A truly talented and brilliant band from Down Under is Shining Bird. The new full-length album “Black Opal” finds the band in a more mature & atmospheric mood and it gave us the chance to talk not only about the music but for the band itself as well. Vocalist, guitarist & songwriter Dane Taylor has answered both Grande Rock’s “normal” and “weird” questions…
Hi Dane and welcome to Grande Rock. I’m glad we’re given the chance to talk about your new wonderful album “Black Opal”…
D: Thanks for having me!
Since you’re a newcomer, do tell me when and how Shining Bird took shape and how you came up with the band’s name initially…
D: Shining Bird happened out of an experiment really. Russell (keys) and I started recording bits and pieces in my bedroom one summer, mostly just to escape the heat. Eventually these ideas formed complete songs that had an identity. We kept at it and put out the first Shining Bird release independently, an EP titled “Shade of the Sea” in 2012. “Black Opal” is our third release.
It took you almost 3 years to release the follow-up to “Leisure Coast”. What happened in the meantime and which were those music matters that you wanted to take good care of in general?
D: We felt it was important not to feel rushed while writing “Black Opal”. Although it was challenging, we made sure we enjoyed the process. We used the writing/recording time away as part holiday. Bushwalking & watching films were an essential part of the creation of this record. But, the most important thing was that we were happy with the finished product.
Which are the major differences & similarities between “Leisure Coast” and “Black Opal”?
D: I think “Black Opal” is more mature. The songwriting and production has stepped up, and we feel more confident as artists.
You’re a band from Down Under… so apart from the “experimental pop” tag that you have on your website, which are those genres and bands that have influenced your music on the whole? I’d add gothic rock, post-punk & atmospheric rock if I may…
D: I’m drawn to narrative driven lyricists that I can relate to, like Paul Kelly, The Go-Betweens, or Garreth Liddiard (The Drones). We also listen to a lot of classic Aus/UK bands/artists in the tour van, alongside varying audiobooks and podcasts. Lately I’ve been exploring NZ’s Flying Nun Records incredible back catalogue (The Clean, The Chills, etc)…
What does the album title “Black Opal” declare?
D: A precious Australian gemstone.
Do give us a hint about each track…
D: “I Can Run”: Film clip features the incredibly talented Waangenga Blanco.
“Helluva Lot”: We’ve been performing this one on acoustic live lately; it somehow gives the lyrics more poignancy.
“Morning Light”: We shot a “Soon to be released” film clip on the salt plains in central Australian desert for this one.
“Love Shadow”: The bones of this one came together really quickly.
“Utopia”: It took a bunch of alternate versions before we were happy with this one.
“Charlie”: Features Charlie McMahon from band Gondwanaland on didgeridoo.
“Rivermouth”: First “Black Opal” track completed.
“Buried”: Written with the constant visual aid of Australian landscape footage.
“Lonely Song”: My favourite track on the album…
Did you intensively create that 80s atmosphere & sound on the album? Did you talk it over about the sound direction or it just came out naturally?
D: It definitely wasn’t something discussed, I guess it just came out naturally.
Are there any plans for an Australian, US or Europe tour at some point?
D: We just completed an extensive national Australian tour. We are looking to tour Europe in mid-2017.
What are the expectations from “Black Opal” and what do you wish to achieve with Shining Bird in the future?
D: We’d love to be able to travel extensively overseas and play music for our fans around the globe.
Time for our “weird questions”!!! If you found a genie in a bottle and you only had 3 wishes what would they be?
D: First wish: “Donald Trump never became president”… Second wish: “Reversal of Climate Change” & Third wish: “Can I have infinite wishes please?”…
If you could “erase” one thing from modern music, what would it be?
D: How disposable a lot of music seems these days.
Which is that band that you’d like to be part of (any time & era)?
D: Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the USA tour of 85…
Has the internet changed the ways music should be played and released or not? Is it a “divine gift” or a curse?
D: The way music is consumed has definitely changed, for better and worse. I think these days (more than ever) live performance/touring is crucial to a band’s success.
What are those things that you do not like in the music industry nowadays?
D: When bands are asked to perform for free. Unless it’s a charitable event, no artist should be asked to perform “for the exposure”…
Top 3 sci-fi movies of any era?
D: “2001: A Space Odyssey”, “Bladerunner” & “Donnie Darko” (Brilliant Soundtrack too!)…
Best 3 pop/rock albums of all time?
D: Beach Boys – “Pet Sounds”, Echo & the Bunnymen – “Ocean Rain” & MBV – “Loveless”…
Were you obliged to give just one album to extraterrestrials that would represent the whole human music, which album would it be and from which band/artist?
D: Beach Boys – “Pet Sounds”…
Fill in the phrase… “Pop/Rock music wouldn’t have evolved the way it did, if it hadn’t been for…”
D: Brian Wilson…
Who is the sexiest female Rock Star of all time?
