15 November 2010
Five years ago Tim Morrissey was moon-lighting as a debt collector in Brisbane and using his flatmates ensuite bathroom to record his music. Since then, Morrissey along with his band The John Steel Singers, won the very first Unearthed J Award, released an EP and a mini album, toured the UK and Australia and have just dropped their patriotic debut, Tangalooma. You’d think with a record deal and backing from Dew Process he’d ditch the dunny for a swanky studio, right? Wrong.
“We have a fascination with recording in bathrooms. You know how everyone sings in the shower and you’re really good and then you get out into the real world and you’re not as good? It’s that natural reverberation we happened to come across in bathrooms,” says Morrissey.
Morrissey says much of Tangalooma was recorded in his roommates’ ensuite, bandmate Luke’s parents’ bathroom, and even in the toilet at the White Room Studio’s in Mt Nebo; oh and he still keeps it real as a debt collector on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Formed in 2005 and named after a stolen toy horse, pennypinchers Morrissey, Luke McDonald, Scott Bromiley, Ross Chander, Pete Bernoth and Pat McDermott recorded their vocals, brass sections, guitar and key parts in studios and bathrooms throughout Queensland and Melbourne. They were ready to start recording in October last year; Morrissey won’t divulge the reason for the hold up. “I’m not really meant to say anything too much, but it was just music industry stuff,” he says.
Perhaps Morrissey is eluding to the fact the band signed with Dew Process backstage at this year’s Splendour In The Grass festival and the album campaign didn’t begin until then; but despite industry bureaucracy delaying the album release, the creative process was a more natural affair.
Robert Forster of ‘80s rock band The Go-Betweens was asked by the sextets management to produce the album after they’d filled in for his backing band at a Brisbane Flood and Fire Benefit.
“Robert came into our dingy practise studio and we played some of our favourite Go Betweens songs with one of our songwriting idols, it was a very surreal moment. We became friends after doing that and I think our management suggested we get Robert to produce,” he says.
The result is 12 tracks inspired by the bands home state, named after a resort on Queensland’s Moreton Island, the reference a nod to the band’s idols, The Go-Betweens.
“They would always reference Brisbane suburbs and I think a lot of bands in Australia tend to reference things in London and New York. I think why?! You’ve got so many cool things over here with names you don’t see anywhere else in the world,” reproves Morrissey.
Prior to the release of Tangalooma, a lot had been said of The John Steel Singers’ sound. Their single Rainbow Kraut received high-rotation on triple J and triggered adjectives like ‘bright’ and ‘sunny’ but Morrissey feels the album’s “more melancholic in a lot of aspects.” He even ran a vibrating shaver along the guitar strings, “we ran through about ten pedals or something to get this really crazy sort of sonic squeal.”
Their intriguing live sound (unfortunately sans en-suites and electric razors) can be experienced firsthand; with a national tour underway and festival dates set for later this month, John Steel singers will be everywhere.
Tangalooma is out now through Dew Process.
The John Steel Singers’ national tour runs from November 10 – December 31.
“We have a fascination with recording in bathrooms. You know how everyone sings in the shower and you’re really good and then you get out into the real world and you’re not as good? It’s that natural reverberation we happened to come across in bathrooms,” says Morrissey.
Morrissey says much of Tangalooma was recorded in his roommates’ ensuite, bandmate Luke’s parents’ bathroom, and even in the toilet at the White Room Studio’s in Mt Nebo; oh and he still keeps it real as a debt collector on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Formed in 2005 and named after a stolen toy horse, pennypinchers Morrissey, Luke McDonald, Scott Bromiley, Ross Chander, Pete Bernoth and Pat McDermott recorded their vocals, brass sections, guitar and key parts in studios and bathrooms throughout Queensland and Melbourne. They were ready to start recording in October last year; Morrissey won’t divulge the reason for the hold up. “I’m not really meant to say anything too much, but it was just music industry stuff,” he says.
Perhaps Morrissey is eluding to the fact the band signed with Dew Process backstage at this year’s Splendour In The Grass festival and the album campaign didn’t begin until then; but despite industry bureaucracy delaying the album release, the creative process was a more natural affair.
Robert Forster of ‘80s rock band The Go-Betweens was asked by the sextets management to produce the album after they’d filled in for his backing band at a Brisbane Flood and Fire Benefit.
“Robert came into our dingy practise studio and we played some of our favourite Go Betweens songs with one of our songwriting idols, it was a very surreal moment. We became friends after doing that and I think our management suggested we get Robert to produce,” he says.
The result is 12 tracks inspired by the bands home state, named after a resort on Queensland’s Moreton Island, the reference a nod to the band’s idols, The Go-Betweens.
“They would always reference Brisbane suburbs and I think a lot of bands in Australia tend to reference things in London and New York. I think why?! You’ve got so many cool things over here with names you don’t see anywhere else in the world,” reproves Morrissey.
Prior to the release of Tangalooma, a lot had been said of The John Steel Singers’ sound. Their single Rainbow Kraut received high-rotation on triple J and triggered adjectives like ‘bright’ and ‘sunny’ but Morrissey feels the album’s “more melancholic in a lot of aspects.” He even ran a vibrating shaver along the guitar strings, “we ran through about ten pedals or something to get this really crazy sort of sonic squeal.”
Their intriguing live sound (unfortunately sans en-suites and electric razors) can be experienced firsthand; with a national tour underway and festival dates set for later this month, John Steel singers will be everywhere.
Tangalooma is out now through Dew Process.
The John Steel Singers’ national tour runs from November 10 – December 31.
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