Andy Bull (06/08/2011)
Sydney
alt-pop singer-songwriter Andy Bull released his impressive debut album Were
Too Young in 2009. The album was a sprawling, imaginative collection of songs
that earned critical acclaim and a reputation amongst his contemporaries as
Australia’s songwriter’s songwriter. Less than a year later, Andy returned with
The Phantom Pains EP, which featured collaborations with Little Red, Hungry
Kids of Hungary and Deep Sea Arcade. The 59th Sound spoke with Andy
Bull ahead of his appearance at Big Sound live, and what his fans can expect to
see and hear on his Phantom Pains EP tour.
Hi Andy, thanks for taking the time to talk to The 59th Sound today!
It’s my pleasure.
You've been touring pretty extensively this year supporting Hungry Kids of Hungary and Joshua Radin; what were those tours like and how did their audiences respond to your music?
The tours- with Hungry Kids and Josh Radin- were very different in every regard. HKOH have really worked their live show to earn an audience and it’s a real rock and roll show in a very good way- sweat, beer, noise, it was immensely enjoyable to be a part of that. Because both their band and mine have received a lot of radio support with Triple J, there was a big audience crossover between us. Josh Radin – from the USA- is much more a singer songwriter who has made a career through some very well placed television syncs. When I asked people after those how they discovered Josh, nine out of ten times it was through TV shows- and this was great for me because I was essentially playing to an audience I had never played to before, so there was that gratifying “oh- who’s this person?” response.
The Phantom Pains EP deviated quite a bit from the sound of your debut album. I've seen you mention that you've been back in the studio again recently; can you give us any insight into the direction you're taking this time and when we might get to hear some new material?
Ah- this is a sneaky question. Every time I start working on new material, it’s such an exciting thing, because in my heart is a sense of infinite possibility. The new material is coming along alarmingly well- and hopefully to other people it feels, as it does to me, as a creative step forward after The Phantom Pains EP, which has been good to me on the radio and so forth, and which was a more stripped back and acoustic venture than my previous "experiments". I think as a songwriter, you spend a great deal of time rebelling against everything else you’ve ever done before; but I feel like in this case, I’m trying to be respectful of my history- both records- while at the same time, maturing and hopefully doing something even more compelling. And- hopefully we’ll release in a couple of months time!
What have you been finding is influencing and inspiring the sound and ideas of your new music (any particular bands, literature, life events, etc)?
I’ve been reading a lot, a lot of stuff about creative process for people in different domains. I lose a lot of time in books and it drives my girlfriend a bit crazy sometimes since at the moment I’d rather read than work or keep the house clean. At the same time I feel as if we might all be watching the world as we know it irreversibly changing, and I’m milling about talking rubbish in pubs, reading books, working a job and trying to make a career out of pop songs. To be honest, I’ve had a weird fatalistic feeling like I’m watching some awful play by Kafka or something- one where all the characters are parading around in their silly way but I know its all going to end in some horrible and ironic implosion. Now, I hope that the we’re all not headed for the same thing- but that sense of creeping fatalism has crept into my own music. I call the feeling “misery in summertime”. You know, in the Camus novel The Outsider, how the Meursault sort of just watches as the trial carries on around him, and all these people wave their fists, full of piss and vinegar, making vitriolic pronouncements, and he’s eventually just sentenced to death? Its kind of funny and also just, I don’t know- hopeless. I’ve always said I like pop music that hides a real painful, ironic truth, and now I’m a bit older than when I started this gig and I feel like this might be what I can do.
What is your song-writing process like? Do you write the most at home and in the studio, or are you doing a lot of writing while on tour?
Its harder to write on tour because mostly I’m driving or looking for a place to eat or for coffee to breathe life into my ragged brain. There’s a theory that kind of derives from Maslow’s that creativity is a preoccupation only of those who’ve had all their base needs met- that’s why historically creative developments occur at a greater pace in societies that are more affluent- and on tour I feel as if I’m constantly just trying to meet my base needs! Something to eat, somewhere to sleep, get to the show on time, and so on.
So- I write mostly at home, I have a little home studio where I sometimes spend days at a time- but for this new bunch of songs, I’ve been doing a lot more writing with the band in the rehearsal room.
You've been working hard as a musician from a young age; is there any advice you'd share with other young songwriters trying to make their way into the music scene?
Yes, a lot, and probably none of it as useful as I’d wish it could be. I’ve learned a lot through failure, abject rejection, downright misery and complete bewilderment. On the other hand, I’ve learned a lot from my modest success, creative gratification, recognition, sharing, socializing, reflection and all that. Its hard to sum that all up for people in a few words- but the best I can do is share my own personal motto, which is “Respect the process”, and maybe, use music to get closer to your own truth and to free yourself, rather than to escape your truth and imprison yourself.
