Andrew McMahon Interview at his Melbourne Concert.

Last Sunday night I had an interview with Andrew McMahon at his gig in Melbourne. I wanted to elaborate on my phone interview with Andrew and help him get his message out about his Dear Jack Foundation. If you missed the first part of the interview you can read that here. 

 That day was a very special day for Andrew as it was the 10^th year anniversary of him being cancer free. It was special for me to have the chance to interview such a down to earth, relaxed and talented artist. When I arrived they were running late so I sat and watched his Sound Check and had a private viewing of my favourite songs of his. That as well as meeting Andrew was pretty special.

 By the time he was finished my time was cut in half and I had to rush through the questions and cut many out. I also had the chance to ask him one weird question that really stumped him. He was madly signing posters when I arrived. Doing so quickly that he signed one upside down. Even though he was so flat out, he apologized for keeping me waiting and gave me his full attention.

 It was great that he remembered our interview on the phone, was not expecting that so we just took off where we left off.

 

Congratulations Andrew for being cancer free for 10 years to the day. It is great to interview you on that actual day.

I know right what a crazy thing, being on the other side of the world is a good feeling.

How was Sydney last night?

Amazing! It was really great, you know it is funny getting over here and having a big sold-out show there and then this one I have no idea how well this show is doing. It is nice; you go away for a while you worry that there won’t be anyone to watch your shows when you get back.

Do you do a meet and greet for every show?

Yeah, before and after. This one (the one I saw) was a little bit more formal , to fit everyone in and get their stuff signed but I do try and find people at the end of the night, I try and shake everyone’s hands who came to see my show.

That’s great.

How hard is it to look back and remember the treatment and painful time ten years ago. Or is it a case of forget and move on and celebrate?

You know it’s sorta depends, I will still have little flashbacks and things like that, it can be tricky but I think more so now than ever before I look at it differently. Having a daughter now that wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t gone through that, it puts it into perspective.

That is so true, we both know how special life is after illness.

Our last interview we briefly discussed the Dear Jack Foundation But we ran out of time to talk much about the foundation. I joined your Challenge.

Oh than you so much!

Have you been pleasantly surprised about how far it’s gone?

Yeah, we are quarter of the way, in the first couple of days which is really exciting but they tend to slow down after that first push so we will continue to drive at it and hopefully will hit our goal by the end of the year. I think after all this years there is the clarity of thought now and the mission is really clear to me what we’re trying to do and this is a good moment for me to step up and say this is what we’re here for and this is why we want your hard earned dollars in our charities bank account and people have been really responsive.

I could not believe that it was 72,000 people diagnosed with cancer just in that age bracket.

Yeah it is crazy.

Really hope that you make that target, I will keep sharing the message.

If you have not heard about the challenge please click here to find out more. Watch the video as well.

So can I ask you if in the music video for Celia and the Satellite is that actually Celia that you are holding?

That is my daughter yeah.

She is so cute! You can see her in the music video here.

The Music video really complements the message of the song. We joked last time we spoke that you will have to discuss some of the things you mention in the song will be awkward when she is old enough to understand. I played the song to my 16 year old and she laughed and agreed with me. So good luck with that!

I do like the song how it is the journey of your life leading up to her birth which of course was a huge lifechanging event only a parent can understand.

Do you think that your music that you write in the future will be different now you are a parent?

You know I think if you follow the line all through my music it changes as I change you know. So I can’t point out what that effect will be but I think certainly having a new responsibility and a new love in your life is a powerful thing and so I think there will be lots of songs whatever that impact is you know just as you change and grow your heart grows with you.

Maps for the getaway, was that written the same time as the other songs on the album?

Just seems a different in a way than the others.

 Yes it was, it was actually the last song written for the record. There are songs that happened was the end of a record, for instance Dark Blue was the last song written for ‘Everything in Transit’. ‘Resolution’ was the last song written for ‘Blast Passenger’ and these certain moments come up where I think the cumulative writing process and the production and all those things that you reach this moment where your vision becomes really clear and shoot out one more and sort of blast the inspiration and that is what Maps for the Getaway is all about. I looked through the Journal of notes that I wrote sitting outside the house where I did a lot of recovering of being sick and I had moved in the aftermath of that, having moved away from there you know I hadn’t been back for some time and incidentally recording a lot of the record right down the street from there, so if I got there early I would sneak over and sit outside the house and write all these notes. I needed another song for the record and I was like I have this old book of notes written in this weird place that I lived representing a strange time in my life and that’s where it came from.

It is a great song.

Thank you!

 Ok a random question from Emma, my daughter. If the world went to war and you could choose any animal to be the size of a whale, which one would you take to battle?

Ok what? (Laughing)

Yeah weird question right! (repeating the question)

It is definitely a clever question, I’m going to go do with the most hysterical. It will be the size of the world but any animal, maybe you would be funny to see an animal that usually really small like a squirrel! I think that would be mildly terrifying to see a whale sized squirrel.

Yep good answer. Mine was to be a deep sea animal so I did not have to go to battle I could hide at the bottom of the sea.

I like that! Good answer!

 After that we wrapped it up as the tour manager returned and I knew that my time was up! We had a quick photo and I wished him well for the show.

Andrew put on a great show that night. The crowd count was 666 and on a Sunday night that is a huge effort by his fans. If you have not been to one of his shows I encourage you to go!

 

Interview and Photos by Jen Rees