interview – Page 11 – TINSEL and TAP SHOES

An interview with Ryan Wyatt from Project Montreal

If you are drawn to alternative pop music that blends in an orchestra sound, then you may just enjoy Project Montreal’s debut album, Patterns. I spoke with Ryan Wyatt about his four year creative journey, how the experience has shaped him musically, and whether he has any future aspirations brewing.

Firstly, how would you describe Project Montreal?

It’s a bit of a weird one, but I’d say just alternative pop. I like that term – you can throw just about anything in to the mix with the word “alternative”. The name, it’s a bit of a long story, but I remember back at Uni, we used to have competitions about coming up with names – whether it be like a clothing brand or something. One day we were doing band names and I told my friend, “Project Montreal, that’d be a cool band name.” And he was like, “Man, that sucks. That’s such a shit name!” So I was like, I’m going to show him. (laughs)

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An Interview with Hollie Smith

Hollie Smith is one of New Zealand’s most recognisable singer-songwriters. She began her career in her teens, collaborated with some of the industries best, and has had numerous number one singles and albums. She is touring Australia this July. Her current album, Water Or Gold, is out now!

Firstly, what was the idea behind the creatively artistic cover for the album?

The artist, who’s quite well internationally known, is Askew One. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand. He’d done some really beautiful portrait stuff in a recent exhibition. I approached him and asked him if he’d be keen to do the artwork and he was really really excited about it! He goes through this amazing process of layering different colours on flexi glass using this really interesting process. He did a couple of the single artworks as well, [so it] was a real pleasure to have him involved. [It] was all pretty exciting and I’m very lucky!

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On The Red Carpet with Harrison Craig

I spoke to singer, songwriter and all-around nice guy, Harrison Craig, for the tiniest of minutes, on the red carpet at the Singin’ in the Rain opening night last Saturday.

Harrison, you’re no stranger to singing and dancing in the rain yourself, is it as joyous and momentous as the song, musical and movie makes it out to be?

It is! It’s very much fun when you get on a role, and get to dance and perform – and perform doing what you love. I guess, with this particular show, it’s such a great movie, and now a great musical, and it’s got very talented people in it. It’s gonna be great, so I’m looking forward to it very much!

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An interview with Pete Murray

PeteMurray Australian singer-songwriter, Pete Murray is about to hit the road, or hop a plane more specifically, for Surf Music in Paradise – a unique concert experience combining music, sun and surf in the beautiful Maldives. Currently hard at work on his fifth album; I spoke to Pete about exotic locations, surfing, new music and touring with Rob Thomas.

Hi Pete. In June, you’re heading to the Maldives for Surf Music in Paradise. How did that gig come about?

The guys from The Perfect Wave contacted me after they saw [the Latitude Zero] documentary I did with Mark Occhilupo, Mark Gasnier and Ash Grunwald. We did this trip to the Mentawai Islands and Foxtel recorded it, so that doco has been played all over Foxtel and so many people have seen it. It has such a good vibe, that they’ve asked me to come and be involved with the trip, which I’m really hanging out for. I’ve always wanted to go, so I’m really looking forward to it!

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An Interview with Anthony Callea

APL PHOTOGRAPHY - www.aplphotography.com.au — APL PHOTOGRAPHY – http://www.aplphotography.com.au

It’s been a big year for Anthony Callea! The ARIA Award winning singer-songwriter proving his tenacity in this year’s I’m a celebrity … get me out of here!, placing fourth, after six grueling weeks in the African jungle. Splitting his time between LA and Melbourne, alongside his husband, actor Tim Campbell, he’s billed as one of the top performers at Surfers Paradise LIVE music festival this May.

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An interview with Harrison Craig

Harrison Craig, the winner of the second series of The Voice, is one of the top performers set to perform Surfers Paradise LIVE – a free three-day musical event celebrating a diversity of genres on the Gold Coast – it really is set to be something spectacular. Currently hard at work on his third studio album, I spoke to the 21-year old about the new record, Mother’s Day, Josh Groban and all things Disney.

You’re performing at the Surfers Paradise LIVE – what can you tell me about it?

We’ve been rehearsing now for one month and it’s just been an absolute blast! I’ve got a big band coming up with me and we’re going to be doing tracks off my last two albums, and some tracks from my new album that I’m just recording at the moment. It’s a really good place to have this kind of three day event and everyone behind it, the teams, are just great, so I’m just really pleased to be there.

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An Interview with Mickey Cooper

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From his humble beginnings rewriting songs from the radio as a youngster, and touring with bands during his late teens – there was never any doubt that Mickey Cooper was destined for a career in the music industry. Now, set to release his debut solo album, Hit The Ceiling; I spoke with Mickey about songwriting, recording and Randy’s Apartment.

So, tell the people a little bit about yourself to start with.

I left school when I was 16 to play guitar in a rock band, crazily toured up and down the coast, [and] drove around playing gigs of varying success for a lot of years. That’s kind of how I grew up playing in bands – music’s been the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do with my life. And the solo thing came about, because I was in New York last year for a few months and living in this apartment. [I] just had just a microphone and a little recording space and had all these songs that I wanted to get down and it turned into an album.

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An Interview with musician, Matt Cornell

hY0QhPiz Matt Cornell is an singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and one fifth of Adam Brand and the Outlaws. Having just released his new single Feels Like Yesterday, off his 2014 self-titled album, I spoke to Matt about Texas, tattoos, musical influences, growing up in a showbiz family, and the future of the Outlaws.

Congratulations on the new release and music video for Feels Like Yesterday. What was the concept behind the video and how does it relate to the lyrics of the song?

Paul Stefanidis, the guy who shot and directed the clip, came up with the idea. He’s been wanting to do a video with me for some time. He said to me, “I’ve got this idea, let’s do this video overseas”, and I wasn’t really sold on the idea. Everyone who hears “Feels Like Yesterday” [will] think it’s a song about going back home and when you hear the lyrics, it talks about that and it is – but it’s also about being in a familiar place – a place you feel a connection with.

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An Interview with Damien Leith

MI0003406690 Damien Leith has had a busy decade since taking out the title of Australian Idol. He’s recorded eight studio albums, written two books, and penned a one-man cabaret. This April marks what would have been Roy Orbison‘s 80th birthday, to celebrate Damien reprises his successful Roy – A Tribute to Roy Orbison tour!

Hi Damien. You’re bringing back your show Roy – A Tribute To Roy Orbison this April. You did this show back in 2011, what was the idea behind bringing the show back?

It would have been Roy Orbison’s 80th birthday in April, so it’s really to celebrate his 80th birthday (and) to return to a collection of songs that I just love performing. We don’t do this run of shows very often at all and even this one, it’s only six shows in total, so it’s a very limited run – it’s only in the month of his birthday. Six shows and then unfortunately, we put it away for a while. But I love these songs, I love performing them, it’s just great to get an opportunity to hit the road with them again.

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