BGS 5+5: Wesley Dean

Artist: Wesley Dean
Latest Album: unknown
Hometown: I’m a drifter. Born in Adelaide. Lived in Sydney for 20 years and we left the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, to move to Nashville, Tennessee, in February 2021.
Personal Nicknames: Wes

Which artist has influenced you the most … and how?

John Lennon gave me the permission at 13 to create whatever I wanted to create through music. Mum bought me the Anthology box set for my 13th birthday, and I was obsessed by his raw home recordings. It gave me permission to write my own music and create my music, on my terms. Songs like ‘Working Class Hero’ and ‘I Found Out,’ the home recording versions really resonated with me. It was so familiar. Before that it was Michael Jackson. His presence on stage was like something other worldly. The way he danced and commanded the audience. I learnt about the power of stage presence through imitating him since I was 2 years old.

Nirvana was my favourite band growing up. When I stayed up late one night and watched the MTV Unplugged gig, the next day I strung my Mum’s old nylon string guitar that had been in the cupboard for 20 years, and my life changed forever. Kurt also gave me the permission to be honest and autobiographical. I resonated with the spirit of the music. It hit me at the right time. I was just becoming a teenager and he sang as if he knew how I felt. I wanted to be a light like that for somebody, and dreamed that one day my music could help someone through life also.

What has been the best advice you’ve received in your career so far?

“Major in the major” as opposed to “minoring in the minor.” In this business you can easily get bogged down in all the things that aren’t working, and fall into the trap of becoming a victim about things that don’t go your way. It’s a long road to build anything of worth, and I’ve been in this business for 20-plus years, writing songs and playing shows from small venues to stadiums. I’ve played in every venue I can think of in Australia over the span of 20-plus years, and to me, every gig, good and bad, have been the best blessings that have made me who I am today. I couldn’t think of doing anything else, even though sometimes the struggle is so intense. I could never give it up. My good friend once said, just keep majoring in the major and the blessings will follow. You have to stop yourself daily and ask yourself, “What’s most important? Where are you going? And who are you serving?” That’s what drives me, to be able to leave a legacy for my boys, and anyone who walks a similar path, to know that they will hopefully one day realise that I did everything I can to carve my own way in this life. When you major in the major, the small things don’t seem to matter.

What’s the toughest time you ever had writing a song?

Songwriting is a sacred craft for me. It’s one of the only ways I can feel truly at peace with myself. Twelve notes and yet infinite possibilities. I’ve never had a problem with writer’s block; it’s only when I think about something too much, that’s when the barriers come up and I can’t seem to finish what I started. My friend and co-writer Fred said to me once, “Take a big idea and make it smaller.” I really like that approach. Sometimes the big ideas can seem torturous and can play on your mind for weeks, years. I always put a lot of expectations on myself. I strive to be the best at what I do, because I don’t like to settle at anything worth doing well.

What rituals do you have, either in the studio or before a show?

I practice TM (transcendental meditation) frequently. My non-negotiable routines, in order to feel well and look after my mental health, are eating well, 20 minutes of meditation and a 20-minute HIIT workout daily. I have a history of anxiety and depression, and both practices in the morning are the best way to start my day. Over the years I have discovered that food also has a major impact on how I think and feel. Sugar being the worst for me, mainly. I’m pretty sure I’m allergic to sugar, so when I’m eating clean, I’m in a much better frame of mind. It’s the old “what you eat, you are” mantra. Of course it’s easier said than done sometimes, when you’re on the road. I make sure I know where I’m eating before heading out on the road, so I keep strong and fit to perform every night. Nothing worse than trashing yourself and then trying to perform every night. Which I’ve done a few times. It’s an insult to the people who pay good money to see you play live.

What’s your favorite memory from being on stage?

