Tina: Hi Graham How is the mixing process of the new Jac Dalton album Icarus at Ardent Studios going?
Graham Greene: Hi – thanks for having me. So far, so good. We’re heading into the home stretch with the mixing as final tweaks and adjustments are made, and I’m looking forward to hearing the fruits of our collective labors when it’s all done.
Tina: What inspired you to collaborate and work with Jac Dalton for this new Album?
Graham Greene: Jac and I were introduced by a funny and dedicated lady by the name of Nana Mex, who is a native of Roswell, New Mexico, now residing in Carnarvon, Western Australia. After hearing our individual musical outputs, she thought it would be a good idea if we collaborated on something. After many months of persuasion, we listened to each other’s music, were both impressed, and it grew from there. It started out with me just putting some guitar tracks down for one of Jac’s songs, and before I knew it, I was playing, arranging and writing for the whole album.
Tina: Can you tell us the highlights of Icarus, such as the song tracks, their themes any guest appearances from other musicians and the journey this album has taken from the recording to mixing process?
Graham Greene: The highlight of the album is the quality of the songs. The title track is a powerful rock ballad that was a pleasure to work on. As the album developed through the writing stages, it took a decidedly rock direction while maintaining strong melodies and big harmony vocal arrangements. I took it as a huge compliment that Jac and Darren chose to put my guitar playing out front of the sound with all of that, and the results have been most gratifying. One of the last songs written for Icarus was a song called Waterline, which is my music and Jac and Darren’s lyrics. The song came together very quickly, and is a standout track for me, both musically and lyrically. It may just indicate the direction we take for the next album. A bass player and two drummers were hired to record the songs in Adelaide, and the creative core of the project was Jac, Darren, myself and my wife, Donna, who contributed backing vocals and creative input on vocal arrangements.
Tina: How did you land the opportunity to work with music producer Darren Mullen and Engineer John Hampton for the mixing and mastering of Icarus?
Graham Greene: Jac is originally from North Carolina, and has a musical pedigree as long as your arm. His first album attracted a bit of attention in the states, and these contacts opened the door for us to have the mixing for Icarus done at Ardent Studios in Memphis. Darren Mullan is from Adelaide in South Australia, the same city as Jac, and they have been a songwriting team since Jac’s last album, ‘From Both Sides’. Working with Darren on the songs was a complete pleasure. He is a talented musician and performer in his own right, and we clicked musically and personally from the moment we met – pretty much what happened when I met Jac for the first time. Darren’s value to the Icarus project cannot be underestimated, and his keyboard playing and backing vocals are a big part of the sound. As for triple Grammy winner John Hampton… well, the guy is an absolute legend. He has an instinct and feel for music that is awesome, and his dedication to his craft is an inspiration to all who have the good fortune to work with him. I hope to meet him in person one day and soak up some of the magic for myself. He is also a great human being.
Tina: Which instrumental song track from your previous Leap Of Face 2006 Album will be appearing on Icarus?
Graham Greene: When Jac heard Leap Of Face, he was struck by the title track, which is an up-tempo double kick shuffle with a load of guitars, attitude and humor. He asked me if he and Darren could rearrange the track to make a vocal song, and at first I was a little hesitant, but once I heard what they had done, any fears I had were allayed, and I gave my blessing. The song is now called ‘Armed & Dangerous’, and is a lot of fun.
Tina: Have you worked with or collaborated with any other bands or musicians for music projects?
Graham Greene: Not really – I have done heaps of sessions over the years, but usually just as a hired gun. I am arranging and recording music for a good friend of mine in Sydney who has an ongoing recording project in the works called Red Dragon, and I’m hoping he does very well with it. It’s always good to work with mates.
Tina: Can you tell us a little about two of your Albums that’s now on my favorites lists Resonance (Spirit of Man) 2007 and Leap of Face 2006?
