Former Short Stack frontman Shaun Diviney has left behind his old band’s punk-pop sensibilities to forge his his own legacy with solo EP Sex/Games.
“Short Stack, the sound... it definitely had some sort of a formula to it,” he explains. “That stopped being fun. When I have to write music in a certain sound, it doesn't really challenge me anymore. [Solo material] is something I've never done before and I really enjoyed the challenge.”
As great as challenges are, Shaun has faced a few of the harsher consequences that came with the change. “I think because it is so different to Short Stack I alienated a lot of Short Stack fans,” he admits. “But at the same time we've got a lot of new fans, which is great.”
Forever the optimist, Shaun says he found ways around the loneliness that often defines solo work. “When I was making this record, I wanted to surround myself with people who were sort of like me. When someone says something bad about you in a band, you're like, 'Oh, well, I have all these other guys too', and you sort of shake it off. But when you're on your own, you're by yourself. But I have some brilliant musicians with me at the moment ... So even though it is a solo project, it is still essentially a band.”
Shaun has expanded his influences from the typical punk of NOFX and Green Day to the R&B and dance of Justin Timberlake to create a whole new sound. “I think the main thing is, you know, I always like to write about girls because all of my influences write about girls,” he laughs.
“I didn't want to write about religion or politics or anything like that because I don't personally find that too engaging and I doubt many people do. I think it's just a case of sticking to what you know and if it ain't broke don't fix it.”
Used to playing to hordes of screaming teenage girls, Shaun will have to win over a very different type of audience when he performs at respected music industry conference BIGSOUND later this year. But he's looking forward to the challenge, and to watching some of his favourite artists take the stage. “I really like Bleeding Knees Club,” he gushes. “They remind me of Blink-182. I'm really stoked to see them!”
Shaun Diviney Tour Dates
Sat Sep 07 — Wrangler Studios (Melbourne)Thu Sep 12 — BIGSOUND (Brisbane)
Fri Sep 13 — Studio 454 (Brisbane)
Sat Sep 21 — The Lair @ Metro Theatre (Sydney)
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