[00:00:00] Welcome to Trevor McCormack Music Podcast. I'm Chrissie Mack from Radio Northern Beaches and I couldn't be more excited to kick off this musical journey with you. Joining me is my brother, the legendary Trevor McCormack known as Mack, a true storyteller and music enthusiast.
[00:00:18] With each episode we're peeling back the layers behind the hits, sharing untold stories from artists and exploring what sparks the creativity behind the music that moves us all. Whether you're a diehard music fan or just love discovering new sounds, this is the place where passion meets storytelling.
[00:00:38] So, hit the follow button, share this with your fellow music lovers and leave a review. Your support keeps the vibe alive. Turn up the volume and get ready to be inspired. And let's dive into the world of music together. Let's go! Alright listeners, today I have Dave, Shelley and Trev. Hi guys, how you doing? Hi! Thanks. Hello, what are you? So I hear you lot are celebrating, tell me about it.
[00:01:04] We are. Well, I've just come all the way down here to Shelley's place, which we are in Kuparu and we overlook the city and we're celebrating. And we'll let Shelley tell you about that, but we're celebrating and we get to see all the fireworks and all the planes fly over. And that is because? Of Riverfire. Ah! Yeah. So tell us a bit about Riverfire. Yeah, well they were doing practice sessions yesterday with the jets actually and the day before it was a plane, so that was really cool.
[00:01:32] And today, yeah, it's all happening with the proper run and also fireworks in the city. So you can see all that from where you are? Yeah. So what time does that start tonight? The fly over started about quarter to five. Yeah, about quarter to five tonight. And that is so cool. They come so close. You almost reach out and touch them. They come that close to where we are. Awesome. And so you guys aren't going to that. You can see it from where you are. So what else are you celebrating?
[00:01:55] We are celebrating DKM and Dave did a video today showing that shows the new studio and that we're providing guitar lessons and vocal lessons to people who'd like to learn. And I tagged Trevor in it because he is joining DKM as a vocal and beginning guitar teacher. Woo-hoo! Woo-hoo! Yeah! He seems to be quite excited about that. Woo-hoo!
[00:02:21] So we're sipping on champagne whilst just chilling out and having a good time. And there'll be guests coming as well. Yeah. And yeah, everyone's come to watch all the planes and rocks and jets go past, not rockets. And it's great fun. It is so cool. Yeah. So Dave, how are you going to cope with seeing Trevor more often? Well, I've just got my Valium prescription. I can't be that full. No, he's great. He's heaps of fun.
[00:02:50] We work so well together. Two fire signs creating absolute magic and passion. And yeah, as history has proven, it's just easy working with Trevor and it's an absolute delight. And you were just saying this morning, how long have you guys have known each other? A long time. Yes. It has been a life count if you remember it's been that long. It's been 17 years. Yeah, a long time. A long time. So it's, yeah, a pleasure. I don't know. So remind us where you actually met. Working in a music store in Moorfield, actually.
[00:03:20] And Trevor was a customer. The years went on. We became friends. And then, yeah, that's basically, yeah, it went from there. And Trevor came in one day and said, I'm looking for a guitarist. And I heard you're pretty good. I said, I heard you get that off. That's the truth. Yeah. And he said, do you want to come over for a jam? And we did. And the rest is history. Yeah. He liked what I did. I liked what he did. It sounded great. And we've known each other ever since. Yeah, that's right. Okay.
[00:03:50] Now you're working together as well. Yes. Trevor got his set of keys yesterday and so did I to the studio. So that was nice. Okay. So, Trevor, now you can come and go as you please. I can now. I can just work when I like. I can come in and do a little bit of homework there if I have to. And we have guests arriving. All right. I'll talk to you tomorrow. We had to cut our podcast short last night because of the River Festival and everybody arriving while we were trying to fit in our podcast. So let's have a talk about how the River Fire went.
