Why Music Is Tate Sheridan's Soulmate

At 23 years old, award-winning singer-songwriter Tate Sheridan has taken the Australian jazz and pop scene by storm. "Music has always been my soulmate. I grew up learning saxophone but quickly discovered jazz as an impossibly liberating art form. I became obsessed with the piano and started to write my own songs. I am in awe of the creative process and I'm always learning. It is really fun," says Sheridan of his background. He's about to undertake a tour with none other than Sir Elton John across Australia and New Zealand, along with releasing a new EP Life Was Lonely. The ANU student stuck close to home when recording the EP, and found solace in the creation process. "I just love to create. I'm often in my own head too much so it is such an invaluable experience to work with a team of people. You talk about texture, melodic contour, instrumentation and it forces you to think outside the box. Collaboration is so exciting as an artist.

"To be honest, I am a bit of a perfectionist. I just want things to sound like the way I always dreamed they would. I pay close attention to detail. Having said that, vibe always trumps perfection. Always. I will always pick musicality over perfection." But the EP, rather than have a solid structure, "... isn't properly conceptual. It was more about showing the listener what I could do. Each track has a different vibe and tells a different story. Yet, I really feel the EP works as a whole piece. It is framed by a naive journey through heartache, America, and history," says Sheridan.