Of Expanding Time And Fellow Tall Creatures

Think you've had a busy past year and a bit? Take a look at Paul Dempsey's agenda.

Over the past 12 or so months, he's performed gigs solo, with his solo band and Something For Kate, toured Europe, the UK and India, been an artist in residence for Double J, played benefit shows, the Shir Madness festival, the Melbourne Guitar Show, supported Midnight Oil, performed at the Trevor Barker Award night (an award for the best and fairest at the St Kilda Football Club), been a part of the Celebrating David Bowie shows, both here and overseas, as well as taking part in the Vast Project, where musicians and visual artists assembled in Cossack, in the remote Pilbara region of WA, to create and collaborate.

For Dempsey though, this full dance card is something that's been increasingly more common ever since he put out his solo album Everything Is True in 2009. "I used to do the odd, quiet, acoustic solo show here and there, but since I released Everything Is True there was a much more concerted sort of solo career, where I had a band with me and actually had an album to go and promote," Dempsey outlines.

"So basically I feel since 2009 I've had these two careers because Something For Kate has continued going as strong as ever, but now I've got this solo career as well that keeps me as busy, if not busier than Something For Kate. And I guess it's like the more you do, the more you get asked to do. The more active you are, the more opportunities come your way, so then I find myself getting asked to do more production work or get involved with things like the Vast Project or collaborations with people. So it's that thing of… what's the saying? Time expands to accommodate the available amount of work. Or it might be the other way around — work expands to fill the available time. It's like basically the more you open yourself up to, the more all that space fills up. And that's fine, I like being busy. And having two kids as well of course, that makes everything more intense and great as well. I just feel like every year is nuttier that the last."

The next stop on Dempsey's agenda is playing Twilight At Taronga as part of the Sydney zoo's series of gigs over the warmer months. With its harbour backdrop, it's certainly one of the most picturesque venues around. "It's pretty spectacular," Dempsey states. "I guess I've been lucky. We played at Hanging Rock recently and that was pretty fantastic as well. But we're lucky, it's a beautiful country. There's been lots of festivals that we've played around the place where you just look around and go, 'Wow, it's pretty special'. It's just a great gig, it's a great spot and it's all ages and it's sort of like a festival, but like a mini, private festival. It has that kind of atmosphere, but it's really comfortable and everyone gets to bring a picnic blanket if they want to. It's a nice way to do a show."

Do you get distracted by views at outdoor shows?
"I don't get distracted. Once we start playing, it doesn't matter where I am. And at any rate, the audience are the ones that get to enjoy the harbour view. We're pointed the other way with the audience. We don't get to see the bridge and everything.

"I like playing in different places, things you don't get to do that often. So I always jump at the chance. And also to do all ages shows. So it's great on a number of levels. If someone asks me to play on the back of a truck in Broken Hill, I'll probably go and do it [laughs]."

Do you get a chance to go around the zoo beforehand?
"You do your soundcheck and they let you walk around after it's closed and stuff, which is cool. At Melbourne Zoo they gave us a little backstage tour, which is good. And, you know, I like animals [smiles]. So that's fun."

What's your favourite one?
"Giraffe [laughs]. For obvious reasons."

That's interesting, as your stage dancing has been described as like a baby giraffe learning to walk.
"I think I've described it that way [laughs]."

The thing about playing at zoo shows like Twilight At Taronga, is it's not just another gig, there's another level to them as proceeds go towards conservation and this year, the shows are supporting the Wildlife Wilderness App, allowing people to report incidents of wildlife crime. "It's a positive element to the show. I knew that the shows that they helped with the conservations efforts, but it seems to be a slightly different thing each time. The couple of times we've done the Melbourne one it's been to benefit different, specific programs. You're never entirely sure what it is, but you know that element is always there. You're happy to do the gig anyway, that's just another positive. I mean it's like when we go on tour anyway, we've got Sea Shepherd setting up a stall at our show just so they can spread awareness and information and sell some t-shirts and jumpers and stuff… I think the majority of their funding comes from merchandise sales, because they've got a really cool logo. But anything you can do to help in that regard, it's easy for us to do."

As a prominent musician, Dempsey finds himself where he can use his position to bring attention to various causes. "Honestly I feel like I don't do enough," Dempsey admits through. "We do the things that we can that seem obvious to us and easy to do, and then when other, smarter, more active people approach us to get involved in things we're usually completely happy to participate and help in whatever way we can. We're always sending stuff out for charity auctions and things like that. Or you sometimes might get asked to do an interview or lend your name to something. All that stuff, it's a no brainer, it's easy to do.

"If anything you feel like sometimes that you would like to do more and you wish you could do more and it's just about knowing where to start and as I've just described, things are pretty hectic at the best of times. Not that that should be any excuse, but we love it when people approach us and say, 'Hey, we're doing this thing, could you do this to help?' 'Cause it's easy for us to go, 'Yeah sure, what do you need us to do?' Of course you want to have a positive impact in whatever you do, but you don't get to spend all of your time being an activist, because you have to continue to maintain the thing that you do do, which is the reason why other activists do approach you to help out with things. You just gotta do your thing."

And as for doing his thing, Dempsey mentions how at some point Something For Kate will write a new record in the near future. "The Something For Kate album - we've started," he states. "There's a couple of almost finished songs and a whole lot of not nearly finished songs, but there's a lot of pieces sitting around.

"I mean, I thought the second half of [2017] was going to be set aside and then the year just goes. Things come up and it's like, 'Okay, well, it's almost Christmas.' It'll just come together as it comes together."