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Photo: Nick Onken
We catch up with Cody Simpson to talk about the inspiration behind his new album, Free and his evolution as an independent artist, check out the exclusive GroundSounds interview below. If you’re in the Los Angeles area definitely check out his upcoming show at the El Rey Theatre on October 10th!
Your new album Free is the first album you are releasing with your record label, Coast House Records. Did you feel any pressure in the creative process with the added back end business side of the album process?
Free is my first independent record. I did have to adapt to some new responsibilities creatively and financially. But honestly I feel liberated from any restriction or pressure and I don’t have any expectations when it comes to success. I’m just an 18 year old dude playing guitar and making music. Life’s so cool.
Cisco Adler was a big contributor to Free tell us how you met and what it was like creating the album with him.
We met through some mutual friends and his little brother. I went out to Malibu one day and we sat and jammed and I shared with him my vision for the project. We saw eye to eye straight away and made the record in a month. It was a side of me that had been suppressed for so long that it all came pouring out.
Are there any other artists, producers and or directors that you would like to collaborate with in the future especially with the new direction your music has taken?
I’d love to work with some more blues guitar players and serious muso’s. I’m at a stage in my life right now where I’m improving so rapidly that I want to hang with anyone who can teach me something that will help me get better at my craft. I think nowadays most peoples ego’s are too big to ask questions.
The album musically, is a new direction for you. There is more of a beachy, mellow, Jack Johnson inspired feel to the album as opposed to dance pop. Jack Johnson got a lot of his inspiration from Santa Barbara, California.
How much of a role did the city of Malibu, California contribute to Free conceptually?
Like I said, this side of me had been suppressed for so long that it felt so nice to get it all out of me. There were common flavors in the music released earlier in my life, but I’d never been old enough to be able to say peace out and go all the way there. I think the environment in which you create things can influence the actual craft quite heavily. I feel very different about art depending on where I am. The fact that we wrote this record in Malibu shines through very heavily I think.
Is there one song on the album you are most proud of; if so, why?
Wilderness or Palm Of Your Hand. Very stripped down with real messages behind both. Surfrider foundation got behind Wilderness and we released a clip of the song with a montage of footage from the Santa Barbara oil spill to aid in raising funds for the clean up efforts.
You haven’t just been busy in the studio working on your album, recently you worked with The Coca Cola Company to record a song for the Special Olympics 2015 World Games. Tell us how you decided to be involved with the Special Olympics.
Anywhere I can lend a hand to a beautiful cause is an honor. When they came to me and asked me to be a part of the movement I jumped on it right away.
You are touring the US this fall. With your new sound how will the production of your shows be different, what can the fans expect to see this time around?
Honestly I’m treating every night like a band rehearsal. I’m learning and discovering so many new things every day that every gig is a little different. It’s pretty much just a jam. Only new tunes and some blues covers.
You started your career at 16 years old in 2013. Can you tell us a little bit about not just growing as an artist but growing up in the music industry and the impact it’s had on your life? Did you always imagine yourself as a musician when you were growing up in Australia?
I’ve learned so much already. The perspective it has given me on life is something that would have been unimaginable to my younger self. I’m stoked now because I have the freedom to take some time to chill out and work on my craft. I’m not as a massive fan of the public side of it all so I’m looking forward to keeping low key and making my next project magical. I had always dreamed of becoming a musician but I had planned on pursuing it later in life. I was a competitive swimmer back home and had my heart set on Rio 2016! but hey, you gotta go with the flow and trust your spirit.
“Palm of your Hand” is one of my favorite songs on the album. I like the message that the world is at your feet. It’s also fitting for you and your career now. What can we look for next with you?
Honestly one of my favorite also, this record gave me a chance to strip things down and start to focus on the important things in life. I’m starting a band with some of my mates and we’re going to be based out of Venice Beach. We’ll spending a lot of next year jamming, improving and writing. I just want to focus on the music and take some time to myself to do some soul searching.
At GroundSounds we have a phrase called “Grind Time”. “Grind Time” is where you are doing what you love and are passionate about. I know that Music and Surfing are part of your “Grind Time”, but are there any other activities you like to do on your “Grind Time”?
I also like to take photos and write poetry. I have just gotten into film photography with my Canon Ae-1. I’d like to release a book of my photos and poems one day.
