A Lawyer in Love (For His Music)
A month earlier, I had no clue who the hell Shayne Malone was. Then I read about him in the internet, listened to his music and was really impressed. Then I dug deeper and immediately recognised that this not the usual rockstar kinda guy. How could he, because he is living in New Zealand. All this made one thing crystal clear – I need answers. And Shayne has a lot to say….
Shayne, for there probably might be none of our readers ever heard your name before – would you please be so kind and introduce yourself?
Hi, thanks for this opportunity to have a chat… I am Shayne Malone, all the way from down under. I am a New Zealand artist and have just released my fourth album ‘The Crossroad’.
I read somewhere in the internet that your main profession is being a lawyer in trade.
I started playing in bands when I was 12 years old (Elvis, The Beatles, The Shadows etc) and I was making money too. I never looked back after that and played throughout my teens, twenties and thirties, I played wherever I could and it was a great time to be in a band too, because in those days crowds supported live music, which is not the case here in NZ now. As a teen I bought all the great records from Van Halen, Iron Maiden, Saxon, Def Leppard etc. Then Bon Jovi hit the scene with Slippery When Wet and Def Leppard became huge and I said to myself, “that’s what I want to be like”. It was hard in New Zealand though and there wasn’t the internet in those days. So trying to get noticed was not easy. We had some good times and some good supporters though. There came a time that I needed to think about how I was going to support a family, and the music industry had changed dramatically by the time I got married and started having kids early 2000’s. So I went to law school and am a lawyer by trade. It pays the bills and funds my music so it worked out well.
You also have a wife and two children. How does those facts leave you the time to blow out two proper records in just a year or four in three years. Sounds you are a magician….. or just well organized, which for me would be the same. Have you ever had a holiday since 2017?
To be honest: the first album “ONE”, we had recorded in 2010 in rough form and due to limited resources couldn’t do much with it until I released it officially in 2016/17. The band still had limited resources at the time it was released, however, did the best job we could. There are some great songs on the first album but the production is what it is. Those songs are great live though.
The next album ‘Rocket’, the band and I worked hard to get that finished. Once that was done I had no intention to release any more albums for a couple of years. However, an opportunity came about to use some gear which resulted in the self-titled album being recorded soon after ‘Rocket’. I recorded all instruments. It was the first album I didn’t use my band. This was all me and boy it was hard work. I am the type of person who when I start something, I need to finish it. My friends and especially my wife and kids didn’t see me for days or weeks. On that album I really dug deep and had the freedom to do so. I looked at this from a different perspective, especially that it was self-titled. I wanted it to be good. I believe they are some of my best songs that I have written. Yes, it is very Bon Jovi style compared to the latest release which is more Def Leppard style. That wasn’t intended, it just came out and may have been what I was listening to at the time.
It definitely took a lot of organisation and now I feel burned out, which is why I am taking a break for a little while. As to how long a break I have, we will have to see. Ideas may start flowing at any time and the next thing I could have a new album. That is how The Crossroad happened. Again, I didn’t intend to do that album when I did, but I wrote Every Little Thing and then the rest of the songs flowed. So I had to get it out asap because I loved it. I didn’t think anyone else would like The Crossroad to be honest but it seems to be the one that has done the best so far.
Musically you are a self made man. Sounds really fascinating creating all the songs, playing and recording the music alone. You even mixed and mastered everything. Do you sometimes need to have a little outside help?
It takes a lot out of me to do it all myself, but it worked. I love my band and the way they do things. Vinnie and Frazer are top musicians and excel in what they do. They will be back on the next albums. They are the only outside help I have. I mastered The Crossroad album myself but usually have that done professionally. The first three albums were mastered by various engineers. I believe it’s important when it comes to mastering to have someone independent do that. However, The Crossroad was an exception.
Tell me about your song-writing – do you sit in your studio and jam around on your acoustic?
Yes I will write songs on an acoustic, or I might be playing a piano and come up with accidental ideas or melodies. Sometimes I might be playing my electric guitar and come across an idea. I have been walking down the street and an idea pops into my head. A song can be born from all sorts of situations.
“The Crossroad” mostly happened in the studio though. The first song I wrote for that album was “Every Little Thing”. That came about by playing my acoustic one day and I came up with the chorus. When I started recording that song, I ended up singing it an octave higher than what I had originally intended. Everybody asks me why I sing it so high lol. I think that song is one of my best.
And how do you collect your ideas – do you use modern technologies?
Not really to be honest, I think a song should sound good just played on an acoustic. Gone are the days in the modern pop world where you can do that. However, the keyboard/synthesiser plug in programmes available now would be the most tech I get, and ideas do come from that at times.
I’m writing reviews and interviews for 25 years plus now but never had the pleasure of talking to someone from New Zealand. Apart from Crowded House (who I hate!) I don’t know any other band from your country. Do you have a vivid music scene in your country?
Haha, yes Neil Finn is the highest profile artist from New Zealand. There are people who still play melodic rock here in NZ but it’s not as big as in Europe. NZ is eclectic and the music scene is difficult here. You do it for love really. Live music has declined here badly.
Reason we are doing this interview is your excellent new effort “The Crossroad” which is album number 4, if I’m counting right. What do you think is the main difference (if there is one) to all the predecessors?