So many favorite memories. I’ve sung with some Aussie icons in my time. Singing a song I wrote called “Lost” with Cold Chisel at the Sydney entertainment centre the night before it was demolished was one the best. Performing on the steps of the Opera House to a sold out crowd on a national TV show was a highlight. Playing inside the Opera House with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra was incredible. So many great moments with my best friends in my Aussie band. Playing with a band to me has to have a feeling of camaraderie. We are all on the journey together, telling a story, conveying a message. It has to feel like an experience not just a job that you clock in and get paid, but something that transcends the normal every day way of life. People that pay good money to see you play expect that you as the performer take them on a journey. They turn up to forget about the world for a while and just wanna be swept up in a moment and that’s the responsibility of an artist/performer.


Photo Credit: Anthony Scarlati

WATCH: Katie Cole, “Dreams of Mine”

Artist: Katie Cole
Hometown: Nashville, but born in Melbourne, Australia
Song: “Dreams of Mine”
Release Date: February 18, 2022

In Their Words: “This song was crafted during the heart of 2021. Lockdown and limited ability to plan brought about an ocean of anxieties for most of us. So it was easy to mine the current emotional experience out of myself to add to this song about my upbringing. No matter where you come from, we all have dreams and they don’t always live up to our expectations. But we still strive and hope for more. The concept for the video was really just trying to capture the balance between inner struggle where all the shots are inside and mixed with wandering in the wilderness. At any given time people are wired to be composed externally but often feel something very different internally. And this song is all about striving to be more than your current circumstances. So I liked the idea of juxtaposing the video shots between inside and outside to mirror that struggle.” — Katie Cole


Photo credit: Dire Image

BGS 5+5: Kristy Cox

Artist: Kristy Cox
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee, by way of Mount Barker, South Australia
Latest album: Shades of Blue
Personal nicknames: Nil

Which artist has influenced you the most … and how?

This would have to be one of the hardest questions to answer. I grew up listening to a HUGE range of music styles. My parents are big ’70s rock fans, and my pop listened to old time Australian country music and bluegrass. I feel I have been influenced in a different way from all of the artists that shaped my childhood, from Meatloaf and Queen to Slim Dusty and Merle Haggard; they each have given me something. I would say my idol is Emmylou Harris. I love her rawness, her songs and her voice. She is fantastic!

What was the first moment that you knew you wanted to be a musician?

I was around 4 years old when I first told my mum and dad that I was going to be a singer when I grew up. From an even younger age there are photos of me playing the guitar. I think I always knew that it was what I wanted to do. I first performed on stage at the age of 11, and was completely hooked from that moment on. I have a law degree and studied to ensure I had a “backup plan” but I have never wanted to do anything else.

What’s the toughest time you ever had writing a song?

I am currently halfway through writing a song for my children, Adelaide and Ryman. I have been halfway through for two years now and just cannot think of enough words to describe what they mean to me, or how their little fingerprints will forever be on my heart. I think as a songwriter it is hard sometimes to find the words you want to say, no matter how hard you look. One day I know it will come to me and I will be able to finish it as a gift to them.

What has been the best advice you’ve received in your career so far?

I was extremely lucky to meet my idol Emmylou Harris at the IBMA convention in 2013. It was my first trip to the United States, and I was able to go backstage and meet her. At the time I thought I had to perform country pop music, as that was what all the girls my age were doing, even though I was not the biggest fan of it. Emmylou told me that if she could give me one piece of advice, it would be to play music that I enjoy, and if I ever stop enjoying it … that is the moment to stop. I left that day and decided to start recording bluegrass music, because bluegrass made me happy! I am so glad I listened to her. I am not sure I would still be going if it was not for that advice.

Which elements of nature do you spend the most time with and how do those impact your work?

I need sunshine and the beach in my life. Being an Australian and living landlocked in Tennessee has made me realize this. There is something about the sound of the ocean, I do not even have to get in, that settles me. I have begun to notice that if I do not get enough sunshine and don’t do at least four trips to an ocean each year, I become almost depressed and distracted. These elements ground me and help me concentrate on my goals and inspire me to do more.


Photo Credit: Katrina Burgoyne

BGS 5+5: Hein Cooper

Artist: Hein Cooper
Hometown: Mollymook, NSW
Latest Album: True to You
Personal nicknames (or rejected band names): Shane Hooper 😂

Which artist has influenced you the most … and how?

