WHITLEY
Listen to Whitley's debut, 'The Submarine', and his old-time folk influences shine through proudly. But Whitley's world is different to those before him. Beneath his serious artistic expressions lay a self-confessed class clown who likes glitch and electronic music, and isn't afraid to be himself.
By Nikita Lee
Whitley has learnt a lot since his stellar debut album, 'The Submarine', thrust him into the limelight and earned him plenty of worthy recognition. Most recently, more than a month in America has opened his eyes to the scope of different audiences and the opportunities that have opened for him in the past year. Whitley has a casual air in his speech that, coupled with his down-to-earth nature, signals he has far from let the vanity of success cloud him. Rather, he is merely anxious to begin his biggest solo tour back home before acting as Powderfinger's coveted special guest on their 'Upstairs at the Downstairs' tour. "The guys invited me to come and play with them, so obviously it's really a flattering thing. I was quietly chuffed with myself and gave myself a pat on the back. Then I went back to the self-hating world that is my head," Whitley says.
"I think the reason things happen pretty quickly for me is because I don't give myself that time to just sit there and stroke my ego. It's all about the next thing, the next mission," he says. Perhaps it is this attitude, along with his distinct talent, that has instilled in Whitley a newfound confidence that comes with self-satisfaction and not conforming to the norm. His live persona clearly envelops his naturally humorous side and offers a lighter outlet from his often intense lyrics. "It's quite nice for me to be able to enjoy myself. I love making people laugh and I think I'm just naturally a smart-ass. Some gigs I just end up talking shit and play like five songs, and I'll be like 'oh god'," he laughs. "I was the class clown when I was at school. It was a pretty small-minded, bizarre little school but, even though it was quite hard for me to be there, I look at the majority of what those people are doing now and the price you pay for being a little bit different totally pays off."
A necessary distance from his largely autobiographical debut album has meant his next album is already well underway. "That album served me really well. It's kind of like when you move out of home from your siblings - when they're right in your face you hate them, but then you move out and you think, 'I really miss my siblings'," Whitley says. "I think I'm going to end up starting two bands because there are two very distinctive styles I'm writing. I really have a penchant for old-time folk music, but I also like glitch and electronic music. I think I'll just stop worrying and find a way to push them both together. Too many people rush out their sophomore records, but luckily I've had a long time to write what I think are songs that I'm proud of."
Thurs May 8 at The Great Northern Hotel, Byron Bay and Fri May 9 at The Zoo, Brisbane. Whitley will also be supporting Powderfinger on their 'Upstairs at the Downstairs' tour. |
