 “I don’t really think about my instrument too
much, I never have, I just sing. I grew up in a
family that was always singing. It’s part of the
Maori culture. It’s been natural to me since I
was three or four.”
You’ve heard Jon Stevens sing. You’ve heard the sonic boom
of Noiseworks and INXS; the dramatic versatility of Judas in the blockbuster ‘90s version of Jesus Christ Superstar; the
alternately tender and tearing voice of five solo albums; his
powerhouse work with John Farnham and the Black Sorrows.
You’ve heard Jon loud and clear for 20-odd years – longer if
you grew up in New Zealand. But you’ve never heard him like
this.
“I’ve spent most of my life in loud rock bands where a Iot of
times I couldn’t even hear my own voice,” Jon says. “In a band
like Noiseworks or INXS there’s so much energy on the stage
that you’re running on pure instinct. Working on this acoustic
album was quite a revelation. It’s so nice to settle into an
acoustic set-up and hear every note.”
The Works is the culmination of Jon’s last yyear on the road
with the acoustic trio of Tony Kopa, Chris Bekker and Simon
Hosford. It’s a tight and emotional re-crafting of tunes from
three Noiseworks albums, his most recent solo record, Ain’t No
Life For The Faint Hearted, and some old favourites.
“Some of these songs, Noiseworks rarely played,” he says.
“Love Vs. Money we never played live but it translates really
well in this form. Take Me Back we kept pretty true to the
original; Freedom and Touch are a little bit different.
“I really surprised myself with R.I.P (Millie). Noiseworks only
did it a couple of times cause I couldn’t handle the emotion of
it (it’s dedicated to Jon’s mother, who died of cancer).
“Over the years I’ve had so many people tell me how much
R.I.P (Millie) has helped them deal with their own loss in their
lives. To be able to impact on peoples lives in such a positive
way is incredibly inspiring,” says Jon.
Even at low amps, the band’s chemistry is amazingly potent. It
ranges from the R&B groove of Light My Fire (that’s Tony’s rap
in the breakdown) to an incredible bass/ vocal arrangement of
Jealous Guy to a scorching finale of Hot Chilli Woman – one of
three tracks captured live in Sydney in February.
With one of the mightiest voices ever heard in Australian
music, Jon Stevens is captured here at a new peak of power
and intimacy.
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