When Australian musician Pete Murray and his gym buddy slash drummer mate Benny Owen decided to put their love of music aside for a new venture in wellbeing, they traded touring for circuit training in a new Byron Bay business that officially kicks off in February next year.
Dubbed Music and Movement Escape, the four-day retreat is less boot camp and more about personal training. If you like,think of it as a lounge room experience with Murray, but instead you're wearing gym gear and actually doing some exercise training with a local rock star.
The retreat takes place at Elements of Byron Resort and Spa from February 12 to 16 in a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Those who attend get to take part in an intimate tour of Murray's recording studio and listen to his latest album plus ask him about his inspiration and the process.
Getting a good start
Murray made a name for himself with his debut Feeler in 2003 – an album he once described as being inspired by Nick Drake and Bob Dylan. It was his second album See The Sun that spawned the hits Better Days and Opportunity which saw his popularity rise as a hard working, fit and charming Chincilla-born lad who traded sport (he used to play rugby) for life as a touring musician.
But unlike other musicians, Murray didn't fall into the trappings of rock 'n' roll's unhealthy lifestyle of booze and drugs. A life-changing event occurred at 18, which reinforced his desire to keep fitness at the forefront of his mind.
"I was 18 when my dad died of a heart attack at the age of 47," says Murray from his Byron Bay home, a place he has lived for the past 13 years.
"That event in my life really shaped me and motivated me to stay healthy, eat well and keep fit," he says.
"To lose your dad at 18 was really difficult. It was when I was shifting from my teenage years to becoming a man and I really needed dad. Since that I have been health conscious and looked after myself because that's an important thing for me," he says.
Picture of health
At 48, Murray looks much younger than his years. Look at his social media posts on Instagram and you'll see solo jam sessions with his guitar but more often him working out and training with kettlebells or doing training with his mate Owen.
"Ben has got a simple diet that works and strips weight off you," says Murray who is speaking from personal experience.
"People will get a lot listening to him. He's not a hardcore trainer; he's about eating well. And he'll always tell you that it's 20 per cent fitness and 80 per cent diet. This is about showing people the camp isn't going to flog you to death, we're about having fun and getting a buzz from exercising."
Music, muscle, motivation
Aimed at both men and women, the emphasis at the wellness retreat is about bringing like-minded music people together to train in a beautiful setting of northern NSW.
"A lot of mates ask us how to get fit or how to achieve certain looks. It really reinforced the idea that this wellness retreat could be a good idea," says Murray.
You can also do other activities like yoga and surf lessons or horse riding at an additional cost.
A taste of things to come
The plan is to roll out four of these a year and have the likes of of local musicians on board to perform. Murray offers up names like Jimmy Barnes, Paul Kelly and Kasey Chambers – with even the possibility they may like to take part in the fitness program.
"I think having a guest musician would be a great idea and it opens up the concept," says Murray.
"They can either perform at the end or take part in the training. We're about getting you moving and getting whatever you want out if it. We're not here to raise your level of fitness in four days, it's about hanging out and training with me and Benny and learning how you can do things better once back home."