Quinny Settlers interview

 

 

How would you describe your music?

I often talk about my sound as just "indie singer/songwriter" because I've often found it hard to keep my eye on one genre at a time. I think lots of artist have it nailed, they know what people want to come to them for. I'm still figuring that out, so for now theres quite a mix of sounds under the "indie" umbrella.

Can you tell us about your new song Settlers?

This song is about confronting those you rely on most when they have let you down. There's a sort of stadium-folk feel to it. I wanted to have big chords, but also some delicate verses. If you listen to the piano, you'll hear a bit of Sigur Rós influence, and I like to think I go a bit Billy Corgan at the end too.

What inspired Settlers?

Settlers was written in rural Maine, USA in September 2022 with my good friends Marie Collins (The Vegan Leather) and Hannah Daman upon reuniting for the first time in over 3 years. We were thinking about the state of the world and how helpless we feel to fix anything. Fun stuff!

Later when recording, Graham McCusker (a composer for BBC's "His Dark Materials" and lead artist in Glasgow/Manchester bands KAZE & Marouli) gave the song the finishing touches it needed.

Is there a particular message you hope listeners take from your music?

In general, I hope people are inspired to get their friends together, collaborate and express themselves in the same way I have. It's been a real staple in my life since my teens and something I missed greatly when I wasn't doing it.

What motivates you most when writing music?

I think it's the thrill of finishing something. Where you start can be miles and years from where you started and intended to go, but it's so satisfying when you realise where you've ended up, just by listening and following your gut.

Which music/artists are you currently listening to?

I'm really trying to immerse myself in the Melbourne Music Scene as much as possible. Coming to Australia in general has been so incredible for just being exposed to so many artists. I've been able to rediscover the 70s/80s and 90s all over again!

Currently though, my girlfriend and I are still on a big Middle Kids binge which started when we headed out to see them play at the Theatre Royal in Castlemaine a while back.

If you could collaborate with another artist, who would it be?

I would love for Jack Steadman from Bombay Bicycle Club to produce some of my music. I've been such a huge fan of his for so long and I love everything he does. That said, I might be too nervous to show him my songs.

Did you have any pre-conceived ideas about the music industry?

Oh definitely. I thought it was straightforward for one thing. If you wrote good songs, you'd get picked up and signed and that would be you sorted. I'm sure that happens for some, but not for everyone. I've learned to let go of all that and just be happy creating. Oh, and you don't have to drink all the time to enjoy the music scene either…

Was there a moment you contemplated throwing in the towel?

Oh definitely. When I moved to London in 2014 I ended up quitting for about 4 years. I just couldn't adapt to the new environment and found the London community to be harder to tap into. It was writing and releasing silly Christmas songs that got me back in the game in 2018.

What has been your favourite part of becoming a music artist?

I don't play any team sports or anything, so making music is my real opportunity to socialise. It's how I know the friends I have and how I meet new people. I also love other people's takes on what I've suggested, always works out better. I couldn't be one of those megalomaniac artists like Prince or James Brown who has to have things played a certain way - it just doesn't work for me.

What advice do you have for aspiring songwriters or artists?

A pretty basic songwriting principle, but it's always worth going back to: "Show Don't Tell". This basically means that you should paint the picture and let the listener see what's going on for themselves, rather than spell it out for them.

What's next, for you?

Well, after 'Settlers' I have another single and video out on 15 August - 'Found & Lost'. I'm playing at the Fitzroy Pinnacle that night too. Then really the big thing is releasing the album in October!

Can you share your socials? (links please)

https://www.instagram.com/quinnysmusic/

https://www.facebook.com/quinnysmusic

https://www.youtube.com/quinnysmusic

https://open.spotify.com/artist/6BLpuP583faSrTJV0eYydl?si=WrRzeY_cTuO3TyvyEOltpg&nd=1&dlsi=61de6043db964ccb

 

 

Scottish-born, Melbourne-based artist Quinny weaves warmth into wistful, driving indie folk via his brand new single Settlers out in the world today. Previously renowned for his tongue-in-cheek Christmas sonic creations, as well as strangers frequently mistaking him for Ed Sheeran in public, Quinny's brand new single showcases his absorbing creative flair, as does the accompanying video for Settlers also out today.

