theaussieword.com meets up with Howling Bells for a special exclusive interview!What can you tell our readers about you? How and where did it all begin?
I became obsessed with guitar after hearing Hendrix for the first time in my home in Sydney Australia. I was 13 and found myself, with a small group of artists, hunting for everything and anything with a guitar in it. At the speed of light I went spinning into the musical void, from Hendrix to Coltrane to the Beatles and Bjork, my love and curiosity for music is still going and to this day it is still the beginning.
Who motivates or influences your quest to make great music?
Anyone who can capture my mind or heart has a strong artistic influence on me.
Do you have any planned tours coming up?
Yes indeed, Sept 6 in Perth at Amplifier, 11th in Melbourne at Howler and Oxford Art Factory in Sydney on the 12th.
What are some of your biggest goals you hope to accomplish as an artist?
Longevity.
What can fans expect from you in the coming months?
Incredible shows. Incredible music.
Success, what is the secret to it and what has been your biggest career highlight so far?
Biggest career highlight would probably have to be touring on a private jet and playing to 60’000 people a night, ahhh the fantasy world.
The secret to success is a pinch of salt.
Which stars of the music industry do you find inspiring?
Vintage – Lennon, Bowie, Dylan, Hendrix, Jack Kerouac, Leonard Cohen, Miles Davies. Can.
Modern – John Hopkins(monsters soundtrack), RadioHead, Tears For Fears, Depeche Mode, Siouxsie Sioux, Cocteau twins, The cure – The list goes on!
How would you best describe you and your music to your fans?
Real and Real, no masks here.
What can you tell us about your latest album?
It happened in the blink of an eye. I got a phone call whilst at work one day and was told we are recording an album with Catherine Marks and Allan Moulder as they fell in love with the songs. Next thing I knew I was on a plane and then in Moulder and Floods infamous studio, Assault and Battery. 13 songs were recorded in 11 days. I was personally a little claustrophobic as the pace was extreme, sometimes It was like a freight train in my mind, but the power was captured and a sharp, urgent, melodic album was made. Are there any new exciting projects in the works?
Yes, I am currently working on a new solo project called Glassmaps,
The music industry is huge, where do you see yourself a few years from now?
In the music industry.
Name a few of your favourite Aussie artists.
Crowded house (half Australian 😉
Tame Impala
ACDC
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?
To me the public eye now is like neo looking at the Matrix trickling down like raindrops from the sky on a small screen until something catches their eye. There is so much and it comes at you so fast, in some ways this is a good thing because everybody gets a chance to be seen/heard, and, to get a record out now is easier than ever, there are 1000’s of platforms to buy and sell. The negative side is that the chance to grow with an artist has practically disappeared because there is too much choice. I feel that allot of people may be missing out on things they might eventually fall in love with.
The industry is headless but music will always prevail.
Website: howlingbells.co.uk/