Interview with Talkradio

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

I started as an actor at the age of 12, so music wasn’t my first choice even though I was learning drumming as a teenager.  I did quite a bit of theatre, TV and even a film over a period of 5 years. When I finished high school and it was time to go to uni, my parents stopped supporting my acting ambitions. They actively blocked my attempts, which was simple for them really. All they had to do was stop driving me around to where I needed to go. By the time I got my licence and was able to get around myself, my acting agency had been sold, I was no longer on their books and my actors equity membership had expired. At this stage, I had no drum kit at home either and was relegated to practicing on various pieces of furniture in front of the stereo. At some point my cousin, who happened to be a great drummer, invited me to watch his band at a rehearsal studio. It turned out they had no singer and insisted I get on the microphone to give them a guide. It took a lot of convincing. They kept asking me back every weekend. That’s how the singing began. Not long after that, I joined a band and signed up for singing lessons. Given music has always been something I do in my spare time, I’d probably be doing the exact same thing that I do now even if I weren’t a musician. I have a career in IT. I can’t afford to rely on music.

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

My biggest problem is finding time for everything I love. In addition to creating and listening to music, I love watching films, I have been training in martial arts for almost 30 years, I’m writing a novel, I do photoshop work for anyone who asks (my album covers and booklets are also all my work), I love mountain bike riding, I love playing golf, I love playing tennis and also love certain video games.

How long has your band been around?

I started Talkradio in 1998 with the guitarist from my working cover band at the time. I recorded my first EP in 2000, with the help of additional friends. I’ve been doing it all by myself since 2006.

Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?

I’m based in Melbourne, Australia. This city was a huge musical influence when I started out, because almost every corner pub was a live music venue. You could walk down some inner suburban streets and find a live band in every 3rd venue along the main strips. Clubs had dedicated rock nights every week. We really were spoilt for choice.

How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?

I was a big Radiohead fan back then. I still am. At one point, someone I worked with mentioned how they still listened to ABC talk radio on the way to work and I thought it would be funny if someone was referring to a band every time they said “talk radio”. I decided to make it one word, to mimic “Radiohead”.

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

I’ve never played live as Talkradio. Given I actually play every instrument, it’s not possible. My previous original band was part of the prog rock scene in Melbourne and we played a lot of live shows. We got to the point where we were getting some attention and as a result, we were eventually playing to a crowd of over 1000 at one of Melbourne’s biggest clubs at the time, which also used to host big international acts. I remember that we went to a lot of trouble with the stage production, given the venue we were playing in. As far as gigs go, that is probably still my most memorable. There are other memorable gigs, but they were with cover bands.

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

The best venue i’ve played in was The Metro, when they used to have live bands upstairs in a bar that was set up like an amphitheater. That place has been gone for a long time. The only places I haven’t played here are the ones that only do big named acts.

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

Pearl Jam and Foo Fighters.

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger self?

It really depends on the kind of music they are trying to create. In general though, I’d tell them that if they wanted to be able to support themselves financially, pick something else.

If you could go back in time and give yourselves advice, what would it be?

 I would tell myself to skip the prog rock phase and go straight to the kind of stuff I do now.

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?

Every song I write actually says something, whether it’s about my past or my day to day life. As a result, it’s not a question I can easily answer. I will say “Down” only because it’s sort of a mix of various genres I love listening to and I think I still managed to make it sound cohesive. It is a unique sounding song in that regard. None of the others on the album sound like it. If you were to ask me which song I love listening to the most, I would say “Golden” from “Something From Nothing”. It has attitude and I think it would be a really fun song to belt out live. I just love the vibe.

Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?

Given I don’t play these songs live, I can’t really answer that question.

What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?

The first that needs to happen is a melody appearing in my head. It can happen at weird times, sometimes even in the middle of the night. If I still feel the melody has potential the following day, I start adding the music around it. Often I will get inspired by whichever album i was listening to on that particular day. Sometimes it can even be mood.

What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?

 I just write about what I know. It’s always about personal experience.

Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?

I don’t have a band. It’s just me.

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

I’m currently working on my next recording. It will be a 5 track EP. I won’t be waiting to do entire albums anymore.