Turning Point
Interview in Time Off Magazine as a precursor to the Brisbane (Queensland Australia) gigs on the coming weekend.
Author: Peta Hayes.
Date: August 1 – August 7, 2001 Issue.
Back with his second solo album, One Eyed Man, Mark Seymour seems more confident in his own voice and ability to stand alone.
“The decision [to end Hunters and Collectors] wasn’t really made my me,” Seymour says. “The band made the decision collectively to retire and I’d already made a solo record so the two things weren’t that closely related, really. I thought I could sort of marry the two things and I think I could have in the long term. I think it wasn’t until I made my second solo record that it became obvious that solo could be a part of my life full time.
“I think the first record was kind of hedging my bets a bit, but this record definitely, you know, I’m committed to being solo and it’s a permanent part of my life. In all things, like this, I just think it’s something that’s going to grow and change. I’m thinking about my next record now and really it’s about me learning to understand my voice and I think with this record I definitely discovered things about myself as a performer that I hadn’t realised were there in Hunters. It’s definitely a turning point for me as a performer so, you know, I’m feeling pretty positive about it.”
With Seymour’s career spanning more than 20 years, one can safely assume that he’s seen many changes in the music industry.
“A lot of the fundamentals haven’t changed. Commercial radio’s the same as it’s always been, but, you know, people bitch about it, but I think there are a lot more bands around that don’t last very long. That’s more the difference between the 90s and the 80s, in terms of describing the sort of music I’m into, which is basically rock music. I’d say that’s the big difference for that kind of music: there’s a lot more groups around that only last three or four years and then dissappear.”
Why do you think Hunters and Collectors lasted so long?
“I just think that was a reflection of the quality of the personalities in the group. I mean, people enjoyed it; we really enjoyed what we did. In fact, the touring was probably more enjoyable than anything else; that’s the one thing that I miss. I think we all enjoyed that collectively and I think that’s why we kept going despite the misfortunes we had with our records.”
Mark Seymour plays the Hard Rock Cafe, Surfers Paradise, Friday Aug 3 and The Healer Saturday Aug 4. One Eyed Man is out now through Festival Mushroom Records.
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