Graham Greene: Leap Of Face was an exercise in bitter sweetness. My mother passed away just after I had starting writing for the album, and my father passed away shortly after its completion, so it was quite a journey to endure the heartbreak while trying to remain creative and productive. I dedicated Leap Of Face to Mum, mainly because it was she who gave me the gift of music. On the up side, I had the pleasure of using eight of Perry Ormsby’s beautiful handmade guitars to write and record the tracks, each instrument bringing its own vibe and inspiration to the album.
The Resonance (Spirit Of Man) EP was result of Donna and I wanting to put all of the vocal tracks together on one CD. The title track was inspired by and dedicated to our friends at the Stop Child Executions Campaign, who also used some of our music to help get their message out to the world. It was also the beginning of our band, Resonance Project, which we toured to Vietnam in January of 2008 to play a concert at My Dinh National Stadium to 15,000 people and a VTV1 audience of some six million.
Tina: What was your first reaction when you were named The Best Instrumental Artist at the 2008 Star Music Awards in Hollywood USA?
Graham Greene: Incredulity. I had been approached by some people in the US to submit some material for the awards, and I was a little reticent in doing so, as I felt that there wasn’t much a guitarist from Oz could do to compete with the Hollywood ‘big boys’. It all seemed a bit unreal, because it was all happening so far away, but when I received notification of my win, I have to say that Donna and I danced around the house like a couple of kids. It was nice to be recognized for my efforts in the Mecca of music.
Tina: Was it your Leap of Face 2006 Album that helped win this Award?
Graham Greene: The track that won the award for me was Impressive Hair from Leap Of Face. The tune is a tongue-in-cheek tribute to the big hair bands of the 80s, and is just under three minutes long. After the awards, I started referring to Impressive Hair as “the little song that could”.
Tina: Have any song tracks off Leap of Face appeared on any movie compilation sound track CD’s?
Graham Greene: Sadly, no. The music is perfectly suited (I feel, anyway) for such collections, but getting into film and TV with music is a tough game, and I’ve yet to crack that market.
Tina: Can you briefly tell us about Ormsby Graham Greene Signature Series Guitars GG6 and GG7 what is the difference between the 6 or 7 string electric guitars for quality and sound?
Graham Greene: Perry Ormsby’s guitars are among the finest I have ever played, and it is a pleasure to work with the guy. I first met Perry in late 2004 when he worked as my guitar tech on a couple of concerts, and our relationship developed from there. We had spoken a few times about him building me a guitar, and that idea grew to become the GG Signature Series, which now features three guitars – the GG6, the GG7 and the latest addition, the GG6FG. All the guitars are of the highest quality, and are perfectly suited to my hands, style and requirements. The GG7 has a little more sustain and richness in tone, mainly due to the extra wood in the neck, but I really wouldn’t want to pick a favorite – they are all stunning instruments.
Tina: Do you have any other endorsements?
I am proud to be endorsed by Mesa/Boogie amplification, and was the first Australian guitarist to have his own artist page on the Mesa/Boogie website, which was quite an honor. I am also endorsed by Wegen Picks.
Tina: Donna’s beautiful vocals adds a terrific touch to Resonance (Spirit of Man) does she help with the writing of the lyrics for your music projects?
Graham Greene: Donna is without doubt one of the best female rock vocalists I have heard, and is the main lyricist when we write songs. I act more as a sounding board for her ideas, and we develop her melodies together when we record, Donna being the singer and me acting more as producer.
Tina: What motivates or inspires you to write your lyrics and is the guitar your alibi or instrument for putting the melody (sound) to these lyrics?
Graham Greene: Our lyrics come from both personal life experience and observations of the world around us. Donna and I share similar world views, and strive to put a positive slant on the messages within our songs. Donna sometimes seems to just channel concepts and words from somewhere else, and it in turn inspires musical ideas in me. While the guitar is my main voice, Donna’s talent is all her own, and the melodic influence flows both ways.
Tina: Do you have any other bands or musicians that you favor or are your musical influences?
