every night for a month. Late nights trying to get it right!  I worked with one of my writing partners Ben Nudds and producer Joel Stouffer. Ben was there for all of my vocal booth breakdowns haha.

What programs/instruments did you use?

I use logic when I demo a song or a beat. I usually play some guitar and the rest are programmed instruments!

What do you like to do away from music?

Photography 

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Dominic Fike

What’s planned for the remainder of 2020 going into 2021?

Work, work, work, work, work… and i’m so down for it. 

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Pho is my favourite food right now. Probably always haha! My favourite place to hangout is definitely my place of course! Couldn’t find a better vibe!

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Where are you currently based?

I’m now down the South end of Sydney I have lovely peaceful spot near a beautiful river here.

How did you first start playing music?

I formed my first band in 1989 in my garage. Soundgarden was all the rage.

What’s been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far?

It’s been a great chance to face my fears and tackle some time-consuming things like getting better at music production, using a computer while doing that more and writing for writing’s sake. I’ve also enjoyed seeing my 8-year-old daughter a great deal more as I’ve been in town (obviously !).

Your debut album ‘Colourful, Noisy’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

Many of these songs were written during the last few years of what was a turbulent, chaotic time in my life. I write as a cathartic experience and it helped me to get over that and give me something else to focus on. As far as the sound goes, I’m influenced and somewhat limited in a good way by the fact that until super recently I didn’t know how to record on a computer, couldn’t paste a loop together ! So these are ‘song songs’ written from a voice and piano and then layered with real instruments. It comes out sounding more modern, though, I think! Because I’ve had to figure out how to still get certain sounds that are in my head out, whilst still only using “real’ instruments. I’m also just a human who is influenced somewhat by all things, topics and energies from today in general, so of course it’s going to sound this way.

How did you go about writing the music?

Melody and chordal structure are the first things usually. Sitting down at the piano with merely a feeling and the drive to create is all I generally need. Often 80% of it comes in the first 10 minutes of this sit down.

I always have a notetaker recording. However, then it’s sometimes a case of transcribing what I just did, followed by agonising over the last 20% ! Often I take ages to actually commit to lyrics, a middle section (if needed) or whatnot. I’m getting better at not making this part such a chore and accepting what is. If I’m lucky, sometimes a spark or a melody even comes in a dream. Once I met David Bowie (in my dream !) at Bondi and he helped me write a few lyrics to something that had alluded me. How lucky.

Where and when did you record/produce?

Free Energy Device Studios in Camperdown with Richard Belkner has always been a great space to lay down tracks, especially bed rhythm takes. I did quite a bit in my new space too here and also some mixing with my old mate Sean Carey at Church St Studios in Camperdown who is great musician, mix engineer and producer in his own right.

What programs/instruments did you use?

It’s all built up from the piano and voice. Live drums (mostly Evan Mannell), double bass (my main instrument), electric bass. ’The Long Game’ has live strings on it. A fair bit of layered vocals. The album has sparse use of some vintage keyboards and minimal guitars.

You worked with your former Thirsty Merc bandmate Sean Carey who mixed the record, how did this come about and how was the experience?

I just reached out on a whim, I had a song (‘Share Your Dreams’) and had a thought, ‘you know who’d do a great job with this?”.

The song is written for my daughter and it’s almost like self-consciously I had to get Sean because he knows me, and it takes a certain type of delicacy. He’s such a connected, emotive guy, and not everyone who’s also a bad-ass mix engineer is like that. I then got him to mix 2 the tracks in a similar vein. I even ticked him into singing a little too. He has a delicious voice. He’s now in my live band too!

You’re playing Mary’s Underground on the 15th of October, what can we expect?

My hot new band! Evan Mannell, Harry Sutherland and Sean Carey. There is some instrument swapping. I’m going from basses to piano, and Sean from guitar to bass. Abby Dobson Is supporting which is really exciting for me. She has a voice and sound of an angel.

How do you prepare for live shows and what do you most enjoy about playing live?

I get way more nervous on my own shows than playing for way more people as a sideman with some else. The music is deeply personal. However I do enjoy the challenge of trying to cover the general layered feeling of the record with a live band.

How do you feel about playing during Covid and playing after nearly 6 months?

I feel great about it. I’ve done a few small things but this is really exciting to play this material with my band and let the rest of the world take care of itself for a night.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Cat Stevens.

What do you like to do away from music?

Be in the moment with my daughter.

Be in the moment with my partner.

Drink coffee, sit and be still.

What’s planned for 2020 going into 2021?

Writing the next thing and witnessing however that unfolds. There’s no time limit or stylistic restrictions on what this sounds like, so that’s exciting.

Favourite food and place to hangout? 

I’m appreciating the inner city area a great deal more after not living there for a while.

Phil Stack’s debut album Colourful, Noisy is out now.

He plays 2 shows (early & late) at Mary’s Underground in Sydney on Thursday 15 October. Tickets are on sale now at moshtix.com.au

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