Where are you currently based?
I am currently based in the South East Suburbs of Melbourne, so unfortunately that means I am in lockdown at the moment haha
How did you first start playing music?
I started playing guitar when I was about 8 years old, I hated it at first, was kind of a chore for me, but when I started listening to artists like Jimi Hendrix and John Frusciante and how they played the guitar, I kind of just wanted to be like them and found a love for it. I’ve worked really hard on being able to play all the instruments I play to a good standard , but I think Songwriting, Structure and Melody are the components I probably work on the most when it comes to music. I find them to be the most important, and a lot of that learning comes from just listening to as many different styles of music as possible.
What’s been happening recently?
I am in the process of finishing off my debut EP. The Songs have been done for a while but I just have to finish off some recording. Melbourne has just gone back to Stage 3 Lockdown which has delayed the last couple of sessions, but would much rather everyone be safe than sick. Gives me some extra time to make sure things are perfect.
Your new single ‘Feels’ will be out August 14, what influenced the sound and songwriting?
I was listening to a D’Angelo record when I wrote the opening riff, so I often think that inspired the sound of the intro section, however when I hear the song, I hear a lot of Jamiroquai and some of my more funk/soul influences coming through. Lyrically I was inspired by the situation I was in at the time where I was scared to be vulnerable with someone and fall in love. I think it’s something a lot of people can relate to. There is a lot of inner turmoil that goes on with those feelings and I tried to convey that while also touching on the beauty that also comes with love.
How did you go about writing Feels?
Like a lot of the songs I write, I often take bits and pieces from other songs I have written and trial them with new ideas. For example, ‘Feels’ started off as an intro riff and a Chorus idea and nothing much else. So I grabbed the verse of a song I’d be working on that wasn’t really going anywhere and made it fit to the overall vibe of ‘Feels’, it ended up working super well so I left it. The only other thing I added was the Pre-Chorus, which had been a stand-alone melodic idea sitting in my phone voice memos for months. From here I just had to work on the structure and production, which flowed really well once I had all the sections written.
Where and when did you record/produce and who with?
I recorded all the songs for the upcoming EP including ‘Feels’ at Debasement Studios in Ferntree Gully. One of my Uni Teachers owns it so I just book it out for the day and get everything done. It’s a really sweet set up and just a great place to record! I do all the recording and production by myself, which sounds super stressful, but really I prefer it that way. I have worked with recording engineers in the past and learnt a lot of great things, but eventually I felt in order to get the sound I wanted, I had to do it myself. It does often mean very lonely days in the studio starting at 8am and leaving at like 11pm at night, but once it all works out, and thankfully it always does, it’s so worth it.
You also have an EP titled ‘Feels’ coming out in November 2020, what can we expect?
‘Feels’ the EP is something I am really excited to share with the world. It is a collection of stories of my experiences with love, attraction, sexuality and the inner conflicts that come with feelings of that nature. There’s a bit of a pink Floyd thing going on in that it plays as a whole piece of art, rather than a collection of songs that don’t really relate to each other. There is a good mixture of Funk, Rock and Soul in their too, depending on what the song is trying to convey. Overall I am really proud of how it sounds and just can’t wait for people to hear it.
What did you find most challenging and rewarding during the creation of the EP?
I think there are always challenges when you are creating something for release. There is a lot of pressure you tend to put on yourself, trying to make things perfect. Engineering the whole thing by myself definitely took it’s toll a few times, especially when I was by myself in the studio after days in a row tracking. But at the end of the day I think once it’s out there, that’s reward in itself. I know I’m proud of it and that is enough for me.
What do you like to do away from music?
I am big into my sport and fitness, so I usually try and fit a run or a gym session into my daily routine as it allows me to remove myself from music for a while. I’m also a big Richmond supporter so I love kicking the footy or watching it at home. Besides that I spend a lot of time watching films or writing poetry. Movies give me a lot of musical inspo, not even from the scores themselves, but general imagery in a scene can spark some really cool ideas for me.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
I’ve been listening to a lot of stuff from the 70s lately, mainly The Isley Brothers and Prince’s first few albums. But I have also been digging The Goods new abums ‘II’ which is sick! I usually listen to a bit of everything though.
What’s planned for the remainder of 2020?
2020 has been a very unpredictable year! The EP and it’s release is my main focus at the moment, and I’m trying not to write any new material until it’s all been recorded. But I think once the EP is out I want to get back into the studio as I have a few plans for next year that I want to get underway. I am also hoping we can get back to playing gigs soon as well because I am really missing being on stage.
Favourite food and place to hangout?
Favourite food – Chicken Parma, nothing compares!! Favourite Place to Hangout – I love going to live music and Melbourne has so many amazing live music venues. So really any chance I get to go to a gig with friends and listen to music, that’s my favourite place to be.
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