Following interview with Anthony Snape first published- http://www.globalmusicstar.com/ February, 2008
By Debbie Stevens
Anthony Snape has come along way within the last few months, be sure to visit his Myspace page and the official Anthony Snape website.
DS: You were born in counry NSW, is this also where you grew up?
ANTHONY: I was born in Gunnedah hospital, a little town about 5 hours inland of Sydney NSW. This small community of about 10,000 is where I spent my childhood and early teens, fell in love for the first time wrote my first songs, swam and camped by the rivers and played my first gigs. It was a really wonderful place to grow up.
DS: How old were you when you first realised you had a voice for singing?
ANTHONY: My earliest memory of music was hearing harmony for the first time in the school choir, I would have been about 6 years old and I remember vividly rushing home to tell mum how amazing this thing called harmony was. I was always a singer, I never really thought about it until the end of primary school when I went from a boy soprano to a croaky uncontrollable mess overnight, it was devastating, i couldn’t sing anymore. It took about 3 years to get my voice back. During that major downtime I learned how to play drums and started a garage band with some mates from school to let out some frustration, I never sang in that band but I discovered a passion for drumming. I remember the first day I could actually control my voice and sing again, I felt like I got my life back.
DS: Are there any members of your family with similar talent/s?
ANTHONY: My whole family are talented in their own fields. I was the only one to take music as an occupation but my brothers both sing and play instruments, there must be something in the water where we grew up.
DS: People in the industry often talk about other musicians having some kind of influence upon them. Has there been any particular musician, or band you feel may have inspired you?
ANTHONY: From an early age (and some would say in the womb) I was exposed to a lot of music through my parents and as I grew up music was my emotional conduit and took me through the highs and lows of early life. I like a lot of music and its near impossible to single out a few bands that really influence my writing.
DS: Do you write your own lyrics, and if so, what sparks an idea for a song?
ANTHONY: I write both music and lyrics. Melody comes usually without coaxing its the lyrics where the real crafting comes into it. The initial spark for a song is one of the exciting parts in the creation of a song, its the moment that you feel that you have discovered something new or something that needs to be said. It can come from anywhere, anyone, thing, sound, feeling, word its impossible to ignore once you know what your looking for but to an untrained eye it can be extinguished in a second. I try to capture these sparks on anything that is in my grasp at the time, paper, recording on my phone or computer, sing it to my voice mail, write on napkins, boxes, arms, legs, you get the idea.
DS: Your music has been compared to singers such asJohn Mayer, Robbie Williams and Rob Thomas,all blended into one. How would you describe your sound?
ANTHONY: That is one of the hardest questions to answer because although I create and perform music its not easy to step back from it all and see it as others would see it. I can describe some elements of my music that I am aware carry through most of my writing. Things such as the acoustic rock pop sound that I love, beautiful melodies and harmonies, the sound scape that the songs existing in. If I had to categorize my sound I would say that I sound something like a cross between Rob Thomas, Jack Jones, Neil Finn and Alex Lloyd.
DS: Having the opportunity to be profiled on Scout TV must have been interesting. What was that experience like?
ANTHONY: Awesome, Jaimie Carter is a wonderful supporter of music across the board and it is a pleasure and a privilege to be involved with his television program. The performing was fun but I found the best part to be catching up with other bands and seeing old friends making new ones, it was a massive all day party.
DS: You have obviously done a bit of travelling. Do you enjoy this side of life?
ANTHONY: Love it, give me a guitar and an plane ticket and I’m set for life.
DS Any particular places of real interest to you?
ANTHONY: Italy, I love the people and the food! USA, the music is so rich in variety.
DS: You have been extremely busy with your work, and had many performances. Which one do you think stands out above the rest, and why?
ANTHONY: It’s hard to choose one. While I was in Italy once, I received a call inviting me to sing the Australian National anthem in England. It was a lot of fun and I have never felt so patriotic in my life. I really enjoyed performing for kids in Australian schools on my last promo run, kids are so passionate and honest. I performed at a huge event for regional schools and they used “Little Piece of Love” as their finale. Its an amazing feeling to hear a whole entertainment centre of kids singing along with your song. In a similar situation in Newcastle a song that I had written with a friend was used as a finale and that was an awesome experience to hear a song that I created come to life.
DS: Having supported a number of great Australian talent, which performance would you describe as the most challenging?
ANTHONY: I thought quite a lot about this question and its impossible to single out any one support gig for any particular artist. Every time I get up in front of another artists audience its a challenge because they don’t know me and I have only enough time to share a few songs and leave enough of an impression, that they remember me after the show. Its good because it brings the best out in me as a performer.
DS: If you had to name just 2 artists in the music industry you would love a chance to perform with, who would you choose and why?
ANTHONY: Neil Finn,I love his writing, it is so natural, effortless. Sting, he is amazingly musical.
DS: What music do you listen to when not working?
ANTHONY: I am always working and listening to everything I can. I have a CD by a Newcastle band called Fumi Boca, its awesome to relax to.
DS: Any favourite CD’s in your personal collection?
ANTHONY: At the moment theres a band that is not released here called Tweed by an artist called Oliver Jones and I’m really loving the songs he’s created. Once again, Fumi Boca comes up in conversation. Adam Miller, Lior, Hayley Jensen, Amy Vee, The latest Crowded House record has had a few spins in the car. My ipod is riddled with unreleased songs by unknown and semi known artists. Oh and I really like a song called “Trolly Wood” by US band Eisley.
DS: Where would you like to see yourself, five years from now?
ANTHONY: Thats easy! Touring the world with my latest album and an awesome band of course. Oh and NOT having to do my own html updates on my website!!!
DS: Where can our readers locate your albums?
ANTHONY: My debut album “Disappearing Day” is available in stores all over Australia, distributed by MGM and on ITUNES worldwide. For more information and to order online visit http://www.anthonysnape.com/DDinfo.html
DS: What’s next on the recording agenda?
ANTHONY: I have a number of projects that I am working on at the moment including an acoustic DVD/ CD with 5 acoustic solo tracks from a live studio performance. Of course the next album is always in the pipeline. www.myspace.com/anthonysnape
Be sure to check out Anthony’s music at our Broadcasting Studio at:
http://www.livestream.com/flipsidetomusic
Flip Side To Music © 2009
Tracy Lewis ©2009
