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Olivia May
Published May 24, 2013 | 
Olivia May
Photos by Onny Carr
I decided to have a second beauty of the week and decided to make Olivia May it because I think she is incredibly beautiful and so talented. She is an incredibly talented actor as well as being an amazing singer songwriter plus also being in an amazing duo called David & Olivia. To me she fits the bill perfectly as she is talented as well as being incredibly beautiful. So I will keep supporting her in all that she does.
http://www.oliviamaymusic.com/
http://www.davidandolivia.com/
Bruce Mathiske Interview
Published May 23, 2013 | Bruce Mathiske
Bruce Mathiske is a talented Australian musician who music I really enjoyed when I heard it. He playing a bunch of dates and thought it was worth asking some questions so read on. Here are the dates where you can check him out.
Sunday 16th June
Bowraville Theatre
74 High St Bowraville
(02) 6564 7808
Tix : $30
Saturday 25 May
Zenith Theatre
Cnr Railway & McIntosh Sts, CHATSWOOD NSW
Saturday 22 June
The Jetty Theatre
337 Harbour Dr, COFFS HARBOUR NSW
Saturday 15 June
Manning Entertainment Centre
33 Manning River Dr, TAREE NSW
Saturday 29 June
The Street Theatre
Childers St, CANBERRA ACT
Wednesday 19 June
Brisbane Powerhouse
119 Lamington St, NEW FARM QLD
Friday 13 July
Star Theatre
145 Sir Donald Bradman Dr, HILTON SA
Friday 21 June
Gold Coast Arts Centre
135 Bundall Rd, SURFERS PARADISE QLD
Friday 26 July
Fly By Night
1 Holdsworth St, FREMANTLE WA
1. What inspires you when writing music?
Traveling I find the best. Particularly to different countries. I do love Rhythm and Melody so even just sitting, doodling with my guitar usually something comes out. Even a mistake can spark something.
2. What has been your favorite show to date?
I’ve enjoyed all of them but the last concert in a block of shows is uaually pretty tight and those were Chapel Off Chapel in Melbourne and The Conservatorium Concert Hall in Newcastle.
3. Who would you most like to collaborate with?
Composers Roger Waters from Pink Floyd and Ennio Morricone who did The Mission Soundtrack
4. How do you warm up for a show?
A few scales and just really keeping calm and level – just breathe.
5. What was the inspiration for the new album?
Various life events and influences. Tributes to a couple of great acoustic guitarists – Chet Atkins and Charlie Bryd.
Cultural things like traveling to Morocco and my Gypsy inspired ” In Rhythm”.
The track River Stories takes me back to my childhood growing up on a farm
6. How was the recording process compared to previous releases?
Tod from James Morrison’s Sydney studio was the right man who could hear what I was thinking. I then set up my own studio the same and Mark Tinson came on board with pre-amps, mics, mic positioning etc then left me to it.
I hadn’t done this with any of the other recordings.
7. Are you happy how the album has been received?
Very! The reviews have all been positive and have definitely heard my intent. I really wanted to make music that meant something and everyone seems to have gotten that.
8. What is next for yourself?
I am now composing suites and concertos from chamber orchestra and guitar. I have lots of ideas and I’m loving having so many stringed instruments included to play all these lines I have running my head. This is a new, exciting beginning.
Jenny Dalton Interview
Published May 23, 2013 | Jenny Dalton
Photos by Tony Nelson
To say I am a fan of Jenny Dalton music is an understatement, I love what she does as a musician, I have all her albums, all the recordings she has done. Plus she has been on all of the compilation cd’s I have put together. I hope to have her on all the CD’s I do, If more happen in the future. So I am a huge supporter of beautiful Jenny Dalton and her amazing music. She kindly does another interview for me so read on.
1. Are you happy how things have gone for you so far?
There are things I’m happy with and things that are frustrating. Music is just always something that I’m doing; my purpose is to DO it, not worry about particular outcomes. So in that sense, it has gone mostly very well except when music and I had about a 2-year break-up when we weren’t seeing eye-to-eye. That is to say, I had one of those “creative hiatuses” when it seemed my muses were on strike. It was terrible. But we’re back together and all seems right with the world.
2. You happy to be playing loads of gigs at the moment?
It fulfills the wanderlust for sure. I love the pace, variety, and new people that touring brings. It’s great to go out there and see the world.
