Singer Amy Shark credits Gold Coast Titans for helping to launch her career
The most resilient performer to pass through the Gold Coast Titans might just be someone who never had to make a tackle, writes Crash Craddock.
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THE most resilient performer to pass through the Gold Coast Titans might just be someone who never had to make a tackle.
Gold Coast sing-songwriter Amy Shark, who has just released a new single Everybody Rise, spent five years working in a series of different roles at the club.
Shark believes without their support she might never have made it as the chart-topping success she is today after she overcame all sorts of challenges on the way.
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Did your music get much of an airing at the Titans?
I played everywhere. I played at the corporate rooms, on the field. That club believed in me so much. I am so appreciative. That’s why I can’t not follow them and why I will always owe them. It was more than just the club and the team. For me it was at a time when I was trying to do something and I had a full-time job my staff and workmates and my boss Matthew Francis were so incredible to me. If I did not have their support I’m not sure I would have had the time to write the songs.
What was the toughest gig you ever played?
There were so many. God I don’t even know where to start. I’ve gone from playing at hairdressers to car dealerships. Then there was a cafe that I pretty much begged to play in because I needed money and I was trying to get more gigs. I was running late for the gig and parked in a towaway zone without knowing it and my car got towed away. I had to call my nan and said “my car has been towed away and I can’t afford to get it back.’’ That was the worst day of my life. I was in tears.
AC-DC sang 40 years ago it’s a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll. Is it still that way?
It’s a great song. And it’s right. It is a long way to the top and I don’t think you ever really get there.
Once you think you are at the top you realise there is a long way to go. It never ends. I thought I had broken through but people then starting expect more of you and – worse – you start expecting more of yourself. The pressure I put on myself to perform and put on big live shows … the bar seems to go higher and higher.
How did you first start at the Titans?
My husband (Shane) started working there in the finance department. I got to know everyone there because of him. I tried to get their community arm – Titans for Tomorrow – going and had all these great program ideas for Indigenous youth to go out rural communities. I really believed in what they were trying to do and was a big fan of Preston Campbell and Dean Widders and just knew I would learn a lot being on the road with them.
Where did life on the road take you?
We had workshops and would take players out to Mornington Island and Doomadgee. Because I had a bit of an acting and theatre background I liked running those workshops and helping kids with their resumes. There were so many things we take for granted that are not available in places like that. I had a video background and no-one really knew it. I told Preston I would take my camera and film him with the kids because I knew people would love it. I did it for five years and loved every second of it.
Who were your favourite Gold Coast players?
Preston was. When I got to work with him I was so excited and I really like Luke Bailey. We called him Bull because he was this massive player but when I met him he was so sweet and kind.
Elton John recently interviewed you for his podcast. What did you make of him?
When he walks in a room there is this weird feeling you know you are in the presence of someone very, very famous, classic and legendary. It took me a while to get into his questions because I just kept looking at him in disbelief.
He knows more about Australian music than I ever would. He knows details and back catalogues … not just me but other indie artists. I thought he might know my songs Adore or I Said Hi but he knew Idiot and Psycho … everything.
How tough were the early days or your career? Were you ever close to giving up on the dream?
I had completely given up. I was done. That is why I threw myself into my job at the Titans. My partner had more faith in me than I had in myself.
So what kept you going?
That fact that I legitimately loved writing songs. I did not want heaps of money. I love crafting together words with melodies. I am so glad I kept going and that Shane kept pushing. The universe just was not letting me give up. When my songs blew up it was just great because I was beaten down so many times and had been down so many avenues.
So you thought it was all over?
I pulled favours. I listened to advice. Nothing was working. All I knew I loved writing songs and do you know the minute I decided I could not give a shit any more was the minute everything took off.
Modern music goes everywhere. Is there any little pocket of the world where you can’t believe you sold a record?
There was one funny time when Adore went No 1 in Qatar. I did not even know where it was. And also in Germany. I had barely scraped the surface in Germany and shows were being sold out and we had to get bigger rooms. They put my song on a perfume add. It just shows the power of matching music with imagery.
When you say you used to work at the Titans, what did that involve?
I used to do stats on the big screen and contest for social media and change the guttering on the website at night. I had a hybrid role. I would jump in to anything. It was full on. I was busier then than I am now!
They say the mood of a rugby league club on a Monday morning is either joy or despair depending on what happened on the weekend. Did you find that?
Every time. If we had a win everyone would be on a high and high fiving over coffee. It was a rollercoaster.
Can you remember the moment when you first heard one of your songs on the radio?
Yes. For me the only radio station that mattered was JJJ because they played DIY stuff where you did not need a record label. I wrote a song called Spits On Girls and I was in Brisbane seeing a friend and I was just about to get in the car and I got a call from a girlfriend saying “you are on the radio.’ It felt crazy. I got in the car and heard some of it. It was the best feeling in the world.
Originally published as Singer Amy Shark credits Gold Coast Titans for helping to launch her career