A Portrait of the Artist as Josh Pyke
» Josh Pyke - Coolangatta Hotel, QLD - Sat, February 21
» Josh Pyke - Tivoli, The, QLD - Sun, February 22
» Josh Pyke - UNU Bar on the Hill, NSW - Thu, February 26
» Josh Pyke - University of Wollongong, NSW - Fri, February 27
» Josh Pyke - ANU Union Bar, ACT - Sat, February 28
» Josh Pyke - Governor Hindmarsh, SA - Thu, March 5
» Josh Pyke - Hi-Fi, The, VIC - Fri, March 6
» Josh Pyke - Hi-Fi, The, VIC - Sat, March 7
» Josh Pyke - Metro Theatre, The, NSW - Fri, March 13
» Josh Pyke - Metro Theatre, The, NSW - Sat, March 14
» Josh Pyke announces new album and national tour! - July 10, 2008
» Playground Weekender - Del Rio, NSW - March 8, 2008
» The Big Day Out 2008 - Claremont Showgrounds, WA - February 3, 2008
“I was reading a lot of nautical books, whaling in the 18th century, East of Eden, On The Road, Henry Miller, I like the sense of exploring language, it really inspires me to push my imagery”
Josh Pyke is a regular feast for the creative mind. You may know Josh Pyke as the bard behind such songs as Middle of the Hill, Memories and Dust, Private Education and Fed and Watered, the ARIA-award winning singer/songwriter warming the collective heart of Australia. Now, promoting his “difficult second album” (also known as Ricky Gervais Syndrome) Chimney’s Afire (though far from difficult for Pyke fans to accept; the album has been widely accepted as Josh Pyke atypical work of high regard), Josh waxes lyrical about the creation of the record.
“It came from an organic place, from my own experience. I can’t just make shit up and write about it. I was writing a lot on the road, writing seemed to be easier when I was emotionally fraught, tired or super happy or homesick, or lonely. Emotional fragility is really helpful; all these songs are written from the road. They’re mostly from my actual life, but I read a lot, and I can reflect on what books I’d read”
With the Lighthouse Tour done and dusted (no, I didn’t go, I don’t wanna talk about it), what is Josh’s aim when conducting a live show, considering the close-knit nature of his music?
“It’s always been about the lyrics. I like to bring intimate feelings and intimacy on a large scale to the shows”
As a musician, do you go to see any bands? Who d’ya like then?
“I do get to see a fair few bands; I love Dappled Cities, Augie March, Whitley, Jackson McLaren: I took him on the road with me...”
A question that is so often posed but does indeed need to be addressed is the issue of the Internet. Or, more specifically, its impact on both the physical CD market and the live music scene. Josh’s retort to my seemingly innocuous query lends a new murk to the conversation...
“In some ways I think the net is partially responsible. MySpace is alright, if you like them you can go to the show. It would break my heart if people started downloading my music for free; it’s disrespectful to my effort. I figure with technology you kinda have to jump on the train or you’ll suffer, though. I do worry that people expecting to get entertainment for free will somewhat devalue art”
Having been in bands since he was 12 and having such a deep regard for his art, I can see where the man is coming from. Bye Josh, lovely to speak to you.
