Category: interview

An Interview with Harrison Craig

Harrison Craig has been wowing audiences with his voice since 2013. With the release of his third studio album Kings Of Vegas (featuring new interpretations of classics such as Almost Like Being In Love, She’s A Lady and I’ve Got You Under My Skin) displaying a mature sound with swing-inspired direction, this platinum-selling artist (and soon-to-be author) is on a national tour paying homage to the icons he grew up listening to.

Last time we spoke you were working on the Kings of Vegas album – you said it was more in the direction you’ve been wanting to go, about coming into your own and where you want to be musically for the rest of your career. Having now recorded and finished album, do you feel this still rings true?

Yes, I think so. I also strongly believe there’s always room to grow. There was a great quote by Prince and, from not remembering the quote word for word, he was trying to say you should always be looking to grow and expand. You shouldn’t stay in one place for too long, but stay in that line that works for you. Don’t switch to being a metal performer, if that’s clearly not your jam, but don’t stagnate is what he’s trying to get across. That rings true for everything, for this as well. I’m looking forward to going on tour with the Kings, but also growing and pushing that out as well.

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An Interview with Adam Harvey

Charismatic, multi-award winning, singer/songwriter, Adam Harvey, alongside buxom poster girl Beccy Cole, have recently released The Great Country Songbook Volume II album, with a tour soon to follow. Following the success of the original 2013 release of The Great Country Songbook and tour with Troy Cassar-Daley; the 2017 release pays homage to some of the greatest male/female country duets ever written.

You released the Great Country Songbook with Troy Cassar-Daley in 2013. Last week you released Volume II of the Great Country Songbook with Beccy Cole.  Did you always have the idea of making a second chapter?

I did. I remember when I did the first album with Troy Cassar-Daley and both of us were surprised at the success of that album. It made me realise that people still want to hear those great old songs. They’re timeless. I went to Troy and said, “Mate, I’d love [record] those great, classic, male and female duets. Troy said, “Harvey, I can tell you right now, there is no way I’m going to sing all those female parts!” I said, “Come on, mate. I’ll put a blonde wig on you, we’ll blow up some balloons and put them down your top – you’ll look just like Dolly Parton!” (laughs) He said, “No, you go and see your mad mate, Beccy Cole (who happens to be Dolly’s #1 fan) and see if she’ll do it with you.” That was how he came about with Beccy – who else can you pick, you know? Beccy and I have been such great friends over the years. She loves that classic country stuff [and] I love working with her! She’s the best in the business.

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Interview: Paul Grierson and Chris Rieger from ‘Simply Bushed’

Paul Grierson and Chris Rieger form the duo, Simply Bushed. Their songs are powerful and emotive, and their dance nights are as famous as their epic performances themselves. Having released Raise Your Glass on Remembrance Day last year; the single, as well as their EP Military Issues, is a tribute to those who serve and the emotive significance of ANZAC Day. Having played for Australian and allied troops in the Sinai and Solomon Islands, and both with military ties in their families – it’s an issue that remains close to their hearts and inspired the release.

Raise Your Glass has been gaining in notoriety and accolades, with two award wins in the bag (ANZAC Song of the Year at the Tamworth Songwriters’ Association Awards and Ballad – Song of the Year in the Songs Alive! Australia – Song Comp) and a nomination for CMC Video of the Year; what can you tell me about the song?

Chris: It is definitely a tribute. All the songs we do as Simply Bushed are originals we write together, and this one was brought to the table by Pauly. You could hear, from the concept inception, that it was going to be one of those real, emotive songs. It’s about the colloquial Australian “Raise Your Glass” – that sign of respect that we have. It doesn’t matter what sort of glass you’re holding or what you’re drinking; it means, when you raise that glass, it’s almost like a handshake, a curtsy or a bow. It’s a way of showing respect and that’s what’s so strong about the song.

Paul: Both Chris and I have fairly strong opinions and connections to the military, so we wanted to make it an ANZAC tribute. Because of our experiences going to the Middle East and the Solomons, the message is to make sure we remember we’ve still got soldiers deployed around various parts of the world. Sometimes we don’t even know where they are, yet they’re still away from their families and coming back with that same battle for themselves. We’ve tried to keep that focus as well.

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The St Kilda Fest Files – An Interview with Thom Lion

Currently working by a radio producer by day and touring with his band, The Tamers, at night – I caught up with Adelaide-based singer/songwriter, Thom Lion.

