Define your genre in five words or less:
Finger-picking songs with bittersweet words.
Bearing the terrible clichéd nature of this question, what do you reckon people will say you sound like?
I get a lot of comparisons for my voice, and they’re often wildly different: Neil Young, Fionn Regan, recently the guy from Alt J, Kermit the Frog.
What’ve you got to sell CD-wise?
Pre sale tickets to any of the single launch shows will come with a free download of two of my old EP’s, and the single. In August the my album A Spark In The Dark will be available for people to spend their money on.
When’s the gig and with who?
My single launch is at The Grace Darling basement on Saturday June 8, it’s the last gig of the tour so I’m hoping to make it a big one. I’ll be playing with Whitaker on the night.
How long have you been gigging and writing?
I’ve been playing at writing for about six years, in a whole bunch of bands. Recently I’ve been focusing on a band called Traveller and Fortune, this is the first year I’m really having a go at solo performing. So far it’s going great.
What makes you happiest about what you’re doing?
Getting to travel around and play music is great fun. And finishing a record is really satisfying.
And what makes you unhappiest about what you’re doing?
Whilst travelling is fun it is a lot of hard work in organising everything and it is very stressful when things don’t go to plan.
Describe the best gig you have ever played.
My favourite show was opening for Matt Corby at home in Adelaide. It was a massive venue totally sold out, one of the most appreciative and excited crowds I’ve ever played to.
What’s the strangest place you’ve ever played a gig, or made a recording?
I tracked this single, and my whole upcoming Album A Spark In the Dark in a shed at my folk’s place in the Adelaide Hills. My friend and I would drive up a few times per week after work and start tracking with the birds then as the sun went down with the crickets and then the bats. There’s a lot of ambient noise on the record and I love that.
How do you balance making and playing music with your other commitments?
It’s difficult, I tend to tour on the weekends and try to fit on my nine-to-five day job around that. It’s obviously pretty tiring but I’m never at a loss for things to do.
Anything else to add?
Nope, would just love to catch some of you guys at my Jonathan’s Farm single launch at the Grace Darling basement on Saturday June 8. Have a look at tomwestsongs.com for some further info.