[00:04:19] The River Fire was fantastic. It's amazing. You know, they do the practice runs the day before and Shelley tells us all about, you know, oh, these planes fly over and it's so fantastic. And when you're actually there, you just cannot believe how big. They send one of these massive Air Force planes through. And it's just, it's the biggest thing. You think, how does it even stay up there? It looks like it's just floating past. So they do a few laps around and then through the city. She's right in the path of the turning circle of where they come around. Okay.
[00:04:49] So she gets the best view. You can almost reach out and touch the plane. Too close. And then we have a pilot that comes as well. So all the guests come and hang out. And we have a pilot, a lovely old fellow. He's in his 70s now, retired. And you can listen to them talking and what they're doing and how many feet they're at. And yeah, it's really cool. It's a great night. So then after the big plane goes through, they have the jets or a jet go through. And he does a few laps up and down and around. And he's there for a good time.
[00:05:19] He probably passes us about four times, five times. And then you watch him zip really low down into the river. And he must go along the river and then come back up. Yeah, it's amazing. Then we chill out. We all had drinks and nibbles and wait for the fireworks, wait for the sun to go down. Mate, did they have some fireworks this year? I think it was even longer than last year. They just seemed to go on and on and on and on. And I just can't imagine the money they spent on fireworks this year. But it was huge.
[00:05:47] I had a look at it on the news this morning. It looked pretty enormous. It was huge. And they're off all the buildings and all along the river. And it's just incredible. Incredible. And so what was the feeling of all the crowd that you had around you? Oh, they're all excited because there's a few family of Dave's. There's customers of Dave's and hopefully of mine. We had a chat with a lady who wanted to do some singing lessons. And we didn't even... Actually, it was that loud and that many people.
[00:06:15] We normally sit down and play some guitar afterwards. And just Dave and I sit together and show what we do. They didn't get that this year. It just was so busy. And so many people talking about what they're doing in their adventures and travels and holidays. The music they're into, it just didn't happen. Dave and I sort of sat there and went, well, oh, okay. It was such a good chat with everybody and a great night. A great night. Well, that's wonderful. Now, Shelley was saying last night that there's a clip on the...
[00:06:44] Was it Facebook or Instagram? I'm not sure because I haven't even seen it yet. I'll have to look myself. I've been so busy. She's done something new on the... Just the advertising of the shop. DKM Music. And I did actually see the young fella. He was there last night. He did all the film clipping of it and put it all together, I think, as well. So, Hamish, I think it was. Yeah, I'm yet to see that one. So, that's sort of the launch, the opening of the shop. I think it'll be on Facebook. But we'll send you a link. I'll get Shelley to send you that link. And you can put that up.
[00:07:15] Yeah, I don't know why I haven't sent it. Because normally I see all this stuff. But she must have only just done it, I'd say. So, I'm looking forward to seeing it. Now you're officially opened. Yes. So, it's all official. So, I've got one more trip down there to do a little bit of cleaning up. I spoke to a lovely lady last night who wanted to get some lessons, some vocal lessons. She had sung before many years ago. But she's had a bit of issues here and there over the years. And she says, well, I can't take the deep breaths like I need to. And I said, well, that's all right.
[00:07:44] We're going to start nice and slow and easy. And just build up the strength of your throat and all the muscles. And get everything working again. And we'll worry about the breath last. We'll just start here and work our way through. Yeah, I've kind of been doing, rather than trying to get the breath and the volume, I've gone back to sort of just getting the breathing and the soft voice. And I'm not coughing as much. Well, that's it. It's all about the voice.
[00:08:13] But I'm still not getting that voice from the stomach yet. Like, I get little snippets of it. You know, that voice that used to be. I get little bits and pieces of that. And so, there's hope. There's so much time and practice. So, the practice is the exercise for the vocals. That's where you're. Forget about the breathing. Forget about any tones or not in key. You just get all the muscles and everything moving and lubricated stronger. And then you work down.