Bon Iver. Something about the first time I heard “Skinny Love” it hit me so deeply, and I think the rawness was something new at the time, which made it special. It was something I could do on a guitar, and that’s all I had at the time…so I went deep and made it my own. From there, I got into a bunch of different stuff.

What was the first moment that you knew you wanted to be a musician?

When we were in high school, my friend bought a guitar, and I did the same thing and was straight up hooked!

What other art forms — literature, film, dance, painting, etc. — inform your music?

Books!!! I read Hemingway, Hesse, Fitzgerald, all the old stuff as much as possible. It helps me play with words; it’s how we communicate and fascinates me!

What rituals do you have, either in the studio or before a show?

I stay in Spanish castles, and I find it rejuvenates me 😂

Which elements of nature do you spend the most time with, and how do those impact your work?

The ocean! I live in a beautiful part of Australia, and it’s right on the edge of the forest and the ocean. It grounds me and makes me produce music I can stand behind.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0kZDtz2Bpmec9iWOxHcXsg?si=svczLit5QIGyV66WucfTRg


Photo Credit: @jessgleeson

WATCH: Best Western, “Peace of Mind”

Artist: Best Western
Hometown: Melbourne, Australia
Song: “Peace of Mind”
Album: Best Western (EP)
Release Date: December 3, 2021

In Their Words: “‘Peace of Mind’ is a restless tune. It’s a dialogue between two people. It’s that feeling of inertia that creeps in from time to time. When your mind begins to wander, taunts you with possibilities and missed opportunities. The song was recorded live with us all sitting in a circle facing one another — the only track on the EP done that way. The recording style seems to have imbued the song with a certain intimacy.” — Zack Buchanan, Best Western


Photo credit: Tajette O’Halloran

WATCH: Portair, “Alaska”

Artist: Portair
Hometown: Los Angeles via Australia
Song: “Alaska”
Album: The Ice That Breaks
Release Date: December 3, 2021
Label: Nettwerk

In Their Words: “The opening lyric is ‘I’ve never seen an Alaskan sky, I want to see it before I die.’ This song is written about my desire to be with nature, to be disconnected from the insane distractions and terrible habits of the modern world, and to be connected to the real world, which is nature. It’s about pursuing your dreams and truly living a life that is fulfilling. Sometimes we need to get away from the city and deal with our trauma in a way that comes naturally. It’s about living the best life you can, before you die.” — Portair


Photo Credit: Ashley Osborn

WATCH: Katie Cole, “Short Story Long”

Artist: Katie Cole
Hometown: Melbourne, Australia, and lives in Nashville, Tennessee
Song: “Short Story Long”
Release Date: October 15, 2021

In Their Words: “I wrote this song hoping to channel some old school Aretha and Otis, but applying a little more rootsy instrumentation. Honestly, it’s the first song I’ve penned where I take back my power in a relationship and call a spade a spade. I’ve had my share of relationships where I have tolerated too much for too long. So being familiar with the phrase of making a long story short, where you cut to the chase, I started thinking, ‘What if I could flip that to a short story long?’ where things get dragged out. Right then I knew this would have to be a fun and sassy song that really contrasts with my more acoustic and sparse songs. Luckily when my producer Howard Willing and I started tracking, he managed to bring in Cheap Trick’s bass player Tom Petersson to play on this song. I am really proud of this one!” — Katie Cole


Photo credit: Dire Image

WATCH: Kristy Cox, “Person of the Year”

Artist: Kristy Cox
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee, by way of Mount Barker, Australia
Song: “Person of the Year”
Album: Shades of Blue
Release Date: February 4, 2022
Label: Billy Blue Records

In Their Words: “‘Person of the Year’ is such a special song that pays tribute to nurses and doctors who work tirelessly to save others. The last 18 months have been especially hard on them. Jerry Salley and Bill Whyte brought tears to my eyes with their lyrics that ring so true and we wanted to bring that to life in this video, in a way that was respectful to those on the front line. The producer Steve Kinney and team did an amazing job completing that wish. I am so proud of this song and video.” — Kristy Cox


