10 Questions with ... Hamish Anderson

1. Where does this interview find you now? Is there music playing in the background?

I'm currently in my hometown of Melbourne. Just waking up and seeing what the day brings! Paul McCartney's new album is on right now to start my day.

2. What has been your goals for this year and how close are you to reaching them?

I feel great about 2018! I started the year by recording my new album, which I'm very excited to be releasing next year. I played festivals in Europe this year which was my first time ever performing over there. That's been a goal for a while so that was a real highlight!

3. Growing up, was music always a big part of your life?

Music was a huge part of my life growing up. My parents aren't musicians, but they are huge music lovers so there was always music playing in the house. The first concert I ever went to was The Who when I was 12 years old and that was a real life changing moment that made me want to be a musician. I can't see myself doing anything else.

4. How do you think you and your music have been influenced by your hometown and where you live today?

I seem to still write a lot in Melbourne. Sometimes I like to catch the train and write; something about looking at the city and people watching can make me feel inspired to write. Los Angeles is also very inspiring, and I find it a great thing that any night of the week you can go and see so many incredible musicians playing live. It really makes you want to work harder at your craft.

5. How differently did you approach the making your new album compared to your 2016 collection Trouble?

We took a little more time with the arrangements this time and played more with things I hadn't done on my debut album, Trouble, such as harmonies and double tracking. On this new album it's also basically the same band for every song; on Trouble I had different musicians for different songs. This time I wanted a set crew. I also definitely wrote more songs for this album then I had before, I really wanted to overwrite and then choose the best material.

6. What is it like working with your producer Jim Scott?

This was the second time I got to work with Jim and it's always very inspiring to me. I learn so much from being around him and we also work in a similar way that I think compliments each other. Jim is all about the song and I love that, you won't have anything if the songs aren't good enough.

7. We are currently living through a very trying and politically charged time, so I am curious to know how your own music is reflecting this time period, or is your music more of an escape from all that?

I think it's both. There's a song on this album that is very much about what is going on in the world around us - it was my first time writing about that so directly. In the past, I had hinted at things, but it was less overt so really it could be interpreted as being about anything. Also, in the past, I would have been nervous to write such a song, but now it was all just very prominently on my mind. I tend to write about anything that affects me emotionally.

8. Who are some of your favorite artists or rather, what musicians have continued to inspire you and your music? Who would you love to work with in the future?

Unfortunately, a lot of my heroes have passed like Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, B.B. King, JJ Cale, Tom Petty, George Harrison and others. My heroes that are still around who would be dream artists to work with are Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Buddy Guy, Gary Clark Jr, Alabama Shakes.

9. Do you have any tour dates coming up?

I just played in LA at the Teragram Ballroom on October 6th with The Main Squeeze! And will be touring with The Main Squeeze on the East Coast in November.

10. At the end of the day, what do you hope your fans take away from your music?

I hope they just relate to it. It's music from an honest place and I just hope people connect with it. That's the goal.

Interview by Leah Brungardt