After almost 12 months of no new music, late last month Melbourne musician Aaron Schembri returned to the spotlight with the Nashville country feels of 'The Setting Sun'.
A song he co-wrote with well-known '80s songwriter Paul Norton during one of Victoria's lockdowns last year, 'The Setting Sun' finds Aaron returning to his country roots, the upbeat, breezy nature of the song's melody a welcoming tone for ears everywhere.A session and touring musician who has collaborated with the likes of Renee Geyer, Swanee, Kevin Borich, Russell Morris, Normie Rowe and a stack more, Aaron is planning to release his next studio album later this year that features guest spots from Anthony Field and Rob Mills.
Your newest single 'The Setting Sun' has a distinct Nashville country feel; how does the track showcase your 'current' sound?
Yeah, it does have that kinda vibe. Things have changed musically over the last few years. I am listening to a lot of different styles of music, but the one genre that I always seem to come back to is country and most definitely the blues.
I am huge fan of guys like Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Jackson Browne, The Eagles. 'The Setting Sun' led itself towards the country feel. I originally wrote it on piano, and it was almost too ballad-like. I look back at it now and I am glad I gave it the upbeat country kick!
The overall sound of 'The Setting Sun' is absolutely where I am heading sound-wise. It really feels like it's me.
It's been more than a year since you'd released any new music until 'The Setting Sun'; did the sustained Melbourne lockdowns last year have an impactful role in your creative output, and if so did that allow you to focus on other parts of your life offering a silver lining of sorts?
Ha. The lockdowns. . . what can I say!
It really was a strange time to be a musician, and there were so many good and not so good parts about the lockdowns. The great thing was that I had a lot of time to myself to write and kick around some demos and ideas.
There also was a lot of collaborating going on during the lockdowns with different people, which was great fun.
I certainly think the lockdown gave me a chance to find out what it is that I really want out of myself musically. With that being said, I am totally happy and grateful with how things are panning out for me.
I found myself listening to a lot of music, music that I probably wouldn't have ever listened to if I didn't have so much 'down time'. It's amazing how much listening to music can shape who you are and which direction you take musically.
With some glimmer of light at the end of this pandemic tunnel, how are you approaching the rest of the year in terms of musical output and dare I say contemplate touring and travelling again?
This year has a lot going on for me which I am so thankful for.
I'm currently doing a run of shows with my buddies Sam + Sam, a great local duo who have a great work ethic. We co-wrote a song called 'So Long' during one of the lockdowns, which will be coming out on their debut album sometime later this year.
We've also finally kicked off the 'Eagle Rock 50th Anniversary Tour' with Ross Wilson. It got postponed a couple of times over the last year due to the COVID situation.
There's one show of the tour in particular that I am really looking forward to, and that is Bluesfest '22. I'll be like a kid in a candy shop as they say, so many great acts on the bill this year; and 90 per cent Aussie acts!
It's going to be fun hitting the road with Ross Wilson. I've also been given the support slot for some of the tour dates, I can't wait to get some of my new tunes out on the road; try and test them out live. I am also taking a trip to the States later in the year, so I can't wait for that.
When can we expect the next Aaron Schembri album to land (and anything you can share with us)?
I'm thinking sometime this year. Possibly mid-year. I have so many new tunes that I have recorded with Chris Gatz at GM Sound Studios that I can't wait to release.
This new collection of songs has some really cool surprises. I've had some guests lend their talents to the record, Anthony Field (The Wiggles), Rob Mills and also some other friends in the works as well. I've just got to keep the ball rolling.
You said in a previous interview that Paul Norton and Wendy Stapleton have been like your 'musical parents'; can you expand on that and share some of the things they've taught you?
Yeah, I have so much respect for the both of them. I met them a while ago, I think I was 17 or 18 at the time. I've done many gigs with them over the years and it's always so much fun.