Graham Greene: That’s a tough one – my first musical love was Beethoven, and my influences are eclectic and not always obvious. I grew up in the Aussie outback, where there was no real electronic media as such, so I knew more about BBC Radio programming than I did about rock and roll. My first hero was Ritchie Blackmore, and I would have to count Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck as early influences. Later on, I discovered guys like Larry Carlton, Steve Morse and Eric Johnson, and I don’t think there’s a rocker on the planet that wasn’t moved by Eddie Van Halen. I am often compared to players like Steve Vai and Joe Satriani, but by the time I heard them, I was already on the way to being the player I am today. Basically, if it’s good, I’ll appreciate it on some level.
Tina: Have there been any major challenges in your music career?
Graham Greene: When I was about eighteen I broke my neck in a car accident, which slowed me down for a bit. At the beginning of 2003, I lost the use of two left-hand fingers due to nerve damage from that old accident, and it took just over a year for me to find a cure and teach my hand to play guitar again. It was surreal to go through that, and I am now grateful for every note I play.
Tina: Out of all your Albums which one are you most proud of when it comes to accomplishments or favorites?
Graham Greene: I would have to say Leap Of Face, for the reasons stated above. The album has a great vibe, and I went through a lot of things that weren’t great to get there. When you work that hard to get something together, you treasure and truly appreciate the results and the achievement.
Tina: What is the music scene like in Perth Western Australia are there lots of clubs to play at and do you travel throughout Australia to play live shows?
Graham Greene: Perth is the most isolated city on the planet, which has its good and bad points. Through the 70s and 80s, there was a booming music scene, with a lot of good venues to play and a lot of great bands playing in them. I turned pro in 1982, and averaged about 300 shows a year for over a decade. Now, things are a bit different, as they are everywhere. All the big gigs are gone, and musical tastes have changed. Fortunately, guitars and rock music is coming around again on a global scale, and I’m glad I’m still here to be a part of it. I’ve traveled extensively around Western Australia, and have done shows on the east coast as well, in particular in Sydney, where Donna and I lived for a few years during the 90s.
Tina: Have you had the chance to tour outside of Australia?
Graham Greene: Only the Vietnam tour. That was a great experience, and definitely whetted my appetite for getting out and playing more shows overseas.
Tina: If you had the chance to play live anywhere in the world which country or place would you like to tour?
Graham Greene: I have some mates in Los Angeles whose asses I would love to kick, so the US is one place I would really like to tour. I would also love to visit Canada, but it would have to be in their summer! I’ve also heard good things about Japanese and European crowds from friends who have toured there, so I think that would be fun. It’s cool to absorb different cultures and share the universal language of music with them.
Tina: What’s your opinion of this crazy music industry today do you see a major change in the works with the internet and advanced technology in the future?
Graham Greene: Technology has had a profound effect on the way people make and record music – not all of it necessarily good. The internet has developed so quickly that the music industry is still coming to grips with all that it entails, from marketing to performance and downloads. My hope is that we will eventually find a balance that will benefit everybody, especially the musicians and writers. We’re getting there, but there’s still a long way to go. I think the secret will be making the most of new age technology while retaining good old-fashioned integrity, placing the music first.
Tina: With so much competition in this industry what advice do you have for young bands or musicians wanting to break into this field?
Graham Greene: Keep your sense of humor, stay true to yourself, and learn as much as you can about all facets of the industry. Playing and writing are great fun and usually the reason we get into music, but there is so much more to making it a career. It is, after all, the music business, and the business part of it must be fully understood if you are to survive the sharks and jackals of showbiz.
Tina: Before we wrap up our interview do you have any shout outs to friends or fans?
Graham Greene: To my fans and all those who have supported me over the years, may your gods bless you – I would be nowhere and no-one without you. To my mates in internet radio, in particular the Global Thunda Network – you are doing a very important job… good on ya! To Razor from Metal Knights – lookout mate, I’ll be there one day, and you better be ready!
Thank you Graham, for taking the time to complete our online interview. I would also like to send thanks to William Forrest for introducing Graham Greene to Global Entertainment Mag . You Rock -Tina
