Heres an interview I did in October on the breakfast with RTR. I’ve changed the odd word and got rid of all the bloody ‘ummms’ so it reads a bit better.
T: The last time you were hear was with Caitlin talking about the debut – and I imagine since then you’ve been riding tractors and hanging out with your family.
A: Yep farming, starting a family and still finding a bit of time to make records.
T: Tell us a bout how that happens, with Caitlin you said that there is a home studio set up out there in the Wheatbelt where you live. So is that same sort of vibe for this one?
A: Absolutely. Exactly the same space, in the garage in the Wheatbelt: you can imagine I’m sweeping out the dust fairly regularly. And Yep.
T: Is it something you get to sit down and visit and do often? Or are you busy doing Wheatbelty things?
A: As you can imagine things fluctuate a bit in terms of farm work. And quite often like I’ll have a writing stint and then have a lot of ideas and listen to them on the tractor and songs might change from there.
T: Just to relisten to what you’ve done on the tractor?
A: So I tend to write in sections and there are generally 3 or four different segments in each song so when I listen to the first I might be driving along and get an idea for the next section so it might chop and change from there – its all fairly integrated.
T: That’s a super interesting place to pluck inspiration – I don’t think I’ve spoken to anyone who – that’s where it comes to them on the tractor which is cool.
A: A few of my friends drive tractor and play music so..
T: Tell us a bit about how long this record has been kicking around for how long have you been working on it?
A: Before the first one came out track 8 [from this record] we played live when we were doing a bit live with so that’s pretty old, and a few of the other songs like the Flat Earther is pretty old – I actually wrote that before the guy died and nearly pulled it from the record because I felt bad. And I love Mad Mikey Hughes.
T: I wanted to ask you about that and I’m glad you brought it up. Can you tell me about this person or this character is in the record – Mad Mike Hughes
A: So my father in law has a bit of a bit of an obsession with the Flat earth society and finds them a curiosity. And this guy (Mad Mike) had a bit of courage and was convinced the world was flat. So to check he actually built his own rocket his own rocket ship and he did a launch in 2018 which didn’t go that well but he’s a smart dude – or was – to the point where he was genuinely a rocket scientist but didn’t understand the concept of spheres – which, you know amused me. Umm yeah unfortunately earlier this year he had a second go at it but it didn’t got so well and he demised. (T: OH MY GOSH) so I feel pretty bad because it was supposed to be an amusing topic but isn’t so amusing now.
T: I wonder if someone who is a devoted follower of his will find this and someone in the flat earth society might come for you.
A: Ooh might get some hate mail.
T: Good thing you’re out in the middle of nowhere!
A: Better not talk about it.
T: So it’s one of the things that was really curious to me and as I read through the tracks titles names I had to wonder if they’re all connected or if they are all just unusual named songs?
A: Funnily enough on the first album there isn’t a lot of singing, but on this one there is singing on every song – so every song *is* about something. So there is a bit of a Middle America theme there. Indeed we’ve got a friend who is a storm chaser and he used to go over the tornado belt and just be overwhelmed by the power and complexity of these twisters. So I thought that deserved a song. But a lot of it is just about being in Perth and whatnot.
T: Some things are Super specific to WA as well – The Hanging Gardens of East Victoria Park for instance.
A: Yep, so I actually tuned in when you and Will were talking about that one so I don’t know if you know the B almoral hotel? (T: yes very well) – I think it used to be a more hanging gardeny in the beer garden but there still a bit of it there so that was the inspiration there (T: makes it sound much nicer than it actually is). Agreed – especially at 11 oclock on a Saturday night.
T: Were talking to ambrose Nock talking about last weeks local feature Target Archery. You have some folks who you usually make music with, who did you collaborate with on this record?
A: One of my best mates Matt Harley helped with the vocals and stuff. Mayuka who didn’t play on the first one but helped out doing it live helped out here with most of the woodwind and a few other things which was handy cause I’m not good at that kind of things. And then Justin who was also in Apricot Rail and is living over Melbourne and he is amazing with mixing and doesn’t get too annoyed that there is 37 guitar parts to work his way through. So he spent the last six months mixing it with plenty of back and forth. And obviously he’s been hit by the Covid over there so it gave him something to do and he mentioned that it was good for him.
T: It comes out highly well produced because he’s had all of the time to work on it!
A: Ha, yep. Maybe overproduced for a little bit, so we scaled it back a fraction.
T: He doesn’t have time to walk away be cause where’s he going to go? Something else I want to mention is I was looking through the Target Archery Instagram which is fantastic if you’re not already following go and have a look. It features little clips which I assume you’ve made to put together as little snippets of previews of the songs.
A: Some of the footage is borrowed and some of it from me at home.
T: Filming a tv screen – is that what that is?
A: Yeah the laptop – fairly low budget
T: Diy
A: And there’s a few clips. Chad Peacock who made a few clips for Apricot Rail made some proper clips so you can look at them.
T: I’m really enjoying listening to this record And I think folks last week were super into it as well. Something I want to touch on before I let you go. The record is out on Hidden Shoal & last year we also featured a record they released, it was a bunch of remixes one of which was Target Archerys track Opium Den. Tell us what you think when Boy in Nature did a one over on the track.
A: I really liked his take on it – very punchy and he picked the best melodic bits and turn it into a whole different song. I saw that one went down pretty well.
T: He didn’t have 37 guitar parts to pull apart(!)
A: No he plucked the better ones which is probably what I should do when I’m writing.
T: So what’s the go now. You said this one had been written sort of a bit before the debut came out. Have you got more stuff in the back pocket?
A: I was actually listening last night and comparing Clock of the Long Now and this one. And I couldn’t’ believe how much gentler and how much more space there was. So when I do get around to writing the third one – and I will cause I’m always writing and looking for something creative to do to keep the mental health in check. So I’m thinking I’ll go back to lighter instrumental stuff – especially with Mayuka back on board and it might be a bit more like the first Apricot Rail album maybe.
T: I’m looking forward to more clarinet – its one of my highlights – I think it resonates because I played the clarinet maybe – don’t ask me to every play for it for you though please
A: It’s a lot of hard work – you’ve got to blow and stuff compared to guitar
T: Exactly you just plug it in. So I’m going to play the Hanging Gardens of East Victoria Park which will always make me think of the Balmoral hotel. Ambrose thanks so much for coming and congrats on the new record.
A: Thanks for having me – and for playing it.
The Wine Accomplice 