1.The First Song I Wrote
Would probably be a half-arsed love song to score a date to the year ten formal. Ahh, the things a kid would do for romance. Funnily enough, I think I went alone that year.
2.The Last Song I Released
My debut single ‘Into The Wild’ was released on May 6 with the good people at The A&R Department. Y’all should check it out on iTunes or Spotify. Pretty much an acoustic concoction of sleepless, ponder-filled nights and some inner-demon-slaying. Good times.
3.Songwriting Secrets
I’m not sure if there’s a secret, however I have one word that comes to mind when I write: vulnerability. I think the most enduring songs are all a by-product of a writer’s vulnerability. The ability to bare your soul when writing I think is key, especially as a lyricist or singer-songwriter.
4.The Song That Makes Me Proud
I wrote a song called ‘Whiskey Soul’. The song is loosely based on the deterioration of my parents’ marriage. I recall as a child my dad would often come home drunk and smelling of whiskey – he would look at us kids in the eye and say, “You’ve got your mother’s eyes!” after which he would break down and we would have to tuck him into bed. I make mention of this in the song. I played it the other day to my mum and she bawled her eyes out – it was a big moment for me.
5. The Song That Changed My Life
Oh man, that’s like asking me what sort of oxygen you think made you a better person. Ha! Umm, I can’t pinpoint one song, but if I would have to choose an artist it would be Joni Mitchell – oh man, the phrasing and the storytelling! Oh, and a flavour of the week would be a song called ‘Comrade’ by Volcano Choir – I keep coming back to it.
Wilder Lee plays The Bald Faced Stag, Tuesday May 24; then The Record Crate on Saturday June 11; and The Soda Factory on Sunday July 3. He also supports Sahara Beck at Newtown Social Club on Thursday May 19.
