Project Description

Interview with
BRAD COX

(October 2020)

Interviewer – Jacob Morris

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Have you always wanted to be a musician? Was there a specific moment growing up that made you realise you desired this path?  
I’d been singing and playing cover gigs for the better part of eleven years. It was probably around 2014 that I said okay this is the decision, I’m going to give this a red-hot crack for a little while and see what happens.

How would you describe your sound? Why do you think people resonate with your music?
I would describe my sound as Brad Cox, and I think that is the reason why people resonate with it. I don’t try and be anyone else, I don’t give a f**k what people think, and I’ll say it how it is. 

You’ve said that “Water on the Ground” is the most important song you’ve ever written at the time of its release. Can you share its origin and the writing process that went on?
I had the idea for this song after I was driving through Longreach in Queensland many years ago and there was just no grass. It hadn’t seen water in so long. It was really quite confronting seeing all of these farmhouses that had about four sheep standing under a tree. That mixed with a few personal stories of friends of mine and their families who’ve gone through drought inspired this song. I wrote it in a hotel room at god knows what hour of the morning, quite pissed. I can hardly remember writing the song and found it on a voice note a couple of days later. I tweaked it and cleaned it up from there. It was one of those songs that kind of wrote itself and it obviously connects with a lot of Australians.  

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What rural area was the music video filmed in? Do you have a personal connection with any of the people that featured in the clip?
I do have a personal connection with all of the people that are in that clip. They’re very dear friends of mine and I’ve probably spent more time with that family than I have my own family in the last ten years. The video was filmed down in the Riverina in New South Wales near Wagga Wagga. 

Your new album “My Mind’s Projection” comes out on the 6th of November. Is there a connected theme carried throughout the record?
The connected theme would be a snapshot of my life throughout the last two and a half years. A breakup with a woman where I was way more invested in the relationship than she was, as well as driving far too long across the desert and seeing heaps of weird things. I wrote and recorded this record in small stages. There wasn’t a clear finished product that we could see to start with. It evolved as we went on over a few years. 

Of all the new songs on the upcoming album, which one are you the most excited for fans to finally hear?  
My personal favourite would probably be Remedy which came out a week ago with Adam Eckersley but other than that, I’m excited for all of them to be heard because it just feels like it’s been such a long process to finally get them out. Remedy is probably my favourite song on the record but I’m pretty happy with how they all turned out. 

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Did the COVID-19 pandemic impact or influence your song writing this year?
After the first few months, I kicked my ass back into gear. I’ve done a few zoom writing sessions with the guys in Nashville and a few in Australia as well. It’s definitely slowed down the process for me, I’m such a people person…engaging person. Trying to do that on the internet is stressful and hard.

It must feel great to be playing shows again. Any more tours or events coming up soon? What are you looking forward to, and what can the fans expect?
Yeah so, we’ve just got back into New South Wales from being in Queensland for almost three months doing a bunch of shows up between Cairns and Brisbane all up the coast. We’re just about to start the New South Wales run so we go to Sydney, Central Coast, Newcastle Canberra, Wollongong and Ulladulla for the next three weeks right before the album comes out. It’s been pretty different, usually we’re jumping around the stage like idiots, having a great time but this ones an acoustic tour. So, a lot more talking involved. I don’t know whether it’s a good thing or if I should be allowed to freely talk on a microphone. It’s definitely a different way of listening to my music, that’s for sure.

What is next for you after your album release. Where do you see yourself in a years’ time?
I was meant to spend a bunch of time in Nashville this year and probably even more next year. So, I think for me the goal would be trying to get back to playing normal shows in Australia and get back overseas so I can produce the next record in Nashville.

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You’ve got thoughts and ideas about a third record already?
I’ve already been writing a bunch of music previous to COVID, spent a few trips over in Nashville preparing for the next one. The idea is to try and get it off the ground pretty soon hopefully, all depending.

Do you have any long-term aspirations as a music artist?
I want to sell out Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Denver, Colorado. That’s the dream. It’s the coolest venue ever and I’d love to be able to do it one day.

If you could collaborate with any music artists, dead or alive, who would you choose? And why?
That’s a tough one. I’d probably say Joe Cocker. I’m a huge fan and I love his dancing.

How did the Drinking Pioneers section on your website come to be? Did the song come first or the members fan club?
The song came first, and it was just a couple of guys from Queensland that were fans and started the fan club and they turned into really good mates. We’ve been hanging out with them at pubs for the last couple of weeks and they’re great people and huge supporters of me. They still run the fan page and now my manager feeds them inside information of what’s coming up. Members have the opportunity of tickets first, special t shirts and stuff like that. It’s a really cool little community.   

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Follow BRAD COX
Website – Facebook – Instagram

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AMNPLIFY – DB