New direction for long-serving muso

Chris Thompson might not have a computer of his own, but that hasn't stopped him making a musical foray on to the internet, writes Jeff Neems.

After 16 albums and long service to the local music scene, singer-songwriter Chris Thompson has still managed to find a new angle for his latest album.

"After years of working within the record industry and enduring many rip-offs by `middle-men', it's time for me to deal with the music-loving public in a more direct and contemporary way," says Thompson.

In 2007, the most direct way is via the internet - to the point where Thompson has followed the lead of megastars like George Michael and is making his new album Snapshot available via New Zealand music website www.amplifier.co.nz.

"I don't actually have a computer of my own," admits Thompson. "But with a bit of hard work and the co-operation of the music community, I've managed to do an album and a video without it costing me a cent.

"It is new territory in a way, but that's good. I enjoy networking very much, and I think record companies have had their day: it's much less complicated to go straight to the internet."

Thompson worked with several local musicians on Snapshot.

"Tim Armstrong - who is a wonderful musician - produced and arranged the music with help from friends and fellow musicians like Brendan Hopping, Alan Grady and Neil Nooyen at his (Armstrong's) home studio in Morrinsville."

Also new is Thompson dabbling in a foreign language.

"The new album features a couple of songs in French, which is something I haven't done before. There's also a song written with local author Graham Hutchins and a setting of a poem by G K Chesterton called The Donkey."

Thompson offers a quick assessment of the material.

"The rest of the songs, some arranged for, and played with, the band, are a mixture of love songs and whimsical observations, including two written as tributes to my daughter Laura. There's some good slide guitar playing on a couple of tracks too - if I do say so myself."

Snapshot also finds Thompson on the internet in another capacity.

"I have a video up on YouTube, of one of the songs from the album, Take Two. This was made by Emit Snake-Beings recently, and features an interesting '60s-psychedelic feel as it's shot through a fish-eye lens."

Although some of the region's musos often whine about the apparent lack of support, Thompson - the man who penned The Big Muffin Serious Band's classic ode Hamilton Hamilton (Greatest Little Town In New Zealand) - does not believe that's the case.

"I think there is a very supportive fanbase for musicians here, and throughout the country. One can expect too much when making original music . . ."

So where does Thompson - who has worked alongside blues legends including the late Stevie Ray Vaughan, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee - see himself fitting into the scheme of things?

"I would describe my music as `folk/rock', because of the sound of my albums and which is basically that of a singer-songwriter. I notice Amplifier have filed me under `adult/contemporary', so I'm up with the play! I'm a rocker at heart."