MPK Chats to
MURRAY
COOK
MURRAY COOK TAKES TIME TO ANSWER A FEW QUESTIONS FOR MORNINGTON PENINSULA KIDS. READ ON TO FIND OUT WHAT HE'S BEEN UP TO SINCE RETIRING FROM THE WIGGLES NEARLY FIVE YEARS AGO.
Obviously, performing and making music runs Is the guitar, the only instrument you contribute through your veins. How long after The Wiggles to their new album, "Testify"!? did you relax before deciding that you had strap I primarily played guitar on the recording, with some percussion and backing vocals. I also co-produced the album with Lizzie and a guitar back on? Alex Keller (Hot Potato Studio and Wiggles sound engineer). I never really stopped playing. Even while I was still in The Wiggles I was playing in a cover band with friends when I was in town. Then after I stopped performing with The Wiggles, I played with a number of different bands. But it wasn’t really till I started playing with members of The Soul Movers that I really felt I’d found my new musical soul mates. We began really working on new music in 2015 and began recording. I feel a real ownership of this band mainly as I’m involved in the songwriting. So, this has become my primary musical outlet.
Do any of The Wiggles' tunes influence the sound or specific tracks from the album? Some of the music that influences me in creating music for The Soul Movers is the same as some of The Wiggles’ influences: '50s, '60s and '70s rock, pop and soul. Also, Jeff Wiggle played some fabulous soul inflected Hammond organ on several tracks.
How/when did you decide that The Soul Movers What sort of sound can we expect to hear on were the right fit for you? The Soul Movers new album? I’d known Lizzie Mack (Soul Movers’ singer and songwriter) for a few years but didn’t realise what an amazing singer she was. She gave me a copy of the first Soul Movers’ album (that also featured founder and guitarist, Deniz Tek of Radio Birdman fame). I was blown away by the music and her singing and approached Lizzie to do some playing together. We began writing and playing together and I realised immediately that this was the band for me. 62
Peninsula Kids – Summer 2017/18
There is quite a lot of diversity on the album. It’s soul-influenced rather than strictly a soul record. There are elements of soul, rock, pop, funk and folk music with Lizzie’s passionate vocals soaring over the top. Something for everyone really.