Jordie lane is an Australian singer-songwriter and storyteller. He and his band The Sleepers are touring New Zealand at the moment, playing diverse venues, from sitting rooms to music festival Coastella. They join Kirsten Johnstone for a live session.
L-R Jordie Lane, Liam O'Leary, Richard Bradbeer and Clare Reynolds Photo: RNZ/Kirsten Johnstone
The son of a clown and an actor/stand-up comic/radio presenter/writer was never going to get away with a nine to five profession. Spending his early years 'in a travelling circus' he saw the stage as the place to be. But also knew the realities of a creative life.
"Growing up, the idea of being on stage, or the ups and downs of income in the entertainment industry - it all felt natural for me to do it. But it's definitely something that they didn't encourage me to pursue. They didn't say don't do music, you have to be a doctor or whatever - that's what their parents had said to them. They did say, it's a tough road."
But it's one Jordie and his partner Clare Reynolds are quite happy meandering along. They work hard, sometimes playing five gigs in a weekend. Clare is a sought-after topline writer in the industrious L.A. music machine, and it is a full time job in itself for her. Jordie has to book her out if he wants her in his touring band.
Jordie Lane Photo: RNZ/Kirsten Johnstone
The family knack for storytelling shines through his songs, and his shows are often half story - often hilarious, at other times poignant. For the songs he plays us today, he's looked to history for the stories, not letting historical accuracy get in the way of a good yarn.
The four-piece today open with a song with a mouthful of a title 'Frederick Steele McNeil Fergusson' - Jordie's Great Grandfather, who fought in World War One, after lying about his age and signing up when he was a young teenager.
"I really knew nothing about him, until [my Dad] showed us this amazing photograph of him, he's have been 16 - 16 and a half, looks like a man who's seen everything... he was in his army gear... it's just so far removed from my life now, or anything this generation of kids have grown up learning about. It's so interesting to think about being in his shoes, thinking 'oh this is going to be so exciting'
"My mum always says 'I'm not creative enough to come up with made up stories', and so they have to start from some place of truth, and if it's from a really weighty piece of history, then it's a great spot to build a story from. And then, we just go for it, filling in the gaps with however you want to tell the story. So I did have a few relatives call up and say 'hang on a minute, that bit's not exactly right' but that's why I love storytelling - it's that bridge between reality and fantasy."
Jordie Lane and The Sleepers play Coastella on the Kapiti Coast today - February 17th.
Music Details:
Artist: Jordie Lane and the Sleepers
Songs: Frederick Steele McNeill Fergusson, Black Diamond
Composer: Jordie Lane and the Sleepers
RNZ Recording
