A QUICK CHAT WITH BULLY HAY
Can you tell us a bit about your inspiration for your single, Wash Off The World?
Wash Off the World came from having these little blinding flashes of the obvious. I’m sure we all get those. When you can briefly see through all of the daily routine and the societal pressures that we all find ourselves wrapped up in. I periodically get a little outraged at this big system we’re a part of. You know, work, eat, sleep, repeat. The blind routine. But before you figure out what you’re going to do about it, the phone rings or you get an email or you need to put fuel in your car and then you’ve lost it and you’re swiftly back in that fog of routine. The song is like popping your head out of the clouds and being able to clearly see us all “running on the wheel” the big machine. Of wanting to make changes in life and relationships. Wanting to make changes for the better. To get in control of life or at least make decisions that lead to freedom. Wanting to just run and dive into the ocean, wash off the world, and snap out of the cycle.
What are your influences and how do they affect your songwriting?
We’re all a product of our own experiences, I guess! I have experienced a lot of 90’s/2000’s music so that probably peeks through in my work. I’m influenced by music in itself that moves me, but also that’s interesting or relatable lyrically. The likes of Powderfinger, Paul Kelly, Missy Higgins, INXS, War on Drugs, Tool, Pearl Jam, David Bowie, and Radiohead. So many more artists, but I suppose they affect my songwriting in a way that makes me want to re-create how I felt or feel when I listen to them. There’s a lot to channel on if I’m going for a soft ballad vs a rock song or a hard rock/alternative vibe.
What’s the creative process like for you?
Almost always with the music first. I can't read music to save myself, so everything comes from “feel”. I’ll either have some kind of line in my head or will tinker on an instrument until a melody is teased out. Then work on the structure. Lyrics come later for me and I tend not to think too hard about what I’m trying to write about. Usually, after the song is just about fully formed, I get to find out what I am talking about. Sometimes it's a shock at what comes out of me in terms of themes or messages, but it can be like therapy for me to find out what’s going on in my head. Almost in the third person.
What do you think life would be like for you if you didn’t have music as an outlet?
That depends if I’d known music before and it was taken away! If that happened it’d feel like all the color was sucked out of the world. But if I had never known music, I’m sure I’d fill that space with something else. My life is pretty full no matter what's happening, so I’m sure I’d survive!
Is there anyone you would like to collaborate with? Why?
I’d love to one day collaborate with Eddie Vedder. He’s such a prolific songwriter even outside of Pearl Jam and his solo stuff is always quite riveting to me. As a lyricist, his songs can cut like a knife and he can take a really simple guitar line and layer that rich voice over it and just captivate people.
What’s your advice to other young people who want to make a career for themselves in the industry?
Today there’s so much more “noise” in the industry. What I mean is, you’re usually handling your own promotion, socials, creating content and trying to wrangle the algorithms, write, record, tour, and do “life” in between. Just remember WHY you’re in the game. It’s probably for the same reason as the rest of us… To make your own music that you love, share, and hope others will love. Keep your eye on the art as best you can and only make it for yourself. The rest is just a process.
Who’s the most interesting person you’ve worked with/met?
That would be Jeff Martin from The Tea Party. I met Jeff through a mutual friend in Hobart a couple of years ago after he played a solo show and was lucky enough to go back to the after-party. You have to understand, The Tea Party are my favourite band… ever! And so I was just trying not to be a complete idiot in front of my fav artist on the first day we met! As the night wore on, we were having some great chats and as the vodka was flowing, we started sharing music demos via Bluetooth on a speaker. Jeff heard a couple of my songs and was impressed. That night, he offered to produce a record of my songs. Needless to say, I was floored by that, and the next day I thought that it was all just alcohol talking. But fast forward to now, and we actually did make a record of my songs and JM produced it! I ended up living with Jeff and his amazing wife Melissa for over a month while we put these songs down and we became great friends. Jeff has this kind of dark magic voodoo presence in the studio and it was a really inspiring creative process working with him. But behind all of that, he’s a very kind and generous soul. They say you should never meet your heroes, but I was lucky to do so.
Any plans for an Aus tour on the cards?
Yes, definitely. My debut album Black Dogs and Songbirds is out on the 30th of October. So following this, there will be a national tour announced. For anyone keen to find out more about the album and the tour that will follow, they can keep up to date by looking up Bully Hay on social media.