After a career as a frontman for punk bands, Brisbane musician Nick Humblét is now focussed on pursuing a brand of country Australiana inspired by Johnny Cash and Slim Dusty.
Combined with a DIY mindset to simply get stuff done while connecting with the people he meets along the way, Nick is a salt of the earth type character whose honesty and friendly nature has nurtured a new chapter of music that was instigated by his young daughter, Ocean.With a new EP, 'The Pritchett Mixes Vol.2', just released that's dedicated to Ocean (who recently turned one), grab yourself a cuppa (or tinnie) and settle in for an honest to goodness chat with one of the 'good' guys.
You've come from a punk-rock background; how does one then find themselves releasing a collection of Australiana country songs?
My growth as an artist and my influences always covered all sorts or genres of music, but from early on pretty much all of my original songs originated as a country acoustic song.
The first two EPs were simple acoustic tracks, but then by the time I took them to Brock Weston (Bugs), an audio engineer at Bedlam Studios in Indooroopilly – we played with their simplicity and built more tracks above them, and then adding in drums by Brock himself which took them all from a country realm.
Once those releases were brought to the public, I had a lot of interest from people that wanted to get involved and help me bring a full band to live performances.
As time went on, I found as the sound got built up they contained a lot more heavy components like electric guitar and big drums. That's the way my collaborations grew and it was a blast to see the songs' individual journeys in creation.
What exactly attracts you to the country-pop genre?
Country music is very simple and very honest. I can listen to it all day no dramas. The storytelling aspect was above any other genres I've heard. You learn something from country songs I feel; they have something to give internally more than other styles.
As time went on I found myself making lyrical-based music and finding my expression within the words and not so much the instrumentation.
You mention that Slim Dusty and Johnny Cash are life-long music idols; how important have they been to your own music?
Well, if anyone ever asks me ever 'so who's your favourite musician', it's without a doubt Johnny Cash.
He was one of the most influential musicians in bringing country/blues and gospel to the mainstream, hence the pop-country tagline. What made him standout to me though was the person he was, so relatable and delivered his craft to the working class. The deep voice he carried sat above all the instruments in a song and it's still iconic to this day.
What also really helped set him apart in musicianship was the revelation of Sam Phillips and Sun Records. Without him, Cash might not have ever gotten out of the Nashville bubble that so many musicians in that era were confined to.
In some ways he grew to surpass the other shinning star from Sun Records roster, Sam Phillips first breakthrough artist, the King Elvis Presley. Presley unfortunately took a more movie star route in the end and lost himself in the process; that nearly happened to Cash, but he was so bad at acting he never got off the ground.
There will never be anyone like Johnny Cash ever again, one of a kind, hands down.
Then Slum Dusty waltzed into my life. My love for Slim grew later in my teens as I found he took the work from Cash and all the hotshot American artists and made it relatable to the everyday Australia. I think the first album was titled 'Australiana', which just blew my mind.
Another thing I admired about him was he kept performing and making music till old age; that's when you know they are true artist, when they keep going. That's one thing I know is in me. Country Australiana is what I'll do and play till I'm grey and old. One can only hope I get better with age like a fine wine. Slim is iconic to the world as an Aussie, and that's bloody great.
Wearing all-black when you perform; is that your tribute to Cash?
One hundred and ten per cent! It is also sliming and hides my unwanted curves, haha. I'm built like a brick shit-house, so for me dressing black always felt the best and made people understand my influences more deeply on stage.
You mentioned in the press release that your daughter, Ocean, had a major impact on you releasing this project of Australiana country songs; how did she convince you to take a new path with your music career?
Well, as you mentioned in question one, I came from a punk-rock realm in my sound. And when I found out I was going to be a dad, it made me realise I was not expressing myself musically as honest as I could be and the world didn't know my full story.
So that EP 'The Pritchett mixes Vol.2', I made as a demo mix 'cause they were songs that never made it to the band to recreate. As time went on, I built all the tracks myself in the way I heard them and gladly it kept that original country sound I'd admired so deeply.
Thankfully I was connected with a very talented music engineer that was able to turn my rough tracks into radio-quality work. He did my previous EP with me in Sydney at his house, but I took a band with me and they got built to bigger songs which I don't regret 'cause they are awesome.
But I threw him these tracks to see what he could make of them and it blew my mind. It's great because when I play solo shows around town they stay very close to how they were made, country Australiana.
We are now talking about Vol.3 'cause it's such a cool way for me to make music. At home in my room. Ocean was my catalyst in making honest country work and I'll be forever thankful to her for showing me the way.
Judging from your social posts and the press release, Ocean's arrival in your life last year has had many positive influences; how much has your world changed with her now in it?
Well home life is the best! Kicking about the house doesn't give me anxiety anymore.
