The John Steel Singers

The John Steel Singers are about to converge on the Kennedy’s Creek Music Festival, having not played a show in the region in quite a while, the opportunity to get amongst some sun and undoubtedly the best surf in the world, was something that front man Tim Morrissey couldn’t pass up.
“I’m super excited! It’s not far from the Great Ocean Road so I’m going to take down my esky lid, as people would say, and I’m going to stay on a few days and get amongst some of the best surf in the world. I’m sure it’s a lot better swell than we have been getting up here in Queensland that’s for sure,” Morrissey says.
Having released a new track ‘Weekend Lover’ in the past couple of weeks, there has been quite a bit of speculation around the industry as to when the highly anticipated third record is about to drop. Entitled Midnight At The Plutonium this album sees the band once again branch out into new ideas and explore various new sounds throughout.
“We haven’t set an exact date for the release of the album, yet we are thinking about early next year,” he says.
“The benefit to this album is that now we have our own professional studio called The Plutonium and it’s decked out like it’s the early ’70s. When we went in there, we lost all perception of time. We were lucky because we could piece this album together bit by bit. Bands don’t really have the luxury of being able to spend weeks upon weeks in the studio getting it right.”
In talking about the new sound of the band on their third studio effort, from past feedback by fans and critics alike, the word funk has been passed around a lot and is a good indication of where the new songs are headed. The perfect description of the new sound, as Morrissey states, came from none other than his wife.
“My wife said this record sounds a lot like post yacht rock. So in terms of bands, we are talking about a healthy mix of Hall and Oates, The Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan. Smooth and funky but in a white man sort of way, I can’t wait for everyone to hear the finished product,” Morrissey says.
Thinking back from their debut effort Tangalooma released in 2010 to the new Hall and Oates inspired third album, it is quite a change in sound. Whether that’s to say that you’ll be hearing The John Steel Singers on Smooth FM anytime soon, I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. Having toured all around Europe in the wake of Everything’s A Thread, Morrissey is eager to reveal that Jonathan Boulet is now an honorary member of the Steel Singers.
“When we had some downtime during our European tour we headed into the studio in Wales and recorded ‘Weekend Lover’. If you listen closely you’re able to hear his vocals. We can’t afford to bring the whole 10 piece band down to Kennedy’s but there will be seven of us and Boulet, so it’s definitely going to be a massive party,” he says.
Written by Tex Miller
When & Where: Kennedys Creek Music Festival, Kennedys Creek – October 24 & 25