i|v // What do you find the most fulfilling part of being in Compliments of Gus?
Justin // The relationships. It's been nearly twelve years that we've been playing music together as Compliments of Gus and around fourteen or fifteen years that we've known each other. Certainly our musicianship has grown along with the song writing and recording knowledge, but, as you might expect, any friendship that lasts that long is something to savour and continue to look after.
i|v // You've put in some impressive travel miles in your band. How have you been able to balance travelling and family life?
Justin // I've never been able to adequately explain how this works, but it's safe to say that over the last eight years putting an order to family, church, the band, conferences, travel... well, you get the picture... it only gets more complex as we grow so we have to learn and simply put, you've got to compromise to make everything fit. Family first... then the rest of it! We certainly don't take weeks at a time to travel anymore. It probably averages out at one weekend a month.
i|v // How did you get started as a musician?
Justin // I think it just came down to being surrounded by music at home, church and wherever we went. Mum and dad sang and played basic guitar and piano. The three kids picked up other instruments along the way. My sisters took up singing and woodwind instruments among other things. I started with the cornet in the brass band at age seven and drums at church when I was eleven. Somewhere in there I learnt a couple of chords on guitar. Later it was French Horn that I did my Bachelor of Music on and at around eighteen or nineteen years-of-age discovered I was okay behind a microphone and grabbed a few more guitar chords then the band started in 1997. Somehow I ended up being known as a rhythm guitarist and vocalist, two things I never trained on... maybe it shows!
i|v // What fills your time outside Compliments of Gus?
Justin // I'm an associate pastor at Kardinia Christian Church in Geelong (Australia) - that's my full time gig these day. It's a real privilege to be part of building a local church. I still dabble a bit in radio and other media as well. Our creative arts team at Kardinia is full of people who love to take creative risks so it's a great environment to keep pushing myself as well.
i|v // You recently recorded "Seasoned", a Christmas album with Compliments of Gus. What were the highlights of recording "Seasoned"?
Justin // I loved the way "The Tide Will Always Win" came together. It was just one of those last minute ideas that worked. It's not always the case, however this one just seemed to hit the mark and round out the record. It's just Jared on piano with the string quartet and a lyric based around a message I heard from Jentzen Franklin. The band does a bigger version live now which gives it yet another dimension. I must admit I loved doing "Silent Night" the way we did. "The Brave" speaks volumes, and at this point, it's still my favourite. Jared did an amazing job of arranging the strings and horns on this and throughout the record. I love the man for so many reasons, but on this record he outdid himself as an arranger.
It's a strange thing to say perhaps, but I genuinely like this album. I haven't always been able to say that about projects I've been involved with. This album just speaks so well of where we're at, what we're about and doesn't shirk on the true meaning of Christmas.
i|v // How would you describe the other band members in Compliments of Gus?
Justin // Jared: quirky. Bec: not as quirky. Matt: haven't met him yet... he's the drummer; everyone knows they don't talk much. That and of course, this question is an entire interview in itself... perhaps a thesis! I'll leave the detail until I have time on my long service leave in ten years or so.
i|v // What is one of your most favourite music experiences?
Justin // Only one? Hmmm, ok, here's a fun memory... Playing with the Newsboys, Paul Coleman Trio and Earthsuit (remember them?) in New Zealand at Parachute Festival in 2001. I don't know how we got that gig, but we still talk about it today. My guitar broke a string in the first song, we didn't get a sound check and I think we made most the set up on the spot. Genius! Not sure what the other bands thought, but who cares, we were just stoked to be on the same stage and hang out with our heroes!
Another favourite and somewhat of a defining moment was launching our first EP at our uni theatre back in 1998 I think. It still stands as one of the most affirming musical experiences of my life. We recorded four songs, we made an EP, we spent money we didn't have and a whole lot of people actually bought tickets to see us play and then bought the disk. As they say in the classics, the rest is history.
i|v // What's the next project for you?
Justin // I'm toying with a few ideas. Jared will probably let me know what his next big idea is quite soon... until then I've got some solo stuff I'd like to put together some time soon, but really, there's nothing official on the cards. Jared and Bec will welcome their third child in March and Matt and Ali have two boys as do Jodi and I, so maybe we should just plan a fair few play dates that include more Thomas the tank than rock n' roll at this point.