1.The First Song I Wrote
In year ten I did work experience with a local audiovisual guy in town. He did wedding videos and took photos for the social pages in the paper. It was the closest thing to ‘showbiz’ our little town had. He asked if I wanted to record a song on his tape machine so I quickly wrote one that night. I can’t remember what it was called, only that it was what I imagined a song was supposed to be like. It was about some jaded heartbroken guy who’d just been dumped by a woman who only left him with him guitar. Must’ve sounded funny coming from 14-year-old me. I bet Mum has the tape somewhere.
2.The Last Song I Released
I’ve just released an album of 13 new songs. Some might say that’s unlucky. In the process of writing, recording and releasing I’ve been shot at, drugged, rat-nibbled (in my sleep) and threatened with lawsuits, for a start. I’ll let you be the judge.
3.Songwriting Secrets
The main thing is to be alone. Turn off the computer and the phone. I’ve got many different havens I go to now that get results. I find that the added pressure of paying to stay somewhere to write tricks the brain into making sure you get something done. The Palace Hotel in Broken Hill; the Sou’wester lodge in Seaview, WA; the Manilla Rivergums Caravan Park.
4.The Song That Makes Me Proud
I’d have to say ‘Falling Aeroplanes’, as it was the song that got everything started for me. It’s strange to think that it was possible – a song that doesn’t have a chorus, overall a very peculiar structure. There’s no drums or anything. It still amazes me that radio played it at all. It’s also the one song where I get upset punters if I forget to play it at a show.
5.The Song That Changed My Life
I’d say hearing all of Billy Bragg’s Back To Basics for the first time as a kid was a life-changing moment. It sounded unlike anything the Top 40 charts had filled my head with up until then. It seemed so right. Relationships, sex and politics, all with a sharp and jagged electric guitar and a voice that sounded unpolished too. Made me think I could do it too.
Where Did You Come From? out now through Flippin Yeah.Darren Hanlon playsManning Bar onThursday March 26 andat Gallipoli Legions Club, Newcastle on Wednesday March 25.