3. What is inspiring you now when writing music?
I’m not sure if there’s a particular topic for the songs (usually that makes itself clear to me when a record is near completion), but what inspires me lately is a good challenge. I’m going about songwriting a bit differently and using new technology which is really fun for me.
4. What will your up coming release be about?
The theme hasn’t made itself clear to me yet, I’m still figuring out what songs I want to include.
5. Are you happy how people have responded to your latest release?
The Blood Folk EP was something I put out without a lot of fanfare, but I am happy that it has been received well by fans who have been with me since the first release.
6. How is important to you is connecting with your fans?
The music is personal by nature, so I’m grateful for the connection it has found in people. That’s really the best thing about putting it out there. The hard part is to be sure I’m making music without getting carried away by thoughts like “will they like this song?” I’m trying to evict those kinds of thoughts from the process because I think worrying about that stuff can really water down what’s created.
7. How does social networking help you?
I have a modest music career at the moment, but if it wasn’t for social networking, I’d probably have no career at all. It’s amazing to have “traveled” to places like Australia and connected with people there, and I’ve never actually been there in person.
8. What has been your favorite place to play?
It’s really hard to choose. I’ve had some of my favorite shows in New York and Washington D.C. It’s fun to have an attentive audience who knows my songs enough to request them by name. Doing shows in that kind of environment feels more to me like having a personal conversation. It’s intimate.
9. What do you like to do to unwind?
On a free day, I like to grab a coffee and wander around and explore places: popping into boutiques or bookstores etc. I’m kind of an observer. We’ve just had a long winter where I’ve tried to go downhill skiing as much as possible, and now that we have nice weather, I’ll be out and about hopefully seeing as many shows as I’ll be playing.
10. Who would you most like to collaborate with?
Johnny Marr. He’s always been one of my favorite musicians, and I was lucky enough to have met him when he was coming through Minneapolis recently. The way he writes makes my heart melt; it’s addictively mysterious and is, at the same time, beautifully simple.
11. What are you listening to at the moment that is inspiring you?
I love Nordic pop lately. Maybe that’s not a real genre, but these women out of Sweden, Iceland, etc are making some really dark and wonderful pop music. Especially Fever Ray, Soley, and Lykke Li.
12. What does 2013 mean to you as an artist?
Firstly, that I survived the supposed end of the world, so that’s good. Second, it’s time to put out an album and tour tour tour.
13. Will the new release feature any new instruments that you haven’t used before?
I have a feeling this new release will be mostly synthetic. As in synthesizers. For everything. I’m having a great time playing with these things. It’ll be different from the previous releases in that I’ve recorded live instruments in the past, but the style of music will be the same. I think. Sometimes it’s hard for me to judge that.
Melissa Johnston Interview
Published May 22, 2013 | Melissa Johnston
Photos by Tali Sigalius
I’ve interviewed Melissa Johnston before and this is the third time I have and why because I think she is an incredibly beautiful and talented actor, who is doing some amazing work. I think she is so incredibly talented and so good at all what she does. So this is why I keep interviewing her and supporting what she does as an actor and as a friend. We chat about what she has been up to. So listen and find out why I think she is amazing and why she is going places in Hollywood.
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http://melissajohnston.mixform.com/
Bell Weather Department – Voodoo Hoodoo Video Clip
Published May 21, 2013 | This is a great song by Bell Weather Department. It’s a catchy well written tune, worthy of a listen. I can see them doing well.
Hanson Hosein about the doco Independent America
Published May 21, 2013 | Hanson Hosein about the documentary Independent America
I did this interview on the 19/11/2007 (but due to the site change I forgot to put this up) well that when the answer came back from Hanson of the film makers of the important documentary Independent America and it is about mom & pop stores in America and big business. I think this is was a very good interview which I did, I gave him some good questions to answer. If you have any interest in small businesses in America, you need to see this.
http://www.independentamerica.net/
1. Why did you decide to do a documentary on Mom & Pop stories and small towns fighting to remain independent?
Prior to moving to a small city in British Columbia, Canada, I had lived in Tel Aviv, New York and Paris — all vibrant cities with healthy independent retailers in their city cores. Back in my native Canada, in one of the most beautiful settings in the world, we noticed ugly “big box” development happening everywhere, even as we were developing friendships with local farmers, bakers, butchers, chefs, winemakers and artisans. It made me wonder whether this was happening everywhere, particularly in the USA, the home of Wal-Mart, Starbucks and my wife Heather’s family. So when I got back from six months of reporting on “Operation Iraqi Freedom” and its aftermath with NBC in the Middle East, Heather and I hit the road to find out what was happening.
