Since releasing third album Zoomorphic last year, electronic shapeshifter Spoonbill has kept up his impressive work-rate. The Melbourne producer is already preparing “a new body of work”, some of which we may hear when he takes the stage at the Photosynthesis rainforest benefit in Sydney next weekend. ITM hears about all the parts that make up the Spoonbill sound.
So is there a follow-up to Zoomorphic currently in the works?
Yeah. I’m currently working on a new body of work to be released this year. I’m still tossing up whether I release it as a full album or as two EPs spaced over a few months. Seems like the album, particularly in electronic music, is less important these days. People’s attention spans are getting shorter as access to music is gets easier.
Is it always important for you to have other musicians to bounce ideas off?
I enjoy playing works in progress to friends and collaborators to gauge their response and feedback. It’s sometimes good to hear a fresh perspective as you may have been buried in a track for countless hours and be seeing a composition from a certain angle. It’s also great to hang with fellow producers and musicians and learn new techniques from each other. I think it’s important to be part of a community and have a collective of like minded people with similar ideas and ideals to jam ideas with.
Where do you find your inspiration coming from these days? Is it things outside of music?
It’s hard to pinpoint really where inspiration comes from. I suppose it’s a culmination of many different aspects of life experiences and personal interests, such as nature, evolution, art and food. Simply put, I think inspiration comes from how you feel emotionally at a certain time. If you are making an honest expression (not trying to copy what you think is trendy or what you think people what to hear), it will manifest in your art, whatever you medium, in a unique way.
After you release an album, do you consciously set out to have the next one take a different direction?
No not really. Simply I make music I want to hear. Naturally over time, what I want to hear changes and evolves and so do the final outcomes and compositions. But also I don’t really want to make the same-sounding track twice, so I often proceed in a new direction with each new track I begin.
It seems as if each Spoonbill album is designed to communicate a variety of moods. Is the way you structure the flow of an album very important in that respect?
Yeah. My albums are a melting pot of different ideas and moods. They fluctuate dramatically in tempo, mood, style and vibe, as that’s what keeps me interested. I prefer making diverse albums as I find it more stimulating, challenging and rewarding. But crafting the right flow of an album can be difficult and I usually spend weeks deliberating over it! With diverse materials it can change the whole vibe and listening experience when shuffling tracklists.
Photosynthesis is different from the usual gig, as all funds are donated to Rainforest Rescue. Do you think having a purpose like that creates a special vibe?
For sure! When communities get together for a common cause, there is a special kinship created. It’s natural to feel good about doing something good, and so as this event is doing something positive for our natural environment. There will surely be a camaraderie and positive vibe surrounding the event.
What can you tell us about the show you’ll be doing at Photosynthesis?
Here are a few words that may help to describe the expected sonic canvas: wonkadelic, glitchy, funky, smooth, bouncy, twisted, fun, strange, silly, fat, dramatic…and hopefully enjoyable!
Spoonbill plays Photosynthesis: Australasian Electronica Showcase Fundraiser for Rainforest Rescue at The Metro Theatre on Saturday 29 May.
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