theaussieword.com – Special Interview with talented Aussie guitarist Simon Hosford.
Give us an introduction. How did it all begin? What had you first interested in music?
I don’t think it was an accident that I got into music, it seems that I was born with some weird fascination with it… Apparently when I was 2 years old, my parents would leave the radio on all day, and I would just lie there on my back under the curtains, holding the curtain “pulling string” weight (that looked like a microphone dangling there lol) and singing into it. They could just leave me there for hours and not need to worry about what I was up to. Then when I was 4 dad taught me how to use his record player, so I used to play all their records over and over and just sit there watching the record spinning and listening. I guess at that point it seemed pretty obvious to my parents to ask me if I wanted to play an instrument, and I blurted out “Guitar!”… and that was it, at age 5 I started getting guitar lessons, and haven’t done anything else since.
What motivates or influences you in your quest to make great music?
That’s a good question, and to be honest, it’s changed over the years a bit. I think as you get older, your priorities change… when you’re younger it’s more about you – trying to learn, expand your knowledge, and tap into what you’re capable of… when you get older you realise that your gift is not so much meant for you as it’s meant for others. What motivates me now is a belief that the music I create can be a gift to others, and that the ability to inspire another human being to feel something, even someone that you don’t know on the other side of the world, is the most humbling and beautiful thing.
What are your biggest goals you hope to accomplish as an artist?I’d like to get a song on the radio that people really respond to.. that resonates somehow, and means something more than “Oh baby, yeah baby” kind of thing lol.. and at the moment I’m working on a website and coaching products as a guitarist, that is more about giving back to everyone what I have learned, and letting guitarists around the world pick my brain and learn from me. There’s no secrets anymore with the internet, and what a wonderful forum for knowledge to be freely swapped these days.
What can we expect from you in the coming months? Any plans to tour?
No touring plans as yet, but lots of new songs in the studio are currently being sculpted, and the guitar coaching website (which will be called “Unleash Your Guitar”) will hopefully be up and functional, and full of great interviews, videos and interactive content.
Success, what is the secret to it?
I believe the secret to success is to do what “lights you up”, to do what fulfils you, and to do it in a way where everyone around you gets to benefit. There’s a great expression: “Life supports what supports more of life”, and that feels right to me.
What has been your biggest career highlight?
Hmmm that’s a tricky one because different situations have different rewards, and they all have a place somewhere. Hearing a song that you wrote, on mainstream radio while you’re driving along in your car, is a pretty special feeling, knowing that at that moment thousands of people are also hearing it. But then, so is performing live in front of 10,000 smiling people, all singing the lyrics to the song you’re playing. I think the common thread there is simply that you feel like you’re making a difference.. there’s no highlight greater than that, after all, that’s what music is for.
Which stars of the music industry do you find inspiring?Quincy Jones – such an incredible, prolific and versatile writer and producer, that created music that made people want to dance and smile. Ed Sheeran – it’s so refreshing in this climate to see that one person standing alone and singing with a guitar can fill a stadium full of people, and move them all. Dave Grohl – humble, prolific, intelligent and a great ambassador for rock music!
Any new projects in the pipeline?
I have a fun side project at the moment, called Racer Axe, which is a tribute show based on the incredible and innovative talents of the 80’s LA band “Racer X”. It’s 2 guitars, most of the time in harmony, playing Classical influenced hard rock, and is completely insane! I grew up listening to them when I was a teenager, and it was always a fantasy that I would one day put a band together to play their music and have fun….and only now have plucked up the courage to attempt their music, which speaks volumes for how cutting edge they were back then. And they were only 19! You can find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RacerAxe
The music industry is huge, where do you see yourself a few years from now?
I think when the travelling and touring starts to become less convenient (hopefully a little while off yet lol), I’d really like to get back into orchestral arranging and perhaps score some films. I think that would be very challenging and very rewarding. But I can’t see any reason why I wouldn’t always be writing songs.
