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Writer's pictureThe Real Ding

GET TO KNOW: Torn Chorus



After kicking off the new year with his much-loved studio album 'The Meaning Of Light', New Zealand-based singer-songwriter Torn Chorus is now looking to showcase his latest full-length with the rousing new single 'Time I Wasn't Here'.


Capturing more of that invigorating pop-rock energy he is known for, 'Time I Wasn't Here' makes for a wonderfully fresh and inviting listen. With his shimmering voice layered across a progressive production from start to finish, he is certainly looking to turn some heads with this one.


So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with him to find out more about his background and influences over the years.



What was the first band or artist you fell in love with?


One of my main, early influences was Jethro Tull. Once I discovered them, I started to buy their albums, starting with Thick as a Brick, and then working back through their earlier material. I also tracked down their music books so I could learn and play the songs on my acoustic guitar. The cover of Thick as a Brick really appealed to me – it was like a full-size newspaper – and I enjoyed the melodies and intricate guitar parts. It was a lot harder then to find printed music/lyric material so I had to scour the music shops for the books and single sheets, but eventually I accumulated quite a collection. It is so much easier these days to access the chords and lyrics to virtually any song you want online.

Did you ever form a band when you were younger and if so, what did they sound like?


Yes, I played bass and shared lead vocals in a band when I was in my early 20’s. The band had a number of permutations as different members came and went, changing the name a couple of times. We started off as Paris 1919 then changed to Crimson Autograph (taken from a phrase in a song called Hey Lord, Don't Ask Me Questions, by Graham Parker and the Rumour). The band played a mixture of new wave/rock covers and our own material. The covers included quite a diverse range, from The Beatles to The Buzzcocks and Iggy Pop. We played a few support gigs at various Auckland pubs and venues but our drummer had a serious motorbike accident after a couple of years, at which time the band broke up.

What has been your primary inspiration in writing music?


I have always been interested in the motivation behind human behaviour (probably stemming from my psychology degree at university) and my opinions on our relationships with the world and each other shape a lot of my lyrics. Writing songs is the way I express my world view and explore my understanding of how we interact with our environment. In the last few years, I have also been inspired by the places I have visited on my travels, including the mythology/belief systems of the local people as well as the beauty of the natural world.

What is a song you wish you had written yourself?


While My Guitar Gently Weeps. Most of my music is guitar driven and I just love this song. Never get tired of hearing it.

If there was any moment in your career you could relive, what would it be?


Not so much wanting to relive a particular moment, but at times I wish that I had continued to develop my musical career when I was in my 20’s, instead of abandoning and coming back to it in my later years. I derive a lot of satisfaction now from writing songs, as well as playing and recording them, but there is a large time gap in the developmental progress.

Which artist would you most love to share a stage with?


Eric Clapton

And is there an artist you would love to collaborate with as well?


Paul Kelly

Where do you see yourself in five years time?


I find that my songwriting and recording/engineering skills improve noticeably with each new release, so I see myself continuing to write and record new albums on an ongoing basis. Over the next few years I will have established a substantial library of material on streaming services (such as Spotify) and YouTube, giving me a strong platform to build awareness for my work, both in New Zealand and internationally.


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Torn Chorus' new single 'Time I Wasn't Here' is available to stream now. Check out the new video for it below.




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