Can you tell us about the inspiration behind your latest album, and what themes or stories you aimed to convey through your music?

My latest album is called Charmed By A House. I was in the midst of a major renovation and extension to my house. I acted as the owner builder which meant I engaged the trades people directly, and did as much of the work that I could do, myself. On the tools this included demolition, painting, landscaping, rubbish removal etc. This house project went for 18 months and it was during this period that I decided I would record an original album of songs with many themes relating to the building experience. Songs like Charmed By A House, Freezerburn, Weed Killer and Conduit bear a direct relationship to the long days and challenges that I overcame in completing the building project. Like the album Charmed By A House, the construction period has finished and I am enjoying the fruits of my toil.

Music often has the power to transport people to different places and times. Can you describe a moment in your life when a particular song or album had a profound impact on you?

A very major album that had a profound influence on me was the double vinyl album Rainbow Live On Stage. The wizardry of the musicianship during the live recording of that album, to this day, is astonishing. Led by extraordinaire, genius guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, Ronnie James Dio on vocals (sublime lyricist) and Cozy Powell on drums, though primarily a hard rock music album from the mid 70’s, there are elements of baroque and classically infused songs, as well as gothic and medieval mysticism. Rainbow Live On Stage had a profound effect on me and my musical journey. A particular song from the album, Catch The Rainbow, encompasses all of the shades of the rainbow – from the orchestral guitar introduction, to the driving rhythm and extraordinary emotional vocals of RJD, this song and this album still move me. The power and energy of this live performance adrenalized me. To think that the whole spectrum of music could be performed live, from crescendo to silence and back again.

Many artists have rituals or routines they follow before performing or recording. Do you have any unique or quirky pre-show or pre-recording rituals that you find help you get in the zone?

I just always consider that every performance is a situation where you stand and deliver. You send out an energy force, which in a gig situation is playing and singing your instrument(s). No matter what the room or stage, I always endeavor to be in the mental state of giving all that I have and being in the moment. Once the show begins I transcend to somewhere in the universe, in someway I feel like I am looking over or standing aside from the performance. Sometimes I feel like an observer even though I am in the moment. It’s a wonderful place to go to.

Your lyrics often tell a story or convey a message. Can you share the story behind one of your songs and the inspiration that led to its creation?

A song on my new album, The Gatepost, is inspired by my dear mother Dorothy. She had a very strong Australian character and often would conjure up old school remedies and sayings. “Between you me and the gatepost” is a phrase that she would often utter as an indication that it was to be kept secret and in hushed tones. It was never sinister; it was just an Australian term for dealing with a particular situation and to be kept under wraps until an appropriate time. A Gatepost is obviously an inanimate object and also a place where you pass by.

If you could curate a music festival with a lineup of your dream artists, who would be the headliners, and what would the theme of the festival be?

70’s hard rock would be the theme of the festival. In no particular order I would headline acts including Led Zepplin, Deep Purple, Rory Gallagher, Thin Lizzy and Wings.

Music can be a powerful tool for advocacy and change. Are there any social or political causes that you’re passionate about, and how does your music play a role in promoting these issues?

I have a keen interest in the environment and specifically Climate Change. I have previously written songs: Ozone Blues (regarding the depletion of the ozone layer), Rivers Of Gold (regarding the depletion of the planets finite resources, for short term economic gain), Reef Vacation (describing the hostile reaction from the planet to the disregard for the environment and the coral reef destruction around the planet), Green To Black (again, very specific to the very major bush fires that Australia endured and how large swathes of the bush became carbon and dead).

The music industry has evolved significantly with technology. How do you see artificial intelligence and emerging technologies impacting the creation and distribution of music in the future?

I think AI is a beast that nobody knows yet whether it will be controlled. In the music industry like all of the world that we live in, AI is going to permeate through all aspects of life and will probably be the most significant change to the human race ever. Already live music performance can be taken over by technology and manipulated using AI and digitized effects.

Many recording artists evolve over time. How do you see your musical journey changing and growing in the next decade?

My music is evolving all the time. With this original album Charmed By A House, I tried to make it light, fun and not too deep. There are a couple of tunes that are very deep and meaningful but on the whole I was very conscious of creating an impact with music and lyric that was just for pleasure and pure entertainment, rather than soap box issues. I am very happy to have the option of evolving my music into many different corridors of life. Charmed By A House is one such hall way.