theaussieword.com meets with Charlie Straight for this special blog interview!What can you tell our readers about you? How and where did it all begin?
A: It all began when Johnny and I met at school at the age of sixteen and he told me about Radiohead and Beck. Then I persuaded my drum teacher Pavel to play in the band with us and then it all kind of kicked off from there. Our parents were very supportive from the first moment on. We wouldn’t have been able to get anywhere without them.
What had you first interested in music?A: Mum and dad introduced me to The Police and some Tina Turner. You know, “I’m your private dancer,” and stuff like that. Haha…
Who motivates or influences your quest to make great music?
A: I just really enjoy it when I write a song and sing it on my own somewhere. Then, sharing it with an audience is a bonus.
Do you have any planned tours coming up?A: Right now, I am concentrating on my new band, so we might do a tour later on in 2014 when we’re ready.
What are some of your biggest goals you hope to accomplish as an artist?
A: I keep dreaming of Glastonbury and touring around Europe. I’d really like to work with someone around Bat for Lashes, Everything Everything and other bands I love. It’s time to move on and learn from these people in my iPod.
What can fans expect from you in the coming months?
A: Something new and powerful, I am working on a song that should come out January-February 2014.
Success, what is the secret to it and what has been your biggest career highlight so far?
A: It felt incredible when we played at The Great Escape last year and when we did a radio interview on BBC London. I think trust and having fun with people around you is the key to success. We were quite lucky too, to be honest. Luck plays a role in everything.
Which stars of the music industry do you find inspiring?
A: Bon Iver, Justin Vernon is incredible.
How would you best describe you and your music to your fans?
A: Hopeful, ecstatic, honest and harmony-driven.
What can you tell us about your latest album?A: It was produced by Guy Fixsen who worked with the likes of My Bloody Valentine or Pixies and it has a song about losing someone you love in Tokyo. The song Too Many Knives was recorded in a church in our home-town, it was really cold and magical.
Are there any new exciting projects in the works?
A: Johnny does a lot of DJ-ing these days, he calls himself Big Destiny and I think he’s got what it takes to make it as a DJ on a bigger scale. I am working on songs with my new band spending more and more time in London and writing more songs.
The music industry is huge, where do you see yourself a few years from now?
A: In 2017 I’d like to keep on doing what I do now. Enjoying what you do while making a living is a dream for so many people.
Name a few of your favourite Aussie artists.
A: Ooooh, definitely Tame Impala. Does NZ count? I like the Finn brothers, I love the movie Rain an its sountrack and Connan Mockasin, especially the track Forever Dolphin Love. I listen to Triple J so much I think I’m catching the Sydney accent. Somehow, I always tune in in the middle of the Australian night.
The shape of the music industry has changed significantly over the years, including the use of social media, how do you feel about the industry as a whole and what does it mean to you in getting your records out into the public eye?
A: That’s not the easiest of questions to answer for a 24-year-old singer in an indie-pop band. What do I know about the music industry really? Anyway, I think facebook is a great tool for bands and if you can make use of instagram and twitter well, it can just grow and grow. What I like about the internet most is the direct communication with fans and posting impromptu videos from somewhere on tour. What I find less exciting is the sea of flashing phones at gigs instead of everyone enjoying themselves at that very moment. Living in the present is so much more enjoyable than watching videos you recorded last night on your phone. Thank you for the interview! What can you leave fans of theaussieword.com with here today?
A: The tour manager of Charlie Straight (and my best friend) went to Australia for almost a year, tried surfing, worked in a bakery, worked in an office, worked at a language school and travelled to Tasmania. Then, out of the blue, he decided to come back to Europe and devote his life to the band. Since that time, he’s been planning a tour in OZ. It will work out one day, I know it.
Website: charliestraight.com
Facebook: facebook.com/charliestraight
Twitter: twitter.com/charliestraight