A sentimental jazz song, a country ode to heartache and a sultry soul gem collide today in another trifecta single release from singer-songwriter, actor and creative cauldron Presley Davis Jr. Balancing various genres across his brand new tracks, Heart of My Heart, Showdown and Convincing Me, all out today, Presley’s eclectic prowess grows to new heights as he steps ever-closer to the upcoming release of three simultaneous albums; Roadside Magnolia, Torana Americana and Birdlife, with these albums forming into the amalgamated Eclecta Trifecta collective, which is out now.
Presley joined us for a quick Q+A
Hi, thanks for taking the time to chat with Hear 2 Zen, what have you been up to today?
Catching up on life admin because this project is taking up a lot of time. I never thought I would be so happy doing laundry.
Tell us about yourself, how long have you been performing/creating music for?
I started writing my own songs around 14. I signed my first 6 night a week contract when I was 17 to perform jazz. I’ve just kept going in all directions and it’s been 34 years since that first contract.
Who are your greatest inspirations? Why?
I am a big fan of Paul McCartney because of his incredible talent and the varied nature of his songs.
How do you create music? Are you lyrics/story driven, or does the music/melody come first? Explain your process.
I usually get the melody and some of the words together straight off the bat. The first verse usually comes really fast, then another. If the chorus isn’t apparent right away I’ll write a placeholder that has the right syllables then come back to it. I often re-write a verse while recording because I have hindsight by then and a clearer idea of the trajectory of the story I’m trying to tell. I like each section to be inspired, so if I only get one piece of a song I’lll just keep revisiting until lighting strikes and it writes itself. I waited 10 years for a song to finish itself like that once.
What has been your greatest challenge so far in performing/creating music?
Keeping a band together which is why I’ve gone solo, if somebody can’t make the gig I call someone else. It’s very difficult to schedule things in advance with five people.
Tell us about your new release, How Can I, Crazy & Petunia, how did it come about?
How Can I is a sultry soul song, from the point of view of someone being haunted by temptation. It just came to me while I was noodling around. I eventually finished the lyrics with some salacious details from a friend’s failed relationship.
Crazy is a Willie Nelson song made famous by the great Patsy Cline. I was up late after I’d been to a party and was feeling pretty loose. I recorded a slinky New Orleans style version of this song and sent it to myself so I wouldn’t forget it and was surprised to find it the next morning.
Petunia came to me through an instrument. I like to play on the mandolin from time to time and this song was in there waiting for me. It is based on my own relationship – a husband who keeps struggling even though he is always trying to get it together. At the time I didn’t know I had ADHD which in retrospect explains a lot.
What advice do you have to artists who are just starting out?
I feel bad for artists just starting out because the industry is in the worst shape it’s ever been. I think that artists should make the music they want, without concern for success – focus on the art and what keeps you interested and growing.
Tell us your favourite Zen practice. I’ve always liked gardening but have also taken up lawn bowls (which before moving to Australia I had never heard of). You have to be in a zen state to bowl well.
