A former surfer who grew up on Sydney's Northern Beaches, CB Ghost is a singer-songwriter pursing simple, yet honest songwriting with a blue-collar ethos.
Oasis meets Jack Johnson with Chris Cornell feels, CB Ghost has emerged from the other side of his own mental health self-discovery and an extended time away from music to reinvest himself to writing sing-along tunes.After relocating to a small community in Central Coast, the songwriting began to flow once more as CB Ghost focused on improving his own guitar playing (formerly being a singer in a rock band).
With a stack of songs written and his debut album already recorded, in 2024 CB Ghost released his first solo single, 'Hollywood Hills' – a track about his own mental health and lesson to allow self healing.
"While the single title suggests a geographical theme, the song is about mental health not a place per se, a state of mind: not a location," CB Ghost says. "It's hard to live in the moment – free from negative thoughts and desires, 'Hollywood Hills' is an ode to taking time out for yourself and as song says 'get better in the sunshine'."
With a second excellent single released ('Hold Down Hymn') and a number of upcoming live shows, CB sits down to introduce himself.
Who is CB Ghost... I'm an introvert-extrovert surfer spawned on Sydney's Northern Beaches. Previously sung in rock band and f...ing loved it. After an extended period of live musical inactivity and a move to a close-knit coastal surf village on Central Coast, I started seriously working on my guitar playing with aim to one day play live (again).
With a little wind in my sails, new songs were written and with nerves (somewhat) under control I plucked up the courage to play a few open-mic nights. My output and a thirst for live shows snowballed into a full set and a plan to record my first solo album.
The simple driver was to release an album on vinyl. Fast forward a year or so and the album's recorded, I've signed to an independent label (that gets me) and I'm stoked to be now sharing studio time and stage with a terrific band.
I sound like... A singer-songwriter trying to be bold and honest; thanks to schizophrenic influences and a love of sing-along tunes, hip-swinging drumbeats, lyrics full of heart and meaning, I guess my sound swings somewhere between folk/ rock, rhythm & blues, Britpop, with a tinge of country.
Imagine Gerry Cinnamon, laced with Bob Dylan on coke, Morgan Wallen without the country accent, a poor man's Dylan Lewis, your dad's vinyl record collection from the '60s and '70s with a little '90s grunge.
My first gig was... First CB Ghost show was November last year here at Forresters Beach with Joel Leggett. Joel and I put on the show at a wedding venue called Olive Grove. We ended up with over 120 people in attendance. It was so fun we are back there again August 17th, 2024.
When did you settle on the name... The name was easy to settle on, but harder to sell haha. Early last year, it dawned on me all my best friends call me CB, so that part was a no brainer. Second part came from a duo I'm in called Ghosts of Avalon.
Geoff Nicol is great guitarist and he and I wrote and recorded on and off for a decade, but never played live. That name came from us both being from Avalon Beach, but we both moved on to become real ghosts of that town in a way. Well, I'm now a ghost of my former band. That's how the name CB Ghost was born.
In the studio I usually... Get nervous and clam up. I'm better live as a performer, but I'm working on it.
If I could tour with anyone... I'd love to support Gerry Cinnamon. He's been a massive influence on me. Not just his music but his do-it-yourself ethos. Plus I'm half Scottish, so we have a bit in common.
Social media is... A pain in the arse, but I get its worth as a promotional tool; and like most people, get a giggle out of it from time to time. It's not very good for me mentally. I'm ADHD (among other things) and prone to bouts of activity and procrastination in equal measure. Its demands and distraction takes up more of my time then it should.
My favourite app at the moment is... Toss up between Surfline and Ultimate Guitar tabs. Always looking for next good swell or just checking I'm not missing good waves with the surf forecast app. The other is helping me learn covers, which is new to me having learnt playing my own songs and teaching myself guitar that way.
To date, my most embarrassing moment was the time... I started our opening song at a gig at the Railway Hotel in Byron Bay a few months ago only for my wireless guitar set up to bug out not once or twice, but three times. Made more embarrassing by counting myself in every time only to let crowd down again and again. I don't get too down about that stuff and laughed it off.
