Where are you currently based?
I’m living in St Kilda, Naarm.
How did you first start playing music?
There was lots of music in our household growing up. My earliest memories are of driving in the car and listening to Stevie Wonder and Otis Redding. I’ve been drawn to that kind of soul music my whole life. My mum bought me a little drum kit when I was two years old. We had it set up in the loungeroom where we used to watch live gigs on the TV and play along.
Please tell us about your upbringing and how it influenced your music:
Looking back, I think that being Homeschooled really helped cultivate my passion for the music I grew up listening to. I immersed myself in 60’s and 70’s music from such a young age. I think being relatively isolated throughout highschool really helped me be confident and self about my the influences I brought into my own music when I started writing.
What’s been happening recently?
I’ve been working on a project in the studio most of the time lately. I played some awesome festivals at the start of this year. Other than that, I’m still getting the hang of how to live out on my own. It’s tricky!
Your latest single ‘Repeat Love’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?
I’d been in a writers block for a while leading up to writing ‘Repeat Love’ so I was excited when I had the idea for it. Going into record I really wanted the whole song to be about minimalism and feel.
How did you go about writing Repeat Love?
The melodic Idea started to build in my head about one week before sitting and putting something down. I wrote it in one session and it just seemed to work. I haven’t changed any of the structure of the song since that first session which is rare for me.
Where and when did you record/produce/master and who did you work with?
I recorded this song with Sensible J at his studio in the South East of Victoria. Andrei Ermin mastered the track.
How did you approach the recording process?
We wanted this song to sound like a dry 70’s record. Recording ‘Repeat Love’ was more about J and I getting to know eachother which was an awesome experience. He’s already tought me so much about music I don’t think I would’ve heard without meeting him.
Please tell us about your experience on working with Sensible J as co-producer:
I don’t think I’ve laughed more working on a project than I have working with J. His ears and houmor are unparalleled!
Who are you listening to at the moment?
I’m listening to lots of Lady Wray and Mara TK. I’m loving Little Dragon at the moment, and all the old music I’ve always listened to because I can’t seem to get it out of my head.
Favourite food and place to hangout?
I love hanging at Sister Of Soul in St Kilda. Great food, Great coffee.
Wilson Blackley’s next headline show
Thursday 28th April
Old Bar, Melbourne, VIC.
https://www.instagram.com/wilson_blackley
https://www.facebook.com/WilsonBlackleyy
