Andy Bassett talks Beatles and Bowie
Andy Bassett believes everyone has been, or knows someone who has been, affected by cancer.
This is why when he celebrates his new album with a launch party at 4th Wall Theatre, all proceeds will be going to Taranaki Hospice.
Bassett lost his wife Trish to cancer 13 years ago.
‘‘She spent her last week in the hospice. Alan Muggeridge, whose studio I recorded in, was helped out by the hospice. My bass and cello player lost his wife to cancer and she was helped out by the hospice,’’ he said.
‘‘It just seemed like they do a lot of great work so when I get a chance I like to support them.’’
Bassett, who came to New Zealand from England for a visit in the 1980’s and ended up staying, thinks he has been interested in music his whole life and has been playing in bands for 30 years.
He remembers getting worked up about The Beatles at four years old and being transfixed by David Bowie as a teenager.
‘‘David Bowie came along when I was about 13 and that was it really. He came on Top of the Pops and sang Starman and there’s that line ‘I had to phone someone so I picked on you’ and he pointed into the camera and I haven’t been the same since.’’
Bassett’s latest album, The Day that Peace Broke Out, was recorded over a three year period, in six different studios.
Although it is a solo album 24 musicians and singers, 17 of which will play with him at the launch party, appear on the recording.
‘‘I like what other musicians bring to the songs. My problem is possibly being too controlling. I don’t tend to be controlling of other musicians but if I hear an arrangement in my head I want to get that down on the recording. So you can become a bit obsessive.’’
The title track on the album is a song Bassett wrote 20 years ago.
‘‘I’ve been wanting to do it with strings on it. I recorded it back in the 1990s with a keyboard faking cellos, and the violins, and oboes and things and I thought one day I want to do that with the real thing.’’
With help from Taranaki Symphony Orchestra, Australian Celtic trio Springtide, double bassist Hamish Cameron, cellist Chris Lewis, and violinist Krissy Jackson, Bassett’s dream was able to become a reality.
‘‘It was amazing. You know when you’ve been wanting to do something for coming on 20 years and suddenly realise you’ve done it.’’
Bassett started writing songs when he was 16 years old and said at that age he struggled to get a band together.
‘‘I never really was able to keep bands together because at that age everyone is either going off to university or working. People just come and go at that age.’’
Bassett said he’s always recorded his songs ever since he started writing and used to record his songs at Alan Muggeridge’s studio in Kaponga until he built his own home studio.
‘‘I started my own home studio on a computer which back then was really primitive.’’
Over his 30 year period in bands Bassett has been a part of Whispering Din, Uncle John’s Band, and Blue Monkey Racket.
The Day that Peace Broke Out launch concert is at the 4th Wall Theatre on Friday 4th May. All proceeds from ticket sales, and CDs sold on the night, will be donated to Hospice Taranaki.
Tickets available at www.4thwalltheatre.co.nz