My mate Liam is looking into starting his own podcast covering AFL and other sports. In anticipation of the new podcast, he asked to interview me ahead of the release of my debut single Cavern Girl to get a feel for interviewing someone. Check out the interview below.
LM: Alright mate so chatting with you today tell me about Cavern Girl what’s the backstory for that song?
MB: Uh, Cavern Girl well that was a time in my life in 2019 where I was pretty low, pretty shitty. But yeah I went over to Liverpool when I was on holiday over in England and I’d ended up in the Cavern Club the first night we got there and I met a girl at the bar and she started chatting to me about whereI’m from and stuff like that and she ended up asking me if I’d like a personal tour around Liverpool and I was like “well fucking let’s go then.” So yeah, we did that and we just started chatting and I told her about certain things in my life and she told me “everything will be alright” so that’s where that lyric comes from but yeah that’s practically the backstory of Cavern Girl man. LM: What were your feelings when you first wrote that song? MB: I dunno man, I just wanted to write a song because once I’d written One More Night? and Destined To Become A Star I wanted to write another song and I didn’t really know what to write about and when I write songs I come up with a chord progression and I continuously play it over until I find some sort of connection between a certain story or a certain thing I wanna say to people and I just came up with the Cavern Girl story and I was like “alright well this will be Cavern Girl” and then I just started writing the lyrics. It felt good man and it was a good moment because I was really happy about how the song came about but yeah that was a big moment in my life because I came back to Australia and I kinda felt very much like I was ready to tackle the world rather then coming home all depressed and shit again.
LM: That’s awesome. It’s a pretty inspiring story when you find out the meaning of that song. As a listener how would you describe Cavern Girl? MB: Well it’s definitely got a Rock-Pop sorta vibe definitely different to the songs that will be coming out like Drag Me Back To Hell and A Way Of Life. But it’s still got that element of rock and it’s all live instruments and you can tap your foot to it whilst it’s in your face at the same time. But yeah that’s how I’d view Cavern Girl man.
LM: So Cavern Girl is coming soon, everyones getting excited. You just mentioned a couple of other songs there, what other songs have you got lined up for release that you’re excited for? MB: The next two that I’m definitely excited for is Drag Me Back To Hell and One More Night? and another song I wrote called Two World’s Apart which is like an 8 minute ballad which we’ve done the demo for but I’m really excited to see how that one turns out in the studio. There’s more songs like A Way Of Life I’ve got coming out and a couple of others that I will keep tight lipped about at the moment and we’ll see how they pan out.
LM: Alright keeping it secret I like it. One thing I did want to ask you about Cavern Girl is it’s obviously your first time working in the studio how was that experience? MB: Yeah man, it was new territory because obviously I had experience going around to Brendan’s house and laying demos down in his home studio. But when you go into a professional studio setting especially something like Artisan Music which is a mega studio and the equipment there is class, you soon realise you are there to do business and you do what you have to do and no fucking about. It was a good experience, it was daunting at first but once you do a couple of vocal takes you kinda feel like “right this is happening now”
LM: So it all became very real for you in that experience? MB: Yeah definitely and it was good to see how the song took shape as the day progressed. In the first hour I was like It doesn’t sound great and not what I expected and then at the end of the day it’s sounded fucking massive and better then I had expected. So yeah man 100% happy with the experience. Pat and Simon are geniuses.
LM: And we’re happy with the end product? MB: 100% man, I didn’t think it would be as good as what it was and that’s all credit to Patrick Carre, Simon Groves. Also Brendan Gaspari for playing guitar and nearly every instrument under the sun, and Bronton Ainsworth for the drumming as well because that’s some insane drumming on the song. But very happy with how the mix turned out and now we just have to wait for the master to come back and then we can put it out.
