theaussieword.com catches up with Aussie group The Winter Gypsy.

Tell us how it all started. What had you first interested in music? When I started playing guitar, I was very much already influenced by indie/rock music. Listening to Bloc Party, Two Door Cinema Club, Arctic Monkeys, Bombay Bicycle Club, Kings Of Leon; however I grew up listening to Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foo Fighters and John Mayer, (John Mayer’s music was heavily influenced on me by my sister).

My sister was actually the guitarist in the family; I was the sportsman in the family. I was always out every day doing something active. In 2009, I got injured skateboarding and couldn’t do anything for a long period of time. I was bored out of my mind, and at the same time my sister had just quit playing guitar. I asked her if she could teach me a couple tunes to get me started.

I was playing guitar on and off until 2011, when indie music had completely taken over me and I decided to fully focus on the direction of music I wanted to venture into. This was the year I actually started to really focus on my singing. I ventured into artists/bands such as, Bon Iver, The Middle East, The Paper Kites, Sigur Ros, Jack Johnson, John Butler, Elliot Smith, Jeff Buckley, Death Cab For Cutie. These are the artists that truly inspired me to write the music I write today.

I’m a complete self taught guitarist and singer; meaning, I’ve never learnt any chords or notes. It’s not like I don’t ever want to learn; I just haven’t ventured into it yet. So to call me a ‘musician’, I’m not entirely sure that would be the right word for me. Not yet anyway. As stupid as it sounds, I just really enjoy the excitement of having 0 knowledge; there are no rules involved when I play and it gives me the creativity I need to form the sounds that I truly desire. Songwriting is definitely an awesome process for me. Continue reading “SPECIAL INTERVIEW: The Winter Gypsy”