1.Growing Up
Growing up I was always surrounded by music. I don’t have a specific memory of when I first discovered music because it has always been in my life. I grew up in church and music is such a huge part of that and I also come from a really musical family, particularly my dad’s side. I picked up the guitar when I was six years old and asked Dad to teach me a couple of chords and I‘ve been playing ever since. I don’t remember learning to sing, it’s just something I’ve always done.
2.Inspirations
My earliest inspiration was my grandfather. When our family would see him during holidays he would pull out the guitar and start singing some old jazzy gospel choruses. He really had his own style and it was just so special to watch. When I was little Dad brought a Tommy Emmanuel tutorial video and I remember watching it and trying to learn how to play some of Tommy’s tunes. Those are my earliest inspirations – these days I’m inspired by so many different artists and so many things from the world around me, and my own experiences.
3.Your Band
Right now I do most of my gigs as a solo act. I play the guitar and sing a mixture of originals and covers at shows, it’s more cost-effective for me to jump up onstage and do my thing alone, just me and the guitar. I love to play with a band though and at bigger gigs or festivals I do have a group of musos that I use. It’s an awesome feeling to have a really strong band behind you. It gives you more freedom to relax and do whatever you want out the front when you know you have an awesome band behind you that’s taking care of everything else.
4.The Music You Make
I released my debut EP, The Greater You, two years ago on the Gadigal Music label. Sean Carey produced the EP and it was a really great experience. I learnt so much from that process and I’m looking forward to heading into the studio and working on my next EP this year. I always hope that my music connects with my audience and that they leave my gigs feeling inspired. I think the music I make tends to be mostly positive and upbeat.
5.Music, Right Here, Right Now
Lately I’ve been inspired by an American singer and guitarist, David Ryan Harris. I have seen him a couple of times in Sydney at The Basement. I think everything that he does is gold. He is an amazing songwriter, singer, guitarist and storyteller. He really takes his audience on a journey throughout his solo act.
The CHANGINGface ft. Marcus Corowa, Lily So & The Bellows, Bow & Arrow, Ines is at Mars Hill Cafe, Parramatta on Saturday February 15,Lizotte’s Kincumber on Sunday February 16 andThe Vanguard onWednesday March 5.
