Aussie singer-songwriter Pete Murray is a beloved household name, with massive hits like 2003’s “So Beautiful” or 2005’s “Better Days”. As he celebrates the 20th anniversary of his breakthrough album Feeler and anticipates the milestone for See The Sun, Murray reflects on his illustrious career, his evolving relationship with his early work and his upcoming performance at Night at the Barracks this September. In our conversation, Murray shares insights into his journey, the wisdom he’s gained, and the joy of balancing his artistic pursuits with family life.
You’ve recently had the 20th anniversary of Feeler, with the 20th anniversary of See The Sun coming up, do you ever go back and listen to your older albums?
Oh no, no I don’t. When you record them and you mix them, you listen to them so much- you kind of don’t really like to it again. I’ve just gone back and re-recorded a couple of tracks, and I’ve found myself listening to them again to see what I was doing and the way I was doing things back then, but that’s the only time.
How do those first two albums sit with you now? Do you look back on those times fondly?
Look, it kind of got me by surprise, to be honest. I was not expecting such success… you just don’t expect it to happen so big like that. So when it took off, it was a very exciting time, of course. Those first two albums had some really big songs on them. They were really good times and good memories. I don’t think I could have done anything more than what I did, to be honest… The second album came out and the first album was still being played on radio. I remember that management asked the record label to ask the radio stations to stop playing songs off the first album, so they could play ones on the second. It was a lot of success, and a lot of fun times back then.
What advice would you give your younger self or any artists that are currently trying to get their big break?
The main thing is really to make sure that you understand the business side of things… a lot of people come in and take slices of it and you don’t realise what it is. If you are ever doing a record label or any sort of deal, you just need to understand how the business works…It seems these days, lots more musicians are being a lot more savvy about it, because this whole thing has changed a lot. Record labels would really take advantage of those young acts coming through and no one could do anything themselves, you really needed the labels to help you out.
Is there anything that you would have done differently yourself?
I think probably the thing that disappoints me the most is probably the lack of support from the label for international. I was very disappointed that nothing really got released overseas, it was very hard. If I could go back and change that, I’d change that, I’d do a record deal for Australia only but keep the world rights- but you don’t know back then! If I could, I would of course, but I can’t and this is where I’m at, it’s just the way it rolls.
You’re a father and a family man, do you think that your family has influenced you creatively?
I’m a dad four times over now, I’ve written songs about the kids over time and they’re really beautiful memories for me. My boys are a bit older- Charlie turns 21 at the end of the year and Pedro’s 17, then I’ve started again with two girls- 6 and 3. My son gets up and plays gigs with me at times, and I remember when they were little they’d be singing the lyrics of one of my songs and one would say, ‘that’s not right!’, and they’d fight over who was right. So, you know, it was sweet.
You’ve got Night At The Barracks coming up in Manly, it looks like an incredible lineup and you’re playing alongside some fantastic names. What are some things you need to take into account when you’re putting together a setlist for an event like this?
Well, you’ve definitely got to play all the big songs. That’s what’s made me who I am today, and you don’t want to not respect the fans who may be seeing you for the first time and they want to hear their song. So, I think for me, I’m at the point where I want to play those songs and get the crowd singing along, it’s a nice vibe. It is always nice to throw in some new music in there as well, because people just appreciate that- I still get excited by playing a new song to a crowd, and sometimes it’s the first time that anyone might hear that song so it’s pretty cool. But that one will be a decent-sized set, so there will be lots of songs coming their way, lot’s that they’ll be singing along to and lots that I’ll be making them sing along to. It’s a really fun, fun night these days!
As well as Night At The Barracks, what else do you have on for the rest of the year?
There’s a couple of other shows, but not much really. Just finishing off the year, it’s been quite a good year. I’ve just finished some new music, and I’m in the final mixes of that at the moment. So that’s kind of exciting to know that something will be coming out maybe before the end of the year- I’m not sure yet. But really, the rest of the year is just focusing on a few gigs, and Night At The Barracks is one of them, which will be great.
Pete Murray will play Night at the Barracks on Saturday, September 14th. To view the full line-up and grab tickets, click HERE.
