Fraser A. Gorman
Fraser A. Gorman is one of Australia’s most promising and exciting new talents to emerge in 2015. The trajectory is set for the stratosphere with the release of his new album Slow Gum to keep Gorman busy and on the road touring for the next twelve months. Gorman talks to Across The Ocean about making music and working a nine to five as a carpenter having the aspirations to keep doing the two things he loves.
Does it feel like an absolute whirlwind at the moment with everything going so well for you?
Pretty much, it has been pretty crazy because I’m also working at the same time as doing all this music stuff. It is a bit busy and full on but I absolutely love it so it’s hard not to enjoy it.
Did you ever think that things would take off as quickly as they have?
Um, I try not to really think about anything like that. I like to be able to keep my life pretty well chilled and take things as they come.
Has it helped having a good mate in Courtney Barnett who is an absolute world beater at the moment?
Yeah, I’ve been mates with Courtney for years and she asked me to be on her label well before any of this stuff happened, well before she was famous and it has helped me quite a lot which is really cool. It’s really good and I’m really glad!
Is it exciting for you now that the album is out?
The album for me was finished quite a while ago and it took a long time to come out due to label stuff and getting the right team together to put it out properly. It has been done in my head for quite a while but I guess it is new to everyone else. Everyone seems to be really pumped and keen on it. I’m just chilling on it at my desk playing guitar, it is really busy and full on but at the same time I want to keep it chilled at home.
The album is great and I doubt you’ll be going back to your nine to five…
We’ll see how it goes. I work as a carpenter in Melbourne and I really like it. If I can figure out a way to do both I’ll try but I do like music more.
Is it hard to juggle both?
I’m really fortunate that the boss who I work for is really, really, really supportive of my music and champions my music. He pretty much lets me come and go as I please which is really kind of him to do that. I guess in that respect it is really and all my family too are really supportive.
What did you think when you received your finished copy of Slow Gum and played it for the first time?
When I got the first batch of vinyl sent to Melbourne it was a bit of a moment thinking holy shit this is real now. I’m not just a daggy kid in Melbourne playing songs but there is a sense of accomplishment which is a nice feeling.
Have you noticed any crazy fans paying your more attention than before rocking up coincidentally at the same time as you?
Not really, there are a handful of Milk Records fans that are very focused on the music and the people who are on the label. They’re all kind of harmless and love the music but you do come across that stuff every now and then.
To the uninitiated how would you describe your music?
It’s wordy, groovy, like seventies sun bleached rock ‘n roll I guess.
Do your influences come from anywhere particular?
My biggest direct musical influences are like seventies Dylan and Neil Young, Gram Parsons and Flying Burrito Brothers then mix that with more modern contemporary songwriters such as Jeff Tweedy, Dan and Paul Kelly and Tim Rogers. It fits in between the two maybe.
With an Australian tour underway do you find you enjoy the small intimate shows more than the bigger festivals?
They’re all different, they’re all good in their own way. I’ve played gigs in front of ten people and it has been a really amazing experience. I’ve also played gigs in front of seven thousand people and it has also been amazing to and everything in between. I’ve also played gigs to the same amount of people which haven’t been as good. It just depends on, I don’t know how, a lot of things but it’s just fun.
Is the set list predominantly focused on the new album?
It’s all songs off the new record and I’ve actually written quite a few new songs as well. So I drop in a new song every now and then so there probably will be a second record not too far in the future.
Is there an inclination to get that second record out a lot sooner while you have a lot of momentum?
Totally, the first one took so long to get out for one reason or another which actually ended up working in my favour a bit. Since then I have written so many new songs so I have definitely got more than enough for a second album just sitting around. I’m in a fortunate position to go for it which is a good feeling.
Will be there be much of a departure sonically on the second album?
I’m constantly finding new music and that’s one of the things being twenty four. In the past six or eight years I have spent most of my time trying to find new bands and new music. Things will always change and evolve but I am a songwriter guy and that’s the music that I like so I guess we’ll wait and see.
Do you think your earlier songs will be re-released given they are difficult to track down now?
We might do that but I am in a position now where I’m just ploughing forwards. That older more country stuff might get looked back on at some time in the future or Milk might put out something.
Whether it is rummaging through vinyl at record stores such as Clarity and Title finding hidden gems to scouring the internet to find that album by the next big thing or chasing bands to get that elusive autograph and photo his passion is music all the way.
- Aversions Crown - January 27, 2017
- Sick Of It All - January 19, 2017
- Refused - January 11, 2017
