1.Growing Up
My key childhood music memory is being around four years old and slowly turning up the volume knob and immersing myself in the build-up to the intro for Dire Straits’ ‘Money For Nothing’, then rewinding and doing it over and over again. I grew up with only my mother who suffered severe depression, often unable to cope with life, leaving her with long stints in hospitals et cetera that saw me shipped around here and there and music was my escape and sanity. I witnessed many horrible things in my childhood that gave me great understanding, compassion and resilience – a lot of my songwriting comes from that place.
2.Inspirations
Chris Cornell, Kurt Cobain, Eddie Vedder, Angus Young, Corey Taylor, Dave Grohl – musicians that are real.
3.Your Band
Stone Empire originated around three years ago when I was dealing with some very hard times supporting someone close to me and again found myself writing music to keep my head focused. Since I formed the band we have accomplished many things, like our single ‘Cage’ placing number one on triple J Unearthed’s rock chart on New Year’s Day this year to now being played on Foxtel and Triple M. We recorded our album Octorabbitsquidskull with one of the world’s leading producers, David Nicholas, who is now a great mate.
4.The Music You Make
Our style is like a blend of Tool, Metallica, Alice In Chains, Soundgarden and AC/DC, but in a way that really works. In 2014 we had three songs land on triple j Unearthed’s top 100 chart from a demo CD. ‘Cage’ is now available via iTunes along with our album Octorabbitsquidskull, which will also be available in stores from May 6. We also filmed our ‘Cage’ music video complete with an eight-by-eight-metre cage fighting ring built by us and filmed by Aerios Productions.
5.Music, Right Here, Right Now
Don’t get me started… disappointing. No more BDO, no more Soundwave, lockout laws, venues wanting DJs over bands – I live in Newcastle, which once had the proud title of being a great rock city, but not anymore. We want to put a new wave of rock music back on the podium where it belongs and I’m really passionate about that. I do know people are craving good rock music again that isn’t generic and overly polished, and hasn’t been created by a TV show. We’ve done it the hard way, working full-time jobs then pushing the band after hours, travelling, outlaying our own funds… but we now have so many funny stories and memories to take with us, and that’s what music should be – fun! It’s time musicians are again recognised for their creative skills and dedication to our art and craft.
Octorabbitsquidskull is out Friday May 6 independently; and Stone Empire appear at Hermann’s Bar on Friday May 6.
