Until only recently, Pete Murray’s relationship with seminal album, 2003’s ultimate record to chill by Feeler was somewhat strained.
While it tugged on a nation’s heartstrings, selling almost half a million copies and clinching 12 ARIA award nominations through hits like So Beautiful and Bail Me Out, Murray, for many years, wasn’t convinced of its worth and was initially surprised by its success.
“I’m OK with it now… at the time I had some problems with it,” the self taught singer/songwriter tells The Weekly.
“When we mixed it, I thought it should have been a bit more dynamic. But a part of the beauty of the album is that it’s not as well.
“I never listened to that album from start to finish. I just couldn’t do it, there were too many things I didn’t like about it.
“Sometimes you go into a kind of post-album blues. I struggled with hearing anything good about it, and when it started having success it really surprised me, I didn’t think it was going to work at all.”
While he’s slowly come to appreciate Feeler’s lack of dynamism, Murray always had a strong connection with eighth cut off the record My Time, which encapsulated the feeling that maybe he was wasting it by turning back on sporting pursuits – he was an accomplished rugby player – and pursuing a music career.
“I was wondering if I was wasting my time. I was spending all this time writing, for a year at least,” he says.
“I kinda thought ‘am I watching my life slip away here?’”
Murray says he owes Feeler for making him a much more confident performer and person.
“For a long time I was a bit shy and didn’t really believe that things were happening,” he says.
“But I feel really confident when I walk on stage (now). It’s way more comfortable now than what it was 10 years ago.
“I was a bit shy to let loose. I’d always look at the crowd and wonder ‘Are they digging this?’ But now I don’t even worry about it. If they’re not digging it, who gives a sh*t. As long as I’m enjoying it, I know they’ll enjoy it.
“It helps with everyday life for sure, especially in a crowd situation. Years ago I would have been very shy or speak up, but now people know you so they kind of expect you to.”
Feeler was nothing if not the definition of chill, and was a major success in Holland. Could there be any link between his laidback style and the rather lax marijuana laws in that country?
“Maybe (laughs) maybe that’s why they can relate to it more than other countries. Good thought.”
Whatever the secrets of its success, Murray has a reminder of how long its been and how things have changed since Feeler was released: “It’s hard to believe ten years has gone by so fast. I had a son, my first boy, around that time.”
Pete Murray plays Live on the Lawn at Werribee Park on March 16.
