Hey folks, I am an independent Aussie muso/singer/songwriter and so excited to be releasing my second album ‘Reservoir Drive’ early 2013. My single recently came out and the band and I have started to play shows again after a short hiatus.
I have been lucky enough to tour Australia with Ryan Adams, Steve Earle, Ron Sexsmith and throughout the USA with Aqualung. My first album ‘Here Be Dragons’ was also recorded in the USA as I spent a year or so living in NYC where I met Ryan Adams and this was when he played on my first record over a very cold and snowing Christmas in 2008.
The band is a 5 piece including: Gra Luther on Drums, Adrian Gardiner on Electric Guitar, Danny Knox on Bass and Geoffrey Thorsen on Keys. The best thing about the band besides having some amazing chemistry is that we are all really good buddies. You can see us on December 6th at Ding Dong Lounge in Melbourne and in Adelaide on the 8th of December at the Promethean for our Single launch/ Album preview supported by The Ronson Hang Up in Melbourne and Traveller and Fortune in Adelaide.
2013 will be a flurry of shows and festivals and we are hoping to tour all around Australia as part of the album launches.
Your second album ‘Reservoir Drive’ was recorded in Long Beach, California in the US, why did you choose the US to record in?
I stumbled across a record and fell in love – Ryan Bingham and the Dead Horses album ‘Junky Star’. After some research I discovered Marc Ford and Anthony Arvitzu produced the band so I emailed the studio and asked if we could chat. After a few discussions it became clear we were on the same page and from there it was seamless. Some things in life are easy and feel effortless. The process of deciding to work with Marc and Anthony felt right from the beginning, so I ran with it and we all made it happen. Marc Ford was a purist in his approach and we made the album in 3 weeks from start to finish. It was very organic and intuitive recorded live.
You had Ryan Adams guest on the album, how did you meet him and what tracks did he play on?
I met Ryan in New York several years ago. Upon arriving in New York I ended up making some demos. I enlisted his pedal steel player, the very talented Jon Graboff on recommendation through some contacts and from there and Jon gave Ryan some of my tunes.
Ryan called me up one day when he was on tour after listening to my songs and he was keen to meet and collaborate together; he mentioned he liked the material and heard about me. The friendship began there and he has been a mentor to me over the years. Ryan often gives me feedback on songs and sometimes just music industry advice. So asking him to play on the second record was a given. He rocked up at the studio and we goofed about playing guitars. He loved the song (now new single) ‘Looking for Love’ and decided he wanted to lay some guitars down on it as well as sing back-up vocals. Late into the night after the studio we did a photo shoot with his analogue camera around the streets of Long Beach California. He is a great deal of fun and inspiration.
Your current single is titled ‘Looking For Love’; have you found your special love?
That is a tough question; and I’m an extremely private person when it comes to love and a big believer in love, although it comes in many forms.
Anaïs Nin once said “You don’t find love, it finds you. It’s got a little bit to do with destiny, fate, and what’s written in the stars” that quote really resonates with me however I feel love is so deeply personal and for my heart only to share with that special other.
What’s your earliest memory of performing and who inspired you to start?
My earliest memory of performing was when I was about 10 years old. I was a tomboy through and through; somewhat goofy and completely extroverted. As a youngster, I would perform really silly song and dance pieces in front of my parents and their friends. I simply loved performing.
However on a more serious note, I have to say that Ash Naylor and Wally Kempton (Even) inspired me, as a teenager, to start playing music as a career. I would watch them perform at shows and I was in awe. To this day I still see those lovely lads and thank them for inspiring me. I was only about 16 or so when I met Wall and Ash but it made such a profound impression on me that I knew that was what I had to do with my life and as it turns out it’s where I feel most like me.
What and where was the first gig you went to?
As a youngster I went to see Pink Floyd in Adelaide with my parents. Growing up, my dad was a band manager, so music was a huge part of my upbringing.
What records have you stolen from your parent’s record collection and why?
Credence Clearwater, Hendrix, The Doors, The Stones, The Who, Cream, Them, Long John Baldry. And I have ‘inherited’ them because they are legendary and completely rocked my world as a young rebellious teenager and now as an adult.
Streaming Services, so many new ones. Is your music available on them and do you use them yourself?
My music is available on Soundcloud and I have recently offered to give away my first record, “Here Be Dragons” as an early Christmas present to my Facebook Fans via Bandpage! Personally, I don’t stream songs; I usually just buy the ones I love via iTunes or pokey local record shops.
Which do you prefer Electric or Acoustic guitar? Tell us why?
I play acoustic but I LOVE electric guitars. Other guitarists such as like Ryan Adams and Marc Ford play electric so much better than I would, so I tend to leave that to the experts.
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?
This is something I would love to curate! I would have an all-Australian line-up to celebrate the rich and diverse music scene we have here. I am constantly falling in love with Aussie bands; and for personal reasons I have a particular soft spot for independent artists. I would ask these bands to play;
The Drones, Tex Perkins, Even, Weddings Parties Anything (if they are still playing together), Mark Lizotte (Diesel), King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, The Howlin Steam Train, Jordi Lane, Chris Altman, Dan Kelly, Jens Lekman (I love his quirkiness and creative lyrics), Angus and Julia Stone (together and separate – they’re amazing!), Boy and Bear, Stonefield – (I love these girls!), Lisa Mitchell, Matt Corby &Saskwatch
I would also have really yummy local organic food for sale and amazing local wines – direct from the owners. I would love to hold it at a beautiful winery, perhaps in in Red Hill, maybe at Montalto. I would invite as many people as the space could hold comfortably and offer a camping site for those wanting to stay the night. Let’s love and support Aussie talent!
Because it’s more fun to do things together, living artist from anywhere in the world would you most like to collaborate with? Tell us why?
I would love to collaborate with Black Rebel Motor Cycle Club. They are my favourite band and I love their dark rock vibe. I like to push myself and what I think I should be as I tend to get bored. Black Rebel have a very rootsy sound but layer it with feedback and guitars. I love that and feel I could learn a great deal from them.
Where we can see you play next, what releases do you have available and where can we get them?
Melbourne Thursday 6th December – Single Launch – Ding Dong Lounge
http://dingdong.oztix.com.au/default.aspx?Event=30961
Adelaide Saturday 8th December – Single Launch – The Promethean
http://www.theprom.com.au/events
My First Album is titled – Here Be Dragons
My current Single is – Looking for Love
