Australian guitarist Hamish Anderson is “electric” on latest album

Photography by emma gilett

Australian guitarist Hamish Anderson will release ELECTRIC his third full length album, recorded in 2023 in Los Angeles. Co-produced with David Davis (The War On Drugs, Lauren Ruth Ward, Miguel), ELECTRIC is a fuzzed out, hard rocking love letter to the electric guitar. Throughout the album he plays homage to guitar legends (T-Rex, Hendrix, Page, Richards) as well as more recent innovators (Artic Monkeys, Alabama Shakes, Lenny Kravitz).

How did you pick the guitarists to pay homage to on this record?

Some of it was unintentional and it’s just ingrained in my playing and the things I have learnt throughout the years from all the musicians that I’ve listened to and have inspired me. When it comes to songs with slide guitar for instance, I’m always pulling inspiration from players like George Harrison, Santo & Johnny, Earl Hooker, Ronnie Wood – players who I always can go back to and find something new in their approach to slide and guitar. I also used a lot of drum loops from records I love whilst making very detailed demos of the songs so I was pulling inspiration from everything from The Ronettes to Al Green to Arctic Monkeys. 

 What was the first guitarist you listened to as a child?

That would definitely have to be The Beatles. The song that made me want to become a musician was Back In The U.S.S.R, when I heard those opening guitar licks I knew I wanted a guitar and to make music. I still find great inspiration from The Beatles and their music.

 What’s the main track on the record and why?

I think it’s the track “So Alive”. That song explores my relationship with music and how it is constantly and consistently a guiding light in me finding my place in the world. I think if there was one song on the record that not only sonically with its mixture of rock & roll, soul and modern blues but also lyrically summed up the album that would be the one. 

 Who is the most exciting guitarist in the scene now?

Like a lot of people I’ve been really loving an artist called Mk.gee. You can hear influences from other guitarists and musicians in his music but he also has his own thing going on. It’s really cool to see a lot of people getting excited by the guitar as an instrument through listening to his music. 

 Who’s a guitarist you would love to duet with?

I’d love to be able to play guitar alongside a true legend like Keith Richards. I’d love to play guitar in Sheryl Crow’s band on some of her incredible songs. And on the more contemporary side of things I’d love to play with artists like Jack White, H.E.R or even Khruangbin. It’s been the best dueling live with Gary Clark Jr. 

 How do you make a contemporary sound on guitar that still channels the 70s?

I was born in the 90’s but I’m very influenced by music from the 70’s so I can never make music exactly like someone in the 70’s because I didn’t grow up in that time. I think it’s important to take inspiration from what came before you but to also try and make it in the context of the times that you live in. All my favourite artists did that. 

 How was working in LA with David Davis?

I had an absolute blast working with David. David is fantastic at taking ideas I have and always making them better. He is such a pro at engineering as well that I’m always blown away by the tones and drum sounds that he can get. He’ll take me out of my comfort zone sometimes by suggesting we try something that might be a really modern influenced sound or something that I’m not familiar with but he always makes it work perfectly in the context of the song we are working on. We always have a laugh and a good time in the studio too. 

What’s the most useful advice you’ve ever had?

I think to trust my intuition and with music to not overthink it. When it feels good that means it is good and there is no sense in striving for “perfection” or something like that because it doesn’t exist. It’s all about feel. 

Who was your guitar mentor?

It was the players that I studied in my bedroom playing as a kid and that I still draw inspiration from. Guitarists like B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Hubert Sumlin, All the guitarists in The Rolling Stones, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton. 

What can we expect after this record? 

Taking the record on the road when the time is right. Hopefully just playing these songs live and seeing how they grow and evolve in front of an audience. I’m incredibly proud of this record and I get a real buzz playing the songs live.