theaussieword.com caught up with Hamish Anderson for a special interview. Here’s a couple of points introducing you to the works and life of Hamish!
1. I started playing guitar when I was 12 years old. I heard the song “Back in the U.S.S.R” and it just made me want to play guitar.
2. I was drawn to the power that a song can have, I remember the first time I ever heard songs like “Whole Lotta Love” and “Layla” when I was like 13 years old and how from the first note they just completely had all my attention.
3 Influences: People like Buddy Guy, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Neil Young, The Rolling Stones, Ryan Adams, Robert Plant etc. Hearing a song that has an impact on me or listening/watching an artist who has a career I aspire to, that really acts as a driving force.
4 I’m just starting to work out interstate dates for gigs (keep an eye out on my website/Facebook) but at the moment we have the EP launch in Melbourne on May 1st at The Toff in Town and then the next day May 2nd the band and I are heading to Sydney to do a gig at The Standard supporting Jess Dunbar.5. I’d love to be able to play in some bigger venues I’ve enjoyed shows at like The Forum, The Palais and one day Rod Laver Arena. To open for one of my heroes, someone like Eric Clapton or Neil Young would be an absolute dream!
6 Really a lot of push behind this EP, a lot of gigs, a lot of online performances and hopefully a new single out towards the later half of the year.
7 My biggest career highlight so far has definitely been in the studio recording with guys like Rami Jaffee (Foo Fighters and The Wallflowers) and Matt Johnson (Jeff Buckley, Angus Stone). Playing with those guys and the gratification they’ve given me has definitely offered some incredible experiences. To me the secret to success with music is being able to create something that you are truly happy with and proud of, if your work is an honest portrayal of who you are and what you love then that is a success.
8 Inspiring Musicians: Buddy Guy, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, Keith Richards. The type of musicians whose whole lives have been lived through music and who don’t stop. You can’t think of them without the instrument in their hands and without their incredible body of work coming to mind.
9 I would describe my music as a mixture of Blues, Rock and Folk music.
10 This is my debut EP. It’s 5 tracks that I feel best represent me and I’m very excited to be putting out my very first release.
11 In December last year I actually went back into the studio in Sydney to record a few tracks with Angus Stone’s band whilst they were on tour. The stuff is sounding great and I can’t wait to release it! We start the mixing of those songs in a few weeks, which I’m very excited about.
12 The thing I want the most is just a loyal fan base of people who enjoy my songs, hopefully in a few years time it’ll be around time to put out an album and I hope I can just keep improving and learning.
13 Favourite Aussie Artists: Angus & Julia Stone, Steve Smyth, Wishful, The Rubens, Mia Dyson.
Thanks Hamish!