1. Growing Up
I remember listening to the hot 40 countdown on the radio at about age ten with a blank cassette ready to record my favourite songs. I was quite scared that somehow I would get caught by the police for recording songs off the radio. My first musical purchase was Mariah Carey’s music box on cassette. I had a Walkman, which I would lay in bed listening to whenever I could.
2. Inspirations
I love all sorts of music but the artists I always revert back to are Aretha Franklin and Cat Stevens. They are two very different artists but I love Cat Stevens’ story telling and you cant ignore Aretha’s soul. I am currently particularly fond of Courtney Barnett and Alt J.
3. Your Band
The Ripley band is in its infancy but I am really excited about how we are gelling. I’m basically borrowing the bass player and drummer from two of my favourite new Adelaide bands, Archers and God God Dammit Dammit respectively.
4. The Music You Make
The EP Bigger Than Me was recorded in Melbourne with producer Pip Norman. I have always wanted to work with Pip since we were constantly bumping into each other on the tour circuit a few years ago with our respective bands. He was playing with TZU and I was with Lowrider.
5. Music, Right Here, Right Now
The life of a recording artist has become increasingly harder over the last ten years and at some point something’s got to give. It’s particularly sad for recording studios across the country, because if you can’t make money off your recorded material then people will stop spending good money on recording.
RIPLEY plays The Workers Club on Saturday October 24.
