Michael Plater A little Q&A with Australian singer-songwriter-guitarist Michael Plater. Leicester Bangs: Tell us a little about yourself. Michael: I'm a solo act living in Melbourne, Australia. The music I make takes in various forms of indie rock, gothic Americana and chamber noir. I've released two albums: "Rented Rooms" and "Our Past Lives." LB: How did you start out making music? Michael: I started out years ago playing in various bands. When my last band dissolved around 2004 I started playing solo shows, decided I liked that kind of solo approach, and that's what I've been doing ever since. LB: Who did you grow up listening to and how do they influence what you’re doing now? Michael: The main influences I have - the ones that have stayed with me - are people like Leonard Cohen, Lou Reed, Bob Dylan, Nick Cave, Tom Waits. In terms of influencing what I do, I guess what they all have in common is a strong interest in lyricism and an "idiosyncratic" singing style and if I've taken anything from them then it would be kind of approach. LB: Tell us about your latest release. Michael: My latest release, my second album, is "Our Past Lives." It was recorded over the last year of so with a variety of different musicians and instrumentation - violin, electric guitars, piano, farfisa and hammond organ, brush drums, etc. Musically it takes in gothic folk, Velvets-inspired rock, chamber pop, spaghetti western, country waltzes, all kinds of different things really. LB: Do you get out and play your music live, and if so, what can an audience expect at one of your shows? Michael: The live shows I play these days are either solo performances - me with just an acoustic guitar - or they're duo shows, me backed with a great guitarist, Pierce Brown, both of us playing electrically. I play quite often around Melbourne, so if you're ever in the area... LB: What aspects of playing and recording music do you most enjoy? Michael: The interaction with other musicians. LB: Where can people find (and buy) your music? Michael: Check out my website, and MySpace. The latest release is for sale on CD Baby. www.michaelplater.com www.myspace.com/michaelplater