Name a few of your favourite Aussie artists.Birds Of Tokyo – I find them refreshingly original, and I think they just keep getting better and more interesting, Kate Miller-Heidke is very interesting and original also, Vanessa Amorosi – such an amazing singer and emotive musician, Suze Demarchi – what a great singer, powerful performer and wonderful ambassador for female rock and rock in general. I know I’m biased on this one becuase I’ve worked with him, but Colin Hay – amazing and beautiful songwriter, and continues to put out such heartfelt records. I know I’m forgetting one or two
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?Yes indeed, the music industry has changed massively, and is continuing to all the time. I think it will be in a state of constant flux for quite some time too, just like the movie industry. Technology is changing everything at such a rapid rate now. In a way it’s much more complicated than it used to be – it used to be that you knocked on record companies doors, or they came to see you play live, and on the basis of that, offered you a record deal, and people would go into a store and buy your record. Now, almost no one goes into a store to buy a “hard copy”, a cd, or record or whatever. And you don’t need a record company to get your music out there, you can do it on YouTube or Facebook, or any other of the numerous social media avenues. Frankly I think it’s a little confusing for both the musicians, and the record companies. What I do have faith in though, is that is someone works hard, is authentic and real, and writes wonderful music… it seems to find its way to the public somehow… or is it that the public find their way to it?
Thanks for the interview! What final message do you have for us today?
It takes all colours to make a rainbow. Everyone is so concerned about labelling and pigeon-holing things, especially with music.. “this is good”, “that’s no good” etc. But what will always be, is that there’s something for everyone. Wonderful paintings are discussed and celebrated for their differences, not because they’re all the same. There’s never been a more vast selection of music to listen to, especially with services like Spotify or whatever, and we’re all the richer for it. Someone once asked me what my favourite kind of music is, and that question bothered me, because I liked more than one type, so it sounded wish-washy when I didn’t answer it clearly – I liked some Ballads, I liked some Classical, I liked some Rock, I liked some Electro etc. So I kept thinking on it for quite some time, because deep down I knew there would be one thing that was common in all the music I liked… until one day it came to me… “I liked any music that was passionate”. That’s the style of music I like.
Melbourne Guitar Show 2015:
To celebrate the quintessential popular musical instrument, the guitar, the Australian Music Association (AMA) and australianmusician.com.au announce the return of the ultimate guitar experience, the esteemed Melbourne Guitar Show set to enthrall music lovers, collectors, performers and industry folk at the Caulfield Racecourse on August 8 and 9.
Presented by australianmusician.com.au, the show boasts big-name wholesalers, retailers, manufacturers and organisations, providing exceptional buying opportunities in what will be Melbourne’s biggest pop-up guitar shop open for one weekend only! It will offer punters the opportunity to see, hear and play an extensive range of the world’s favourite brands, and will also provide a platform for guitar retailers to offer unbeatable show deals.
Melbourne Guitar Show 2015:
To celebrate the quintessential popular musical instrument, the guitar, the Australian Music Association (AMA) and australianmusician.com.au announce the return of the ultimate guitar experience, the esteemed Melbourne Guitar Show set to enthrall music lovers, collectors, performers and industry folk at the Caulfield Racecourse on August 8 and 9.Dedicated solely to the guitar (and other stringed varieties) and its associated technologies and published materials, the exhibition will showcase all the biggest brands in music, plus names and instruments you don’t see every day in your local music store. It will host an impressive range of electric and acoustic guitars, ukuleles and traditional instruments, as well as FX and amps.
The show will feature the leaders of the game in homegrown manufacture and craftsmanship with boutique Australian designs from our talented Luthiers and specialised amplifier manufacturers, as well as collectors assembling vintage masterpieces for sale.
The show will feature the leaders of the game in homegrown manufacture and craftsmanship with boutique Australian designs from our talented Luthiers and specialised amplifier manufacturers, as well as collectors assembling vintage masterpieces for sale.
Presented by australianmusician.com.au, the show boasts big-name wholesalers, retailers, manufacturers and organisations, providing exceptional buying opportunities in what will be Melbourne’s biggest pop-up guitar shop open for one weekend only! It will offer punters the opportunity to see, hear and play an extensive range of the world’s favourite brands, and will also provide a platform for guitar retailers to offer unbeatable show deals.
“We are excited to be able to present the Melbourne Guitar Show once more. It was always a killer event for guitar enthusiasts of all levels,” says AMA CEO, Rob Walker. “We are excited to showcase our industry’s products and the wealth of local talent that Melbourne and Australia has to offer – we seek to grow our guitar community, educate and entertain.”
The Melbourne Guitar Show will also showcase the cream of Australia’s guitar talent including Jeff Lang, Lloyd Spiegel, Davidson Brothers, James Ryan, Simon Hosford, Nick Charles, King of the North, Racer Axe and more, and will be armed with an impressive program featuring live performances, educational seminars and G-Shops.
Walker concluded that “Australia has some of the world’s best players and it will be a pleasure to present them along with an opportunity for guitar lovers to take advantage of lots on show over the weekend.”
Tickets are $20 at the gate, or $17 when pre-ordered
For further information, visit www.australianmusician.com.au/melbourne-guitar-show/