1.The First Record I Bought
I’d just gotten back from a family trip to Singapore to visit my cousins, and Mum and Dad had bought me a Walkman. I rolled on back into Australia and I remember asking if I could buy a Green Day cassette. It was Insomniac. I’m not quite sure if it inspired my music but it certainly gave me all sorts of feels.
2.The Last Record I Bought
As I’m answering these questions I’m also listening to the debut album from Hayden Calnin, Cut Love, Pt. 1, released a couple of days ago. In true Hayden style it’s absolutely stunning. I worked on my debut EP with Hayden and I adore what he does as an artist. Besides the fact that I think he is a beautiful man, his talent creating a soundscape and a feel is something special. It’s such an honest and touching piece of art.
3.The First Thing I Recorded
The first recording I did under Howqua was actually in Hayden Calnin’s studio in Red Hill. I had heard his stuff online and made the mission back from a soul-searching trip in WA to work on my debut EP with him. We spent many months bringing the songs together and I’m stoked with what was built at that stage of my musical journey. I suppose I’ve learnt in more recent years that there is no point cringing at what you have created in the past but instead embracing where you were musically at that point. Growth is exciting but if I continue to look at my past work I find it hard to focus on what I want to create next.
4.The Last Thing I Recorded
My only release is the Naked EP, which I did as my debut. I’m incredibly excited to move into the next chapter of making tunes. I have a bunch of songs which I plan on recording this year. Exactly when that is I’m not sure, but honestly I can’t wait.
5.The Record That Changed My Life
I was working at a bar in the Eastern Suburbs of Melbourne and a musician rocked up to play a set at the bar; his name was Ben Smith. He has moved over from the UK and was playing a bunch of tunes that night, including some of his original songs. It felt so real and I could feel this guy telling his story. After the set I went and introduced myself and Ben gave me a copy of his Acoustic album. Later that night I went home and hung out with a close mate of mine. We laid on the floor of my lounge room and listened to the album from start to finish. This moment inspired me to keep writing and to write from the heart. I will always remember the influence that Ben Smith and this album had on my life, and shall forever be grateful for what it did to me that night.
The final of the series of Courtyard Sessions 2016 at Seymour Centre, Friday March 18, features HOWQUA.Naked is out now independently.
