How did you first get into music?
It all started over East in North Queensland where I grew up. My Dad played guitar pretty much every night, and I’d find myself in awe of his talent at the time. I think I was about 6 or 7 years old when Dad started teaching me how to play guitar. Before that I’d always be strumming something, not knowing what the bloody hell I was doing! So the guitar was my very first instrument and I was hooked straight away. Non stop before and after school, pestering dad to teach me new things and sing along to what I was trying to play. It wasn’t until I was around 11 or 12 years old I had my first gig which was a rock/pop mime event, held in town. I played and sang ‘What I Like About You’ by The Romantics, which was my absolute jam at the time. I’m a beach boy and I felt the song really captured that vibe. I ended up having an absolute ball and got hooked on the high of performing. From then on I just wanted to keep pursuing music, which I did by participating in more live performance experiences and learning new instruments (drums, bass, harmonica, didjeridoo and a little bit on the ukulele). I absolutely froth over it!
How would you describe your sound?
Finding my sound hasn’t been the easiest thing! I’m still trying different things to see what I like. Whether it’s a soft rock ballad, chilled music you would listen to in a cafe, or a more hardcore sound, from bands like Parkway Drive, Blessthefall or Beartooth. I like it all! I think after writing and producing my Debut EP, I can see the direction I’d like to go with and believe I can get there, with time.
What does your creative process entail?
It all starts on pen and paper first. I write down the first thing that comes to my mind and my emotions surrounding the subject. From there I branch off, finding different poetic ways to reword my points (if that makes sense). Once I have a rough idea on what the song is going to be about, I will start playing guitar along to it and try to catch a vibe. Once I figure that out, I run a bass line through it and then drums. After I’ve recorded what I want, I go back and listen it repeatedly, so I know what needs to be fixed or added. Jack Johnson, Xavier Rudd and Pete Murray were my biggest influences growing up. That particular music is powerfully nostalgic, sending me back to family road trips down South. Nothing gives me the instant memories one song from 10 years ago can.
What influences your music?
Literally anything that makes me feel what the artist is feeling. I love listening to different stories from different artists, singing about different topics from breakups, being in love, surfing, travelling, pain and regret. I’ve been through hell with my physical and mental health for the past 4 or so years, and it’s good to connect with other artists that have been and still are going through it as well. My EP is all about that shared feeling! Feeling alone, scared, the things that bring you down. I’ve never been good at talking about my feelings and writing music is an ‘escape from reality’ kind of thing that really eases my mind and keeps me relaxed. So I really am hoping that people connect with the lyrics and say to themselves, ‘yep, I know the feeling’.
How did you find Artisan Music?
Google maps. I was really bored laying in bed one day and just started searching how many studios there were in Perth. Stubbled across Artisan, started reading all the reviews, loved what I was reading, and booked a pre production meeting.
I don’t think my time in the studio could have gone any better working with Simon! I loved every minute of it. Being someone who’s never been inside a studio or been professionally recorded, to releasing 6 of my own songs, blows my mind! & I already have a few absolute tunes I’ve started recording for next year!!