LM: How has it been working with a guy like Brendan Gaspari? MB: He’s so talented man I couldn’t of done half of this without him. I could write the bones of a song but there’s certain little tweaks he will recommend that will just elevate my songs to a whole new level and bring it to life. I’ve got all of the time in the world for Brendan and he’s helped me a-lot in writing this album and pointed me in the right direction to get this out. But yeah proud to call him a friend and he’s a world class musician. LM: If you haven’t listened to Brendan’s stuff please do go check him out it’s top quality. Another thing I wanted to ask is about your songwriting process. How do you go about writing a song? MB: There’s two ways I go about writing a song I either write the lyrics first. One More Night?… actually no I didn’t write the lyrics for One More Night? first I think Cavern Girl and A Way Of Life I’d written the lyrics first then I did the instrumental, One More Night? I had the chords first. The other way I write is I come up with the instrumental first then I will find some lyrics to go with the feeling of the tune. But those are the two ways man, Two Worlds Apart is another example where I had the chord progression first before the lyrics.
LM: When did you start writing your own music? MB: Properly writing an actual song would’ve been last year when I wrote One More Night? back in May 2020. I’ve always jotted down little poetry lines for years but never being able to match it with a chord progression but once I’d written One More Night? I was able to just start writing songs like there was no tomorrow, a song a day or a song every couple of days. Depends how driven I am in the moment.
LM: How would you describe your style of music? MB: I definitely give a nod to all my inspirations especially that British scene. But bands like Oasis, DMA’s, Hayley Mary, The Verve, The Stone Roses and The Beatles. Songwriters Noel Gallagher, Amy Winehouse and more recently Kate Bush. I’d like to think I keep true to my inspirations and what I like to listen to is what I like to write. So my music definitely is guitar music, a rock ‘n’ roll sound. That’s how I would describe my music and it’s not gonna be everyones cup of tea but it will be for those who understand the British scene do you know what I mean?
LM: I do know what you mean. You touched on what kind of Artists that you’re into. I wanna focus in a bit more on that who inspires you? Who’s the person you aspire to be most like I guess? MB: Definitely the likes of Oasis and DMA’s and that sort of sound. I feel like One More Night? and Destined To Become A Star is when my love of the DMA’s comes out. Cavern Girl I feel is very Beatles/Beach Boys sort of sound with a modern twist to it. I 100% look up to someone like Liam Gallagher as a vocalist and Noel as the songwriter, the perfect partnership in my opinion.
Then I look up to songwriters like Amy Winehouse not so much a singer because she has such a unique voice and some insane pipes on her that I could never dream of reaching, but songs she’s written like Tears Dry On Their Own, Amy Amy Amy, Wake Up Alone and Fuck Me Pumps inspired me to try different techniques when writing lyrics when I heard those songs.
Another songwriter who has inspired me recently within the past 5 months is Kate Bush Wuthering Heights is a fucking massive tune, the verses is just Kate singing in a very ethereal ghostlike style and then the chorus hits and it’s like “fuck me that’s insane” one of the catchiest choruses in my opinion and the bass line is wicked. The final third of that song takes you on a spiritual journey and the guitar solo is mad. Kite, The Wedding List, The Red Shoes and Them Heavy People just to mention a few of her other songs that also inspired me to change things up when it comes to writing lyrics. Actually I will give her the nod as an influence she had on Drag Me Back To Hell in terms of the lyrics. But she’s mental I doubt many people could handle her music but that’s what I love about her, her music is crazy and was ahead of it’s time, her vocals are unique as well and IF you get her and can handle the madness what a journey you will go on. She wrote Wuthering Heights when she was 18 years old and it got to number 1 on the charts. That’s mental to me I can’t understand it. Like I’m 23 soon and I’m struggling to rhyme words like bar with afar, she’s an incredible songwriter. But check out Wuthering Heights live at Hammersmith Odeon or The Wedding List the 1979 Christmas special and you can just see how incredible her vocals are live.
Then the usual bands I mentioned earlier like Hayley Mary, The Verve, The Stone Roses, and The Beatles and I hope people can recognise my influences in my music. Also even someone like Brendan like I listen to his music and he’s an everyday person like myself and he’s written and put out some fucking wicked tunes.