Photo credit: Katrina Burgoyne

LISTEN: Angus Gill, “The Scrapbook”

Artist: Angus Gill
Home: New South Wales, Australia
Song: “The Scrapbook”
Album: The Scrapbook
Release Date: September 24, 2021
Label: Rivershack Records/MGM

In Their Words: “My Nan has diligently collected every newspaper article or clipping about me that has ever gone to print and often saved multiple copies of each one. She’s said to me for years that she wants to put them all into a scrapbook and gift it to me. She started to compile the scrapbook shortly after her Alzheimer’s diagnosis, but in the middle of putting it together, we had to make the difficult call to move her into a nursing home. She promised she would finish it and several months ago, she actually managed to, which was beautiful. I saw a pretty poignant idea in this story, which I told to my friend Bill Whyte and we wrote ‘The Scrapbook’ shortly after. Nan’s not doing great at the moment, but it’s very special to me to have this song on the record as the title track. It sums up this collection of songs well because there are a lot of personal snapshots of my life on this album.” — Angus Gill


Photo credit: Jackson James

Returning With ‘Cycles,’ Rachel Baiman Works Through the Stories of Women

Rachel Baiman has never been afraid to delve head first into speaking her mind on the state of the world through her music. But with her new project Cycles, she approaches that task through a new lens focused on narratives that spark empathy in this era of entrenched polarization. Recorded in Melbourne, Australia, and steeped in its indie rock influences, she leans into a new sonic landscape with ease, collaborating with co-producer and Oh Pep! front woman Olivia Hally.

“This album started with the title song ‘Cycles,’ which was a co-write between me and Olivia,” Baiman says. “That happened around 2018 when she was in Nashville. I had been a big fan of hers for a long time. She asked if I would want to write with her when she was in town and I was like, ‘Absolutely, that is my dream.’ So we had that one writing session and it was a magical musical experience. It was kind of like going on a date, like an amazing first date. Because there was such a great working connection, I asked if she would want to co-produce the whole record.”

During her long-awaited first tour since early 2020, Baiman called in to BGS.

BGS: This album takes a bit of a departure from earlier bluegrass leanings. What has been influencing your sound these days?

Baiman: This album in particular was really influenced by the Americana and indie rock sounds coming out of Melbourne and that is what led me to want to work with Olivia Hally. There are a lot of artists and bands that I love from that town in this exciting roots music scene. Oh Pep! obviously was an influence on this record since Olivia had such a hand in it. But also I love Courtney Barnett, Dan Parsons, and The Maes. There are so many cool bands coming out of that scene. That was the impetus for going for that soundscape. Also, a lot of the more contemporary artists that I have been listening to are more in that rock and grunge vibe (probably more so than I would want to get to myself). I’m a huge Lilly Hiatt fan and Margaret Glasmeade as well.

You collaborated with amazing women on this record. Was that an intentional choice?

Yeah I’m always wanting to work with the right people first and foremost, but I definitely was thinking about how I could work with more women. Especially for the thematic nature of the record. A lot of it is written about women’s stories and about family. I did think it would be really cool to work with a female producer and when Olivia and I hit it off, I knew it would be awesome. It did change the environment. I felt very comfortable and at ease in the studio, which ideally you always want to be.

But when you are working with someone who you feel a little intimidated by, that can change the dynamic and limit your free flow of ideas. I am a huge fan of Olivia’s so that easily could have been the case but the dynamic was such that she made it feel very, very comfortable. There was no ego or shooting down of ideas. I think that when you are a woman in a male-dominated space, even if people are trying to make you feel comfortable, there is always going to be a layer of feeling like you are the outsider or that you have to prove yourself. Having that removed from the situation really did make a huge difference.

