JOYRIDE

Sydney-based musician Rowan Dix aka Joyride ponders what makes a good show, “It’s tough to describe,” he says.

“I definitely try to put a lot of my personality into my show, which basically means I talk a lot of shit. But it is also very dependent on what has been ingested prior to going on stage.”

What kind of “shit”?

“For instance, if you and your mate are wearing a Chelsea FC jersey in the crowd, you may get teased a little bit. I have to say sorry too, so if you want to publish an apology from me to two guys in Canberra, it would be a nice thing to do.”

Dix is nothing short of eager. Something of a jack-of-all-genre’s, he’s toured on DJ duties for Aussie rap moguls Spit Syndicate, yet also lent his attuned bass guitar skills as a member of gothic folk mob Winter People. After touring the likes of America as well as doing many circuits Down Under, Dix candidly admits he’s been “suitably prepped”.

“The idea of doing a little three-day run for my own stuff kind of pales in comparison to what I’ve already done,” he counters.

“But it’s cool and it’s just about going out and showing my wears to the smaller rooms.”

It’s been a work in progress for a man who describes his many commitments as “these arms” that he has to “kind of negotiate when things look like they might get a bit hairy.”

Dix is also a radio host on FBi and works with under-privileged NSW children through the Heaps Decent program. However, it’s come to the point where Joyride is ready to stand on his own, with the help of his three part EP series titled The Gentlemen Trilogy.

“A lot of my favourite songs and songwriters are really great storytellers,” he says.

“People like Paul Kelly and the way that he picks apart the little things of the situation and paints a picture is amazing. I want to do that with my writing.

“There are some songs where I am stepping into the shoes of a 19 year-old kid who’s three pills deep at Candy’s Apartment on a Saturday night. It’s not necessarily my own perspective but people kind of say ‘that’s a reflection of you’ and I’m like, ‘Well no, that’s just the kind of stories I see.'” (CD)

Dec 12, Goodgod Small Club, 53-55 Liverpool St, Sydney, $10+bf, goodgodgoodgod.com