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How did you first get into music? When did it become a serious concern?

My mother put an old nylon string in my bedroom when I was 16 years old and after a few weeks of collecting dust, a friend of mine taught me how to play ‘Smoke on the Water’. It wasn’t until around a year later when I broke my ankle and had to sit still for a while that I really began to focus on learning how to play.

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What kind of music did you grow up on? What artists inspired you and which do you still look to now for ideas?

My family was never particularly ‘musical’. I do remember a lot of Michael Jackson being played on cassette in our household (whether that was by choice of my parents or due to my requests I’m not sure) but I would say he was my earliest influence. Much to my mothers horror, I remember going through a grunge phase as I approached my early adolescence listening to Silverchair’s ‘Frogstomp’ and ‘Freakshow’ on repeat for months on end. Once I had reached high school it was all about hip-hop and then by then time my schooling years were coming to an end I had discovered a lot of music that still influences a lot of my writing today – Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Neil Young.

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Has making music always been a part of your life? If not, how did you get into song writing?

In a creative sense, not until I got to sixteen. But I definitely listened to lots of music when I was young. Going back to the broken ankle, I remember I began writing poems to pass the time in hospital whilst waiting for surgery. Once I got home, I then went about turning some of those (very cheesy) poems into lyrics for songs.

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How do you begin writing a new song? What does your song writing process look/sound like?

I wish there was a common formula! It would be a lot easier that way, but unfortunately there’s not. Every song is different. It might start with a particular lyric, it might start my something somebody says to me, or something I see in the news, or I might just hear something in my head (such as a melody, drum beat or guitar riff). But most of the time for me it’s about digging, spending countless hours in my studio searching for inspiration. If you spend too much time waiting around for that shit it will never come, or when it does, you’ll have spent so much time waiting that you’re unprepared for it and you’ll miss it. YOU GOTTA GO GET IT!

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Love the new single, ‘Save My Soul’! What inspired you to write the song? 

Going back to the previous question – this one was definitely ‘a particular lyric might come into my head’ situation. On this occasion it was the opening lyrics of the song “Kicking stones along the highway” that was simply inspired by a guy I saw walking alone along the Hume Highway late one night as I was driving home to Melbourne from doing some shows up North. From the quick glimpse I got at him as I flew past him as 110kmh+ he looked a little down in the dumps and my imagination went of on a tangent picturing a character who’d become ‘lost at sea’ (metaphorically speaking) whist searching for a love that had escaped him.

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If someone had never listened to Shaun Kirk before, what song of yours would you recommend to them if they could only listen to one?

Well I’d be silly not to say the niew single ‘Save My Soul’ right? haha

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You were on tour earlier this year. What was playing Bluesfest like? 

It was my fourth time on the bill at Bluesfest and it’s an experience that never gets old. The buzz backstage is always electric and the staff take such great care of your whether you’re the front man of one of the greatest rock bands in history (Robert Plant) or little ol’ me. And then there’s the crowds! Some of the most memorable crowds of my career have definitely been at Bluesfest! 

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Did you get to listen to many other artists while you were there?

For how much music there is, it’s amazing how little one can see whilst they’re running around backstage doing interviews, meeting new people and preparing for your own gigs – but the first act that comes to mind is Lucas Nelson (son of Willie Nelson). His show stood out as a highlight to me. I also caught a bit of great Australian music – The Teskey Brothers, Little Georgia and Benny Walker!

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You go on tour again this November. Is there anywhere in particular you are excited to be playing?

Every gig is exciting to me. The opportunity to connect and share my music with people is something I’m always grateful for and never take for granted. It’s way to hard to choose just one that I’m particularly looking forward to!

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What is your favourite thing about being on tour? Least favourite thing?

Favourite thing is definitely the smiles and kind messages you receive from punters after you’ve poured your heart out to them on stage and connected. It reminds you that all the hours you put in to your preparation is well worth while. My least favourite thing would be being away from my family (and my studio!).

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If you could pick absolutely anyone to bring on tour with you, whom would you pick and why? (Dead or Alive)

At the risk of sounding like a mummy’s boy, I’m going to have to say my mum! I wish I could take all my family and friends. As a solo artist sometimes touring can leave you feeling a little disenfranchised. I’ve done tours also where friends have jumped in the van for a leg and it’s always such a great feeling to look across and see them in the passenger seat, window down with their hair blowing in their face, taking in sights of the landscape in around them as you plummet down the highway to the next show. Knowing that you’re sharing and giving that experience with someone is forever rewarding and something I endeavor to do more of as my career progresses.

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How do you like to relax when you’re not writing music or performing? 

Time with family is always a great recharger for me, escaping to the quiet of the country and reading an inspiring book, or listening to the crackle my favourite records as I stare out the window and watch the world go by are just some of my favourite pastimes. I’m a pretty simple guy.

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What have you got in store for the next year? Will you be recording any new music?

Certainly. I’m always looking to add to my catalogue. There’s plans of a new record in 2019!

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What are your major goals or milestones for the future?

At the end of the day, I want a lifelong career as a global artist. It’s a big dream of mine to play some of the big US venues like Red Rocks, Hollywood Bowl ect. I’m also very interested in producing and am building up a studio as we speak; beginning to work with other artists to help them reach their artistic goals and having a whole lot of fun doing it! It’s nice to be on the other side of the microphone every now and then!

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Finally, this is a paragraph dedicated to some quick discovery. Really corny, but for the fans, can you tell me your favorite album, artist, movie, place, drink, meal and person (living or dead) and some brief reasons why? Answer some or all please?

Album: Born to Run, Bruce Springteen – the arrangements are so well thought out, the message of hope is inspiring.

Artist: Toss up between Dan Auerbach, Springsteen and Howlin Wolf

Movie: Not sure, I don’t watch a whole lot! Anything with Denzel Washington and I’m happy.

Place: My Studio, it’s where I feel such a vast array of emotions – it’s where I feel most fulfilled and challenged all at the same time.

Drink: Orange, Carrot & Ginger juice, just cause its fucking delicious!

Person: My Girlfriend Anita – she’s the best friend I’ve ever had.

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AMNPLIFY – DB