Yes, number 4. I think the difference with “The Crossroad album” is that I have honed in on my skills. I spent more time on this album. I think there is a progression and that I am doing things better and better each time. I would hate to go backwards and want every album to be better than the last. Some people love the self-titled album better than “The Crossroad”, I think that comes down to taste though. As above, I wasn’t sure people would care about “The Crossroad.” I was wrong and it was a pleasant surprise. Blood sweat and tears went into all albums, but with “The Crossroad “I felt it more. I could envisage a great live show around that album and that is what I had in mind while writing and recording it. The main difference from the predecessors is that “The Crossroad” wasn’t produced for hit or catchy songs, it was more rock n roll and from my heart, not saying that the first 3 albums weren’t from the heart, but this one more so. This album was for me.
The CD contains some of the best music Def Leppard never recorded since 1992 and you probably sound more like Joe Elliott than the man himself nowadays. Surprisingly enough on your previous record your voice had a Jon Bon Jovi feel. Coincidental or purely intentional?
Thank you for your kind words. They are two of the greatest vocalists and frontmen of all time. I am a big fan of both bands. I mentioned above how it might have been what I was listening to a lot at the time. While writing “The Crossroad” I do remember listening to “High N’ Dry” and “Pyromania” a lot. I love the early Leppard stuff. It must have just come out lol. But they are both huge influences on me regardless. I would love to tour with Leppard. They are brilliant!
My absolute favourite of the album is “Stop Breaking My Heart”. Each time I listened to it in preparation of the review I found myself rising my fist in the air and singing the chorus loud but bad. Released 30 years earlier this would have been a massive hit. Do those compliments make you proud and keep you pushing as a musician?
Wow, thank you. It is comments and stories like that that keep me inspired and want to keep pushing as a musician! “Stop Breaking My Heart” is a good song. Actually, that was the second to last song I recorded for the album and it nearly didn’t make it onto the album. I had another song I was going to use instead which was a more Bad Medicine Bon Jovi type song, but decided at the last minute not to and used “Stop Breaking My Heart.” The other song will no doubt be on the next album.
I tend to think “Masquerade”, “Burning Like Fire “and “Smalltown” of the self-titled album are the same style as “Stop Breaking My Heart”. I sometimes think that song should have been on the self-titled album, but I am glad it is on “The Crossroad”. It breaks it up in my opinion. It is a good song that’s for sure. I loved hearing about you singing it out loud and raising your fists in the air – that is awesome!
Nearly equally as good is the title cut on which you’ve packed in 12 minutes everything we love about melodic rock. How did this song come to life?
Oh, I am really happy with this track! I had the album title ready to go and thought maybe I need to write a song as a title track. Two weeks before the album release, I started getting ideas for this song. It came about by playing around with my electric and acoustic guitars and then transforming into different parts. I recorded the parts intending them to be separate songs, but then put them together and made them one longer song. Musically, it took a great deal of work over the two weeks I wrote and recorded it but it blew me away and I couldn’t wait to get it out. It is a personal song and recently I have had to make a lot of choices that required some deep thinking and reflection…choices about life etc. It was like I was facing a crossroad and I was feeling as if I was pressured to choose a path, never to look back. If I chose the wrong path, I would never be able to change things and would have to make it work whether it was the wrong choice or not. This spilled out into other areas of my life and so the lyrics came about rather easily. Vocally, I sang the song in one or two takes and left it as is. I wanted it to feel and be real. Mixing the song was the hardest part.
Which of the tunes on the album mean the most for you personally and why?
I like all the songs on that album, but my favourites are „Hello“, „Time Has Come“,“ Every Little Thing“ and „The Crossroad“. However, „The Crossroad“ is definitely my favourite and means the most. This is because of the relevance to life at the moment and what path I am to take from this time forth, career, family, music etc. 2020 is going to be a big year for me personally and I have choices to make. I hate to be vague but things are vague to me also at the moment. So this song was a result of those feelings. I am certain things will work out though and life will go on. “Every Little Thing“ is high on my list too. I am proud of that song because I believe I put all my feeling into it. My heart and soul is in that song.
I read comments from you about you denying to become a rock star. Come on man – everybody who has the chance to become one would be more than happy. What are your reasons – are you lucky about your status or is it because of the music industry in general?
Yes, I agree, and when I started out playing guitar and in bands, I wanted to be the next Steven Tyler or Jon Bon Jovi. Don‘t get me wrong, I just want to share my music now. I am a down to earth type of person. I love recognition, who doesn’t? But I am not interested in stardom. Success, yes, but stardom doesn‘t appeal to me. I am just me and I hope others enjoy the music I produce, that is all I wish for. I am unsure how else to explain it.
Are you playing your music live or are you just a studio cat?
I love playing live, however, lately I have been in the studio. I played live often over the years until 2015. I would love to take these songs out on tour and hope that one day I will.
As we speak you are probably busy preparing another record or are you planning to keep it more relaxed and release the follow-up to “The Crossroads” in 2021?
It is hard to know to be honest. Frazer, my bass player told me the other day that he is itching to get back into writing and recording. Because I did the last two albums myself, I think he is feeling a bit left out. Who knows, maybe a new album might come about this year. Definitely 2021 though.
So support the man and his visions by buying his music either via bandcamp or from his website www.shaynemalone.com
Andreas Hoehn
