'Be Careful What You Tell A Songwriter': Clint Wilson Is A Naturally Inquisitive Storyteller

Those that collide with Clint Wilson might be confused when they hear he hasn’t been releasing music for all that long. It was seven years ago, in 2018, his first LP was shared with the world, but it became apparent through this emergence that he’s been a storyteller his whole life.

On November 7th of this year, Wilson released his fourth studio album entitled Actually, It Is You. Despite refining and developing his songwriting practice – a given over time, what has remained for this folk and alt country musician is his incredible ability to build a world within a single song.

There’s something about his music that beckons in the audience to develop connection with it in their own unique way, all the while sensing the emotive layering that Wilson so effortlessly pours into each song. Tracks such as Melbourne In The Winter Time and Rains From The North echo this gripping immersion he expresses so consistently.

It’s no surprise that Wilson has drawn his inspiration from the likes of Johnny Cash, Paul Kelly, and Slim Dusty, all of which have a similar ability to transform life’s undulations into captivating and evocative stories. 

But for Wilson the real magic lies in connecting with audiences through the presence he holds on a stage. 

To celebrate the release of Actually, It Is You, he will be playing shows this month across regional Victoria towns including Archie’s Creek (December 5th), Belgrave (December 6th), and Birregurra (December 7th), with two shows in February planned for Yarram and Beechworth.

There are also whispers of a nationwide tour taking place sometime early next year to truly commemorate the release of Wilson’s fourth album. In the meantime, he is excited to have the album out in the world, especially after collaborating with friend, musician and producer Kevin Bennett.

“I got a friend, Kevin Bennett from Sydney, to come down and produce the album,” expresses Wilson. “He’s in a band called The Flood, which I am a big fan of. I recorded it all with my band so when we play it live it's going to sound pretty similar to the album which is cool. The Flood will also be playing some of the live shows with me on this upcoming tour.”

It’s special for Wilson to be able to foster a strength in the connection with Bennett, particularly because he doesn’t often commit to producing records.

“Kevin's probably only producing one or two albums a year,” he says. “I think he should do more of it though because with the album he was able to create a really honest feeling and sound from each song. 

“Often producers can react to something a band member says, being like ‘Oh, no, I don't think that's gonna work’, but Kevin was so encouraging, whenever I brought something up, he just said ‘Let's give it a go, it might not work, but let's try it and you know I might be wrong’. Having that approach to get the band involved with the production is pretty cool.”

This type of collaborative approach isn’t unfamiliar to Wilson. A collective effort is usually the formula for the outcome of any given song that makes it to a release point. 

“Pretty much everything I release is co-written with a friend,” Wilson outlines. “And then I've got maybe five or six people who I'll regularly jump on a Zoom with and try to write a song. It works really well. 

“I've found my crew that makes the process really easy and fluid. It’s especially easier because a lot of those people are interstate,” he adds. “Sometimes they'll come to the studio and we'll just lock ourselves in there for half a day and try and make something cool. My music is very collaborative.”

It’s not without ongoing creative expression that Wilson enters this stage of the songwriting process though.

“Most of the time I'll have lines in my phone that have popped into my head and any given moment,” he states. “Every day I'll walk past the guitar and pick it up and see if anything pops out, but that results in me going to friends with an idea. 

“Sometimes it’s the person I’m collaborating with that brings the idea for a song and we just riff off that.”

What remains steadfast throughout the process for Wilson is the way a chorus acts as a pivoting point for the development of the rest of the song that brings to life the story.

“Most songs come up because I’ve got a chorus 80% of the way there, and then I’ll get together with people and we will go off that,” he explains. “Rains From The North off the album came about because I was driving into the studio the morning I wrote it, and I passed an old farm sign. It sparked something about my father getting old and the song just flowed from there.

“I definitely think the chorus has to hint at where the song's going or wrap up the whole song,” he offers. “Rains From The North acts as a list of certainties such as kids don't stay young forever and it hardly even rains from the north. It’s about a bunch of things that are definite in life.”

And some things are definite and others remain a mystery, but for Wilson the life he leads all contributes to the music that he releases. It’s no surprise that a previous life as a plasterer with a keen interest in music and devotion to community has led to him building DIY studios.

“I've helped a few mates build studios at their homes, but to be honest I don't really know too much about it. I've had a home studio for a while though and then I got access to a warehouse and fitted it out with my dream studio layout. We named it Ziggy Tone.”

The outcome has been a beautiful timber interior studio that welcomes in artists from all over the world.

“A few of my friends have got studios that are focused mainly on the sound, but people appreciate the way things look too,” offers Wilson. “So many people are filming inside studios now so you want it to look good. I've got some carpentry skills so I was able to do a lot of framing. I was a plasterer for 10 years before I committed to music.”

As a result, Wilson has been able to surround himself with music and musicians, adding another rung to the collaborative process for him.  

It’s a beautiful thing to witness someone embody the role of a story-teller, and Wilson is doing that in all that contributes to his craft. 

Clint Wilson’s Actually, It Is You is out now. Tickets to his upcoming shows are on sale now.

Clint Wilson Live Dates

Friday, December 5th – Archie’s Creek Hotel, Archie’s Creek, VIC
With Kevin Bennett and The Flood

Saturday, December 6 – Sooki Lounge, Belgrave, VIC
With Kevin Bennett and The Flood

Sunday, December 7 - The Royal Mail Hotel, Birregurra, VIC

Saturday, February 21st – Regent Theatre, Yarram, VIC

Saturday, February 27th – Tanswell’s Hotel, Beechworth, VIC