Shortly after he left the main stage, I sat down with up-and-coming singer/songwriter Dan Sultan, who alongside bandmate Scott Wilson, teaches us what a Skin Flute is, and chats extensively about being an independent artist in Australia, and shitting himself before he hits the stage.
Welcome back to Bluesfest Dan! Thanks to for talking to us today.
Dan: No worries, my pleasure.
I understand it’s your third time here?
Dan: It is!
How has 2010 shaped up for you?
Dan: Oh it’s been great, it’s always cool here. It’s a new site, so it’s a little bit different, but I really like this site. And we got to do West Coast as well, last week, so we saw a few things there, and will hopefully get to see a few more things tonight.
Well your reception seemed great today. It’s not easy doing a 3.30pm set on the final day of Bluesfest…
Dan: On the big stage, too. It was a bit of a struggle at the start, but I think that everybody, both the band and the audience, started to get amongst it about a third of the way through.
And you’re touring off the back of your new release
Get Out While You Can
, which was released at the end of last year. Can you tell us a bit about playing tracks off the album? How has it been received?
Dan: It’s been going really really well, and I’ve been enjoying the songs a lot.
I’m really proud of that record, we had another record (Homemade Biscuits) where it was basically Scott (Wilson) and I on the whole thing. We played drums, we played bass, we played guitars. We got a few dudes in for horns. I’m not bad with the Sax, but I’m not very good, you know what I mean? So we got a few dudes in for horns.
Scott Wilson: He’s pretty good at the skin flute though *laughs*
Dan: *laughs* … which is a Penis … the old skin flute. But anyway! That was that record and we worked really hard on it and I’m really proud of it. But for this new one, we got a band together, to tour the first album, and they ended up recording on Get Out While You Can. So it’s more of a together type of scene, with our players and our crew.
As for how the album has been received, there have been some particular national radio stations, both youth and older demographics, which have shown us a lot of support and given us a lot of airtime. It just makes all the difference, it really does.
If the radio plays it, then people will hear it and be singing along in the crowd!
Dan: Well maybe not! *laughs* Not everyone’s going to like it.
Scott: I personally like that, when you see people singing the words. Audience watches us, but I watch the audiences sometimes, and watching them enjoy and sing it, that feels good.
And I imagine you’ll get different demographics at each show, big or small.
Dan: Yeah and I enjoy all of them. I enjoy a set like today, with a big crowd and a big tent. But I really enjoy playing a pub as well.
Scott: … and theatres.
Dan: Yeah, and theatres are perfect, they’re ideal and sound good. But I just really enjoy playing a pub, like the Corner Hotel back home in Melbourne. And I think it’s good that we can do that… we can do the pubs and we can do the Opera House, and we can do the Spiegeltent, and we can do the big Mojo stage.
Scott: We can do fuckin’ anything!
Dan: I think it’s good, it’s a good feeling.
Scott: As Dan was saying before, he hinted on the fact that if the young crew is digging it, that’s good. And if the older crew is digging it, that’s even better. I mean we respect the opinions of the old crew. Rock and Roll has been around for a long time, and people who were teenagers in the 60s are in their 60s now, and they grew up with a lot of the music that we love. So for them to dig it, it feels good. They’re the products of the 60s and 70s… and if they can find something in it, it feels kind of genuine. It’s a really positive thing to us, seeing both young crew and old crew digging it.
Dan: And we’ll play lots of shows in parks, like Summer festivals in cities – and we’ll see (people of all ages), and everyone’s digging it. I think that’s a good sign. But not everyone’s going to like it, and we’re just doing what we’re doing – we’re going to release it and put it out there, and we’ll just see how it goes.
Scott: When we started this, we had a conversation that we didn’t want to be age specific.
Dan: We didn’t want to be anything specific…
Music for the ages.
Scott: For human beings!
Is it a problem, that too many artists are trying to pander to a specific age group?
Dan: It’s cool in a sense that they’re naturally doing what comes to them. And we know many fellow artists in this country who have signed deals. And that’s totally fine! It works for them. We’re independent ourselves – and that’s not because we’re flag waving independent musicians, it’s actually because we haven’t been offered a deal that we actually want to sign. If a deal comes then that’s cool, let’s do it.
Scott: But if we don’t need it, we don’t need it.
Dan: Exactly. And Scott and I and the boys, we don’t think the way we’re doing anything is better or superior – it’s just us. Whatever that means. But we own it all.
It seems to be a more familiar route these days – independent artists maintaining ownership and still finding success.
Dan: Yeah it’s becoming less rare. The person who changed all that was John Butler. I’m pretty sure he had the first independent record to go number one?
Scott: And on a personal level he’s been very supportive of us, so we have to give him acknowledgment for that.
Dan: He’s a good mate, a lovely man – his whole family. That’s the thing about Australia, it’s such a small pond, that if you’re an asshole, no one wants to deal with you. It’s too hard not to be nice. You just gotta chill out! We were lucky to be a part of the Kev Carmody tribute – and even when I go to things just as Dan Sultan, I represent all of us, Scott and the boys. The Paul Kelly thing as well. You just don’t get given those oppertunities if people don’t like ya!
Doesn’t matter how well you can dance or sing, or how pretty you are, if people don’t like ya, you don’t get the call!
Scott: Australians don’t like bullshit artists – you’ve got to present yourself honestly.
You’re both getting to know Australia quite well through an extensive touring schedule – and you’re about to embark on another national tour! Where will this one be taking you?
Dan: We’re going everywhere! It’s about 15 dates in 20 days. So it’s working hard, probably not too much partying… pretty arduous. It’s going to be the most full on tour that I’ve ever been a part of. So it’ll be great! I’m looking forward to it! We’ll wait and see. I mean I am shitting myself, but I think it’s good to shit yourself *laughs*. I always get nervous before I go on stage. It’s a positive thing. If you’ve got it sussed… you haven’t got it sussed.
There’s an old saying: He who knows, knows not. He who knows that he knows not, knows.
Scott: What the fuck does that mean!?
Dan: It means, shit yourself, basically.
—————————————————
Don’t miss Dan shitting himself on his upcoming national tour!
Fri 14th May Byron Bay The Great Northern
Sat 15th May Brisbane Brisbane Powerhouse
Wed 19th May Wollongong Uni Bar, Wollongong Uni
Thur 20th May Newcastle Bar on the Hill, Newcastle Uni
Fri 21st May Sydney Manning Bar, Sydney Uni
Sat 22nd May Canberra The Refectory, Canberra Uni
Wed 26th May Adelaide The Governor Hindmarsh
Thur 27th May Fremantle Fly by Night Musicians Club
Fri 28th May Bunbury Prince of Wales
Sat 29th May Margaret River Settlers Tavern
Fri 18th June Melbourne The Forum
Tickets are on sale now and selling fast! More details here:
http://www.dansultan.com/tourdates.aspx