Even collaborating with Paul on 'The Setting Sun' was awesome; it's great to collaborate with people that have been doing it for years. You don't release how one dimensional you can be until someone comes along and says, 'no it should go like this', 'or try this instead'.
One thing that has always stuck with me from Paul and Wendy was when I first met them, the advice they gave me was something along the lines of 'work hard and things will work out for you', which thinking about it now, it is so true. I suppose, do nothing and nothing will happen right?
Away from your own music, you play as a session-touring player with the likes of Renee Geyer and Ross Wilson, while the late Ross Hannaford (aka Daddy Cool) played a vital role in your development when you were a teenager; having all that experience and knowledge surround you must have been like your own personal School of Rock education?
Yeah, I love doing those gigs. Just when you feel like you've learnt everything, there's something at these gigs that makes you realise you've still got a lot of learning to do.
The Renee Geyer shows are great fun. It really keeps you on your toes musically. You never know where things are gonna go, but when they do you've got to keep up! I love her voice and those early records that she released.
And the Ross Wilson shows have really come full circle for me. I vividly remember the first time I saw Ross Hannaford play, he totally mesmerised me. From his playing, to his stage persona and even the way he was dressed. He had not a care in the world, he just loved playing music!
In my late teens I studied those Daddy Cool albums and I remember the guitar parts blowing my mind. Hanna was so generous with his time with me; he'd call just to check in and see what I was up to musically. And he'd always ask 'how do you feel about what you are doing?'. That really meant a lot, especially being a young teenager trying to work out what the hell he was doing.
I remember the first gig I ever did with Hanna, I was petrified and he could certainly tell. He just looked at me and said 'you know how to play guitar right? So just own it!' For some reason it made me even more nervous, haha. It really was like a work experience, something that I never took for granted, even to this day.
Those early year playing in pubs, jamming with living legends, has that rubbed off on you looking towards the next-gen of players coming through and what you maybe able to offer to anyone who is keen to listen?
That's an interesting question. I think in a way it has.
There are two young guitar players, Noah Robbo and Taj Farrant. Both immense talents which makes the future of guitar players look really promising and exciting. I hope they stick at it and keep doing it because they love it.
I think the only thing I would say to young aspiring guitar players, is to enjoy what you do and don't be afraid to take a punt on anything you decide to do musically. Just back yourself and be proud. At least you can say, you've tried.
Can you get a little guitar nerdy for us and talk about a few of your different guitars you us?
Oh there's a few! The two main ones are my Gibson ES 345 and my Gibson SG. I couldn't live without them. I also have a few Les Pauls, a Grestch Jet, couple of Teles and a Strat. Yeah, I know.
You released your debut album 'City Lights' in 2019, which was a labour-of-love type of project built over a number of years; although as an artist you're always looking ahead, does that collection of songs still bring back good memories to you?
Actually, it sure does. I listened to the album the other week for the first time in a few years. It made me realise how much hard work I put into that album and most importantly how proud of it I am.
I mean, not many 25 year olds could say that they wrote songs for the likes of Normie Rowe, Ross Wilson and Swanee to sing. It does bring back special memories.
Like 'Don't You Worry Now', which I began writing with Hanna just before he passed. And also 'Good Enough For You', the first single I ever released which was a tribute to my late grandfather. So yeah, it does pull on the heart strings.
You have an upcoming gig with former footballer Russell Robertson, who also appeared in your music video 'It's Not Goodbye'; is that a creative partnership that could see more projects come together?
Russ is great to work with. He was a champion footballer and now a rockin' musician.
We are actually in the works of releasing something that I wrote for Neale Danniher's Fight MND. Russ leant his vocals for it and totally smashed it. So we are excited to get this one out there in the coming months.
As a musician, what is the right number of leather jackets you should own?
The question should be 'how many denim jackets do you own?' The answer is six. Leather ones? There's a few!
Being a Melburnian, who do you follow in the footy and are you excited for the season ahead?
I am a Bombers man! I always love it when it's footy season. Hopefully the Bombers show up this year, haha.
