GenQ Gets The Rise (GenQ Music)

Carl Riseley was one of Australian Idol's most popular contestants last year, and the first contestant to be a jazz singer! Carl is releasing his debut album, The Rise, on April 26th, and GenQ Music Editor Leigh May got the chance to chat to Carl about his journey.

Hey Carl, how’s your day been so far?
Yeah, I had a good weekend, I’ve had an easy day so far. Only about 5 interviews today, so that’s not too bad at all …

Sounds easy! Your new album, The Rise, is coming out on April 26^th. How does it feel to have your first album being released?
Oh man, I guess it’s a bit overwhelming, I didn’t know what to expect. It’s a bit scary, cos I don’t know how the public’s going to react, whether they’ll take it on or … you know, it’s all a bit exciting, but I’m really happy no matter what, cos of what’s happened, you know?

The Rise is full of cover versions, and one such track is Pure Imagination, which you performed on Idol. That’s from the original Willy Wonka movie. What is it about that song that you love so much?
Oh dude, well, I did that on the show, and it was during the charity evening for the kids, and I really wanted to do something special, and I remember when I was really young, it was my favourite song for years, and it’s probably cos it was during a scene with all the chocolate, but that song, man, it’s just beautiful! So I wanted to do it on the charity night, and just thought we could do a bit of orchestration, and it ended up being really beautiful, and everyone commented on it, and said that was when I started changing in the show and getting better and better, and I really loved it and just wanted to put it on the album. I used to watch Willy Wonka every week when I was about 7 for a couple of months. It’s still in my top 3 movies of all time.

With the album, and on Idol, you worked with John Foreman. What’s he like to work with?
He’s the nicest guy. We’re really close mates, and he said at the end of Idol “if no one else picks you up, we’ll do an album together”, cos he’s originally a jazz pianist. We ended up being really good mates, and he’s an absolute genius. I saw him do some things on that keyboard that I haven’t seen anyone else do. So I’m very fortunate.

Do you still keep in touch with any other Idol contestants?
Yeah, I catch up with Daniel Mifsud, we have a monthly traditional lunch catch-up, I guess. I talk to Matt Corby a fair bit, but Daniel the most. Everyone’s sort of gone their separate ways at the moment, the next few months is a tight period where everyone’s trying to do something before the next Idol series comes out.

What does your family think of the album?
Oh mate, they love it. I think my Mum plays it like 7 or 8 times a day, and I’m sick of it already… nah, haha. She loves it, mate, she’s absolutely over the moon about it. One of the songs, We’ve Only Just Begun, I actually rang her up when I was trying to make a song list, and said “Mum, I’m looking for a really nice ballad to change around and have a play with”, and the first thing she says is “oh, my favourite song is We’ve Only Just Begun by The Carpenters”, and I was just like “oh, that’s fantastic” so I ended up doing that and dedicated it to her. Dad actually got proud, like “Oh, I’m real proud of you son”.

You’ve only been singing a couple of years, haven’t you?
Yeah man, I was in the Navy band as a trumpet player, and the guy who was employed as our singer had to go on a trip for a few months, and they needed someone to fill in for the rock band in Sydney, and my flatmate at the time, he knew I sing around the house and in the shower, and he put my name up, the bastard. It was really embarrassing to start off with, but I just started singing, and just learnt reasonably quickly, and it was all good. I ended up singing with them for about 2 years, then I lost a bet to audition for Idol, and sort of haven’t looked back.

With The Rise, what’s your favourite track?
Um … I think, at the moment, This Guy’s In Love With You, because it’s a really simple melody, and everyone I play it to recognises it, and seems to know it, but not know what it’s called, or whatever, or if they haven’t heard it before, they love it. That’s how I felt when I first heard it, so …

The Navy’s fantastic ... I'd highly recommend it!

Have you had much feedback from fans since Idol?
Not really, they’ve just all been hounding me for an album, haha! That’s also what I really like about this one, even though there’s no originals on it, cos I haven’t been singing that long, I haven’t written any tunes, it never really interested me. I’m a trumpet player, and I love singing other people’s songs. It’s all new to me, but it’s good that it’s all covers for this one, cos that’s what I did on the show, so I think it’s what the fans wanna hear. I’ve changed around a few songs that they’d already know, so it’s what they’d expect of me.