[00:08:42] And then you go down to your breathing and how you project. And you don't want to hit it strong or hard. You don't have to push it hard. Well, that's in my lessons. That's what I teach. Yeah. Well, that's what I found. You know, I was trying to sort of get that where I was at to start from. And it's just not going to happen. So, I've got to go back to basics. Just don't try and push it hard because it's not about that. It comes. It just comes with the breath and the way, the strength of the vocal cords.
[00:09:11] And yeah, it projects out when it has to. And yeah, I'll send you some info on it. And you can. Wonderful. So, I've got my brother teaching me to sing again. We will talk more. All right. Now, we've got some wonderful news. I can't remember whether we told the listeners we put some songs into the Australian Songwriters Competition 2026. Oh, that's right.
[00:09:34] But we both got emails back saying that both our songs had been shortlisted. That's right. I think it was the top 30, somewhere around there. They're shortlisted into the top 30, yeah. Yep, into the top 30s. Yes, I've got those two emails. I was so excited. I think I just forwarded them to you. You said, look at this. Yeah. Because I was starting to wonder whether it was actually a fraudulent one because we hadn't heard anything.
[00:10:02] But in the email that came through, it says, sorry, we've taken so long, but this is the way we do it. And they do it by, they put the song to one group and then they choose. And then they take it away from them and they give it to a new group. So they've never heard them before. Fresh years. Yeah. Yeah. So this is an interesting process. But we've been told that if we get up, which I didn't think was in the information that
[00:10:29] they sent us, was that the song has to be performed. Well, you're fine. You can sing it. Not a problem. So I've asked my girlfriend to learn it, Maggie Scott, who is quite famous and award winning. And she used to be called Australian maid for all my generation. She was a very popular comedian singer in those days. Yes. I've asked her if she'll do the song because it's down her alley. She's got the most beautiful voice.
[00:10:59] She would do that justice, I think. Yeah. And so then, but then I had to go down. I've got to get a scratch track for her. So I found a recording studio down in Cromer with two lovely people. I haven't met the sister yet. It's a brother and sister set up. They've got a beautiful studio down there at Cromer. And I met Dave, who's a young man who's extremely pleasant and so helpful. He sits there and listens to you. He doesn't say, oh, I can do this for you. I can do that for you. And you think, yeah, right.
[00:11:28] He sat and he talked to me about what I thought about. And I didn't take the song with me. I was sussing out, you know, who could do what for me. And the others that I'd asked were sort of like, oh, but you need this. And they haven't even heard the song. So he sat with me and he said, well, what do you need? What do you think should happen? Are you like, do you want to sing it? Or this, that and the other.
[00:11:56] And then he showed me through the studio and explained how they worked. And it was a really comfortable situation where I felt I could trust this man. You want to be relaxed in a studio and know you've got someone really knows what they're doing. Yeah. And he didn't come out with, oh, it's going to cost you this, it's going to cost you that. And when I did get to the rates that were quite low, he sort of said, well, look, let's start by getting together for an hour. I think it was $80. Let's get together for an hour.
[00:12:25] Look at your song. Look at what you want to do with it. He said, you seem to know what you want to do with it, whereas a lot of people don't. And I do. I know exactly where I want this song to go. And I know how I want it to sound. And I don't mind if it is sort of improved, but I don't want it changed because the uniqueness of this song is quite special. As you know, you've heard it. What I would have said to do. Yeah. So I'm going down tomorrow and I'm going to sit with him for an hour and we're just going to go through it.
[00:12:53] And he said to me, I sent him the song so he could have a listen to it. And he said, we should be able to get a scratch track down within that hour. And I thought, wow, how's that? The technology is pretty good. $80 and I've got a scratch track. I mean, that's pretty good because that's what she needs to actually learn it. And I've been going through it and there's a couple of little changes I'd like to talk to him about.
[00:13:20] Like there's some sections where it goes a little high and I want the key to come down. And there's a couple of words I've changed because it fits in better. And just little tweaks that I've done. Same thing. You'll adjust things all the time until you get to the final recording. Yeah. So I was really comfortable with him. I was surprised how comfortable I was with him because I'm very protective of this song, as you know. Yes.
