Coming down from a heat wave, I have the good fortune of speaking with Josh Pyke. He is unaffected from the heat sitting in the studio as I on the other hand wriggle in my chair, trying to prevent the leather from sticking to me. Modest and affable, Pyke is the essence of professionalism, answering my tirade of questions with poise and well thought through responses. By Marija Zeko
Having released his second album Chimney’s Afire, the confidence levels have escalated, as Pyke did not feel daunted that it would not do well. “I didn’t feel that much pressure making it as I knew there was an audience out there… I knew what to expect so it made it easier than the first record. I think it’s all a learning process. Maybe by my fourth album I’ll have it sorted out. I think there’s always room to improve”.
2007’s debut album Memories and Dust debuted at number 4 on the Aria charts, was nominated for a J Award by Triple J and won an Aria for Best Adult Contemporary album in that year. His songs have featured in the past three Triple J Hot 100 Countdowns, as well spent the year performing at the Escape to the Park concert and Falls Festival. This escalation in career has not got the better of Pyke. There is an understanding of how fickle the industry can be and a desire to spread his talent into other music related categories such as song writing and producing. “I think the music and song writing does come reasonably natural… but then there’s the technical side that I have to work at. I mean I studied sound engineering 7 years ago but I still need to work at it. I think because of today’s music scene, you have to do a lot of things. When not writing songs, I’m doing production. I always wanted to have a multifaceted career. I know how hard it is to make a living”.
At the moment Pyke is working on his Australia wide tour. “I’m getting ready for the tour in February, for the album all around the country, also doing a whole lot of promo work for the album. 2009 is very much focused on this record”.
The inspiration for Pyke’s willowy incandescent music can be found in life experiences and his penchant for varied literature. “I read a lot of books. At the time of making that record I was reading a lot of maritime history and that sort of stuff. That’s where the title came from. I try to use my imagination and personal experience but I use what I read in books to make it a little more detached from my personal life”.
The Maritime history runs deeper than a fad as Pyke’s ancestors were whalers and Navy men. So too does the current fascination for Australian history, with a desire to know more about his country. “It’s just a phase I’m going through (Maritime history). I’m reading about Australiana at the moment… I go through phases where there’ll be months I don’t pick up a book at all. I’m just not in the right frame of mind and just ploughing through. Just like when there are times I listen to music and times when I don’t at all”. As the sweat gets the better of me, I wrap things up leaving Pyke to enjoy his creature comforts in cool bliss.
Josh Pyke will be playing the Newcastle Uni Bar on the Hill, February 26, with supports Cloud Contral and Jackson McLaren
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