By MICHELLE HERBISON
LIVING in Australia for nearly 13 years seemed enough time to permit Zeptepi front-man Phil Read to start telling this country’s stories in song.
The English singer-songwriter-guitarist told the Independent the band’s latest album, Coming Up For Air, was its eighth but “probably its first” to explore Australian stories.
“My family came from the southwest of England, so those were the stories that were already in me but I’m now branching out and discovering other stories,” Read explained.
His inspirations for Zeptepi’s folk-post-punk-rock songs often came from old books of folk tales he discovered, with updated lyrics to the band’s own melodies.
“That’s at its heart what folk music’s all about – taking the traditional and making it contemporary to bring to a new audience.”
Read said Zeptepi had undergone various transformations with more than 10 different members since he first advertised for bandmates in 2004.
The current five-piece line-up brought a range of influences including jazz, reggae and celtic folk, Dean said with a bemused laugh.
“It does work but I don’t know how. With the arrangements, generally I’m bringing in the songs and everyone brings their own stuff to it.”
Alongside Dean, Zeptepi now comprises Paul Angas on drums, Patrick Lyons on bass and Geelong region locals Carlos Thornley on electric banjo and Claire Johnstone on fiddle and vocals.
“Funnily enough, Claire is the first person who’s been in the band who’s actually come from the same musical place as me,” Dean mused.
When Thornley introduced Read to Johnstone less than a year ago, she told him her favourite song was The Waterboys’ Fisherman’s Blues – to which he instantly responded: “Alright, you’re in.”
Dean, Thornley and Johnstone recently toured the UK, playing festivals and pubs as an acoustic trio – a “low-key” event to “dip a toe in the water” that exceeded all expectations, he said.
The trio discovered music permeated European culture almost as much as AFL did in Victoria.
“You really pick up on the passion and enthusiasm people have for it,” Read recalled.
Zeptepi will play Torquay’s Cowrie Market at 1pm Sunday, Bellarine’s Harvester Moon on 4 January and Torquay’s Nightjar Markets on 30 January.
