Unwritten Law
Unwritten Law are regular visitors to Australia returning yet again as one of the headliners for Hits And Pits. There’s plenty going on for the band with original drummer Wade Youman returning, a new acoustic album release due soon and front man Scott Russo teaming up with Grinspoon’s Phil Jamieson for some awesome solo shows in between festival dates. It was a quick chat with Scott Russo ahead of their Australian tour in May.
Is it true that you’re back in the studio?
Yeah, I’m working on my acoustic record. It’s going well and it has been really fun so far. It feels like putting a puzzle together really. I produce and write a lot now and production for me now is like half the battle.
Did you ever think at some point in your career you would be doing an acoustic album?
Err, yeah, absolutely! I’ve thought about it for a long time actually. It started off with the band’s singles then choosing songs that I like. I’ve written some new songs for it as well and there will be a cover song also.
What was it like going through the process of reinterpreting some of those Unwritten Law songs and adding strings?
It is going to be different to what people expect. I think most people will be expecting a rock record, just done acoustically. For me, I wanted to do something fresh and something that I’m proud of and would want to hear. There a lot of changes in some songs and I have rewritten some chord progressions. There’s some really different shit with some beats on some songs. It’s kind of like an acoustic remix of these songs and I’m hoping people will trip out when they hear it.
Teaming up Phil Jamieson from Grinspoon sounds an awesome pairing?
It’s super great actually, Phil has been one of my friend’s for over twenty years probably and we’ve been through a lot together. We did a show together five years ago for a friend who was organising a cancer benefit gig in Sydney. It was definitely a moment! It is great to be able to play the songs we do in hotel rooms. It’s basically us hanging out and Phil is tour managing the thing as originally we were only doing Melbourne and Sydney. I’m super excited about and doing something with Phil is always an event in itself. I don’t think people realise how talented Phil is especially when it is just him and a guitar. He’s a great song writer and has so many songs there is no doubt he do great on his own.
Are there any plans on doing some sort of collaboration?
We’ve always talked about that and when we’re together Phil will play something which I’ll try and steal from him. I think it will be difficult collaborating on something when he is on the different side of the equator.
There’s plenty of love in Australia for Unwritten Law are you looking forward to playing Hits And Pits?
Absolutely, we always love playing in Australia.
Rumour has it that the band will be playing a good chunk of your self-titled album, is that true?
Hmm, it won’t be the whole album but most of it. We haven’t thought about it yet. That was our biggest album in Australia and we haven’t played much off it the last couple of time we’ve played in Australia. It’s a matter of figuring out what’s doable and what will work in the live environment.
Do you get much pressure from fans and promoters to play that album?
Yeah, it’s like sure, we’ll do it, we haven’t played a lot of these songs in a long time. There are other songs that I just can’t go without playing though.
Not long ago the big announcement dropped that Wade would be rejoining the band. How is that working out?
It’s been really reinvigorating for the and band and when you have been doing this for twenty years it can get really old and boring, easy to get over it. I can see his excitement for Unwritten Law and makes us want to play more shows and record more music. I think is says a lot for him coming back.
Unwritten Law
http://www.unwrittenlaw.com
https://www.facebook.com/unwrittenlaw.music
https://myspace.com/unwrittenlaw
http://www.youtube.com/unwrittenlaw
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.
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