Quinny is all settled in
PHOTO CREDIT: CJ MONK
Melbourne-based artist Quinny has released his brand new track ‘Settlers’, which is a warm and driving indie folk song that is accompanied by a music video created by Quinny’s brother Martin. We caught up with the renowned tongue-in-cheek Christmas song musician to ask him about the creation of ‘Settlers’, the change in his direction and how he’s found Australia since making the move downunder.
For those who haven’t heard your music before, how do you describe the Quinny sound?
I like to think of my sound as a bit of a Venn diagram of my 4 big Bs - The Beatles, Biffy Clyro, Bombay Bicycle Club and Blink-182. Funnily enough, I also got a B for music in high school…
“If you listen to the piano, you’ll hear a bit of Sigur Rós influence, and I like to think I go a bit Billy Corgan at the end too.”
You have just released your latest track 'Settlers' Tell us about the new song
This song is about confronting those you rely on most when they have let you down. There’s a sort of stadium-folk feel to it. I wanted to have big chords, but also some delicate verses. If you listen to the piano, you’ll hear a bit of Sigur Rós influence, and I like to think I go a bit Billy Corgan at the end too.
With 'Settlers' what came first, the lyrics or the music?
Sort of both at the same time really! It was co-written in rural Maine, USA in September 2022 with my good friends Marie Collins (The Vegan Leather) and Hannah Daman upon reuniting for the first time in over 3 years. I think the first idea that got us going was some chords Hannah played on the piano, then the rest was just a blur of ideas.
Later when recording, my pal Graham McCusker (a composer for BBC's "His Dark Materials" and lead artist in Glasgow/Manchester bands KAZE & Marouli) gave the song the finishing touches it needed.
“it started snowing and so I started writing a bit of a joke song about drug dealers working over the holidays”
You have previously been renowned for your "tongue in cheek" Christmas tracks, what was the catalyst for this deviation?
Well, when I lived in London I hit a bit of a creative block for a few years, then one day (in March…) it started snowing and so I started writing a bit of a joke song about drug dealers working over the holidays. There was, and still is, something quite liberating about the predictableness of Christmas tunes that allowed me to both lean into the satisfaction of something cheesy whilst also taking the piss out of it. It was a good exercise in getting me into a proper yearly schedule for making music around work too, write in the first half of the year, record about midway then release and gig at the end of the year.
Who came up with the concept for the video? Were there any memorable moments during the making of it?
My brother Martin Quinn (who some might know from the third series of Derry Girls or the second series of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds) mostly led the charge with the music video. He and I workshopped the concept and story with a few people before landing where it did. After a point, I left Martin to it as he was on a roll! He worked with Glasgow-based filmmaker Conor Reilly and comedian Stephen Buchanan to hone the idea and put it all together.
I wasn’t actually there for any of the filming as they’re all in Scotland and I’m in Melbourne, but I know they had a real laugh with the shower and sex scenes! Originally, the video was set to a different song (No Place to Die), but after a few edits, it was clear Settlers was the right choice.
Will 'Settlers' feature on an upcoming album or will be a stand-alone release?
It’ll be on my debut album “Outer Monologue” coming out in October!
“I took advantage of Bandcamp Fridays, releasing new and old recordings”
You relocated from Scotland to Australia in early 2020, how did you find the move especially given the Covid times that were to come and Melbourne's severe lockdown restrictions?
Well, I actually deliberately arrived the day before the border closed. My girlfriend is Aussie and we’d been doing long-distance for over a year. When everything started kicking off on that fateful Friday 13th, I moved my flight forward so I could get here. We didn’t really know about lockdowns yet, but until we were in the car driving away from Tullamarine Airport, I wasn’t convinced I wouldn’t be turned back around.
Lockdowns weren’t great! I couldn’t get work and neither the UK nor Australia would give me benefits, so it was a bit stressful. It was however my most successful time as a musician. I took advantage of Bandcamp Fridays, releasing new and old recordings which more or less got me by. I also wrote about 70 songs. Most of them aren’t usable, but there are a few I still like and a few of them have made it onto the album.
Does it feel like home yet? What are your favourite Aussie things?
I don’t think anywhere aside from home will ever feel like home - my accent stands out too much. I do feel very settled here, it’d be hard to leave. I’d be lying if I didn’t say that one of my favourite things here is the wages - Australian pay is far better than the UK! Who could deny the amazing food and arts scene too? Great cities filled with great people.
“I have found the Melbourne Music Scene to be super welcoming and easy to become a part of. So many small venues looking for bands within a decent radius of one another”
How are you finding the Australian Music Industry? what are the positives and negatives?
I think establishing myself in the music industry effectively is going to take a bit of work - I don’t have the history, connections or even the knowledge to easily get in there with the big dogs, but I have found the Melbourne Music Scene to be super welcoming and easy to become a part of. So many small venues looking for bands within a decent radius of one another - it’s really helpful. I also find Australia still so keen on rock and roll. I feel like the UK has moved away from that a fair bit, Scotland included. Too much backing track and not enough feedback.
Who in your crew or team deserves a shout-out but never gets one? And what is it they do that keeps your world turning?
I try very hard to give everyone a shout-out. But aside from Martin, Marie, Hannah and Graham who I’ve already mentioned, Nathan Cable who does all of my mixing and additional production has really rolled some major turds in glitter for me, making the flat feel dynamic, the empty feel full. He’s a bit of an audio Jesus.
What's next for Quinny? What can fans look forward to?
I have a show at the Fitzroy Pinnacle with Ellen James and a new single “Found & Lost” coming out, both on the 15th of August. There will be a new video featuring Martin released that day too. Then later in the year we’ll have the album and a Christmas gig/album launch in December!
Settlers Cover Art
Interview by Michelle Symes
August 2024