In the Chair is a regular feature on Eventalaide, highlighting artists from across Australia and occasionally overseas. Everyone gets the same questions. It is just meant to be a bit of fun so please treat it as such.
Questions by Geoff Jenke
Having launched her musical career as a member of Sheppard which she founded with her brother George in 2009, Amy Sheppard has enjoyed global chart success on numerous occasions. This year however sees her going solo for the first time, with Nothing but Wild set to arrive on September 16 as her debut EP. Working with a number of impressive songwriters for the EP – including Trannie Anderson (Reba McEntire, Gabby Barrett), George Sheppard, Jason Bovino (Sheppard), The Wolfe Brothers, and Phil Barton (The Buckleys, The McClymonts), to name a few – it’s a powerful release, and one that means a lot to Amy as a person and an artist.
As Amy explains, the EP focuses on, “the spontaneity of love – whether it’s rosy, messy or somewhere in between. Love by its very nature can send you off in many directions. This EP aims to capture that from different points of view.”
Name: Amy Sheppard
What
was the first record you bought with your own money and where from?
I can
remember this clearly. The first two records were purchased at the same time. I
was visiting Cairns from PNG with my family and we went to the CD store at “The
Pier”. Being 7 years old, naturally I chose AQUA’s Aquarium and Hansons, Middle
of Nowhere.
What
music are you currently listening to?
Currently listening to a lot of female country pop music including Kasey
Musgraves, Kelsea Ballerini, Maddie + Tae, Melanie Dyer.
The
Best live artist/band you’ve seen:
Coldplay. Their show is just on another level.
Your
“In the mood for love” song:
“Can’t Help Falling in Love”- Elvis Presley
Your
favourite Saturday night party record?
Come on Over, Shania Twain. I just love that her songs are having a resurgence.
Your
favourite Sunday morning chill out record?
Golden
Hour- Kacey Musgraves
Which
song do you wish you had written?
Dreams
by Fleetwood Mac
Roger
Daltry once said “Rock N Roll has no future”. Do you agree with him?
Obviously, no. But I do think that “Rock N Roll” takes a lot of hard work and
dedication.
Vinyl,
CD or Streaming?
Vinyl is classic but streaming is so convenient.
If
you could record or play live with any artist (dead or alive), who would it be?
As part of Sheppard it would be Coldplay but as a solo artist it would be
Fleetwood Mac
What
is the most useless talent you have?
I can peel a banana with my toes…don’t ask.
Your
finest recorded moment?
“Bombs Away!”
Who
is your musical hero and what one question would you ask them?
I have many but let’s go with Dolly Parton. I would ask her if she could mentor
me haha.
Dying, peacefully on your deathbed, what song would you like to
hear?
Killing
me Softly…
Stuck on a desert island for a year and can only take three
albums. What would they be?
Rumors-
Fleetwood Mac, The Very Best of Dolly Parton, Coldplay- A Rush of Blood to the Head
Favourite all time movie:
Dumb
and Dumber
If you drove an ice cream van, what music would you play?
The
Halloween theme song
Best show you have ever played in your career:
Rock in Rio. or the AFL grand final
Any backstage incident that makes you laugh?
One
time, someone stole our ipod from the stage (this was back in the day, but it
was a huge show) We used this ipod for our click track and backing tracks
(claps, extra sounds to make the show sound really full). We had to play in
front of 100,000 basically acoustically. We laugh so we don’t cry.
Who is the nicest person in Rock n Roll at the moment?
Keith
Urban. I don’t know if he’s considered Rock n Roll but he is one hell of a guy.
What do you hope the next 12 months holds for you?
Looking
forward to finishing off the next Sheppard record and potentially a full solo
album as well. Lots of shows on the horizon.
After years spent as part of one of Australia’s most popular musical exports, Amy Sheppard has gone solo, with new single Blue Guitar offering a second taste of her forthcoming debut EP, Nothing But Wild – set for release on September 16 and available to pre-order on vinyl and CD from https://www.amysheppardofficial.com/.
Following on from the arrival of the title track in April, Blue Guitar is an immersive piece of vibrant country pop from the iconic Queensland artist. Inspired to share a modern twist on the classic ‘90s ballads from iconic names like LeAnn Rimes, Faith Hill, and Shania Twain, Blue Guitar is as fierce as it is sparkling, bolstered by impassioned lyricism, a mesmerically powerful performance style, and dreamy instrumentation that transports the listener to the glory days of country music. Working with producers Lindsay Rimes (Kylie Minogue, Luke Bryan, Troye Sivan) and Stuart Stuart (Sheppard, Dean Lewis, The Veronicas), it emerged as the first country song that Amy wrote, who took it to brother George Sheppard for some further musical insights. Before long, it took on a new life as her favourite song from her upcoming EP.
Amy explains, “I really leaned into the beauty of country music storytelling. Country music gives permission for songwriters to weave creative stories and this is where Blue Guitar was born. The storyline follows a woman who returns to visit her small hometown. When she enters a local bar, she is taken aback by a familiar voice. The man singing on the stage is her former lover who never quite made the big time. She notices he is still playing his blue guitar- the same one he used to write love songs to her on. She is filled with the same old feelings she had for him and begins to wonder if the songs he is singing today are still about her.”
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