Tim Wheatley

With another tour under his belt, Australian musician Tim Wheatley has headed back to his current residence in Los Angeles.

Wheatley, who started performing at the age of 16, has just released his latest single, Valerie. “It [Valerie], began with an insight into the fractured relationship between Shelton and his adopted mother Valerie - the matriarch of the Darryl Lea chocolate family,” says Wheatley.

The nostalgic song is the lead single on Wheatley’s debut solo album, Cast of Yesterday. Music News recently caught up with the talented musician to discuss his Australian tour and love of performing live.

Music News - What can you tell me about your early days as performer?

I've been performing in bars and clubs since I was 16 with my old band The Sparrows, until around 2009 when I decided to do it by myself. The Sparrows toured up and down the east coast of Australia countless times and even did some time in London playing a residency at the Barfly in Camden.

I did my fair-share of session work with a lot of Sony acts too over the years. I'm not going to mention them but if you look hard enough on YouTube you would be quite surprised to see me backing some unlikely acts. haha

But performing live has always been the part of the business I genuinely love the most. And thus I have spent countless months on the road touring solo and performing whenever possible.

Music News - Which artists have inspired and influenced you?

I think of all the bands, 'The Band' are just unsurpassed. Also Jackson Browne, Springsteen, Tim Buckley & John Prine, depending on the day.

Music News - You have just released your latest single, Valerie. What is the song about?

It's a true story based in my hometown Melbourne. A famous confectionery family in Australia had an adopted son called Shelton Lea. The matriarch, Valerie Lea gave Shelton a pretty tough time growing up, so Shelton ran away and ended up in and out of prison for petty crimes until he was 21. Then he went on to become a renowned Poet and bookstore owner just around the corer from where I lived.

Music News - Where do you draw inspiration from when you write songs and what’s your favourite part about the process?

I think I am quite literal when I write, constantly writing down things I see, hear and read as it all happens around me. I think my favourite part of the writing process is after you have found your hook or melody; I look back through the things I observed and apply it to the song. It's interesting to look back over passing thoughts that made sense at the time or seemed interesting. But out of context, make absolutely no sense.

Music News –How was your latest Australian tour?

It was a long and cold winter tour, and as always some shows are better than others... But the response was so overwhelming! I have been living in LA for the last few years so I was very grateful to have the opportunity to see my family back home.

Music News - Considering that the music industry is so fickle, what advice would you give to musicians starting out?

My advice never changes. Perform live. The music business relies so much on luck... By playing as often as possible you increase your chances of being 'at the right place at the right time'. There is a lot to learn about performing live, and you always learn more from the 'bad' shows than you do from the 'good' ones.

Music News - If you could perform with anyone, either living or passed, who would it be?

Gram Parsons

Music News - Music aside, what do you like doing in your spare time?

If I'm not writing or playing, I'll be at the beach, reading, boxing, daydreaming... Anything to avoid whatever it is I 'should' be doing.

Music News - Anything you would like to share with Music-News?

My debut album 'Cast Of Yesterday' is out on iTunes! And I can't wait to get on the road and play some shows around the world...