Dave Graney knocks himself out
» Dave Graney & The Lurid Yellow Mist Shows - July 6, 2011
» You Am I - Governor Hindmarsh, SA - October 31, 2009
» Dave Graney - Triple R Performance Space, VIC - June 10, 2009
» Dave Graney - The Might of the Wolverine - March 11, 2008
The once self-proclaimed King of Pop, and proprietor of the best mo in town, has certainly given music critics something to write about over the years, and Dave Graney feels his next album will be no different.
Graney confessed to experimenting further on this album with songs that had previously been deemed ‘too long’ or ‘inappropriate’ for other albums, he acknowledged the risk, however was supported in this venture by a UK producer he worked briefly with recently and his partner in music and life, Clare Moore.
At the moment he is gearing up for a show in an art gallery, where he is also to speak for an hour or so beforehand. Acknowledging that this comes rather easy for him, Graney doesn’t easily agree on a topic.
“Most people want me to talk about music and songwriting, but it’s not the same anymore, not like it was in the golden era in the 1920s. Now the song writing is just as much about production as it is about chords and lyrics”.
Forming his own songs is still something fairly organic with little continuity in the way they are created, Graney says that sometimes it’s a case of Clare writing some chords and him finding words to work over the top of them, and other times the words will come first. And inspiration and influence is drawn from all aspects of his life:
“It’s not classic literature that influences, though I read a lot of crime and mystery literature from the 1930s, 40s sort of era” “A lot of rock critics have said I just look in the mirror when writing music, but you have to look there, where else can you look? I’m a musician, I write about being a musician, just like farmers write about cows, truck drivers write about driving trucks all night, a musician writes about being a musician. That said, I don’t write songs about being on the road or that sort of thing, I mean, about finding your identity and being able to express that through music. Everyone in the world is looking to find their own identity”.
With lyrics like “Knock yourself out, go your hardest, you’re only human, so am I…radio needs me, TV needs me…” and alternative electro melodies, Graney promises a new and unique experience with his music and offers that you can “Knock yourself out loving me or hating me”.
It’s no secret there are some hot topics when it comes to talking with Dave Graney, the music industry being near the top of the list.
“I don’t believe in the music industry, I think that was created by businessmen who wanted to make more money. In the US, they put on this big festival thing in Texas; South by Southwest; and you’ll never catch me there. It is another example of businessmen turning profit from music. I would rather wipe old ladies’ arses for a month than perform at that show”.
Another thought-provoking topic is that of whom he has shared a stage with and hypothetically whom he would like to share a stage with.
“Well I don’t do a lot of solo performances, so I share the stage with my bands and with Clare and we all work well together and just make good music” Then he repeats the question...“Alive or dead? I mean, I could be here all day talking about people who are dead that I’d like to sing with or meet, but it’s just not going to happen is it?”
Combing genres on Knock Yourself Out to produce an “electro boogie/ filthy r&b album” is a sure recipe for new critiques and hopefully new appreciation, from both old fans and music lovers who are yet to have experienced the former ‘King Of Pop’ Dave Graney.
Knock Yourself Out is now on Cockaigne/Fuse.
Dave Graney is hitting the road with his cohorts, head to http://www.myspace.com/davegraney for deets and dates.
