Songwriters Across Australia - dedicated to independant Australian airplay
Author: CBOnline | Source: CBOnline | Date: 11-02-08
SWAA presenter, Paul McQueen
Where do you go if you are an unsigned and independent artist? Look no further than Song Writes Across Australia (SWAA). Broadcasting across Australia via the Community Radio Network to up to 50 community stations a week, SWAA features new and emerging music, often performed for ‘live on the spot’, along with songwriting and tech tips. Now on Channel 31, SWAA screens home made video clips and independent releases of often never before heard artists. CBOnline talks to presenter Paul McQueen about the shows evolution since SWAA's beginnngs two years ago.
What is your background?
The day job, I'm an electrician by trade and currently working as a signals and communications techo. Since school I have been designing and building electronic project. This background in electronics that gives me an understanding of the audio signal chain.
My background in music is as a blues / indie drummer. I worked the Sydney scene for about 15 years years. During that time I recorded several EP and LP's (remember the black vinyl stuff kiddies? ) and some CD's. Having not learnt guitar, I went into the sound side of things, freelance live mixing for numerous bands and venues across Sydney. The music production has been a long road indeed. It started with the Blues band, we needed a demo, so we hired a 4 track. recorded, over dubbed and mixed our first cassette demo. It worked so well we bought a 4-track recorder and built a mixer, then an 8-track and eventually a 24-track tape recorder and a big desk. Recently all the gear has been upgraded to 24-track digital recorder, new digital mixer with flying faders etc. The home studio is where I produce the show, prerecord segments for Tech Talk, recording the artists and finally assemble the show ready for broadcast.
I started in radio when the band broke up, as they do. By chance I saw
an ad for the 'Radio Training Course' at 2RRR and signed up. After the training course, with my background in electronics and audio production, I started helping the technical director with routine maintenance around the station. I have to say at this stage that radio and broadcasting has changed my life, much to the detriment of home renovations, gardening, house hold chores and car repairs. 5 years ago I was granted air time at 2RRR, mainly morning brekkie slots. This is where I started to showcase unsigned independent artists. At 2RRR, Serelle and I would present artists live to air, however 7am is not the best time for a singer to perform. (These musical creatures usually come out at night). That's where the prerecording started. Live on the spot, even though it is a prerecord it is recorded as if were going to air. One take, one pass, it keeps that on air feel that generates that excitement and nervous energy. I still get nervous, that little twinge of excitement just before I go on mic, be it live or prerecord. It’s the same feeling as going live on stage with a band, it’s exciting and contagious, it even rubs off onto the guests, you can hear them smiling by their voice.
How important is a program like SWAA in getting independent musicians airplay they may not get elsewhere?
Every little bit helps, it all adds to the artists résumé. SWAA is just one step in the process as it is an effective way of being heard. The music biz is a hard one to crack and I find that community radio is like a filter for the major labels, they them start to look at particular artists. So many times I have presented an artist or interviewed them and they have gone on to bigger things. It’s sort of practice for the artist being interviewed and playing for live on the spot when a commercial station asks them to go live. Although as I said SWAA is just one step, there are so many things to do, for example the excellent work of the AMRAP team.
What kind of insight does SWAA provide into emerging music technologies?
The segment Tech Talk is about all sorts of new things like small live mixers with a USB port, explaining the difference between using the USB or a conventional analogue line to get sound into a computer. Also covering some of the basics are mic technique, live sound and feedback and even covering skills like Soldering and equipment repairs. For example, fixing a damaged guitar lead, at 3am in a recording studio. It is sometimes just as easy to repair something rather than calling an end to the session. I like explaining how simple recording can be, the level of technology and attention to detail artists can produce great recording at home.
What has been a highlight 'live on the spot' moment?
While I have recorded and interviewed some really great musicians from all over Australia, what I find is a universal feeling of fun and excitement that is the highlight. Profiles have range from the band “Desert Child" in Broome W.A. to Steve Romig from Melbourne. There are some sensational musicians and some not so good. The show is about getting new music out there. Who am I to decide what is good what is bad? You never know what is going to be the next big thing. Live on the spot is a light hearted interview not too serious, but fun. There have been some crazy moments over the last 3 years which have been really, really exciting for the artists. Also the work that some artists put into the segment is amazing. One performer Eve Goonan hired some session musicians, rehearsed them for a month and did the live on the spot. The studio was buzzing with people and sounds, setting up the band previewing material. She was a little (very) nervous understandably. While I was mic'ing up the drums she approached me very quietly, sheepishly and asked for a cold hard floor to lie on. She lookedthat nervous and excited all at once I thought she would explode. She just needed a quiet moment for herself, I found her a quiet spot up back of the studio and finished checking the amps, drums and her keyboard. The session went flawlessly, to date it was one of the best live sessions. The musicians were sensational and Eve's songs were superb. It was a very exciting and fun afternoon. I always remember that little moment when she asked for some hard floor.
Another thing about the live on the spot sessions the artists always receive a copy of their performances. Some recordings are that good they have released them as CD's or put them up on myspace. For some people it is the first time they have ever recorded and to receive a CD of their work is a bonus.
How did SWAA branch out into community television?
Through a series of coincidences, meeting programmers from various community stations and general music producers, the idea of developing SWAAfor TV became a reality. A work colleague, who is a presenter at 2SER, started making enquires to TVS for himself. He happened to mention to them about SWAA radio and they seemed interested. TVS then phoned me to ask more questions. I out lined how I could produce the show and they asked for a demo. I cut together a demo and was granted air time. The demo turned into the pilot episode. Right from the early days of radio, I was finding that artists were including video clips with their CD's. From here I actively started to collect them, which was the basis of the first couple of shows.
I found it a simple transition to put SWAA on TV. The format is roughly the same, home made video clips, artist interviews and some Tech Talk. Now that the word has spread, artists are sending their material in. Additionally, I have started filming live on the spot a venues across Sydney. 4 cameras around the stage and sound off the front of house mixer.
One of the most satisfying things has been that the audience get in contact with the artist directly. I rarely get direct artist enquires, however the artists do pass this information back to me. I have had numerous letters and emails saying thanks. Web site hits have also spiked directly after the show. I do get mail to the show from artists and audience, but it is the enquiries directed to the artists which is proof positive that artist information is getting out there.
Song Writers Across Australia airs on:
TVS Channel 31 (Sydney):
Friday Nights 8:00pm
Saturday 10:30 am
Sunday 4:00 pm
Channel 31 (Melbourne)
Saturday 11:30pm
SWAA is always on the look out for new video clips and unsigned talent for to feature on its program. Click here for more info.
