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Human Nature
The Rollercoaster team caught up with Human Nature. We asked them about their new album, what it's like to be famous and sing in front of 4 billion people!
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Human Nature is back in action! What have you guys been up to since the last album was released?
Well, Toby's been off doing "Cabaret", I've actually got a publishing business on the side and Mike and Andrew have been developing their writing.
(Question by Miss Mod)
Tell us a bit about your new album, Walk The Tightrope.
Originally when we started doing it we wanted to make it a disco album, almost like "if the Bee Gees had recorded their disco stuff today, what would it sound like?" But at the same time we wanted to make sure we had the best songs we could possibly have on there and that's what stands out. It's actually got a Bee Gees song on there - an original song that the Bee Gees wrote but never recorded.
(Question by Tilde)
What was the role of the music producer in the recording process
We had free reign over what we wanted the vocals to sound like so then the producer, yes he does pull the parts together and puts his own sound on it, but he has to make it blend with the vocals that we've done. So, in a way it's a co-production - especially when it comes to the vocals.
(Question by Tweak)
Do you have a particular song writing process when creating a song?
Andrew and Mike tend to get together, they've got some ideas in their head they would have come up with by themselves, and they kind of nut them out together on the piano.
(Question by Tweak)
Do they start with the lyrics or with a tune in mind?
Generally they start off with the tune because it doesn't really matter how good the lyrics are, the main thing that sticks in people's heads is the tune. That's the thing they sing along with. So they start out with the music and then figure out how the music is making them feel and then put the lyrics to it.
(Question by Slobba)
What tips do you have for any budding songwriters who want to write a catchy tune?
Tip 1, the most important one: Listen to the radio. The songs that make it on the radio are the songs that people obviously want to hear.
(Question by Tilde)
Who or what are your influences in music or life in general?
The Bee Gees, they're a very big influence. We've got others too like George Michael, Stevie Wonder - we really love Motown music, like The Four Tops, The Temptations, Diana Ross and The Supremes. And that's all because of my parents! They taught me how to live life well.
(Question by Tweak)
Does the term "boy band" offend you?
When we first started we were like "We're not a boy band!" But actually we were! But with this album we've really moved on from that. For instance, when you see us on stage, Andrew's playing keyboards, I'm playing guitar. There's nowhere near as much dancing. It's very much about the music now. Boy bands - of course they have to have good songs - but there's a lot more importance put on how they look and what they dance like than what we're putting on at this time
(Question by Miss Mod)
What's it like being famous?
It's fun! Sometimes when you're shopping and you've got your tracksuit pants on and your really daggy clothes and people come up to you and ask to have a photo with you - that can get a little embarrassing. But generally it's fun.
(Question by Slobba)
What was it like to sing the National Anthem at the Sydney Games (September 2000)?
That was amazing. It was very surreal at the time. We went on stage and we'd been told earlier that there were going to be 4 billion people watching. And you just can't picture that amount of people. But looking back on it, it was such an honour to do it because we were representing Australia's musicians. We were chosen to be a good representative of the Australian music industry and that was a real honour. So I hope we did well.
(Question by Miss Mod)
So what advice would you give to kids who want to be singers or songwriters, or form their own band?
You've got to have a passion for it. Find other people who have a passion for it just as much as you. They may not necessarily want to be a singer, but they might want to get into the music industry. You need help. No-one can ever do it by themselves, so you've got to find someone who's willing to help you get there. Then you've got to keep at it, keep pushing.
(Question by Tweak)
Finally, what would you like to ask us?
What's your favourite song on the album?
(Question by Miss Mod)
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