Tell me what you mean by cosmic country. Can there really be such a thing?
Cosmic country was originally developed by the Board of Music and Progress in the USA in roughly 1971–1973. Details are very vague as the programs they devised were very controversial for the time. The cosmic country genre was original material used to aid homesickness for astronauts (particularly persons from the south and rural areas across the country) on long voyages in depths of space but also ease them into new surroundings through the use of conventional country songwriting and atmospheric soundscape. Duane Allman was reportedly releasing cosmic country tracks long after his supposed death in 1971.
You formed in Byron – but are based in Brisbane. Tell me how that came to be.
Sam was living down here and my three brothers ran into him on the beach. He convinced us to buy a caravan and record some of our songs. We had mutual friends in the city but neither Sam nor I had any friends at that particular moment so we thought we’d do it together. We fight irregularly.
What did you take from living around Byron back to the city? I don’t mean chairs; I mean what esoteric stuff?
I speak only for myself. I love the sea. More than most things but I learnt that living in a tourist destination built on the foundations of being ‘real’ is a very bad idea. When a town is trying so hard to grasp on to that ‘real’ feeling but at the same time cash in it makes for a very confused and ultimately overwhelming counterfeit air. I liked Byron Bay but I wasn’t anywhere near close to seeing its prime by any means. It was too hard for me to wake up in the morning and know I was just another out-of-town contributor to the decline of a glorious heritage. We rarely return. Other than to see our father, who lives in town.
You cannot assume anything from Brisbane because it is a very run-of-the-mill city in a lot of ways, but at least she knows it. You can make Brisbane your own very easily. It is a small platform to stand on, not a shiny bubble to fall through. Most days I wake up feeling better now.
What’s your go-to music when you come home a bit drunk after a gig?
Anything instrumental or piano based.
If you could have any musician pop in for a guestie, alive or dead, on your next recording, who would it be?
Nicky Hopkins. The best keys player to ever have ants in his pants.
Tell me about the tracks on this new album?
They have taken twice as long to record as the songs on Super Nobody Group From Nowhere. They are more simple and naturally they are better.
What should we expect for your upcoming single launch at the Northern?
Hopefully some people who want to listen to the songs. Rock ’n’ roll beat junkies.
The Family Jordan play the Hotel Great Northern on Saturday.
