Mushroom boss Michael Gudinski and Melbourne blues and rock dynamo Dan Sultan recently met at Melbourne’s historic Junction Oval in St Kilda where the two discussed the process behind Dan’s acclaimed new album Blackbird, the woes of being a Saints fan, and the LP’s promotional junket.
“Under My Skin, is it true that was specifically something that came out of that Nicky Winmar incident, or the Nicky Winmar incident added to it, or it had nothing to do with it?” Gudinski asks, referring to a famous incident in 1993 involving Indigenous St Kilda football player Nicky Winmar.
“Never entered into it,” laughs Dan. “It’s been brought up once or twice… but people are going to take out of the song whatever they want.” In fact, Dan explained to Music Feeds that the song is about “an obsessed, murderous, drug addicted stalker who eventually plays out their fantasies.”
When Gudinski queries Dan about the meaning behind the album title, he admits that while he has a love for the Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo, the album was named after Blackbird Studios in Nashville where the album was recorded. “I just wanted to pay my respects to the studio itself,” says Dan.
As for the recent promotional grind, he says, “You click into a bit of autopilot, it’s almost like a script. It can be a bit of a pain in the ass, but it’s a lot worse when you can tell that someone who’s interviewing you [is] just asking basic questions, they could be asking anybody those questions.”
Watch: Mushroom Presents – Michael Gudinski with Dan Sultan
Dan Sultan – Blackbird National Tour
w/Stonefield, Way of the Eagle (DJ Set)
Thursday, 26th June
The Venue, Townsville QLD
Tix: Ticketek
Friday, 27th June
Tank Arts Centre, Cairns QLD
Tix: Tanksartscentre
Saturday, 28th June
River Sessions Festival, Mackay QLD
Tix: River Sessions
Wednesday, 2nd July
Solbar, Maroochydore QLD
Tix: Oztix
Thursday, 3rd July
Spotted Cow, Toowoomba QLD
Tix: Oztix
Friday, 4th July
Soundlounge, Gold Coast QLD
Tix: Soundlounge
Saturday, 5th July
Eatons Hill Hotel, Brisbane QLD
Tix: Oztix
Tuesday, 8th July
The Northern, Byron Bay NSW
Tix: Oztix
Wednesday, 9th July
Port Panthers, Port Macquarie NSW
Tix: Oztix
Thursday, 10th July
Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle NSW
Tix: Oztix
Friday, 11th July
Metro Theatre, Sydney NSW
Tix: Metro Theatre
Saturday, 12th July
Waves, Woollongong NSW
Tix: Moshtix
Thursday, 17th July
The Forum, Melbourne VIC
Tix: Ticketmaster
Friday, 18th July
The Wool Exchance, Geelong VIC
Tix: Oztix
Saturday, 19th July
Westernport Hotel, San Remo VIC
Tix: Oztix
Friday, 1st August
Settlers Tavern, Margaret River WA
Tix: Oztix
Saturday, 2nd August
Astor Theatre, Perth WA
Tix: Show Ticketing
Friday, 8th August
Wrest Point Showroom, Hobart TAS
Tix: Tixtas
Saturday, 9th August
Country Club Showroom, Launceston TAS
Tix: Tixtas
Thursday, 14th August
The Gov, Adelaide SA
Tix: Oztix
Saturday, 16th August
Roebuck Bay Hotel, WA
Tix: Oztix
