Rich Webb Love Someone Interview

Troubadour Rich Webb is back with a brand new single Love Someone, a heartfelt and vulnerable track inspired by the poor treatment of asylum seekers in Australia. The moving song is released today, and is accompanied by a stunning animated video that illustrates the plight of those affected by war, seeking a safe place to start their lives over. The expressive video was animated by Matthew Lawes-Wickwar of Other Brother Studios in the UK.

Love Someone has a simple, but essential message – all humans deserve to live peacefully, and be treated with empathy and respect wherever they may be and wherever they may be from. The message is delivered poetically by Rich, across a bed of soft electric guitar, gentle drums, and an exquisite trumpet solo. The overall result evokes influences such as Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen, and feels like the perfect intersection of country and folk. Speaking on the heavy inspiration for the track, Rich says, "As much as I love Australia, we are really crap at managing asylum seekers and refugees, and have been for many years. It's totally wrong and should have been addressed years ago. We're all human and in many ways, we are the same. We love the same, we feel the same, we hurt the same. We all deserve to be treated the same, with empathy, love and respect. I wanted to write a really simple song that addressed that basic feeling…to get to the core of the issue, which is simply about having love and empathy for someone else."

The video for Love Someone is minimal, which allows the viewer to focus heavily on the images and stories being portrayed by Matthew Lawes-Wickwar's gorgeous animation style. Images of refugees and asylum seekers moving through the world are set alongside images of the song being played, and the result is a cohesive and emotional tapestry of experience that will stay with you. As Rich explains, "Matthew and I put the video's storyline together around war, which leads to refugees, who are scared and running away, forced to leave their homes and live in camps, leave by boats, who endure shockingly tough conditions to get somewhere to safety…who are ultimately picked up by Australian border security and placed in detention where ultimately, the 'big hand' of Australia says, 'no, you can't come in, we can't help you.'"

This talented songwriter, who has won a slew of awards including Alt-Country Album Of The Year and Alt-Country Single Of The Year at the Independent Music Awards in 2019, is seasoned, classic and refined, yet remains observant, contemporary, and interesting as he continues to develop his sound with each release. Love Someone, co-produced alongside Rohan Sforcina (Bernard Fanning,Kate Miller-Heidke) and released on Rich's own record label All Killer Music, is the first taste of Rich's new album. The LP has no release date yet, but if Love Someone is anything to go by, it will be a beautiful collection of tracks that come right from the heart.

Interview with Rich Webb

Question: How would you describe your music?

Rich Webb: A dusty amalgam of folk, country and rock. I think it's full of soul too. I know it's got heart. I like music best when it's kept real, so there is plenty of that in there. If a chair's creaking while I'm playing, I want to hear some of it.


Question: Can you tell us about Love Someone?

Rich Webb: It's a simple song about having love and empathy for other people. With everything going on in the world right now, I reckon there isn't enough love to go around. The song originally came from thinking about Australia's inhumane treatment of asylum-seekers and refugees. I was wondering what it must be like for them, after running for their lives from their own country, forced to leave everything and often some of their family behind. To travel a tortuous, unsafe journey, only to arrive here and be slammed into unlimited mandatory detention. We treat them as if they are criminals. Then I imagined one of them looking out through the barbed wire fence and thinking - 'what's with the people in this rich, vast country? What have I done wrong to them to make them treat me like this?' It really is quite inhumane. On average, we hold non-visa holders for two years before they are dealt with. We all went stir crazy in the few months of relatively super easy at-home lockdowns for COVID. What must it be like for two years in a place of mandatory detention, with no idea when you are getting out? And this is the average - some have been in there for almost a decade. Then there's the Government's long-term stance: "If you come to this country by boat, you won't get to stay." What's all that about? It's a terrible way to treat people who need our help and support.


Question: What inspired the music video?

Rich Webb: Matthew Lawes-Wickwar (who made the video) and I put the video's storyline together around war, leads to refugees, who are scared and running away, are forced to leave their homes and live in camps, leave by boat, who endure shockingly tough conditions to get to safety, who are then picked up by Australian border security and placed in detention where, ultimately, the 'big hand' of Australia says, 'no, you can't come in, we can't help you.' I think it's powerful stuff - but I really wanted people to get people to think about what we are doing here.

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

Rich Webb: With this song yes, but generally speaking, no. But I always try to write songs that paint some sort of picture, that connect on some level. Whether it's an apology, leaving town, crazy fun, or the last rowdy hour in a riotous bar, I try to get to somewhere where it might mean something to someone else. Where it can move someone else, or make them think. That connection to me is what it's all about.


Question: Do you prefer performing live or recording?

Rich Webb: Honestly, I'm pretty happy to be doing either - and would like to be doing much more of both!


Question: Can we expect any upcoming shows?

Rich Webb: Yes, they are coming back big time, thankfully. I'm at the Brunswick Artists' Bar with the incredible Emilie Martin on violin on Sunday 10 April, and at The Drunken Poet with a full band on Saturday 30th April.


Question: What motivates you most when writing music?

Rich Webb: Not sure. I've always felt the need to write music and, when for whatever reason other things have got in the way, I feel like something is missing. I love it. I doubt I will ever stop, and I'm happy with that.

Question: Which music/artists are you currently listening to?

Rich Webb: I was just listening to the new Big Thief album 'Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You', and it is pretty awesome. It's gorgeously intimate and vulnerable, while remaining underdone and sort of a bit kooky too. Big Thief's Adrianne Lenker has a gorgeous voice and is a mighty fine lyricist and songwriter.


Question: What or who was your inspiration to go into the music industry?

Rich Webb: Probably my Mum, Gwen, though she wasn't pushing me to go into the music industry as such. Mum had a fabulous voice and sang lead parts and in choirs most of her life. My first ever show was backing Mum on guitar as she sang a few songs in Belton Methodist Chapel in the Isle of Axholme, North Lincolnshire, back when I was a nipper. I still remember it like it was yesterday - my Great Aunt Gertie, who was in the front row next to my Grandma Ada Mary, told me afterwards that I had done a good job and had played sympathetically to my Mum's singing. I've taken that forward as a good thing ever since.


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

Rich Webb: That might change on a weekly basis and I assume they have to be alive? Probably, right now, PJ Harvey, mainly because I've been watching some of her great live clips recently. She is totally awesome.


Question: Was there a moment you contemplated throwing in the towel?

Rich Webb: That's easy, no.


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

Rich Webb: Not sure, I've enjoyed it all. It has been a fun ride. Sometimes folks moan about how hard it is to cut through and be successful, etc, etc. But for me, that's not the point - I'm not wired to do anything else. I love it as it is - anything more is a bonus.

Question: What's a typical day like?

Rich Webb: Pretty much the same as anyone reading this I would think but maybe with more music squeezed in and less coffee (tea is the drink of champions!).


Question: What's next, for you?

Rich Webb: I've got a few more songs on the way and a few more shows. I hope the songs continue to connect as well as this latest one 'Love Someone' seems to be doing.


Question: Can you share your socials? (links please)

Rich Webb: YouTube 
Facebook 
Instagram 
Linkfire 
Website 


Interview by Gwen van Montfort