It’s been a busy couple of months for Thom. After the release of his debut EP, Sleep Riots, he toured extensively playing some of Australia’s biggest festivals: including Adelaide’s Fringe Festival, Teneriffe Festival in Brisbane and making his St Kilda Festival debut this year.

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Interview: Country Artist Christie Lamb

Let me give you a bit of a rundown on Country Music multi-instrumental, award-winning, singer-songwriter, Christie Lamb. She has been hailed as ‘one to watch’ by Country music legend, Lee Kernaghan. She’s toured with Jon English, Amber Lawrence, Aleyce Simmonds, The Wolfe Brothers, and performed a duet with Keith Urban at last year’s Deni Ute Muster. She took out the fan voted ‘CMC New Oz Artist of the Year’ in 2015 and the Golden Guitar for ‘CMAA New Talent of the Year 2016.’ Earlier this year she released her second album, Loaded, placing #2 on the ARIA Country Album Charts, and single Bad Habit following the success of first single, Flamethrower.

Congratulations on the release of your new album, Loaded. Were there any elements from your debut, All She Wrote that you wanted to carry over into this release?

The first album established what sound and direction I was going and I didn’t want to stray too far from that and confuse fans. It’s still contemporary, country-rock/country-pop, but we tried to give a bit more variation on this album so there are seeds that are even bigger and even more stripped back and raw as well.

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An Interview with Hurricane Fall

Hurricane Fall is an Australian four-piece country rock band, comprising of Jesse Vee on lead vocals and guitar, Pepper Deroy on lead vocals and bass, Jimmy Hick on lead guitar and Lachlan ‘Dusty’ Coffey on skins and percussion. I spoke to Jesse, Pepper and Dusty about the band and its future.

“All of us were friends before hand, and once we started writing together we clicked really well so that’s what bonded us together a bit more,” Jesse says. “Traveling and playing gigs has kept us together. We still have fun hanging out, so that’s really good.”

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Interview: Mark Gable of ‘The Choirboys’

Mark Gable is the front man and founding member of the Australian hard rock band, The Choirboys. Formed in 1978, with Mark on lead vocals, Ian Hulme on bass guitar, Brad Carr on lead guitar and Lindsay Tebbutt on drums. He also penned the classic Australian anthem, Run To Paradise.

The Choirboys are currently on tour around the country paying homage to the great AC/DC. Their first set comprises of AC/DC’s debut with Bon Scott, High Voltage, recorded in 1974, sung cover the cover. The second, the final album with Bon Scott, 1979’s Highway To Hell, with a Choirboys set added at the end as well. They’ve already done three shows to amazing response.

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An Interview with Lee Kernaghan

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In 1992, Lee Kernaghan released the Outback Club, which not only won ‘Best Country Album’ at the ARIA Music Awards and ‘Album of the Year’ at the Golden Guitar Awards, but also made him a household name. With 25 years in the industry, Lee has sold over two million album sales, 34 number one hits and 36 Golden Guitars to his name. Currently on his biggest and most exciting tour yet; I spoke to Lee about celebrating this iconic milestone.

You kicked off your massive 31+-date Boys From the Bush – 25th Anniversary Tour at the Tamworth Country Music Festival in January with the Wolfe Brothers. How was that show?

It was epic! The Wolfe Brothers truly are the hottest in the land. They are brilliant musicians, songwriters and artists [of] international calibre, as good as any outfitting in the world, I reckon. There’s a whole lot of history behind those boys. They often joke about those times they were in the mosh pit at the Wrest Point Casino, watching the Lee Kernaghan show (laughs). Now they’re in the band, making their own albums, touring America and with a career of their own. Those boys have paid serious musical dues and done countless shows to get to where they are today. They have a wide knowledge of music – not just country music, but all genres of music – and I think that’s part of the magic of the Wolfe Brothers.

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The St Kilda Fest Files – An interview with Ainslie Wills

Ainslie Wills has been pegged as one to watch in 2017. Not only has she played Queenscliff Music Festival, Falls Festival, WOMADelaide and Splendour in the Grass, just to name a few, as well as a successful run opening for Grouplove in the UK last year; she, and key collaborator Lawrence Folvig, have signed on to support Tom Chaplin (Keane) when his British tour gets underway next month.

You literally just got off stage at St Kilda Fest. How did your set go?

It was fun. We had some good responses, especially towards the end of the set with songs like ‘Drive’. For us to play a band gig, it sort of doesn’t happen. The last band gig we played was probably Woodford [Folk Festival] last year, so it’s nice to play with the full band and get back into it.

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