Chance Waters (formerly Phatchance) has ditched the moniker and burst onto the Australian music scene with the first single from his new record Infinity, ‘Maybe Tomorrow’ receiving high rotation on triple j over the last few months. The accompanying video clip was named ABC’s RAGE! Indie of the week and went on to secure a lucrative world wide sync as the promotional music for National Geographic’s season headliner ‘Doomsday Preppers’ which will see it beamed into 135,000,000 homes across the globe. Now Chance Waters has come back swinging with ‘Young & dumb’, the under-your-skin-catchy follow up single featuring enchanting Australian songstress, Bertie Blackman.
You’re currently on the road with touring ‘Young & Dumb’, what has been your favourite show of the tour so far?
There have been a heap of fantastic shows but I think Sydney probably takes the cake. Capacity home town crowd coupled with Lilian Blue singing guest vocals and some extra musicians in the mix made for a really great vibe.
You teamed up with Bertie Blackman for ‘Young & Dumb’, how did this come about and did you record in together or was it another new age collaboration done via email?
The collaboration was entirely digital, we had a heap of catch ups on Skype and via phone and bounced a tonne of demos back and forth until we were both happy enough to record our finals. Then I mixed the song in Sydney, One Above added touch ups to the production in Adelaide and I worked with a heap of session musicians to add the final touches.
What’s your personal favourite track from Infinity?
It’s really tough to pick a favourite on a personal labour like Infinity, I guess Conjure Up A Fire would be up there, I think the production is really progressive for an Australian hip-hop track and I think Kate Martin and I worked together really well on the writing duties, plus she brings something special to the hook.
What’s your earliest memory of performing and who inspired you to start?
My earliest performance memories would probably be watching buskers at the markets where my parents worked when I was a kid, but in terms of being inspired to start I guess watching some of the older kids at school who were getting in on the ground floor of local hip-hop, they were making tracks with Bliss N Eso before anyone knew who Bliss N Eso were, on reflection I think I was pretty lucky to be exposed to those early roots.
You must answer this question honestly. What and where was the first gig you went to?
I honestly cannot remember my first concert… the first massively memorable gig I went to was Hilltop Hoods performing at the Aussie Friggen Hip Hop final, a bit embarrassing in hindsight but they killed it.
‘Fess up. What records have you stolen from your parent’s record collection and why?
Totally stole Jeff Buckley & Pink Floyd pretty early on. I left the Enya.
What’s on heavy rotation on your iPod or other streaming services right now?
Cub Scouts! Seth Sentry! Macklemore!
Of the musical instruments you don’t already play what would you love learn to play and why?
Keys! They’re so versatile and cool. I’d also love to learn a stringed instrument, maybe Mandolin.
Do you have any particular ritual before you go on stage, or even a lucky charm you take with you?
I do scales back stage, I’m told I look and sound pretty weird. Worth it though, I never lose my voice anymore. No lucky charm but a fair bit of pacing.
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?
It’d be in my lounge room, fully acoustic, only a few friends, Death Cab For Cutie, Metric and Basia Bulat would definitely play sets, as would Macklemore. Good vegan Mexican for sure.
Where we can see you play next, what releases do you have available and where can we get them?
Friday night at The Workers Club in Fitzroy! I’ve just released my album Infinity which is available at JB HI-FI nationally and of course on iTunee: itunes.apple.com/au/album/infinity/id565034814
Plus I have a sweet free mixtape available from: store.iforgetsorry.com<http://store.iforgetsorry.com/>
twitter or facebook me guys, let’s be internetz friends.
