26 December 2013

One on One: Flynn Wheeler of Taxes



Taxes' Back of the Car Collection has an epic, worldly composed sound with hints of beat and synth reminiscent of a song from an 80's soundtrack. When I stumbled upon the project several months back I was pretty taken aback-- for the overall composition and sound was unlike anything I had ever head before.

Australia born and bred composer Flynn Wheeler is the sole force behind Taxes, and officially released his EP back in October this year. I had a chance earlier this month to ask him about life, love, and his music- read more below!




MF

What instruments do you play?



Flynn Wheeler

I started on the piano, then moved onto clarinet and saxophone for about 10 years, but my main instrument is guitar.



MF

Your earliest memory with a musical instrument?



FW

Chipping the piano key with my tooth when I was about 3. Turns out mum was right about running in the house.



MF

How has your upbringing and where you have grown up impacted your music?



FW

My two oldest brothers played the clarinet and the saxophone respectively, and I kind of just wanted to do everything they did so I got into them as well. Also my Dad was a drummer and singer in a band which meant there were always instruments and stuff lying around to play with.



I grew up in Canberra, which is a fairly small city designed for public servants – there isn’t much to do there except play music or smoke pot. Music was the free option.



MF

Can you talk a little about your songwriting process?

Do you write the lyrics before or after you write the music?



FW

It really depends. I will always write the music before the vocals, but a lot of the lyrics are adapted from some stuff I’ve written down at some other time when I’ve been trying to sort my head out.



MF

What sorts of things do you draw inspiration from in your work?



FW

Musically I generally hear a song and want to write something that makes other people feel the way I felt listening to that. Not quite plagiarism, but certainly inspiration. Lyrically it is always personal experiences. I like to try and write so that the meaning is crystal clear but the subject is indecipherable. It is the only way I feel I can be truly honest, and that is all I ever want in lyrics.



MF

How did the "Back of the Car Collection" come to be? What would you say is the driving inspiration behind it?



FW

I have played in bands for a long time, and being a collaboration there has always been a compromise when it comes to authorship. These were the first songs I really allowed myself complete authorship to. I wanted to write the songs that I have always wanted to listen to but hadn’t heard yet. I went back to the music that destroyed me and made me feel. I have a playlist of those tracks, it’s about as hard to get onto that playlist as the moon.



MF

Three albums that impacted your life:



FW

DJ Shadow – Endtroducing

Blink 182 – Dude Ranch

The Strokes – Is This It




MF
Eight songs you couldn't live without?


FW

Too hard, I’m going to change it to 8 of my favourite rock/pop songs…

Maps – Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Say It Aint So – Weezer
Vapour Trail – Ride

To Here Knows When – My Bloody Valentine

The Modern Age – The Stokes

King Of The Rodeo – Kings Of Leon

D’yer Mak’er – Led Zeppelin

Marquee Moon - Television



MF

If you could meet anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and why?



FW
The person I would love the most



MF

Film you could watch over and over again:



FW

I’m embarrassingly obsessed with Jurassic park and Harry Potter. As in the DVDs are wearing out...



MF

What do you recall to be the first song you ever wrote?



FW

A song called ‘Sporadic Feelings’ with my friend Dave for a band called Polarmoose. It turns out he ripped all the lyrics from songs by The Ataris.



MF

Artists you admire?



FW

Cormack McCarthy.



MF

The most important thing about music is:



FW

Truth



MF

 Your last "oh my god" moment



FW

When I realized I owned a cat



MF

 Every day I:



FW

Struggle



MF

 What do you wish to accomplish with your music?



FW

Truth



MF

If you weren't a musician you'd be a/an…



FW

 …paranormal investigator.



MF

 Your most recent memorable dream:



FW

Partying for two days straight



MF

 The most difficult lesson you have had to learn?



FW

Don’t put yourself in a situation where you have to lie or keep secrets.



MF

A piece of advice you have for artists:




FW

Create what is simultaneously good for you and your audience.



MF

Does music tell a story?



FW

When Springsteen sings it does.



MF

 Do you plan to tour?



FW

At the moment it is just me, I need to put together a band, but yes touring is absolutely on the cards. I am planning on doing a small tour around Germany in February 2014.



MF

Hidden talent:



FW

I can solve a Rubik’s Cube






MF

Favorite lyrics:



FW

L.A. Woman




MF

Where and when do you look for inspiration?



FW

Where – great art from great people. When – Whenever I need it/always.



MF

What do you think is the most important thing about songwriting?



FW

At the risk of sounding like an echo of myself, truth.