[00:13:48] And that's, you're doing everything exactly right. So, no, that's good. So with your song being shortlisted, actually it might be two songs. We're not quite sure yet because they tell you, we put two songs in for you and they tell you that on the email that they don't name the songs. They just tell you that songs are shortlisted. So we don't know whether you've got one or two in there, do we? Although you did get two emails. Yeah. So it looks like you've got both of them in there. Yep.
[00:14:15] And so you're going to have to practice those two really well because you've got to perform them and you're going to have to come down to Sydney on the 3rd of December. Oh, gee. Wow. I could do that. If we get up. But to be shortlisted in this particular competition is a huge achievement. Yeah. It's Australian singer-songwriters. Yep. It's just, it's a huge competition.
[00:14:40] I put one in called It's Alright, I think back in 2012, 13, 14, somewhere around the 14th and I got in the top 25th. Yeah. So we're looking good. Let's just keep our fingers crossed. Our fingers and if it happens. And toes and everything else. And you can meet people and some well-known famous people. Yeah. In the industry. So, yeah, that would be great fun.
[00:15:09] I hope we do. So you and I can get up to some mischief again. Oh, yeah. Well, truly. But what I'm looking forward to is seeing a full production of the songs. Oh, yeah. You know, Maggie's voice on mine would be just amazing. Yeah. So I'm really looking forward to that. So everybody, cross your fingers and your toes for us. That's it. And let's hope that we get up there. And that's, you know, that's a big tick to people know who you are. Then they go, well, okay, these two guys are pretty serious.
[00:15:37] They've put some hard work in and look what they've achieved. Look what they've got. So it's a pat on your own back. You just go, yep, I can do this. And away you go again. Well, then maybe Keith Urban will pick up his ears for the song that you've got for him. I'm saving that one. A lot of people say, what happened to that song, Lucky Charm? I go, I'm just hanging on to that one. That's in my back pocket. I think that one is actually one of the ones that you put up. Oh, did I? Or didn't I? Yeah, I think you put it in.
[00:16:05] So if it does well and if it wins, you can ask him. You can actually go and ask him to see it for you. I'll have to say, yeah, I need to talk to you, buddy. Keith, what are you doing on this date? Oh, dear. All right. Well, we're really, as you can tell, we're really excited about this. This is a big thing for us. So what's next up? I've got a birthday party for one of Dave's clients. We're having down in Sandgate in the Full Moon Hotel. And I get to meet one of the guys that I actually brought down to Sydney to,
[00:16:34] I think we did a big gig in Miramar Gardens. Yes. So Andy, he was the drummer for that show. He's also a recording guy as well, which I can't wait to catch up with and have a chat with too. So I get to see Andy again, an old Mac band player. That was in the early days. So, yeah, that's my next step. Chat with a few of those guys around the traps. And his wife is a lovely pianist, classical. She does all classical stuff. So, yeah, I don't know.
[00:17:02] There's some more doors open again and meet some old friends so, yeah, that's my next week. All right. We're working hard to get it all pulled together and this is the year that we have to do it. Well, in the end, it is a case of no matter what happens, my challenges now from this point on is I've got these songs I've rehearsed, I've adjusted, I've played with them. The final adjustments will be in a studio. That's it. So we've got to get you into the studio. And where are we going to do them?
[00:17:32] Yeah. Yeah. All right, I'm working on it down here, you're working on it up there, and we will get there. Determination is the key. Well, and then you'll hear them one at a time. Yes. Because that's how we build one at a time, and every time we finish one, bang, out the door it's going to go, on the Spotify and all the platforms or wherever it's going to go, and we'll start working on the second one. All right, well, I'm going to leave you there, and I'll catch up with you next week. Don't work too hard and put more music in.
[00:18:01] Yes, ma'am. All right, love yous all. Love to you. Bye. Bye now. Now don't forget to check out Trevor McCormack's YouTube, and you can also go to Trevor McCormack Music for any podcasts that you might have missed. So don't forget to follow and share.