Noted singer, songwriter, guitarist, beat maker, producer and DJ, Adi Dick, joined Fly My Pretties for the Return Of… incarnation in 2005. Since then, he’s attended the acclaimed Red Bull Music Academy, released the much talked about solo album Our Place plus a series of underground gems including a recent EP titled Spacedust. Excitingly, his return will no doubt hail the return of a few classic Pretties’ tracks to the set list!
How are you? What have you been up to lately?
I've just returned from a 5-week holiday in Norway where I got to introduce my 9month old daughter to her Norwegian grandparents and family members and hang out in the sun with her and my wife. While I was over there I released a digital EP of music as the first of many featuring music I've been making over the past 5 years. http://adidick.bandcamp.com/album/spacedust-ep
What’s your favourite thing about the NZ summer?
Just the general NZ summer feeling - the end of the year, Christmas holidays, New Years Eve, hanging out with family, sun, the beach...
FMP are well known for their outstanding live show. What’s in store for A Day On The Green?
A Day in the Green will see a best of FMP featuring cast members spanning all of the FMP albums coming together to celebrate the FMP ethos.
Have you performed in NZ wineries before?
I performed in the previous FMP vineyard tour at Pegasus Bay and Black Barn.
What’s the best thing about it?
The best thing about it is the vibe. It's such a great atmosphere where people can come in and settle into a nice position, have a drink, eat some lovely food and enjoy the music. The backdrop in these places is usually stunning so you couldn't ask for a better atmosphere. You can only hope for good weather.
What is FMP’s rehearsal process?
Due to the fact that FMP is made up of musicians from around the country who chop and change with each tour the rehearsal process is usually a few days worth leading into the tour. It's usually pretty well organised to make sure we nail everything as quick as possible. Each time means working out who will play on what songs (It'll change each time depending on who's involved), what instruments they'll play and then creating a set list and running through it a number of times.
Will you be performing any new material?
As usual there's bound to be a few new songs to keep people on their toes and to give the punters something exclusive, I'm guessing we'll find out what songs when we hit rehearsals!
Have you ever attended A Day On The Green?
No.
Who is the main songwriter for FMP? Tell us about that process.
I think the main philosophy behind Barnaby's original FMP idea has always been to give songwriters a different platform to present their songs. Each FMP album brings new members to the fold, usually songwriters. The luxury of FMP is that you can make the most of such a big band to do versions of your songs with 4 guitars, 3 backing singers etc and you get to work with some amazing musicians and great singers so it's a pretty luxurious setup.
What’s it like on stage when you’re performing with that many people?
It's great! You're surrounded by the beautiful, rich sound made up of so many instruments and voices. It can be chaotic at times but it's all about finding your space in the music and going with it.
The Black Seeds and Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra are also performing, are you excited to see these bands play?
It'll definitely be fun sharing the stage with these guys and I'm sure the crowd will love it.
Do you like playing outdoors?
I love playing outdoors, as long as the weather is good. On a perfect day there's no better place to see a gig that outdoors and that goes for playing a gig too.
Tell us about your upcoming plans?
I'm currently working on a bunch of new material, which I plan on releasing later in the year. There's a bunch of more song-based stuff that people would expect as a follow up to my album "Our Place" but there's also a lot of other more experimental electronic production and some remixes and things. I'll be throwing things up online randomly but am also looking at some physical releases too.
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Adi will be joining the rest of Fly My Pretties this December for the “A Day On The Green: Kiwi Summer Edition”, along with The Black Seeds & The Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra. The A Day On The Green tour will go to Mud House Winery & Café, Christchurch Saturday December 1; Alana Estate in Martinborough, Saturday December 8, and Villa Maria Winery in Auckland, on Sunday December 16. Tickets are available now through http://www.ticketmaster.co.nz/
Adi Dick is a singer and producer who began his career as front-man for Roots/rock trio Stylus77 in the early 2000's. Active for over 6 years, they had a minor hit with their first single Goodbye which was later released on their self-titled EP for Wellington label Capital Recordings in 2003.
In 2005 he appeared in Barnaby Weir's (The Black Seeds) Return of Fly My Pretties, where his song Get Out was a crowd favourite.
That same year he attended the prestigious Red Bull Music Academy in Seattle, where he spent two weeks studying, recording and jamming with some of the industry's finest singers, songwriters, DJ's and producers.