BY MICHELLE HERBISON
PETE MURRAY watched on via Skype as the Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra practiced and recorded his beloved songs from 2003 hit album, Feeler.
The orchestra was recording a 10-year anniversary version of the CD that skyrocketed Murray’s career, selling more than seven times platinum, reaching number one on the national ARIA charts and spending two and a half years in the top 100.
“It was suggested to me that we do a bonus disc with a few tracks with an orchestra,” Murray recalled.
“I thought it was a pretty cool idea but why stop at four or five – let’s do the whole album.”
Murray flew score-writer Rod Ennis to Bulgaria to conduct the orchestra while he marvelled online at the players’ professionalism and “emotional sounds”.
“It’s incredible how good these guys are – they learn everything so quickly. It sounds fantastic.”
A decade on, Murray was still dazed at Feeler’s success and the popularity of his unique sound.
“I didn’t really think I ever wrote songs that were for radio really. I think once people heard the sound it was very different to what else was going around.”
Murray cited his influences as music greats Neil Young and Bob Dylan but stressed his desire for individuality.
“I do try to have my own sound and not sound like anyone else. I don’t know what it is that makes something work and makes everyone want it but (Feeler) certainly had something on it.”
Murray laughed that the widely-run story of his direction-change from rising rugby superstar to professional musician following an injury was “blown out of proportion”.
“It’s kind of funny how that changed over time. I really only played like two seasons of footy but there’s a chance I was making the Australians sevens side,” he said modestly.
Having started learning guitar relatively late at age 22, Murray’s love for music quickly grew but he only considered it as a career toward his late 20s.
Murray revealed he was working on a new original album to be released next year.
“I’m experimenting at the moment working with drum loops. I think you tend to still write the same way you write and I always will but it’s the flavours you put on top of it.”
Pete Murray plays Geelong’s Wool Exchange on 14 March.