I’m always surprised by the support we receive in the most unexpected of places. I think this subject really hit a nerve, and you didn’t have to be a left-wing liberal to understand what’s at stake. First, contrary to the perception overseas, we found the Americans we met to be amazingly sophisticated and intelligent with their responses to the issue — which I believe comes through clearly in the film (one reason why I believe Australians liked the documentary so much). Second, they were unexpectedly receptive to this odd looking couple with their dog showing up in their town with a camera rolling.
It was also interesting that much of this return to “Buy Local” was a direct impact of a growing concern by many Americans that they had lost control over their big, powerful institutions in Washington (Iraq, Hurricane Katrina) and in corporate boardrooms (Enron, Martha Stewart, etc.). So why not focus on what they could control? Right at home. Increasing fuel costs, global warming, and concerns about global security heightened this awareness.
3. Did you think that it is sad that a lot of these small towns have lost their culture and identity and basically become like every other town?
It’s incredibly sad. As Angel Delgadillo from Seligman Arizona said in our film (Seligman was also the inspiration for “Radiator Springs” in the animated film “Cars), if his small town gets a McDonald’s all the tourists from around the world won’t be as interested to visit this highlight along Route 66, as it’ll look like everywhere else they’ve been.
But more importantly, as retail diversity disappears, and residents of these towns lose their independent livelihood, they become dependent on one or two major corporations to supply them, which can be dangerous to democracy if it’s a company like Wal-Mart that censors its cultural inventory, or a chain bookstore (it’s often the independent bookstores that takes risks and support new authors, like Khaled Hosseini who wrote “The Kite Runner”).
Yes. I learned that America can’t easily be classified as “Red” and “Blue.” And that it’s important that if big media won’t pay attention to what’s going on in rural America, then we should take things into our own hands, and make sure they have a voice through alternative means (blogging, online video, etc.).
I do. And why it’s so important that they continue to survive and thrive. Not everyone needs to live in a big city.
That Heather and I are still married! And that a crazy idea that we had, that no major broadcaster would fund, could ultimately reach so many people. It was hard and lonely out there sometimes, thinking we were wasting our time and the last of our savings to do this. Luckily, we had a supportive partner, our Executive Producer Tom Powers, in Toronto, who kept us going. And when we met people like philosopher-farmer Tod Murphy in Vermont, who advocates eating products that are supplied as close to home as possible in the name of community security, we were completely inspired and reinvigorated.
We had actually been hoping that people overseas would pick up on how the world’s economic superpower is having second thoughts about its love affair with big corporations. That said, we were utterly surprised at how Australians and New Zealanders were the first to really embrace the concept of Independent America. Must be something in the water over there. I still fantasize that we’ll get to do an Independent Oceana Tour 2008.
We’ve moved to Seattle, in an area that really embodies much of the values of Independent America. We’re finally starting a family. And I’m exploring some of the potential of what we achieved technologically with IA in my new position as Director of the Digital Media program at the University of Washington Department of Communications. I’m really hoping that our next film project will involve some ambitious application of mobile telephone video. No point resting on our laurels!
The Maine Interview
Published May 21, 2013 | The Maine
The Maine are great American band who have been doing good things for years with a new album Forever Halloween coming out. I talk to Garrett Nickelsen the bass player from the band about it all. So read on and find out why these guys are good and why they have such a good loyal fan base.
1. Why did you guys decide to self fund the new album?
With our last album self funded and how happy we were with the outcome it just seemed like the right thing to do again.
2. Were you happy with the response to it?
At this point we have only posted two songs from the new record but the response has been amazing! People seem just as excited for the record as we are which is always a great thing. Live the couple songs have gone over really great too!
3. What do you hope the new album will do for the band?
I’m really hoping the die hard fans we have had since the beginning keep on enjoying what we do. If some new people come along too that would jut w a plus.
4. How was recording process like compared to earlier releases?
It was a lot different this time around. We recorded live, all at the same time and, to tape. Normally we are record at separate times and are able to go back and fix things with the computer but this wasn’t the case with this one. We had to all play a great take at once even vocals! It was tough but the finished product has a much more exciting sound.
5. Will see you guys come play Aussie again soon?
We are working on some tours ideas as we speak. We hope to make it there before the end of the year!
6. Would you guys like to play Soundwave again soon?
That would be amazing! Soundwave is such a great tour to be apart of. If we got invited back we would totally love to.