LM: I just wanted to ask what are your goals as an Artist?
MB: Half of me is like “You want to succeed and make money and a career out of this” but also there is a big part of me that is doing this just because of the love I have for music. Anyway looking at the state of music today man there would be no chance my music would ever be a number one I’d be very very surprised, because I’m going back to a time from like the 60’s, the 70’s, the 90’s, where that music was current and today’s music is very much Hip-Hop, Techno, EDM. Not many people make albums anymore man, they just release singles. So for me I don’t really care where I end up, if I’m making music and I’m happy and I’m proud and it’s something to do then that’s cool and I’m not assed if people fucking slag my music off. To put your balls on the line and write a song and put it out there takes courage, any songwriter/musician would say the same as well. If you love my music then you’re very fucking cool, if it’s not for you or you don’t like it that’s fine by me, that’s no sweat off my nose. But yeah anyone would like to succeed in this industry, do a couple of tours and make a little name for myself. I’ll go as far as I can go but success won’t make or break me writing and making music.
LM: Would it be fair to say that you’re doing it more for the enjoyment, the love and the passion of music rather than the money fame and other things that come with it? MB: Oh 100% look at the end of the day no one’s going to turn it down if it comes with it do you know what I mean? If Cavern Girl or Two Worlds Apart for example become a hit and you’ve written them, you’ve worked hard and it’s difficult writing songs if the people make it a hit then it’s well deserved in my eyes. Look one person, five people, ten people could listen to my songs and if one person goes that’s a banger I’ve done my job, I’ve written something that someone enjoys. When I put Cavern Girl out and it gets ten streams for example and people aren’t really keen on it, that’s not going to stop me from releasing music. There’s always a little audience out there who will dig someones music we’ve just got to find them man.
LM: It’s really great to speak with an Artist who’s so passionate about what they do it’s really different to what a lot of people are in it for these days and I have to commend you for that. Just for those people who are keen to listen to your music where can they find it? MB: Well Cavern Girl I’m hoping to put out early June, so when that’s out you’ll be able to find it on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and all that stuff. There will be a single run of physical copies for Cavern Girl so if anyone wants a copy get in touch with me through Facebook or Instagram. At the moment I’ve got a few covers out there that I’ve done with Brendan on YouTube and a demo we did for One More Night? But until early June you won’t be able to hear any studio music I’m afraid but Cavern Girl will be the first song and then we’l potentially look at bringing something out a bit more heavier and dirtier and anthemic in Drag Me Back To Hell.
LM: So keep posted to Spotify, iTunes maybe even a single copy if you’re keen that’s where we can find your stuff. Another thing that I want to know you performed a show out at The Last Drop in Canning Vale, when can we expect to see more performances from you? As I feel the response you had was pretty good from that show. MB: Look it’ll be a process that will happen over time 100%. Yeah gigging will come probably after I’ve done One More Night? in the studio once we get three songs done in the studio and released we’ll probably start looking into doing shows then. I’ve gotta get songs out there and then see if some musicians are keen on the songs and find the band members. Because at the moment we’ve got me as a singer and touchwood we’ve got Brendan on guitar which I’m forever grateful for because I’m to stupid to multitask playing guitar and singing at the same time although I write these songs on guitar and write the lyrics my brains not wired to play the guitar and sing at the same time because I either give all my focus on playing the guitar and not the vocals or the other way round if I focus on vocals. So live I can’t see myself performing with a guitar and singing at the same time. But once I find some band members and musicians and they come to me and say “Yeah I like Cavern Girl, Drag Me Back To Hell, A Way Of Life I want to and am happy to play them live with you” then yeah I’ll start paying people to come gig with me and I’ll start booking gigs. I fully expect there to be an album launch though so whenever the album does come out I expect there to be a decent gig for that.
LM: Thanks for your time lad, all the best for the release mate. I’ve heard the final version of Cavern Girl and honestly it’s a really strong song and I’m excited for people to hear it and see where you end up. MB: Cheers mate I appreciate the love and support as always.
