You might not have heard of ex-pat Scott Mellis, but this talented Aussie muso is making some serious waves overseas. I recently caught up with Scott to chat about his time abroad, his forthcoming album, and what it’s like to be back home.
You’re back in Australia after spending much of the year abroad. What’s it like to be back on home soil?
It’s great to be back for a little bit and catch up with my friends again. Coming back is always really good for gaining perspective on what’s going on because when you are travelling or overseas you can get caught up in the new surroundings and be distracted from your priorities.
Many locals may not be familiar with your music, so how would you describe it?
I am inspired by so many different things ranging from writers like Milan Kundera and George Orwell and artists like Etta James, Jeff Lynne, The Doors and Django Reinghart, personal experiences and the environment around me.
You topped the Triple J Unearthed charts in 2009. How important was that in opening doors for you?
Being voted at the top of that chart was proof that we had genuine underground support from our fans and that we did not have to rely on industry politics to make noise. However it did not open any doors within the industry. I think partly because the record at the time was a bootleg and was recorded live.
You’ve supported some massive acts overseas including Jason Mraz, Tom Morello, and Jeff Martin. What have you learnt being a part of their shows?
Playing with these guys at their L.A. shows I imagine would be different to doing it in Australia as Jason Mraz and Tom Morello both live in L.A. and it’s kinda like their hometown shows. I found them to be really genuine and humble people that love what they do and I think to be appreciative and grateful to do this is the most important thing.
How do you approach winning over a crowd that is there to see another act?
That can be a tricky one but when you pull it off it is so rewarding . You just have to be aware that they are not there for you and you should be so lucky to play for a packed house … again be grateful!
You’ve played some amazing venues like Hotel Cafe and The Viper Room. How does it feel to step onto stages like that, where so much musical history has been made?
You know it feels like any other gig to be honest. I don’t really get in to the mythology of the music industry. I have had some of my best shows in the weirdest of places. I do like The Hotel Cafe a lot though; they have been great to me.
Your upcoming show at The Toff will be your only Melbourne show this year. Are you looking forward to getting back in front of a home crowd? I am it will be good to preview the new material and my Melbourne friends are the most honest so it will be great to hear the feedback. But I must admit I am kinda nervous.
I hear that you’re working on finishing your debut album. What can you tell me about it?
I want it to be a positive record. I really want to theme it around the fact that everything has a positive side if you look at it correctly. A lot of my earlier stuff was a lot darker; this will be a good departure.
You’ve assembled a great bunch of musicians and producers for this album (Brad Smith of Blind Melon, Ryan Hoyle of Collective Soul, producer Bruce Irvine). What have these seasoned industry folks brought to your sound?
These guys have been involved in the pre-production process at this stage. We are still working out how we are going to do this record. Brad has been like my L.A. big brother, taking me under his wing and giving a lot of great advice on the industry from a songwriter’s perspective. As far as the sound, that is a hard one to determine. Brad played baritone ukelele on some stuff and that’s a new instrument that has not been on my recordings prior.
You spend so much time abroad, so do you still call Australia home?
Of course! My family lives there!
See Scott Mellis play his one and only Melbourne show at The Toff in Town on August 24. Tickets cost $12 at the door.
Image used with permission from Repertoire Publicity