Penned in rural Maine in America during 2022 alongside friends Marie Collins (The Vegan Leather) and Hannah Daman, Settlers was given its finishing touches courtesy of Graham McCusker, a composer for BBC's His Dark Materials and lead artist in Glasgow/Manchester bands KAZE and Marouli. Recording in Scotland with Robin Evans (Dodgy & The View), Settlers embraced many of Quinny's musical muses while also capturing the poignant heartache that accompanies disappointment, as Quinny elaborates, "This song is about confronting those you rely on most when they have let you down. There's a sort of stadium-folk feel to it. I wanted to have big chords, but also some delicate verses. If you listen to the piano, you'll hear a bit of Sigur Rós influence, and I like to think I go a bit Billy Corgan at the end too."

 

Featuring Quinny himself, aka Peter Quinn, on vocals, guitar and bass, Settlers also incorporates Graham McCusker on piano and vocals, Martin Tormey on drums and vocals, Marie Collins on vocals, Hannah Daman on vocals, Martin Quinn on vocals, and additional production by Nathan Cable. Also amplifying the track's compelling subject matter and instrumentation, the visual accompaniment for Settlers features a relatable narrative, with director and filmmaker Conor Reilly working alongside Quinny and the clip's actors Martin Quinn and Stephan Buchanan to bring the Settlers creative vision to life, along with some stunning landscape visuals shot in Quinny's home country. "The video is about anxiety," shares Quinny. "It features a young man going about his daily business, constantly being interrupted by someone else - a manifestation of his woes. He tries to just ignore it, until finally starting to take some action and getting out and about in the Scottish Highlands. Because of the nature of the sound, I thought some wide shots of Scottish mountains would be quite fitting, and it's worked really well. Martin and I workshopped the concept and story with a few people before landing where it did. After a point, I left Martin to it as he was on a roll! Originally, the video was set to a different song from the album, No Place to Die, but after a few edits, it was clear Settlers was the right choice."

 

A talented singer and songwriter hailing from Scotland, Quinny's musical endeavours has seen him fuse his burgeoning flair alongside his four influential B's, namely Biffy Clyro, Blink-182, The Beatles and Bombay Bicycle driving behind Quinny's ultimate trademark sound. With tours in the UK and North America under his belt, the multifaceted creative shifted to Melbourne in early 2020, with his newfound hometown sparking creative excitement in true rock'n'roll fashion. "I love it, honestly," says Quinny of the Melbourne music scene. "Compared to Glasgow and London, Melbourne has remained rock'n'roll through and through. Less bands with backing tracks and more bass players jumping into the crowd at a packed out 100 cap show."

 

Alongside performances headlining shows at The Gaso, Last Chance, Retreat and Fitzroy Pinnacle in Melbourne, Quinny also won the 2020 Darebin Songwriters' People's Choice Award shortly after moving down under for his single Found & Lost. Described by Tenement TV as "an enthralling mix of the raucous and sentimental with witty lyricism and poppy charm", Quinny had spent the past few years releasing older material and flippant Christmas songs, with One Foot In The Grave's Richard Wilson making an appearance in one of Quinny's Christmas videos.

 

Set to perform at Fitzroy Pinnacle on Tuesday August 15 armed with his latest track, the brand new Quinny chapter is already shaping up to be one to remember. "Generally, at my live shows I talk too much! I saw Georgia Knight at the Forum supporting Blonde Redhead recently and she hardly talks…I aspire to be that cool," Quinny concludes. "No one can understand what I'm saying anyway. This will be the first outing for a few of the songs of my upcoming album, so I'm looking forward to starting to get them on their feet with the full band. If nothing else, the backing vocals will be amazing, Estelle and Naomi always do such a great job."