1. Growing Up
I grew up in a small(ish) town in New Zealand with both parents (and extended family) playing various instruments. I started learning piano around three to four years old, started brass lessons with my grandpa a few years later and eventually taught myself guitar, drums and finally bass.
2. Inspirations
Tough question… obviously inspiration is ever-changing but at the moment the people who inspire me the most are those who compose and/or perform at a consistently high level and continually refine their craft, regardless of genre: Maria Schneider, Louis Cole, Nate Wood, Kneebody, David Binney, Sufjan Stevens, Conor Oberst, Baths. I caught a couple of gigs at 505 recently with brilliant young Dutch guitarist/composer Reinier Baas which were incredibly inspiring – that dude’s heavy.
3. Your Band
Wild Southfeatures some of my favourite people and musicians anywhere: Peter Koopman (guitar), Steve Barry (keys), Dave Jackson (sax/FX) and Tim Firth (drums). Pete, Steve and I are all Kiwis; Steve’s been in Sydney the longest and was one of the catalysts for Pete and I moving over three years ago. I met Dave and Tim after moving to Sydney and have been lucky enough to play and hang with them heaps. I chose these guys because I feel like we’re all rooted in the same tradition but always looking to the future.
4.The Music You Make
A good friend/hectic drummer Paul Derricott describes my music as ‘Antipodean emo easy listening’, which is probably fairly accurate. I think of it as a distillation of everything I’ve ever listened to – kinda indie jazz, I guess. This project was born out of deepening homesickness, inspired by the places and people of NZ. It’s cold, warm, clear, stormy, snowy, rivery goodness!
5. Music, Right Here, Right Now
I’ve heard a lot of (usually older) people complain about the music scene in Sydney, but personally I think it’s pretty vibrant. I’ve always been impressed with the level of local talent and the uncompromisingly creative and unique music that’s made here. I love watching/playing music at 505, Colbourne Ave and Jazzgroove, among others, and I’m always up for a hang with The Swingin’ Blades on Sundays at the Marrickville Golf Club. Some sick gigs I’ve seen lately are Brian Campeau’s album release, The Morrisons and the mighty Baz!
Tom Botting’s Wild South play SIMA @ The Sound Lounge on Friday July 17.
