With Melbourne’s own fusion of alternative, folk, and rock releasing his latest single ‘Lying Low’ last month, we though it was time you got to know Tim Wheatley.
Tim Wheatley is probably a familiar name to you, as he was originally releasing tunes with his previous quartet, Crooked Saint.
Venturing solo since 2015, his latest tune. ‘Lying Low’, takes a whole new spin on the current global situation, despite not actually writing the song in isolation.
“In more ‘normal’ release circumstances, this song – that is now a year old – would be a memory, or about a circumstance that has since passed. But this time, ‘Lying Low’ is somehow becoming more relevant by the day. Either that or I’m stuck on a carousel.”
With the success of last months tune, backed with a brilliant discography, we thought it was high time you got to know the voice behind the rack, and find out all there is to know about Tim Wheatley.
Check out ‘Lying Low’ by Tim Wheatley:
How did your artist name come about?
Well it may seem obvious, but when I first went solo I played under the name “Crooked Saint”. I released two EP’s and toured the East Coast for three years before moving to Los Angeles.
It was there that I felt as though the weight of my surname was not just easier to bear, but something that I believe gave my music a lot more meaning without the veil to hide behind.
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How would you describe your music to your grandma?
I really wouldn’t have to. Heather is my biggest fan. She quite openly tells me that I’ll never be as good, handsome or as funny as Michael Ball.
Nonetheless she still has her church friends come around for cut sandwiches and forces them to listen to my music. I never did ask how my last single ‘Sex With Strangers’ went down with Wendy and Bev.
Tell us about a few of your tracks; their titles and what they’re about?
The latest single ‘Lying Low’ was written when I moved to London. Struggling to adjust from sun soaked California to rainy England isn’t anything new, but it’s still as hard as they say.
The first single this year was ‘Sex with Strangers’ may sound like a song about frivolous fun, but it was in fact about ‘love’ in the modern age. I was reminiscing about how when I was younger, seeing someone you fancied meant waiting at school, hanging out at the same place, calling their home phone and nervously practice what I’ll say.
Now I think the romance is gone with social media. I mean forget about how easy it is to search and find someone, you can’t even hide.
(On a side note – I’m really concerned about how old I just sounded!!)
Check out ‘Sex With Strangers’ by Tim Wheatley:
What do you love about your hometown?
For the better part of a decade I have been returning home over Christmas. So it’s hard not to think of Melbourne and not remember the long days, quiet streets, friends I haven’t seen, family I have missed and of course cricket.
Career highlight so far?
I can’t pick one particular highlight, but I can pinpoint a period in time when I was most happy with where I was at. It was the Fall of 2017 and I was playing a residency at the Hotel Cafe in Hollywood for three months every Friday night in the cocktail bar.
I changed it up every week with players, songs and special guests and all the while partying with the regulars.
Fave non-music hobby?
I’m partial to an anxiety attack.
What’s on your dream rider?
Beggars can’t be choosers.
Check out Tim Wheatley’s ‘Better Days’:
Dream music collaboration?
T-Bone Burnett.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
When I’m not busy working on the album I’ll be doing with T-Bone, I see myself pretty much the same as I am now. Happy, in love and borrowing money from friends.
But we may be getting ahead of ourselves and need to think about how to survive 2020 first.
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
I have honestly never done Karaoke. I get enough of that forced down my throat every time I turn on the TV.
What’s on the cards for the future?
I think I’ll head back to Australia soon and ride out the ‘second wave’ with you guys.
Check out Tim Wheatley:
