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Alex Watts Sings, Strums & Struts into Rhino Room this Sat 16 Aug

Speaking from his Melbourne home, Singer/Songwriter Alex Watts is enjoying a moment of relaxation prior to embarking on a national tour in August and September to promote his new album “Sing, Strum & Strut’. Having toured the UK in January, Watts decided that it was time to record

Photo by Carl Dziunka

Photo by Carl Dziunka

Speaking from his Melbourne home, Singer/Songwriter Alex Watts is enjoying a moment of relaxation prior to embarking on a national tour in August and September to promote his new album “Sing, Strum & Strut’. Having toured the UK in January, Watts decided that it was time to record.

“I’ve been doing solo shows for a few years, and the UK reception was good. We had some really great shows including ‘house concerts’, which is a cool thing to do over there. You basically play to a room and it’s very intimate and close”. Audience members have also been known to join in at times, grabbing whatever item that can be used as a musical instrument in a truly interactive experience. Watts says that it is this aspect of performance that breaks the disconnect between audience and performer, so it’s a good way to bypass that and have a real closeness with the crowd.

Watts has always had musical leanings, having studied piano as a child and started playing guitar after discovering The Beatles when he was 13, but only took it seriously when he decided that he had to do what made him happy.

“I just wanted to see if I could write songs and make a go of it, and I’ve never been happier”, says Watts. He adds “ You get into into music consciously knowing that it’s what you want to do and that it’s not about the big bucks”. Never a truer word spoken! In an age of synthetic entertainment and a slow erosion of music venues being replaced by gambling dens, musicians are constantly struggling to survive. The concept of ‘house concerts’ are a brilliant idea and shows great determination on the musician’s behalf to not only share their music, but to financially support their craft. “Melbourne is a music city, and bands are always available, but house concerts open up another area to people who may not want to go out to a venue, and it gives us targeted exposure as musicians. Also, money wise it’s sometimes better for us, as people will pass a hat around and because of the direct contact are more keen to buy merchandise and CDs”. This may not work for those who are already well exposed, but it sure is a fantastic initiative for those eager to promote their work.

We discuss the changes in the music industry and in particular the saturation of high production groups such as One Direction, who most likely never write any of their own material. Watts isn’t at all cynical however, and says that they have as much of a place in the industry as the lone singer/songwriter.

“Someone is writing those songs and maybe their goal is to have a radio hit, so it’s true to them”.

Watts’ music is an amiable blend of sounds and styles bearing similar influences ranging from Morrissey, Tim Rogers and Jebediah despite remaining completely independent. His tracks Warned, This Haunting, and Desperate Love are truly enjoyable and showcase the singer’s vocal ability and musical diversity.

Alex Watts and The Foreign Tongue will play the Rhino Room, 13 Frome St, City this Saturday alongside Adelaide Pioneers of Hillbilly Rock The Timbers, Halfway To Forth and Skeleton Club.

Interviewed by Darren Hassan

Tickets: http://www.songkick.com/concerts/21166023-alex-watts-and-the-foreign-tongue-at-rhino-room?utm_source=11593&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=widget&utm_content=4968888

Follow Alex Watts online:

Web: alexwatts.com.au

Facebook: facebook.com/AlexWattshasaForeignTongue

Twitter: twitter.com/BiggAlexWatts

You Tube: youtube.com/AlexWattsOfficial

 

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