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The first time I interviewed Sydney singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Michael Carpenter, I found out how he organises his time so well (hint: it’s a simple to-do list and actually remembering to look at it), although I also think he marries that organisation with a sense of living in constant creative flow. The output of his own music, whether that’s solo, with The April Family or with the Banks Brothers (with whom he’s won several Golden Guitars), would be enough to keep him occupied year round, but he also fits in production for many other artists. He has also this year released a new solo album, The Start of Being.
The last time Carpenter released a solo album it was in 2016, and the genre was power pop (in which he is a specialist). He thought he wouldn’t release solo music again, so part of our conversation in this recent interview is about why that changed and also how his music has changed. Because he’s been so involved with country music for the past decade, in his musical projects and as a producer, it’s influenced the solo work – although the power pop is still there, and we have a brief digression into Canadian East Coast power pop, of which I’m also a fan.
If I were to stand back from Carpenter’s work and try to offer one focused perspective on it, I’d say that he leads with his heart then applies his brain and the skills therein to expressing what’s in that heart. In other words: if he doesn’t feel it, he doesn’t do it. It’s the feeling that imbues his songs with an irresistible warmth, and his singing voice is part of that. It’s well suited to pop and also offers something different to country, and above all it delivers the melodies that he’s so very good at writing.
As ever, he’s a very interesting man to chat to and I hope you enjoy our conversation.
Listen to The Start of Being on Apple Music
Listen to The Start of Being on Spotify
For more Sunburnt Country Music:
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