Did you have much input with the orchestrations?
Yeah, I sat down with John and we orchestrated everything together. I probably had the most input on Reminiscing. I wrote out all the chord changes, we did some interesting things to that one.

When I saw the tracklisting, one song I was looking forward to hearing was The Letter, which is probably the most “rock” track you have on the album.
Yeah, most rock-oriented song … that was mad to record. It was so funny cos that was the last song that we arranged, and we were looking for something different for the last track to record, and it’s one of those songs that, as soon as you press play, you recognise it. We sat down and had a lot of fun … it only took like 10 minutes to arrange, and we just went through it, made a form, and it was just done really quick, it was good! What did you think of it?

I love it! It’s a great arrangement …
It’s pretty funky … and it’s got this sort of Hawaiian hula-hoop bit in the middle of it (scats the music for this part).

Yeah, it’s cool! Onto something different for a second … at the recent Mardi Gras, there was an Armed Forces group marching, and I think it was the first time ever … I could be wrong about that last part.
Really? First time ever? Oh shit, that’s pretty exciting!

You’d have a few gay mates, would you?
Yeah, there’s one guy in the Navy Band.

Does the “don’t ask, don’t tell” thing still apply in the Navy?
I’m not sure … I know it was a while ago, but I couldn’t tell you about now, to be honest. I mean, it mustn’t apply if they were in the Mardi Gras. Did you go?

No, I couldn’t get time off. I really wanted to though, cos Olivia Newton-John performed there and I’ve loved her since I was like 4.
Yeah … I met her the other day …

Oh, I’m so jealous …
Yeah, I’ve got this massive photo of us, and it was so cool. She’s the nicest girl!

Yeah, one thing I’ve always loved about her is that, despite her fame, she’s always seemed really down to earth, and uses her celebrity status for good, to help other people.
Yeah, she definitely is, she just reminded me of my Mum or just someone normal, really cool.

I’m a trumpet player, and I love singing other people’s songs

She’s been in the industry for about 40 years now! Can you imagine your music being around that long?
Um, well, I’d like to think so! It’d have to be something original and pretty big in the next few years for that to happen though. I’m hoping that this album stays around for a year or so, that’s all you can really hope for. Maybe hit a couple of international spots, I’d love to go to New Zealand, maybe Asia or Europe …

What countries did you tour when you were in the Armed Forces?
I did quite a few. I toured all of Asia, Solomon Islands, all over New Zealand, Hawaii, and all over Australia of course, I did the Middle East, Iraq and all that …

What was it like to go to all those different places?
It was great … eye opening! I’ve been to Iraq twice with the Navy, that was for Morale support over the Christmas period. We’d just go over and provide a concert and stuff, try to put a smile on their face for an hour or so while we performed.

There’s got to be a gift in that, going to places that are war-stricken, and take their minds off it for a while.
It’s important man, it’s very important. The Navy’s fantastic, I had the chance to go to a number of different places. I’d highly recommend it!

I know it’s still early in terms of your music, considering the album isn’t even out yet, but any thoughts about your next album yet?
We’re definitely going to have originals on it, that’s for sure! I can’t wait to start doing that, I imagine it’s very rewarding. I definitely want to have a theme to the album, like, you know how Human Nature had the Motown albums, something like that with a couple of originals, not Motown, but something.

Well, we’re almost out of time, so I guess I’ll just ask if you’ve got a message for our readers?
Um … I guess, just to keep in mind the men and women in the Royal Australian Navy, and their love of seamen.

To support the release of his new album, The Rise, Carl will embark on a selective run of dates around the country. He will be performing 2 sets, one with a quartet, and the other with a Big Band.

Adelaide - Wednesday 28 May - Governor Hindmarsh Hotel (Tix @ Venue*Tix 8232 8363 or at the venue 8340 0744)

Melbourne - Friday 30 May and Saturday 31 May - Bennetts Lane (Tix @ Moshtix 1300 438 849 or venue 9663 2856)

Brisbane - Wednesday 4 June - The Troubadour (Tix @ venue 3252 2626)

Rooty Hill, Sydney - Friday 6 June - Rooty Hill RSL (Tix @ venue 9625 5500)

Sydney - Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 June - The Basement (Tix @ Moshtix 1300 438 849 or venue 9251 2797)

Carl Riseley - The Rise, is out through Universal Music on April 26th.

Tracklisting: