February 2022
Get to Know…Claire Birchall
Nic: I’m assuming Victoria is your home state?
Yep, Victorian born and raised. I grew up down the coast in Jan Juc, eventually moving to Geelong, and then Melbourne, where I’ve been for the last 20 odd years.
Nic: Are you from that generation where you played in the street after school or the one that came after – sheltered from the outside world?
Definitely the playing in the street generation. Jan Juc was a pretty nice place to grow up. I spent a lot of time walking or riding around on my bike or going to the beach.
Nic: What were your favourite songs when you were a pre-teen?
Luckily my parents are big music fans with pretty great taste. So I grew up amongst the sounds of The Band, Neil Young, JJ Cale, Ry Cooder, Tom Waits, Jackson Browne…. A lot of that music and those artists have stayed with me to this day. I’ve also got to mention, I had my own minor love affair with Tina Turner in the What’s Love Got To Do With It era when I was very little.
Nic: That’s a great bunch of artists for your folks to have. When I read interviews of bands I like, their parents were either were strictly Classical or Perry Como! Can you remember what the first song was that you really fell in love with?
One song that I remember completely changed my life and blew my mind, was Led Zeppelin’s ‘Whole Lotta Love’. I was about 11 years old, and me and my sister were going through my parent’s box of 7” singles, trying stuff out. We found this beaten up old copy of Whole Lotta Love (which my parents didn’t even know they had) and put it on to see what it was. We lost our little minds! Listened to it over and over and over. And thus began our lifelong love of Led Zeppelin.
Nic: When did you realise you were a music nut?
I don’t really recall ever not being a music nut.
Nic: Are you from a large family? Did your folks or siblings influence your musical tastes?
No. It’s just mum and dad, me and my older sister. And yes, they all had a part in shaping my musical tastes. Dad was even the one that originally taught me how to play guitar. Mum played a bit of guitar too, and we all always sang. I learned how to sing vocal harmonies thanks to my family. My parents’ record collection is pretty great. I’ve bought lots of those albums myself over the years after I moved out of home. My sister (and her boyfriend) also put me on to a lot of great music, including some staple favourites like Nirvana and Dinosaur Jr.
Nic: Did you like the current Top 40 growing up?
Sure. Bits and pieces. Especially in primary school, when I was into going to Blue Light Discos and watching Countdown. And I used to make tapes of the songs I liked on the radio. Once I got into Zep, and shortly after, Nirvana, I couldn’t really be bothered with Top 40 stuff anymore. I was too cool for that. Hahaha
Nic: Yeh, once you realise there is more out there than the mainstream chart hits, there’s no turning back! What was the first gig you ever went to?
When I was very young, we, as a family, went to see Kate and Anna McGarrigle. Mum is a huge McGarrigle sisters fan, and she put us kids onto them too. Still love them to this day. Funnily enough, I remember as it was rather late for me to be out at that age, I had a little nap on the floor during the show.
Nic: What was the first record you bought?
Led Zeppelin Houses Of The Holy. After flogging the first 4 albums on cassette, courtesy of my uncle, I thought I should buy one I hadn’t yet heard. Logically, that was the album right after IV. I had to order the vinyl in to Brashs in Geelong. It was $16, from memory. I’ve still got it.
Nic: What are your song writing inspirations?
People, places, life experiences, shifting seasons, things I’ve heard people say… I don’t go anywhere without a notebook. It’s a wonderful source when you’re stuck for an idea. Also, as I don’t drive, I tend to walk a lot, which is prime time for song ideas to come knocking. You’ll often see me walking down the street sneakily (and embarrassingly) singing ideas into my phone voice recorder.
Nic: That is me, through and through. Can you remember the first song you wrote and what became of it?
I can still remember it pretty clearly. Reckon I could play it/sing it if I tried. It was called Unglued. A mellow acoustic guitar Dinosaur Jr influenced ditty. I don’t think I ever played it in a band, or even recorded it, aside from perhaps into a tape recorder. I didn’t get my 4track until a couple of years later.
