Heading for Adventure Q & A: Jack Carty
Aussie troubadour Jack Carty is about to hit the road in support of his new album ‘Home State’, which was recorded and produced in his small Brisbane apartment “in pockets of time between his upstairs neighbours’ tap-dancing and his new wife Natasha’s Netflix addiction”. We asked the uplifting singer-songwriter how he deals with wanderlust and who those familiar guest female voices are in his single All At Once.
If you had to pick one thing to eat and one thing to drink on a 12-hour flight what would it be?
An entire pot of Irish stew, from which I would space out normal sized portions over the course of the flight, and a nice single-malt whiskey…comfort food.
If you had to sit next to a crying baby, an extremely overweight man who takes up two seats, or the lady that snores louder than the plane engine, who would you choose?
I think the crying baby, but I’d make sure I have some noise-cancelling headphones within easy reach.
If you were pulled over by boarder security and asked to empty your bag what would they find?
A stomp-box, which I actually do get asked about all the time because it looks strange on x-ray cameras, my microphone, some portable speakers (so I can still listen to music in hotel rooms), vitamins, guitar strings, a book, my laptop, and (most importantly) headphones.
Your plane has been delayed for five hours, what do you do to entertain yourself in the terminal?
I’ve been a little spoilt over the past few years because I’ve become a gold frequent flyer, so I’d definitely just go to the lounge, eat and drink all the free stuff, check my emails, and stream ‘Stranger Things’ on Netflix until they called me for boarding.
You win a plane ticket to go anywhere in the world. Where would you choose to go?
Iceland! It looks breathtakingly beautiful and I love to visit places where you can still feel like the only person for miles around.
What are three things you can’t travel without?
My laptop, because it pretty-much contains my entire life stored as ones and zeros. My guitar, because you never know when a song is going to show up and ask you to write it. And my phone, because no matter where I am I try to call home at least once a day.
In a plane emergency you are suppose to fit yourself with the oxygen mask first so you can help others. You’re sitting next to Donald Trump, Nickelback, and Taylor Swift…who DON’T you help?
Donald Trump, because he is a total d*ck, and even if I’m not a fan of Nickelback and Tay-Tay us musicians need to stick together.
What would be your ultimate traveling playlist?
Oh man, this is an open-ended question! How deep do you want me to go? In no particular order, I’m gonna go for:
Another Travelin’ Song – Bright Eyes, And It Stoned Me – Van Morrison, Worried Shoes – Daniel Smith & Sufjan Stevens, Troubles Will Be Gone – Tallest Man On Earth, Leeward Side – Josh Pyke, Archie, Marry Me – Alvvays, Graceland – Paul Simon, Helplessness Blues – Fleet Foxes, The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades Is Out to Get Us! – Sufjan Stevens, and Dementia Preacox – Papa Vs Pretty.
For the uninitiated, how do you describe Jack Carty’s sound and live shows?
I was just thinking the other day about how bad I am at this! I’ve definitely not got my “10 second pitch” down pat. Listen to some songs or come to a show and you can make your mind up for yourself.
We’re loving your track All At Once, what’s the inspiration/ story behind the song?
Thanks! I co-wrote this song with a really amazing English songwriter called Blair Dunlop who I’ve done a bit of touring with over in The U.K. We wrote it in his little apartment right next to Wembley Stadium in London. I’d been on tour across Europe for a month and a half, sleeping on floors and stuff. The song is about how constant movement every day can make you feel disconnected, almost like you are floating through the world without actually touching anything.
Lastly, what are 3 things that people should know about your new album ‘Home State’?
- I recorded it all in our living room in Brisbane and played every instrument myself, except for the Bass and a few really tasty guitar solos, which were played by Gus Gardiner (ex. Papa Vs Pretty) and Jordan Millar respectively.
- Jen Boyce from Ball Park Music and also Hannah Shepherd (a.k.a Airling) came over and leant their very beautiful voices to a few of the songs.
- The thing about going sailing with “a man dressed as a horse” in the song Berlin, that really happened!
Jack Carty ‘Home State’ Tour
FRI 19 AUG
Street Theatre, Canberra
SAT 20 AUG
Newtown Social Club, Sydney
FRI 26 AUG
Shedeen Bandroom, Melbourne
SAT 27 AUG
The Grace Emily, Adelaide
SUN 28 AUG
Mojos Bar, Fremantle
FRI 2 SEP
The Milk Factory, Brisbane
Get Tickets HERE