Early this year 'Dog' was voted #68 in Triple J's Hottest 100 poll; what was it like to receive that recognition, particularly after working and touring pretty relentlessly for so long?
Arbitrary as recognition may be, my ego enjoyed it very much. I’d like lots more of it please. Ha!
It's been a little while since you last headed out on a headline tour; who will be playing in your band this time and what can fans expect from this tour?
It will be me on a couple of keyboards, including the bass parts; Alex Bennison plays electric guitar, and Dave Jenkins Jnr is on drums. It’s a kind of mix of Phantom Pains and some newer stuff- if you’d like to hear how we sound, you can check out the video our Triple J “Like a Version” segment which is online. It’s a nice indication of the sounds we like to use together live.
I've seen you performing in various different formats (solo, accompanied by a guitarist, and backed by a full band including horn section); is there a certain way you prefer to perform or that you have found works best for your songs?
Yeah- I think this band is my happiest arrangement yet. I’ve done a lot of solo stuff but there’s just a limit to how long I want to play solo for, as much fun as it is. I’ve also had really big bands with a host of musicians, and sometimes a voice can get a little bit drowned out in that circumstance, so I think that this three piece is appropriate, and excellent fun. I think there is something cool about using as few elements as possible to make your point heard.
Touring seems like it can be fairly gruelling (having to deal with Small Town Assholes and the like), but what have been some of your favourite moments on tour?
A few years ago, I played at the Opera House in Sydney in support of Duffy- for a Sydney boy, it’s a symbolic sort of experience to play there. Sitting alone in front of a full house and seeing all those sets of eyes shining back at you is pretty magical. On an entirely different note, recently touring with Hungry Kids of Hungary and “joining bands” on stage to perform Last Waltz each night was like plugging into some sort of cosmic electricity faucet, just awesome fun.
You're obviously a fan of Hungry Kids of Hungary, having toured with them and had them appear on your EP; who are some of your other favourite Australia acts at the moment?
Here’s a few to keep an eye out for that you may not have heard- Spring Skier, Ball Park Music, WIM, Deep Sea Arcade, Kirin J Callinan, Jack Ladder and the Dreamlanders, Matt Corby, The Preachers, Winter People… I could go on!
Thanks for your time Andy, The 59th Sound look forward to catching you on tour soon!
See you then!
Andy Bull, with his 3-piece band, will be embarking on his first headline tour in support of the Phantom Pains EP this August/September on eleven dates along Australia’s east coast with special appearances at Big Sound Live
Chelsea McIntyre
Hi Andy, thanks for taking the time to talk to The 59th Sound today!
It’s my pleasure.
You've been touring pretty extensively this year supporting Hungry Kids of Hungary and Joshua Radin; what were those tours like and how did their audiences respond to your music?
The tours- with Hungry Kids and Josh Radin- were very different in every regard. HKOH have really worked their live show to earn an audience and it’s a real rock and roll show in a very good way- sweat, beer, noise, it was immensely enjoyable to be a part of that. Because both their band and mine have received a lot of radio support with Triple J, there was a big audience crossover between us. Josh Radin – from the USA- is much more a singer songwriter who has made a career through some very well placed television syncs. When I asked people after those how they discovered Josh, nine out of ten times it was through TV shows- and this was great for me because I was essentially playing to an audience I had never played to before, so there was that gratifying “oh- who’s this person?” response.
The Phantom Pains EP deviated quite a bit from the sound of your debut album. I've seen you mention that you've been back in the studio again recently; can you give us any insight into the direction you're taking this time and when we might get to hear some new material?
Ah- this is a sneaky question. Every time I start working on new material, it’s such an exciting thing, because in my heart is a sense of infinite possibility. The new material is coming along alarmingly well- and hopefully to other people it feels, as it does to me, as a creative step forward after The Phantom Pains EP, which has been good to me on the radio and so forth, and which was a more stripped back and acoustic venture than my previous "experiments". I think as a songwriter, you spend a great deal of time rebelling against everything else you’ve ever done before; but I feel like in this case, I’m trying to be respectful of my history- both records- while at the same time, maturing and hopefully doing something even more compelling. And- hopefully we’ll release in a couple of months time!
What have you been finding is influencing and inspiring the sound and ideas of your new music (any particular bands, literature, life events, etc)?