Bree Hartley is an incredible drummer. She was a rock star in this situation because we actually had to record all of the drums first because of a studio mishap. That’s a really crazy way to make a record. She had to go in there and make 12 drum tracks to nothing. She had one chance and that’s what we had to use and she nailed it. And Shani Gandhi is obviously such a rock star engineer. I was almost shy to reach out to her because she is so established. I was really stoked that she was into the project and she did an amazing job mixing it. Those are some of the chief players and all of them stand out in their fields.

This question is inspired by Cycle’s first single, “Joke’s On Me.” I read that you’d had a bummer of an experience in your music career that inspired this song. Can you talk about what some of the challenges in the music industry are and what you might change if you could?

That’s such a big question. I think a lot of the challenges honestly stem from the way that people in the country are treated when they don’t have a regular 9 to 5 job with benefits. Obviously healthcare is a huge challenge. Any kind of retirement plan is a huge challenge. Just having those basic safety nets that make you feel like if something goes wrong, you won’t be out on the streets and that your basic human needs are met, like health care. That is a countrywide systemic issue. I wish that everyone had access to that because it would dramatically change the experience of freelancing or being an artist.

On the artist side, everyone is trying to create art that is new and beautiful or that innovates. On the business side, innovation is scary because people don’t have a model. There is always going to be a disconnect between the art and the commodification of the art. When you are trying to make a living off of art, you have to have team members that need to make money off of you. …

For me, [I was] getting dumped from a booking agency for no reason other than they were merging and the people at the top of the new company decided I wasn’t making them enough money. It was hard because I knew I had a new record. I knew I needed one more record cycle and I could be there, just nine more months basically. I think that my personal agent would have kept going but he didn’t have a choice. You become a commodity because they aren’t looking at the art and thinking about ideas you have for the next record, they don’t care. They are like, “I looked at the spreadsheet and you didn’t make enough, bye!” I don’t have any big solution, but I do think there are some things we can do as a country to make sure that everyone is doing ok.

You are very vocal about what you think and feel. What is your experience like in speaking your mind through your art about the state of the world?

It can be hard. It is similar to everything in this country right now. It is really polarizing. A lot of people do rally behind it and feel heard and seen and want to be supportive of it. And then there are a lot of people who get mad. I’m trying to think about what makes people empathize with each other. It is a different landscape than it was in 2017. When I put out Shame, I felt like it was a really important message to go out at the time. I felt like this needed to be said and there wasn’t a ton of political music happening at that time. I think people really appreciated that, if they felt like they needed to be heard in that way. I have had a lot of women reach out and say that album has been really helpful to them. That is super meaningful to me.

Now I feel like we have spent four years screaming at each other and everybody knows the sides. We know the talking points, like everything has been said a thousand times. When I was writing the material for this new album I was trying to get below that layer of shouting and work through stories and people. I think generally people can empathize and understand each other as humans. It is just that we get immediately triggered by certain talking points and shut down. I’m not trying to say, “Kumbaya, we are all one.” There are some serious problems. It is about wanting to reach people on an emotional level. It is hard to disagree with someone’s personal experience.

You have been an advocate for mental health and the power of art and music to help out in times of need. How does creating help with your mental health?

It is a necessity for me in terms of my mental health. Some people have strategic ways that they work on their writing and I think that is great. I should probably do it. But for me it has always been haphazard. I have a really strong feeling or a really strong push and then I need to write it down. It needs to get out. It is very therapeutic. There is something about being able to create something new that feels important. I’m essentially a little bit addicted to that. There is so much negativity and destruction and bad news all the time. For me, my anxiety lives in the global news and politics. That is what triggers me. People have different things that get them down but for me it is very much the state of the world.

Creating acts as a real counterbalance when I feel like I can put something beautiful into the world. Especially when I get to do that with a band and go record it and see it come to its full realized potential. It is such a magical feeling because you are actually creating something instead of tearing something down or watching something or someone being torn down. Playing live shows and having that connection and being able to be a part of that magical moment that happens with live music, I didn’t even realize how much it meant until we got to play the first show after the pandemic and I was like, “WOW, I feel like a piece of me has returned.”


Photo credit: Natia Cinco