It’s been 20 years since Silverchair had their big break from winning a nationwide talent search and became one of the biggest bands in Australian history. But the last few years, Daniel Johns, frontman of the Australian rock band who announced an indefinite hiatus over two years ago has kept a relatively low profile since, with only intermittent reports about an elusive solo record.
Now one of the hottest songwriters in the world at the moment, Joel Little, the producer and co-writer behind every track of Lorde’s debut album Pure Heroine, has revealed that his next project has been working with Johns’ solo effort.
Little has become hot property in the field of songwriting after Lorde shot to worldwide fame with her song ‘Royals’, which Little co-wrote. The song has topped the charts in countries around the world including the US and Australia, quickly followed by The Love Club EP and her debut record Pure Heroine, also a smash hit topping the charts here in Australia and making it to #3 on the Billboard 200 in the US.
Now request for Little to work with other artists are coming in droves, as he explained in an interview with Billboard. “It’s definitely opened some doors,” Little says of ‘Royals’. “Having a hit song makes people take a bit more notice of you”
“When you’re doing the writings sessions, you never know where it’s going to lead and you never know with albums…” Little explained.Little then went on the explain what else he has been working. “When you’re doing the writings sessions, you never know where it’s going to lead and you never know with albums…” Little explained. “I don’t talk about it particularly until I know what’s going on.”
Little then revealed that had has “been doing some writing with Daniel Johns from Silverchair. He’s working on his solo record. I’ve always been a fan of those guys, so it’s been really cool to do some stuff with him.”
The debut solo outing for the rock frontman was first flagged back in 2011 around the time the group decided to call it quits. It was suggested at the time by a number of sources close to the band that Daniel Johns may release a solo album using material that was intended for the next Silverchair album, which the three-piece had been working on before the group fell apart.
“Johns was doing nearly all of the recording with bassist Chris Joannou and drummer Ben Gillies only present in the studio when called upon by Johns to lay down tracks,” a source told The Daily SPA at the time. “With the material, dictated almost wholly by Johns, moving in a new direction—reportedly both more thematic and stripped back in parts—at one point there were enough tracks to release a double album, an idea that was being considered by the Silvechair parties.”
Remaining relatively quiet on the music scene over the past few years, Johns eventually broke his silence with several collaborations with Australian airline Qantas, beginning with ‘Atlas’ a symphonic instrumental he penned for an ad campaign updating their “Still Call Australia Home” campaign, and a new collaboration with Empire Of The Sun’s Luke Steele.
Johns will also be appearing on the third album for Melbourne hip-hop artist 360, with the MC dropping a conspicuous clue that Johns will provide guest vocals on a tune called ‘Impossible’.
Meanwhile Silverchair’s Ben Gillies has been busy promoting his own solo efforts. The ex-Silverchair drummer’s new outfit finds Gillies coming out from the drum stool to take centre stage on vocals under the solo moniker of Bento. Bento’s debut record Diamond Days was officially released in October last year.
