Interview : Israel Cannan
October 18th 2010 09:49
Young singer/songwriter from the coast, Israel Cannan has released his debut album ‘Walk’. A mature, experienced narrative that has come from constant journeys around the country playing gigs and busking on the streets. Hitting the road for a handful of shows before taking his sound abroad, I caught up with Israel to get the lowdown on the new record and the influence of Bob Dylan.
So the album ‘Walk’ is out, tell us a bit about it?
It was something I’ve wanted to do for a while.
Write, produce and record my own album. Then the journey around
Australia came in to play it became more of a concept album of sorts.
A story of a story I suppose you could say.
How was the recording experience for your debut?
I have been recording music for a while, just not like this...
I found it an awesome exercise to record it all entirely myself,
I think the days are almost gone where a songwriter just writes a song and
leaves it at that. In an age where an album can be recorded in a bedroom
and distributed all over the world I think a songwriter should have some
degree of knowledge of the engineering process.
Your songs come across very personal, are they from personal
experiences?
Yes and No. This album is more about a philosophy on life than my own
personal experiences. Saying that, I always believe deeply in the songs I
write. So in that regard, It's definitely personal.
You’ve spent a lot of the time on the road and playing, how has that
experience made you a better musician?
I would say that it's made me a better musician and a better songwriter.
Experience is key to a songwriter's bank of ideas.
What was one experience that stood out for you during that journey?
There were many moments on this trip... Too many beautiful places to
name. Too many sights to remember... I spent a couple of weeks in
Melbourne playing and some of the things that have come from that have
been pretty special. You never know what a random decision made in time
will bring.
Which artists have inspired you to play?
There are a lot of good songwriter's that have inspired me
to do the things I do. I grew up listen to everything from The Beatles,
Sting and the police, Pearl Jam and everything in between. I listened to a
lot of Bob Dylan on the trip though. I met an ex band manager in Melbourne
who had a #1 in Australia in the 70's and he insisted that I take with me
every Bob Dylan song that he had available. Rare live recording's,
B-Sides, Lyrics sheets and the lot.
Your Mum & Dad are both musicians, have you ever thought about doing
some songs with them?
My mum is a classical guitar teacher and records her own instrumental
album's which I have featured on in the past. I also occasionally play the
drums for her live shows as well.
Whats on the cards for summer?
I will be recording a new acoustic album as well as enjoying the Aussie
Summer before I head to the U.K for a while next year to play.
What would be the first song you’d put on a mix tape?
At the moment it would be "Shelter from the storm"... I guess
that guy in Melbourne did his job well ; )
Israel's album "Walk" is available now on iTunes.
This is Israel Cannan and definitely not some tool from Twilight
So the album ‘Walk’ is out, tell us a bit about it?
It was something I’ve wanted to do for a while.
Write, produce and record my own album. Then the journey around
Australia came in to play it became more of a concept album of sorts.
A story of a story I suppose you could say.
How was the recording experience for your debut?
I have been recording music for a while, just not like this...
I found it an awesome exercise to record it all entirely myself,
I think the days are almost gone where a songwriter just writes a song and
leaves it at that. In an age where an album can be recorded in a bedroom
and distributed all over the world I think a songwriter should have some
degree of knowledge of the engineering process.
Your songs come across very personal, are they from personal
experiences?
Yes and No. This album is more about a philosophy on life than my own
write. So in that regard, It's definitely personal.
You’ve spent a lot of the time on the road and playing, how has that
experience made you a better musician?
I would say that it's made me a better musician and a better songwriter.
Experience is key to a songwriter's bank of ideas.
What was one experience that stood out for you during that journey?
There were many moments on this trip... Too many beautiful places to
name. Too many sights to remember... I spent a couple of weeks in
Melbourne playing and some of the things that have come from that have
been pretty special. You never know what a random decision made in time
will bring.
Which artists have inspired you to play?
There are a lot of good songwriter's that have inspired me
to do the things I do. I grew up listen to everything from The Beatles,
Sting and the police, Pearl Jam and everything in between. I listened to a
lot of Bob Dylan on the trip though. I met an ex band manager in Melbourne
who had a #1 in Australia in the 70's and he insisted that I take with me
every Bob Dylan song that he had available. Rare live recording's,
B-Sides, Lyrics sheets and the lot.
Your Mum & Dad are both musicians, have you ever thought about doing
some songs with them?
My mum is a classical guitar teacher and records her own instrumental
album's which I have featured on in the past. I also occasionally play the
drums for her live shows as well.
Whats on the cards for summer?
I will be recording a new acoustic album as well as enjoying the Aussie
Summer before I head to the U.K for a while next year to play.
What would be the first song you’d put on a mix tape?
At the moment it would be "Shelter from the storm"... I guess
that guy in Melbourne did his job well ; )
Israel's album "Walk" is available now on iTunes.
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