7. How do you think social networking has helped the band?
It was such a huge part of the beginning of our band. It helped reach people outside of our local city without being able to tour. It has a huge part of why we are still here I think.
8. What advice could to somebody wanting to start a career in music?
There is no one right way to be a band. Make music you love because people can tell when something isn’t truthful.
9. If you could put the ultimate festival together who would be on it or has it already happened?
Neil Young, The Replacements, Foo Fighters, Wilco and The Maine haha
10. What does 2013 mean to you?
It’s been a great year making music and seeing the world!
Shannon Hurley new Album
Published May 20, 2013 | http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/shannonhurley/shannon-hurleys-glorious-third-album-working-title
I Adore Shannon Hurley, I love her music and she raising funds for her new album on Kickstarter, I chipped in a few bucks with 57 hours to go as I type this I reckon you should put some money in. I think she is amazing and totally deserves to do well.
Crista Flanagan
Published May 20, 2013 | Crista Flanagan
Crista Flanagan is my beauty of the week as I think she is an incredibly beautiful and talented actor. She is also incredibly funny as she is talented . She has done such amazing work in Mad Men, MadTV and loads of other cool stuff. I think she is one gorgeous talented lady and that is why she is my beauty of the week.
Buchanan Interview
Published May 20, 2013 | Buchanan
Photo copyright respected holders
Buchanan are an exciting Melbourne band with an amazing debut album called Human Spring. I love what this band is doing and know this album will do amazing things for them. If you haven’t discovered Buchanan yet now is the time to do so. So read on and find out more.
1. What was it like working with Catherine Marks?
Amazing. Before we were even put in contact with each other, I very specifically wanted to step it up with this album by hiring a producer that was building a name for themselves, and also, a producer who wasn’t so interested in the sonics, but would focus and hone in on what it meant to actually write a song. Challenge us with questions like ‘how does this sound or chord help communicate your point as directly as possible?’ I knew I had to be challenged but I didn’t know how. So she very much accomplished all those things with us.
2. How did it feel to have the album mastered at Abbey Road?
A real treat. I also got to work with a masterer whose back catalogue makes my spine tingle, so again, a real treat.
3. What is the album about?
When we finished writing No Photo, our last EP, I really wanted to move past writing simple love songs and actually felt I needed to be inspired to do something better. That was around June 2011, and we were seeing a lot of those conflicts in the Middle East boil over… which is not an easy or necessarily interesting thing to sing about, but it certainly inspired me to be creative again after a couple months of not much writing. So I wrote this made up story in the studio whiteboard about this war or movement for peace and happiness. Everytime I got a little bit lost during the writing for the album I would return to that story for inspiration. So it’s definitely not a concept album, but we used this story to inspire us and push the process forward. It’s also the basis for the art direction.
4. How was the recording process different to the earlier releases?
Well for one we were working in actual studios this time – so very different! I think we recorded it all in about 7 different studios around the world, so it was a much bigger undertaking than the last couple of releases. Even the logistics of it were different… Questions like “how do we move a hard drive with the master files from London to Melbourne in 24 hours?” were some interesting new challenges!
5. How does having a booking agent and publicist and plugger help you as a band?
Building a team around you is probably the most important thing for any band, regardless of the size of the band. We’ve had agents before and pluggers etc but never all at once, so hopefully, it will help us by allowing us to fire on all cylinders at all times!
6. Are you surprised how things have gone for you so far?
It’s actually mind boggling. It’s been a very hands-on process for me every step of the way. It’s taken me around the world, around the country and to many many many different parts of the state. Someone asked me the other day for advice on how to break in to the scene and I realised that I was answering in very broad strokes, in a way that people used to answer questions to me. When I first started I never understood why people couldn’t provide detail on call, but now I do. There’s just such a sheer volume of experiences you have every day when you do this full-time.
7. What has been the craziest on tour experience so far?
Getting kicked out of Adelaide. I’m actually not allowed to say too much more!
8. What advice could you give to some one wanting to make a career in music?
Do it while you’re young or can afford to – give it your all and go hard. All you can do is persist and try your best. At least then if it doesn’t work out the way you hoped it might, you know you did everything you could.
9. What does 2013 mean to you?
I think 2013 might be the year I can finally grow a full beard… I’ll keep you posted!
10. If you could put the ultimate festival line up together who would be on it?
Jay-Z, Phil Collins, Radiohead, Bruce Springsteen and Buchanan. We’ll close, yeah?
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