Gareth Paul's
'Make No Mistake': A Deep Dive into Canberra's Music Scene and Bass-Driven Sound
With over three decades of experience in the Canberra music scene, Gareth Paul’s latest single, "Make No Mistake," offers a powerful blend of rock and funk that reflects his rich musical journey. Growing up in Canberra, Gareth was deeply influenced by the local music scene, which shaped his artistic vision and inspired his debut album, Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso. In this interview, Gareth delves into how his upbringing in Canberra and his passion for bass playing have impacted his music. He shares insights into the creative process behind "Make No Mistake," the challenges of blending genres, and his ambitions as an independent artist.
You've been a part of the Canberra music scene for over 30 years. How have your experiences shaped the music you create today, particularly in your new single "Make No Mistake"?
I grew up in Canberra playing in my older brother’s grungy covers band, and although playing covers is a great way to keep you playing and get you learning your stage craft, it certainly wasn’t the originals music I hoped to create one day. The Canberra originals music scene back then was always pretty healthy, with loads of local live music acts you could go see at places like the old ANU Refectory, Terrace Bar, Asylum. So, watching ACT bands like Alchemist, Tree Trunk, Three, Pod People, Empee perform, and seeing these bands create their own original sound and scene had a huge impact on me. This made it entirely possible, in my mind, that one day I could write my own album, and kept me inspired to keep creating. The song Make No Mistake, and the entire album is possible because I was able to go see local acts like this growing up, and that inspiration that has never left me.
"Make No Mistake" showcases your unique blend of rock and funk. What challenges and rewards come with merging these genres, and how do you make it work in your music?
I don’t think blending rock and funk is especially unique. There are plenty of bands out there that do it, I just know I was drawn to that sound very early on and I find it heaps of fun to play. True funk masters are spot on with their playing and all about the notes they leave out, so blending funk lines with a bit of loose rock ‘n roll affords me the ability to not have to be so precise when playing, which comes in really handy as well when you are singing as well.
Your debut album, ‘Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso’, is an ambitious project. How did the concept for this album come about, and what can listeners expect from it?
It was ambitious taking on recording a rock album as an independent artist, and with songs that require other musicians to come on board to achieve that sound – it’s been a long time in the making! I could write an essay on how the theme came about for the album but in short, it’s about three stages of transition and tells a story about people in my life, events that have happened, and finding myself again. The good times and not-so-good, life events, and relationships are all told in stories here.
With influences from diverse bass legends, how do you integrate these styles into your own music while maintaining a distinct sound?
I never went after one bass style, or one type of bass player in particular when learning bass. There are so many styles and different ways to use the instrument, I wanted to know a little bit about it all. So, I learnt how to slap, how to thumb, how to use a few chords here and there, some harmonics, but most importantly, how to play bass and sing at the same time. Across the album, all these styles at one point or another show their head, so I hoped melting down the influences of some very rad bass players that I’ve listened to over the years, I hope my own style naturally comes forth, to the background of my own stories, to give me a unique sound.
What was the process of creating "Make No Mistake" like, from initial idea to final production? Are there any memorable moments or challenges you faced during its creation?
The song itself was meant to encapsulate that feeling of just wanting to go out and let your hair down at the end of a long working week. I got the idea of that feeling when I first heard ‘Flawless’ by George Michael, although not much of a pop fan myself, I really appreciated the energy the track conveyed where you couldn’t help yourself from wanting to groove.
This was the first song we recorded for the album, and we had a heap of fun doing it. We got it in the can fast, and there was very little stress involved. I never kidded myself and knew that things were not always going to be that easy, so when things were becoming a bit of a slog recording the rest of the album, I kept bringing myself back to that feeling of how good it felt to achieve the first step, and to enjoy the process as much as the end product.
Looking ahead, what are your goals for your music career, and are there any upcoming projects or collaborations you're excited about following the release of "Make No Mistake" and your debut album?
Right now, I am so happy to finally have this project done and focusing on putting the album out there to give it every chance of success, which as an independent artist, is turning out to be a momentous task. As ‘Inferno’ was very much about my past, and cathartic through its process, I would be interested to hear what new music, with no past anchors, I might have in me. I get small pangs of excitement thinking about it, but for now though, I am focusing on getting this album heard as much as possible whilst keeping an open mind. If you had told me 10yrs ago that I would have my own solo album out, I would’ve laughed the hardest whilst looking for something to hit you with. I guess you just never know what may be on the next page.