I’ve been reading a lot, a lot of stuff about creative process for people in different domains. I lose a lot of time in books and it drives my girlfriend a bit crazy sometimes since at the moment I’d rather read than work or keep the house clean. At the same time I feel as if we might all be watching the world as we know it irreversibly changing, and I’m milling about talking rubbish in pubs, reading books, working a job and trying to make a career out of pop songs. To be honest, I’ve had a weird fatalistic feeling like I’m watching some awful play by Kafka or something- one where all the characters are parading around in their silly way but I know its all going to end in some horrible and ironic implosion. Now, I hope that the we’re all not headed for the same thing- but that sense of creeping fatalism has crept into my own music. I call the feeling “misery in summertime”. You know, in the Camus novel The Outsider, how the Meursault sort of just watches as the trial carries on around him, and all these people wave their fists, full of piss and vinegar, making vitriolic pronouncements, and he’s eventually just sentenced to death? Its kind of funny and also just, I don’t know- hopeless. I’ve always said I like pop music that hides a real painful, ironic truth, and now I’m a bit older than when I started this gig and I feel like this might be what I can do.
What is your song-writing process like? Do you write the most at home and in the studio, or are you doing a lot of writing while on tour?
Its harder to write on tour because mostly I’m driving or looking for a place to eat or for coffee to breathe life into my ragged brain. There’s a theory that kind of derives from Maslow’s that creativity is a preoccupation only of those who’ve had all their base needs met- that’s why historically creative developments occur at a greater pace in societies that are more affluent- and on tour I feel as if I’m constantly just trying to meet my base needs! Something to eat, somewhere to sleep, get to the show on time, and so on.
So- I write mostly at home, I have a little home studio where I sometimes spend days at a time- but for this new bunch of songs, I’ve been doing a lot more writing with the band in the rehearsal room.
You've been working hard as a musician from a young age; is there any advice you'd share with other young songwriters trying to make their way into the music scene?
Yes, a lot, and probably none of it as useful as I’d wish it could be. I’ve learned a lot through failure, abject rejection, downright misery and complete bewilderment. On the other hand, I’ve learned a lot from my modest success, creative gratification, recognition, sharing, socializing, reflection and all that. Its hard to sum that all up for people in a few words- but the best I can do is share my own personal motto, which is “Respect the process”, and maybe, use music to get closer to your own truth and to free yourself, rather than to escape your truth and imprison yourself.
Early this year 'Dog' was voted #68 in Triple J's Hottest 100 poll; what was it like to receive that recognition, particularly after working and touring pretty relentlessly for so long?
Arbitrary as recognition may be, my ego enjoyed it very much. I’d like lots more of it please. Ha!
It's been a little while since you last headed out on a headline tour; who will be playing in your band this time and what can fans expect from this tour?
It will be me on a couple of keyboards, including the bass parts; Alex Bennison plays electric guitar, and Dave Jenkins Jnr is on drums. It’s a kind of mix of Phantom Pains and some newer stuff- if you’d like to hear how we sound, you can check out the video our Triple J “Like a Version” segment which is online. It’s a nice indication of the sounds we like to use together live.
I've seen you performing in various different formats (solo, accompanied by a guitarist, and backed by a full band including horn section); is there a certain way you prefer to perform or that you have found works best for your songs?
Yeah- I think this band is my happiest arrangement yet. I’ve done a lot of solo stuff but there’s just a limit to how long I want to play solo for, as much fun as it is. I’ve also had really big bands with a host of musicians, and sometimes a voice can get a little bit drowned out in that circumstance, so I think that this three piece is appropriate, and excellent fun. I think there is something cool about using as few elements as possible to make your point heard.
Touring seems like it can be fairly gruelling (having to deal with Small Town Assholes and the like), but what have been some of your favourite moments on tour?
A few years ago, I played at the Opera House in Sydney in support of Duffy- for a Sydney boy, it’s a symbolic sort of experience to play there. Sitting alone in front of a full house and seeing all those sets of eyes shining back at you is pretty magical. On an entirely different note, recently touring with Hungry Kids of Hungary and “joining bands” on stage to perform Last Waltz each night was like plugging into some sort of cosmic electricity faucet, just awesome fun.
You're obviously a fan of Hungry Kids of Hungary, having toured with them and had them appear on your EP; who are some of your other favourite Australia acts at the moment?
Here’s a few to keep an eye out for that you may not have heard- Spring Skier, Ball Park Music, WIM, Deep Sea Arcade, Kirin J Callinan, Jack Ladder and the Dreamlanders, Matt Corby, The Preachers, Winter People… I could go on!
Thanks for your time Andy, The 59th Sound look forward to catching you on tour soon!
See you then!
Andy Bull, with his 3-piece band, will be embarking on his first headline tour in support of the Phantom Pains EP this August/September on eleven dates along Australia’s east coast with special appearances at Big Sound Live
Chelsea McIntyre