Nic: I first met you in the mid-00s at a cool little bar in Melbourne when Paper Planes played. Was that your first band?
I was in a band in high school for a bit. We were called Humbug, amongst other names. We even won a Battle Of The Bands at the Barwon Club in Geelong. We did mainly covers, lots of Nirvana (of course). I quit the band after a short time to pursue my own songwriting aspirations, and went solo (and deep into 4tracking) for a few years until I met Stacka (drums) and Mark Brant (bass), and we became what eventually was named Paper Planes.
Nic: You’re probably best known for rocking out with your fuzz guitar in the Paper Planes but there have definitely been two sides to Claire Birchall with your wonderful four track recordings. I love the Captain Captainalbum which you gave to me back then. And now with the Running In Slow Motion album, there’s a third side, which is lo-fi synth-pop. You love it all, hey?
I certainly do. There’s tonnes of different kinds of music that does it for me. And I certainly don’t want to put any limitations on myself as to what kind of music I can make. You’ve got to keep things interesting for yourself. As long as I like what I’m doing, it doesn’t really matter if anyone else does…. but it’s a bonus if they do!
Nic: I can’t help but notice you like to experiment with your home recording. How much is worked out before you hit ‘record’?
I tend to work very quickly when I’m recording. I often don’t have things completely worked out before I press record. Sometimes I’m writing the song as I’m recording it. I like to try to keep a hold of that initial spark, and don’t use it all up. Winging it when you’re in that inspired moment can be the best way to get a good take. And I definitely don’t like doing too many takes. Between 1-3 max, and if I have to go beyond that I start getting edgy. I do like leaving myself open to trying out any crazy ideas that pop into my head as I go along. If they don’t work, then move on. But it’s always worth a try. Laying down each track tends to guide me as to what to do next, and so on. I very much get in the zone, and forget to take a break, eat, drink, until I’m done with the song.
Nic: The last couple of years you’ve been playing with Kim Salmon. How did that come about?
I’ve been a fan of Kim’s for a long time…of course, who isn’t? I’ve been going to his gigs for years, and after a brief introduction by a mutual friend, we started to have a bit of chat whenever we’d see each other. I eventually plucked up the courage to give him a copy of one of my CDs (Electricity, which had just come out). Next time I saw him he said it had been on his car stereo for weeks, which I was pretty chuffed about. He ended up coming to a few of my gigs over the next few of years. Then out of the blue in late 2019 he sent me a Facebook message asking me if I’d like to come on tour with him and play in his band. I could not believe it. He invited me around to his place for a little audition/jam, where I was sure I’d fluffed it, I was so nervous. Thank goodness I passed the test. He certainly challenges my playing abilities all the time, and I’ve really been pushed to lift my game. It’s great, I’m playing guitar better now than I think I ever have. And he certainly keeps me on my toes! But man, it’s so much fun playing with Kim. I’m extremely lucky.
Nic: I’ve spent the last few years working in a secondhand record store and I know that you work in Dixon’s. Like a kid in a candy store! I often like to put on something I’ve never heard before and sometimes you can come across a new fave. Any big discoveries you’ve found?
So many! At the end of each year I’ve been at Dixon’s, I make a mixed CD of all the music/artists/songs I’ve found at work that have grabbed me the most. It’s pretty mind-blowing the cool stuff I’ve found, or work mates have put me on to. And of course there’s been some huge discoveries – Betty Davis, Todd Rundgren, Arthur Russell, Linda Perhacs, Mulatu Astatke… way too many to mention. One chance discovery I made purely on the cover alone is the album ‘They Call Me Country’ by Sanford Clark (produced by Lee Hazelwood). I knew I had to have it on my first listen. Unfortunately for me it turned out to be a very sought-after album, and it was quite pricey. But, the record nerd in me just had to have it, so I still bought it.
Nic: And the question I ask to finish this off: tea bag or loose leaf?
Most definitely tea bag. Dilmah extra strength.