D: Debbie Harry…
Which character from the “Game of Thrones” would you have been – if you lived in the Seven Kingdoms?
D: Sir Danos…
That’s all for now Dane! Thank you very much for taking the time to do this interview. Wish you the best for the new album. Take care dude!
D: My pleasure!
D: Thanks for having me!
Since you’re a newcomer, do tell me when and how Shining Bird took shape and how you came up with the band’s name initially…
D: Shining Bird happened out of an experiment really. Russell (keys) and I started recording bits and pieces in my bedroom one summer, mostly just to escape the heat. Eventually these ideas formed complete songs that had an identity. We kept at it and put out the first Shining Bird release independently, an EP titled “Shade of the Sea” in 2012. “Black Opal” is our third release.
It took you almost 3 years to release the follow-up to “Leisure Coast”. What happened in the meantime and which were those music matters that you wanted to take good care of in general?
D: We felt it was important not to feel rushed while writing “Black Opal”. Although it was challenging, we made sure we enjoyed the process. We used the writing/recording time away as part holiday. Bushwalking & watching films were an essential part of the creation of this record. But, the most important thing was that we were happy with the finished product.
Which are the major differences & similarities between “Leisure Coast” and “Black Opal”?
D: I think “Black Opal” is more mature. The songwriting and production has stepped up, and we feel more confident as artists.
You’re a band from Down Under… so apart from the “experimental pop” tag that you have on your website, which are those genres and bands that have influenced your music on the whole? I’d add gothic rock, post-punk & atmospheric rock if I may…
D: I’m drawn to narrative driven lyricists that I can relate to, like Paul Kelly, The Go-Betweens, or Garreth Liddiard (The Drones). We also listen to a lot of classic Aus/UK bands/artists in the tour van, alongside varying audiobooks and podcasts. Lately I’ve been exploring NZ’s Flying Nun Records incredible back catalogue (The Clean, The Chills, etc)…
What does the album title “Black Opal” declare?
D: A precious Australian gemstone.
Do give us a hint about each track…
D: “I Can Run”: Film clip features the incredibly talented Waangenga Blanco.
“Helluva Lot”: We’ve been performing this one on acoustic live lately; it somehow gives the lyrics more poignancy.
“Morning Light”: We shot a “Soon to be released” film clip on the salt plains in central Australian desert for this one.
“Love Shadow”: The bones of this one came together really quickly.
“Utopia”: It took a bunch of alternate versions before we were happy with this one.
“Charlie”: Features Charlie McMahon from band Gondwanaland on didgeridoo.
“Rivermouth”: First “Black Opal” track completed.
“Buried”: Written with the constant visual aid of Australian landscape footage.
“Lonely Song”: My favourite track on the album…
Did you intensively create that 80s atmosphere & sound on the album? Did you talk it over about the sound direction or it just came out naturally?
D: It definitely wasn’t something discussed, I guess it just came out naturally.
Are there any plans for an Australian, US or Europe tour at some point?
D: We just completed an extensive national Australian tour. We are looking to tour Europe in mid-2017.
What are the expectations from “Black Opal” and what do you wish to achieve with Shining Bird in the future?
D: We’d love to be able to travel extensively overseas and play music for our fans around the globe.
Time for our “weird questions”!!! If you found a genie in a bottle and you only had 3 wishes what would they be?
D: First wish: “Donald Trump never became president”… Second wish: “Reversal of Climate Change” & Third wish: “Can I have infinite wishes please?”…
If you could “erase” one thing from modern music, what would it be?
D: How disposable a lot of music seems these days.
Which is that band that you’d like to be part of (any time & era)?
D: Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the USA tour of 85…
Has the internet changed the ways music should be played and released or not? Is it a “divine gift” or a curse?
D: The way music is consumed has definitely changed, for better and worse. I think these days (more than ever) live performance/touring is crucial to a band’s success.
What are those things that you do not like in the music industry nowadays?
D: When bands are asked to perform for free. Unless it’s a charitable event, no artist should be asked to perform “for the exposure”…
Top 3 sci-fi movies of any era?
D: “2001: A Space Odyssey”, “Bladerunner” & “Donnie Darko” (Brilliant Soundtrack too!)…
Best 3 pop/rock albums of all time?
D: Beach Boys – “Pet Sounds”, Echo & the Bunnymen – “Ocean Rain” & MBV – “Loveless”…
Were you obliged to give just one album to extraterrestrials that would represent the whole human music, which album would it be and from which band/artist?
D: Beach Boys – “Pet Sounds”…
Fill in the phrase… “Pop/Rock music wouldn’t have evolved the way it did, if it hadn’t been for…”
D: Brian Wilson…
Who is the sexiest female Rock Star of all time?
D: Debbie Harry…
Which character from the “Game of Thrones” would you have been – if you lived in the Seven Kingdoms?
D: Sir Danos…
That’s all for now Dane! Thank you very much for taking the time to do this interview. Wish you the best for the new album. Take care dude!
D: My pleasure!