Interview: Newton Faulkner
16th July 2013
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With a number one album followed up by a world tour, all eyes were on Newton Faulkner in 2012.
This year he has rewarded his fans by allowing them to watch the entire recording process for his upcoming album Studio zoo live. The National Student went down to Faulkner’s studio to see how it was all going.
For Faulkner, the idea for filming the recording of Studio zoo was a lot more modest: "The idea started off so small and unobtrusive. I envisioned one CCTV camera in the studio with no sound and bad quality. But a meeting with his label changed things: we had a meeting with Sony who we thought would be against the idea, which they weren’t at all. Since then it has snowballed into a massive project, it’s crazy!"
Previously there has been a conflict between his public and private personas: "I think in the past there’s always been a big difference between what I actually did, and what was being put out as my public identity through songs and videos."
Consequently Faulkner has set out to normalise his life as a musician: "This was a way of bringing things together and showing people what I actually do. Which you certainly can; you can watch me 24 hours a day. I think there a probably people who have watched this that know me better than my closest friends!’
To many, the idea of being watched 24/7 is far too invasive, but Faulkner is very at ease with the process: "I’m resigned to the fact that there are always people watching. Even when I’m not in the room people still seem to be watching, so I think you can guarantee people will be there when I’m actually doing things."
This has meant accepting people will see the bad as well as the good: "I’ve decided not to cover anything up. I’m a human being so of course I get angry and upset, and I think people need to see that part of making an album as well."
When asked about what fans could expect musically from the album, Faulkner was fiercely confident: "It’s by far the best album I’ve written, by a long way. I always felt at the beginning I was in the right room, but I came in through the wrong door, and I’ve been edging towards the right room since my debut. Finally I think I have the sound I wanted originally."

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