ASH GRUNWALD
Ash Grunwald speaks to me from Brisbane where he is preparing for the night’s show: part of a six week national tour that will see him perform for much of the country. The Melbournian singer-songwriter has just finished Trouble’s Door, his sixth studio album, ten years after the release of his debut and again Grunwald has shown there’s more to him than traditional blues and roots. Stylistically and sonically, along with traditional blues, Grunwald embraces electronic dance music with contributions from production partner Fingers Malone, and when I ask him how he reconciles such differing styles of music he replies, “only in the sounds are those styles disjointed and only in the areas of production. To me, blues fits with everything so it’s quite easy for me to do [to play over a hip-hop beat].” So when I ask how he would label his own music he responds amusingly, “I don’t know. A fusion of blues, beats and bass. Triple B music!”
Grunwald’s storytelling abilities are engrossing and vitally brought to the fore as he explores various modern issues such as racism, government hypocrisy, apathy, fear and other global problems. Referring to a lyric from the album’s title track he explains, “as a society, perhaps environmentally, we’re throwing stones at trouble’s door. Although I have no alternative, capitalism is running rampant and businesses are too powerful and geared too heavily towards making profits. That’s okay as it’s what they’re meant to do but somehow we need to regulate that.”
Grunwald speaks passionately and articulately about the state of the world, especially about the notion that people – through digital social media – have power over the usual media outlets. “Especially in Australia, our greatest enemy is our apathy and turning off to the world around us. Coal seam gas mining for instance is happening to us and our own houses. We can let each other know about it through viral emails and we have the power to circumvent the power of the media but it all comes to nothing if we remain apathetic.”
At no stage, however, is Grunwald forceful with his views. “First and foremost I try and write good songs and I’m trying to make good music that people will like. When people ask me [about political issues] I’m happy to talk about it.” On his latest album he adds, “I hope people really enjoy it. I tried to make an album that’s better than the last and sonically rich, and I just hope my craft improves. The ultimate album I want to make is very soulful yet influenced by new sounds. I want it to sound new but feel like it’s always been around.”
In the end Ash Grunwald’s passion for music and the state of the world is admirable. Not only is the songwriting, performance and production on Trouble’s Door a revelation; it provides us all with ample food for thought.
Jun 23, 8pm, Metro Theatre, $25 + BF, 9550 3666, metrotheatre.com.au
