Featured Artist: Timothy Carroll
I first saw Timothy Carroll perform at the Joynt in West End, a quaint venue where music lovers go to revel in local talent without fear of a glassing or a pushy princess with heels jostling past.
For his entire set, I was as mesmerised as the rest of the crowd who sat silently drinking in his beautiful music. A year or so on, I’m still mesmerised. Timothy Carroll creates a certain wonder with his cleverly-crafted lyrics, beautiful melodies and the supremely talented cronies that he chooses to create with. This week, Ryan caught up with Timothy as we feature his stunning album, ‘For Bread and Circuses’ which is available for purchase from 
1. Congratulations on the great reviews for your album, it must be nice to get recognition after putting your heart and soul into a project!
Yeah, it’s scary to have your songs judged by critics but it’s good too. It’s important to hear the opinions of outsiders. Certainly I put my heart and soul into this record and I love the opportunity to do just that. I have a 9-5 job too and so I adore the time to spend on Music; On writing and rehearsing and planning gigs and making cool posters, I enjoy all of that.
2. What can we expect from a Timothy Carroll show?
In terms of the show I always think the moments that people take away are things they haven’t seen before and musicians playing outside of their comfort a bit. I hope people will get the chance to really hear the talent of the band and the beauty in the instruments they play - so expect plenty of organ, brushes, clarinet and cello.
3. You’ve got a show at the Sydney Opera House real soon, this must be a real thrill! Tell us a bit more about the gig.
Well I don’t know what to expect really. I played a show last year supporting Darren Hanlon and Megan Washington was in the crowd. She wrote to me later and said she enjoyed the show and one song, a duet called “something else” in particular. When the record was finished I sent her a copy and she invited me to come down for her show in Sydney at the Opera House to sing “something else” with her.
It’s a long way to go for one song but when am I ever going to get the opportunity to play at the Opera house studio again? I am excited to be involved in the show that Megan is putting together.
4. You mention in your influences that you listen to a lot of your comrades in the Brisbane music scene, how has the indie scene in Brisbane influenced you and do you see a strong future for indie music in Brisbane?
I often find myself searching through my music and I always seem to stop on something local. I believe that there is good music in every city but certainly you don’t have to look too hard to find it in Brisbane. Perhaps due to great venues like the old alley bar, the troubadour, rics, the zoo and more recently the powerhouse and the valley studios. There is always something worth stepping out for. The other night I was faced with the challenge of choosing between the Middle East at the old museum, Steve Poltz at the troubadour, Quan at rics, Ben Salter at the step in and Jackson Jackson at the zoo (I managed to catch three out of five).
Working at the troubadour for a year and half was great for my music. Hanging around and playing guitar with Tom Cooney, Nathan Hollywod, Chris Dale and Edward Guglielmino inspired me to write and sing and get to the studio to make this record. I am really happy with the result and working with Jamie Trevaskis was such pleasure.
The future for Music in Brisbane is undeniably bright…but I think the future of music anywhere is bright. Music is a part of the human condition and will be with us always.
6. What’s the story behind the name of your album ‘for bread and circuses’?
Well it’s a complex little metaphor. To quote wikiipedia.
This phrase originates in Satire X of the Roman poet Juvenal (c 200). In context, the Latin phrase panis et circenses (bread and circuses) is given as the only remaining cares of a Roman populace which has given up its birthright of political involvement. Here Juvenal displays his contempt for the declining heroism of his contemporary
Romans.[1]:
… Already long ago, from when we sold our vote to no man, the People have abdicated our duties; for the People who once upon a time handed out military command, high civil office, legions — everything, now restrains itself and anxiously hopes for just two things: bread and circuses
-Juvenal (c 200).
