This Valentine's Day, Liam Burrows will be performing at the Brisbane Jazz Club – and he admits he may just find his Valentine.
In the last three-plus years, the 20-year-old has performed at such festivals: Broadbeach Jazz Festival, Norfolk Island Jazz Festival, Adelaide Hill’s Jazz Festival, Noosa Jazz Festival (twice) and the Manly Jazz Festival.
First coming to the national spotlight when he was a finalist on 'Australia's Got Talent', Liam has also performed on 'The Circle' as well as 'The Morning Show' (three times).
You first started to gain a nationwide following on the 2011 series of 'Australia's Got Talent', but this was not the first time that you had won major awards for your music, right?
I had been performing a lot before then and was awarded various Jazz League and Performing Arts scholarships. I also won the Open Age Jazz Vocalist Division at the Sydney Eisteddfod when I was 14. In 2010 I was nominated for a Mo Award.
The 'Australia's Got Talent' experience; what did you learn?
The experience was very challenging and fast paced. I learnt a lot about performing under pressure. I guess I also learnt that the industry is very tough and it takes a lot of hard work to achieve your goals. AGT was a great way to actually get some exposure and my goal when going on the show was to try and bring jazz to the people.
When did you start getting into singing?
As a child I can remember singing all the time and I always dreamed of becoming a professional singer. When I was five years old I gave my first public performance. I distinctly remember singing the beautiful Harold Arlen song 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow' in a school production of 'The Wizard Of Oz'.
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It is still one of my favourites. I also sang a lot at church. When I was 12 my parents said I could start singing lessons. As soon as my teacher (Dorian Mode) introduced me to the great jazz standards I was captivated by the style. I loved the feel of swing and the way you can use your voice as an instrument. Jazz definitely appealed to me right from the start.
Had you learnt to play any instruments before learning how to sing?
Yes. I loved music and my Mum, being a music teacher, recognised this and I started learning an instrument at a young age. I studied classical piano for ten years from age five. I loved this style and it gave me a great understanding of music. I later took up jazz piano which I really love. When I was eight, and old enough to begin a wind instrument, I started to learn the trumpet and I studied classical trumpet for six years. I also had the opportunity in high school to study jazz trumpet with Warwick Alder, which was a great experience.
There are a lot of talent-show contestants that make it into the finals based on their overall look and marketability and not necessarily their talent. Were you ever worried that you'd be beaten by someone like that?
Going into the talent show I was very aware of the possibilities of what could happen. I had discussed this with Mum who made it clear to me that talent shows are not necessarily about actual 'talent' and that the market dictates the outcome. To be perfectly honest I was actually very grounded about the whole process and my original goal was very realistic. I said to Mum: “I just want to appear on TV once so that people can hear me”. I knew I was singing a style of music that was not mainstream, but I deliberately chose AGT because I did not want to be 'moulded' into a mainstream pop or rock singer as happens on 'The Voice' and 'X-Factor'. I wanted to remain true to myself as a jazz singer.
Throughout the show I was always aware that other contestants were targeted as marketable commodities! It never worried me because I never wanted to be a mass-produced artist… I just wanted to be unique. What I really loved was that the public really loved my music and I kept getting through on the public vote. This blew me away because as a young jazz singer I wanted to let audiences know how fantastic the music really is and that it’s not always about marketing, image and pop music. I also knew that no amount of hype can replace true talent and there is no such thing as instant fame even though talent shows would have us believe that. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to make it as a professional singer.
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I'm sure you would've seen most talent-show winners disappear as soon as they've been discovered. Were you ever anxious that your career might have the same fate?
The worst thing about talent shows is that some contestants think that it is the path to instant fame. The reality is that the fame usually only lasts until the next winner is churned out. I always knew that AGT would be a means of getting some initial publicity. My manager Jack Strom says: “it can take a life time to become an overnight success”. I am thrilled that I am working as a professional singer doing what I have always dreamed of - being able to share my music with audiences all over the world. I feel very humbled every time I perform, that people come to hear me sing the music I love…jazz.
Releasing your debut album independently; was that so you could maintain control over the direction of your music?
Releasing my debut album independently was a major achievement that I am proud of. So many artists get tied up in contracts where they have no creative input into their music and just become a commodity. I had the amazing experience of recording with John Morrison’s Swing City Big Band to produce an album of great jazz standards. Recording the album was a creative experience allowing me to set the direction of my music and how I wanted to be perceived as an artist.
There's a stereotype that most people your age couldn't be bothered to work hard and achieve big goals. You're obviously an exception to this, but do you think that's a fair statement about young people in general?
I don’t think it’s a fair statement about young people in general. I know a lot of young people who work very hard. The difficulty with being young these days is there is not a lot of opportunity and in many cases it’s hard just to get a job let alone achieve big goals. Even my friends who went to university struggle to find employment with a degree. I think to achieve a big goal you have to risk everything and go for it. From my experience that’s not easy. There are many hard times and sacrifices to be made, but you have to seize the moment when it comes and keep persevering. The rewards outweigh the tough times. Maybe this is what scares a lot of young people - it is hard to push yourself outside your comfort zone.
How have you managed to overcome this stereotype?
I was determined I wanted to be a professional jazz singer and musician - ever since I can remember this has been my dream. I have taken risks and different pathways to other young people and nothing in my life is predictable. By that I mean things such as 'do your HSC, go to university and get a job'. I have had to push myself, overcome my fear of failure and take up every opportunity that has come along to improve myself. I still have so much to learn. You must continually grow and develop with different and more challenging experiences. Often in the music industry ego can give an artist a very false impression of where they are at. I do not believe in ego - it often stops people from becoming better. I have to say I am also very fortunate to have an incredible manager, Jack Strom, who believes in my talent but keeps me grounded.
Most teenage musicians seem to have fun taking out their teenage angst by playing punk or metal. Do you get the same sort of kick out of playing jazz or have you somehow managed to avoid being an angry teenager?
I think I must have avoided being an angry teenager. I guess the jazz has something to do with that, especially swing. I don’t think you can swing and be angry! The whole sound is so cool and laidback.
What type of stuff are you working on at the moment? Can we expect some new material to be released in the near future?
I have been working on my own songs, as well as recording some great songs with a number of other people including the very talented Graeham Goble (Little River Band). I don't have a release date yet... it’s a work in progress.
Are there any musicians or bands that you'd really like to collaborate or play with at some stage?
I’d love to collaborate on an album with another big band such as the Darryl Mackenzie Orchestra or the B Sharp Big Band. I’d also like to produce a quartet album.
You're playing a show on Valentine's Day at the Brisbane Jazz Club; you must be a bit of a heart-throb with the girls. Have you asked anyone to be your Valentine?
No... not yet! Who knows, maybe I will meet my Valentine at the Brisbane Jazz Club!
Liam Burrows Tour Dates
Sat 14 Feb - Brisbane Jazz ClubThu 5 Mar - Rising Sun Hotel (Melbourne)
