Born and bred Gold Coast musician Amy Shark has a had a year that most artists only dream of.
With a passion for filmmaking, songwriting and Amy Winehouse, Shark has gone from triple J Unearthed to the ARIAS in the space of a year.
After winning Pop Song of the Year at the Queensland Music Awards, followed by a record deal with Sony Music Entertainment last month, Amy Shark is a name to remember.
Ahead of her tour with Sydney band Tigertown, My BT Gold Coast spoke to Amy about music, filmmaking, and what’s next for 2017.
Q: What inspired you to become a songwriter? Have you been a musician your entire life?
A: I started writing by accident in high school. It was just a way of digesting everyday life, love, drama etc. At the start it was just words but once I learned guitar I started structuring songs.
Q: Some of your music is quite dark – what inspires you when it comes to writing music?
A: I guess a lot has happened over the years within my life so far and because I use music as a form of therapy I only write when I’m feeling a little off or melancholy. When I’m happy I’m usually out being happy somewhere and not writing music.
Q: Tell us about your experience as a filmmaker. Does writing music and producing films go hand in hand?
A: Well it does for me. I tend to always get visuals when writing music and a lot of the time I have a plan for the music video before the song is even recorded. Also, if I’m shooting some footage I usually can hear what track will sit nicely over the imagery straight away. It’s just something I have always done. I was that annoying girl at parties with a video camera, so I have some very interesting footage locked away.
Q: You’ll be touring with Tigertown – who are your dream musicians to tour with?
A: If Amy Winehouse was still alive she would be my first choice; I would never get sick of watching her set. Others would be Lorde, Halsey, Broods, Lily Allen and Tegan and Sara.
Q: 2016 has been a massive year for you. You won best pop song at the Queensland Music Awards, and made it as a finalist for three categories of the Gold Coast Music Awards. What were those experiences like?
A: It was such an honour to be recognised in my own state of Queensland. Since then it’s been an avalanche of amazing opportunities!
Q: After achieving so much in 2016, what are your goals for the next year?
A: I have a lot more music to record. I will be playing many more live shows and I am just preparing for a very busy but exciting new year.
Catch Amy Shark and Tigertown at the Woolly Mammoth on Saturday, 10 December, 8:30pm.
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