I bought myself a little house in Lota on the bay and get to watch her grow up, and give her a loving and caring upbringing I was lucky to have gotten growing up. I couldn't have done this without my beautiful partner Keisha who was always a big believer in my country work.
I get to perform and make music in a loving environment and it's awesome. I think any dad out there can relate, that having a son or daughter really changes your perspective on things. I'm in a good place and can continue to share my love of music in-house.
It's funny 'cause with all the music I've created in the past even my mum has started listening to my songs 'cause she knows 'that's my Nicky'; nothing more nothing less.
You've said this release is your most 'honest work yet'; can you expand on that?
Well, for instance all the tracks had to be full takes. I'd work and work, and work on getting them right and would start over the song until I got them.
It's a different delivery 'cause you'd be actually performing the song and not in a way cheating. Those perfect imperfections are important in bringing your audience in. Like that lead guitar in 'Cut Off The Fins' took six months to get right. Then it took me all day to record it.
It doesn't sound difficult, but trying to get that authentic Luther Perkins (Tennessee Two) lead guitar rhythm pucks are really, really hard. But I don't think anyone would bother like I did but I love that sound.
Luther Perkins never got that legendary status as a lead guitarist, but for me he's by far my favourite guitarist and it was all because of his incompetence. It's simple, happy and addictive. He even said that all these guitarists out there are just on the hunt to find their sound, but he'd found it. The palm mute, one-string down-stroke pluck.
With all that hard work on getting the guitar lead right, it's really helped my uniqueness in sound. No one I've met can do what I do on guitar now, but if you know one I'd love to meet them and they can play in my band, hahaha.
Lyrically, what draws you to write about particular issues or subject matter?
Because I want it to touch people's hearts. I also like it when other musicians tell me sh.t that's a clever lyric. Words are my thing, I'm naturally very witty which helps my writing. I can write a song about anything really; I like the challenge.
The storytelling component of the craft; is that an enjoyable part of being a performer/ musician?
The most enjoyable and the most important part of me being a performer and musician. I get to engage with people live, and get to make them laugh, I've made people cry. I've cried onstage when I sing some songs. It's so vital to my small success.
Someone might come onstage before me and be better in every way musically than me, but then I do my thing and they love it. I believe it all comes down to what you say, not how you play it.
You work full-time as a chippy; does that give you a great perspective of life in general and the role of music in your own world?
It's really important to my music. I feel like I can make lyrics that connect to people on a tradie level. It's how I am all the time, so it's quite easy to say a line as though I'm talking to another fella on-site.
When I'm at work and got an idea in my head about a song, the words just flow out of me with no friction; I am just a tinker with lyrics and my execution in songs is just like building a deck for someone – get the foundations right, then go till the job is done.
As an independent artist, you handle all aspects of the job (PR, booking gigs, contracts etc.); does that grassroots characteristic appeal to you; where you can still pursue music yet also connect with people on a more personal level?
Well, I don't want to miss out on all the fun, haha. Nah I've been doing my own emails and all that mumbo-jumbo stuff since the beginning of my music and performing career.
I reckon some of the agents and bookers out there think it's a bit amateur, but I just like to get things done is all, and we are all just people in the end. I would be keen to have someone who knows the music industry to come give ol' Nicko a hand one day but just waiting for the right person to come along ya know.
I know it would inevitably help my growth, but they got to be into what I do. I just hope the connections I've made with some of these people brings a bit of fresh air for their day instead of talking to a computer or someone who can't speak for themselves.
I have some really awesome people in my corner who believe in me and I thank them from the bottom of heart for helping me along the way. They could have ignored my emails but they gave me a shot. But that's not to say it's 100 per cent effective.
I still get the silent treatment from some of the bookers out there, but it's not their cup of tea and that's cool. I'll just let them get to me when they get a chance. All good haha.
You filmed yourself (on an iPhone) the video clip for 'Cut Off The Fins'; what was that like and can we expect more Humblet directing credits to follow?
Well, I did iPhone music video recordings a few years ago for songs like 'Keisha' and 'I Do Like My Troopy But I Sure Love You', but then I started outsourcing it when time got tight. But I loved it.
I got to work with so many awesome creatives in the process, but this time around I felt going back to my roots, and making all the music myself I felt I should just get the videos done myself.
My beautiful Keisha held the phone for me while we did most of the shots, and she has a natural eye for appealing shots. For 'Cut Off The Fins' that concept was all me and Keisha carrying little Ocean around did such a great job for me. We just did it on a whim one Saturday arvo before we started cooking dinner.
Thanks for your time; anything else you'd like to add?
Thanks for giving me this space to express myself it means a lot. I feel I've said enough for one day though, haha.
Maybe lastly I guess if you have related to anything I've said above then go check us out. It means the absolute world to me to connect with people in my simple country stuff. And also if you ever want to do music, my advice is be careful with who you bring into growing your vision.
If you love what you do musically, be careful, and protect it with your life.
