If you are a singer/songwriter in Australia , you have more than likely heard of Pete Murray. As a performer and as a creative force, he is often spoken of in the same breath as the likes of Paul Kelly, which is no small accolade in a peer group that it is not unreasonable to state is as good as any in the world.

I recently had the opportunity to have a quick chat about his 20 plus year career, his process, the importance of family and much more.

The first inquiry was, as always, the songwriting process.

“I usually write the structure and melody first, then see what lyrics the music inspires. Sometimes will get an idea about what I want to write about and the music comes later, but its more often the other way around
“I find that sometimes people will ask ‘What is that song about?’, and I don’t really want to tell them what its about. That takes away from what the listener can bring to the story or have their own interpretation of the meaning. That makes it more personal to them. My song ‘so beautiful’ has been played at weddings. If you listen to the lyrics, it’s not the greatest wedding song, but that’s fine. It meant something different to them”

Pete has moved away from his label, and is now re-recording his catalogue.

“Back in the day, you kind of needed a record label to help you along, but the deals we were offered were not always artist-friendly deals. If you know what a master is, you find out that you don’t actually own that recording of that song, and you are only receiving a very small percentage of the revenue from that, and of your share, a big part of that goes toward paying off the debt that you owe the record company from the advance.”

“ I have nothing bad to say about my record company. They have been very good to me, but back in the day, those kinds of deals were pretty normal, and they weren’t artist friendly. Its the deal we did, and it was the only one we got offered”

“I guess the thing that got me was, I have been doing this for 20 years, and it took me 18 years to pay back my debt. Now I own my masters, I want to get the royalties from the songs, and for my kids to get paid for those songs when I’m gone. Also, I wanted to record them a little more like how they are performed now. They have evolved, and there is a little more energy to them now. ‘Better Days’ is the first one I have recorded, and it’s different. It’s in a different key, there is a lot more instrumentation in it, and it just sounds more like how I always wanted it to sound”

“It gives people options. My goal was to make sure that these songs were at least as good or better than the original versions, otherwise there is no point in putting them out. At this stage, the feedback has been super positive with better days. Most people seem to prefer it. I’m sure there are some who like the original, and that’s fine too.”

Somehow, Pete Murray has become a household name without falling victim to the trappings of fame. His highest priority in life is family.

“My kids have always been a priority for me. When my marriage broke up, I always made sure that when I had my boys, I was always there 100% , and worked when they weren’t with me. A lot of people chase the dollar. They make the mistake of putting that ahead of everything, and the dollar isn’t worth it. You work so hard, and sacrifice so much, but you can’t put a dollar value on time with your kids. You don’t get it back.”

It’s always a challenge to make a name in the music industry, but its harder as one gets older. Pete didn’t pick up a guitar until his 20s. And released his first single at the age of 30, which is old in musical terms, but music wasn’t his primary goal from an early age.

“I just kind of fell into it. My mate started learning guitar, and I just went with him for a few lessons, and discovered I really loved it. It all grew from there. I did my first independent album at age 30, which is pretty old, especially if you haven’t had that level of success in your 20s. I believe that if the songs are good , anyone can do it, regardless of age. You can get out there “

“The hardest part of the industry is having a career. It’s not as hard to have success, but it is difficult to sustain that long term. Some people have a couple of hits and then disappear. I don’t know if people realise how much work is involved. The answer is persistence. If you want longevity in this business, you have to be persistent”

Pete was an athlete from an early age, playing Rugby League for a number of years, and his athleticism is apparent in his video for ‘Always a winner.’ The entirety of the fight sequences were all Pete and some stunt performers.

“The stunt guys make it easy . They are the ones getting thrown around and they make you look good. It kind of made me want to be an action hero (laughs)”

I asked about Pete’s return to Cairns and what we can expect from the show.

“This is my first solo run. This tour is just me and my guitar. I’ve had a positive response. A lot of people say it’s the best show of mine they have seen. It’s very stripped back, and there’s an element of storytelling involved. I’ve been to Cairns a few times now. It’s usually really hot. This is my first winter show. I’m not sure what to expect. Less really bloody hot maybe?”

What audiences can expect is a top flight show with one of Australia’s renowned and likeable singer / songwriters.

The show is on Sunday June 15 at The Tanks Arts Centre, and the show starts at 7.30.

Tickets are sold out, but if you were one of the lucky ones, you are in for a treat!

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