And what do you do?
“We both write and sing songs, and play the guitar.”
When did you start doing that?
“Both of us about 14.”
Why did you start doing that?
J: “Guitar-playing was a refuge from the omnipresence of sport. Other than being a jockey, there was no sport that I could see in my future.”
If you weren’t doing that, what would you be doing?
J: “Well, in Geelong there was playing for the Cats (in your dreams), working at the Ford motor plant (more likely) or the Shell Oil Refinery (even more likely). And the other five of us played guitar.”
S: “There was also the cement works over my back fence.”
J: “Music was an escape. Close the bedroom door, crank up the distortion on the ol’ headphone practice amp and pretend to be Jimmy Page.”
What makes you happiest about what you’re doing?
S: “For me it’s just writing a good song, when the last piece fits in and it all settles.”
J: “I love that moment when a song is arriving and I’m all excited about it. Haven’t had time to start second guessing it yet. That and being in the middle of a great gig and time just dissolves. That’s a great rush. Fleeting, but fantastic when it happens. That’s probably the bit that I actually continue doing this for. Chasing THAT moment.”
And what makes you unhappiest about what you’re doing?
J: “Probably the stuff that takes over in my own head to spoil the fun. That stuff just ruins the gig sometimes, and I have to consciously make myself stop it. I ignore the mass media lame-o-tronic influx as much as humanly possible. Too many great records to pay attention to THAT shit!”
S: “Perhaps for me it’s that feeling of having no consistency when I’m playing, it’s like, last time I did this it felt good, this time, I just can’t make it work, what’s this thing with strings in my arms? I hate that feeling; you just want it to flow out of you with ease, and your voice to flood out through the room.”
What’s you proudest moment of doing what you do?
J: “It’s hard to feel proud about such a childlike job. I make up songs and travel around singing them. Hardly the same as being an eco-warrior or political martyr, hey?”
S: “To me it’s playing with people who inspire me.”
J: “That is definitely a rewarding part of the job. I love playing with people who are better than me and kick my arse at every gig. Dunno if it makes me proud as such, but I am very grateful that I get to play with such great musicians regularly. I guess it does make me feel proud to be up there with them now that I think about it.”
