3 minute read
Soulful sounds raised in Red Hill
Soulful sounds raised in Red Hill
With their second album on the horizon, CJ Commerford of CJ Commerford & The Supertones speaks to Sarah Halfpenny about the band's influences and the Peninsula music scene that shaped them.
Tell us about the members in CJ Commerford & The Supertones and where you’re from.
Most of us are spread around Melbourne’s south-east suburbs, but home for me no matter where I am is the Mornington Peninsula – more specifically Red Hill South, where I grew up. Our core members are Lennie Farchione on guitar/backing vocals, Sebastian Farchione on saxophone/keyboard, Dave Flynn on trumpet/saxophone/percussion, Andy Gardiner on bass guitar, Ben Redlich on drums, and me on guitar/ vocals. Being such a big band and with all of us working in the field, it's quite rare to have the band in full, but some honourable mentions who join us are Rosebud’s very own Stu Miller on bass and Hannes Lackman on drums.
With a deep connection to vintage music, what are some of your favourite influences or artists that have shaped your sound?
The pillars of our sound come from some very classic ’70s soul and blues artists including Curtis Mayfield, Aretha Franklin, Al Green and Bill Withers, plus some current artists such as Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings and the Tedeschi Trucks Band.
How have experiences like supporting Joe Camilleri and The Black Sorrows and Ross Wilson influenced your music and performance style?
It’s such a thrill. Even after close to 15 years performing, you watch these guys night after night and they're just on another level. I've really taken notes watching Joe work the crowd and it's been an eye-opener for how vital that component is in our own live show.
Your second album is in its final stages of recording. What can listeners expect?
We've leaned further into the soul side of things for this next release as opposed to its blues-driven predecessor. Albums are a funny thing, and as current as they seem to the listener when released, they're like a time capsule to the artists.
What do you enjoy most about being part of the Peninsula music scene?
This place really brings out something special in the music of all the artists who live and play in the area. It's a creative goldmine. The open mic night in Balnarring Muso Night, which has run for years and years, is my favourite part. Without it I wouldn't have had the platform to explore performing and songwriting quite like I did.
