Monique Brumby first came to our attention as a young artist in 1998 when she was nominated for ARIA ‘Song Of The Year’ for her epic ballad ‘The Change In Me’ from her debut album Thylacine. Ever since, Brumby has built a solid musical career appearing regularly on the festival circuit and winning prime support gigs for international artists such as Don McLean, Shawn Colvin and the late great Jeff Buckley. Brumby’s new, self titled album release is the ARIA Award winning singer/songwriter’s 5th solo album.
What was your first guitar?
My first guitar was a late 80’s Yamaha steel string full body acoustic.
What’s your main guitar now?
My main guitar now is a Taylor 314ce Acoustic
Through what amp and why?
I have 2 acoustic guitar amps I play through.
– The first is the ZT 200 watt Lunchbox LBA1. I use this mainly for touring because I can carry it on as hand luggage on planes and it can also be linked to an external speaker. The tone is surprisingly good and has enough cut coupled with my clean LR Baggs DI that I run in stereo with the amp and pedals.
– The second is a Marshall 50watt As50D. I chose this amp as it coupled really nicely with the sound of my Taylor and has good detail with the EQ settings plus a reverse phase switch, always handy for live band shows.
Which pedals are your standards?
I use an Electro-Harmonix memory man vibrato delay with a Seymour Duncan gain booster and Overdrive OD-3. My Tube Screamer is currently out of action but probably my favourite overdrive pedal for acoustic. I split my signal so I have one side going through my pedals and amp and the other is clean through my LR Baggs DI. The LR Baggs is sensational. It has a Phase reverse, a notch control, mid sweep, low, mid, presence and high attenuation functions giving you lots of control for lush acoustic tones enabling me to keep my sound thick and rich without feeding back or being too brittle.
What’s your latest recording and when will you be back in the studio?
My latest release is my self titled album, my 5th studio album. I tracked the drums and electric guitars at Thirty Mill Studios Melbourne and recorded the rest of it in my home studio Silver Dollars using my own gear and co-producing it with my guitarist Nick Larkins. I’m working on a project with sound engineer/producer Angus Davidson just outside of Melbourne over the next few months and back in the Thirty Mill in February 2015 to track my next solo album.
What gigs have you been playing lately?
The last run of shows I did were earlier this year in March. We played a big full band show at The Spotted Mallard in Melbourne, the Spiegeltent in Adelaide and outdoors on the main stage at MONA.
Most memorable gig?
My most memorable gig would have to be opening for Jeff Buckley back in 1995 as a fresh faced 20 year old at the Phoenician Club in Sydney. It was memorable because at that time it was the biggest audience I played to – probably about 600 people and Jeff was so kind and friendly not to mention musically inspirational.
Worst stage nightmare?
Worst stage nightmare was opening of for Wendy Matthews in a regional Victorian theatre and back in 1998 as a solo artist and being verbally abused by a gentleman in the front row who was then arrested during my performance when 4 police officers appeared, streamed down the aisles and took him out. Apparently he’d just got out of prison and was wanted in relation to several indiscretions. I sold lots of merch that night, I think people felt sorry for me.
Album that changed your life?
Thriller Michael Jackson
What gigs are coming up in the next few months?
June 14, Launceston, Fresh on Charles
June 15, Hobart, MONA
June 28, Adelaide, Wheatsheaf
July 12, Sydney, Oxford Art Factory
July 19, Melbourne, Northcote Social Club
July 20, Hepburn Springs, Old Hepburn Hotel
July 26, Byron Bay, The Treehouse
July 27, Brisbane, Dowse Bar
August 2, Hobart, Brisbane Hotel
August 16, Melbourne, Flying Saucer Club ElsterNwick
A guitar tip for the kids?
Play what you like, play all the time and don’t ever stop.