Life on the road can be... So good if you love being at home; sounds weird but my love of home is made more special by travelling. Playing music on the road suits me and my brain. The schedule and time restraints take away my inability to sometime live in the moment when I have too many options.
I enjoy new places, meeting people and the build-up, and the countdown to showtime – and of course that hot hour you get to share your music with people and the challenge to try win them over.
If you'll have me on your bill, all I ask is that our rider contains... Filtered water (not in plastic bottles), some tasty snacks like olives, and ice-cold beer (nothing fancy just lager) and red wine. That and a TV where I could watch 'Seinfeld' to chill out my brain.
The most scary scenario I've found myself in, was... A few years back surfing here at home on a big day of waves. I chose to catch a wave that led me in front of a rocky island. I made the wave but cut off to discover five or six much bigger waves behind it that all broke directly on my head one after the other.
I thought they'd never stop coming. I was unable to get back on my board, paddle out or paddle in. No one could see me, and it was very lonely. I was vulnerable to drowning and was slowly losing air and energy to go on. Happy to say I survived and it helped me write my second single, 'Hold Down Hymn'.
What celebrity/ famous person would you love to be your spokesperson... Liam Gallagher. He'd be short and sweet, original, funny and take the piss as well as pump you up (assuming he likes my stuff ha ha).
If you had to live in a city abroad, where would you choose and why? I love the North Shore of Hawaii for obvious reasons. Good waves, country vibe and Honolulu just an hour's driveway for action and airport.
Three people you'd like to invite around for a dinner party... Again, I'd have to say Liam Gallagher. Sharing some cold beers with him would be rad. True to himself, thoroughly entertaining and one of my favourite singers.
Also Gerry Cinnamon from Scotland. He knows Liam, so that would help, and I'd love to pick his brain and share songwriting stories and ideas. I'd also have my two sons, they're young so only pay half share on a bus so they can combine to be my third choice.
If we were coming over to your place, what would you cook us? If I was in possession of some fresh king fish, I'd do a lime and coconut raw dish recipe I stole from restaurant in Melbourne as entree, followed by steamed vegetables, scotch fillet steak and giant salad with plenty of avocado, tomatoes and onions.
When it comes to pets are you a lover or hater of our furry friends? Lover for sure. My cat JoJo is a black cat that melts hearts. Stays in at night and is like my best mate. Cats are good for me as they don't demand too much attention or time, but are there when you need some company and mental care.
I do love dogs, but I don't love your dog as much as you do so please don't let them jump all over me or bark and carry on while you tell me how amazing they are. Would never hate a furry friend, but I may hate their owner haha!
No matter the expense, send me a case of... The best multivitamins and healthy powders available to fuel the body and mind.
The last time I saw the inside of a gym was... A few weeks back. Not to workout or do a class but to have a sauna and an ice bath. I don't do the gym thing.
What's the one chore you dislike the most? Posting on social media. Not the making of content; that can be fun and easy, but the editing and preparing and all that sh.t does my head in.
Do you have any phobias... Not really phobias but I have superstitions. I've not put petrol in a car without there being a number 4 in the total for 20 years. My phobia is not getting that lucky number 4 in there.
Would you ever partake in a reality show? No. I'm too private and can't see anything that would make me change my mind. I'd partake in fly-on-the-wall doco around music or surfing, but not one of those reality TV shows.
Best local takeaway joint for a midnight feed that will leave you with a food coma? Nowhere I live is open at midnight haha. In California and parts of the States I'd go for In-and-Out Burger. Double cheeseburgers with their big onion serving and the drinks and '60s-style dinner experience hits the spot every time.
Which fictional character best describes your personality? Edward from 'Twilight'. Bit of a night owl, intense but good hearted despite knowing he's far from perfect and a little unhinged. Has fun but can be a bit too serious and self-loathing. Will jump to action to protect friends and family and the innocent. Plus Edward's my middle name.
Last show you binge-watched? 'Seinfeld'. Always was. Always will be my number one.
CB Ghost plays The Olive Grove (Central Coast) 17 August and Hamilton Station Hotel (Newcastle) on 15 September.
