A Quick Chat with Fletcher Kent

Can you tell us a bit about your inspiration for I’ll Be?

‘I’ll Be’ really just fell out of me in a way. I’d been trying to write a catchy chorus in the weeks leading up, and just had a moment where I felt I needed to do the complete opposite. Write, purely to express and give form to feelings I was having. I didn’t even think it was a song at first. More of a poem, a personal manifesto supported by music. The inspiration was this idea of the person I want to be and who I could become. I started playing these chords and just chanting things… “I’ll be patient, I’ll kind…” etc. My voice memo went for about 15 minutes, and afterwards I went back through and wrote down all the things I had said. The song was pieced together from this point. I wanted it to start small, speed up and then build into an eventual outpouring of intention and emotion. I was inspired by the Interstellar soundtrack and the way that movie as a whole makes me feel.

What are your influences and how do they affect your songwriting?

My musical influences range from very singer/songwriter driven music to rock, blues and pop. I love artists like Bob Dylan, Jeff Buckley, Julia Jacklin. I also feel bands like The Beatles and Gang of Youths have really shaped that other part of my sound. I was really into Ed Sheeran when I first started writing and modern pop is something I really pay attention to also. I rarely write with the intention of sounding like ‘x’, but it all really informs my subconscious and the choices I make in the writing process. It’s a continuous journey of finding a unique blend of all my influences that really feels authentic to me; as well as writing songs that sit comfortably in the world of my artist project.

 What’s the creative process like for you?

It’s changed throughout the years, but these days I mostly start with chords and melody- then follow what the song feels it should be about. I believe songs have their own energy that is in part separate to the writer. So the question I ask myself is, “What is this song telling me it wants to be about?”. I also feel that as important as lyrics are to me, (‘I’ll Be’ has no chorus for example and is just 14 verses back-to-back), people connect with melody far easier. Often, we will hum the melody of a chorus and try to remember the lyrics- yet very rarely do we remember lyrics and not melody. In this way, I like to start with melody usually; as without a good one, I don’t have a good song. Mostly I’m writing on guitar or piano, and from this point I try to create a lyrical world that resonates with how the music is already making me feel.

If you could change something about the Australian Music Industry, what would it be?
I think several of the major music festivals being cancelled is a real tragedy. This part of the industry was one of the best pathways for local emerging artists to find and build an audience. Hopefully governments can recognise their importance to our culture and support them in the same way as sport is supported in this country.

 What do you think life would be like for you if you didn’t have music as an outlet?
It’s really hard to imagine to be honest. Music’s been so linked to my life and my identity since I was a child. I think I would have a far harder time processing my feelings. Songwriting massively helps to build an emotional intelligence, and the literacy to express yourself. I’d definitely feel less whole as a person, because music connects me to who I am and who I want to be.

 
What’s your advice to young people who want to make a career for themselves in the industry?
My advice is something a friend of mine told me actually. There’s not just 1 way to ‘make it’. It’s easy to compare yourself with other artists and feel like you’re not moving forward in the ‘right’ way. But everyone’s journey is so different. You never know what is right around the corner. If you continue to knock on doors and walk through the ones that open, you’re moving forward. The challenge is trusting the process, and deeply believing that you are worthy of the career you desire.

 Who’s the most interesting person you’ve worked with/ met?
I’ve had the great privilege of working on my latest music with Eric J Dubowsky. Eric is a Grammy and ARIA winning producer/mixer. He’s produced and mixed the first batch of songs we’re releasing (including I’ll Be) and has also cowritten on some songs which will be on the album we’re making together. It’s been a fun process recording these songs with my band, and also having my partner and family singing some backing vocals too. 

 Any upcoming shows?

Yes! We just played Rolling Sets which was my first major Aus music festival, and now really excited to be playing 4 shows at The Royal in Bondi for their Summer Sunday Sessions. We’ll be on each Sunday for a month starting Jan 12 to Feb 2. Really keen to play some new songs and some that we’ve been recording.

 Also going to be playing the Summer Night Sounds festival in Maitland with my band on Feb 8!